cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Participatory Budgeting and the Poor: Tracing Bias in a Multi-Staged Process in Solo, Indonesia

Summary This paper examines a participatory budgeting process in the city of Surakarta (Solo), Indonesia. Using newly digitized records of the infrastructure spending results from three distinct phases of the process (proposal, prioritization, and implementation), I assess the degree to which the resulting geographical distribution of spending allocations targets the poor. I find a poverty-related bias in the distribution of infrastructure projects funded by the program. While results vary across neighborhoods, on average, sub-units with more poor people receive a smaller percentage of funding than would correspond to their share of the general population. Furthermore, although the implementation stage exhibits significant divergence from the decisions made during the more public proposal and prioritization processes, the small group of elected officials in charge of implementation are not to blame for the bias. I find no evidence that deviations from decisions made during public meetings are based on something other than legitimate technical considerations. Instead, the bias originates in the proposal stage, with the poorest sub-units less likely to submit proposals in the first place. I conclude that the literature would benefit from more studies that look at differences across stages of decision-making within a particular process. Whereas contextual differences across settings may be difficult to change over the short-run, identifying procedural differences and points of vulnerability across a single process can help to diagnose problems which have the potential to actually be resolved by policy-makers.
Ghrelin enhances food intake and carbohydrate oxidation in a nitric oxide dependent manner

Abstract In the present study we sought to investigate interactions between hypothalamic nitric oxide (NO) and ghrelin signaling on food intake and energy substrate utilization as measured by the respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Guide cannulae were unilaterally implanted in either the arcuate (ArcN) or paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were pretreated with subcutaneous (2.5–10 mg/kg/ml) or central (0–100 pmol) N-nitro- l -Arginine methyl ester ( l -NAME) followed by 50 pmol of ghrelin administered into either the ArcN or PVN. Both l -NAME and ghrelin were microinjected at the onset of the active cycle and food intake and RER were assessed 2 h postinjection. RER was measured as the ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide expelled relative to the volume of oxygen consumed (VCO2/VO2) using an open-circuit indirect calorimeter. Our results demonstrated that peripheral and central l -NAME pretreatment dose-dependently attenuated ghrelin induced increases in food intake and RER in either the ArcN or PVN. In fact the 100 pmol dose largely reversed the metabolic effects of ghrelin in both anatomical regions. These findings suggest that ghrelin enhancement of food intake and carbohydrate oxidation in the rat ArcN and PVN is NO-dependent.
Effect of ascorbic acid treatment on some quality parameters of frozen strawberry and raspberry fruits

Abstract Strawberry (Red Dream and Camarosa varieties) and raspberry (Nova and Killarney varieties) fruits were harvested in the middle summer in eastern part of Georgia. After harvesting average samples were immediately dipped into 0%, 1% or 2% ascorbic acid solution at 20 ± 1 °C temperature with exposure time of 2.5 min. Then, the samples were frozen at −40 °C and stored in plastic containers at −20 °C for 6 months. After 3 months storage period Total soluble solids (TSS) of strawberry and raspberry fruits decreased by 10–14% in both treated and untreated samples. TSS changes in the next three months were not statistically significant. pH values of the samples also decreased by 10–13% after 3 months regardless treatment with ascorbic acid. In the next three months pH values continued decreasing approximately with the same rate for all the samples. Due to the treatment of the fruit samples by 1% and 2% ascorbic acid, content of the last one in fruits after three months storage was increased approximately by 30% and 100% respectively and was kept practically at the same level for the next six months. In the untreated fruits of Red Dream and Camarosa of strawberry varieties during the first three months storage Total phenolic compounds (TPC) reduced by 20%. In both untreated varieties of raspberry TPC reduced by 14%. Ascorbic acid treatment increased polyphenol retaining in all frozen samples of strawberry and raspberry fruits. For Camarosa treated with 2% ascorbic acid this effect was the highest – 15%; for Red Dream the effect was the lowest – 5%. The next three months storage practically did not affect TPC in Red Dream variety of strawberry fruits neither untreated nor treated ones. In the rest varieties of berries TPC decreased maximum by 29% (Camarosa 2% treated) and minimum by 9% (Nova untreated). Antioxidant potential of the fruits was in good correlation (R2 = 0.93) with TPC for all six months of storage.
Ionic liquids: solvents and sorbents in sample preparation

The applications of ionic liquids (ILs) and IL-derived sorbents are rapidly expanding. By careful selection of the cation and anion components, the physicochemical properties of ILs can be altered to meet the requirements of specific applications. Reports of IL solvents possessing high selectivity for specific analytes are numerous and continue to motivate the development of new IL-based sample preparation methods that are faster, more selective, and environmentally benign compared to conventional organic solvents. The advantages of ILs have also been exploited in solid/polymer formats in which ordinarily nonspecific sorbents are functionalized with IL moieties in order to impart selectivity for an analyte or analyte class. Furthermore, new ILs that incorporate a paramagnetic component into the IL structure, known as magnetic ionic liquids (MILs), have emerged as useful solvents for bioanalytical applications. In this rapidly changing field, this Review focuses on the applications of ILs and IL-based sorbents in sample preparation with a special emphasis on liquid phase extraction techniques using ILs and MILs, IL-based solid-phase extraction, ILs in mass spectrometry, and biological applications.
Asymmetric model of neoclassical trade and optimum tax-subsidy-tariff policy

