cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards Accountable Capitalism: Remaking Corporate Law through Stakeholder Governance

Corporations today operate according to a model of corporate governance known as “shareholder primacy.” This theory claims that the purpose of a corporation is to generate returns for shareholders, and that decision-making should be focused on a singular goal: maximizing shareholder value. This single-minded focus — which often comes at the expense of investments in workers, innovation, and long-term growth — has contributed to today’s high-profit, low wage economy. With corporate rights should come societal responsibilities, but the rules of corporate America today do not guarantee that firms advance the public interest. It is time to change corporate governance law, reflected in a new framework, to ensure that the wealth created at the behest of public charters benefits the stakeholders who, collectively, generate prosperity. The changes to corporate governance that we recommend are intended to fundamentally rebalance power among stakeholders. Most notably, the rules that mandate the sole, shortsighted focus on stock price must be rewritten. Corporate decision-making must also consider every stakeholder who contributes to corporate success and ensure that all key stakeholders have a voice in governance of the firm.
Abstract 192: Disparities and Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation and Outcomes

Background: Prior studies have demonstrated disparities in access to cardiovascular procedures on the basis of socioeconomic status (SES). Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used as a brid...
Factors related to re-excision procedures following primary breast-conserving surgery for women with breast cancer in the U.S. Military Health System.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Re-excision surgery is undertaken to obtain clear margins after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for localized breast cancer. This study examines patient and tumor characteristics related to re-excision surgery in the universal-access Military Health System (MHS). METHODS Retrospective analysis of patients with pathologically confirmed stage I-III breast cancer between 1998 and 2014 in the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and MHS Data Repository-linked databases who received primary BCS. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression methods identified characteristics associated with re-excision surgery (lumpectomy and mastectomy) and conversion to mastectomy, given as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Of 7637 women receiving BCS, 26.3% had a re-excision and 9.9% converted to mastectomy. Tumor location, larger tumor size (≥4 cm), and regional lymph node involvement were associated with a greater likelihood of re-excision and mastectomy conversion. Pathology before BCS (AOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.35, 0.44 for re-excision) and neoadjuvant treatment (AOR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.36, 0.69 for re-excision) were associated with a decreased likelihood of these outcomes. Additionally, age, tumor histology, and military-specific variables were associated with mastectomy conversion. CONCLUSION Comprehensive preoperative workup, including tumor pathology, may better inform surgical decision-making and reduce re-excision rates.
Rapid initiation and growth life characterization of additively manufactured alloy 718 through compliance monitoring

Abstract Additive manufacturing offers significant design versatility which can be leveraged for complex geometries and microstructural tailoring through the manipulation of numerous process parameters. Structurally critical components require significant material characterization and qualification for each material iteration. Traditional methods for characterizing fatigue performance of materials is expensive and time consuming, so new test methods to rapidly quantify important fatigue characteristics and behavior is necessary to supplement standard data and increase the production of fatigue data for advanced alloys. Toward this end, specimen compliance is initially investigated to detect crack initiation in AM components under fatigue loading. Initial results indicate that this method detects crack initiation earlier and cheaper than optical or thermal imaging methods. The observations made in this investigation provide valuable insight on the dependence of fatigue initiation and growth life on applied stress and pore size which is critical for designing for AM components.
Estimating Large-Scale Tree Logit Models via a Difference of Strictly Convex Functions

We describe an efficient estimation method for large-scale tree logit models, using a novel change-of-variables transformation that allows us to express the negative log-likelihood as a difference of strictly convex functions. Exploiting this representation, we design a fast iterative method that computes a sequence of parameter estimates. At each iteration, parameters at leaf nodes are updated using a simple formula involving the Lambert-W function, while the parameters at non-leaf nodes are updated simultaneously by minimizing a strictly convex one-dimensional function over the unit interval. No step size or second-order derivative is required. The sequence of parameter estimates yields increasing likelihood values, and we show that every limit point is a stationary point. Numerical results show that our algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art optimization methods, especially for large-scale tree logit models with thousands of nodes.
An Efficient Task Mapping for Manycore Systems

