cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The anomaly of anomaly

In order to determine whether mechanically generated sentences, often referred to in the literature as “anomalous,” are in fact anomalous, subjects in the present experiment were asked to do two different tasks: a paired-associates learning task involving anomalous sentences as responses, and a second task in which they were asked to interpret such sentences. These tasks were counterbalanced across different groups of subjects. Results of the interpretation task showed that a large proportion of subjects were able to give interpretations for anomalous sentences, while learning results indicated that anomalous sentences were more difficult to anticipate than natural sentencesonly when task order was Learn first, Interpret second. In the order Interpret-Learn, differences in ease of learning between anomalous and naturally occurring sentences did not appear. The results of this study demonstrate that anomalous sentences are interpretable, that a range of difficulty for such sentences can be established, that anomalous sentences are learned as easily as naturally occurring ones after interpretation, and that many of the interpretations given to such sentences are metaphoric in character. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for models of lexical organization.
Identifying tourists and analyzing spatial patterns of their destinations from location-based social media data

Abstract Reliable travel behavior data is a prerequisite for transportation planning process. In large tourism dependent cities, tourists are the most dynamic population group whose size and travel choices remain unknown to planners. Traditional travel surveys generally observe resident travel behavior and rarely target tourists. Ubiquitous uses of social media platforms in smartphones have created a tremendous opportunity to gather digital traces of tourists at a large scale. In this paper, we present a framework on how to use location-based data from social media to gather and analyze travel behavior of tourists. We have collected data of about 67,000 users from Twitter using its search interface for Florida. We first propose several filtering steps to create a reliable sample from the collected Twitter data. An ensemble classification technique is proposed to classify tourists and residents from user coordinates. The accuracy of the proposed classifier has been compared against the state-of-the-art classification methods. Finally, different clustering methods have been used to find the spatial patterns of destination choices of tourists. Promising results have been found from the output clusters as they reveal most popular tourist spots as well as some of the emerging tourist attractions in Florida. Performance of the proposed clustering techniques has been assessed using internal clustering validation indices. We have analyzed temporal patterns of tourist and resident activities to validate the classification of the users in two separate groups of tourists and residents. Proposed filtering, identification, and clustering techniques will be significantly useful for building individual-level tourist travel demand models from social media data.
Comparing Word Characteristic Effects on Vocabulary of Children with Cochlear Implants

Many studies have evaluated overall vocabulary knowledge of children who use cochlear implants, but there has been minimal focus on how word form characteristics affect this knowledge. This study evaluates the effects of neighborhood density and phonotactic probability on the expressive vocabulary of 81 children between five and seven years old (n = 27 cochlear implant users, n = 27 children matched for chronological age, and n = 27 children matched for vocabulary size). Children were asked to name pictures associated with words that have common and rare phonotactic probability and high and sparse neighborhood density. Results indicate that children with cochlear implants, similar to both groups of children with typical hearing, tend to know words with common probability/high density or with rare probability/ sparse density. Patterns of word knowledge for children with cochlear implants mirrored younger children matched for vocabulary size rather than age-matched children with typical hearing.
Rare Etiology of Cough and Chest Pain in a Young Male

Chronic cough and chest pain should be dealt seriously in a young adult. Sometimes we may miss a diagnosis in such patients. We present a case of Pulmonary Langerhans Histiocytosis who presented with complaints of cough and chest pain
7 Log Virus Removal in a Simple Functionalized Sand Filter

Viral contamination of drinking water due to fecal contamination is difficult to detect and treat effectively, leading to frequent outbreaks worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to report on the molecular mechanism for unprecedented high virus removal from a practical sand filter. Sand filters functionalized using a water extract of Moringa oleifera (MO) seeds, functionalized sand (f-sand) filters, achieved a ∼7 log10 virus removal. These tests were conducted with MS2 bacteriophage, a recognized surrogate for pathogenic norovirus and rotavirus. We studied the molecular mechanism of this high removal since it can have important implications for sand filtration, the most common water treatment technology worldwide. Our data reveal that the virus removal activity of f-sand is due to the presence of a chitin-binding protein, M. oleifera chitin-binding protein (MoCBP) on f-sand. Standard column experiments were supported by proteomic analysis and molecular docking simulations. Our simulations show that MoCBP binds preferentially to MS2 capsid proteins demonstrating that specific molecular interactions are responsible for enhanced virus removal. In addition, we simplified the process of making f-sand and evinced how it could be regenerated using saline water. At present, no definitive solution exists for the challenge of treating fecally contaminated drinking and irrigation water for viruses without using technologies that demand high energy or chemical consumption. We propose functionalized sand (f-sand) filters as a highly effective, energy-efficient, and practical technology for virus removal applicable to both developing and developed countries.
Learn first, practice second approach to increase health professionals’ nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy

Health professionals generally have positive attitudes towards the role of nutrition in medicine, but limited knowledge and low self-efficacy for incorporating it into routine care. To assess the e...
Engineering vs. Ambient type visualizations: Quantifying effects of different data visualizations on energy consumption

Engaging consumers with energy use is a challenging endeavor; however, different forms of data visualization may help by creating relationships between a user and their data. Here we propose and conduct an experiment to test two different visualizations: an "engineering-type" visualization of a bar chart, and an "ambient-type" visualization of a cartoon tree. Participants in a competitive energy-saving game within an office building in Singapore received weekly emails visualizing their energy consumption and encouraging them to interact with their online game profile, and energy use was measured in addition to qualitative feedback through pre-experiment and post-experiment surveys. We find that the engineering-type visual did not result in statistically significant reductions whereas the ambient-type did, resulting in an average decrease of 82 Wh per day for the three days following treatment. Additionally, we find that greater engagement uniformly correlates positively with energy savings. A finite state machine simulation indicates that were this experiment scaled to 1000 people over 100 days, the total energy savings might be expected to be 1.1MWh.
Effect of interfacial mass transport on inertial spreading of liquid droplets

In this work, the early time dynamics of low-viscosity liquid drops spreading in their saturated vapor on partially wetting surfaces are investigated by lattice Boltzmann numerical simulations. Attention is paid to the effect of vapor transport through condensation on the spreading process. We observe that the condensation current resulting from the slight supersaturation of the liquid vapor near the dynamic wetting meniscus contributes to the motion and affects the spreading dynamics. Our results indicate that, in order to properly capture the initial dynamics of inertial spreading of a relatively volatile liquid drop, it is important to account for the vapor transport through condensation in the immediate vicinity of the contact line. A direct qualitative and quantitative comparison with experimental data of spontaneously wetting liquid drops is presented.
Global expression and CpG methylation analysis of primary endothelial cells before and after TNFa stimulation reveals gene modules enriched in inflammatory and infectious diseases and associated DMRs

Endothelial cells are a primary site of leukocyte recruitment during inflammation. An increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa) levels as a result of infection or some autoimmune diseases can trigger this process. Several autoimmune diseases are now treated with TNFa inhibitors. However, genomic alterations that occur as a result of TNF-mediated inflammation are not well understood. To investigate molecular targets and networks resulting from increased TNFa, we measured DNA methylation and gene expression in 40 human umbilical vein endothelial cell primary cell lines before and 24 hours after stimulation with TNFa via microarray. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified 15 gene groups (modules) with similar expression correlation patterns; four modules showed a strong association with TNFa treatment. Genes in the top TNFa-associated module were all up-regulated, had the highest proportion of hypomethylated regions, and were associated with 136 Disease Ontology terms, including autoimmune/inflammatory, infectious and cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. They included chemokines CXCL1, CXCL10 and CXCL8, and genes associated with autoimmune diseases including HLA-C, DDX58, IL4, NFKBIA and TNFAIP3. Cardiovascular and metabolic disease genes, including APOC1, ACLY, ELOVL6, FASN and SCD, were overrepresented in a module that was not associated with TNFa treatment. Of 223 hypomethylated regions identified, several were in promoters of autoimmune disease GWAS loci (ARID5B, CD69, HDAC9, IL7R, TNIP1 and TRAF1). Results reveal specific gene groups acting in concert in endothelial cells, delineate those driven by TNFa, and establish their relationship to DNA methylation changes, which has strong implications for understanding disease etiology and precision medicine approaches.
Doppler-Free Two-Photon Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy of a Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) Vibrational Overtone Transition

We report Doppler-free two-photon absorption of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ at $\ensuremath{\lambda}=4.53\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$, measured by cavity ring-down spectroscopy. High power was achieved by optical self-locking of a quantum cascade laser to a linear resonator of finesse $\mathcal{F}=22730$, and accurate laser detuning over a 400-MHz range was measured relative to an optical frequency comb. At a sample pressure of $p=0.13\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kPa}$, we report a large two-photon cross section per molecule of ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{13}^{(2)}=8.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}41}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{4}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$ for the $Q(18)$ rovibrational transition at a resonant frequency of ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{0}=66179400.8\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}$.
Robotic Approach Offers Similar Nodal Upstaging to Open Lobectomy for Clinical Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Background Appropriate nodal dissection during pulmonary resection improves pathologic staging accuracy. Detection of unexpected nodal metastases can be a surrogate for nodal dissection adequacy and reflect oncologic resection quality. The goal of this study was to determine whether robotic lobectomy carries worse, same, or better incidence of nodal upstaging as open lobectomy for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Data for patients with clinical stage I NSCLC (≤cT2a N0 M0, American Joint Committee on Cancer, 7th Edition) who underwent lobectomy from 2010 through 2015 were abstracted from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Propensity score matching was performed for robotic (n = 7452) and open (n = 50,186) approaches. Primary outcomes were the number of lymph nodes examined and incidence of nodal upstaging, defined as unexpected hilar or mediastinal lymph node involvement. Secondary outcomes included resection margins and overall survival. Results Matching generated 7452 well-matched pairs. There were no differences in nodal upstaging between robotic and open procedures (820 [11.0%] vs 863 [11.6%], P = .28), despite more examined lymph nodes in the robotic group (10 vs 8, P Conclusions Robotic lobectomy for clinical stage I NSCLC is an equivalent to open lobectomy as assessed by similar nodal upstaging rates, completeness of resection, and overall survival. This suggests that the robotic technology has been adopted appropriately in early-stage NSCLC.
Section 3. Plant-Induced Dermatitis (Phytodermatitis)

