cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The power of convex relaxation: the surprising stories of matrix completion and compressed sensing

In many important problems, only partial information about an object of interest is available. In signal processing, we may have far fewer measurements about an image we wish to reconstruct than the number of pixels in the image---as in common biomedical applications. In data analysis, we may be interested in knowing users' preferences for a collection of items, but only observe their preferences for just a few (this is the famous Netflix Prize problem). For these problems to make sense, the object under study needs to depend upon a smaller number of degrees of freedom, and frequently discussed approaches assume that the signal we wish to reconstruct is sparse or approximately sparse, or that the matrix we wish to infer has approximately low-rank. However, finding a vector with minimum cardinality, or a matrix with minimum rank in a convex set is a combinatorially hard problem. In this talk, we will explain that -- surprisingly -- simple convex relaxations have the same solution as these combinatorially hard problems. Further, these solutions give good approximations when the data are noisy and this is why these techniques are broadly applicable, and have already impacted several applications areas such as signal processing, optics, machine learning and so on.
Does reader visual fatigue impact interpretation accuracy

To measure the impact of reader of reader visual fatigue by assessing symptoms, the ability to keep the eye focused on the display and diagnostic accuracy. Twenty radiology residents and 20 radiologists were given a diagnostic performance test containing 60 skeletal radiographic studies, half with fractures, before and after a day of clinical reading. Diagnostic accuracy was measured using area under the proper binormal curve (AUC). Error in visual accommodation was measured before and after each test session and subjects completed the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) and the oculomotor strain subscale of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) before each session. Average AUC was 0.89 for before work test and 0.85 for the after work test, (F(1,36) = 4.15, p = 0.049 < 0.05). There was significantly greater error in accommodation after the clinical workday (F(1,14829) = 7.81, p = 0.005 < 0.01), and after the reading test (F(1,14829) = 839.33, p < 0.0001). SOFI measures of lack of energy, physical discomfort and sleepiness were higher after a day of clinical reading (p < 0.05). The SSQ measure of oculomotor symptoms (i.e., difficulty focusing, blurred vision) was significantly higher after a day of clinical reading (F(1,75) = 20.38, p < 0.0001). Radiologists are visually fatigued by their clinical reading workday. This reduces their ability to focus on diagnostic images and to accurately interpret them.
Factors Controlling Aboveground Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass) Tissue Element Composition and Production in Different-Age Barrier Island Marshes

Aboveground production and tissue element composition of Spartina alterniflora were compared in bareier island marshes of different age off the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The marshes were also characterized by physical and chemical parameters of the substrate. The results suggest that sediment nutrient stock do not directly control the spatial pattern of element content or production of S. alterniflora between these marshes. Elevated salinity likely limits the nitrogen uptake capability of S. alterniflora in the high marsh, which, in turn, controls leaf tissue nitrogen content of plants within individual sites. Low substrate redox potential may control the spatial pattern of nitrogen uptake between the different-age marsh sites, loading to more favorable growing conditions at the low stations of the young marsh sites where values of tissue nitrogen and production are highest. Tissue phosphorus did not differ between, or within the marsh sites. The result of a fertilization experiment suggest that nitrogen, and not phosphorus, is the primary limiting nutrient in this sytem. This indicates that nutrient limitation and other stresses work in conjunction to control tissue element content and macrophyte production at these marsh sites. Spatial variability of factors that control leaf tissue nitrogen and production is likely related to topography and grain size of an individual marsh, which is a function of marsh age. Most studies in different-age marshes have compared transplanted marshes to older, natural marshes. This work is one of few studies comparing developing and mature natural, marshes on barrier islands.
Perceived self in infancy

Research is presented suggesting that an implicit sense of self is developing from birth, long before children begin to manifest explicit (conceptual) self-knowledge by the second year. Implicit self-knowledge in infancy is rooted in intermodal perception and action. Studies are reported showing that at least from 2 months of age, infants become increasingly systematic and deliberate in the exploration of their own body and the perceptual consequences of self-produced action. From such exploration, infants develop a sense of their own body as a differentiated entity, situated and agent in the environment. Based on recent empirical findings, the perceptual determinants of such implicit sense of self are discussed.
Identification of a Genetic Locus on Chromosome 11 That Regulates Leukocyte Infiltration in Mouse Carotid Artery