Abstract This work constructs an asymmetric structure of neoclassical model of trade, and reexamines the theorems of trade, which were derived originally in 2 × 2 × 2 paradigm. Absence of non-traded sector, noted by Bhagwati, has been highlighted in a more serious fashion. Then optimum price distortions in the form of taxes, subsidies, and tariffs are introduced, and optimality of the price distortions is ascertained.
A Meta-analytical Synthesis and Examination of Pathological and Problem Gambling Rates and Associated Moderators Among College Students, 1987–2016

The problem of gambling addiction is especially noteworthy among college students, many of whom have the resources, proximity, free time, and desire to become involved in the myriad options of gambling now available. Although limited attention has been paid specifically to college student gambling in the body of literature, there have been three published meta-analyses estimating the prevalence of probable pathological gambling among college students. The research presented is the largest and most comprehensive, presenting an up-to-date proportion of those students worldwide exhibiting gambling pathology as assessed by the South Oaks Gambling Screen, and is the first to include estimates of sub-clinical problem gambling. A thorough literature review and coding procedure resulted in 124 independent data estimates retrieved from 72 studies conducted between 1987 and the present, surveying 41,989 university students worldwide. The estimated proportion of probable pathological gamblers among students was computed at 6.13%, while the rate of problem gambling was computed at 10.23%. Statistical significance was found in the influence of the percentage of non-white students on pathological gambling rates. The implications of this and other moderator analyses such as age and year of studies, as well as recommendations for future practice in dealing with college students and gambling disorder on campus are outlined and described in detail. Suggestions and rationales for future avenues of research in the area are also described.
Chronic Kidney Disease: A Life Course Health Development Perspective

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) reflects life events that range from maternal-fetal influences to geriatric exposures. The global direct and indirect costs of CKD are high and include maternal-neonatal hospitalization and treatment, acute kidney injury, dialysis and transplant, missed work, and medications, to name a few. The impact of poor diet, adverse childhood experiences, medication use, and failure to follow consistent public health standards are increasingly appreciated as key influences in the development of CKD. Socioeconomic factors can significantly influence the timing and phenotypic expression in people at risk for developing CKD, although more research is needed to understand these mechanisms. In general, biomedicine has been focused on treating well-established CKD morbidity. This strategy has been short sighted and costly. A more cost-effective approach would focus on early life interventions that hold the potential for mitigating CKD risk and its sequelae. This chapter applies the life course health development principles to review determinants and pathways for CKD evolution and identifies of the gaps in our knowledgebase. We also discuss several research strategies for evaluating the life course health development of CKD.
Reflection for Meaning and Action as an Engine for Professional Development across Multiple Early Childhood Teacher Education Contexts.

Drawing from sociocultural theories of learning and literature on reflection in educational contexts, this article describes reflective practices as a meaning-making and action engine to support ea...
Placental Histomorphology in a Case of Double Trisomy 48,XXX,+18.

Background. Approximately 50% of early spontaneous abortions are found to have chromosomal abnormalities. In these cases, certain histopathologic abnormalities are suggestive of, although not diagnostic for, the presence of chromosomal abnormalities. However, placental histomorphology in cases of complex chromosomal abnormalities, including double trisomies, is virtually unknown. Case Report. We present the case of a 27-year-old G3P22002 female presenting at 19 weeks and 1 day of gestation by last menstrual period for scheduled prenatal visit. Ultrasound revealed a single fetus without heart tones and adequate amniotic fluid. Limited fetal measurements were consistent with estimated gestational age of 17 weeks. Labor was induced with misoprostol due to fetal demise. Autopsy revealed an immature female fetus with grade 1-2 maceration. The ears were low-set and posteriorly rotated. The fingers were short bilaterally, and the right foot showed absence of the second and third digits. Evaluation of the organs showed predominantly marked autolysis consistent with retained stillbirth. Placental examination revealed multiple findings, including focal pseudovillous papilliform trophoblastic proliferation of the undersurface of the chorionic plate and clustering of perpendicularly oriented sclerotic chorionic villi in the chorion laeve, which have not been previously reported in cases of chromosomal abnormalities. Karyotype of placental tissue revealed a 48,XXX,+18 karyotype and the same double trisomy of fetal thymic tissue by FISH. Conclusion. In addition to convoluted outlines of chorionic villi, villous trophoblastic pseudoinclusions, and clusters of villous cytotrophoblasts, the previously unreported focal pseudovillous papilliform trophoblastic proliferation of the undersurface of the chorionic plate and clustering of perpendicularly oriented sclerotic chorionic villi in the chorion laeve were observed in this double trisomy case. More cases have to be examined to show if the histology is specific for this double trisomy.
ECG-based reconstruction of heart position and orientation with Bayesian optimization