System-on-chip (SoC) has migrated from single core to manycore architectures to cope with the increasing complexity of real-life applications. Application task mapping has a significant impact on the efficiency of manycore system (MCS) computation and communication. We present WAANSO, a scalable framework that incorporates a Wavelet Clustering based approach to cluster application tasks. We also introduce Ant Swarm Optimization (ASO) based on iterative execution of Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for task clustering and mapping to the MCS processing elements. We have shown that WAANSO can significantly increase the MCS energy and performance efficiencies. Based on our experiments on a 64-core system, WAANSO improves energy efficiency by 19%, compared to baseline approaches, namely DPSO, ACO and branch and bound (B&B). Additionally, the performance improves by 65.86% compared to Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) baseline.
Impact of a gas diffusion layer's structural and textural properties on oxygen mass transport resistance in the cathode and performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract In this work, we used our previously developed method for determination of oxygen mass transport coefficients (k) to evaluate the effects of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) structure and texture on oxygen mass transfer in a cathode electrode and on proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance. The method is based on measurements of limiting current distributions using oxygen mixtures with different diluents, which allows us to separate a contribution from gas phase molecular diffusion (km) and a combination of Knudsen diffusion and transport through ionomer/water films (kK+film). GDLs with varying microporous layer (MPL) loadings from 50 to 150% were used for the cathode electrode. The lack of an MPL in the GDL resulted in the highest values of km and kK+film but led to poor performance since the MPL plays a critical role in water management. Moreover, the application of a GDL without an MPL allowed the oxygen mass transport coefficient in the catalyst layer (kK+film, CL) to be directly determined. The contribution from the MPL to oxygen transport (kK, MPL) was separated by comparing the results for a cell with a GDL with and without an MPL. An increase in MPL loading caused a gradual decrease in O2 mass transport coefficients and improvement in PEMFC performance in the high power regime. The obtained structure-to-property correlations showed a trade-off in MPL content among mass transport properties, texture and high performance.
Total 12-lead QRS voltage in patients with spontaneous acute aortic dissection with an initiating tear in the ascending aorta

Because nearly all patients with acute aortic dissection have systemic hypertension, we examined electrocardiograms (ECGs) in 21 patients with spontaneous acute type A aortic dissection. An earlier...
Which Node Attribute Prediction Task Are We Solving? Within-Network, Across-Network, or Across-Layer Tasks.

Node attribute prediction tasks arise in a wide range of classification tasks on social networks. Examples include detecting spam accounts, identifying compromised accounts, and inferring user demographics for targeted marketing. Despite the prevalence of these types of tasks in machine learning and social science settings, clear problem definitions are lacking. Do all nodes have to be connected in a single network instance? What if there are labels in one network but not another? In this work, we propose a taxonomy that distinguishes between different node attribute prediction tasks; we formalize the existing distinction between within-network and across-network attribute prediction, which have been informally described in prior work, and also introduce a variation we call across-layer attribute prediction. With this framework in place, we observe that methods framed as applicable to across-network tasks have a history of being evaluated on across-layer problem instances. While the methods do well in the across-layer setting, we find that when evaluated in genuine across-network settings, performance can be more limited than previously suggested. We provide a way to analyze and possibly reconcile this predictive performance gap, and highlight why across-network prediction remains an important and open problem domain.
Solar-Powered Convenient Charging Station for Mobile Devices with Wireless Charging Capability

Mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and music players, have been increasingly popular. There is a strong demand for charging stations for these devices, especially in public places, such as bus stops, parks, beaches, schools, hospitals, and playgrounds. This project designs a convenient charging station for the mobile devices. It is renewable and supportive for diverse charging needs. The system key design parameters are: 200-W solar panel, 12-V 900-Wh deep-cycle lead acid battery, 300-W 120-VAC pure sine-wave inverter, 8 outlets (2 wireless, 4 DC USB and 2 AC). It aims to supply an average load of 175Wh. A prototype of the station is built and tested. The testing results show that the station works properly. The control system switches the outlets on and off accurately based on the battery available energy. On a sunny day, with the solar panel and the battery operational, the system can support a full load of 150Wh until the sun is gone. When operating without the solar panel using the fully-charged battery, the system can last at least 1.5 hours. The station can serve as a convenient power source. It helps promote the use of solar energy that is beneficial to the environment
Association of the tissue microstructural diffusivity and translocator protein PET in Gulf War Illness.

Abstract About a third of all United States veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War (GW) report a range of chronic health symptoms including fatigue, neurocognitive symptoms, and musculoskeletal pain. There is growing evidence supporting the detrimental effects of maladaptive neuroimmune reactions in this multi-symptom illness. Indeed, recent studies using positron emission tomography (PET) using the radioligand [11C]PBR28, which binds the neuroinflammation marker 18 ​kDa translocator protein (TSPO), and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) have independently identified the anterior cingulate (ACC) and midcingulate cortices (MCC) as key regions for differentiating GWI veterans from healthy controls (HC). Here, we used integrated (i.e., simultaneous) PET/MRI imaging techniques, paired with dMRI processing methods (neurite density imaging, NDI, and free-water diffusion tensor model to single-shell high-order dMRI), to directly evaluate the relationship between ACC and MCC microstructural tissue parameters, TSPO signal and clinical parameters in the same cohorts of 10 GWI veterans and 19 ​HCs. Within the regions evaluated, TSPO signal elevations were associated with restricted diffusivity in the extracellular compartment, while clinical measures were best explained by neurite density and cellular structure complexity measures. Our study is the first to provide evidence of a relationship between PET and dMRI modalities in GWI and suggests that microstructural changes in the ACC and MCC are correlated to mood symptoms and cognitive performances in GWI veterans.
The Domino Logic of the Darkest Moment: The Fall of Singapore, the Atlantic Echo Chamber, and ‘Chinese Penetration’ in u.s. Cold War Policy toward Southeast Asia

