cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exit Strategy: An Exploration of Late-Stage Police Crime

There are no exhaustive statistics available on the crimes committed by law enforcement officers, and only a small number of studies provide specific data on police crimes. The purpose of the current study is to examine the character of police arrests known to the media. Cases were identified through a content analysis of news coverage using the Internet-based GoogleTM News search engine and its Google Alerts search tool. The study focuses on the crimes committed by experienced officers who are approaching retirement. The occurrence of these late-stage crimes presents a challenge to existing assumptions regarding the relationship between experience and various forms of police misconduct and also provides an opportunity to examine a stage of the police career that has not been the subject of much research. The article concludes with an identification of research and policy implications and includes a discussion regarding how our data should be interpreted within the context of existing studies on police socialization and the production of misconduct.
Characterization of Nuclear Recoils in High Pressure Xenon Gas: Towards a Simultaneous Search for WIMP Dark Matter and Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

Abstract Xenon has recently been the medium of choice in several large scale detectors searching for WIMP dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay. Though present-day large scale experiments use liquid xenon, the gas phase o_ers advantages favorable to both types of searches such as improved intrinsic energy resolution and fewer fluctuations in the partition of deposited energy between scintillation and ionization channels. We recently constructed a high pressure xenon gas TPC as a prototype for the NEXT (Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC) neutrinoless double beta decay experiment and have demonstrated the feasibility of 0.5% FWHM energy resolution at the 136Xe double beta Q-value with 3-D tracking capabilities. We now present results from this prototype on the simultaneous observation of scintillation and ionization produced by nuclear recoils at approximately 14 bar pressure. The recoils were produced by neutrons of approximately 2-6 MeV emitted from a radioisotope plutonium-beryllium source, and primary scintillation (S1) and electroluminescent photons produced by ionization (S2) were observed. We discuss the potential of gaseous xenon to distinguish between electron and nuclear recoils through the ratio of these two signals S2/S1. From these results combined with the possibility of using columnar recombination to sense nuclear recoil directionality at high pressures we envision a dual-purpose, ton-scale gaseous xenon detector capable of a combined search for WIMP dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay. This work has been performed within the context of the NEXT collaboration.
Intensified charge coupled devices for use as a spaceborne spectrographic image-plane detector system.

An instrument that has been developed for studies of atmospheric emissions from the Space Shuttle comprises an array of imaging spectrometers to observe features over the 300-12,000-A wavelength range. Each spectrometer has a 2-D image-plane detector system on which spectral information is dispersed in one direction and spatial information is resolved in the other. The detectors consist of CCD arrays which are coupled to proximity focused image intensifiers. The intensifier in each case is selected for the wavelength range covered by the particular spectrometer. The result is a compact low-power spectrographic detector system. In the course of building the five flight detector systems, there was occasion to evaluate a larger number of the charge coupled devices and the proximity focused image intensifiers. Various characteristics, advantages, and shortcomings of these devices and the overall intensified CCD system are reported.
Eysenck's Personality Dimensions: a Model for the MMPI

Nine of the ten clinical scales of the MMPI were considered as measures of the neuroticism, psychoticism and extraversion personality dimensions of Eysenck. The correspondence between the conceptual placement of the subtests in Eysenck's three-dimensional space and their empirical placement in factor space was tested for 205 married males and again for 205 married females. The correspondence was significant for both sexes but considerably stronger for the females than for the males.
Behavioral treatment of disease-related chronic insomnia in a hemophiliac

Abstract Hemophilia represents a congenital chronic disorder characterized by recurrent unpredictable internal hemorrhages with accompanying acute bleeding pain. The medical management of a 38-year-old hemophiliac with severe classic hemophilia was further complicated by a high titer Factor VIII antibody, increasing the life-threatening status of a severe hemorrhage. The patient had a one-year history of less than 2 hours of sleep per night as a result of daily chronic tension and intrusive cognitions about the dangers of his illness. A treatment package consisting of progressive muscle relaxation, meditative breathing, cognitive refocusing, and stimulus control procedures resulted in an average of 6 hours per night of uninterrupted sleep; improvement was maintained over a 27-week follow-up period. The treatment is discussed within the context of the behavioral medicine approach in hemophilia comprehensive care.
Application of the helium-jet technique for fission fragment transport from spontaneous fission sources☆

Abstract The helium-jet method has been adapted for the transport of fission products from a 252Cf source. It has been found that the helium carrier gas must be seeded with H2O vapor and irradiated with an ultra-violet light source to obtain high efficiencies. There is indication of the role of free radicals in producing high- molecular-weight species that are necessary for the transport of the fission products. Transport efficiencies of about 55% and mean transport times of 30 s have been achieved.
The Iowa 500: heterogeneity and course in manic-depressive illness (bipolar).