Respiratory motion is known to cause beat-to-beat variation of the ECG. This observation suggests that it may be possible to use this variation to track position and orientation of the heart. Electrocardiographic Imaging (ECGI) would benefit from such a reconstruction since one contribution to errors in its solutions is respiratory motion of the heart. ECGI solutions generally rely on prior computation of a "forward" model that relates cardiac electrical activity to ECGs. However, the ill-posed nature of the inverse solution leads to large errors in ECGI even for small amounts of error in the forward model. The current work is a first step towards reducing those errors using a nominal forward model and the ECG itself. We describe a method that can reconstruct cardiac position / orientation using known potentials on both the heart and torso. Our current implementation is based on Bayesian Optimization and efficiently optimizes for the position/orientation of the heart to minimize error between measured and forward-computed torso potentials. We evaluated our approach with synthesized torso potentials under a model of respiratory motion and also using potentials recorded in a tank experiment on a canine epicardium and the tank surfaces. Our results show that our method performs accurately in synthetic experiments and can account for part of the error between forward-computed and measured ECGs in the tank experiments.
Successful merging of data from the United Network for Organ Sharing and the Pediatric Health Information System databases.

Data routinely collected through United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) lack the detailed information on medical resource utilization and treatment costs required to accomplish for center-level comparisons of quality of care and cost for pediatric heart transplantation. We aimed to overcome this limitation by merging UNOS with the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database, an administrative database containing inpatient, emergency department, ambulatory surgery, and observation unit information from over 40 not-for-profit, tertiary care pediatric hospitals. Utilizing a probabilistic match based on center, date of birth, recipient gender, and transplant date within ±2 days, more than 90% of eligible UNOS patients (N = 2264) were successfully merged to their corresponding PHIS records. Thirty-day and 1-year mortality rates observed for the merged cohort (3.2% and 9.0%, respectively) were compared with those previously reported for pediatric heart transplants, as were the significant predictors of increased mortality. These results demonstrate that the established UNOS-PHIS cohort will provide a valid platform for subsequent research aimed at identifying center-level differences that could be exploited to optimize quality of care while minimizing cost across institutions.
Rotodynamic Pump Development

The development of the Cleveland Clinic Rotodynamic Pump is presented with the changing approach to pump development made possible by extensive use of computer simulation. This has expedited the program by minimizing false paths in design. The lessons learned during this development and the present model studies are documented.
Longitudinal Associations between Neurodevelopment and Psychosocial Health Status in Patients with Repaired D-Transposition of the Great Arteries.

Objective To examine associations between measurements of neurodevelopment and psychosocial health status at age 8 and 16 years in patients with repaired dextro-transposition of the great arteries. Study design In the 16-year follow-up of the Boston Circulatory Arrest Study, 137 parents completed the Child Health Questionnaire—Parent Form-50, of whom 135 had completed the Child Health Questionnaire—Parent Form-50 when their child was age 8 years. Psychosocial and physical summary scores were used to assess change in health status from age 8 to 16 years. A comprehensive battery of neurodevelopmental testing was performed at ages 8 and 16 years to examine associations with adolescent health status. Results Lower psychosocial summary scores of 16 year old subjects with dextro-transposition of the great arteries were highly associated with numerous concurrent domains of neurodevelopmental function, most notably with higher (worse) scores on the Conners' Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-4th Edition Scales (parent: r = −0.62, P Conclusions Attention deficits at age 8 years were highly predictive of worse psychosocial health status in adolescence. Further studies are needed to assess whether treatment of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could improve adolescent well-being.
Short-Term Impacts of the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Blowout on Weather, Climate, Air Quality, and Health in California and Los Angeles.

The Aliso Canyon (Porter Ranch), California, natural gas blowout lasted 112 days, from October 23, 2015 to February 11, 2016, releasing 97 100 metric tonnes of methane, 7300 tonnes of ethane, and a...
The final cut: Cas9 editing.