Skin-associated complaints are the most common form of plant poisoning managed by healthcare providers. Dermatologists often see patients with complaints that are directly or indirectly related to plant exposures (Table 4). For example, outdoor workers may directly develop dermatitis from the toxin-laden pollen from the various plants in the family Compositae (Asteraceae) (e.g., chrysanthemums, which contain sesquiterpene lactones). Indirectly, the use of perfume or other lotions that contain plant derivatives may produce dermatitis in an unsuspecting user. Puncture wounds are very common, but will not be covered here since they are generally easily diagnosed and managed through simple hygienic means.
Ephrin-Eph Signaling as a Novel Neuroprotection Path in Ischemic Stroke.

The search for novel neuroprotection strategies in ischemic stroke continues, as revascularization using tissue-plasminogen activator is the only pharmacological method currently available to patients. The purpose of this review article is to summarize research findings regarding the erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor pathway as an emerging novel molecular target for neuroprotection in ischemic stroke. Ephrin–Eph interactions represent a new strategy in neuroprotection. Potential therapeutic targets include the different cellular locations within the neurovascular unit (e.g. astrocytes and neurons) and the different ephrin receptor subtypes. In particular, ephrin-B2/EphB4 receptor stimulation seems to exert neuroprotective effects, while stimulation of other ligands/receptors results in deleterious effects, during the post-ischemic stroke recovery phase. Neuroprotection, assessed by either a decrease in neurovascular unit injury markers or improvement in motor function tests, can be achieved by modulating the activity of different ephrin–Eph receptor subtypes. These novel molecular targets provide multiple potential neuroprotective therapeutic benefits, with meaningful clinical outcomes.
Administrative Law: The United States and Beyond

Administrative law constrains and directs the behavior of officials in the many governmental bodies in every country responsible for implementing legislation and handling governance responsibilities on a daily basis. This field of law consists of procedures for decision making by these administrative bodies, including rules about transparency and public participation. It also encompasses oversight practices provided by legislatures, courts, and elected executives. The way that administrative law affects the behavior of government officials holds important implications for the fulfillment of democratic principles as well as effective governance in society.
Terms of trade and real domestic income: New evidence from South and Southeast Asia

Studies that examine the long‐run impact of terms of trade on economic growth mostly indicate that an increase in the terms of trade (TOT) results in higher economic growth and a decrease in TOT results in lower growth. We examine this assertion in the context of eight South and Southeast Asian emerging economies. Economic growth over the last three decades has been impressive in the region though TOT has shown an overall declining trend. Using panel cointegration and pooled mean group estimation techniques, we establish a long‐run relationship between TOT and income, and TOT and investment. Our Fully Modified OLS results provide adequate evidence of the long‐run relationship of TOT with income and investment in South and Southeast Asia. Despite a positive relationship, TOT movements do not exert a significantly large impact on income in the short run.
Empirically identified networks of healthcare providers for adults with mental illness.

Background Policies target networks of providers who treat people with mental illnesses, but little is known about the empirical structures of these networks and related variation in patient care. The goal of this paper is to describe networks of providers who treat adults with mental illness in a multi-payer database based medical claims data in a U.S. state.
Binary Precision Neural Network Manycore Accelerator