Abstract No compelling evidence exists to indicate that bipolar illness is composed of more than one homogeneous clinical group. The data, however, suggest that as a group bipolar patients are likely to suffer from a flurry of episodes which will then die out in the course of time. This has practical significance in terms of prevention with lithium therapy.
Weak magnetism for antineutrinos in supernovae

Weak magnetism increases antineutrino mean free paths in core collapse supernovae. The parity violating interference between axial vector and vector currents makes antineutrino-nucleon cross sections smaller than those for neutrinos. We calculate simple, exact correction factors to include recoil and weak magnetism in supernova simulations. Weak magnetism may significantly increase the neutrino energy flux. We calculate, in a diffusion approximation, an increase of order 15% in the total energy flux for temperatures near 10 MeV. This should raise the neutrino luminosity. Weak magnetism also changes the emitted spectrum of ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{x}$ (with $x=\ensuremath{\mu}$ or $\ensuremath{\tau})$ and ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}.$ We estimate that ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{x}$ will be emitted about 7% hotter than ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{x}$ because ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{x}$ have longer mean free paths. Likewise weak magnetism may increase the ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$ temperature by of order 10%. This increase in temperature coupled with the increase in neutrino luminosity should increase the heating in the low density region outside of the neutrino sphere. This, in turn, could be important for the success of an explosion. It is important to check our results with a full simulation that includes Boltzmann neutrino transport and weak magnetism corrections.
The Impact of Infant Rooming‐In on Maternal Sleep at Night

Two opposing issues in postpartum rooming-in are the benefits of continuous interaction and the threat of maternal sleep disruption. A two-group comparison study was designed to investigate differences in sleep patterns for a group of mothers who roomed-in with their infants at night as compared with a group who was separated from their infants at night. The data collected from the mothers in the study indicated that mothers did not sleep longer or better when their infants were returned to the nursery during the night.
The utility of visual function questionnaire in the assessment of the impact of diabetic retinopathy on vision-related quality of life

The utility of visual function questionnaire in the assessment of the impact of diabetic retinopathy on vision-related quality of life
The ineffability of qualia and the word-anchoring problem

Abstract The ineffability of qualia and the word-anchoring problem are intimately related. Innate neural structures realize qualitative experiences that we rapidly learn to associate to their aboutness and to other events. Phylogenetically conserved neural structures provide the common endowment that serves as the bases for phenomenal knowledge and for building a virtual language-independent phenomenal-intentional lexicon, in which the ‘entries’ are the what-it-is-like of experiences and their ‘definitions’ consist in their aboutness and in their indexical reference. Qualitative experiences consist in analogue neurophysiological processes, which are ineffable simply because they cannot be duplicated in other brains through propositions or symbolic descriptions. A second virtual dictionary, the verbal-phenomenal lexicon functions as a ‘bilingual’ dictionary that interconnects signals, utterances and words developed by a specific culture with our common phylogenetic endowment. This grounds words in the phenomenal, establishing a bridge between language and intentionality. The third lexicon—a personal version of the regular dictionary—explains the meaning of words with definitions, but eventually, it must resort to examples to refer to the meaning of ineffable words anchored in the verbal-phenomenal lexicon. The references to qualitative experiences entered in the regular dictionary are unintelligible to individuals who do not share our genetic endowment and phenomenology, as illustrated by color blindness. The limited hardware of the brain determines the scope and the nature of our experiences. Fortunately, we can transcend the limitations of phenomenal knowledge through propositional knowledge, which incorporates the combinatorial symbolism of language and the normative influence of science and philosophy.
Living High and Letting Die: Our Illusion of Innocence by Peter Unger (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) pp. xii + 186.

Peter Singer’s ‘Famine, Affluence, and Morality’ appeared in Philosophy and Public Affairs in 1972. It is a thoughtful and direct essay. Singer claims that a certain moral principle is true. He claims that it implies that affluent people such as ourselves ought to give very substantial assistance to the poverty-stricken victims of natural disaster in East Bengal. He goes further; he claims that ‘the way of life that has come to be taken for granted in our society’ needs to be altered. He anticipates various objections to his argument, and states his replies. He closes with a short discussion of the extent to which professional philosophers ought to try to influence public policy. The paper has been widely reprinted, and has become a sort of modern classic. I think it deserves this status. The moral principle to which Singer appeals is roughly this:
Electrical and optical properties of ZnO nanowires

Low dimensional systems such as nanotubes and nanowires have fascinating, and technologically useful, optical and electrical properties. Studies on these systems advance our knowledge on the science at the nanoscale, while simultaneously provides the possibility for developing miniaturized electronics and optoelectronics. The material system attracting increasing attention is zinc oxide (ZnO), 1-6 which is a II-VI compound semiconductor with a wide and direct banc gap of 3.37 eV at room temperature. ZnO has demonstrated unique properties and potential applications in manifold fields, such as transparent electronics, ultraviolet (UV) light emitter, surface acoustic wave devices, gas sensors and magnetoelectronics. It is shown to have wurtzite structure with lattice constant a = 3.249 Α, c = 5.207 Α. Its large exciton binding energy (60 meV), which is much greater than the thermal energy at room temperature, makes it a promising candidate for applications in blue-UV light emission and room temperature UV lasing 7 . Furthermore, its high piezoelectric constant (d 33 =246) makes it a highly valuable material for fabricating mechanical devices, such as acoustic transducers, sensors and actuators.
Amphotericin B and the elasmobranch rectal gland: Implications for the relationship between oxygen consumption and ion transport