The ability of CRISPR-Cas9 to accurately and efficiently target and cleave any segment of double-stranded DNA based solely on the sequence of its loaded guide RNA has revolutionized genome editing. While many structural studies have shed light on the atomic details of DNA targeting, structures of the enzyme poised to perform catalysis have remained elusive. In this issue, Zhu, Clarke, Puppala et al. provide snapshots of the enzyme in action as it performs concerted cleavage of a target DNA1.
Super-hydrophobic stearic acid layer formed on anodized high purified magnesium for improving corrosion resistance of bioabsorbable implants

Abstract Magnesium and its alloys are ideal candidates for bioabsorbable implants. However, they can dissolve too rapidly in the human body for most applications. In this research, high purified magnesium (HP-Mg) was coated with stearic acid (SA) to slow the corrosion rate of magnesium in simulated body fluid at 37 ± 1 °C. HP-Mg was anodized (AC and DC voltages) to form an oxide/hydroxide layer, and then it was immersed in a SA solution. The SA coated layer surface, anodized layer, and the thickness of the oxide/hydroxide layer were investigated with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) were used to estimate the corrosion rate of HP-Mg specimens. The results confirm that the hydrophobic coating can decrease the corrosion rate of HP-Mg by more than 1000x. The protectiveness of coated layer for anodized specimens with AC voltage continue for 2 and 3 weeks. For the HP-Mg coated anodized with DC voltage, the coated layer could improve the corrosion resistance for only a few days.
The Liberal Arts Learning Outcomes of Internships

• Many liberal arts students are likely to see internships primarily as opportunities to learn job-specific skills and enhance their academic learning.• Supervisors of college student interns are p...
Empirische Untersuchung I: Diskussion

Die zentrale Fragestellung dieses ersten Untersuchungsteils lautete, welchen Einfluss psychosoziale Faktoren und Umweltdeterminanten auf die aktive Mobilitat von Menschen der Babyboomer Generation haben. Diese Erhebung ist eine der ersten in Deutschland, die verstarkt die Bewohner des landlichen Raums in den Fokus nimmt.
Structural basis for the diversity of the mechanism of nucleotide hydrolysis by the aminoglycoside-2′′-phosphotransferases

Aminoglycoside phosphotransferases (APHs) are one of three families of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes that confer high-level resistance to the aminoglycoside antibiotics via enzymatic modification. This has now rendered many clinically important drugs almost obsolete. The APHs specifically phosphorylate hydroxyl groups on the aminoglycosides using a nucleotide triphosphate as the phosphate donor. The APH(2′′) family comprises four distinct members, isolated primarily from Enterococcus sp., which vary in their substrate specificities and also in their preference for the phosphate donor (ATP or GTP). The structure of the ternary complex of APH(2′′)-IIIa with GDP and kanamycin was solved at 1.34 A resolution and was compared with substrate-bound structures of APH(2′′)-Ia, APH(2′′)-IIa and APH(2′′)-IVa. In contrast to the case for APH(2′′)-Ia, where it was proposed that the enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of GTP is regulated by conformational changes in its N-terminal domain upon GTP binding, APH(2′′)-IIa, APH(2′′)-IIIa and APH(2′′)-IVa show no such regulatory mechanism, primarily owing to structural differences in the N-terminal domains of these enzymes.
Preface to the current status of colorectal cancer surgery.

Over the past decade, colorectal cancer surgery has continued to evolve at rapid rates with numerous publications in various areas. In this issue, we decide to give a brief and yet broad spectrum of pertinent update in the field of colorectal cancer surgery.
Costs and Complications Associated With Resection of Supratentorial Tumors With and Without the Operative Microscope in the United States

Background The operative microscope, a commonly used tool in neurosurgery, is critical in many supratentorial tumor cases. However, use of operating microscope for supratentorial tumor varies by surgeon. Objectives To assess complication rates, readmissions, and costs associated with operative microscope use in supratentorial resections. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted using a national administrative database to identify patients with glioma or brain metastases who underwent supratentorial resection between 2007 and 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess 30-day complications, readmissions, and costs between patients who underwent resection with and without use of microscope. Results The cohort included 12,058 glioma patients and 5433 metastasis patients. Rates of microscope use varied by state from 19.0% to 68.6%. Microscope use was associated with $5228.90 in additional costs of index hospitalization among glioma patients (P Conclusions Use of operative microscope for supratentorial resections varies by state and is associated with higher cost of surgery. Microscope use may be associated with lower rates of intraoperative cerebral edema and some cerebrovascular complications, but is not associated with significant differences in other complications, readmissions, or 30-day costs.
Telemedicine for head and neck ambulatory visits during COVID-19: Evaluating usability and patient satisfaction.