This article presents a low-power, programmable, domain-specific manycore accelerator, Binarized neural Network Manycore Accelerator (BiNMAC), which adopts and efficiently executes binary precision weight/activation neural network models. Such networks have compact models in which weights are constrained to only 1 bit and can be packed several in one memory entry that minimizes memory footprint to its finest. Packing weights also facilitates executing single instruction, multiple data with simple circuitry that allows maximizing performance and efficiency. The proposed BiNMAC has light-weight cores that support domain-specific instructions, and a router-based memory access architecture that helps with efficient implementation of layers in binary precision weight/activation neural networks of proper size. With only 3.73% and 1.98% area and average power overhead, respectively, novel instructions such as Combined Population-Count-XNOR, Patch-Select, and Bit-based Accumulation are added to the instruction set architecture of the BiNMAC, each of which replaces execution cycles of frequently used functions with 1 clock cycle that otherwise would have taken 54, 4, and 3 clock cycles, respectively. Additionally, customized logic is added to every core to transpose 16×16-bit blocks of memory on a bit-level basis, that expedites reshaping intermediate data to be well-aligned for bitwise operations. A 64-cluster architecture of the BiNMAC is fully placed and routed in 65-nm TSMC CMOS technology, where a single cluster occupies an area of 0.53 mm2 with an average power of 232 mW at 1-GHz clock frequency and 1.1 V. The 64-cluster architecture takes 36.5 mm2 area and, if fully exploited, consumes a total power of 16.4 W and can perform 1,360 Giga Operations Per Second (GOPS) while providing full programmability. To demonstrate its scalability, four binarized case studies including ResNet-20 and LeNet-5 for high-performance image classification, as well as a ConvNet and a multilayer perceptron for low-power physiological applications were implemented on BiNMAC. The implementation results indicate that the population-count instruction alone can expedite the performance by approximately 5×. When other new instructions are added to a RISC machine with existing population-count instruction, the performance is increased by 58% on average. To compare the performance of the BiNMAC with other commercial-off-the-shelf platforms, the case studies with their double-precision floating-point models are also implemented on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 SoC (CPU+GPU). The results indicate that, within a margin of ∼2.1%--9.5% accuracy loss, BiNMAC on average outperforms the TX2 GPU by approximately 1.9× (or 7.5× with fabrication technology scaled) in energy consumption for image classification applications. On low power settings and within a margin of ∼3.7%--5.5% accuracy loss compared to ARM Cortex-A57 CPU implementation, BiNMAC is roughly ∼9.7×--17.2× (or 38.8×--68.8× with fabrication technology scaled) more energy efficient for physiological applications while meeting the application deadline.
Rurality as Concordance: Mental Health Service Delivery for Rural Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence:

This manuscript examines how a shared sociospatial or “rural” identity may uniquely facilitate mental health care delivery. In particular, we consider the significant but largely unexplored role th...
Anerkennung (außer-)hochschulisch erworbener Kompetenzen

Mit diesem Beitrag soll am Beispiel des berufsbegleitenden Studiengangs „Soziale Arbeit mit dem Schwerpunkt Jugendarbeit“ an der Hochschule Kempten aufgezeigt werden, dass das Einbeziehen von informell erworbenen Kompetenzen fur eine Offnung der Hochschulen von hoher Relevanz ist und wie dadurch auch seitens der Hochschulen das Konzept eines lebenslangen Lernens verfolgt werden kann.
Multiplexed gas spectroscopy using tunable VCSELs

Detection and identification of gas species using tunable laser diode laser absorption spectroscopy has been performed using vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL). Two detection methods are compared: direct absorbance and wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS). In the first, the output of a DC-based laser is directly monitored to detect for any quench at the targeted specie wavelength. In the latter, the emission wavelength of the laser is modulated by applying a sinusoidal component on the drive current of frequency ω, and measuring the harmonics component (2ω) of the photo-detected current. This method shows a better sensitivity measured as signal to noise ratio, and is less susceptible to interference effects such as scattering or fouling. Gas detection was initially performed at room temperature and atmospheric conditions using VCSELs of emission wavelength 763 nm for oxygen and 1392 nm for water, scanning over a range of approximately 10 nm, sufficient to cover 5-10 gas specific absorption lines that enable identification and quantization of gas composition. The amplitude and frequency modulation parameters were optimized for each detected gas species, by performing two dimensional sweeps for both tuning current and either amplitude or frequency, respectively. We found that the highest detected signal is observed for a wavelength modulation amplitude equal to the width of the gas absorbance lines, in good agreement with theoretical calculations, and for modulation frequencies below the time response of the lasers (<50KHz). In conclusion, we will discuss limit of detection studies and further implementation and packaging of VCSELs in diode arrays for continuous and simultaneous monitoring of multiple species in gaseous mixtures.
Audio Keyword Reconstruction from On-Device Motion Sensor Signals via Neural Frequency Unfolding