Objective— We demonstrated that inflammatory cells and intima–media thickening are increased in carotids exposed to low-blood flow in the SJL/J (SJL) strain compared with other mouse strains. We hypothesized that the extent of inflammation associated with intima–media thickening is a genetically regulated trait. Approach and Results— We performed a whole genome approach to measure leukocyte infiltration in the carotid intima as a quantitative trait in a genetic cross between C3HeB/FeJ (C3H/F) and SJL mice. Immunostaining for CD45 + (a pan-specific leukocyte marker) was performed on carotids from C3H/F, SJL, F1, and N2 progeny to measure leukocyte infiltration. We identified a nearly significant quantitative trait locus for CD45 + on chromosome (chr) 11 (17 cM, LOD=2.3; significance was considered at threshold P =0.05). Interval mapping showed that the CD45 + locus on chr 11 accounted for 8% of the variation in the logarithm of odds backcross. Importantly, the CD45 + locus colocalized with the intima-modifier 2 ( Im 2) locus, which controls 17% of intima variation. We created 2 Im 2 congenic lines of mice (C3H/F.SJL.11.1 and C3H/F.SJL.11.2) to better understand the regulation of intima–media thickening by the chr 11 locus. The C3H/F.SJL.11.1 congenic mouse showed ≈30% of the SJL trait, confirming that CD45 + cell infiltration contributed to the intima trait. Conclusions— We discovered a novel locus on chr 11 that controls leukocyte infiltration in the carotid. Importantly, this locus overlaps with our previously published Im 2 locus on chr 11. Our study reveals a potential mechanistic relationship between leukocyte infiltration and intima–media thickening in response to decreased blood flow.
The first coordination complexes of selenones: a structural comparison with complexes of sulfones.

Reactivity of the two classes of very weak donors R2XO2 (X = S, R = Me (1) and Ph (2); X = Se, R = Me (3) and Ph (4)) have been studied. Coordination properties of sulfones and selenones in solution and in the gas phase have been compared for the first time using a model bidentate metal complex, [Rh2(O2CCF3)4]. Two coordination modes, bridging μ2-O,O‘ and terminal η1-O, have been detected. These types of binding were realized in two series of sulfone and selenone metal complexes, polymeric mono-adducts {Rh2(O2CCF3)4·(R2XO2)}∞ (X = S, R = Me (1a); R = Ph (2a); X = Se, R = Ph (4a)) and discrete bis-adducts [Rh2(O2CCF3)4·(R2XO2)2] (X = S, R = Ph (2b); X = Se, R = Me (3b)). The compositions and structures of new compounds have been confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopy, chemical analyses, and X-ray diffraction studies. Compounds 3b and 4a are the first crystallographically characterized metal complexes having selenone ligands coordinated to the metal centers. Preparation and X-ray study of analogous metal comp...
Cognitive control in late-life depression: Response inhibition deficits and dysfunction of the anterior cingulate cortex

Objectives Geriatric depression is associated with frontolimbic functional deficits, and this frontal dysfunction may underlie the marked executive control deficits often seen in this population. The authors' goal was to assess the integrity of frontal cortical functioning in geriatric depression, while these individuals performed a standard cognitive control task. The N2 component of the event-related potential (ERP), an evoked response generated within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), is significantly enhanced when nondepressed individuals successfully inhibit a response, providing an excellent metric of frontal inhibitory function. Design The authors used a variant of a demanding Go/NoGo task-switching paradigm that required participants to inhibit response execution during NoGo trials by overcoming a potent response tendency established by frequent Go trials. Participants The authors compared a cohort of depressed geriatric outpatients (N = 11) with a similarly aged group of nondepressed participants (N = 11). Measurements Reaction times, accuracy, and high-density event-related potential recordings from a 64-channel electrode montage were obtained. Results A significantly enhanced N2 to NoGo trials was observed in nondepressed elderly participants, with generators localized to the ACC. In contrast, this enhancement was strongly reduced in the depressed sample. Source analysis and topographic mapping pointed to a displacement of N2 generators toward more posterior areas of the middle frontal gyrus in depressed subjects. Conclusions Findings confirm previous reports of an inhibitory control deficit in depressed elderly who show significantly increased rates of commission errors (i.e., failures to inhibit responses on NoGo trials). Electrophysiologic data suggest underlying dysfunction in ACC as the basis for this deficit.
Electrokinetic isolation of vesicles and ribosomes derived from Serratia marcescens.

Ribosomes and vesicles derived from the bacterium Serratia marcescens were separated from each other and from solubles using density gradient electrophoresis. Transport relationships were used to determine the electrophoretic mobilities of the particles. The effects of convection, sedimentation and diffusion were found to be negligible. The electrophoretic mobility obtained for the ribosome peak is -7 x 10(-5) cm2/(V.s). Under appropriate conditions, two vesicles peaks were obtained, the first with a mobility of -4 x 10(-5) cm2/(V.s) and the second with -9 x 10(-6) cm2/(V.s). This information can be used to predict the resolution of the separands in large-scale electrophoretic separations.
Preservation of energy coupling in submitochondrial particles during extraction and reinsertion of cytochrome C.

Cytochrome c was extracted from submitochondrial particles with the aid of cholate and KC1 while completely retaining the32Pi-ATP exchange activity. Reconstitution of oxidation coupled to phosphorylation was accomplished by exposing the depleted particles to an excess of cytochrome c in the presence of cholate and KC1, diluting with bovine plasma albumin, and finally washing the isolated particles with Mg++ - containing buffer to remove externally bound cytochrome c. With NADH, succinate, or phenazine methosulfate plus ascorbate, the P:0 values obtained with reconstituted particles were 1.1, 0.64 and 0.63, respectively.
Reconceptualizing ‘flaming’ and other problematic messages

Researchers examining ‘flaming’ - defined as hostile and aggressive interactions via text-based computer mediated-communication - have proposed theoretical frameworks to explain possible causes. However, precise conceptual and operational definitions of ‘flaming’ have yet to be established, which has implications for understanding this phenomenon. Consequently, we propose an interactional- normative framework that focuses on interpretations of messages from multiple perspectives in the situated and evolving context of appropriateness norms. This framework incorporates intentionality and individuals’ strategic choices in language use and channel selection. We discuss the implications of this framework for research on flaming and other problematic interactions.
A Metal Specific Atomic Absorption Detector for Gas Chromatography - Its Use in The Determination of Lead Alkyls in Gasoline

A new atomic absorption detector for gas chromatography was developed. The detector exhibits the excellent specificity of atomic absorption while retaining the great sensitivity of carbon atomizers, exhibiting a sensitivity 500 times greater than a similar flame detector. Molecular background interference is small. The system was used to characterize the lead alkyl contents of gasolines.
Proof of a Lattice Paths Conjecture Connected to the Tennis Ball Problem

We give a short history of the so-called tennis ball problem, and discuss its relation to lattice path enumeration. We also prove a conjecture related to a solution of the symmetric case, namely when the number of balls removed each turn is exactly half the number inserted.
Generation that Exploits Corpus-Based Statistical Knowledge

We describe novel aspects of a new natural language generator called Nitrogen. This generator has a highly flexible input representation that allows a spectrum of input from syntactic to semantic depth, and shifts the burden of many linguistic decisions to the statistical post-processor. The generation algorithm is compositional, making it efficient, yet it also handles non-compositional aspects of language. Nitrogen's design makes it robust and scalable, operating with lexicons and knowledge bases of one hundred thousand entities.
Lexicographic QoS scheduling for parallel I/O

High-end shared storage systems serving multiple independent workloads must assure that concurrently executing clients will receive a fair or agreed-upon share of system I/O resources. In a parallel I/O system an application makes requests for specific disks at different steps of its computation depending on the data layout and its computational state. Different applications contend for disk access making the problem of maintaining fair allocation challenging.We propose a model for differentiated disk bandwidth allocation based on lexicographic minimization, and provide new efficient scheduling algorithms to allocate the I/O bandwidth fairly among contending applications. A major contribution of our model is its ability to handle multiple parallel disks and contention for disks among the concurrent applications. Analysis and simulation-based evaluation shows that our algorithms provide performance isolation, weighted allocation of resources, and are work conserving. The solutions are also applicable to other shared resource environments dealing with non-uniform heterogeneous servers.
Improving evidence-based primary care for chronic kidney disease: Study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial for translating evidence into practice (TRANSLATE CKD)

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage renal disease (ESRD) are steadily increasing in prevalence in the United States. While there is reasonable evidence that specific activities can be implemented by primary care physicians (PCPs) to delay CKD progression and reduce mortality, CKD is under-recognized and undertreated in primary care offices, and PCPs are generally not familiar with treatment guidelines. The current study addresses the question of whether the facilitated TRANSLATE model compared to computer decision support (CDS) alone will lead to improved evidence-based care for CKD in primary care offices. Methods/Design: This protocol consists of a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) followed by a process and cost analysis. Only practices providing ambulatory primary care as their principal function, located in non-hospital settings, employing at least one primary care physician, with a minimum of 2,000 patients seen in the prior year, are eligible. The intervention will occur at the cluster level and consists of providing CKD-specific CDS versus CKD-specific CDS plus practice facilitation for all elements of the TRANSLATE model. Patient-level data will be collected from each participating practice to examine adherence to guideline-concordant care, progression of CKD and all-cause mortality. Patients are considered to meet stage three CKD criteria if at least two consecutive estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measurements at least three months apart fall below 60 ml/min. The process evaluation (cluster level) will determine through qualitative methods the fidelity of the facilitated TRANSLATE program and find the challenges and enablers of the implementation process. The cost-effectiveness analysis will compare the benefit of the intervention of CDS alone against the intervention of CDS plus TRANSLATE (practice facilitation) in relationship to overall cost per quality adjusted years of life. Discussion: This study has three major innovations. First, this study adapts the TRANSLATE method, proven effective in diabetes care, to CKD. Second, we are creating a generalizable CDS specific to the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines for CKD. Additionally, this study will evaluate the effects of CDS versus CDS with facilitation and answer key questions regarding the cost-effectiveness of a facilitated model for improving CKD outcomes. The study is testing virtual facilitation and Academic detailing making the findings generalizable to any area of the country. Trial registration: Registered as NCT01767883 on clinicaltrials.gov
Forecasting low-latitude radio scintillation with 3-D ionospheric plume models: 2. Scintillation calculation