Background In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid increase in telemedicine visits. Otolaryngology patient satisfaction with these visits has not yet been extensively studied using a validated survey. Methods All patients who had telemedicine visits with three head and neck surgeons, by phone or video-based platform, between March 25, 2020 and April 24, 2020. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to determine demographic, disease, and treatment information. Patients who had a video visit were contacted by telephone and, if they could be reached and consented, were administered the telehealth usability questionnaire (TUQ). Results Hundred surveys were completed. The average score across all questions was 6.01 on a scale from 1 to 7, where 7 indicated the highest level of patient agreement. The highest scores were for questions related to satisfaction with telehealth (6.29), while the lowest were related to reliability (4.86). Conclusions Patients are generally highly satisfied with telemedicine.
Retention of conceptual learning after an interactive introductory mechanics course

Conceptual understanding students gain in Physics I is almost entirely retained during the gap between Physics I and Physics II.
Anomalous thermoelectricity at the two-dimensional structural transition of SnSe monolayers

The thermoelectric figure of merit $ZT$ comprises electronic and vibrational contributions that drastically change across phase transitions, and the most common theoretical ab initio approach to thermoelectricity fails to describe the evolution of $ZT$ across finite-temperature structural transitions in its entirety. Furthermore, while the thermoelectric behavior of bulk SnSe has been extensively studied, SnSe monolayers have been experimentally realized only recently, and the existent prediction of thermoelectricity on this two-dimensional material is unreliable because it misses its structural transition altogether. SnSe monolayers (and similar GeS, GeSe, GeTe, SnS, and SnTe monolayers) experience a temperature-induced two-dimensional $Pnm{2}_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}P4/nmm$ structural transition precipitated by the softening of vibrational modes, and we describe their thermoelectric properties across the phase transition, using molecular dynamics data to inform both electronic and vibrational coefficients directly and within the same footing. Similar to recent experimental observations pointing to an overestimated $ZT$ past the transition temperature in bulk SnSe, we find a smaller $ZT$ on SnSe monolayers when compared to its value predicted by the standard paradigm, due to the dramatic changes in the electrical conductivity and lattice thermal conductivity as the structural transition ensues. The process described here lends a strong focus to both the vibrational and electronic evolutions throughout the structural transition, and it applies to thermoelectric materials undergoing thermally driven solid-to-solid structural phase transitions in one, two, and three dimensions.
A Win–Win strategy analysis for an original equipment manufacturer and a contract manufacturer in a competitive market

Abstract This paper investigates the outsourcing relationship between an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a contract manufacturer (CM) when both compete in the same product market. We identify optimal solutions and the favorable conditions that both players may benefit from outsourcing when either one is the dominant player in the Cournot competition in the base setting. In the extended models, we include a supplier in the game who sells the key component to the CM and explore all players’ decisions on pricing and/or quantity. We find that the optimal wholesale price for outsourcing is normally higher when the CM is dominant than that when the OEM is dominant. The Win–win conditions that both the OEM and the CM favor outsourcing in various scenarios are identified. There exist some scenarios that no outsourcing will be formed due to conflicting interests between the OEM and the CM. The supplier may benefit from outsourcing due to additional OEM's quantity when the OEM's production cost is high. In that case, a Win–Win–Win result for outsourcing occurs for all three players in the extended model.
Opportunistic use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to evaluate lumbar scoliosis

Low bone mineral density is associated with spinal deformity. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), a modality that assesses bone density, portends a theoretical means to also assess spinal deformity. We found that DXA can reliably assess spine alignment. DXA may permit surveillance of spine alignment, i.e., scoliosis in the clinical setting. Osteoporosis and scoliosis are interrelated disease processes. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), used to assess bone density, can also be used to evaluate spinal deformity since it captures a posteroanterior (PA) image of the lumbar spine. We assessed the use of DXA to evaluate lumbar spine alignment. A lumbar spine DXA phantom was used to assess the effects of axial and sagittal plane rotation on lumbar bone mineral content (BMC), density (BMD), and L1–L4 Cobb angle measurements. Using two subject cohorts, intra- and inter-observer reliability and validity of using DXA for L1–L4 Cobb angle measurements in the coronal and sagittal planes were assessed. Axial and sagittal plane rotation greater than 15° and 10°, respectively, significantly reduced measured BMD and BMC; there was minimal effect on Cobb angle measurement reliability. In human subjects, excellent intra- and inter-observer reliability was observed using lumbar PA DXA images for Cobb angle measurements. Agreement between Cobb angles derived from lumbar PA DXA images and AP lumbar radiographs ranged from good to excellent. The mean difference in Cobb angles between supine lumbar PA DXA images and upright AP lumbar radiographs was 2.8° in all subjects and 5.8° in those with scoliosis. Lumbar spine rotation does not significantly affect BMD and BMC within 15° and 10° of axial and sagittal plane rotation, respectively, and minimally affects Cobb angle measurement. Spine alignment in the coronal plane can be reliably assessed using lumbar PA DXA images.
The Impact of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act on Shareholders and Managers of Foreign Firms

Existing evidence suggests that the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) may be beneficial to US investors, but that foreign firms are perhaps less likely to list in the USA after SOX. This raises the question of whether foreign firms avoid listing in the USA after SOX because the Act imposes unnecessary costs upon firms. The objective of this article is to reconcile the US and international evidence by distinguishing between the effect of SOX on controlling shareholders and managers of foreign firms and the effect on minority investors of these firms. Our results suggest that insiders of foreign firms believe that the regulation makes the extraction of value from minority investors more difficult and costly for them. Outside investors in foreign firms, on the other hand, seem on average to believe that SOX is beneficial to them. The combination of these results reconciles the existing US and international evidence regarding SOX.
Interventions to alleviate financial toxicity among patients with cancer: A systematic review.

