cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Issues of signal strength of wireless sensors for civil infrastructure monitoring

Research was conducted using simulated civil infrastructure system conditions to evaluate issues pertaining to signal strength. This research evaluated the performance of the wireless MICA2 sensor motes developed by Crossbow Technology, Inc. The data collected is intended to demonstrate how the motes would perform in a typical civil infrastructure application when placed in a large network of sensors. Specific to signal strength, the strength, quality, and reliability of the signal originating from remote sensor was assessed as a function of its distance from the Gateway Sensor. These experiments encompassed several factors that relate to signal strength and distance such as single motes, multiple motes, single hop, and multi-hop. Experimentation was also performed to evaluate the mote performance for buried applications. The results of the experimentation show that in all cases the quality, reliability and strength of the transmitting signal is a function the distance of the Gateway Sensor from the obstruction and the amount of signal scattering caused by the material surrounding the mote.
Beyond the black box: open implementation

Encapsulation, informally known as black-box abstraction, is a widely known and accepted principle. It is a basic tenet of software design, underlying approaches to portability and reuse. However, many practitioners find themselves violating it in order to achieve performance requirements in a practical manner. The gap between theory and practice must be filled. Open implementation is a controversial new approach that claims to do just that. The paper provides some ideas to spark further debate on black-box abstraction.
Stability of Emulsions from Multiwavelength Transmission Measurements

Droplet populations are generated from the dynamic equilibrium between the breakup and coalescence phenomena occurring during the emulsification process. Adequate estimation of the droplet size and droplet size distribution is important, not only because they are related to the manufacturing process but also because the droplet size distribution provides information of the properties of the dispersed phase and the stability of the emulsions. This paper reports on a novel spectroscopy method that provides quantitative information for the assessment of the stability of liquid−liquid emulsions. The quantitative criterion is based on measurements of droplet populations as a function of the dispersed phase concentration. This technique is applied to fresh and aged emulsions of saturated hydrocarbons and monomers. The method reported for evaluation of the stability of emulsions is easy, inexpensive, and highly reproducible.
Buffer-based switched-capacitor gain stages

New unity-gain buffer-based switched-capacitor S/H circuit and gain stages are described which have low sensitivity to buffer gain and offset voltage, and are only moderately sensitive to stray capacitances. The circuits are simple, require fewer switches and less capacitance and offer higher speed, lower noise and lower DC power consumption than op-amp based gain stages.< >
The illusion of pre-enrollment counseling

Concern about attrition of college students has often led to recommendations that more counseling be supplied to entering freshmen. In the present study, student response to pre-enrollment counseling programs suggests that freshmen are able to consider only informational aspects of their entering status. The number of students requesting pre-enrollment counseling varied inversely with the amount of such information available outside of counseling conferences. As long as universities make it incumbent upon the student to adjust to the institution, the student who is not emotionally “bound” to attending a particular college will be seen as needing counseling although the opportunity for such counseling will be illusory. Institutional changes, as well as student changes, must be encouraged if the opportunity for counseling is to become a reality.
Headache complaints in relation to nocturnal oxygen saturation among patients with sleep apnea syndrome.

Abstract Background : Morning headaches are often ascribed to patients with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) but the etiology of headaches in SAS is unclear. Given the relationship between oxygen and other headache syndromes, nocturnal hypoxia might be one factor contributing to headaches in SAS. Methods : All subjects 18–80 years of age who were determined to have SAS and who underwent a continuous positive airway pressure trial in our sleep laboratory between March 1, 1997 and March 18, 1998 were considered for inclusion. Subjects were grouped according to whether they endorsed that waking with headaches is a problem for them. Polysomnography and standardized questionnaires were used to test the main hypothesis that patients with SAS and headaches would spend more time at lower oxyhemoglobin levels than those SAS patients without headache. Results : Headache and non-headache patients did not differ in the percentage of time spent with an oxygen saturation less than 90%, either in total sleep time or in rapid eye movement sleep (REM). The headache patients were more likely to be female and spend a lower percentage of time in REM sleep. The REM sleep difference was not accounted for by the use of REM suppressing medications or by depression (as measured by the Zung scale). Conclusions : These data do not support the hypothesis that the duration of nocturnal hypoxemia relates to headache complaints in patients with SAS. The lower REM sleep percentage and higher variability in REM apnea index among the headache patients warrants further investigation.
Healthy Diversity: Challenges of Staffing for Diversity in Community Health Centers

Racial and ethnic health disparities remain a pandemic social issue in the United States, posing a significant challenge to health care organizations. Culturally responsive and competent care is key to addressing health disparities, and the lack of diversification in the health care workforce is a contributor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the barriers and best practices surrounding the development of diverse staffing in a sample of community health centers (CHCs) in Massachusetts. Survey responses and follow up interviews with CHCs were analyzed. Lessons and recommendations for CHCs and other human service organizations are discussed.
Treatment with weak electromagnetic fields controls drooling in Parkinson's disease.