[1] A three-dimensional model has been developed for the plasma plumes caused by interchange instabilities in the low-latitude ionosphere to describe the structure and extent of the radio scintillation generated by turbulence around and within the plumes. With the inclusion of the processes that determine the transport of plasma parallel to the geomagnetic field lines as well as transverse to them, the model can predict the extent in latitude of the plumes and their scintillation. Diagnostics presented here include illustrations of the spectral density of the density irregularities that develop within the plumes. An extrapolation of the density irregularity spectrum down into the wavelength regime effective for radio wave scattering permits a phase screen calculation of the amplitude scintillation caused by the plumes. The scintillation produced by the model has much the same character as measurements of scintillation do in terms of the time and rate of onset of scintillation, duration, and latitudinal extent.
Security of the near field communication protocol: an overview

With the booming of smartphone and wireless networks, contactless payment systems have been gradually accepted by a range of sectors and industries. Near Field Communication (NFC), as a de facto standard for radio communication, dominates this market and has accumulated many applications, such as use as a digital wallet and ticketing system, due to its convenience and versatility. The prevalent use and large cash flow of NFC have attracted the attention of attackers and criminals. In this paper, we present an overview of the security issues surrounding the NFC protocol and its applications. We investigate the existing and potential vulnerabilities of NFC, discuss effective countermeasures for mitigating these vulnerabilities, and further present design considerations for new NFC applications.
The Mom1 AKR intestinal tumor resistance region consists of Pla2g2a and a locus distal to D4Mit64

The Mom1 (Modifier of Min-1) region of distal chromosome 4 was identified during a screen for polymorphic modifiers of intestinal tumorigenesis in ApcMin/+ mice. Here, we demonstrate that the Mom1AKR allele consists of two genetic components. These include the secretory phospholipase Pla2g2a, whose candidacy as a Mom1 resistance modifier has now been tested with several transgenic lines. A second region, distal to Pla2g2a, has also been identified using fine structure recombinants. Pla2g2aAKR transgenic mice demonstrate a modest resistance to tumorigenesis in the small intestine and a very robust resistance in the large intestine. Moreover, the tumor resistance in the colon of Pla2g2aAKR animals is dosage-dependent, a finding that is consistent with our observation that Pla2g2a is expressed in goblet cells. By contrast, mice carrying the distal Mom1 modifier demonstrate a modest tumor resistance that is confined to the small intestine. Thus, the phenotypes of these two modifier loci are complementary, both in their quantitative and regional effects. The additive effects and tight linkage of these modifiers may have been necessary for the initial identification of the Mom1 region.
A Winner's Perspective

This article reports on the authors' experience as they participated in a business competition involving a computerized business game. The article first describes the simulation used in the competition. Second, the members of the team and their varying levels of participation are described along with the nature of the decision process. Third, the strategy adopted and some of the specific decisions made are described. The article concludes with some observations concerning why the approaches that were adopted worked.
Theimddynamically Stable Metal / III-V Compound-Semiconductor Interfaces

Chemical reactions that occur at a metal/III-V compound-semiconductor interface should be minimized if the change in Gibbs free energy of the bulk materials with respect to any possible reaction products is positive. However, the large positive change in entropy caused by vaporization of the highly volatile group V elements is a very important contribution to the Gibbs free energy of these systems, especially at higher temperatures. Thus, a particular metal/III-V compound-semiconductor interface may be thermodynamically stable at one temperature, but unstable with respect to sublimation of elemental group V species at a higher temperature if the enthalpy change for the reaction is positive. Examination of bulk phase diagrams makes it possible to rationalize the reaction products observed and to predict which will be the most stable interface for any particular metal/III-V system.
Effects of Acclimate™ on the frequency and duration of aggressive sequence and growth performance in co-mingled, weaned pigs

Co-mingling weaned pigs often results in aggressive behavior which can result in injury and reduced performance. This experiment examined the effect of Acclimate™, a product reported to reduce equine aggression, on weaned pig aggression and growth performance. Weanling pigs (n=214, avg. wt.=5.93 kg) were blocked by weight, sex and litter (n=25) and randomly assigned to either Acclimate™ treatment or a control group. Acclimate™ treated pigs were marked on the nose, face and neck. Pigs were individually identified and videotaped to determine frequency of aggressive sequence (FAS) and duration of aggression (DOA) on an individual pig basis. Pig weights and feed consumption were used to determine feed intake, total weight gain (TWG), average daily gain (ADG) and feed to gain ratio (F/G). Differences between litter, sex and treatment for FAS, DOA, F/G and ADG were tested using GLM, SAS. Neither Acclimate™ treatment or sex had a significant effect on FAS, TWG or F/G. However, there was a trend towards reduced duration and intensity of aggression in Acclimate™ treated pigs (p=0.1). There was a significant effect of litter (p<0.01) and TWG (p<0.001) on FAS at both 1 and 3 weeks. Acclimate™ treatment of weaned pigs does not decrease FAS, but may decrease the intensity and duration of aggression without negatively effecting growth.
Custom and the Politics of Sovereignty in South Africa

Four eras of tribal and state formation have marked the modern history of South Africa. The conquest years of the nineteenth century saw the emergence of a colonial state and the reworking of ethnic identities tied to tribal political structures within an imperial context. The 1920s witnessed the rise of segregation and “retribalization” as set out in legislation such as the 1920 Native Affairs Act and the 1927 Native Administration Act. This and other legislation further bureaucraticized state administration of Africans and moved the country towards territorial segregation in what one scholar has described as a system of “decentralized despotism.” 1 In the 1950s, with legislation such as the 1951 Bantu Authorities Act, the third era began with the Bantustan policies of grand apartheid, wherein the former reserves would become sovereign nation-states. Apartheid was many things, but most obviously it was a system of tribalist social engineering and bureaucratic authoritarianism. The fourth era of ethnic and state formation began roughly a decade ago with South Africa’s first democratic elections. The new government inherited colonialtribalstructures,somewelloveracenturyold.Politicianswereacutelyaware that reconstructing the state in the former homelands would be a formidable undertaking. They inherited a weakened economy, diminished state resources, and a host of seemingly intractable problems. Considerable political instability and continued institutional collapse marked the Transkei and other rural areas. Just a few years after the 1994 elections, the government considered calling in the army into parts of the Transkei to restore order, a clear indication of political involution and the tenuousness of their grip on the former homeland. In one part of the former homeland, none other than Chief Matanzima, the former and considerably-hated Bantustan leader, headed a tribal court where people appeared before him as “Transkei citizens,” citizens of a polity that no longer existed. Apartheid, it seems, has had many deaths, some rather more drawn out than others. The situation in Kwa-Zulu/Natal posed acute challenges to the African National Congress. The 1994 political settlement between the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party, in which the ANC in effect conceded the ill-begotten IFP victory, also resulted in a recognition—however begrudgingly—of the political salience of tribalism in rural areas of the country. Earlier, in the late 1980s, “traditional” rulers had formed the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRELESA). In the 1990s, during the negotiations for a new constitution, CONTRELESA lobbied for an important role of traditional authorities within the new South Africa. More generally, polling seemed to suggest that there existedwidespreadsupportfor“traditionalrulers”intheformerhomelands. 2 Given
Expanded response-surfaces: a new method to reconstruct paleoclimates from fossil pollen assemblages that lack modern analogues

Pollen-based paleoclimatic interpretations of late-glacial to early Holocene climates (17–9 ka) in Midwestern North America are hampered by samples that lack modern analogues. Unresolved questions include the magnitude and direction of temperature seasonality (i.e. were these climates more or less seasonal than present) and the temporal changes in precipitation. Central to the no-analogue problem is the truncation of modern pollen-climate relationships for abundant late-glacial taxa such as Fraxinus. Here we present a new method called the expanded response-surface (ERS) method, developed to reconstruct climates from no-analogue pollen assemblages and applied to a high-resolution late-glacial pollen record from Crystal Lake, Illinois to test hypotheses about late-glacial climates. The key assumptions central to the ERS method are: (1) plant species and pollen abundances follow symmetrical unimodal distributions along climatic gradients, (2) taxa with truncated distributions in modern climate space occupy a subset of their fundamental niche, and (3) expansion of truncated distributions by mirroring around the distributional mode recovers the portion of the fundamental niche not realized in the modern climate space. With the ERS method, we expanded modern pollen-climate relationships by mirroring pollen abundances for each taxon around a mode defined with respect to four climate axes (mean winter temperature, mean summer temperature, mean winter precipitation, and mean summer precipitation). The ERS method reconstructed past temperatures and precipitation during the height of no-analogue conditions (14 160–12 370 cal yr BP) for 37% of the Crystal Lake samples where techniques that employed only modern observational data found matches for only 13% of the fossil samples. The total climate space of the expanded taxa set allowed analogue matches under more seasonal-than-present climates with higher-than-present precipitation. The ERS climate reconstructions for the height of no-analogue conditions indicated cooler-than-present summer and winter temperatures, similar-to-present seasonal range in temperatures, higher-than-present winter precipitation, and similar-to-present summer precipitation. These results thus suggest that high moisture availability helped drive the formation of the Midwestern no-analogue communities with high Fraxinus nigra abundances, but do not show higher-than-present temperature seasonality notwithstanding the higher-than-present insolation seasonality at this time. During the no-analogue late-glacial interval, Picea mariana, F. nigra, and Larix stands probably grew on low-lying, poorly drained soils in the Crystal Lake region; whereas Abies, Picea glauca, Quercus, and Ostrya/Carpinus grew on upland positions with better soil drainage.
THE PLASTICITY OF FINELY GROUND MINERALS WITH WATER