e18841Background: Financial toxicity (FT) has become a recognized side effect associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment; however, there is little data on what interventions have proven to be e...
Critical democratic education in practice: Evidence from an experienced Teacher's classroom

Abstract Ever-increasing numbers of teachers are expressing commitments to social justice education today, but few experienced critical or democratic education in their own schooling or in their teaching practicum. Thus, teachers’ critical democratic commitments can be difficult to put into practice, especially in classrooms where students with diverse and unequal positionalities are engaged in learning together – what I call “heterogeneous” classrooms. Education that is “democratic” (that includes a range of warranted perspectives) can seem to come into conflict with education that is “critical” (that elevates and centers marginalized perspectives). We have little research depicting how educators meet such challenges. This paper depicts an experienced and committed social justice educator wrestling with difficult problems in the enactment of critical democratic education. Mr. Crane regularly engaged his racially and linguistically heterogeneous students in discussions of social issues, and during these discussions regularly encountered practical facilitation challenges posed by inequality among students. He wrestled with how to elevate students of color's views without spotlighting them, and how to challenge dominant perspectives without shaming the students who voiced them. Drawing on qualitative data from classroom observations and interviews, I depict Mr. Crane making sense of and mobilizing emergent instructional responses to these challenges – with, by his own reckoning, mixed results. One instructional routine, an impromptu version of a critical inquiry, was flagged by Mr. Crane as a promising method for navigating some of the trickiest problems of critical democratic education practice. This paper's findings demonstrate that enacting critical democratic education is not easy. Even experienced and committed social justice educators struggle with how to put their critical values into practice. By making visible one experienced critical democratic educator's recurring problems of practice, my research acknowledges the difficulties of this work and contributes to problem-framing. Furthermore, by deconstructing a promising routine for impromptu critical inquiry during classroom discussions of social issues, this research contributes a model of effective critical democratic education in practice.
Sentence Compression with Joint Structural Inference

Sentence compression techniques often assemble output sentences using fragments of lexical sequences such as ngrams or units of syntactic structure such as edges from a dependency tree representation. We present a novel approach for discriminative sentence compression that unifies these notions and jointly produces sequential and syntactic representations for output text, leveraging a compact integer linear programming formulation to maintain structural integrity. Our supervised models permit rich features over heterogeneous linguistic structures and generalize over previous state-of-theart approaches. Experiments on corpora featuring human-generated compressions demonstrate a 13-15% relative gain in 4gram accuracy over a well-studied language model-based compression system.
Thermodynamics of Surfaces and Interfaces: Concepts in Inorganic Materials

An accessible yet rigorous discussion of the thermodynamics of surfaces and interfaces, bridging the gap between textbooks and advanced literature by delivering a comprehensive guide without an overwhelming amount of mathematics. The book begins with a review of the relevant aspects of the thermodynamics of bulk systems, followed by a description of the thermodynamic variables for surfaces and interfaces. Important surface phenomena are detailed, including wetting, crystalline systems (including grain boundaries), interfaces between different phases, curved interfaces (capillarity), adsorption phenomena and adhesion of surface layers. The later chapters also feature case studies to illustrate real-world applications. Each chapter includes a set of study problems to reinforce the reader's understanding of important concepts. Ideal as an auxiliary text for students and a self-study guide for industry practitioners and academic researchers working across a broad range of materials.
Investigation of Coatings Which Prevent Molten Aluminum/Water Explosions

The Aluminum Association contracted Alcoa in 1995 to identify and test new protective coatings for casting pits as a replacement for Porter International’s 7001 (Tarset Standard). Three new coatings have been identified through a series of selection criteria including: 1) A standardized splash test used to evaluate personal protective clothing, 2) An industry-standard molten metal explosion test, 3) A multiple-exposure test to measure durability, and 4) An external shock impact test. The results of this program will be reviewed. This study only tested protective coatings at the “in-service cure time”, as defined by the manufacturer. These curing times can be excessive for a production casting facility. The Aluminum Association has contracted Alcoa in a second program to investigate the effect of reduced cure times on adhesion and their effectiveness in preventing molten metal/water explosions. A status update of this new two year program is provided.
Designing a controller for a multi-train multi-track system

Abstract The use of formal methods for analyzing and synthesizing a controller for a multi-train multi-track railway system is discussed. The research was motivated by a case study involving the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. The overall goal is to design a train acceleration control function that enables trains to be safely placed but also increases system throughput. The use of a modeling language for specifying safety properties and a control function is illustrated. The program transformation methodology supported in the HATS system is employed to generate an efficient implementation from a high-level specification of a controller. This implementation can then be used to simulate the controller behavior, thus further enhancing confidence in the design. Properties of optimization transformations can be verified using an rewrite-rule based induction theorem prover Rewrite Rule Laboratory (RRL).
Shale Gas in Europe: Challenges and Opportunities