To the Editor: Drooling has long been recognized a characteristic feature of pos-tencephalitic Parkinsonism and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). James Parkinson's original description of a patient whose “saliva was continually trickling out of his mouth, and he had neither the power of retaining it, nor of spitting it freely” (Parkinson, 1817) implied that drooling is related to dysfunction of swallowing rather than to excessive saliva production (Apenzeller, 1982). Current investigations support this contention, although it remains unknown whether drooling reflects an inability to initiate voluntary oropharyngeal movements or whether it results from loss of unconscious coordinated movements associated with swallowing resulting in inability to dispose of saliva. Drooling is considered a hypokinetic phenomenon more commonly observed in the later stages of the disease (Nutt et al. 2, 1992; Korczyn, 1989). Since drooling can result in considerable social embarrassment, patients often desire treatment of ...
Normalizing RNA-Sequencing Data by Modeling Hidden Covariates with Prior Knowledge

Transcriptomic assays that measure expression levels are widely used to study the manifestation of environmental or genetic variations in cellular processes. RNA-sequencing in particular has the potential to considerably improve such understanding because of its capacity to assay the entire transcriptome, including novel transcriptional events. However, as with earlier expression assays, analysis of RNA-sequencing data requires carefully accounting for factors that may introduce systematic, confounding variability in the expression measurements, resulting in spurious correlations. Here, we consider the problem of modeling and removing the effects of known and hidden confounding factors from RNA-sequencing data. We describe a unified residual framework that encapsulates existing approaches, and using this framework, present a novel method, HCP (Hidden Covariates with Prior). HCP uses a more informed assumption about the confounding factors, and performs as well or better than existing approaches while having a much lower computational cost. Our experiments demonstrate that accounting for known and hidden factors with appropriate models improves the quality of RNA-sequencing data in two very different tasks: detecting genetic variations that are associated with nearby expression variations (cis-eQTLs), and constructing accurate co-expression networks.
The low-salt syndromes in congestive heart failure.

Abstract The current concept of the “low-salt syndromes” and their management may be summarized as follows: 1. (1) The low-salt syndrome is not an entity either clinically or biochemically but represents a group of loosely related disorders. 2. (2) The finding of a low concentration of sodium and chloride in the serum can connote either electrolyte loss or water retention. 3. (3) The differentiation between these two states is made largely on clinical grounds. In most cases there is probably a combination of both factors. 4. (4) The principles of management are different for the depletion and the dilution types, but in a given case treatment remains largely empirical and must be guided by clinical as well as by laboratory observation. 5. (5) Correction of the altered electrolyte concentrations is more likely to be achieved if treatment is not limited to furnishing sodium and chloride but includes the restriction of fluid intake and the concurrent administration of potassium. 6. (6) The iatrogenic production of a “low-salt syndrome” is not an inevitable risk whenever a low-salt diet and potent diuretics are employed. It can, by and large, be avoided if treatment is individualized, and if the effect of the diuretic procedures is critically evaluated from day to day.
Gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy followed by radiation with capecitabine as adjuvant therapy for resected pancreas cancer.

Purpose: To report outcomes for patients with resected pancreas cancer treated with an adjuvant regimen consisting of gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy followed by capecitabine and radiation. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of a series of patients treated at a single institution with a common postoperative adjuvant program. Between January 2002 and August 2006, 43 resected pancreas cancer patients were offered treatment consisting of 4, 21-day cycles of gemcitabine 1 g/m{sup 2} intravenously over 30 min on Days 1 and 8, with either cisplatin 35 mg/m{sup 2} intravenously on Days 1 and 8 or capecitabine 1500 mg/m{sup 2} orally in divided doses on Days 1-14. After completion of combination chemotherapy, patients received a course of radiotherapy (54 Gy) with concurrent capecitabine (1330 mg/m{sup 2} orally in divided doses) day 1 to treatment completion. Results: Forty-one patients were treated. Median progression-free survival for the entire group was 21.7 months (95% confidence interval 13.9-34.5 months), and median overall survival was 45.9 months. In multivariate analysis a postoperative CA 19-9 level of >=180 U/mL predicted relapse and death. Toxicity was mild, with only two hospitalizations during adjuvant therapy. Conclusions: A postoperative adjuvant program using combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and either cisplatin ormore » capecitabine followed by radiotherapy with capecitabine is tolerable and efficacious and should be considered for Phase III testing in this group of patients.« less
Convective stability of a particle-laden fluid system in the presence of solidification

Abstract In many phase transformation processes, natural convection controls the freezing or melting rate of the material. The kinematics of the solid–liquid interface, which are coupled with bulk convection in the melt, play an important role in determining the microstructure of a solidified material. Although the fundamental problem of thermoconvective instability of a single-component in a horizontal liquid layer has been studied extensively, there still exist additional complexities which arise during solidification due to the presence of nonmelting components. This study addresses the problem of Rayleigh–Benard instability of a liquid layer in the presence of suspended particles undergoing a phase transformation. A linear stability analysis determined the effects of the particles and phase-change on the conditions for incipient convection. The analysis reveals that the concentration of and heat transfer between particles affect the stability of the system.
More than a marker... Phosphorylated Akt in prostate carcinoma.

Advances in understanding carcinogenesis have fostered many ideas for improving cancer prognostication and treatment. However, development of these ideas has far outpaced the rate of clinical testing. The advent of tissue microarrays has accelerated analysis and reduced the expense of analysis of
Mechanical Properties of Pedal Mucus and Their Consequences for Gastropod Structure and Performance

This study examines the possiblility that the physical properties of pedal mucus limit the size and speed of gastropods. At small deformations hydrated pedal mucus is a viscoelastic solid. At large deformations the mucus yields and becomes a viscous liquid, the yield strength increasing as the rate of deformation increases. The mucus can ‘heal’ if left undeformed, its strength increasing with time. When dehydrated the mucus strength and stiffness increase substantially. These properties can be used to calculate the maximum speed of crawling and the maximum size for gastropods. In all the cases examined the predicted maxima are near those observed in nature, and it seems likely that pedal mucus indeed places limits on gastropod structure and performance.
Studies on the mechanism of C3b inhibition of immune complex induced C1 activation

We had previously demonstrated that in normal human serum (NHS) nascent C3b inhibited C1 activation by immune complexes (IC). We have now investigated the mechanism of this feedback inhibition. For these studies, EA-IgG were added to solutions containing physiological concns of purified C1, C1-In, C2, C3 and C4. Mixtures were then incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min. Western blot and autoradiographic analyses revealed that almost half of the IgG molecules had become covalently linked to C3b in a 1:1 complex with the C3 alpha' chain of C3b being bound to the heavy chain of IgG. IgG-C3b and free IgG were separated by ion exchange chromatography and immune complexes were formed with each. The consumption of complement in NHS by EA-IgG and EA-(IgG-C3b) were then compared. The results indicate that binding of C3b to IgG did not significantly inhibit the C1 activating potential of the IgG. Thus feedback inhibition is not due to the binding of C3b to IgG. An alternative mechanism was next explored. After incubation of EA-IgG with C1 through C3, EA were separated from supernatant fluid by centrifugation. It was determined that one-third to one-half of the IgG had been released from the erythrocytes. Release appears not to have been due to C3b binding to IgG, since the released IgG-C3b readily bind to fresh sheep erythrocyte (E), and since IgG that was free of C3b was also released from EA by complement, it is more likely that C3b binding to the E caused the dissociation of antibody. These results indicate that under physiological conditions, the C1 activating potential of an immune complex is greatly reduced as the result of the binding of nascent C3b to the antigen moiety of the IC, thereby causing the displacement of complement activating antibody. In addition to IgG, IgG-C3b is also released from the IC.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Postmarket Reported Side Effects and Adverse Events Associated with Pulmonary Hypertension Therapy in Pediatric Patients

Because most medications for pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) are used off label and based on adult trials, little information is available on pediatric-specific adverse events (AEs). Although drug manufacturers are required to submit postmarket AE reports to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this information is rarely transmitted to practitioners. In the setting of a recent FDA warning for sildenafil, the authors sought to give a better description of the AEs associated with current therapies in pediatric PH. In January 2010, a written request was made to the Food and Drug Administration for AE records of commonly used PH medications. Reports were screened for pediatric patients, analyzed in terms of AEs, and compared with the medical literature. Arbitrarily, AEs that could be attributed to concomitant medications were not attributed to the PH medication in question. Adverse events occurring in more than 5 % of events for each drug were assumed to be associated with the targeted PH medication. Between November 1997 and December 2009, 588 pediatric AE reports (death in 257 cases) were reported for the three most commonly used therapies: bosentan, epoprostenol, and sildenafil. Many of the AEs were similar to those reported previously. However, 27 AEs not previously reported in the literature (e.g., pulmonary hemorrhage, hemoptysis, and pneumonia) were found. The FDA postmarket records for PH medications in pediatric patients show a significant number of AEs. The discovery of AEs not previously reported will better inform those caring for these complex and critically ill children, and the large number of deaths suggest they may be underreported in current literature.
Education—prospects for 1976

Bringing blacks and other minorities into the American mainstream, largely by increasing their access to higher education, seems to be a continuing trend as the bicentennial of the declaration of independence approaches. The US early led the world in the expansion of educational opportunity. Despite progress elsewhere the recent acceleration of educational opportunity in the US is still striking.
The UPs and Downs of Citation Titles: What Librarians Should Know When Helping Students

Whether you are an academic librarian, school librarian, or public librarian, if you work in Reference you probably get asked about how to cite a book or article in a particular style. One of the thorniest parts about helping someone with a citation is knowing how that style capitalizes words in the title. It is not obvious. The three primary citation styles (MLA, APA, and Chicago) have all published updated citation style manuals in the last couple of years and there have been some changes even in how titles are capitalized. This article describes the changes and breaks down the differences between each of the citation styles.
Method for continuous generation of Component Business Model heat map using execution data for a complex service enterprise

Component Business Models (CBM) and manually synthesized heat maps have been used successfully by IBM Global Business Solutions to develop logical models that assist strategic decision-making. A key aspect of CBM is the layered intra-enterprise approach that identifies Execution, Control and Direction. However, the performance relationships between these layers can be a challenging to compute algorithmically, because of the typical ‘impedance’ mismatch between the underlying models and metrics used at these layers. In this paper, we introduce a meta-model related to microeconomics and Activity Based Costing - which we call the Interaction model. We show how this algorithmically relates operational execution data; to CBM heat maps for large scaled service-oriented systems. We use production data from the city of Columbus' 311 system (a one-stop request handling system for city services) to illustrate the value of this algorithm in generating the heat map to help service investments and other dashboard type applications.
Shear instability and gravity wave saturation in an asymmetrically stratified jet

Motivated by the mean current and stratification structure associated with the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC), we examine the stability and wave propagation characteristics of a highly idealized model flow: the asymmetrically stratified jet. This is a parallel shear flow in which the depth-varying current has the sech 2 form of a Bickley jet. The stratification has a step function structure: the buoyancy frequency takes uniform values above and below the center of the jet, with the larger value occurring below. The spectrum contains three classes of unstable normal modes. Two are extensions of the sinuous and varicose modes of the unstratified Bickley jet; the third has not been described previously. The asymmetric stratification structure allows instabilities to radiate gravity wave energy from the upper flank of the jet to the lower flank, where it encounters a critical layer. From here, wave energy may be reflected, absorbed or transmitted. Absorption results in wave saturation and momentum transfer to the mean flow, in close analogy with the breaking of orographic gravity waves in the middle atmosphere. Transmission beyond the lower flank may partly account for wave signals observed in the deep equatorial ocean. All of these processes exert zonal forces on the jet that alter its speed and shape. The wave structures and associated fluxes developed by the idealized model are compared with observations of the EUC.
Private Buddy Search: Enabling Private Spatial Queries in Social Networks

With the abundance of location-aware portable devices such as cellphones and PDAs, a new emerging application is to use this pervasive computing platform to learn about the whereabouts of one's friends and relatives. However, issues of trust, security and privacy have hindered the popularity and safety of the systems developed for this purpose. We identify and address the key challenges of enabling private spatial queries in social networks using an untrusted server model without compromising users' privacy. We propose Private Buddy Search (PBS), a framework to enable private evaluation of spatial queries predominantly used in social networks, without compromising sensitive information about its users. Utilizing server side encrypted index structures and client side query processing, PBS enjoys both scalability and privacy. Our extensive experimental evaluation shows that PBS supports very efficient user operations such as location updates, as well as spatial queries such as range and k-nearest neighbor search.
Chandra spectroscopy of the hot star β Crucis and the discovery of a pre-main-sequence companion

In order to test the O star wind-shock scenario for X-ray production in less luminous stars with weaker winds, we made a pointed 74-ks observation of the nearby early B giant, β Crucis (β Cru; B0.5 III), with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer. We find that the X-ray spectrum is quite soft, with a dominant thermal component near 3 million K, and that the emission lines are resolved but quite narrow, with half widths of 150 km s -1 . The forbidden-to-intercombination line ratios of Ne ix and Mg xi indicate that the hot plasma is distributed in the wind, rather than confined near the photosphere. It is difficult to understand the X-ray data in the context of the standard wind-shock paradigm for OB stars, primarily because of the narrow lines, but also because of the high X-ray production efficiency. A scenario in which the bulk of the outer wind is shock heated is broadly consistent with the data, but not very well motivated theoretically. It is possible that magnetic channelling could explain the X-ray properties, although no field has been detected on β Cru. We detected periodic variability in the hard (hv > 1 keV) X-rays, modulated on the known optical period of 4.58 h, which is the period of the primary β Cephei pulsation mode for this star. We also have detected, for the first time, an apparent companion to β Cru at a projected separation of 4 arcsec. This companion was likely never seen in optical images because of the presumed very high contrast between it and β Cru in the optical. However, the brightness contrast in the X-ray is only 3:1, which is consistent with the companion being an X-ray active low-mass pre-main-sequence star. The companion's X-ray spectrum is relatively hard and variable, as would be expected from a post-T Tauri star. The age of the β Cru system (between 8 and 10 Myr) is consistent with this interpretation which, if correct, would add β Cru to the roster of Lindroos binaries - B stars with low-mass pre-main-sequence companions.
A functionally graded shape memory polymer

In this article we describe the preparation and characterization of a functionally graded shape memory polymer (SMP) that, unlike conventional SMPs, has a range of transition temperatures that are spatially distributed in a gradient fashion within one single article. This is achieved by post-curing a pre-cured glassy SMP in a linear temperature gradient that imposes different vitrification temperature limits at different positions along the gradient. Utilizing indentation-based surface shape memory coupled with optical measurements of photoelastic response, the capability of this material to respond over a wide range of thermal triggers is examined and correlated with the graded glass transition behavior. The shape recovery response of the gradient SMP under a condition of continuous heating is demonstrated. This new class of SMP offers great potential for such applications as passive temperature sensing and precise control of shape evolution during a thermally triggered shape recovery.
My Passion for Quality-of-Life and Well-Being Research: an Autobiography

Before discussing my passion for quality-of-life (QOL) and well-being research, allow me to touch upon my educational/professional roots. I was born in 1952 in Cairo, Egypt of Lebanese/Syrian parents (my mother a Greek Orthodox, my dad a Greek Catholic). My early education was at St. George’s College, an Irish parochial school in Cairo. At the age of 16 I left Egypt for Lebanon (Beirut) from where I immigrated to the USA. While wiating for my immigration papers to come through, I took on a job as a translator in a cinematography lab, where English, American, and French television shows were translated into Arabic subtitles. I arrived in the USA in 1970, afterwhich I started taking college evening courses at the community college in Los Angeles while Applied Research Quality Life (2015) 10:371–373 DOI 10.1007/s11482-015-9407-x
Equi-areal catadioptric sensors

We investigate catadioptric sensors whose associated projections from the viewing sphere to the image plane are area preserving. In the orthographic case, we show that the catoptric component must be a surface of revolution of constant Gaussian curvature. We compare the equi-areal sensors in both the perspective and orthographic cases with other sensors that have been proposed earlier for treating the uniformity-of-resolution problem.
The Proportions of Different Types of Sex Offenders and the Degree of Difficulty in Treating Them: A Comparison of Perceptions by Clinicians in Taiwan and in Michigan:

Research has shown that sex offenders are a heterogeneous group, but few studies have examined differences in types of sex offenders cross-culturally or examined the perceptions of clinicians about difficulties in treating different types of sex offenders. This study compares the perceptions of clinicians in Taiwan and in Michigan of the types of sex offenders they are serving and on the difficulties of treating these sex offenders. The Groth typology of sex offenders was used as the baseline typology. Results show significant differences in proportions of rapists and child molesters between Taiwan and Michigan, but no significant differences were found in other types. The rankings by clinicians of the degree of difficulty in treating different types of sex offenders were identical in both areas, although the clinical experiences of clinicians between these two areas were different.
Ancient DNA reveals Holocene loss of genetic diversity in a South American rodent.

Understanding how animal populations have evolved in response to palaeoenvironmental conditions is essential for predicting the impact of future environmental change on current biodiversity. Analyses of ancient DNA provide a unique opportunity to track population responses to prehistoric environments. We explored the effects of palaeoenvironmental change on the colonial tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis), a highly endemic species of Patagonian rodent that is currently listed as threatened by the IUCN. By combining surveys of modern genetic variation from throughout this species' current geographic range with analyses of DNA samples from fossil material dating back to 10000ybp, we demonstrate a striking decline in genetic diversity that is concordant with environmental events in the study region. Our results highlight the importance of non-anthropogenic factors in loss of diversity, including reductions in smaller mammals such as rodents.
New clock feedthrough cancellation technique for analogue MOS switched-capacitor circuits

A new technique for minimising DC offsets caused by clock feedthrough in switched-capacitor circuits is presented. Unlike some techniques presented in the past, the clock feedthrough cancellation is dependent only on matching and the common mode rejection ratio of the op-amps. The technique is quite general and can be applied to most switched-capacitor circuits that use differential input op-amps.
Your Cleanroom as an Outreach Vehicle

"I don't have time for outreach, my research takes all my time." This has been the general attitude of university- based research teams for many years. While this may seem to be a true statement, it is quickly becoming unacceptable in the eyes of many granting agencies. This paper will examine recent outreach activities that have centered around the UofL Micro/Nanotechnology Center. The UofL Nanotechnology Fellows Program, an NSF funded summer symposium for high school math and science teachers, will be presented in detail. This very successful event along with other outreach activities will be provided as a framework for other facilities interested in building outreach programs.
Experimental wetting dynamics study of eutectic and lead-free solders varying flux, temperature and surface finish metallization

Demands on solder bump interconnects have increased in modern electronics this is characterized by high density, small size and fine pitch devices. In solder bump interconnects, solder wetting onto bond pads is the key factor that determines the interconnect process yield and the solder joint reliability. Solder wetting involves various physical phenomena such as surface tension imbalance, viscous dissipation, molecular kinetic motion, chemical reactions and diffusion. In this paper, an experimental study on solder wetting dynamics will be presented. The effects of solder reflow process parameters and bonding materials will be discussed, as they relate to the physics of solder wetting and ultimately the interconnect process yield and solder joint reliability. The experimental setup consists of a high-speed image acquisition system and a temperature chamber which were used to measure the time dependent behavior of molten solder spheres onto bond pads under an isothermal condition. The solder materials investigated are eutectic tin-lead solder and lead-free 95.5Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu solder. The wetting dynamics of the solder materials were investigated on Cu, Cu/OSP, and Cu/Ni/Au bond pads, with several different flux systems, at different environmental temperatures and with various solder sphere sizes. The experimental observations indicate that the wetting dynamics clearly depend on temperature, solder materials and substrate metallization but do not depend significantly on the flux system or the solder sphere size.
Examining how aspects of vocational privilege relate to living a calling

The current study examined how aspects of vocational privilege directly – and indirectly via work meaning and career commitment – related to living a calling. With an economically diverse sample of 361 employed adults, both social class and work volition were found to moderately to strongly correlate with work meaning, career commitment, and living a calling. We used a structural equation model and found career commitment and work meaning to significantly predict living a calling and fully mediate the link between work volition and living a calling. Additionally, social class related to work meaning and career commitment via work volition. Findings suggest that the links between social class, work volition, and living a calling may be explained by individuals working in jobs they are committed to and that are meaningful, and that work volition may represent the gateway from social class to the experience of fulfilling work. Implications for practice are discussed.
Multiscale segmentation with vector-valued nonlinear diffusions on arbitrary graphs

We propose a novel family of nonlinear diffusion equations and apply it to the problem of segmentation of multivalued images. We show that this family can be viewed as an extension of stabilized inverse diffusion equations (SIDEs) which were proposed for restoration, enhancement, and segmentation of scalar-valued signals and images in . Our new diffusion equations can process vector-valued images defined on arbitrary graphs which makes them well suited for segmentation. In addition, we introduce novel ways of utilizing the shape information during the diffusion process. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods on a large number of segmentation tasks.
Survival of Salmonella enterica in poultry feed is strain dependent

ABSTRACT Feed components have low water activity, making bacterial survival difficult. The mechanisms of Salmonella survival in feed and subsequent colonization of poultry are unknown. The purpose of this research was to compare the ability of Salmonella serovars and strains to survive in broiler feed and to evaluate molecular mechanisms associated with survival and colonization by measuring the expression of genes associated with colonization (hilA, invA) and survival via fatty acid synthesis (cfa, fabA, fabB, fabD). Feed was inoculated with 1 of 15 strains of Salmonella enterica consisting of 11 serovars (Typhimurium, Enteriditis, Kentucky, Seftenburg, Heidelberg, Mbandanka, Newport, Bairely, Javiana, Montevideo, and Infantis). To inoculate feed, cultures were suspended in PBS and survival was evaluated by plating samples onto XLT4 agar plates at specific time points (0 h, 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, 4 d, and 7 d). To evaluate gene expression, RNA was extracted from the samples at the specific time points (0, 4, 8, and 24 h) and gene expression measured with real-time PCR. The largest reduction in Salmonella occurred at the first and third sampling time points (4 h and 4 d) with the average reductions being 1.9 and 1.6 log cfu per g, respectively. For the remaining time points (8 h, 24 h, and 7 d), the average reduction was less than 1 log cfu per g (0.6, 0.4, and 0.6, respectively). Most strains upregulated cfa (cyclopropane fatty acid synthesis) within 8 h, which would modify the fluidity of the cell wall to aid in survival. There was a weak negative correlation between survival and virulence gene expression indicating downregulation to focus energy on other gene expression efforts such as survival-related genes. These data indicate the ability of strains to survive over time in poultry feed was strain dependent and that upregulation of cyclopropane fatty acid synthesis and downregulation of virulence genes were associated with a response to desiccation stress.
Modeling considerations for wide area search munition effectiveness analysis

There are currently several wide area search munitions in the research and development phase within the Department of Defense. Progress on the individual technologies is promising, but there are insufficient analytical tools for evaluating the effectiveness of these concept munitions. This paper examines some of the modeling aspects of wide area search munitions with Autonomous Target Recognition (ATR) capability. The unique aspect of the munition problem is that a search agent is lost whenever an attack is executed. This significantly impacts the overall effectiveness in a multi-target/false target environment. ATR measures of performance are introduced, and described in terms of a confusion matrix for the sensor. The single munition/single target and general multi-munition/multi-target cases are discussed, and a simple application is used to validate the modeling constructs.
The time-domain response of a corroding system with constant phase angle interfacial component: Application to steel in concrete

Abstract The time-domain response of reinforcing steel in concrete during a polarization resistance test was examined based on the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy behavior of the system. The analysis considered the effect of apparent interfacial capacitances that approached the behavior of a constant phase angle element (CPE). The response of an interface behaving as the parallel combination of a polarization resistance and a CPE was examined analytically. The calculations showed that significant error could develop in the estimation of corrosion rates from the apparent polarization resistance obtained during a potential scan experiment. The predicted error was largest when corrosion rates were small. The error could be significant at commonly used potential scan rates (0.1 mV s−1) and constant phase element exponents (0.7
Carbon-Bridge Incorporation in Organosilicate Coatings Using Oxidative Atmospheric Plasma Deposition.

Carbon-bridges were successfully incorporated into the molecular structure of inorganic silicate films deposited onto polymer substrates using an oxidative atmospheric plasma deposition process. Key process parameters that include the precursor chemistry and delivery rate are discussed in the context of a deposition model. The resulting coating exhibited significantly improved adhesion and a 4-fold increase in moisture resistance as determined from the threshold for debonding in humid air compared to dense silica or commercial sol–gel polysiloxane coatings. Other important parameters for obtaining highly adhesive coating deposition on oxidation-sensitive polymer substrates using atmospheric plasma were also investigated to fully activate but not overoxidize the substrate. The resulting carbon molecular bridged adhesive coating showed enhanced moisture resistance, important for functional membrane applications.
Addressing next-generation wireless challenges with commercial software-defined radio platforms

We review commercially available software- defined radio platforms and classify them with respect to their ability to enable rapid prototyping of next-generation wireless systems. In particular, we first discuss the research challenges imposed by the latest software-defined radio enabling technologies including both analog and digital processing hardware. Then we present the state-of-the-art commercial software-defined radio platforms, describe their software and hardware capabilities, and classify them based on their ability to enable rapid prototyping and advance experimental research in wireless networking. Finally, we present three experimental testbed scenarios (wireless terrestrial, aerial, and underwater) and argue that the development of a system design abstraction could significantly improve the efficiency of the prototyping and testbed implementation process.
Photosynthetic Responses of Alfalfa to Actual and Simulated Alfalfa Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Injury

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), is the most important leafmass consumer of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. However, little is known about how insect defoliation injury affects photosynthetic responses of alfalfa. Studies were conducted in 1990 and 1991 to characterize the gas exchange responses of alfalfa to simulated and actual alfalfa weevil larval injury. Gas exchange responses were observed for two levels of plant organization: (1) the remaining tissue of injured leaves and (2) the remaining leaves of defoliated plants. Transpiration and stomatal conductance rates for leaves with actual and simulated alfalfa weevil injury were greater than for leaves without defoliation injury. However, photosynthetic rates of leaves with simulated and actual alfalfa weevil injury were not significantly different from each other or from leaves without defoliation injury. Consequently, both simulated and actual alfalfa weevil injury did not seem to affect the photosynthetic apparatus of the remaining leaf tissue. Therefore, the principal effect of alfalfa weevil defoliation injury on photosynthetic responses of alfalfa was to reduce the amount of photosynthesizing leaf tissue, but not photosynthetic rates. Moreover, simulated alfalfa weevil injury techniques produced photosynthetic responses that were not significantly different from actual alfalfa weevil injury. Defoliated plants responded to simulated alfalfa weevil injury by altering the normal senescence pattern of the remaining leaves. In particular, leaves of defoliated plants maintained higher photosynthetic rates than corresponding leaves of control plants, which showed normal senescence patterns of decreasing photosynthetic rates. As defoliation injury increased in magnitude, leaf senescence of the remaining leaves proceeded at a progressively slower rate. Delayed leaf senescence seems to be a plant compensatory response to alfalfa weevil defoliation injury.
High-Resolution Microscopy of Ceramics

The use of high-resolution electron microscopy in the study of ceramic materials is illustrated with examples from current research. Particular emphasis is placed on the preparation of the sample and the difficulties in interpretation which may result from the techniques which are necessary for these hard, chemically inert materials.
Diverting the Reader: Novel Strategies in the Conseil privé de Louis le Grand (1696)

The anonymous pamphlet Conseil prive de Louis le Grand (1696) subjects French monarch Louis XIV to scathing ridicule and denunciation. Interestingly, however, the pamphleteer frames his critique of absolutist politics within an entertaining narrative that deploys tropes from contemporary literary genres such as the historical novella and the historico-satirical novel. A poetics of diversion subtends the work, readable at the level of the plot as well as in the satirical mechanism employed in the text: not only does the Conseil prive de Louis le Grand incorporate scenes focusing on courtly diversions, but it also diverts readers in a more literal way by transforming the monarch into a source of amusement. Absolutism becomes grist to the mill of pamphleteering, and the king a product of authorial fantasy. The pamphleteer figures Louis the Great's privy council as a harem — a world of corruption, weakness, and ineptitude where the monarchy is painted in its imagined and unimaginable excesses. Studying this t...
EFFECTS OF METHOD ERROR ON THE POWER OF A STATISTICAL TEST: IMPLICATIONS OF IMPERFECT SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY IN RETROSPECTIVE CHART REVIEW

Errors in classifying individuals as to whether they have a certain characteristic may adversely affect the power of a statistical test to detect differences in the incidence of that characteristic between groups or to detect changes in the incidence over time. To determine whether the classification method to be used in the Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control (SENIC Project)--retrospective chart review--would provide sufficient power for a test of the study's main hypothesis, the authors calculated power as a function of the sensitivity and specificity of the method. They then contrasted the case in which sensitivity and specificity are constant for all hospitals in the study with cases in which the measures vary between groups of hospitals or between time periods. It was found that variation within the observed ranges of sensitivity and specificity, even if systematic, has little effect on power unless it is related to the hypothesis under study. The authors thus concluded that SENICs study design is adequate to detect any substantial success of infection surveilliance and control programs in combatting nosocomial infection, unless such programs affect the accuracy of the chart review method.
Responses to Different Spatial Configurations

The influence of variations in space on affective response has not been widely researched. This study investigated the relationship of variations in height, width/depth, and shape to affective responses. Each of 120 respondents was asked to sort, by preference, models of spaces which represented, at one-twelfth scale, all possible combinations of 2.14-m and 6.10-m heights with 1.52-m, 3.05-m, or 6.05-m widths and depths. The results of the chi-square analyses indicate that respondents felt more secure in response to models 2.44 m high than to models 6.10 m high, more pleased in response to the models of square rather than rectangular spaces, and more secure, pleased, and interested, on the average, in response to models of wide rather than narrow spaces. The need for further investigations for special populations and contexts is described and speculations about the implications of this research for use in designing actual settings are discussed. Language: en
Precipitation Intensity Required for Landslide Initiation in Rwanda

Rwanda has a high density of landslides, heavy precipitation events and a shortage of resources to study them, making it an excellent candidate for study using satellite-based remote sensing data. To assess landslide hazards countrywide, I first built a landslide inventory of 254 landslides and used a statistical methodology. Using logistic regression on 24 test variables, I determined that slope and population density are statistically most relevant to landslide occurrence in Rwanda. A preliminary predictive hazard map for Rwanda was produced, with an overall predictive accuracy of 79.6%. Second, I worked to define a relationship between precipitation intensity and landslide density for a landslide-prone study area in western Rwanda. In the 1180 km2 study area, I mapped 577 landslides, using CNES/Astrium and WorldView satellite imagery in Google Earth over a study period of 2000 to 2015. One 400 km2 part of the study area has a high landslide density of 1.4 landslides/km2, while another 780 km2 part with identical geology, soils, land-use, and vegetation has a much lower landslide density. To identify possible triggering events for these landslides, I analyzed a 16 year record of TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) satellite precipitation data. The high landslide density region and the low landslide density region were not notably different in rainfall, as quantified by recurrence interval analysis. A relationship between precipitation and landslide density could therefore not be developed, and the null hypothesis cannot be ruled out. This apparent lack of connection could result from a variety of factors including TRMM grid size, satellite imagery temporal resolution, antecedent soil moisture, or vegetation regrowth rates. Approval _________________________________________ __________________ Dr. Adam Booth, Thesis Advisor Date _________________________________________ __________________ Dr. Martin J. Streck, Department Chair Date