This essay argues that Anglo-American memories of Japan’s victory in Singapore in 1942, which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill labeled Britain’s “darkest moment” in World War II, soon would underpin the domino logic within u.s. Cold War strategy. For both American and British policymakers, Japan’s war machine had fused together in interconnected insecurity the bastions of Euro-American colonial power. In Southeast Asia, it had imposed the condition that one state’s vulnerabilities impinged upon the stability of its neighbor. This vision of Southeast Asia’s interconnected insecurity was central to the domino logic within u.s. Cold War policy. u.s. policymakers’ preoccupation with containing communism in Vietnam arose significantly from how Japan had torn into Southeast Asia from Indochina. After World War II, u.s. and British policymakers perceived Southeast Asian insecurity through both the prism of Japanese imperialism and their fears of an older “Yellow Peril"—China and Southeast Asia’s Chinese diaspora. Indeed, u.s. and British officials anticipated, as well as echoed and confirmed, each other’s suspicions that China and its diaspora would collaborate to reprise Japan’s campaign.
Longitudinal examination of infant baseline and reactivity cortisol from ages 7 to 16 months

This study characterized the longitudinal evolution of HPA axis functioning from 7 to 16 months of age and identified individual and environmental factors that shape changes in HPA axis functioning over time. Participants were 167 mother–infant dyads drawn from a larger longitudinal study, recruited based on maternal history of being maltreated during childhood. Salivary cortisol levels were assessed before and after age-appropriate psychosocial stressors when infants were 7 and 16 months old. Maternal observed parenting and maternal reports of infant and environmental characteristics were obtained at 7 months and evaluated as predictors of changes in infant baseline cortisol and reactivity from 7 to 16 months. Results revealed that infants did not show a cortisol response at 7 months, but reactivity to psychosocial stress emerged by 16 months. Individual differences in cortisol baseline and reactivity levels over time were related to infant sex and maternal overcontrolling behaviors, underscoring the malleable and socially informed nature of early HPA axis functioning. Findings can inform prevention and intervention efforts to promote healthy stress regulation during infancy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 57: 356–364, 2015.
Os centros de capacitação e produção em economia solidária pensados a partir da educação popular

Com a finalidade de discutir a formacao de sujeitos em espacos sociais e culturais, busca-se, neste artigo, apresentar a contribuicao do Tecnosocial/Unilasalle enquanto lugar de capacitacao e formacao na economia solidaria. O estudo apresenta um paradoxo: os solidos dao vez as relacoes liquidas e as representacoes sociais enquanto espaco de formacao instantânea e superficial. Pretende-se, com o texto, salientar a importância da construcao de lacos solidos e redes estaveis para os processos de formacao humana enquanto projetos de vida no campo da economia solidaria, trabalhando a ideia de desenvolvimento e potencializacao de espacos solidarios de geracao de trabalho e renda para Canoas e Regiao. Palavras-chave : Economia Solidaria; Educacao Popular; Centros de Capacitacao em Economia Solidaria. Resumen Con el fin de discutir la formacion de sujetos de derechos sociales y culturales, este articulo, busca presentar el aporte de Tecnosocial / Unilasalle como un lugar de formacion y educacion en economia solidaria. El estudio presenta una paradoja: los solidos dar tiempo a la red y las relaciones de las representaciones sociales como un espacio de formacion instantanea y superficial. Su objetivo es el texto para enfatizar la importancia de construir relaciones solidas y redes estables para los procesos de la vida humana, mientras que los proyectos en el ambito de la economia social, la idea de trabajar en el desarrollo y la mejora de los espacios de solidaridad para la generacion de empleos e ingresos para Canoas y la Region. Palabras clave : Economia Solidaria, Educacion Popular, Centros de Capacitacion en Economia Solidaria.
Teaching Urban Politics Through Baltimore City Elections

This paper chronicles participation in the 2011 Baltimore City Primary Election, focusing specifically on the race for the 9th District City Council seat. Through film and television portrayals in HBO’s ‘The Corner’ and ‘The Wire’, West Baltimore has long been perceived as an example of urban decline. Such neighborhoods – rife with violent crime, drug addiction, poverty, struggling schools, low educational attainment, unemployment, voter apathy and low turnout – are the culmination of years of disinvestment as well as political and economic neglect. Teaching urban politics requires a serious treatment of the aforementioned issues which are endemic to inner city neighborhoods.
Impacts of Blogging Motivation and Flow on Blogging Behavior