Rapidly evolving technologies and services have ignited a shale gas revolution in the United States. In April 2011, an initial assessment by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed that shale gas is a “global phenomenon,” and many countries want to use more natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and backup intermittent wind and solar power. The emerging frontier could be Europe, the world’s largest gas importer, where a healthy resource has governments debating whether shale gas should mitigate a risky dependence on Russia and its quarter share of proven global reserves. The current analysis outlines the three key challenges and opportunities that exist for domestic shale gas to make a material difference in Europe (Exhibit 1). As regional markets become more integrated, the chance that Europe could become more self-sufficient is fundamental to understanding the dynamics of the emerging global gas market. Projected energy consumption data come from the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Model and the EIA’s National Energy Modeling System.
A CLOSE LOOK AT DISSAVING IN THE LONGITUDINAL RETIREMENT HISTORY SURVEY

Hurd (1987) provided evidence from the Longitudinal Retirement History Survey that the retired elderly dissave. This paper attempts to refine and extend that analysis in several ways. I determine how sensitive his results are to his method for estimating missing data. I calculate median dissaving rates, a more robust measure of dissaving. I provide confidence intervals for those rates. Finally, 1 compute estimates based on a method that weights all households equally. The results are mixed. Hurd's dissaving finding is confirmed in many specifications, but questions are raised about dissaving among couples and the method of elderly dissaving.
Teachers' Language in Interactions: An Exploratory Examination of Mental State Talk in Early Childhood Education Classrooms.

Research Findings: This study examined 34 Head Start teachers’ use of four categories of mental state talk (verbalizations of mental processes using emotion terms, cognition terms, desire terms, and perception terms) during naturally occurring classroom interactions. Transcriptions from classroom videos were coded for mental state talk category, sentence type in which the mental state term was used, and referent of the mental state term. Results indicated that teachers used varying amounts of mental state talk (perception terms were used most frequently and emotion terms least frequently) and that categories of mental state talk differed by sentence type and referent; emotion and cognition terms were used in statements more than questions, and, when using emotion terms, teachers were more likely to refer to their own emotions than children’s emotions. Differences in teachers’ mental state talk were associated with teachers’ years of experience and observed classroom quality as assessed by the Classroom As...
22.1: Invited Paper: CG Silicon® Technology and System Integration for Mobile Applications

The keywords for the ubiquitous network and high-information-content era are “information” and “audio-visual”. Novel devices to serve the needs of ubiquitous network require powerful input-output terminals with exceptional characteristics. In response to these requirements, we have developed high performance TFTs and “System LCD” using CG Silicon® technology. In addition, we have demonstrated advanced system integration technology for mobile application such as sensors, the fusion of “audio” with “visual” and fine picture quality with good image control. For future, ubiquitous information tools, we are developing super-advanced poly-Si TFT devices capable of frequencies of over 1GHz on glass substrate.
Feminismo e/no pós-colonialismo

Neste artigo, a autora discorre sobre a relacao entre feminismo e pos-colonialismo a partir dos conceitos-chave nos estudos pos-coloniais, salientando as premissas, os metodos e as tensoes dessa alianca, bem como os desafios entre os feminismos "ocidental" e "pos-colonial" no contexto da globalizacao.
The State of Babel After the Fall: Philo Judaeus and the Possibility of Rhetoric

This article contextualizes Philo Judaeus’s treatise De Confusione Linguarum in rhetorical and intellectual history. While most interpretations of the Tower of Babel legend have found that its primary function is to explain the dispersion of the world’s diverse nations and languages, Philo argues that the “confusion of tongues” signifies a more basic existential condition. For Philo, this confusion disrupted humankind’s capacity for perfect communication, helping us value rhetorical action as an essential element of the confused, ongoing process of struggle that characterizes our everyday sociality. The confusion of tongues, therefore, simultaneously gave rise to rhetoric and the masses, as it imposed a principle of difference in language and discordant heterogeneity in the social order.
Laminar screw fixation of the axis

Object Laminar fixation of the axis with crossing bilateral screws has been shown to provide rigid fixation with a theoretically decreased risk of vertebral artery damage compared with C1–2 transarticular screw fixation and C-2 pedicle screw fixation. Some studies, however, have shown restricted rigidity of such screws compared with C-2 pedicle screws, and others note that anatomical variability exists within the posterior elements of the axis that may have an impact on successful placement. To elucidate the clinical impact of such screws, the authors report their experience in placing C-2 laminar screws in adult patients over a 2-year period, with emphasis on clinical outcome and technical placement. Methods Sixteen adult patients with cervical instability underwent posterior cervical and cervicothoracic fusion procedures at our institution with constructs involving C-2 laminar screws. Eleven patients were men and 5 were women, and they ranged in age from 28 to 84 years (mean 57 years). The reasons for f...
Vitamin E concentrations in serum of newborn infants after topical use of vitamin E by nursing mothers.

Presented is a study that examined the effect of topical application of vitamin E by nursing mothers.
SIXpack: A Graphical user interface for XAS analysis using IFEFFIT

SIXPack (Sam's Interface for XAS analysis Package), a graphical user interface that allows users simple manipulation and analysis of data, is presented. The modules of SIXPack allow users to: (1) load, calibrate, and average raw data files; (2) perform background subtractions; (3) perform principal component analysis and target transforms; (4) perform least squares fitting of data to standards and functions; (5) perform EXAFS fitting to FEFF phase and amplitude files; (6) create single scattering FEFF phase and amplitude files using a periodic table interface. Novel features of the program allow for the fitted correction of XANES spectra due to self-absorption effects in unknown matrices, which is particularly useful for analysis of geochemical and environmental systems. The core of the XAS analysis routine uses IFEFFIT. SIXPack is developed in Python, is installable across many operating systems and platforms, and is freely available with an Open Source license.
Reconciliation of conflicting tectonic models for Proterozoic rocks of northern New Mexico

Two major Proterozoic tectonic events are documented in the Taos Range of northern New Mexico. Regional structures involving the tectonic interleaving of c. 1.65 Ga granitoids with supracrustal rocks are interpreted to have formed before 1.42 Ga and probably during collisional assembly of island arc crust into new (1.7–1.6 Ga) continental lithosphere. Supracrustal rocks record 650–750 °C, 6–8 kbar metamorphism (M2); these high temperatures may have been reached during sandwiching between c. 1.65 Ga granitoids. However, the early history has been obscured by renewed tectonism at c. 1.4 Ga that resulted in partial melting, fabric reactivation and new mineral growth at 4 kbar (M3). Metamorphic temperature variations from uppermost-amphibolite to amphibolite facies rocks may be associated with c. 1.65 and/or 1.4 Ga plutonism, but not to a 1.4 Ga extensional shear zone as previously proposed. Syn- and post-1.4 Ga contraction is suggested by high- and low-temperature microstructures showing top-to-the-south-east thrusting. This work reconciles conflicting models by suggesting that the geometry of the structures was mainly established by c. 1.65 Ga, but that the present fabric also records 1.4 Ga tectonism involving high-T metamorphism and fabric reactivation.
Laboratory applications testing of desalination antiscalants

Abstract A safe, effective new polymeric desalinatioan antiscalant has been marketed by Pfizer Inc. This maleic acid-containing polymer, FLOCON 247, was developed with the aid of a laboratory single stage recycle flash evaporator. The test unit described herein was designed to permit rapid quantitative evaluations of threshold scale inhibitors such that relative performance would correlate with desalination plant fouling rates. The chemical composition and morphology of scale from the unit are similar to those from full-sized MSF plants, based on atomic absorption spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. Using Atlantic Ocean seawater (3.2–3.5% TDS) with augmented scaling potential (added bicarbonate), the unit is operated at 121°C for 24 hours during a typical run. Heat transfer coefficient, concentration factor, blowdown pH, lost total alkalinity, and various temperatures, pressures, and flow rates are monitored periodically. At the end of the run, total scale deposited in the brine heater and flash chamber are measured and magnesium/calcium ratios are determined. This procedure enables performance testing of four antiscalant samples per week, and permits rapid generation of dose/response profiles.
Use of a local fasciocutaneous flap for treatment of exposed vascular grafts to the dorsalis pedis artery

Exposed or infected peripheral vascular grafts pose a significant challenge to the vascular surgeon. Although graft removal and extraanatomic bypass is feasible in selected circumstances, this procedure is generally not applicable for bypass to the pedal vessels. Preservation of patent grafts is almost always required for limb salvage. We present a case report of an exposed vein graft to the dorsalis pedis artery. We conclude that a local fasciocutaneous flap is an excellent treatment option, and describe the procedure in detail.
Specification execution model for detecting feature interactions

While independent provision of service results in normal operation, operation in tandem with other services causes defective operation to occur. These defects are called ‘feature interactions.’ Our investigation of the international benchmark for detection of feature interactions revealed that feature interactions not occurring in real systems (called ‘lsquo;seeming interactions’) were being detected. Analysis of the cause showed that a conventional state transition model was being used unchanged for the service specification execution model. Seeming interactions are an important issue for increasing the man-hours used to solve feature interactions. In this paper, we propose a trigger point model that clarifies the service specification trigger point as the specification execution model. Through use of this model, we were able to eliminate as seeming interactions about 60% of the feature interactions listed in the international benchmark, confirming the validity of the proposed model. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 90(4): 23–34, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.20349