In this paper, we present a novel deep neural network architecture that reconstructs the high-frequency audio of selected spoken human words from low-sampling-rate signals of (ego-)motion sensors, such as accelerometer and gyroscope data, recorded on everyday mobile devices. As the sampling rate of such motion sensors is much lower than the Nyquist rate of ordinary human voice (around 6kHz+), these motion sensor recordings suffer from a significant frequency aliasing effect. In order to recover the original high-frequency audio signal, our neural network introduces a novel layer, called the alias unfolding layer, specialized in expanding the bandwidth of an aliased signal by reversing the frequency folding process in the time-frequency domain. While perfect unfolding is known to be unrealizable, we leverage the sparsity of the original signal to arrive at a sufficiently accurate statistical approximation. Comprehensive experiments show that our neural network significantly outperforms the state of the art in audio reconstruction from motion sensor data, effectively reconstructing a pre-trained set of spoken keywords from low-frequency motion sensor signals (with a sampling rate of 100-400 Hz). The approach demonstrates the potential risk of information leakage from motion sensors in smart mobile devices.
From motivation to organizational commitment of volunteers in non‐profit sport organizations: The role of job satisfaction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between volunteers’ motivation and affective commitment in non‐profit sport organizations.Design/methodology/approach – A mail survey was conducted with a sample of 214 individuals who volunteered at 22 non‐profit sport organizations in a Midwestern state of the USA.Findings – Results from structural equation modeling analysis supported the partial mediation role of job satisfaction. The values factor of volunteers’ motivation had a significant direct impact on affective commitment, and job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between values and affective commitment.Research limitations/implications – Although volunteer motivation influences the level of organizational commitment, volunteers who are motivated by their values would be more satisfied with their volunteer experience and consequently be more committed to the non‐profit sport organization.Originality/value – Little research ...
AIDS-Related Knowledge and Risks and Contraceptive Practices in Ghana: The Early 1990s

Transmission places sexually active childbearing women at high risk of contracting the disease. In this study, data from the 1993/94 Ghana Demographic Health Survey were used to explore the relationship between AIDS-related knowledge and family practices, specifically the use of contraceptives and condoms. While the study finds high levels of AIDS-related knowledge among Ghanaian women, this knowledge is yet to translate into increased condom use. It is suggested that the use of rational choice models in AIDS prevention programs may not be adequate to change people's sexual behaviour, especially in societies where the prevailing cultural practices and norms encourage large families and discourage the use of contraceptives of any type. In such settings, there is the need to find appropriate mechanisms that could help increase the use of all types of contraceptives. As contraceptive use increases, it is likely that the use of condoms for AIDS prevention and also for family planning purpose would increase in sub-Saharan Africa. (Afr J Reprod Health 2000; 4[1]: 13-27 ) Key Words : AIDS, contraceptive practices, Ghana, knowledge, risks
Bidirectional associations between perceived parental support for violent and nonviolent responses and early adolescent aggressive and effective nonviolent behaviors

The current study examined bidirectional relations between early adolescents' perceptions of parental support for violent and nonviolent responses to conflict and their aggressive and effective nonviolent behaviors six months later. Data was collected across the sixth and seventh grades for 520 adolescents at three middle schools in the southeastern United States. At baseline, participants were ages 10-14 (M = 11.29). Longitudinal path models showed that perceived parental support for violent responses was negatively associated with effective nonviolent behaviors and positively associated with aggressive behaviors across sixth and seventh grades. Across seventh grade, reciprocal negative relations were found between perceived parental support of nonviolent responses and aggressive behaviors. Effective nonviolent behaviors were positively associated with perceived parental support for nonviolent responses. Study implications include the importance of adolescent perceptions of parental support of violent and nonviolent responses in influencing early adolescents' effective nonviolent and aggressive behavior.
A Model for Measuring Effectiveness of an Online Course

As a result of this research, a quantitative model and a procedure have been developed to create an online mentoring effectiveness index (EI). To develop the model, mentoring and teaching effectiveness are defined, and then the constructs and factors of effectiveness are identified. The model's construction is based on the theory that effectiveness is influenced by motivational factors and results from the total synergy used in the learning process. The validity of the model is checked through component analysis and structural equation modeling. It is shown that the model offers valid, reliable, and useful results for evaluating the relative effectiveness of an online course.
Osmoregulation and the Genetic Induction of Glycerol-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase by NaCl in the Euryhaline Yeast Debaryomyces hansenii

In the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Debaryomyces hansenii, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NAD+-GPD) is believed to be the enzyme controlling the synthesis of glycerol in osmotically challenged cells. Consistent with this concept, immunoblot analyses demonstrated quantitative increases in NAD+-GPD 30 minutes after the addition of NaCl to actively growing D. hansenii cells; Northern blot analyses showed increases in GPD–messenger RNA within 15 minutes after the addition of salt. There appears to be an upper limit of salt concentration above which the cells appear to be less responsive. The results we describe support the concept of transcriptional regulation of NAD+-GPD in D. hansenii.
Multiple exciton generation in silicon quantum dot arrays: density functional perturbation theory computation

We use the density functional theory (DFT) combined with the many-body perturbation theory to derive expressions for the rates of the optical photon→exciton and photon→bi-exciton processes in nanoparticles, and for quantum efficiency, all to the leading order in the screened Coulomb interaction between Kohn–Sham quasiparticles. Also, we calculate exciton→bi-exciton rates due to the impact ionisation (II) mechanism in Si29H36 quantum dots (QDs) with both crystalline and amorphous core structures, and in quasi-one dimensional (1-D) arrays constructed from these QDs. We observe significant dependence of the carrier multiplication rates on the structure’s morphology and structural disorder. Amorphous silicon QD arrays are predicted to have more efficient bi-exciton generation rates as a function of exciton energy compared to their crystalline counterparts, and the isolated QDs of both kinds.
Nonparametric analysis of educational costs

Abstract Traditional economic analyses of the public sector that assume cost minimization are not consistent with political models of bureaucracy. If costs are not minimized then estimated cost functions will be biased. The purpose of this paper is to provide a flexible nonparametric technique based on Farrell-type efficiency measures to estimate public sector costs. Standard indices need to be modified to fit the special nature of public sector service provision which is characterized by an influence of exogenous variables on cost. A useful by-product is an index of environmental harshness faced by local governments. For illustrative purposes, this technique is applied to a sample of New York State school districts. It is found that nearly 64% of districts are cost inefficient, spending on average $1200 per pupil above the cost minimizing level. In addition, it is estimated that the average school district faces environmental cost of over $1700 per pupil.
Histopathological and Ultrastructural Alterations of Turkey Skeletal Muscle

The pectoralis thoracicus and biceps femoris muscles were obtained from 30 18-wk-old Large White turkey males at the time of slaughter. The birds had no observable mobility or postural problems, and the meat appeared normal. Samples were processed for histology, histochemistry, and electron microscopy. Degenerative features were found in muscle from 10 of the 30 birds. Four of the 10 had alterations in both muscles. The degenerative changes included scattered focal necrosis, hypercontraction of muscle fibers, infiltration by mononuclear cells, formation of fibrous tissue scars, and Z-band streaming. These structural alterations appear to be related to muscle ischemia.
Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: how can we protect auditory function?

AbstractObjective. The nerve function of the VIIIth nerve is at risk during microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS). Intraoperative monitoring of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) can be useful in decreasing the danger of hearing loss. This study assessed the intraoperative BAEP findings related to the surgical process to clarify the optimum maneuvers of MVD surgery to avoid hearing impairment. Methods. Hundred consecutive patients undergoing MVD for HFS with intraoperative BAEP monitoring were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into four groups based on the greatest intraoperative latency prolongation and amplitude reduction of wave V of BAEP. Postoperative hearing function and surgical procedures including use of the brain retractor, preservation of arachnoid membrane along the VIIIth nerve, and duration of microscopic manipulation were analyzed in relation to the BAEP findings. Results. Three patients complained of hearing loss after the surgery, but two ...
End-user modifiability in design environments

Convivial systems encourage users to be actively engaged in generating creative extensions to the artifacts given to them. Convivial systems have the potential to break down the counterproductive barrier between programming and using programs.Knowledge-based design environments are prototypes for convivial systems. These environments support human problem-domain communication, letting users work within their domains of expertise. One of the design rationales behind design environments is to ease the construction and modification of artifacts designed within the environment. But because design environments are intentionally not general purpose programming environments, situations will arise that require modifications to the design environment itself. The rationale and the techniques for these later modifications are discussed in this paper.Our conceptual framework for end-user modifiability is illustrated in the context of JANUS, an environment for architectural design. Evaluating our system building efforts against our objectives shows the subtleties of integrating end-user modifiability in these kinds of systems.
Morphological and endocrinological aspects of pupal diapause in a fleshfly, Sarcophaga agryrostoma

Abstract In the pupal diapause of Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy) development stops about 40 hr after the formation of the puparium, shortly after the head has become evaginated and before signs of the developing adult antennae are visible. This arrest of development has been shown for a number of organs. The combined ganglion does not separate into ganglia of head and thorax. The fat body breaks up into single cells, but the cells do not disintegrate further. The body muscles suffixed B (Crossley) do not break down. The heart-pericardial cells complex remains large as in the prepupa. When mature larvae are ligatured after the ‘critical period’ the hind part forms a puparium and develops up to and including the pupal moult. Then development stops at a state of differentiation identical with that in diapausing pupae. The pupal diapause is terminated by the injection of ecdyson. No effect of juvenile hormone or cholesterol has been demonstrated. In the presence of ecdyson juvenile hormone exerts a juvenilizing effect on adult development in that the eyes are small, and the adult cuticle develops only in the head and thorax, but not in the abdomen. Diapause occurs at the state of pupal development when ecdyson is at its lowest ebb.
Who is doing mitral valve surgery in the United States

the STS ACSD and reported at least 1 mitral operation in each month throughout the time period of the study. Specifically, rates of surgical repair of the mitral valve were plotted against surgeon mitral volume.
Isolation and partial characterization of bovine gingival AB collagen.

Limited proteolysis with pepsin solubilized 25% of the insoluble gingival matrix as mainly soluble collagenous material. Fractional salt precipication at neutral pH resulted in the separation of types III and I at 1.8 and 2.6 M NaCl, respectively. In addition, a collagenous fraction accounting for 2% of the solubilized collagen and precipitating at 4.5 M NaCl was shown to be identical with type V collagen. Isolation and partial characterization of the constituent-α-chains of the 4.5 M PPT by gel filtration, ion exchange and hydroxylapatite chromatography as well as disc electrophoresis showed that gingival type V collagen contains αA and αB chains in a ratio αB/αA of 1.73–1.8. Electron microscopic examination of ATP-precipitates showed that this collagen type gave only one kind of SLS aggregates with asymmetric band pattern characteristically different from that of type I collagen. The data provide evidence that gingival AB collagen is a heteropolymer in which the αA and αB chains are assembled in the same macromolecule in a 1∶2 ratio.
Earthquake source parameter determination using genetic algorithms

Determination of earthquake source parameters is a non-linear and multi-dimensional problem in which trade-off problems between the parameters can be significant and complicated. Accordingly global optimization is desirable to find the best fit parameters in a large model parameter space. We apply Genetic Algorithms (GA) to search for optimal source parameters in a multiparameter space. Results show that the GA method can rapidly explore a large multiparameter model space and find optimal solutions for the source parameters with a relatively small number of function evaluations. Results with the data of the 1988 Nepal-India border earthquake indicate that GA determined source parameters better explain the observed waveforms.
A non-pharmacologic approach to address challenging behaviors of Veterans with dementia: description of the tailored activity program-VA randomized trial

Behavioral symptoms accompanying dementia are associated with increased health care costs, reduced quality of life and daily functioning, heightened family caregiver burden, and nursing home placement. Standard care typically involves pharmacologic agents, but these are, at best, modestly effective, carry serious risks, including mortality, and do not address behavioral symptoms families consider most distressful and which may prompt nursing home placement. Given dementia’s devastating effects and the absence of an imminent cure, the Veterans Administration has supported the development and testing of new approaches to manage challenging behaviors at home.
Pleiotropy in Coffin‐Lowry syndrome: Sensorineural hearing deficit and premature tooth loss as early manifestations

We report on 7 patients (6 M, 1 F) with Coffin-Lowry syndrome who have a sensorineural hearing deficit in addition to developmental delay and characteristic facial changes. One of the patients also had a history of premature exfoliation of primary teeth. These are previously unappreciated clinical signs that may aid in the early diagnosis of Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Early diagnosis and recognition of a hearing deficit in the patient can lead to the use of hearing aids to help the patient achieve his or her full potential. These "new" clinical manifestations expand the phenotype of Coffin-Lowry syndrome and constitute an additional indication of pleiotropy.
Mapping Potential Heatsink Conductance Across the Hydraulic Plane

A systematic examination of parallel plate fin heat sink performance is carried out by means of a parametric study focussed on aluminum and copper fins in air. The objective is to find the maximum available fin conductance of fixed fin volumes as a function of hydraulic operating point. The fin pitch, height, flow length, and thickness/gap solidity are all varied. Peak volumetric conductance fin geometries are established using a search algorithm. The results are presented as a continuous mapping of peak-enabling fin geometry across the flow-pressure hydraulic operating plane. A correlation is presented showing how the peak conductance varies with pressure, fin volume, and material conductivity.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Quantitative clinical electrophysiology in the evaluation of nerve injury and regeneration

This brief survey highlights the application of clinical neuromuscular electrophysiological techniques in the evaluation of nerve injury and regeneration,with emphasis upon those approaches which generate quantitative data.The merits of quantitation have been reviewed elsewhere.
Measured versus estimated glomerular filtration rate in the Calvert equation: influence on carboplatin dosing.

Purpose: Carboplatin is frequently dosed to achieve a desired area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) by using the Calvert or Chatelut equations to estimate carboplatin clearance. Accurate determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is necessary to correctly calculate carboplatin clearance using the Calvert equation. In clinical practice, the Cockcroft-Gault formula is frequently used to estimate GFR, but this practice has been reported to under- and overestimate carboplatin clearance. The purpose of this trial was to compare determinations of carboplatin clearance using the Chatelut equation and four separate GFR determinations, including 99mTc-DTPA, the Cockcroft-Gault formula, a 24-h urine collection and a 2-h urine collection. Methods: Carboplatin clearance was estimated in 21 previously untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer patients. GFR was determined using 99mTc-DTPA, the Cockcroft-Gault formula, 24-h urine collection and 2-h urine collection. Serum and urine creatinine concentrations were measured using enzymatic assays. The carboplatin clearance was then calculated by individually adding 25 to the four GFR determinations based on the Calvert equation, which states that carboplatin clearance equals GFR+25 (nonrenal clearance). The carboplatin clearance was also estimated using the Chatelut equation. The five determinations of carboplatin clearance were compared using Friedman's test and post-hoc Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Precision and bias for each carboplatin clearance determination were calculated assuming that 99mTc-DTPA provided the most accurate measure of GFR. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the five methods of estimating carboplatin clearance (P<0.001). No difference was found between carboplatin clearance calculated using 99mTc-DTPA and the Chatelut equation, the Cockcroft-Gault formula or the 2-h urine collection. The Chatelut equation provided more precision and less bias than the 2-h urine collection (median precision 20% and 30%, median bias –1% and –18%, respectively). Conclusion: Compared to 99mTc-DTPA, the Chatelut equation more accurately estimates carboplatin clearance than the Cockcroft-Gault formula, the 2-h urine collection and the 24-h urine collection. The greater negative bias found for the latter three estimates of carboplatin clearance could result in underdosing of carboplatin.
Label-Free, High-Throughput Measurements of Dynamic Changes in Cell Nuclei Using Angle-Resolved Low Coherence Interferometry

Accurate measurements of nuclear deformation, i.e., structural changes of the nucleus in response to environmental stimuli, are important for signal transduction studies. Traditionally, these measurements require labeling and imaging, and then nuclear measurement using image analysis. This approach is time-consuming, invasive, and unavoidably perturbs cellular systems. Light scattering, an emerging biophotonics technique for probing physical characteristics of living systems, offers a promising alternative. Angle-resolved low-coherence interferometry (a/LCI), a novel light scattering technique, was developed to quantify nuclear morphology for early cancer detection. In this study, a/LCI is used for the first time to noninvasively measure small changes in nuclear morphology in response to environmental stimuli. With this new application, we broaden the potential uses of a/LCI by demonstrating high-throughput measurements and by probing aspherical nuclei. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, two distinct models relevant to current investigations in cell and tissue engineering research are used. Structural changes in cell nuclei due to subtle environmental stimuli, including substrate topography and osmotic pressure, are profiled rapidly without disrupting the cells or introducing artifacts associated with traditional measurements. Accuracy ≥ 3% is obtained for the range of nuclear geometries examined here, with the greatest deviations occurring for the more complex geometries. Given the high-throughput nature of the measurements, this deviation may be acceptable for many biological applications that seek to establish connections between morphology and function.
High la (HLA‐DR) and low CD11b (Mo1) expression may predict early conversion to leukemia in myelodysplastic syndromes

The FAB classification of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has been useful in predicting prognosis; however, additional methods are required to detect patients at high risk for early conversion to acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL). Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies to myelomonocytic surface antigens (MMSA) and flow cytometry, we studied bone marrow cells from 26 patients with MDS of all five FAB subtypes. The MMSA studied included Ia (HLA-DR), CD11b (Mo1), CD14 (Mo2, My4), CD13 (My7), and CD33 (My9). Marrows were considered "positive" for a given MMSA if the percentage of reactive cells exceeded the upper limit of the normal range. Twenty-four of twenty-six patients (92.3%) were CD13 (My7)+, suggesting that CD13 may serve as a diagnostic marker for MDS. Ten of twelve patients who developed ANLL during a median follow-up of 44 weeks were Ia(HLA-DR)+. The Kaplan-Meier estimated median time to leukemia (TTL) was 16 weeks for Ia+ patients and 88 weeks for Ia- patients (P = 0.004). All six patients who developed ANLL before 16 weeks from diagnosis were Ia+, while none of the Ia- patients converted to ANLL before 24 weeks. Nine of thirteen patients with low CD11b (Mo1) expression ( 53% reactive cells). Kaplan-Meier estimated TTL was 29 weeks for patients with low CD11b, compared to 160 weeks for patients with high CD11b (P < 0.05). Patients who met both criteria, Ia+ and low CD11b, represented the poorest prognostic subgroup, with median TTL of 13 weeks compared with 88 weeks for the others (P = 0.017). Ia and CD11b patterns were not specific for MDS subtype, and their expression did not correlate with blast count. These data suggest that MDS patients whose bone marrow cells demonstrate high Ia (HLA-DR) and low CD11b (Mo1) expression represent a poor prognostic subgroup with short TTL. These patients may be candidates for early aggressive or investigational treatment.