With the development of free and easy-to-use software programs, blogging has helped turn Web consumers into Web content providers. Blogging provides distinctive insight into comprehending e-consumer behavior explicitly with respect to social networking and information searching behaviors while facilitating a state of flow. The objectives of this study are to identify determinant dimensions of blogging motivations and flow, and to investigate the hypothesized relationships of the motivational blogging behavior. Analyzing data (n = 432) from a southwestern university, results reveal the critical dimensions of motivations, behaviors, and flow in blogging. Upon extending Hoffman and Novak's (1996) flow model, 14 out of 26 hypotheses were confirmed regarding the significant impacts of blogging motivations and flow on blogging behaviors. The findings revealed that the desire for information, enjoyment, and loyalty are the primary drivers for experiential blogging behavior. Specifically, information-seeking is the decisive motivation to urge experiential and e-shopping behavior concurrently. This study shows that indulgence and telepresence in flow might play pivotal mediating roles to promote the goal-oriented e-shopping behavior resulting enjoyment and loyalty-seeking motivations.
Accuracy effects in pattern recognition neural nets

Various errors, including analog accuracy, nonlinearities, and noise, are present in all neural networks. The author considers their effects in training and testing on two different pattern recognition neural nets. He shows that the neural nets considered allow some such effects to be included inherently in the neural net synthesis algorithm and that the effect of the other error sources can be trained out by proper selection of neural net design parameters. Multiclass distortion-invariant pattern recognition neural nets are considered. The results are applicable to analog VLSI and optical neural nets. >
Management of acutely bleeding patients who refuse blood transfusion

Patients who refuse blood transfusions yet require them for continued health present difficulties to physicians. In the elective setting, physicians and patients can calmly discuss benefits, risks, alternatives and referral to special centers that have a niche practice in bloodless medicine. Care of the acutely bleeding patient who objects to transfusion presents a uniquely challenging situation. Patients may refuse based upon general health considerations or deeply held religious beliefs. In the exsanguinating patient, lengthy conversations are not options nor are referrals to specialized centers. Management of the acutely bleeding transfusion objector is presented and highlights the medical, moral, ethical and legal issues physicians will find themselves confronted with. Surgical and pharmacological interventions that may be of benefit will also be discussed.
Static memory management for efficient mobile sensing applications

Memory management is a crucial aspect of mobile sensing applications that must process high-rate data streams in an energy-efficient manner. Our work is done in the context of synchronous data-flow models in which applications are implemented as a graph of components that exchange data at fixed and known rates over FIFO channels. In this paper, we show that it is feasible to leverage the restricted semantics of synchronous data-flow models to optimize memory management. Our memory optimization approach includes two components: (1) We use abstract interpretation to analyze the complete memory behavior of a mobile sensing application and identify data sharing opportunities across components according to the live ranges of exchanged samples. Experiments indicate that the static analysis is precise for a majority of considered stream applications whose control logic does not depend on input data. (2) We propose novel heuristics for memory allocation that leverage the graph structure of applications to optimize data exchanges between application components to achieve not only significantly lower memory footprints but also increased stream processing throughput. We incorporate code generation techniques that transform a stream program into efficient C code. The memory optimizations are implemented as a new compiler for the StreamIt programming language. Experiments show that our memory optimizations reduce memory footprint by as much as 96% while matching or improving the performance of the StreamIt compiler with cache optimizations enabled. These results suggest that highly efficient stream processing engines may be built using synchronous data-flow languages.
Absorptive Capacity, Knowledge Flows and Innovation in US Metropolitan Areas

High growth and progressive regions possess a culture that promotes innovation. Innovation depends on a region’s ability to use its own existing knowledge and knowledge generated elsewhere. This paper demonstrates the importance of the ability to absorb external knowledge in explaining innovation productivity for US metropolitan areas. Our measure of absorptive capacity, derived from a knowledge flow model, has a positive and significant impact on innovation productivity. We identify local conditions that shape a region’s absorptive capacity. We also contribute to the knowledge flow literature by providing a precise estimate of the geographical area within which knowledge generated in one region positively affects others, and showing that resistance to regional knowledge flows are influenced by the sizes of the regions.
Electric Polarizability of the Neutron

A complete set of gauge- and Lorentz-invariant matrix elements is found for the interaction gamma + N yields gamma + N (N = nucleon). This set yields the interaction S matrix, which in turn is used to find the neutron electric polarizability. (T.F.H.)
Motivations of New York and Virginia Marine Boat Anglers and Their Preferences for Potential Fishing Constraints

