cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The State of Contracts Scholarship in the United States

This paper reports on the state of contracts scholarship in the United States, utilizing two methods of approximating where scholarship has focused since 2007 and where it is headed in the future.
Two-dimensional motion of a parabolically confined charged particle in a perpendicular magnetic field

The classical two-dimensional motion of a parabolically confined charged particle in presence of a perpendicular magnetic is studied. The resulting equations of motion are solved exactly by using a mathematical method which is based on the introduction of complex variables. The two-dimensional motion of a parabolically charged particle in a perpendicular magnetic field is strikingly different from either the two-dimensional cyclotron motion, or the oscillator motion. It is found that the trajectory of a parabolically confined charged particle in a perpendicular magnetic field is closed only for particular values of cyclotron and parabolic confining frequencies that satisfy a given commensurability condition. In these cases, the closed paths of the particle resemble Lissajous figures, though significant differences with them do exist. When such commensurability condition is not satisfied, path of particle is open and motion is no longer periodic. In this case, after a sufficiently long time has elapsed, the open paths of the particle fill a whole annulus, a region lying between two concentric circles of different radii.
The can and cannot do attitude: How self-estimates of ability vary across ethnic and socioeconomic groups

Abstract How people think about their own abilities is an important predictor of educational and work attainment. This study examines group differences in the self-concept of intelligence and creativity. We compared self-concept of ability in relation to ethnic group membership (White, African American, and Hispanic) and social class (working class, middle class) in a large sample of undergraduate students ( N = 3289). Both ethnicity and social class were related to self-estimates of ability (favoring White and middle class students), with group differences being stronger for intelligence than creative abilities. White middle class students show an advantage in their self-concept of intelligence in comparison to minority working class students. For self-estimates of creativity, however, White middle class students show an advantage only in relation to working class Hispanic, but not African American students.
A conceptual framework for understanding information seeking in open-ended information systems

Technologies such as the Internet and World Wide Web are changing our conceptions of information systems, from who uses them and how they are used, to how the systems are created and who is doing the creating. Everyday users are afforded the same information retrieval opportunities as information scientists or librarians by using emerging information systems such as the Web. Yet, defining best practices for assisting users in finding the information they seek remains an unrealized goal. Discovering how users engage in information retrieval and strategy building while searching for information in open-ended systems such as the Web is an area in need of exploration if these systems are to fulfill their potential as tools for information seeking and learning. This paper describes a theoretically and empirically based framework for how users formulate and employ information-seeking strategies in open-ended information systems (OEISs). Background information and challenges related to OEISs are provided. OEIS theoretical and user perspectives are described. An example based on a recent research study is provided to illustrate use of the OEIS information-seeking framework. Implications for practice and research are offered.
Chemistry and Mechanism of Vanadate-Promoted Photooxidative Cleavage of Myosin†

Irradiation of the stable myosin subfragment 1(S1)·MgADP·orthovanadate (Vi) complex results in oxidation of an active site serine (Ser-180) to a serine aldehyde [Cremo, C. R., Grammer, J. C., & Yount, R. G. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 6608−6611]. This photomodified S1 will reform a new MgADP·Vi complex and upon a second irradiation, the S1 heavy chain is cleaved into 21 kDa NH2-terminal and 74 kDa COOH-terminal fragments. When S1, in which the side chain of Ser-180 was tritiated, was photocleaved tritium was released from the protein suggesting that cleavage was occurring at Ser-180. The 21 kDa NH2-terminal fragment was resistant to carboxypeptidase digestion, and the 74 kDa COOH-terminal fragment yielded no sequence by Edman degradation, indicating that parts of Ser-180 went to each fragment. To identify these parts, the two cleavage fragments were isolated and chemically (21 kDa) or enzymatically (74 kDa) cleaved, and the resulting peptides were separated by reversed phase HPLC. The peptides immediately ...
Identification of double-stranded virus-specific ribonucleic acid in KB cells infected with type 2 adenovirus.

Abstract Using agarose gel chromatography, RNA with characteristics of double-stranded molecules was isolated from KB cells infected with type 2 adenovirus. Results of studies measuring its susceptibility to a number of nuclease activities were consistent with its identification as double-stranded RNA. The material was resistant to digestion by both pancreatic and T1 ribonuclease and by pancreatic deoxyribonuclease; and after heating at 100°C, it was much more sensitive to ribonuclease hydrolysis. Moreover, nearly 30% of the RNA formed a ribonuclease-resistant hybrid when denatured and incubated with purified type 2 adenovirus DNA, indicating that at least a portion of the double-stranded RNA in infected KB cells was transcribed from the viral genome.
Poverty weighted measures of social welfare change

Abstract This paper treats the index of social welfare change developed by Ahluwalia and Chenery. Some discussions of the methodology of this index conclude that the rate of change in GNP is a flawed measure of change in social welfare since it is biased against the poor. It is argued on the contrary that this conclusion is based on an improperly specified opportunity cost of favoring one income group over another in the design of development policy.
Hidden access control policies with hidden credentials

In an open environment such as the Internet, the decision to collaborate with a stranger (e.g., by granting access to a resource) is often based on the characteristics (rather than the identity) of the requester, via digital credentials: Access is granted if Alice's credentials satisfy Bob's access policy. The literature contains many scenarios in which it is desirable to carry out such trust negotiations in a privacy-preserving manner, i.e., so as minimize the disclosure of credentials and/or of access policies. Elegant solutions were proposed for achieving various degrees of privacy-preservation through minimal disclosure. In this paper, we present an efficient protocol that protects both sensitive credentials and policies. That is, Alice gets the resource only if she satisfies Bob's policy, Bob does not learn anything about Alice's credentials (not even whether Alice got access or not), and Alice learns neither Bob's policy structure nor which credentials caused her to gain access.
Discontinuation of oral anticoagulation preceding acute ischemic stroke – prevalence and outcomes: Comprehensive chart review

AbstractIntroduction: Oral anticoagulants (OAC) are the therapy of choice to prevent thromboembolism in patients at risk. Discontinuation of OAC prior to elective medical and surgical procedures may reduce the risk of bleeding, but may expose patients to increased risk of thromboembolism and ischemic stroke. The current public health burden of ischemic strokes associated with OAC discontinuation is unknown. We aimed to study the prevalence OAC discontinuation in patients who presented with acute ischemic stroke as well as the outcomes of these strokes. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study by intensive chart review of all acute ischemic stroke patients over 6 months in a large tertiary care community hospital. Results: A total of 431 patients with acute ischemic stroke were admitted during study period, of which 11 (2.6%) had OAC discontinuation within 120 days prior to the index admission. Several strokes occurred after relatively brief discontinuations. The patient group with discontinuation was ...
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON DEPLOYMENT OF AUTOMATED HIGHWAY SYSTEMS

The optimal ranges of traffic flow and capacity will be determined for selected scenarios, in which different proportions of automated and conventional traffic will operate simultaneously in an automated highway system (AHS). It is found that there will be a substantial increase in the net benefit and the traffic flow and capacity ranges when there is a higher proportion of AHS traffic. The optimal range of capacity refers to the maximum range of traffic volumes, for which there will be some net benefit, which is the difference between the total cost and the total benefit for each flow. The total cost represents the production and operating costs of the infrastructure and the expenditure borne by the user, whereas the total benefit refers to the time saving to the user. It is concluded that more AHS vehicles should be produced in order to achieve economic efficiency, improved traffic capacity, and safety in travel.
Cancer classification and prediction using logistic regression with Bayesian gene selection

In microarray-based cancer classification and prediction, gene selection is an important research problem owing to the large number of genes and the small number of experimental conditions. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian approach to gene selection and classification using the logistic regression model. The basic idea of our approach is in conjunction with a logistic regression model to relate the gene expression with the class labels. We use Gibbs sampling and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods to discover important genes. To implement Gibbs Sampler and MCMC search, we derive a posterior distribution of selected genes given the observed data. After the important genes are identified, the same logistic regression model is then used for cancer classification and prediction. Issues for efficient implementation for the proposed method are discussed. The proposed method is evaluated against several large microarray data sets, including hereditary breast cancer, small round blue-cell tumors, and acute leukemia. The results show that the method can effectively identify important genes consistent with the known biological findings while the accuracy of the classification is also high. Finally, the robustness and sensitivity properties of the proposed method are also investigated.
Judicial Review in Britain

Britain does not have a written constitution, which provides for a common assessment that it has no constitutional law. However, it actually instead provides a limiting case for considering the inf...
A pathway analysis method for genome-wide association studies.

For genome-wide association studies, we propose a new method for identifying significant biological pathways. In this approach, we aggregate data across single-nucleotide polymorphisms to obtain summary measures at the gene level. We then use a hierarchical Bayesian model, which takes the gene-level summary measures as data, in order to evaluate the relevance of each pathway to an outcome of interest (e.g., disease status). Although shifting the focus of analysis from individual genes to pathways has proven to improve the statistical power and provide more robust results, such methods tend to eliminate a large number of genes whose pathways are unknown. For these genes, we propose to use a Bayesian multinomial logit model to predict the associated pathways by using the genes with known pathways as the training data. Our hierarchical Bayesian model takes the uncertainty regarding the pathway predictions into account while assessing the significance of pathways. We apply our method to two independent studies on type 2 diabetes and show that the overlap between the results from the two studies is statistically significant. We also evaluate our approach on the basis of simulated data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Head gestures for computer control

This paper explores the ways in which head gestures can be applied to the user interface. Four categories of gestural task are considered: pointing, continuous control, spatial selection and symbolic selection. For each category, the problem is examined in the abstract, focusing on human factors and an analysis of the task, then solutions are presented which take into consideration sensing constraints and computational efficiency. A hybrid pointer control algorithm is described that is better suited for facial pointing than either pure rate control or pure position control approaches. Variations of the algorithm are described for scrolling and selection tasks. The primary contribution is to address a full range of interactive head gestures using a consistent approach which focuses as much on user and task constraints as on sensing considerations.
Nurse-Patient Communication Interactions in the Intensive Care Unit

More than 2.7 million patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in the United States each year are unable to speak, in large part because of the presence of artificial airways and assisted ventilation (ie, mechanical ventilation).1,2 Communication ability may be further impaired during critical illness by sedation, fatigue, delirium, or neurological disease.3 Communication difficulty is the most commonly reported distressing symptom for ICU patients receiving mechanical ventilation4–7 and is associated with anxiety, panic, anger, frustration, sleeplessness, and distress.4,5,8–11 Nurses also report frustration when patients are unable to verbally report their symptoms, pain levels, and needs.12,13 Problems associated with the inability to speak during critical illness are well-known; however, the actual process of nurse-patient communication in the ICU has not been well studied or systematically measured. Without these data, it is difficult to construct appropriate and evidence-based standards for communication with nonspeaking critically ill patients.3 Efforts to improve communication with ICU patients should be built on a clear understanding of existing strengths and weaknesses in the communication process. In this article, we report findings from the first (usual care) phase of a larger 3-phase clinical trial of nurse-patient communication in the ICU.14 The purpose of this prospective substudy is to describe (1) the frequency, success, quality, and ease of nurse-patient communication interactions and (2) the communication methods and assistive strategies used between nurses and nonspeaking patients in the ICU during usual care.
Issues in evaluating ambient displays in the wild: two case studies

In this paper we discus the complex task of evaluating ambient displays, concentrating on issues within in-situ deployments. We start by describing how these technologies have been evaluated in lab settings, where the focus has been primarily on issues of usability, and argue strongly for the necessity of in-situ evaluation. We then present two case studies involving in-situ evaluations, and from these derive issues that hindered the researchers from being able to delve more deeply into the overall impact of their implementations. We conclude with our own suggestions on possible alternatives to explore for evaluating ambient displays, which are based on the issues derived from our case studies.
Needlestick injuries among medical students.

Abstract Background: Concern about occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens exists, and medical students, who lack in experience in patient care and surgical technique, may be at an increased exposure risk. Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated needlestick injuries and practices regarding the use of protective strategies against bloodborne pathogens in medical students. A questionnaire was developed and sent to 224 medical students. Results: Of 224 students, 146 students (64%) returned questionnaires. Forty-three students (30%) reported needlestick injuries that most commonly occurred in the operating room; 86% of students reported always using double gloves in the operating room; 90% reported always wearing eye protection, and all but one student had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. A concern about contracting a bloodborne pathogen through work was noted in 125 students, although they usually reported that this concern only slightly influenced their decision regarding a career subspecialty. Conclusion: Medical students have a high risk for needlestick injuries, and attention should be directed to protection strategies against bloodborne pathogens. (Am J Infect Contol 2003;31:226-30.)
The Academic Motivation of At-Risk Students in a Counseling Prevention Program

School dropout is a problem that has distressing personal and societal consequences. Not surprising, students who drop out are typically not academically motivated. This phenomenological study examined the meanings that students construct about academic motivation while participating in a dropout prevention program that primarily uses counseling. Twenty interviews were conducted and transcribed. Six themes emerged from 172 significant statements and corresponding meaning units: self-efficacy, purpose of school, family influences, relationships at school, counselor influence, and school structures and activities. Findings revealed the essence of academic motivation—namely, the importance of relationships in nurturing such motivation. Implications highlight caring relationships as a key factor, fostered through dropout prevention programs that use counseling. Additional implications include the use of career interventions to construct future orientations, the influence of family, and the need for assistance...
Easing the strain: The buffer role of supervisors in the perceptions of politics–strain relationship

The positive relationship between perceptions of politics and strain has received a great deal of confirmation in the literature. What has been missing from these studies is a search for variables that minimize the negative outcomes associated with this relationship. In an effort to fill this void, the present paper investigated three possible moderators of the relationship between perceptions of politics and strain: leader–member exchange, participative decision-making, and communication with supervisors. Results from a sample consisting of 1,255 respondents from two different organizations provided support for the buffering effect of supervisor variables on the perceptions of politics and strain relationship.
Shift-to-Shift Handoff Effects on Patient Safety and Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Multiple health care organizations have identified handoffs as a source of clinical errors; however, few studies have linked handoff interventions to improved patient outcomes. This systematic review of English-language research articles, published January 2008 to May 2015 and focusing on shift-to-shift handoff interventions and patient outcomes, yielded 10 774 unique articles. Twenty-one articles met inclusion criteria, measuring each of the following: patient falls (n = 7), reportable events (n = 6), length of stay (n = 4), mortality (n = 4), code calls (n = 4), medication errors (n = 4), medical errors (n = 3), procedural complications (n = 2), pressure ulcers (n = 2), weekend discharges (n = 2), and nosocomial infections (n = 2). One study each also measured time to first intervention, restraint use, overnight transfusions, and out-of-hours deteriorations. Studies that reported funding had higher quality scores. It is difficult to identify trends in the handoff research because of simultaneous implementation of multiple interventions and heterogeneity of the interventions, outcomes measured, and settings. The authors call for increased handoff research funding, especially for studies that include patient outcome measures.
Feature selection with stochastic complexity

The application of J. Rissanen's theory (1986) of stochastic complexity to the problem of features selection in statistical pattern recognition (SPR) is discussed. Stochastic complexity provides a general framework for statistical problems such as coding, prediction, estimation, and classification. A brief review of the SPR paradigm and traditional methods of feature selection is presented, followed by a discussion of the basic of stochastic complexity. Two forms of stochastic complexity, minimum description length and an integral form, are applied to the problem of feature selection. Experimental results using simulated data generated with Gaussian distributions are given and compared with results from cross validation, a traditional technique. The stochastic complexity measures give superior results, as measured by their ability to select subsets of relevant features, as well as probability of error computed based on the selected feature subset. >
Mentoring Person-Centered Spiritual Maturation: A Quasi-Experimental Mixed Methods Study of a Contemplative Self-Inquiry Curriculum

Person-centered spiritual maturation is a developmental process with prosocial potential for individuals and communities with diverse belief systems (including secular humanism). Investigation of this process has historical roots in Kass’s work with Dr. Carl Rogers on the Person-Centered Approach Project. Previous work identifies this construct’s conceptual properties. This article reports the effectiveness of a curriculum to mentor this learning process in higher education. We conducted a quasi-experimental, mixed methods study (triangulated qualitative and quantitative data) with experimental and control groups. Qualitative analysis (written student narratives, experimental group) documented five dimensions of growth (behavioral, cognitive, social–emotional, contemplative, and integrative) that culminated in a resilient worldview and prosocial behavior. Statistical analysis (experimental and control groups, pre–post intervention) confirmed these findings, demonstrating significant improvement in quantif...
GaInNAsSb long-wavelength lasers on GaAs

Dilute nitride GaInNAs alloys grown on GaAs have quickly become excellent candidate materials for lower cost 1.3μm vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and high power edge emitting lasers. Despite the relative immaturity and challenges of this new materials system the results have been very promising. The major remaining challenges include the limited solubility of nitrogen in GaAs, non-radiative defects that may be caused by nitrogen incorporation, and phase segregation at high In compositions. A new component, Sb, has been added in order to improve epitaxial growth and optical properties at wavelengths longer than 1.3μm. By adding Sb to the alloy, luminescence has been greatly enhanced between 1.3-1.6μm where normally poor quality material results. Lasers fabricated from this new pentenary alloy have produced the lowest threshold lasers operating beyond 1.4μm on GaAs. Progress and the remaining challenges of this materials system are described.
Enumeration of an Extremely High Particle-to-PFU Ratio for Varicella-Zoster Virus

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is renowned for its low titers. Yet investigations to explore the low infectivity are hampered by the fact that the VZV particle-to-PFU ratio has never been determined with precision. Herein, we accomplish that task by applying newer imaging technology. More than 300 images were taken of VZV-infected cells on 4 different samples at high magnification. We enumerated the total number of viral particles within 25 cm 2 of the infected monolayer at 415 million. Based on these numbers, the VZV particle:PFU ratio was approximately 40,000:1 for a cell-free inoculum.
Trading with the “Enemy”? Hong Kong Bourgeoisie and Chinese Nationalism during the Two Wars, 1919–1941

This paper examines the interplay between trade and nationalism in the development of Chinese bourgeois nationalism in British Hong Kong in the interwar years (1919–1941). It points out the contingent responses among the Chinese bourgeoisie to the calls of Chinese nationalism. The bourgeoisie were lukewarm to the mobilization of the Chinese anti-British strikes and boycotts in the 1920s. They however organized fundraising movements and charities to support the Chinese defence against the Japanese inroads in the 1930s. The implication of the findings is twofold: first, the operation of Chinese antiforeigner movements in Hong Kong was not “taught nationalism” dictated by nationalists in mainland China. Second, while Chinese bourgeoisie identified the Japanese expansion as a reason for the British decline, they did not attempt to interrupt the Japanese trade. The latter was crucial for the Chinese manufacturers in Hong Kong to sustain their business. The agency of Chinese in Hong Kong in the decades of high Chinese nationalism points to the importance of examining Chinese bourgeois nationalism in Hong Kong against the backdrop of the colony’s place in the inter-imperialist rivalry between the demise of the British free-trade imperialism and the rise of the Japanese East Asian New Order. (This article is in Chinese.)摘要本文探討香港華商菁英（東華三院會董、華商總會主席及值理等）在兩次大戰期間對於在香港所爆發的民族主義運動的反應。在一九二零年代，這些英屬殖民地的華人領袖支持中國民族主義運動的理念，但卻拒絕支援反英罷工。而在一九三零年代，當反日運動成為中國民族主義運動的主導立場時，他們並不以杯葛日貨的形式來表達愛國立場，而是用捐款籌賑中國難民及支持國民政府抗戰的方式來嚮應。這個研究因此點出香港華商並非被動地接受中國民族主義對「敵人」的定義，而是從自身在面對英國與日本兩大帝國勢力的消長來回應民族主義的動員。
Adaptive Radiation in Socially Advanced Stem-Group Ants from the Cretaceous.

Across terrestrial ecosystems, modern ants are ubiquitous. As many as 94 out of every 100 individual arthropods in rainforests are ants, and they constitute up to 15% of animal biomass in the Amazon. Moreover, ants are pervasive agents of natural selection as over 10,000 arthropod species are specialized inquilines or myrmecomorphs living among ants or defending themselves through mimicry. Such impact is traditionally explained by sociality: ants are the first major group of ground-dwelling predatory insects to become eusocial, increasing efficiency of tasks and establishing competitive superiority over solitary species. A wealth of specimens from rich deposits of 99 million-year-old Burmese amber resolves ambiguity regarding sociality and diversity in the earliest ants. The stem-group genus Gerontoformica maintained distinct reproductive castes including morphotypes unknown in solitary aculeate (stinging) wasps, providing insight into early behavior. We present rare aggregations of workers, indicating group recruitment as well as an instance of interspecific combat; such aggression is a social feature of modern ants. Two species and an unusual new genus are described, further expanding the remarkable diversity of early ants. Stem-group ants are recovered as a paraphyletic assemblage at the base of modern lineages varying greatly in size, form, and mouthpart structure, interpreted here as an adaptive radiation. Though Cretaceous stem-group ants were eusocial and adaptively diverse, we hypothesize that their extinction resulted from the rise of competitively superior crown-group taxa that today form massive colonies, consistent with Wilson and Holldobler's concept of "dynastic succession."
Infidelity: An Overview

SUMMARY In this article, we provide an overview of infidelity theory, research, and treatment. We discuss the effect of infidelity on couples and delineate three types of infidelityemotional, physical, and infidelity including aspects of both. Further, we expand traditional thinking about infidelity by reviewing the role of the Internet in infidelity, and explore infidelity within the context of comarital relationships. Finally, we discuss the overarching theories and common models used in infidelity treatment.
Development of a realistic, dynamic digital brain phantom for CT perfusion validation

Physicians rely on CT Perfusion (CTP) images and quantitative image data, including cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and bolus arrival delay, to diagnose and treat stroke patients. However, the quantification of these metrics may vary depending on the computational method used. Therefore, we have developed a dynamic and realistic digital brain phantom upon which CTP scans can be simulated based on a set of ground truth scenarios. Building upon the previously developed 4D extended cardiac-torso (XCAT) phantom containing a highly detailed brain model, this work consisted of expanding the intricate vasculature by semi-automatically segmenting existing MRA data and fitting nonuniform rational B-spline surfaces to the new vessels. Using time attenuation curves input by the user as reference, the contrast enhancement in the vessels changes dynamically. At each time point, the iodine concentration in the arteries and veins is calculated from the curves and the material composition of the blood changes to reflect the expected values. CatSim, a CT system simulator, generates simulated data sets of this dynamic digital phantom which can be further analyzed to validate CTP studies and post-processing methods. The development of this dynamic and realistic digital phantom provides a valuable resource with which current uncertainties and controversies surrounding the quantitative computations generated from CTP data can be examined and resolved.
Time-synchronized visualization of arbitrary data streams for real-time monitoring and historical analysis

Large installations involve huge numbers of interacting components that are subject to a multitude of hardware failures, transient errors, software bugs, and misconfiguration. Monitoring the health, utilization, security, and/or configuration of such installations is a challenging task. While various frameworks are available to assist with these tasks at a high level, administrators must more often than not revert to using command line tools on individual systems to get a low-level understanding of system behavior. The output from such tools can be difficult to grasp on even a single system, so when taken across a large number of hosts, can become completely overwhelming.
Reaction Dynamics of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer from Reduced ZnO Nanocrystals

