cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE ISSUE: The Role of Foreign Language Departments in Internationalizing the Curriculum.

An introduction to the issue on the role of colleges' foreign language departments in internationalizing the curriculum is presented including an article by Allan Goodman on the need within U.S. education for an immersive foreign language experience for its students, one by Ryuko Kubota on the responses received for internationalizing curricula, and another by Carol Klee on the Languages Across the Curriculum movement.
On membrane transport analysis

Abstract Gas transport across an asymmetric membrane is analyzed in this note. A consideration of the gas phase diffusion within the porous support structure shows that it defines the appropriate form of the permeability relationship.
Darboux' theorem for Hamiltonian differential operators

It is proved that any one-dimensional, first order Hamiltonian differential operator can be put into constant coefficient form by a suitable change of variables. Consequently, there exist canonical variables for any such Hamiltonian operator. In the course of the proof, a complete characterization of all first order Hamiltonian differential operators, as well as the general formula for the behavior of a Hamiltonian operator under a change of variables involving both the independent and the dependent variables are found.
Effect of particle size on flow and mixing in a bladed granular mixer

A number of studies have modeled flow and mixing of granular materials using the discrete element method (DEM). In an attempt to reduce computational costs, many of these DEM studies model particles larger than the actual particle size without investigating the implications of this assumption. Using DEM, the influence of the modeled particle size on flow and mixing in a bladed granular mixer is studied. The predicted flow microdynamics, including mixing rates, are strongly dependent on the particle diameter. The effect of particle size on macroscopic advective flow also is significant, particularly for dilute flow regions. These results suggest that the influence of particle size needs to be taken into consideration when using larger particles in DEM mixing simulations. To guide scale-up efforts, particle-size-based scaling relationships for several key flow measurements are presented. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 46–57, 2015
Use of Adaptive Digital Signal Processing to Improve Speech Communication for Normally Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Subjects

A two microphone adaptive digital noise cancellation technique was used to improve word-recognition ability of normally hearing and hearing-impaired subjects in the presence of varying amounts of m...
Spontaneous degeneration of porcine bioprosthetic valves.

Abstract From October, 1971, to October, 1979, 490 patients with 560 porcine bioprosthetic valves were discharged from the hospital. During these 8 years, 23 valves were removed because of failure due to spontaneous degeneration. Bioprosthetic valve survival without degeneration was at 4 years, 98.9% ± 0.6 (standard error); at 5 years, 96.4% ± 1.3; at 6 years, 90.8% ± 2.4; and at 7 years, 84.2% ± 3.7. There was no difference in degeneration observed with regard to sex, valve position, or whether the valves were rinsed with antibiotics prior to implantation. There was an increase in degeneration in patients 35 years old and younger compared with those more than 35 years old ( p = 0.0001). Valve failure was gradual, and valve changes were noted by echocardiogram and phonocardiogram prior to actual failure. Specific factors leading to degeneration require further investigation.
Imaging receptor-mediated endocytosis with a polymeric nanoparticle-based coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering probe.

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy was used to visualize receptor-mediated endocytosis and intracellular trafficking with the aid of a CARS probe. The probe was made of 200-nm polystyrene particles encapsulated in folate-targeted liposomes. By tuning (ωp − ωs) to 3045 cm-1, which corresponds to the aromatic C−H stretching vibration, the polystyrene nanoparticles with a high density of aromatic C−H bonds were detected with a high signal-to-noise ratio, while the epi-detected CARS signal from cellular organelles was cancelled by the destructive interference between the resonant contribution from the aliphatic C−H vibration and the nonresonant contribution. Without any photobleaching, the CARS probe allowed single-particle tracking analysis of intracellular endosome transport. No photodamage to cells was observed under the current experimental conditions. These results show the advantages and potential of using a CARS probe to study cellular processes.
Estimation of Variance Components with Large-Scale Dominance Models

The cost of computations for dominance models using the algorithm of Hoeschele and VanRaden (8) can be substantially decreased. The number of equations can be reduced by applying the recurrence equation to a limited number of ancestors. Computing disk space and central processing unit time can be lowered when the mixed model equations are solved by iteration on the data using the method of modified second-order Jacobi. Estimation of the dominance variance for very large animal models is feasible with method R. Tests involved up to 3 million first lactation records for stature of Holsteins. The model included effects of management, regression on inbreeding percentage, age, animal additive, and dominance. Estimates of the dominance variance ranged from 2.9 to 13.5% of the phenotypic variance for a data file with 0.40 million animals and 7.5 to 8% for a data file with 3.3 million animals. Genetic evaluations with dominance effect in the model required less than twice the memory and central processing unit time of evaluations with the additive model. Computations with dominance models are now feasible for large data files.
Radioiodination and identification of externally disposed membrane components of Leishmania tropica