Abstract Four potential marine recreational angling constraints were identified as appropriate for use where needed in the Mid-Atlantic region: (1) limit the catch kept per angler per day, (2) set minimum size limits on catch kept, (3) limit an angler to two fishing rods and lines, and (4) prohibit the sale of fish caught by anglers. More than one-half of the New York and Virginia marine anglers who fish from boats in the Mid-Atlantic region and who were interviewed reported they either favored or were neutral to the four constraints considered, assuming some constraint was needed. A minimum size limit was most acceptable; more than 80% of the anglers either favored this constraint or were neutral. Eighty-three percent of the anglers reported that their rate of participation in fishing would not be affected, regardless of which constraint might be imposed. Anglers were motivated to take their marine fishing trips for a variety of reasons—having fun, change from daily routines, social interaction, enjoying...
Risk‐learning process in forming willingness‐to‐pay for egg safety

Using data obtained from a mail survey on consumers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) and risk beliefs for reducing the risk of salmonella contamination of eggs, we have examined the risk-learning process through which individuals form their WTP. The results of estimation of the WTP function support the hypothesis that respondents follow an adaptive learning process, in which they establish their posterior risk belief in a rational manner by adapting their prior risk belief as they are supplied with new risk information. We find that the weight of the prior risk belief is slightly smaller than that of new risk information in forming the posterior risk belief for three out of four estimation models. Knowledge of how consumers form their risk beliefs and who evaluates egg safety enables us to clearly specify targets for effective campaigns to enhance public awareness at a household level about health and food safety issues. [EconLit citations: D120, Q260.] © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 20: 167–179, 2004.
Ageing and the mystery at Arles

What determines how long we will live? Studies of simple organisms, single cells and mammals hint that certain shared principles underlie ageing, and raise the possibility of devising ways to extend life — if we want to.
EVIDENCE OF GENDER-SPECIFIC MOTOR TEMPLATES TO RESIST VALGUS LOADING AT THE KNEE

Gender differences in neuromuscular control of the lower extremity may contribute to increased injury risk in females, but the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these differences remain unclear. In this study, we sought to explore the effect of gender on volitional and reflex neuromuscular responses to a rapid valgus perturbation at the knee applied under “intervene” and “do not intervene” conditions. Multiple 7° ramp-and-hold valgus perturbations were applied at the neutrally extended knee of 12 male and 12 female healthy subjects, while surface electromyography over the quadriceps and hamstrings recorded the neuromuscular response. Volitional responses did not vary between groups, perhaps reflecting the relative novelty of the loading direction. However, reflex responses observed under the “do not intervene” paradigm did vary by gender. Males demonstrated much more frequent and consistent reflex muscle activation than females. Moreover, muscle activation patterns were gender-specific. Diminished responses in female subjects may indicate that the position-based valgus perturbation did not produce the necessary mechanical stimulus to elicit reflexes. These gender differences in reflex control of the knee provide new insight into the control of frontal-plane knee joint movement and loading and may elucidate the neuromechanical underpinnings associated with neuromuscular control.
A note on solving the Buckley-Leverett equation in the presence of gravity

Abstract The numerical solution to the Buckley-Leverett equation in the presence of gravity is considered. An extension of the use of the Uniform Sampling Method to cases when the fractional flow function has more than one inflection point is described. Results of numerical experiments are presented.
Effect of meteoroid rotation on atmospheric entry heating and meteor beginning height

The beginning height of a meteor varies by approximately 10 km depending on the rotation state of a spherical meteoroid as long as the body sustains a temperature gradient. Such gradients build up in friable stony meteoroids larger than approximately 0.1 cm and in iron meteoroids that are approximately 1 cm or larger. The height where 100 microns or smaller zodiacal dust particles ablate is nearly independent of rotation. Stony particles in the 100 microns size range ablate near 120 km while both larger and smaller meteoroids penetrate deeper. All calculations were made with a nominal speed of 30 km/s and a zenithal distance equal to z(sub r) = 0 deg. Larger meteoroids cool their surface by conduction to the interior while smaller meteoroids decelerate significantly due to their large surface area to mass ratio so that the surface receives a lower energy flux. Some micro-meteoroids smaller than approximately 10 microns may escape abalation altogether at the nominal velocity. The effect of rotation on particle temperature during atmospheric flight is significant on meteoroids larger than 0.1 cm but may be negligible on micro-meteorites that are typically 10-50 microns in diameter.
Role of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Promoting Breastfeeding for Late Preterm Infants in Primary Care Settings

The preterm birth rate has been increasing steadily during the past two decades. Up to two thirds of this increase has been attributed to the increasing rate of late preterm births (34 to < 37 gestational weeks). The advantages of breastfeeding for premature infants appear to be even greater than for term infants; however, establishing breastfeeding in late-preterm infants is frequently more problematic. Because of their immaturity, late preterm infants may have less stamina; difficulty with latch, suck, and swallow; temperature instability; increased vulnerability to infection; hyperbilirubinemia, and more respiratory problems than the full-term infant. Late preterm infants usually are treated as full term and discharged within 48 hours of birth, so pediatric nurse practitioners in primary care settings play a critical role in promoting breastfeeding through early assessment and detection of breastfeeding difficulties and by providing anticipatory guidance related to breastfeeding and follow-up. The purpose of this article is to describe the developmental and physiologic immaturity of late preterm infants and to highlight the role of pediatric nurse practitioners in primary care settings in supporting and promoting breastfeeding for late preterm infants.
Chemical recovery of surface waters across the northeastern united states from reduced inputs of acidic deposition: 1984-2001.