The creation of systems that efficiently interconvert chemical and electrical energies will be aided by understanding proton-coupled electron transfers at solution–semiconductor interfaces. Steps in developing that understanding are described here through kinetic studies of reactions of photoreduced colloidal zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystals (NCs) with the nitroxyl radical TEMPO. These reactions proceed by proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) to give the hydroxylamine TEMPOH. They occur on the submillisecond to seconds time scale, as monitored by stopped-flow optical spectroscopy. Under conditions of excess TEMPO, the reactions are multiexponential in character. One of the contributors to this multiexponential kinetics may be a distribution of reactive proton sites. A graphical overlay method shows the reaction to be first order in [TEMPO]. Different electron concentrations in otherwise identical NC samples were achieved by three different methods: differing photolysis times, premixing with an unphotolyze...
Software development and tool usability

Tools are used at every stage of the software life cycle with particular recent emphasis on the maintenance period. Evidence shows that maintenance tools are underused, even by the developers who create them. Integrated development environments were created to empower developers, but they have remained virtually unchanged since the late 1990s. This paper examines the challenges of creating development tools, analyzes the usability of two frequently used tools, and suggests that poor tool usability may be inhibiting more efficient software development.
Introduction: Some Background on the Druze

The Druze are a religious sect comprising about one million people. Approximately 390 000 live in the Lebanon, 400 000 in Syria, 20 000 in Jordan and 75 000 in Israel and the Golan Heights, with the remainder scattered across the world.1 They live mainly in mountainous regions and have preserved, since their beginnings in the eleventh century, a cultural and political identity distinct from their Muslim and Christian neighbours.
AudioDraw: user preferences in non-visual diagram drawing for touchscreens

It can be very difficult and sometimes impossible for people who are blind to create visual diagrams on their own. Even with sighted assistance, it can be difficult to verbally convey the visual image in one's mind. We conducted a survey to determine the need of people who are blind to create their own diagrams. Based on this survey, we created a preliminary design probe app on a tablet and revised the prototype through preliminary user feedback. Then, using this second app, we conducted a design probe study with 8 participants who are visually impaired and interviewed them about the potential of using touchscreens to create diagrams. Our results show that most participants were enthusiastic about the possibility of creating their own diagrams via a touchscreen and felt that this also makes touchscreens more accessible to them, creating more inclusion for them in the use of touchscreens.
The American Congress 8th Edition: Congress and the President

U nderstanding congress requires an understanding of its relationship with the executive branch. The basic rules of the legislative game laid out in the Constitution provide for three institutional players – the House, the Senate, and the president. Whereas the president is expected to address the needs of the nation, he can do little without Congress passing legislation creating and funding executive agencies and programs, particularly in domestic affairs. Conversely, the enactment of congressional legislation necessitates presidential approval, unless both chambers of Congress can muster a two-thirds majority to override a veto. Furthermore, the Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the president and must approve the president's choices for top executive and judicial posts. Interdependency, based on shared as well as separate powers, characterizes the relationship among the three institutions. Interdependency would not be important if the House, Senate, and president held similar policy preferences on all important issues. In fact, for very good reasons they often disagree about what issues should be given priority and what should be done about them. As indicated in Chapter 4, divided party control of Congress and the presidency is common. The U.S. electoral system minimizes the connection between congressional and presidential elections. Even when one party controls the House, Senate, and presidency, incumbents of the three institutions are not likely to have identical views. Representatives, senators, and presidents are elected on different cycles and they have diverse constituencies.
Effects of Common Raven and Coyote Removal and Temporal Variation in Climate on Greater Sage-Grouse Nesting Success

Predator removal has been simultaneously proposed and criticized as a mitigation measure for low reproductive rates of prey species, including greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter “sage-grouse”). Depredation of sage-grouse nests can limit their productivity. In Wyoming, lethal removal of common ravens (Corvus corax: hereafter “ravens”) and coyotes (Canis latrans) has been conducted by USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services (WS) for the protection of livestock. During 2008–2011, we evaluated sage-grouse nest success in study sites (1) where WS initiated a raven removal program, (2) WS removed coyotes, and (3) WS did not manipulate ravens and/or coyotes. Precipitation and temperature were analyzed individually and as interactive effects with coyote removal numbers as sources of annual variation in nest success. Over the course of our study, raven densities decreased at study sites with WS raven removal, while sage-grouse nest success in those study sites was higher during years with reduced raven density. Temperature effects on nest success were dependent on timing with successful nests having cooler temperatures prior to the nesting season (conditions promoting water retention and grass growth) and warmer temperatures the week before nest fate (conducive to degradation of sage-grouse odorants used by mammalian predators). Lower nest success was associated with more lethally removed coyotes interacting with greater precipitation suggesting mesopredator release. Raven removal may have a place in sage-grouse management as an interim mitigation measure when sage-grouse populations are subjected to high densities of ravens. However, long-term solutions are necessary, such as reducing supplemental food sources and perch structures used by ravens.
Network theory analysis of coupled antenna diversity performance