A study is made of the plasticity of finely ground minerals in water. For this purpose a machine was developed to give quantitatively the factors making up plasticity. It is shown that the particle shape is an important factor governing plasticity.
Reactions between cerous and fluoride ions

Abstract Gradual addition of a sodium fluoride solution to a fixed amount of a cerous nitrate solution indicated the successive formation of CeF 2+ , CeF 2 + and CeF 3 ·CeF 2+ and CeF 2 + appeared to undergo partial hydrolysis forming CeF(OH) + and CeF 2 (OH), respectively. The same products appeared to be formed successively in the reverse order when the cerous nitrate solution was gradually added to a fixed amount of the sodium fluoride solution.
A directly cautious theory of defeasible consequence for default logic via the notion of general extension

Abstract This paper introduces a generalization of Reiter's notion of “extension” for default logic. The main difference from the original version mainly lies in the way conflicts among defaults are handled: in particular, this notion of “general extension” allows defaults not explicitly triggered to pre-empt other defaults. A consequence of the adoption of such a notion of extension is that the collection of all the general extensions of a default theory turns out to have a nontrivial algebraic structure. This fact has two major technical fall-outs: first, it turns out that every default theory has a general extension; second, general extensions allow one to define a well-behaved, skeptical relation of defeasible consequence for default theories, satisfying the principles of Reflexivity, Cut, and Cautious Monotonicity formulated by D. Gabbay. Alternative developments are also considered, namely: (i) the important case of semi-normal default theories (which turn out to have a unique minimal extension); (ii) defeasible consequence as based on extensions that are nonminimal (“optimal” in the sense of Manna and Shamir); and (iii) a variant of general extensions that, at the cost of a slight complication, avoids certain somewhat counterintuitive results. This approach, inspired by Kripke's theory of truth, is parallel to, and generalizes over, the treatment of defeasible inheritance over cyclic networks obtained in the author's previous work; vindicates the skeptical approach to defeasible inheritance of Horty, Thomason, and Touretzky; and has similarities to the results of Fitting and Przymusinski in logic programming.
Alternative food in the global south: Reflections on a direct marketing initiative in Kenya

Amidst booming scholarship on alternative food networks (AFNs) in the global North, research on AFN in the global South remains scarce. Partly this is because explicitly alternative initiatives are themselves scarce, except for those focused on export markets. Yet in countries such as Kenya, urban consumers and rural smallholders have good reason to want alternatives to agrichemical dependency, insecure marketing channels, and food of dubious safety. This article describes one attempt to provide an alternative. A pilot box scheme launched by the Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF) in 2007 aimed to connect organic smallholders to consumers in Nairobi, the capital city. It did not last long, and we reflect on the reasons why. In particular, we argue that efforts to build AFN in “developing” countries must take account of the problematic history of development itself, both as an ideology and as a set of institutions, policies and activities. In the case of the Kenyan box scheme, the pervasive yet often ineffectual presence of aid-dispensing non-governmental organizations, in particular, influenced different actors’ perceptions and participation in ways we did not fully anticipate. More broadly, this article emphasizes the need to appreciate the macro-historical and socioeconomic contexts that inform on-the-ground practices and understandings of alternative food.
Effects of Post-Synthesis Processing on CdSe Nanocrystals and Their Solids: Correlation between Surface Chemistry and Optoelectronic Properties

In this work, we report the effects on CdSe nanocrystal (NC) surface chemistry of acetone and methanol when used as the antisolvents for NC washing and as the solvents for ligand exchange of NC solids with ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN). We find that NCs washed with methanol have significantly fewer remaining organic ligands and lower photoluminescence quantum yield than those washed with acetone. When used as the ligand exchange solvent, methanol leaves more organic ligands and introduces fewer bound thiocyanates on the NC surface than when acetone is used. We demonstrate the effect of these different surface chemistries on NC solid optoelectronic properties through photoconductivity measurements, showing a greater photocurrent in NC solids with greater organic ligand coverage. We also show that NC washing with methanol or ligand exchange with NH4SCN in methanol removes a significant number of surface Cd atoms from the NCs, creating Cd vacancies that act as traps for recombination. Independent of the wash...
Relationship of Flexibility Measurements to Length of Body Segments

Abstract Measurements on the Wells and Dillon sit-and-reach flexibility test and measurements of leg length and of trunk length plus arm length were made on 116 college men. Measurements of prone back extension flexibility, of supine back extension flexibility, and of upper body length were made on 62 college men. Analysis of the data by correlation techniques and by application of the t test to upper and lower groups indicated: (a) no significant relationship between sit-and-reach flexibility and leg length, (b) a significant relationship between sit-and-reach flexibility and excess of trunk plus arm length over leg length, (c) no significant relationship between prone back extension flexibility and upper body length, and (d) no significant relationship between supine back extension flexibility and upper body length.
Late-time spectroscopy of Type Iax Supernovae

We examine the late-time (t > 200 days after peak brightness) spectra of Type Iax supernovae (SNe Iax), a low-luminosity, low-energy class of thermonuclear stellar explosions observationally similar to, but distinct from, Type Ia supernovae. We present new spectra of SN 2014dt, resulting in the most complete published late-time spectral sequence of a SN Iax. At late times, SNe Iax have generally similar spectra, all with a similar continuum shape and strong forbidden-line emission. However, there is also significant diversity where some late-time SN Iax spectra display narrow P-Cygni features and a continuum indicative of a photosphere in addition to strong narrow forbidden lines, while others have no obvious P-Cygni features, strong broad forbidden lines, and weak narrow forbidden lines. Finally, some SNe Iax have spectra intermediate to these two varieties with weak P-Cygni features and broad/narrow forbidden lines of similar strength. We find that SNe Iax with strong broad forbidden lines also tend to be more luminous and have higher-velocity ejecta at peak brightness. We estimate blackbody and kinematic radii of the late-time photosphere, finding the latter an order of magnitude larger than the former. We propose a two-component model that solves this discrepancy and explains the diversity of the late-time spectra of SNe Iax. In this model, the broad forbidden lines originate from the SN ejecta, while the photosphere, P-Cygni lines, and narrow forbidden lines originate from a wind launched from the remnant of the progenitor white dwarf and is driven by the radioactive decay of newly synthesized material left in the remnant. The relative strength of the two components accounts for the diversity of late-time SN Iax spectra. This model also solves the puzzle of a long-lived photosphere and slow late-time decline of SNe Iax. (Abridged)
The structure of silica surfaces exposed to atomic oxygen

In this work we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the ReaxFFSiOGSI potential to model the structure of quartz and amorphous silica surfaces exposed to atomic oxygen. The ReaxFFSiOGSI pot...
Finite Element Analysis of a Ground Plane Wind Tunnel Roller Section

Wind tunnels have long been used to examine the aerodynamics of various models prior to (and parallel with) actual flight testing. However, the data collected from traditional wind tunnels can be erroneous when examining models which travel close to the ground or in what is often referred to as ground effect. Because traditional wind tunnels have a fixed ground plane, the aerodynamics expressed in these wind tunnels is not completely accurate because the fixed ground plane is not a true representation of what actually occurs beneath such models as automobiles, where the ground moves beneath the vehicle. In order to accurately represent actual conditions applied to vehicles traveling close to the ground, a wind tunnel with a moving ground plane is required. West Virginia University has developed a moving ground plane wind tunnel (MGPWT) in order to replicate the actual operating conditions of such models. The MGPWT developed utilizes a conveyor belt 30 inches wide by 90 inches long which travels at speeds up to 40 feet per second in order to simulate the effects of the models moving in close proximity to the ground. It was desired that the MGPWT utilize standard conveyor rollers to drive the wind tunnel conveyor belt because this would allow for easier construction of the wind tunnel. This created a problem because most conveyor roller manufacturers do not manufacture rollers rated for the speeds necessary to perform the discussed wind tunnel testing. In order to select a standard roller which was capable of operating at the required speed, finite element analysis (FEA) was applied to existing rollers in order to determine if they were capable of operation under our specified loading conditions. This paper outlines the use of FEA in the roller selection process and provides an analysis and design criteria for such a design process.
Incorporation of Arachidonic Acid by Microfilariae of Brugia malayi

To initiate studies on the significance of filarial arachidonic acid metabolism in the immunopathogenesis of human filariasis, we evaluated the ability of microfilariae of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi to take up and incorporate exogenous arachidonate. When 4 X 10(5) microfilariae were incubated in vitro with 3 nM [3H]arachidonic acid for 0.2, 24, and 48 hr, 23%, 70%, and 75% of tritium activity were associated with microfilariae, respectively. [3H]arachidonic acid was taken up by viable but not by killed microfilariae. Electron microscopic autoradiographic examination of living microfilariae incubated with [3H]arachidonic acid demonstrated numerous tritium-induced silver grains over sectioned parasites. Chromatographic resolution and quantitation of classes of neutral lipids and phospholipids of parasites established that incorporated [3H]arachidonic acid was rapidly and almost completely esterified into these lipids, predominantly into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. Microfilariae, the blood-borne stage of B. malayi, possess the requisite biochemical pathways to rapidly take up and incorporate exogenous arachidonate.
ΔNp63 mediates cellular survival and metastasis in canine osteosarcoma

p63 is a structural homolog within the 53 family encoding two isoforms, ΔNp63 and TAp63. The oncogenic activity of ΔNp63 has been demonstrated in multiple cancers, however the underlying mechanisms that contribute to tumorigenesis are poorly characterized. Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs, exhibiting clinical behavior and molecular biology essentially identical to its human counterpart. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential contribution of ΔNp63 to the biology of canine OSA. As demonstrated by qRT-PCR, nearly all canine OSA cell lines and tissues overexpressed ΔNp63 relative to normal control osteoblasts. Inhibition of ΔNp63 by RNAi selectively induced apoptosis in the OSA cell lines overexpressing ΔNp63. Knockdown of ΔNp63 upregulated expression of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members Puma and Noxa independent of p53. However the effects of ΔNp63 required transactivating isoforms of p73, suggesting that ΔNp63 promotes survival in OSA by repressing p73-dependent apoptosis. In addition, ΔNp63 modulated angiogenesis and invasion through its effects on VEGF-A and IL-8 expression, and STAT3 phosphorylation. Lastly, the capacity of canine OSA cell lines to form pulmonary metastasis was directly related to expression levels of ΔNp63 in a murine model of metastatic OSA. Together, these data demonstrate that ΔNp63 inhibits apoptosis and promotes metastasis, supporting continued evaluation of this oncogene as a therapeutic target in both human and canine OSA.
Approximate Scattering Models in Inverse Scattering: Past, Present, and Future

There exist a number of applications in industry and the military that involve what is generally known as inverse scattering. Examples include radar target detection and estimation, radar imaging, nondestructive evaluation (NDE), biological and geophysical imaging, and structure determination using X-rays and electron beams. Although the applications appear very different they all involve estimating (reconstructing) the properties of a scatterer from scattered field data and have a common underlying mathematical structure.
An Elliptic Curve Algorithm for Iris Pattern Recognition

This paper presents an iris recognition system with a self-developed elliptic curve algorithm or hash. The system was written in Python with the OpenCV library. This iris recognition system is faster than standard systems because the extraction of the iris was done on a grayscale image. To test the elliptic curve hash, iris recognition system, and computation time, images from the UBIRIS database were run through the system, and their hashes were collected. Statistical analysis shows that the elliptic curve hash has more entropy and is quicker than the standard MD5 and SHA-1 hashes at an alpha of 0:01. Furthermore, the system has an accuracy rate of 99:5%.
Amyloid Imaging: Poised for Integration into Medical Practice.

Amyloid imaging represents a significant advance as an adjunct in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) because it is the first imaging modality that identifies in vivo changes known to be associated with the pathogenesis. Initially, 11C-PIB was developed, which was the prototype for many 18F compounds, including florbetapir, florbetaben, and flutemetamol, among others. Despite the high sensitivity and specificity of amyloid imaging, it is not commonly used in clinical practice, mainly because it is not reimbursed under current Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines in the USA. To guide the field in who would be most appropriate for the utility of amyloid positron emission tomography, current studies are underway [Imaging Dementia Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) Study] that will inform the field on the utilization of amyloid positron emission tomography in clinical practice. With the advent of monoclonal antibodies that specifically target amyloid antibody, there is an interest, possibly a mandate, to screen potential treatment recipients to ensure that they are suitable for treatment. In this review, we summarize progress in the field to date.
Polymeric nanofiber coating with tunable combinatorial antibiotic delivery prevents biofilm-associated infection in vivo

Bacterial biofilm formation is a major complication of implantable medical devices that results in therapeutically challenging chronic infections, especially in cases involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As an approach to prevent these infections, an electrospun composite coating comprised of poly(lactic-coglycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers embedded in a poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) film was developed to locally codeliver combinatorial antibiotics from the implant surface. The release of each antibiotic could be adjusted by loading each drug into the different polymers or by varying PLGA:PCL polymer ratios. In a mouse model of biofilm-associated orthopedic-implant infection, three different combinations of antibiotic-loaded coatings were highly effective in preventing infection of the bone/joint tissue and implant biofilm formation and were biocompatible with enhanced osseointegration. This nanofiber composite-coating technology could be used to tailor the delivery of combinatorial antimicrobial agents from various metallic implantable devices or prostheses to effectively decrease biofilm-associated infections in patients.
Utilizing Michel De Certeau in Critical Policy Analysis

In this chapter we argue that the use of Michel de Certeau’s concept of consumption offers a complementary analytical tool for the critical study of policy in education. We assert that there is a gap in critical policy analysis regarding the need to understand educators as simultaneously active democratic subjects and governed subjects. Therefore we contextualize Certeau’s theory by explaining the theoretical, historical, and experiential forces that engendered his desire to theorize the power of the passive. Then we delineate the broad initial framework explained by Certeau for the study of the practice of everyday life. We conclude with a hypothetical example of the possibilities of application of Certeau’s concepts of consumption in everyday life in critical policy analysis in education.