Changes in lake water chemistry between 1984 and 2001 at 130 stratified random sites across the northeastern United States were studied to evaluate the population-level effects of decreases in acidic deposition. Surface-water SO{sub 4}{sup 2-} concentrations decreased across the region at a median rate of -1.53 {mu}equiv L{sup -1} year{sup -1}. Calcium concentrations also decreased, with a median rate of -1.73 {mu}equiv L{sup -1} year{sup -1}. This decrease in Ca{sub 2+} retarded the recovery of surface water acid neutralizing capacity (Gran ANC), which increased at a median rate of 0.66 {mu}equiv L{sup -1} year{sup -1}. There were small increases in pH in all subregions except central New England and Maine, where the changes were not statistically significant. Median NO{sub 3}{sup -} trends were not significant except in the Adirondacks, where NO{sub 3}{sup -} concentrations increased at a rate of 0.53 equiv L{sup -1} year{sup -1}. A regionwide decrease in the concentration of total Al, especially in ponds with low ANC values (ANC {lt} 25 {mu}equiv L{sup -1}), was observed in the Adirondack subregion. These changes in Al were consistent with the general pattern of increasing pH and ANC. Despite the general pattern of chemical recovery, many ponds remain chronically acidicmore » or are susceptible to episodic acidification. The continued chemical and biological recovery at sites in the northeastern United States will depend on further controls on S and N emissions. 27 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.« less
Small-college supercomputing: building a Beowulf cluster at a comprehensive college

A Beowulf cluster is a MIMD multiprocessor built from commodity off-the-shelf personal computers connected via a dedicated network, running free open-source software. Such a cluster can provide a supercomputer's performance at a small fraction of one's cost. For small colleges and universities, the relatively low cost of a Beowulf cluster makes it an attractive alternative to a commercial supercomputer. This paper details our experience building a Beowulf cluster at a four-year comprehensive college.
Dispersion of peaks by short straight open tubes in liquid chromatography systems

Abstract The theory of spreading of a sample peak in a long straight open tube is known. However, when the tube becomes shorter than 30 theoretical plates, the eluted peak becomes non-gaussian and the theory for long tubes does not apply. This is the case for connecting tubes, injection loops and detector flow cells in liquid chromatographic (LC) systems. In earlier work, we studied the theory of this case using a computer model combining Poiseuille flow with diffusion, obtaining unexpected results about how samples wash out of short tubes. This work extends that study to obtain the peak shapes and bandwidths eluted from straight open tubes ranging from 0.01 to 30 plates in length. An empirical expression was found for peak width which fits the results of the computer model to within 4% over this entire range. Below 3 plates, the normalized peak width is approximated by a constant times the inverse fourth root of normalized tube length in plates. It becomes as small as a quarter of the value predicted by the long tube theory for 0.01 plates. Experimental measurements on short tubes agree approximately with the computer model when diffusion is the only cause of radial mixing. An expression was derived which determines whether a tube is sufficiently straight so that secondary flow is unimportant compared with diffusion as a cause of radial mixing. Measurements on curved tubes are consistent with the expression. The conditions under which measurements of peak spreading in an open tube can be used to obtain the diffusivity of an LC sample are discussed. A consequence of these results is that LC systems can be designed with substantially less bandwidth contribution from extra-column components than would be predicted using the long tube theory. Another consequence is that variances contributed by consecutive segments of short open tubes are not additive unless there is complete radial mixing at the connections between segments.
The exon encoding the fibronectin type III-9 repeat is constitutively included in the mRNA from chick limb mesenchyme and cartilage

Abstract The fibronectin monomer is comprised of three types of homologous repeating units, the types I, II, and III elements. Each type III repeat is encoded by two exons except for the two type III repeats involved in alternative splicing (IIIB and IIIA) and the type III-9 repeat which are all encoded by one exon. The fact that the type III-9 repeat is the only other type III repeat encoded by one exon has led to speculation that this exon may also be alternatively spliced. However, no evidence exists for alternative splicing of this exon in any tissues examined to date. The recent localization of a cell adhesion synergy site within the type 111-9 repeat increases the likelihood of functional ramifications if the, exon encoding this repeat is alternatively spliced in specific cells or tissues. We have shown previously that chick cartilage contains an unusual fibronectin mRNA splicing pattern and that the pattern changes during chondrogenesis from B + A + V + to B + A - V + . In order to completely characterize the fibronectin mRNA in cartilage and other mesenchymal tissues for all possible alternative splicing events, we have determined whether or not the exon encoding the type III-9 repeat is alternatively spliced in these tissues. RNase protection and RT/PCR assays indicate that the fibronectin mRNA in all of these tissues, including cartilage, contains the type 11I-9 repeat as a constitutively included exon. Thus the exon encoding the type III-9 repeat will serve as a useful control exon for examining the regulation of tissue-specific alternative splicing during chondrogenesis.
2007 survey of radiologists: source of income and impact of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