In slices of the dogfish rectal gland, amphotericin B produced increases in oxygen consumption and ouabain binding similar to those produced by cyclic AMP, except that the increases induced by the latter were inhibited by furosemide whereas those resulting from the addition of amphotericin B were unaffected by the diuretic. Unlike cyclic AMP, however, amphotericin B failed to stimulate secretion by the isolated perfused gland. These results support the suggestion that the increases in ouabain binding and oxygen consumption produced by cyclic AMP result simply from an increased sodium entry into the cells, and as such can be mimicked by amphotericin B, whereas secretion rate itself depends on some additional, cyclic AMP-induced process. The implications of this for determinations of the relationship between rates of oxygen consumption and ion transport are discussed.
Fair Lending Analysis of Mortgage Pricing: Does Underwriting Matter?

This paper evaluates the impact of underwriting decision on fair lending risk assessments of loan pricing. Using data from one national bank that contain a rich set of decisioning variables, we compare the estimation results from the single equation model with those from the sample selection type of models. Then we conduct three simulation studies to evaluate the sample selection bias and omitted variable bias under various scenarios. We demonstrate that the single equation approach could potentially generate biased estimates of pricing disparities when it fails to consider the impact of the underwriting decision.
LYNNYELLA, A NEW GENUS OF CLICK BEETLES FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CHILE (COLEOPTERA: ELATERIDAE)

Se describe Lynnyella, nuevo genero de Elateridae para Chile, el cual tiene como especie tipo a Deromecus suturalis Candeze 1865. Este genero pertenece a la tribu Pomachiliini, e incluye las siguientes especies: L. suturalis n. comb., L. concepcionensis Arias n. sp., L. diegoi Arias n. sp., L. gerhardtae Arias n. sp., L. juanjoseorum Arias n. sp., L. longaviensis Arias n. sp., y L. valenciai Arias n. sp. Las especies del genero Lynnyella se encuentran distribuidas en la zona centro y sur de Chile. Se proporciona un mapa con la distribucion geografica para las especies mencionadas y una clave de estas
Gasdynamic lasers and photon machines

The basic operational highlights of CO 2 -N 2 gas-dynamic lasers (GDL's) are described. Features common to powerful gas lasers are indicated. A simplified model of the vibrational kinetics of the system is presented, and the importance of rapid expansion nozzles is shown from analytic solutions of the equations. A high-power pulsed GDL is described, along with estimations of power extraction. A closed-cycle laser is suggested, leading to a description of a photon generator/engine. Thermodynamic analysis of the closed-cycle laser illustrates in principle the possibility of direct conversion of laser energy to work.
Fracture of Sapphire

The fracture of sapphire was studied using the double-canti-lever-cleavage technique. Fracture surface energies were 7.3 and 6.0 J/m2 for the (100) and (012) type planes, respectively. Attempts to measure the fracture surface energy on the (0001) plane were unsuccessful. The failure of sapphire to fracture along the basal plane was attributed to the fact that these planes lack electrostatic charge neutrality. The possibility of fracture-induced dislocation motion in sapphire at room temperature was investigated using etch-pit techniques, but no evidence for dislocation motion could be found. Fracture behavior on (012) planes was erratic, varying from boule to boule. The topology of surfaces formed by crack propagation along this plane is described, but no explanation for the erratic behavior or the observed fracture features is given.
Absence of risk factors for false-positive test results in blood donors with a reactive test result in an automated treponemal test (PK-TP) for syphilis.

BACKGROUND: Screening and confirmatory serologic tests for syphilis are known to generate false-positive results in low-risk populations, which include blood donors. This study assessed whether conditions previously reported to cause biological false-positive (BFP) test results for syphilis are relevant to contemporary syphilis testing of blood donors and the extent to which seropositive donors report a history of syphilis. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A history of conditions reported to be associated with BFP syphilis tests or a history of syphilis infection was assessed by a case-control study of donors with reactive and nonreactive automated treponemal test results, using an anonymous mail survey. Analysis of cases was stratified by fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) result. RESULTS: Adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for reported BFP-associated conditions were 1.3 (0.8-2.1) for FTA-ABS-positive cases and 0.8 (0.3-1.9) for FTA-ABS-negative cases. Among responding blood donors, syphilis history was reported in 78 (51%) of 153 FTA-ABS-positive cases, 0 of 142 FTA-ABS-negative cases, and 3 (0.4%) of 716 automated treponemal test (PK-TP)-negative controls. CONCLUSION: Approximately half of donors with FTA-ABS-positive test results reported a syphilis history. There was no difference between reported BFP conditions for FTA-ABS-positive or FTA-ABS-negative cases and controls. This information may be useful when providing donors with better predonation or post-test counseling information about syphilis testing.
Racial-Ethnic Differences at the Intersection of Math Course-taking and Achievement:

Despite increases in the representation of African American and Hispanic youth in advanced math courses in high school over the past two decades, recent national reports indicate that substantial inequality in achievement remains. These inequalities can temper one’s optimism about the degree to which the United States has made real progress toward educational equity. Using data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS), the authors find that the math achievement gap is most pronounced among those students who take the most demanding high school math classes, such as precalculus and calculus. The authors explore the roles of family socioeconomic status and school composition in explaining this pattern. Findings suggest that among those students reaching the advanced math high school stratum, Hispanic youth from lowincome families and African American youth from segregated schools fare the worst in terms of closing the achievement gap with their white peers. The authors discuss potential explanations for the achievement differences observed and stress the need for more research that focuses explicitly on the factors that inhibit minority/majority parity at the top of the secondary curricular structure.
Identifying The Health Needs In Rural Appalachian Ohio: Outcomes Of A Rural Community-Academic Partnership

To identify health issues in two rural counties, a needs assessment was developed by health officials and researchers. Focus groups (n = 32) and interviews (n = 8) were conducted among community leaders and a modified BRFFS survey was completed by 399 community members. Results indicated the health of the participants was influenced by: 1) rural Appalachian culture, 2) geography and access to health care, and 3) lack of access/knowledge about preventive health behaviors. These issues likely contributed to 30% obesity prevalence among the sample, which was prioritized as the main health issue for both counties.
Development of the larval ovary in the moth, Plodia interpunctella.

The morphogenesis of ovaries and the organization of germ cells within them were visualized during the larval stages of the moth, Plodia interpunctella. The germ cells were observed by utilizing confocal microscopy coupled with immuno-fluorescent staining for the a-crystallin protein 25 (aCP25). The aCP25 was previously shown to be specific to germ cells of pupae and adults, and this study shows that aCP25 is present in larval germ cells as well. A cluster of 28 germ cells that stain for aCP25 was found in the gonads of newly hatched first instar larvae. The founding germ cells became segregated into four clusters, most likely by somatic cell intrusion, around the beginning of the second instar. Division of the primary germ cells began by the end of the second instar and the formation of all cystoblasts appeared to be completed within the four ovarioles by the end of the third instar. Within the ovarioles of third instar larvae, the germ cells were organized with a distal cap of seven germ cells which was segregated from the majority of the germ cells. The main body of germ cells was arranged around a central germ cell-free core as a spiral. Divisions of the cystoblasts to form cystocyte clusters were nearly completed during the fourth (last) larval instar. These features suggest that the strategy to produce follicles in moths is fundamentally different from the fruitfly, Drosophila. It appears that during the initial stages of ovary development in P. interpunctella, the primary germ cells undergo stage-complete divisions that are completed prior to the onset of the next set of divisions, which results in a complete complement of follicles available by the time of adult eclosion, while in Drosophila the primary germ cell divisions are initiated in the adult stage, and follicles are produced individually as resources are available.
Phenothiazinium Antimicrobial Photosensitizers Are Substrates of Bacterial Multidrug Resistance Pumps

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) combines a nontoxic photoactivatable dye, or photosensitizer (PS), with harmless visible light to generate singlet oxygen and free radicals that kill microbial cells. Although the light can be focused on the diseased area, the best selectivity is achieved by choosing a PS that binds and penetrates microbial cells. Cationic phenothiazinium dyes, such as methylene blue and toluidine blue O, have been studied for many years and are the only PSs used clinically for antimicrobial PDT. Multidrug resistance pumps (MDRs) are membrane-localized proteins that pump drugs out of cells and have been identified for a wide range of organisms. We asked whether phenothiazinium salts with structures that are amphipathic cations could potentially be substrates of MDRs. We used MDR-deficient mutants of Staphylococcus aureus (NorA), Escherichia coli (TolC), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MexAB) and found 2 to 4 logs more killing than seen with wild-type strains by use of three different phenothiazinium PSs and red light. Mutants that overexpress MDRs were protected from killing compared to the wild type. Effective antimicrobial PSs of different chemical structures showed no difference in light-mediated killing depending on MDR phenotype. Differences in uptake of phenothiazinium PS by the cells depending on level of MDR expression were found. We propose that specific MDR inhibitors could be used in combination with phenothiazinium salts to enhance their photodestructive efficiency.
Dissolved organic carbon manipulation reveals coupled cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in a nitrogen‐rich stream

To investigate the coupling between carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) cycling in a human-altered stream, we conducted a whole-ecosystem manipulation of the labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool in a nitrate ()-rich stream in the midwestern United States. For 6 d, we increased stream DOC by ∼ 1 mg L−1 through a continuous addition of sodium acetate. On the sixth day of the addition, ammonium () was increased by ∼ 130 µg N L−1 to examine the potential for nitrogen (N) to mediate coupled C and P cycling. Of the added DOC, 85% was retained within the treatment reach, which increased ecosystem respiration with respect to the reference reach. Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) increased from day 1 to day 6; however, water column P uptake only increased on day 6 concurrent with the addition. Gross primary production decreased during the DOC addition relative to the reference reach, yet seemed to recover on day 6 ( addition). These results suggest that during the DOC addition, heterotrophs out-competed autotrophs for N and that sediment-sorbed P sustained the heterotrophic community while P uptake from the water column was dominated by autotrophs. Because APA and P uptake were stimulated by the simultaneous DOC and addition, P cycling appeared to be N limited, despite the high ambient concentration; this indicates a strong preferential uptake of over In streams, C and P cycling can be intrinsically coupled through biological mechanisms, and this coupling can be mediated by the availability of different forms of inorganic N.
Designing Host and Network Sensors to Mitigate the Insider Threat

Insider attacks-that is, attacks by users with privileged knowledge about a system-are a growing problem for many organizations. To address this threat, the authors have designed an architecture for insider threat detection that combines an array of complementary monitoring and auditing techniques.
Venture Capital and Underserved Communities

Access to equity capital is critical for the growth of businesses, especially for young companies, which lack the cash flows necessary to repay loans. To meet this need, a thriving venture capital industry has evolved, fostering job creation, economic growth, and innovation in the United States. Not all companies, however, have been equally able to access such investments. Firms owned by women and people of color and those located in rural and distressed urban regions of the country have been underserved by the venture capital industry. This note analyzes the factors responsible for this and proposes policies designed to ensure a more equitable economic landscape.
406‐nm laser on the C→B band of N2

Intense visible laser emission on the 0‐3 transition of the N2 (C→B) band at 405.9 nm has been observed by exciting Ar/5–10% N2( pTOTAL ≈2000 Torr) gas mixtures with a long‐pulse (∼0.5 μs) electron beam of cylindrical symmetry. The experimental apparatus consists of a coaxial diode of 50 cm length and 250 cm3 anode volume driven by a low inductance, ∼250‐kV Marx generator. Lasing on the violet line occurs following bottlenecking of the 0‐1 and 0‐2 ultraviolet laser transitions. With ∼0.8% output coupling at 406 nm, a maximum output energy of 2.2 mJ in a 200‐ns FWHM pulse has been obtained in the violet which is comparable to that extracted (for optimum mirror transmission) on the 358‐ and 380‐nm UV laser lines.
Techniques for Construction of Pareto Frontier Approximations

The main aim of the work is to obtain Pareto frontier approximations that not only are good fits to the Pareto solutions but are also capable of predicting the feasibility of performance targets accurately. A standard least squares technique need not give intuitive and meaningful approximations because they need not satisfy certain derivative conditions that characterize a true trade-o or Pareto behavior for competing objectives. A constrained least square technique has been developed to address this issue. Moreover, for problems with discrete variables one can have multiple Pareto frontiers and hence an issue arises if a single approximation or multiple approximations (one for each discrete configuration) have to be used to characterize the Pareto frontiers. Feasibility assessment techniques have also been developed that use the Pareto frontier approximations to predict the feasibility of performance targets. Some of the feasibility assessment techniques also impose additional bound constraints to adequately capture the infeasible domains. Various approximation techniques were applied to Pareto solutions obtained from an analytic I-Beam problem and a preliminary vehicle design problem. Validation studies were also performed where various feasibility assessment techniques were used to predict the feasibility of benchmark points. For the implementation studies performed in this work, the constrained least squares technique gave better prediction accuracies than a traditional least squares when supplemented with additional bound constraints. Multiple approximations gave better R 2 values than single approximations.
A particle swarm optimization-based algorithm for finding gapped motifs.

Background: Identifying approximately repeated patterns, or motifs, in DNA sequences from a set of co-regulated genes is an important step towards deciphering the complex gene regulatory networks and understanding gene functions. Results: In this work, we develop a novel motif finding algorithm (PSO+) using a population-based stochastic optimization technique called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), which has been shown to be effective in optimizing difficult multidimensional problems in continuous domains. We propose a modification of the standard PSO algorithm to handle discrete values, such as characters in DNA sequences. The algorithm provides several features. First, we use both consensus and position-specific weight matrix representations in our algorithm, taking advantage of the efficiency of the former and the accuracy of the latter. Furthermore, many real motifs contain gaps, but the existing methods usually ignore them or assume a user know their exact locations and lengths, which is usually impractical for real applications. In comparison, our method models gaps explicitly, and provides an easy solution to find gapped motifs without any detailed knowledge of gaps. Our method allows the presence of input sequences containing zero or multiple binding sites. Conclusion: Experimental results on synthetic challenge problems as well as real biological sequences show that our method is both more efficient and more accurate than several existing algorithms, especially when gaps are present in the motifs.
A power loading scheme for space-time trellis codes based on channel magnitude feedback

In this paper, we present a novel power loading scheme for several existing space-time trellis codes (STTCs). These STTCs are originally designed for the open loop systems where no channel state information is available at the transmitter. To further enhance the performance of these STTCs, we assume that the scalar quantized channel magnitude information is available at the transmitter through a feedback channel. Therefore, the error performance of these STTCs is improved through proper power loading on the different transmit antennas. To calculate the power loading parameters, we derive the distance spectrum of these STTCs based on the channel magnitude information. We also use a novel transfer function analysis to optimize the overall distance spectrum. The proposed power loading algorithm is flexible enough to be applied for various kinds of existing STTCs and it also enjoys easy implementation at the transmitter. Finally, numerical simulations show that the new power loading scheme accomplishes superior performance compared to several widely used open loop algorithms as well as some popular closed loop algorithms in the literature
Blinded by Science: An Entrepreneurial Marketing Perspective of Understanding

Science has become a powerful tool for examining our bodies, our environment, and our universe. In fact, we have adopted science as the technique of choice for examining most phenomena. The intent of this manuscript is to critique the role of science as it pertains to investigating social phenomena, i.e. entrepreneurship, and offer a highly unique twist on the discourse. An overview of historical scientific results leads into the introduction of a Social Periodic Table. The conclusion is that science is quite often the improper tool to use in order to capture the essence of entrepreneurial phenomena. Some suggestions are offered for future research perspectives. The paper does not rehash the science debate from the 1980s marketing literature.
A constitutively active variant of the quorum-sensing regulator LuxO affects protease production and biofilm formation in Vibrio cholerae.

Vibrio cholerae normally inhabits aquatic habitats but can cause a severe diarrheal illness in humans. Its arsenal of virulence factors includes a secreted hemagglutinin (HA) protease. An HA protease-deficient mutant of V. cholerae was isolated and designated E7946 mpc. E7946 mpc was found to contain a point mutation in the luxO quorum-sensing regulator. In accordance with this finding, E7946 mpc exhibits a defect in quorum sensing. The mutant luxO allele [luxO(Con)] produces a protein with a leucine-to-glutamine substitution at amino acid 104. Transfer of the luxO(Con) allele to an otherwise wild-type background was sufficient to eliminate HA protease expression; conversely, deletion of luxO(Con) from E7946 mpc restored protease activity. We demonstrate that LuxO(Con) constitutively represses the transcription of hapR, an essential positive regulator of HA protease. Interestingly, strains harboring luxO(Con) form enhanced biofilms, and enhanced biofilm formation does not appear to be dependent on reduced HA protease expression. Taken together, the results confirm the role of LuxO as a central “switch” that coordinately regulates virulence-related phenotypes such as protease production and biofilm formation.
Radiation emission from small particles

Measurements have been made of the IR radiation from monodisperse optically absorbing spherical particles of di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate. The purpose was to validate the Mie emission theory for particles that are small compared with the radiation wavelength. In contradiction to the Mie theory, McGregor has theoretically concluded that radiation absorption or emission is not possible at wavelengths longer than 2π times the particle diameter for spherical particles. The present results on monodisperse spherical particles of 3, 1, and 0.5 μm emitting at a wavelength of 3.4 μm support the Mie theory predictions.
Novel On-Chip Antenna Structures and Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) Approaches for Millimeter Wave Devices

This paper presents novel on-chip antenna structures and provides new on-chip circuit concepts that may be implemented as part of standard integrated circuit fabrication processes for wireless integrated circuits of the future. As wavelengths of wireless local area networks (WLANs) and personal area networks (PANs) shrink to millimeter lengths at 60 GHz and above, interconnectivity issues and cost/scale requirements will require these new approaches for built-in on- chip antennas. This paper highlights advancements in both the integrated circuits and microwave technology research communities, and presents a number of promising areas of research. Finally, we describe an experimental probe station that has been developed at The University of Texas for the testing and characterization of novel on-chip antennas and distributed components.
Direct Measurement of Crack Tip Stresses

Raman microprobe spectroscopy was used to measure the crack tip stress distribution in single-crystalline silicon using a wedge-loaded double cantilever beam (dcb) specimen. The wedge was advanced until the crack just propagated. After the crack arrested, the stresses were measured between 3 and 20 μm directly ahead of the crack. An average value of –0.43 was obtained for the slope of log stress vs log distance from the crack tip, rather than the theoretical value of –0.5. The value of KI was determined from (1) the intercept of this curve and (2) the slope of stress against . The values were in good agreement. The average experimental value of KI was determined to be 0.71 MPa · m1/2, compared to literature values for the KIC ranging from silicon of 0.8 to 0.94 MPa · m1/2. The value measured with the Raman is the arrest value of KI and is expected to be lower from kinetic energy considerations associated with wedge-loaded dcb specimens.
Paradoxical cerebral air embolism from a hemodialysis catheter

Air embolism is a rare complication of the use of central venous catheters as vascular access for hemodialysis. We report a patient with an intracardiac shunt who had a paradoxical air embolism following manipulation of her hemodialysis catheter that resulted in transient hemiplegia. This case illustrates the potentially devastating consequences of even a small air leak into the circulation if it gains access to the arterial system.
Selective adsorption of endoglucanases from Thermomonospora curvata on protein‐extracted lucerne fibres

Cellulases of Thermomonospora curvata contain three endoglucanase components. Two of these enzymes (molecular weights of 46 and 106 kD) bound to protein-extracted lucerne fibres. Maximal adsorption occurred within 6 min, followed by a gradual desorption during fibre hydrolysis.
Searching for yellowstone

This experimental, layered, mixed-genre narrative folds my biographical experiences into a critical reading of Wallace Stegner's autobiographical account of his childhood. This reading allows me to discuss three versions of the midcentury white male middle-class American dream. I compare Stegner's father to my father and my grandfather, as I discuss a trip I almost made to Yellowstone Park with my grandfather before he died.
Ensemble Reforecasting: Improving Medium-Range Forecast Skill Using Retrospective Forecasts

Abstract The value of the model output statistics (MOS) approach to improving 6–10-day and week 2 probabilistic forecasts of surface temperature and precipitation is demonstrated. Retrospective 2-week ensemble “reforecasts” were computed using a version of the NCEP medium-range forecast model with physics operational during 1998. An NCEP–NCAR reanalysis initial condition and bred modes were used to initialize the 15-member ensemble. Probabilistic forecasts of precipitation and temperature were generated by a logistic regression technique with the ensemble mean (precipitation) or ensemble mean anomaly (temperature) as the only predictor. Forecasts were computed and evaluated during 23 winter seasons from 1979 to 2001. Evaluated over the 23 winters, these MOS-based probabilistic forecasts were skillful and highly reliable. When compared against operational NCEP forecasts for a subset of 100 days from the 2001–2002 winters, the MOS-based forecasts were comparatively much more skillful and reliable. For examp...
Co-Occurrence of Two Allelic Variants of CYP51 in Erysiphe necator and Their Correlation with Over-Expression for DMI Resistance

Demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) have been an important tool in the management of grapevine powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe necator. Long-term, intensive use of DMIs has resulted in reduced sensitivity in field populations. To further characterize DMI resistance and understand resistance mechanisms in this pathogen, we investigated the cyp51 sequence of 24 single-spored isolates from Virginia and surrounding states and analyzed gene expression in isolates representing a wide range of sensitivity. Two cyp51 alleles were found with respect to the 136th codon of the predicted EnCYP51 sequence: the wild-type (TAT) and the mutant (TTT), which results in the known Y136F amino acid change. Some isolates possessed both alleles, demonstrating gene duplication or increased gene copy number and possibly a requirement for at least one mutant copy of CYP51 for resistance. Cyp51 was over-expressed 1.4- to 19-fold in Y136F-mutant isolates. However, the Y136F mutation was absent in one isolate with moderate to high resistance factor. Two additional synonymous mutations were detected as well, one of which, A1119C was present only in isolates with high cyp51 expression. Overall, our results indicate that at least two mechanisms, cyp51 over-expression and the known target-site mutation in CYP51, contribute to resistance in E. necator, and may be working in conjunction with each other.
Extreme Values for Sequences of Stable Random Variables

Let \(\xi = ({\xi _1},...,{\xi_n})\) be an Rn-valued p-stable sequence. We obtain bounds on the expectation and distribution of \(\left\| \xi \right\| = \mathop {\sup }\limits_{1 \leqslant i \leqslant n} \left| {{\xi _i}} \right|\) both in terms of the spectrum of ξ and the quantity \(\mathop {\inf }\limits_{1 \leqslant j \ne \leqslant n} {(E{\left| {{\xi _j} - {\xi _k}} \right|^r})^{1/r}}\), r < p. These results are compared with their well known counterparts for Gaussian processes (the case p = 2).
5,6-Dimethyl-2-(5-methyl-thio-phen-2-yl)-1-[(5-methyl-thio-phen-2-yl)meth-yl]-1H-benzimidazole.

The title mol­ecule, C20H20N2S2, is T-shaped and consists of a nearly flat 5,6-dimethyl-2-(5-methyl­thio­phen-2-yl)benzimidazole system approximately perpendicular to the 5-methyl­thio­phen-2-ylmethyl substituent. The 5,6-dimethyl-2-(5-meth­yl­thio­phen-2-yl)benzimidazole system is rotationally disordered about the two imidazole N atoms as approximated by a twofold rotation axis with a refined major/minor occupancy ratio of 0.884 (2):0.116 (2). The benzimidazole ring system is essentially planar, the largest deviations being 0.026 (2) and 0.044 (18) A in the major and minor components, respectively. The inter­planar angles between the benzimidazole unit and the 5-methyl­thio­phen-2-yl substituent are 10.8 (3) and 8(3)° in the major and minor components, respectively, and the corresponding angles with the 5-methyl­thio­phen-2-ylmethyl substituent are 88.12 (8) and 89.5 (4)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are oriented with their 2-(5-methyl­thio­phen-2-yl)benzimidazole mean planes approximately parallel to (11-3 and appear to be held together by π–π [2-thiophene⋯imidazole centroid–centroid distance = 4.1383 (7) A] and C—H⋯π contacts. A weak C—H⋯N hydrogen bond generates infinite chains parallel to [100].
Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Bringing the Lab to the Clinic

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) was the first clinically characterized mitochondrial disorder. Since its first description in 1871, much has been discovered regarding the genetics and pathophysiology of the disease. This has enabled the development of in vitro cell and animal models that can be used to try to determine not only the effects of the genetic mutation upon the clinical phenotype but to also test potential novel therapies. Treatments for LHON have ranged from vitamins and minerals to immunosuppressants and, more recently, targeted gene therapy. This article reviews the pathophysiology and clinical features of LHON with a focus on translational research.
Effects Of Anthropogenic Particles On The Chemical And Geophysical Properties Of Urban Soils, Detroit, Michigan

A study was undertaken to assess the effects of anthropogenic particles on the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and magnetic susceptibility (MS) of anthropogenic soils in Detroit, Michigan. The results showed that ^Au horizons of anthropogenic soils at residential demolition, industrial, and fly ash–impacted sites were distinguishable from A horizons of native soils (background level). Anthropogenic soils were higher by 1 pH unit or more, had an EC three to four times background level, and were characterized by an elevated MS that was up to 20 times background. Anthropogenic soils at residential demolition sites had a uniquely high EC signature, whereas those at industrial sites were distinguished by anomalously high MS. Fly ash–impacted soils differed from native soils but were similar to other anthropogenic soils. Analyses of reference artifacts suggest that the elevated pH of anthropogenic soils was caused by calcareous building material wastes, whereas elevated EC were the result of both calcareous and ferruginous wastes. Elevated MS were attributable to ferrimagnetic materials such as corroded iron nails, coal ash and cinders, and metalliferous slag. Analyses of “artificial soils” indicated that there were measurable effects on pH, EC, and MS even with low concentrations of anthropogenic microparticles (<5–10 wt %). These results support our hypothesis that urban soils contain anthropogenic particles that differ as a function of former land use. Hence, various types of anthropogenic soils and native soils have unique chemical and geophysical signatures. This suggests that EC and MS surveying methods may be used to remotely sense and map urban soils more effectively than using traditional methods alone.
GLOBAL LONGITUDINAL STRAIN IMPROVEMENT POST-TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT CORRELATES WITH BASELINE STROKE VOLUME INDEX IN PATIENTS WITH LOW FLOW SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS REGARDLESS LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION

Severe Aortic stenosis leads to myocardial eccentric hypertrophy, remodeling and fibrosis. Speckle tracking strain imaging is reflective of myocardial deformation and is more sensitive to regional and global LV dysfunction. Changes in global longitudinal strain (GLS) of the LV post-transcatheter
Leading Edge Separation Control on an Airfoil in Fully-Reversed Condition

Leading edge separation control was investigated using nanosecond pulsed DBD plasma actuators on a NACA 0015 airfoil installed in a recirculating wind tunnel such that the flow was fully-reversed over the airfoil. A 15° angle of attack at a Reynolds number of 0.50·10 was selected for detailed investigation. Fully separated flow on the suction side extended well beyond the airfoil with highly asymmetric velocity and vorticity fields and a shedding Strouhal number of 0.19 with a harmonic at 0.38. Excitation at very low (impulse excitation) to moderate (~0.4) Strouhal numbers using plasma actuators at the aerodynamic leading edge generated organized coherent structures in the shear layer over the separated region with a frequency corresponding to the excitation frequency, which caused changes in the size of the wake, the separation area, lift, and drag. Excitation near = . had the most significant effects: creating moderately sized structures that convected far downstream, reducing the separation area by 39%, increasing lift by 6%, and decreasing drag by 8%. Excitation at high Strouhal numbers modified the baseline vortices (rather than generating new vortices) and resulted in weaker vortices that diffused quickly in the wake, causing the wake to elongate slightly and skew toward the aerodynamic trailing edge, but still reducing the separation area and also reducing lift and drag. The primary mechanism of control is excitation of instabilities in the shear layer over the separated zone that generate more coherent large-scale structures over a range of excitation frequencies increasing their entrainment abilities to bring high-momentum fluid into the separation region to reduce the separation size and increase the lift.
Influence of Risk and Change Events on Cost, Schedule, and Predictability Performances

AbstractThe occurrence of events affecting project performance cannot likely be eliminated, and hence their early identification and communication become critical to efficiently mitigate their impact. This research devised a taxonomy for the classification of events that can influence a project with 36 event types grouped in 10 event categories. The frequency of occurrence of events, and their impact on cost, schedule, and predictability performances were statistically determined based on information gathered from 135 recently completed projects. The statistical results demonstrate and quantify the long-held perception that the frequency of an event is often inversely proportional to its impact on project performance. In addition, qualitative evidence collected from subject-matter experts was leveraged to provide complementary insights and explanations beyond the statistical results. The results of this study are of interest to both practitioners and academics.