In antenna diversity systems, mutual coupling impacts the element terminal impedance and radiation pattern characteristics, leading to altered diversity performance. Most studies of this effect only include the effect of the coupling on the pattern. In this paper, we present a framework based on network theory that incorporates the impact of antenna termination in assessing the diversity performance of coupled systems. A scattering parameter (S-parameter) representation is used as the analysis framework for mutually-coupled antenna networks. The performance of antenna diversity systems depends upon the signal strength on each antenna branch, as well as the signal correlation between branches. We use the covariance matrix for the voltages received on each branch to assess these metrics. The Hermitian match is an optimal match for power transfer, and can be chosen to diagonalize the covariance matrix.
Identifying eating behavior phenotypes and their correlates: A novel direction toward improving weight management interventions.

Common reports of over-response to food cues, difficulties with calorie restriction, and difficulty adhering to dietary guidelines suggest that eating behaviors could be interrelated in ways that influence weight management efforts. The feasibility of identifying robust eating phenotypes (showing face, content, and criterion validity) was explored based on well-validated individual eating behavior assessments. Adults (n = 260; mean age 34 years) completed online questionnaires with measurements of nine eating behaviors including: appetite for palatable foods, binge eating, bitter taste sensitivity, disinhibition, food neophobia, pickiness and satiety responsiveness. Discovery-based visualization procedures that have the combined strengths of heatmaps and hierarchical clustering were used to investigate: 1) how eating behaviors cluster, 2) how participants can be grouped within eating behavior clusters, and 3) whether group clustering is associated with body mass index (BMI) and dietary self-efficacy levels. Two distinct eating behavior clusters and participant groups that aligned within these clusters were identified: one with higher drive to eat and another with food avoidance behaviors. Participants’ BMI (p = 0.0002) and dietary self-efficacy (p < 0.0001) were associated with cluster membership. Eating behavior clusters showed content and criterion validity based on their association with BMI (associated, but not entirely overlapping) and dietary self-efficacy. Identifying eating behavior phenotypes appears viable. These efforts could be expanded and ultimately inform tailored weight management interventions.
An Object-Oriented Language for Real-Time Systems

AbstractThis article presents a description of the Hard Real-time C+ + language (HRTC++ ) for real-time programming, incorporating timing constraints in a manner consistent with the object-oriented methodology. The C+ + language is extended to accommodate real-time domain features within the encapsulation and inheritance mechanism of the language. The objective is to adopt the benefits of the object-oriented approach to the real-time area, drawing from the contributions that inheritance has rendered to the reuse and consistency of software development. A real-time preprocessor (RTPP ) is described that performs a Temporal Semantic Phase, analyzing and verifying the appropriate usage of the C+ + extensions and their translation to a suitable form for real-time feasibility and schedulability analysis.
Spectrally Resolved Super-Resolution Microscopy Unveils Multipath Reaction Pathways of Single Spiropyran Molecules

By recording both the images and emission spectra of thousands of single fluorescent molecules stochastically generated from the ring-opening reaction of a spiropyran, we provide mechanistic insights into its multipath reaction pathways. Through statistics of the measured single-molecule spectra, we identify two spectrally distinct isomers, presumably TTC and TTT cis–trans isomers, for the open-ring merocyanine product, and discover a strong solvent polarity-dependence for the relative population of the two isomers. From single-molecule spectral time traces, we further examine isomerization between the two product merocyanine isomers, as well as their ring-closure reaction back to the spiropyran form.
Weight gain and pregnancy outcome in underweight and normal weight women.

The relationship of antenatal weight gain to pregnancy outcome was studied in 362 pairs of underweight women (less than 90% Metropolitan Relative Weight) and normal weight (90% to 110%) women who were matched for age, occupation, height, parity, race, and smoking habits. The mothers, selected from a study of pregnancy outcome in 1,080 middle-class women, had early and regular prenatal care. Regression analyses within each initial weight category revealed that there was no relationship between initial weight of mothers and birth weight of their infants, but birth weight increased significantly with antenatal weight gain (p less than .0001). A 1-kg maternal increase in weight was associated with a 12.85-gm increase in birth weight in offspring of underweight women and an 8.59-gm increase in offspring of normal weight women. Underweight women had significantly larger prenatal weight gains (9.3 vs. 8.5 kg), but there were no statistically significant differences in mean birth weight, gestational age, or Apgar scores between infants of women in the two weight groups. Very underweight women (less than 80% MRW) had lower-birth-weight infants, more preterm infants, and more infants with medical complications. Antenatal weight gain accounted for the greatest variation in birth weight among infants of underweight and normal weight women. When underweight mothers gained less than 9 kg, their infants had mean birth weights 361 gm less than the mean birth weights of infants of underweight women who gained more weight.
Charlie Hebdo and the Future of Free Speech

The Charlie Hebdo attack and its aftermath was the most significant France had experienced since a 1962 train bombing — related to the war in Algeria — outside Paris. Moreover, it seems altogether foreign and incomprehensible to the relatively liberal standards of our society that the motivation for such atrocious violence was vengeance for the mere act, conflated into a crime, of drawing a cartoon. While it may seem natural to most Westerners, the response to the Jan. 7 attacks looks almost absurd when approached from a different point of view. Renald Luzier, the figure behind the cartoon that seemed to spur controversy, himself highlights the irony of Western leaders — who more often than not look at satirists like those employed at Charlie Hebdo as “agitators” — declaring the slain satirists “white knights defending free speech”. The definitive characteristic transformed a weekly burlesque, whose parent publication described itself as a “stupid and vicious magazine”, into a hero of modernity. This reflects, quite simply, a feeling throughout the Western world that intrinsic rights are under attack.
Strain compensation in InGaN-based multiple quantum wells using AlGaN interlayers

Data are presented on strain compensation in InGaN-based multiple quantum wells (MQW) using AlGaN interlayers (ILs). The MQWs consist of five periods of InxGa1-xN/AlyGa1-yN/GaN emitting in the green (λ ∼ 535 nm ± 15 nm), and the AlyGa1-yN IL has an Al composition of y = 0.42. The IL is varied from 0 - 2.1 nm, and the relaxation of the MQW with respect to the GaN template layer varies with IL thickness as determined by reciprocal space mapping about the (202¯5) reflection. The minimum in the relaxation occurs at an interlayer thickness of 1 nm, and the MQW is nearly pseudomorphic to GaN. Both thinner and thicker ILs display increased relaxation. Photoluminescence data shows enhanced spectral intensity and narrower full width at half maximum for the MQW with 1 nm thick ILs, which is a product of pseudomorphic layers with lower defect density and non-radiative recombination.
Energeia, Kinesis, and the Neoliberal Rhetoric of Strategic Default

Recently, rhetoricians have explored the potential of energeia to unfold new understandings of agency and highlight the mutability of rhetorical topoi. This article harnesses such potential to neol...
Anomaloscope plate test field trial: comparisons with four other tests of congenital red-green color vision deficiencies

The anomaloscope plate test (APT-5) is a new test for congenital red-green color defects that combines the color-matching features of an anomaloscope with the spatial features of pseudoisochromatic plates. The APT-5 consists of an array of yellow and red-green light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The red-green LEDs form three different test patterns embedded in a surrounding array of yellow LEDs. The intensity and chromaticity of the test LEDs can be controlled to produce normal, protanopic, protanomalous, deuteranopic and deuteranomalous color matches to the yellow LEDs in the surround.
Biomechanical Analysis of Human Abdominal Impact Responses and Injuries through Finite Element Simulations of a Full Human Body Model

Finite element simulations of cadaver tests using a full human body model of an average-sized adult male were employed to investigate human abdominal response and injury in blunt impacts. The model was validated at various impact speeds by comparing model responses with available experimental cadaver test data in pendulum side impacts and frontal rigid bar impacts from various sources. This paper presents the results of various abdominal impact simulations. Model-predicted abdominal dynamic responses such as force-time and force-deflection characteristics, and injury severities, measured by organ pressures, for the simulated impact conditions are presented.
The Use of Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging for Image-Guided Therapy

FDG-PET is an important tool for cervical cancer radiation treatment planning, both for external irradiation and brachytherapy. The ability of FDG-PET to accurately define the primary cervical tumor volume and areas of lymph node metastasis greatly facilitates radiation treatment planning. The information provided by FDG-PET has the potential to change treatment field size and/or dose parameters for cervical cancer patients. FDG-PET brachytherapy planning uniquely demonstrates the three-dimensional relationship of the cervical tumor, adjacent organs, and treatment applicators, which could allow for treatment optimization. Besides demonstrating valuable anatomic information, FDG-PET also provides functional information which has been shown to have prognostic value and represents another aspect of how FDG-PET can influence cervical cancer radiation treatment planning. FDG-PET, already a routine imaging tool, is likely to play a larger role for cervical cancer and radiation therapy treatment planning in the near future.