A 2007 survey obtained information that facilitates estimates of the impact of the newly in effect Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) and upcoming antimarkup legislation. The survey was a stratified random sample survey of ACR radiologist members and practice leaders conducted in May and June 2007. In total, 601 responses were received from currently practicing radiologists. The response rate was 20%, and the margin of error was ±4.3% at the 95% confidence level. The DRA placed a cap on technical-component payments from Medicare for nonhospital imaging services beginning in January 2007. The primary survey topics related to the effect of the DRA included the professional and technical components of income, income derived from Medicare patients, practice changes resulting from Medicare payment cuts, and outside readings. An average of 18% of radiologists' income is from technical-component sources. Radiologists whose percentages of income derived from the technical component were above average and included those aged 47 to 54 years, owners of outpatient imaging facilities, radiologists in the Northeast, and radiologists at nonacademic practices. After implementation of the DRA, practices were more likely to lay off staff members and cancel purchases of imaging equipment and less likely to reduce imaging services provided.
List T -colorings of graphs

Abstract A T-coloring of a graph G is a coloring (with positive integers) of V(G) such that the absolute value of the difference between any two colors assigned to adjacent vertices does not belong to a set T of nonnegative integers. Given a set T and an integer k, a graph G is T-k-choosable if, for every assignment of (possibly different) lists of k integers to the vertices of G, there exists a T-coloring of G coloring each vertex with an element from the list assigned to that vertex. Exact values and bounds on the smallest k needed to be T-k-choosable are presented for various classes of graphs and T-sets. T-k-choosability has applications in radio and television frequency assignment.
A Brazilian disk for measuring fracture toughness of orthotropic materials

A Brazilian disk test specimen is calibrated for the determination of the mixed-mode fracture toughness of orthotropic materials. The specimen is well-suited for investigating the fracture toughness of orthotropic materials over the complete range of mode mixtures, 0–90°. The K dominance zone around the crack tip exists and can be as large as a5 for the Brazilian disk, provided that the zone of nonlinear effects is small (a is the half-crack length). The rationale for determining the stress intensity factors under mixed-mode loading conditions and the calibration curves, relevant to a number of orthotropic materials, relating maximum load and loading angle to KI and KII are presented.
Reexamining the impact of information technology investment on productivity using regression tree and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS)

As health care costs increased significantly in the 1990s, investments in information technology (IT) in the health care industry have also increased continuously in order to improve the quality of patient care and to respond to government pressure to reduce costs. Several studies have investigated the impact of IT on productivity with mixed conclusions. In this paper, we revisit this issue and re-examine the impact of investments in IT on hospital productivity using two data mining techniques, which allowed us to explore interactions between the input variables as well as conditional impacts. The results of our study indicated that the relationship between IT investment and productivity is very complex. We found that the impact of IT investment is not uniform and the rate of IT impact varies contingent on the amounts invested in the IT Stock, Non-IT Labor, Non-IT Capital, and possibly time.
Effects of including raw or extruded field peas (Pisum sativum L.) in diets fed to weanling pigs

BACKGROUND: There is limited information about the response to field peas fed to weanling pigs. Two experiments were therefore conducted to investigate effects of including increasing levels of field peas in weanling pig diets. RESULTS: In Experiment 1, a reduction (linear, P < 0.05) in average daily gain (551, 574, 541, 548, 512 and 533 g d−1) was observed in response to increasing levels of raw field peas (0, 120, 240, 360, 480 and 600 g kg−1) in diets fed from day 14 to 42 post weaning. In Experiment 2, the inclusion of raw field peas (0, 245 or 490 g kg−1) in the diets reduced (linear, P < 0.05) feed intake from day 14 to 39 post weaning, but average daily gain and gain:feed were unaffected by the use of raw field peas. The response to extruded field peas was not different from that to raw field peas. CONCLUSION: Up to 360 g kg−1 raw field peas may be included in nursery diets without negatively influencing pig growth performance provided that diets are balanced for indispensable amino acids. Results from this work do not support any advantage of extruding the field peas. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
High Performance Motion Tracking Control for Electronic Manufacturing