Two methods, one involving a lactoperoxidase-glucose oxidase coupled reaction and the other employing the insoluble catalyst 1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-3 α,6-α-diphenyl-glycoluril (Iodo-Gen), were used to label the surface membrane of promastigotes of Leishmania tropica major. Both methods labelled approximately 20 proteins or glycoproteins (apparent size range 10 to 110 kDa) in a qualitatively similar manner, however the lactoperoxidase method labelled one additional constituent (260 kDa). By omission of both enzymes, or of Iodo-Gen; by comparison of radioactivity incorporated by particulate and soluble cell fractions; and through the action of proteases on live, labelled promastigotes, the surface-labelling specificity of both procedures was confirmed. Immunoprecipitation of Triton X-100 extracts of labelled cells with rabbit antisera revealed a minimum of twelve (seven major) protein antigens in the homologous system and different but cross-reactive protein species from two other isolates of L. tropica. Lectin precipitation of radiolabelled surface components was possible with concanavalin A (but not with other lectins tested) identifying a minimum of 12 glycoproteins. Two of these glycoproteins (210 and 88 kDa) were not recognized by rabbit antiserum.
A Receiver-Bound Concept of Communications

Communication research has not fully come to grips with the important role of receiver control over message content and treatment within a communication event. The assumption seems to be that source success depends upon source credibility, selection of the right channel, and use of certain cognitive approaches. However, receiver motivational factors predispose the receiver to respond in a particular manner to a particular message. If the source hopes to elicit a specifically desired response, he must fashion his message content and treatment so as to identify with receiver motivational predispositions within the particular communication event.
Cue-framing effects in source remembering: a memory misattribution model.

During source remembering, selectively emphasizing one source in the retrieval query “Is this item from Source A?” can yield different accuracy than emphasizing the alternate source in “Is this item from Source B?” even if those are the only two possible origins. One account of this cue-framing effect holds that it reflects different active monitoring strategies encouraged by the two cue frames. An item memory misattribution (IMM) model instead assumes that this effect reflects the uncontrolled use of item recognition during confirmatory source judgments, and an IMM model simulation predicted a quantitative relationship between recognition levels and the cue-framing effect. Experiments 1 and 3 confirmed these predictions by using study repetitions to manipulate recognition levels, and Experiments 2 and 3 also demonstrated the effect with new source tasks not previously considered. The data suggest that, in addition to qualitative monitoring strategies, subjects also use the availability of item memory in a heuristic fashion during confirmatory source attributions.
Children's risk and resilience following a natural disaster: genetic vulnerability, posttraumatic stress, and depression.

OBJECTIVE: We examined children's risk and resilience following a natural disaster, evaluating the role of stress, social support, and two genetic markers: the short allele of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR), and the met allele of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).Under high levels of hurricane exposure or hurricane-related stressors, we expected children displaying the markers would report greater symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression than children without these markers. Social support was explored as an additional moderating variable. METHOD: Eight months after Hurricane Ike, 116 children (M age=8.85 years, SD=.89; 54% girls) residing in Galveston, Texas, provided saliva samples and completed measures of hurricane exposure and stress, and symptoms of PTSD and depression; 80 also completed a social support measure. RESULTS: For BDNF, analyses revealed several Gene by Environment interactions; greater stress was related to more symptoms of PTSD and depression, and this effect was stronger for children with the met allele. No findings emerged for 5-HTTLPR. Stressors and social support also were associated with children's PTSD and depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Findings should be tempered by the relatively small sample, especially for analysis that included social support. CONCLUSIONS: The met allele (BDNF) may play a role in children's disaster reactions. Further research should consider the complex interplay between genes, stressors, support, and psychological outcomes over time. Language: en
Clinician adherence to childhood overweight and obesity recommendations by race/ethnicity of the child.

Abstract Purpose. This study describes school-based health center (SBHC) provid-ers’ adherence to obesity guidelines. Design and Methods. Providers ( n = 28) were from SBHCs in six statesserving children 5–12 years of age. A random sample of well-child charts( n = 850) were audited for body mass index percentage, blood pressure per-centage, overweight/obesity diagnosis, and laboratory assessment. Results. Body mass index percentage was documented on 73% of chartsand blood pressure percentage on 30.5%. Providers accurately diagnosed40% overweight and 49.3% obese children. Laboratory guidelines werefollowed in 80.4% of cases. Assessments differed by child’s race/ethnicity( p < .05), with most criteria having higher adherence in minority youth. Practice Implications. There is a need for increased accuracy in howSBHC providers screen overweight/obese children. Childhood obesity is associated with being over-weight or obese as an adult (Singh, Mulder, Twisk,vanMechelen,C Reilly & Kelly, 2011;Strauss & Pollack, 2003). Current statistics from theNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES) indicate that 34% of children 6–11 yearsold are overweight or obese (body mass index [BMI]≥ 85
Morphology and crystallization behavior of HDPE/CNT nanocomposite

Polymer carbon nanotube nanocomposites (PCNs) represent the first realized major commercial application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In this study, high density polyethylene (HDPE)/CNT PCNs have been prepared using a solution blending technique. Both pristine single‐walled nanotubes (SWNT) and polyethylene (PE) single crystal decorated CNTs (so called nano hybrid shish kebabs, NHSKs) have been used as the precursors for PCN preparation. Polarized light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry were used to study the morphology, crystallization behavior, and thermal stability of the resulting PCNs. The PCNs from pristine SWNTs possess a more dense morphology than do the PCNs prepared from NHSKs; PE single crystal lamellae are perpendicular or oblique to the CNT axis, leading to relatively “open‐structured” PCNs. Heterogeneous nucleation occurred in both nonisothermal and isothermal crystallization of PCNs and the cryst...
CHEMICALLY-CONTROLLED REACTION KINETICS ON FRACTALS: APPLICATION TO HYDROGEN EXCHANGE IN LYSOZYME

The effect of time-dependent diffusional rate constants on chemically-controlled reactions in solution is considered. A general mechanism is examined that consists of a two step process. First the reactants diffuse together to form an “encounter complex.” This is followed by the collapse of the complex to the final product. The first step is diffusion controlled and the second step is chemically controlled. For reactions in restricted geometries or on fractals the rate constants associated with the diffusive process will scale with time as t−h where h is a constant between 0 and 1. The chemical processes are assumed to have time-independent rate constants. For reactions in which the encounter complex achieves a steady state, the differential equations governing the time course of the reaction can be solved exactly. At short times, the concentration of the reactants decays exponentially, reflecting the time constant of the chemical processes. At longer times, the decreasing diffusive rate constants result in the process being diffusion controlled. A stretched exponential of the form, exp{−kt1−h}, is observed. Approximate solutions for the pre-steady state behavior of the system are also determined using a Liouville transformation and corresponding asymptotic expansions. The short time regime shows power law decays of reactants. These decays will depend both on the dimensionality of the system as well as on the value of the rate constants associated with individual steps in the mechanism. Conditions can exist where a transformation to logarithmic oscillations will occur. Using this theoretical foundation a model is developed to analyze the kinetics of hydrogen isotope exchange kinetics in proteins. The exchange reaction is assume to occur in the boundary volume of the protein. Using the predicted fractal dimension of this boundary volume, scaling exponents are calculated and used as an unadjusted parameter. Highly accurate fits to the experimental data are achieved and activation energies are obtained that reflect the energetics of isotope exchange. This approach allows chemical kinetic behavior to be predicted from X-ray structure information.
From annuals to perennials: phylogeny of subtribe Castillejinae (Orobanchaceae)

Variation in life history strategies is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology, and the cooccurrence of annual and perennial habits in Castilleja and Castillejinae provides the opportunity to study the evolution of plant life history in a phylogenetic context. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of two chloroplast ( rps16 and trnL/F ) and two nuclear ribosomal (internal and external transcribed spacers) DNA regions support the monophyly of subtribe Castillejinae (Orobanchaceae). A well-supported phylogeny of the six genera ( Castilleja [~180 spp.], Clevelandia [1 sp.], Cordylanthus [18 spp.], Ophiocephalus [1 sp.], Orthocarpus [9 spp.], and Triphysaria [5 spp.]) comprising the subtribe is presented, and morphological synapomorphies are identifi ed for the major lineages recovered. Orthocarpus and Triphysaria are both monophyletic; Cordylanthus is biphyletic. Clevelandia and Ophiocephalus are derived from within Castilleja . The perennial Castilleja clade (~160 spp.) is derived from a grade of annual taxa including Castilleja sect. Oncorhynchus (16 spp.), Cordylanthus , Orthocarpus , and Triphysaria . This suggests that the perennial habit evolved a single time from an annual ancestral lineage that persisted throughout the diversifi cation of Castillejinae, contrary to classical interpretations of life history evolution in plants. Given the prevalence of polyploidy among perennial Castilleja species, perenniality may have played an important role in the origin and establishment of polyploidy in Castilleja .
Contribution of Virus-Receptor Interaction to Distinct Viral Proliferation of Neuropathogenic and Nonneuropathogenic Murine Leukemia Viruses in Rat Glial Cells

The efficiency of receptor-mediated entry of pseudotyped virus carrying the surface protein (SU) of clone A8, a neuropathogenic variant of Friend murine leukemia virus (FrMLV), to rat glial cell line F10 was 1 order of magnitude greater than that of pseudotyped virus carrying SU of nonneuropathogenic FrMLV clone 57. Introduction of the gene coding for ecotropic MLV receptor on F10 cells (F10-ecoR) into SIRC cells, which are naturally resistant to FrMLV infection, also revealed the difference in receptor recognition between the A8 and the 57 viruses. Our results show that the difference in receptor utilization between A8-SU and 57-SU only partially explains the 3-order-of-magnitude difference in proliferation between A8 and 57 viruses in F10 cells.
Calcific uremic arteriolopathy in end stage renal disease: pathophysiology and management.

Background: Calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), a debilitating condition with high morbidity and mortality, is most commonly seen in patients with kidney disease. The pathophysiology of CUA is multifactorial, leading to a disruption in the balance between factors that promote and those that inhibit calcification, although the exact pathophysiological mechanisms of CUA remain to be elucidated. Methods: This review provides an overview of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation and diagnosis, and treatment of CUA. Results: Diagnosis of CUA requires a high degree of suspicion; skin biopsy with histological examination remains the gold standard to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment of CUA requires a multidisciplinary approach. Conclusion: With a high degree of clinical suspicion and early diagnosis, an aggressive multifactorial treatment approach involving optimal wound management, minimization/avoidance of risk factors and precipitating causes, and correction of calcium-phosphorus abnormalities can significantly improve patient outcomes.
Comparison of Aerosol Properties Within and Above the ABL at the ARM Program's SGP Site

The goal of this study was to determine under what conditions, if any, measurements of aerosol properties made at the Earth's surface are representative of the aerosol properties within the column of air above the surface. This project used data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) site (Stokes and Schwartz 1994), which is one of the only locations in the world where ground-based and in situ airborne measurements of atmospheric aerosol are made on a routine basis. All flight legs in the one-year period from March 2000 to March 2001 were categorized as either within or above the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) using an objective mixing height determination technique. The correlations between the aerosol properties measured at the surface and those measured within and above the ABL were then computed. The conclusion of this comparison is that the aerosol extensive properties (those that depend upon the amount of aerosol that is present in the atmosphere, i.e., either the number or mass concentrations), and intensive properties (those that do not depend upon the amount of aerosol present) measured at the surface are representative of values within the ABL, but not within the free atmosphere.
Toxicologic studies on 2,2-bis-(chlorophenyl)-2,2, 2-trichloroethanol (kelthane).

Abstract 1. 1. Kelthane (2,2-bis-(chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethanol), referred to below as K, was studied from the standpoints of its acute, subacute, and chronic toxicity, its storage in body fat when fed in the diet, and its effect on the ability of the adrenals to elaborate 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in response to ACTH administration. 2. 2. Oral LD 50 's (mg/kg) of the technical grade material were: male and female rats, 809 ± 33 and 684 ± 16, respectively; male rabbits, 1810 ± 350; dogs of mixed sex, >4000. 3. 3. Percutaneous LD 50 's in male rabbits were: technical grade K, 30% in dimethyl phthalate, 2.1 ± 0.3 g/kg; K emulsion concentrate (18.5% active ingredient), >10 ml/kg. 4. 4. Subacute percutaneous toxicity (minimal lethal dose) in male rabbits, as indicated by deaths occurring after the inunction of the test materials once daily, 5 days a week for 13 weeks, was found to be: technical grade K, 30% in dimethyl phthalate, 1.0 ml/kg; K emulsion concentrate, 18.5% active ingredient, 0.1 ml/kg; K wettable powder, 18.5% active ingredient, mixed with 2 parts of water, 0.5 g/kg. Technical grade K in dimethyl phthalate and the K emulsion concentrate were both irritating to the skin, the latter being markedly more destructive than the former. The K wettable powder was only mildly irritating. 5. 5. In the dog, K in sufficient dosage depresses the ability of the adrenals to elaborate 17-OH-corticosteroids in response to ACTH stimulation. 6. 6. Dogs fed 300 ppm or less of K in their diets for one year were unaffected. Deaths occurred at a dietary level of 900 ppm, but no signs of toxicity were observed in other animals which survived this feeding level. 7. 7. When rats were fed various concentrations of K in their diets for three months, survival was affected at 1250 ppm in both sexes. Growth was inhibited at the 100 ppm and higher levels in females, but only at 1250 ppm and higher in males. 8. 8. When rats were fed K in their diets for longer periods up to two years, survival was unaffected at levels below 1000 ppm. Females fed 250 ppm and higher levels and males 500 ppm and higher levels suffered a depression of growth. 9. 9. Lesions in the liver constituted the only treatment-related histopathologic changes seen in rats fed K containing diets. These changes varied in frequency and intensity with the dietary levels fed, with only a scattered incidence at levels below 1250 ppm. Increased liver-body weight ratios were observed. No histopathologic changes were seen in the dogs. There were no significant variations in hematological findings in treated animals as compared with controls. 10. 10. K is stored in the body fat of rats, but disappears after cessation of administration.
Microwave holography of reflector antennas in the Bi-polar planar near-field system: Simulations and measurements

The antenna diagnosis is an important part of the antenna measurement systems. It is crucial to be able to identify the faulty regions of reflectors or array antennas in order to improve their overall performance. No matter how accurately an antenna is built there are cases where the presence of the distortion is inevitable. These cases include the recent developed deployable spaceborne reflector antennas where the surface is naturally distorted. Moreover the thermal effects can also cause certain reflector surface distortions. Consequently it is crucial to be able to diagnose a reflector antenna and determine the position and shape of the surface distortions. The microwave holography is one of the methods which have proved to be very valuable in detection of the faulty areas of the antenna under the test [1]. For the reflector antenna measurements, the study of the holographic images can reveal the location and in many cases the amount of the distortion. The valuable information gained using this technique can be further used to correct the degradation due to the surface distortion. This paper details the utility of microwave holography in the Bi-polar planar near-field systems. The concept of reconfigurable reflectarray antennas for example can then be used to compensate the effect of the surface distortion [2].
Challenges & solutions in the die attach process for micro thin die

The drive for package thickness thinning and package size reduction has created new challenges for current wafer fabrication and assembly technology which lias led to the smaller die and thinner wafer thickness trend. Thus, the conventional wafer thickness of 8 mils decreases to 4 mils is more challenging for the new innovation package of Micro Leadless Land Grid Array (μLLGA) with only 0.4 mm package thickness. The uniqueness of μLLGA package construction is that it has no die paddle for die attach and the die backside is exposed to customer view, thus no indentation or sign of ejector pin is allowed visible. The level of difficult also increased by the inclusion of 14×14 mil die size and challenge in pick up the micro thin die without having a concern of die back cracking, and dies rotation. Die back cracking is one of the major quality issues for die attach with major contributor due to improper ejector pin selection (made up of tungsten carbide). The gross die back crack can be detected during in process monitoring but the micro crack die back will be difficult to detect and it usually will only be detected through customer application or reliability stress test. Another aspect this paper will cover is the conventional epoxy dispensing no longer viable for thin die attach as critical control is required in order not to have epoxy overflow with 4 mils die thickness die. In replacing this, a new approach known as epoxy screen print on wafer back is introduced to enable a more robust die attach process. This paper explains in details the challenges and solutions of die attach process for the μthin die into this unique μLLGA package. The challenges include: (i). Micro die size of 14 × 14 mils (near to minimum machine capability of 10 mils in die size) (ii). Thin die of 4 mils thickness with epoxy screen printon wafer back, (iii). μLLGA package construction with expose die back (with no die paddle). Design of Experiments (DOE) were carried out to enablea an optimize die attach process which consists key deliverablea as below: (i). Selection of appropriate ejector needle tip size in order not to induce epoxy on die back from cracking or indentation mark during die pick up. (ii). The optimization of die bond critical input parameter in order to achieve optimized process with no issue on die rotation, die unpick and die crack.
On the Analysis of Phylogenetically Paired Designs

As phylogenetically controlled experimental designs become increasingly common in ecology, the need arises for a standardized statistical treatment of these datasets. Phylogenetically paired designs circumvent the need for resolved phylogenies and have been used to compare species groups, particularly in the areas of invasion biology and adaptation. Despite the widespread use of this approach, the statistical analysis of paired designs has not been critically evaluated. We propose a mixed model approach that includes random effects for pair and species. These random effects introduce a “two-layer” compound symmetry variance structure that captures both the correlations between observations on related species within a pair as well as the correlations between the repeated measurements within species. We conducted a simulation study to assess the effect of model misspecification on Type I and II error rates. We also provide an illustrative example with data containing taxonomically similar species and several outcome variables of interest. We found that a mixed model with species and pair as random effects performed better in these phylogenetically explicit simulations than two commonly used reference models (no or single random effect) by optimizing Type I error rates and power. The proposed mixed model produces acceptable Type I and II error rates despite the absence of a phylogenetic tree. This design can be generalized to a variety of datasets to analyze repeated measurements in clusters of related subjects/species.
Facultative nest patch shifts in response to nest predation risk in the Brewer's sparrow: a "win-stay, lose-switch" strategy?

Facultative shifts in nesting habitat selection in response to perceived predation risk may allow animals to increase the survival probability of sessile oVspring. Previ- ous studies on this behavioral strategy have primarily focused on single attributes, such as the distance moved or changes in nesting substrate. However, nest site choice often encompasses multiple habitat elements at both the nest site and nest patch scales. We studied the within-sea- son re-nesting strategy of a multi-brooded songbird, the Brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri), to determine whether pairs utilized a "win-stay, lose-switch" decision rule with respect to inter-nest distance, nest substrate and/or nest patch characteristics in response to previous nest fate. Pairs moved sequential nest sites slightly farther following nest predation versus success. When inter-nest distance was controlled, however, pairs changed nest patch attributes (shrub height, potential nest shrub density) associated with probability of nest predation to a greater extent following nest predation than success. The strategy appeared to be adaptive; daily nest survival probability for previously dep- redated pairs increased with greater Euclidian habitat dis- tances between attempts, whereas previously successful pairs were more likely to Xedge second attempts when nest sites were similar to those of previous attempts. Our results suggest that nesting birds can use prior information and within-season plasticity in response to nest predation to increase re-nesting success, which may be a critical behav- ioral strategy within complex nest predator environments. Re-nesting site selection strategies also appeared to inte- grate multiple habitat components and inter-nest distances. The consideration of such proximate, facultative responses to predation risk may clarify often unexplained variation in habitat preferences and requirements.
Dilute solution behavior of a cationic polyelectrolyte

Dilute solution behavior of a cationic polyelectrolyte was studied with respect to acetic acid concentration using chitosan. The reduced viscosity, ηsp/C, of chitsan solutions increases with a decrease in the polymer concentration. For a given polyelectrolyte concentration, the specific viscosity is higher at lower acid (acetic) concentration, indicating the expansion of the polyelectrolyte chain due to electrostatic repulsion as a result of the interactions between chitosan and the solvent. The relationship between intrinsic viscosity [η]∞ and acetic acid concentration suggests no conformational transition of the chitosan molecules and possible formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds during the shrinking of the hydrodynamic domain of the polyions.
Analytic Extension of the Cell-Based Oxide Breakdown Model to Full Percolation and its Implications

We extend the cell-based approach of Sune to full percolation that is predictive down to 0.4nm. We resolve conflicting reports in the literature on the scaling behavior of the Weibull shape parameter with oxide thickness, and show that Weibull statistics can be violated if pre-existing traps are present.
Subsonic boundary-layer Wavefront spectra for a range of Reynolds numbers

Aero-optic measurements of turbulent boundary layers were performed in wind tunnels at the University of Notre Dame and California Institute of Technology for heated walls at a range of Reynolds numbers. Temporally resolved measurements of wavefronts were collected at a range of Mach numbers between 0.03 and 0.4 and the range of Re_θ between 1,700 and 20,000. Wavefront spectra for both heated and un-heated walls were extracted and compared to demonstrate that wall heating does not noticeably alter the shape of wavefront spectra in the boundary layer. The effect of Reynolds number on the normalized spectra was also presented, and an empirical spectral model was modified to account for Reynolds number dependence. Measurements of OPD_(rms) for heated walls were shown to be consistent with results from prior experiments, and a method of estimating OPD_(rms) and other boundary layer statistics from wavefront measurements of heated-wall boundary layers was demonstrated and discussed.
Management Skill Teachers Speak Out

Experienced management skill teachers are a valuable but largely untapped source of knowledge about skill teaching, and there can be considerable validity to their knowledge. In this study, 24 experienced managerial skills teachers raise and discuss issues associated with the teaching of managerial skills. Insights are provided into 10 skill-learning issues: describing skills, developing an understanding of skills, teaching in a time-limited course, lifelong learning, orienting learners, the learning process, overcoming learner learning obstacles, qualities needed by teachers, assessing learning accomplishments, and absolute versus relative scoring.
Competitive Assimilation or Strategic Nonassimilation? The Political Economy of School Choice in Latvia

This article tests the competitive assimilation and strategic nonassimilation models, using district-level data from Latvia. Unlike the coordination dynamic of the competitive assimilation game, th...
Photographs and stories: ethics, benefits and dilemmas of using participant photography with Black middle-class male youth

Drawing upon research conducted with Black American middle-class youth in a secondary school, this article highlights the use of participant photography with Black male youth. Participant photography is a visual method that places the power of photo documentation in the hands of research subjects, empowering them to document and reflect on social issues and cultural phenomena important to them. This article highlights the significance of the method when exploring the understudied lives of Black middle-class males, ethical considerations of using visual methods with youth populations, as well as the benefits and dilemmas of engaging Black male youth in participant photography. Visual and narrative data produced from the participant photography project are used to highlight the benefits and ethical dilemmas of the method when working with Black male middle-class youth.
A comparison of corticospinal activation by magnetic coil and electrical stimulation of monkey motor cortex.

Abstract The effects of different orientations of a Cadwell round magnetic coil (MC) were compared with each other and with surface electrical stimulation of motor cortex in monkeys anesthetized with pentobarbital or urethane. Recordings were made from within the lateral corticospinal tract, either from axonal populations or with a microelectrode from individual axons. A lateral-sagittally orientated MC directly excited corticospinal neurons at lower stimulus intensity than was required for indirect, i.e., transsynaptic excitation via inputs to corticospinal neurons. By contrast, in 2 out of 3 macaques tested, a vertex-tangential orientation could excite corticospinal neurons indirectly at lower intensities than were required for direct excitation; at higher intensities, direct excitation also occurred. The site of direct corticospinal excitation by a lateral-sagitally oriented MC was inferred by comparing the response variability and latency to MC and surface electrical stimuli. Cathodal stimuli elicited more variable corticospinal population responses and later individual axonal responses than were obtained with anodal stimuli. The variability in response is attributed to interaction between nearby, on-going synaptic bombardment and the stimulus, implying that surface cathodal stimuli directly activate corticospinal neurons at the spike trigger zone (presumably the initial segment). By contrast, the consistency and reduced latency of the corticospinal responses to surface anodal stimuli are attributed to the direct excitation of corticospinal fibers within the white matter. When the stimulus intensity is clearly above threshold, surface anodal and cathodal stimuli can activate corticospinal neurons both directly and indirectly. Direct corticospinal excitation by the MC can resemble the effects of either surface anodal or surface cathodal stimuli. We conclude that the MC can activate corticospinal neurons at the spike trigger zone or their fibers deeper in white matter. The findings in the monkey are used to interpret the effects of different MC orientations in the human.
Low-Volume Road Flexible Pavement Design with Geogrid-Reinforced Base

Reconstruction of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service campground facility in the North Dakota National Grasslands required redesign and substantial construction change because of an unstable clay subgrade. The original proposal provided for removing the old asphalt and adding additional base and a new asphalt surface. When the asphalt cement was removed, it was found that the base course had migrated into the clay subgrade, leaving the subgrade unstable. Options explored for redesign were thickened gravel base sections, lime stabilization, and geosynthetic reinforcement. The geogrid-reinforced base was selected. Design analysis consisted of two phases: (a) bearing capacity analysis for construction traffic and (b) flexible pavement analysis and design to support long-term recreation traffic. The first involved primarily Tensar design methods; the second, an empirical and mechanistic approach. Empirical methods, based on 1993 AASHTO design procedures, included Tensar methods and the recent Perkins-Michigan Department of Transportation model. The mechanistic approach used the EVERSTRESS and KENLAYER elastic layered programs. All design methods used were found beneficial and are recommended. The final flexible pavement sections constructed were dictated by the construction traffic and consisted of 2 in. of asphalt concrete on a reinforced base course ranging in thickness from 4 to 12 in. The project had to be completed in 3 weeks, so investigation and testing were limited, and the design parameters were based primarily on field dynamic cone penetrometer testing and correlations. Enforcement of the limited wheel loads became a continuous inspection problem. In addition, because of the fineness of the base aggregate produced, a separation geotextile had to be added to preclude migration of the base aggregate through the geogrid into the subgrade.
Adaptive limited lookahead controller for minimizing power losses in flexible active compensators

A Scalable Limited Lookahead Controller is proposed for coordinating multiple Shunt Switching Compensators (SSCs) to serve flexible compensation objectives while minimizing the power losses. A strategy utilizing Current Physical Component (CPC) theory with Recursive Discrete Fourier Transformation is used to orthogonally decompose the SSC reference currents into active, reactive, unbalanced and harmonic current components. These components then are associated with scaling coefficients which define the percentage of each desired component within the SSC compensated current, and therefore, providing flexibility and controllability for different compensation objectives. The proposed limited lookahead controller uses the system model and the current plant measurements to forecast the future states and then search for the values of the scaling coefficients to minimize the energy loss in SSCs, satisfying all the constraints. This scheme provides fast, accurate, and real time computation of the reference current coefficients, while maintaining a small latency. Our approach is applicable for systems such as shipboard distribution systems that requires flexible energy management with high degree of robustness avoiding single points of failure. MATLAB/Simulink simulation results of a three SSCs system are presented and discussed.
Is It Inefficient Investment that Causes the Diversification Discount

Diversified conglomerates are valued less than matched portfolios of pure-play firms. Recent studies find that this diversification discount results from conglomerates’ inefficient allocation of capital expenditures across divisions. Much of this work uses Tobin’s q as a proxy for investment opportunities, therefore hypothesizing that q is a good proxy. This paper treats measurement error in q. Using a measurement-error consistent estimator on the sorts regressions in the literature, I find no evidence of inefficient allocation of investment. The results in the literature appear to be artifacts of measurement error and of the correlation between investment opportunities and liquidity. DIVERSIF IED CONGLOMERATES APPEAR TO TRADE at a discount relative to matched portfolios of pure-play firms. Studies documenting this stylized fact include Lang and Stulz ~1994!, Berger and Ofek ~1995!, Comment and Jarrell ~1995!, and Servaes ~1996!. Recent empirical work has sought to find the source of this diversification discount. Building on the theoretical work in Milgrom and Roberts ~1990!, Stein ~1997!, and Scharfstein and Stein ~2000! on the inefficiency of internal capital markets, this literature has asked specifically whether diversified firms allocate their capital expenditures inefficiently across divisions. The canonical answer has been yes and has been supported by two types of evidence. First, studies such as Lamont ~1997!, Shin and Stulz ~1998!, Shin and Park ~1998!, and Rajan, Servaes, and Zingales ~2000! all find that internal capital markets in conglomerates transfer funds across divisions in a suboptimal manner. Second, studies such as Berger and Ofek and Scharfstein ~1998! provide evidence suggesting that the divisions of conglomerates do not respond adequately to investment opportunities, in comparison to single-segment firms. However, these findings about divisional investment may be an artifact of measurement error. Most of these studies rely on Tobin’s q ~the market value of the capital stock divided by its replacement value! as a proxy for investment opportunities, and Tobin’s q is likely to be a poor proxy. Shin and Stulz
Low profile wideband hybrid dielectric resonator and split ring resonator antenna

Two split ring resonators (SRRs) are fed by a very short T junction ended coaxial line and have a broadside radiation at low frequency. The ground backed dielectric substrate on which the SRRs are etched also functions as a dielectric resonator (DR) radiator at high frequency. Two DR modes are excited by the aid of the SRRs. With proper design, the SRR resonances and DR resonances are merged to achieve a 43.2% impedance matching bandwidth and 31.4% radiation bandwidth over which the antenna polarization and radiation pattern are preserved. The simulated minimum gain within the band is greater than 7 dB. The total thickness of the antenna is only 0.09λ, which satisfies many low profile requirements.
Associations between Estrogen Receptor–Negative Breast Cancer and Timing of Reproductive Events Differ between African American and European American Women

The effects of reproductive factors on breast cancer risk seem to differ by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Menarche and first live birth (FLB) tend to occur at younger ages in African Americans (AA) than European Americans (EA), and could play a role in breast cancer disparities. In the Women's Circle of Health Study, a case-control study of breast cancer in EA and AA women, in-person interviews were conducted to collect epidemiologic data, including reproductive histories. Data on ER status, abstracted from pathology reports, were available for 814 AA and 538 EA breast cancer cases, and were analyzed with 1015 AA and 715 EA controls, to evaluate associations between subgroups and age at menarche, age at FLB, and the interval between those ages. Among AA women, later age at menarche (≥14 years) was associated with reduced risk of both ER(+) and ER(-) breast cancer, with ORs strongest for ER(-) disease [OR = 0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.37-0.88]; associations were weaker and nonsignificant for EA women. There were no significant associations with age at FLB, but AA women with a FLB within 15 years of menarche had increased risk of ER(-) disease (OR = 2.26; 95% CI, 1.29-3.95), with no significant associations among EAs. In our data, earlier age at menarche and shorter intervals until FLB are associated with ER(-) breast cancer in AA women; differential distributions by race of these and other reproductive risk factors could contribute to the higher prevalence of ER(-) breast cancer in AA women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(6); 1115-20. ©2014 AACR.
A low-loss metal-insulator-metal plasmonic bragg reflector

In this paper, we present a low-loss plasmonic Bragg reflector structure with high light-confinement. We show that periodic changes in the dielectric materials of the metal-insulator-metal waveguides can be utilized to design efficient subwavelength Bragg reflectors and micro-cavities. FDTD simulation results of the designed Bragg reflector using realistic material parameters justify that the transfer matrix calculations are adequate for the design purposes.
Feasibility Study of Composite Dielectric Tunnel Barriers for Flash Memory

A novel optimization methodology is developed for deriving the minimum operational voltage of a composite tunnel dielectric stack for flash memory. The methodology accounts for normal flash operation constraints: retention, read and program disturb, and reveals that the higher J-Vgs nonlinearity of these stacks can result in up to 40% voltage reduction. The symmetric stack is found to be more efficient than asymmetric in reducing voltage. The optimum materials along with their thickness are also identified. Experiments confirm the nonlinearity in J-Vgs using HfSiONx, a high- kappa which for the first time is used in the context of Flash memory.
Investigation of Surface Flashover on Dielectrics Enhanced by Excimer Laser Processing

One of the factors that contributes to surface flashover on dielectrics is the existence of defects on the surface of the material. For our studies, excimer laser processing was utilized on alumina dielectrics in an attempt to substantially increase the threshold voltages for flashover. Through excimer laser processing, the surface material melts and re-crystallizes to form a uniform surface structure. The defects on the dielectric surface can be minimized, reducing charge trapping, leading to higher flashover voltages. Two sets of samples were tested. The first set of samples was processed using the laser and the second set was not. The samples were then stressed under high voltage to induce surface flashover. Analysis of the effects of the excimer laser processing was performed and are shown.
Phylogenetic Relationships within the Stingray Genus Dasyatis (Chondrichthyes: Dasyatidae)

Abstract Phylogenetic relationships for 14 of 35 currently recognized Dasyatis species (Dasyatis americana, Dasyatis brevis, Dasyatis centroura, Dasyatis geijskesi, Dasyatis guttata, Dasyatis kuhlii, Dasyatis lata, Dasyatis longus, Dasyatis margaritella, Dasyatis pastinaca, Dasyatis sabina, Dasyatis say, Dasyatis violacea, and Dasyatis zugei), Pastinachus sephen (sometimes referred to as Dasyatis sephen), one Indo-West Pacific Himantura (Himantura gerrardi), and four outgroups (Gymnura micrura, Urobatis jamaicensis, Taeniura lymma, and amphi-American Himantura schmardae) were elucidated using parsimony analysis of 32 morphological characters. One most-parsimonious tree of 116 steps (CI = 0.345, HI = 0.655, RI = 0.64) was found. The analysis refutes monophyletic Dasyatis and Himantura and reveals Dasyatis kuhlii, D. violacea, and P. sephen to be basal among other ingroup species, with D. kuhlii as the most basal species. The genus Himantura is paraphyletic, with amphi-American H. schmardae as sister to a c...