Motion control requirements in electronic manufacturing demand both higher speeds and greater precision to accommodate continuously shrinking part/feature sizes and higher densities. However, improving both performance criteria simultaneously is difficult because of resonances that are inherent to the underlying positioning systems. This paper presents an experimental study of a feedforward controller that was designed for a point-to-point motion control system on a modern and state of the art laser processing system for electronics manufacturing. We systematically apply model identification, inverse dynamics control, iterative refinement (to address modeling inaccuracies), and adaptive least mean square to achieve high speed trajectory tracking. The key innovations lie in using the identified model to generate the gradient descent used in the iterative learning control, encoding the result from the learning control in a finite impulse response filter and adapting the finite impulse response coefficients during operation using the least-mean-square update based on position, velocity, and acceleration feedforward signals. Experimental results are provided to show the efficacy of the proposed approach, a variation of which has been implemented on the production machine.
KINETICS AND MECHANISM FOR INTRAMOLECULAR ISOMERIZATION OF HRu3 (μ3-η3-EtSCCMeCMe)(CO)9 TO Ru3(μ-SEt) (μ3-η3-CCMeCHMe)(CO)9

Abstract The kinetics for isomerization of HRu3 (μ3-η3-EtSCCMeCMe)(CO)9 TO Ru3(μ-SEt) (μ3-η3-CCMeCHMe)(CO)9, were determined. The overall process involves C[sbnd]H elimination, C[sbnd]S and Ru[sbnd]Ru bond cleavage and Ru2(μ-S) bond formation. Activation parameters were determined from the temperature dependence (ΔH‡ = 127(3) kJ/mol, ΔS‡= 56(11) J/mol-K) and from the pressure dependence (0[sbnd]207 MPa, ΔV‡ 0 +12.7(1.1) cm3/mol, Δβ‡ = +0.037(0.012) cm3/(mol-MPa)) of the rate constant. The data are consistent with an intramolecular reaction involving significant metal-metal or carbon-sulfur bond cleavage in the transition state. The activation volume is too large to be accommodated by C[sbnd]H elimination alone and CO dissociation is not involved.
Leukemia inhibitor factor promotes functional recovery and oligodendrocyte survival in rat models of focal ischemia

Human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cells have shown efficacy in rodent models of focal ischemia and in vitro systems that recapitulate stroke conditions. One potential mechanism of protection is through secretion of soluble factors that protect neurons and oligodendrocytes (OLs) from oxidative stress. To overcome practical issues with cellular therapies, identification of soluble factors released by HUCB and other stem cells may pave the way for treatment modalities that are safer for a larger percentage of stroke patients. Among these soluble factors is leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a cytokine that exerts pleiotropic effects on cell survival. Here, data show that LIF effectively reduced infarct volume, reduced white matter injury and improved functional outcomes when administered to rats following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. To further explore downstream signaling, primary oligodendrocyte cultures were exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) to mimic stroke conditions. LIF significantly reduced lactate dehydrogenase release from OLs, reduced superoxide dismutase activity, and induced peroxiredoxin 4 (Prdx4) transcript. Additionally, the protective and antioxidant capacity of LIF was negated by both Akt inhibition and co-incubation with Prdx4 neutralizing antibodies, establishing a role for the Akt signaling pathway and Prdx4-mediated antioxidation in LIF protection.
Decommissioning Russia's nuclear subs.

In his article “Haunted by Red October” (News Focus, 12 Sept., p. 1460), Paul Webster indicates that significant hurdles remain in Russia's attempt to decommission submarines and store nuclear waste. He also highlights achievements in facilities in Severodvinsk, Russia. The United States, Norway, and other nations have provided crucial financial support for Russian programs. Some U.S. officials contend that the Russians have not been forthcoming over how they have used past moneys. Others raise concerns over access and liability issues. However, these criticisms should not lead to the curtailment of successful programs such as those sponsored under the Cooperative Threat Reduction program. Cutting funds will prevent stewardship of nuclear materials and proper waste storage. There is a problem with the low level of funding that Russia's Minatom contributes to nuclear waste containment, given that it has embarked on an overly ambitious program to build dozens of civilian power stations, including floating reactors, by the year 2020 ([1][1]). Shouldn't Minatom focus on old problems before creating new ones? There are also other important ways to foster openness and accountability in Russia's nuclear industries. One is a combination of private, foundation, and federal funding to support cooperative efforts between Russian and U.S. citizens for openness and accountability. A variety of effective federally funded programs exist, and the U.S. government could easily increase the level of support for them, which would purchase goodwill, openness, and cooperation at a low cost. 1. 1.[↵][2]1. P. Josephson , Hist. Technol. 19, 279 (2003). [OpenUrl][3] [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1. in text" [3]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DHist.%2BTechnol.%26rft.volume%253D19%26rft.spage%253D279%26rft.atitle%253DHIST%2BTECHNOL%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx