cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plane wave holonomies in quantum gravity. II. A sine wave solution

This paper constructs an approximate sinusoidal wave packet solution to the equations of canonical gravity. The theory uses holonomy-flux variables with support on a lattice ($\mathrm{LHF}=\text{lattice}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\text{holonomy flux}$). There is an SU(2) holonomy on each edge of the LHF simplex, and the goal is to study the behavior of these holonomies under the influence of a passing gravitational wave. The equations are solved in a small sine approximation: holonomies are expanded in powers of sines and terms beyond ${\mathrm{sin}}^{2}$ are dropped; also, fields vary slowly from vertex to vertex. The wave is unidirectional and linearly polarized. The Hilbert space is spanned by a set of coherent states tailored to the symmetry of the plane wave case. Fixing the spatial diffeomorphisms is equivalent to fixing the spatial interval between vertices of the loop quantum gravity lattice. This spacing can be chosen such that the eigenvalues of the triad operators are large, as required in the small sine limit, even though the holonomies are not large. Appendices compute the energy of the wave, estimate the lifetime of the coherent state packet, discuss circular polarization and coarse-graining, and determine the behavior of the spinors used in the U(N) SHO realization of LQG.
Active DNA Demethylation in Neurodevelopment

Abstract DNA methylation is now accepted as an important epigenetic mechanism in the regulation of gene activity during nervous system development, as well as in brain functions such as learning and memory, and the etiology of brain disorders. Ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes can oxidize 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC), and the oxidation derivatives 5fC and 5caC can be further catalyzed by thymine DNA glycosylase in conjunction with base excision repair. Recent data suggest that 5fC and 5caC could represent active DNA demethylation at enhancers and promoters, giving us a new perspective on cytosine modification–dependent regulatory mechanisms. Here we describe general aspects of the epigenetic regulation of gene activity by active DNA demethylation and then discuss the latest research into 5fC and 5caC. Finally, we discuss the potential roles of 5fC and 5caC in brain development and the need for further scientific investigation.
Pedagogy and tools for teaching parallel computing at the sophomore undergraduate level

As the need for multicore-aware programmers rises in both science and industry, Computer Science departments in universities around the USA are having to rethink their parallel computing curriculum. At Rice University, this rethinking took the shape of COMP 322, an introductory parallel programming course that is required for all Bachelors students. COMP 322 teaches students to reason about the behavior of parallel programs, educating them in both the high level abstractions of task-parallel programming as well as the nitty gritty details of working with threads in Java.In this paper, we detail the structure, principles, and experiences of COMP 322, gained from 6 years of teaching parallel programming to second-year undergraduates. We describe in detail two particularly useful tools that have been integrated into the curriculum: the HJlibparallel programming library and the Habanero Autograder for parallel programs. We present this work with the hope that it will help augment improvements to parallel computing education at other universities. An overview of parallel computing pedagogy at Rice University, including a unique approach to incrementally teaching parallel programming: from abstract parallel concepts to hands-on experience with industry-standard frameworks.A description of the HJlib parallel programming library and its applicability to parallel programming education.A description of the motivation, design, and implementation of the Habanero Autograder, a tool for providing automated and immediate feedback to students on programming assignments.A discussion of unexpected benefits from using the Habanero Autograder as part of Rice Universitys core parallel computing curriculum.
Rat Pup Ultrasonic Isolation Calls and the Benzodiazepine Receptor

Since their first description by Anderson (1954), rodent ultrasonic vocalizations have been noted in three social contexts. Adult rats in aggressive encounters emit short (3–55 msec), high frequency (40–70 kHz) pulses when attacking and longer (300–500 msec), lower frequency (22–30 kHz) calls during submission (Sales, 1972). In addition, following ejaculation, male rats embark on a long (1–3 sec) 22 kHz “song” which is associated with the refractory period between ejaculations (Barfield and Geyer, 1972). Finally, in the young of a wide variety of myomorph rodents, ultrasonic calls have been described in association with social isolation (reviewed by Sales and Pye, 1974). These calls, variously denoted as “isolation calls” or “distress vocalizations,” are the focus of this chapter. We will briefly review some of the factors influencing these calls before describing several pharmacologic studies designed to test the hypothesis that these calls are mediated by the brain benzodiazepine receptor.
Intergroup Bias and New CEO Turnover

We develop a theory of intergroup bias to predict that difference between a new CEO and incumbent directors in gender and race increases the likelihood of new CEO turnover. Moreover, because prior ...
Appropriateness vs value: Echocardiography in primary care.

Background Despite efforts targeting the growth of healthcare spending within the United States, the current increase in expenditures remains a widespread systemic issue. The overuse of healthcare testing has previously been identified as a modifiable contributing factor. One such test, echocardiography, has seen a continuous increase in its rate of use. This test is frequently ordered by primary-care physicians. Hypothesis In the setting of a low likelihood of disease, echocardiography does not substantially change cardiac therapy, even if appropriately ordered. Methods We randomly identified 500 patients who received an echocardiogram ordered by a primary-care physician between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014. Of these, 239 patient charts were reviewed and the following extracted: primary indication for the test, echocardiogram results, and changes in patient medical management. In addition, appropriateness of the test was assessed using the appropriate use criteria guidelines for echocardiography. Results Nearly 97% of the studies within the ambulatory primary-care setting were appropriately ordered according to the appropriate use criteria. Among the 239 patients studied, only 52 had abnormalities and only 6 (2.5%) experienced a change in management that corresponded with the initial suspected diagnosis and echocardiographic findings. Conclusions To ensure the greatest value and optimize use of diagnostic testing, it may be necessary to develop a more comprehensive set of guidelines to assist clinicians to readily identify patient populations at low, moderate, and high risk for the presence of disease and provide educational interventions, including feedback regarding individual ordering behaviors.
Kinetic Mechanism of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase is a chromatin-associated enzyme which, in the presence of fragmented DNA, assembles branched homopolymers from the ADP-ribose moiety of NAD (reviewed in [1]). Fragmented DNA is an essential activator of the polymerase and is not modified by the reaction. This report presents data related to the kinetic mechanism of DNA activation of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.
Correction to: Cranial MR-guided Focused Ultrasound for Essential Tremor : Technical Considerations and Image Guidance.

Correction to: Clin Neuroradiol 2018 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-018-0709-x The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The tagging of the name J. Levi Chazen was incorrect. The correct information is given …
Towards an Educational Music Processor for Folk and Popular Musics

This paper describes an educational musical processor that takes spectrographic data of a sonic object and turns them into a series of meaningful layers associated with different musical knowledge representations, in such a way that it can be understood, reproduced, played, compared, and taught by everyone across cultures, regardless of their musical backgrounds. Any music audio file can be used as input. Within the scope of this paper, the authors focus on processing of musical audio files onto common graphic platform of physical sound properties, in Hertz, Decibels, and milliseconds, so that culturally dependent musical units such as notes, beats, measures, phrases, chords, and sections can be viewed in separate layers. Syntactic techniques, such as frequency of occurrences, and adjacency are applied to musical units, such as pitches and musical chords. They are key pitches in context and key chords in context. The results are then mapped onto circles of fifths which reveal distinct patterns of each song, each section of one song, of each artist, each genre, and each culture. Semi-automatic generation of layers of annotations on top of the spectrogram helps teachers to quickly discover and/or compare distinctive features of a song, while preparing lessons. Learners of all levels can choose the most prominent patterns of the song to learn. This can also advance methods for preservation for further studies of sonic objects in the future.
Abstract WP390: Misdiagnosis of Cervicocephalic Artery Dissection in the Emergency Department

Introduction: Cervicocephalic artery dissection is an important cause of stroke, particularly in the young. The initial presentation of cervicocephalic artery dissection can resemble benign neurolo...
Learning to Read

Learning to read begins before formal reading instruction as young children develop oral language, listening comprehension, concepts of print, knowledge of the written symbol system, and the motivation to read. In reading instruction, children develop their understanding of the alphabetic system and apply strategies to decode unfamiliar words. Children construct meaning from text drawing upon prior knowledge and vocabulary using comprehension strategies. Reading fluency occurs when children's decoding and comprehension enables them to read with speed, accuracy, and prosody. A focus on any one aspect of learning to read should not be at the expense of an emphasis on other aspects. Learning to read is a process that happens so quickly and smoothly that it might seem almost effortless for most children. For other children, though a much smaller group, learning to read is quite effortful. For children with disabilities, learning to read includes modified individualized instructional practices. For children who are in a school system where language use is different from their home language, it includes initial reading instruction in their home language. Currently, enough is known about learning to read that reading can be made accessible to all but a very small percentage of children. Summed up briefly, all children learn to read by identifying printed words and learning how to construct meaning with the words they read. They learn sound–spelling patterns (alphabetic principle/phonics) within words and a sight-word repertoire. They learn new vocabulary and comprehension strategies. Children learn how to use their prior knowledge and relate it to the reading at hand. As children integrate these skills they become fluent readers, meaning they have speedy, accurate, and coordinated word identification and comprehension.
Experiences Flipping Academic Listening Speaking

This chapter focuses on flipping academic listening and speaking based on the basic principles that were introduced in the first three chapters. After discussing skills that are taught in an academic listening and speaking course, one of the authors (Erik) describes his experiences flipping three different topics in this course. Drawing from the theories presented in Chaps. 1– 3, this chapter describes how listening to authentic podcasts, giving formal presentations, and improving phonological awareness may be flipped to support the development of students’ listening comprehension and speaking abilities. Lessons are developed using concepts from Bloom’s revised taxonomy. Students engage in less cognitively demanding skills at home (e.g., definition, comprehension) and higher-order thinking skills (e.g., analysis, synthesis, evaluation) in the classroom.
Realism with Gaze-Appeal: Lenin, Children, and Photomontage

During the first decade after the Russian Revolution, the new Soviet state went through a major mediatization campaign. Deploying various genres and platforms, the state created a diverse network of institutions and mechanisms that could represent and disseminate important Communist ideas and concepts. The essay explores only one dimension of this campaign: the radical turn towards the optical in the early Soviet media. More specifically, it traces the transformation of photomontage by looking closely at a distinctive genre of the illustrated book: the so-called Leniniana for children. Lenin’s death in 1924 generated a wave of publications for children in which their own stories, recollections, and poetry about the leader were accompanied with texts written by adults. Often, these textual collages were interspersed with photo-illustrations and photomontages that prominently featured Lenin surrounded by children. Amalgamating ideology, text, painterly devices, and photographic images, photomontages in children’s literature offered convincing visual models of plausible belonging and connectedness for the young reader: realist and spectacular at the same time. As the essay suggests, the 1924-25 memorial media campaign was instrumental in merging the abstract language of the Russian avant-garde with the concrete visual idioms of the documentary photography. In the memorial books, the Communist abstraction was concretized: the utopian future found its embodiment in multiple images of the first Soviet generation.
A Joint Optimization Approach of LiDAR-Camera Fusion for Accurate Dense 3-D Reconstructions

Fusing data from LiDAR and camera is conceptually attractive because of their complementary properties. For instance, camera images are of higher resolution and have colors, while LiDAR data provide more accurate range measurements and have a wider field of view. However, the sensor fusion problem remains challenging since it is difficult to find reliable correlations between data of very different characteristics (geometry versus texture, sparse versus dense). This letter proposes an offline LiDAR-camera fusion method to build dense, accurate 3-D models. Specifically, our method jointly solves a bundle adjustment problem and a cloud registration problem to compute camera poses and the sensor extrinsic calibration. In experiments, we show that our method can achieve an average accuracy of 2.7 mm and resolution of 70 points/cm 2 by comparing to the ground truth data from a survey scanner. Furthermore, the extrinsic calibration result is discussed and shown to outperform the state-of-the-art method.
Logic Synthesis of Approximate Circuits

The ability of several important application domains to tolerate inexactness or approximations in a large fraction of their computations has lead to the advent of approximate computing , a new design paradigm that exploits the intrinsic error-resilient nature to optimize computing platforms for energy and performance. A promising approach to approximate computing is to design approximate circuits, or circuit implementations that are highly efficient but differ in functionality from their original specifications subject to a prespecified quality constraint. While a slew of manual design techniques for approximate circuits have demonstrated their significant potential, a key requirement for their mainstream adoption is to develop automatic methodologies and tools that are general and scalable to any given circuit and quality specification. In this article, we propose SALSA, a systematic methodology for automatic logic synthesis of approximate circuits. Given a golden RTL specification of a circuit and a quality constraint that defines the amount of error that may be introduced in the implementation, SALSA synthesizes an approximate version of the circuit that adheres to the prespecified quality bounds. We make two key contributions: 1) the rigorous formulation of the problem of approximate logic synthesis (ALS), enabling the generation of circuits that is corrected by construction and 2) mapping the problem of approximate synthesis into an equivalent traditional logic synthesis problem, thereby allowing the capabilities of existing synthesis tools to be fully utilized for ALS. In order to achieve these benefits, SALSA forms a virtual quality constraint circuit (QCC) that encodes the quality constraints using logic functions called Q-functions . It then captures the flexibility that engendered by them as approximation don’t cares (ADCs), which are used for circuit simplification using traditional don’t care-based optimization techniques. We utilized SALSA to automatically synthesize approximate circuits ranging from arithmetic building blocks (adders, multipliers, and MAC) to entire datapaths (DCT, FIR, IIR, SAD, FFT Butterfly, and Euclidean distance), demonstrating scalability and significant improvements in area ( $1.1\times $ to $1.85\times $ for tight error constraints, and $1.2\times $ to $4.75\times $ for relaxed error constraints) and power ( $1.15\times $ to $1.75\times $ for tight error constraints, and $1.3\times $ to $5.25\times $ for relaxed error constraints).
FM Noise Waveforms Optimized According to a Temporal Template Error (TTE) Metric

It has recently been shown that a form of pulse agility involving FM noise waveforms provides tremendous flexibility and design freedom to realize physical emissions for multiple different radar applications. The design of such waveforms tends to involve random initialization followed by optimization according to the error between a waveform's spectral content and a desired frequency-domain template. In contrast, here the spectral envelope is fixed and the optimization relies on the error relative to a desired temporal template (e.g. a constant amplitude pulse). It is demonstrated in simulation as well as experimentally in loopback that this temporal template error (TTE) approach provides sidelobe and spectral containment performance that is generally superior to previous frequency template forms and other FM noise design schemes.
Research and Development on Therapeutic Agents and Vaccines for COVID-19 and Related Human Coronavirus Diseases

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, this disease has spread rapidly around the globe. Considering the potential threat of a pandemic, scien...
Skill labor shortage in construction industry in Batticaloa

Skilled laborer is a key and primary resource that has a direct impact on the success of any construction company’s project. Construction companies of Sri Lanka voice on a prevailing skill shortage of the country. Therefore, the purpose of this research paper is to investigate the concept of skill labor shortage. This study analyses the present situation of the construction industry in Batticaloa with respect to skilled laborer by assessing the need to increase the number of skilled laborers and their skill level by identifying the causes and effects of the shortage of skilled labor. Recommended steps for a Systematic Literature Review have been followed in order to increase methodological rigor. The objectives of this study are to identify the current situation of the shortage of skill labor, to identify the causes of the shortage of skill labor, to identify effects of the shortage of skill labor. The research was conducted via questionnaire surveys among the randomly selected 30 number of construction company in Batticaloa. Finally found the top there causes and effects of the shortage of skill labor in Batticaloa. According to the results, after trained skill labors are shifting for another carrier, Contractor do not provide trainee to labors, Younger generation unwilling to take part in construction firm” are the main causes for the skill labor shortage and “Delay in project duration, Cost overrun and more rework” are the main effects happened due to the skill labor shortage in construction companies in Batticaloa. This research information will be very much helpful for the construction companies to identify their shortage in skill labor and its causes and effects.
Knapp: Constructing the Dynamo of Dixie: Race, Urban Planning, and Cosmopolitanism in Chattanooga, Tennessee

When, in the wake of the George Floyd killing by police in 2020, Washington (DC) mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the painting of “Black Lives Matter” on 16th Street, just north of Lafayette Square, she...
Decadal-scale evolution of the 2006 Suncook River avulsion, New Hampshire, USA

Abstract Avulsions are rare events that cause major realignments to fluvial systems and hold potential for significant societal consequences. We present a case study of an avulsion in a minimally-aggrading landscape that was influenced by long-term human modifications to a fluvial environment that was initially setup for an avulsion during regional Pleistocene deglaciation. The 2006 Suncook River avulsion in New Hampshire, USA, is a valuable example because minimal environmental management took place for a decade following the event, allowing natural processes to dominate initial fluvial responses. Geospatial data collected during this period allow for the evaluation of the short- and long-term morphological evolution of a river that experienced an avulsion. We review data from technical reports on the event and present a new synthesis of aerial imagery and topographic data highlighting key geomorphic features associated with the avulsion. These features include headcutting and widening associated with a 0.6-km long channel created by the avulsion. Downstream of the avulsion site, extensive channel filling, deposition of meter-scale sand sheets on floodplain surfaces, and development of a cutoff channel were major manifestations of the event. The initial setup for the avulsion can be traced to Pleistocene deglaciation, when glaciofluvial ridges deposited in the valley blocked a more direct route for the river and shifted the channel towards an area of shallow bedrock. Human modifications to the channel—including mill dam construction, floodplain narrowing, road development, and gravel mining—contributed to the avulsion setup by increasing superelevation and undermining the glaciofluvial deposits that had directed the river during the Holocene. The avulsion was triggered by a ~50-yr flood event following a 70-yr interval with no major floods but marked by continued human modification to the landscape. The unusual nature of the event combined with the wealth of available geospatial and hydrologic data make the Suncook River system an attractive target for future studies that can examine avulsion processes in greater detail.
Education of Infectious Diseases Fellows During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities

One of the many challenges that has befallen the Infectious Diseases and Graduate Medical Education communities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the maintenance of continued effective education and training of the future leaders of our field. With the remarkable speed and innovation that has characterized the responses to this pandemic, educators everywhere have adapted existing robust and safe learning environments to meet the needs of our learners. This paper will review distinct aspects of education and training of the Infectious Diseases fellows we believe the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted most, including mentoring, didactics, and wellness. We anticipate that several strategies developed in this context and described herein will help to inform training and best practices during the pandemic and beyond.
Predictors and Prospective Course of PANS: A Pilot Study Using Electronic Platforms for Data Collection

Objectives: Little is known about the longitudinal course of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) because existing literature is primarily cross-sectional. To begin to address thi...
NRF2 activates macropinocytosis upon autophagy inhibition.

Su et al. demonstrate that upon inhibiting autophagy, an intracellular nutrient recycling pathway, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells upregulate NRF2-mediated transcription of macropinocytosis pathway components, thereby triggering an alternate route for tumors to scavenge nutrients from extracellular sources. Accordingly, the combined inhibition of autophagy and macropinocytosis may improve cancer treatment.
A Cumulative Risk and Resilience Model of Dyslexia.

Considerable attention and legislation are currently focused on developmental dyslexia. A major challenge to these efforts is how to define and operationalized dyslexia. In this article, we argue t...
The Globalization of Finance and its Implications for Financial Stability: An Overview of the Issues

This paper provides a general overview of the impact of financial globalization on financial stability with a view to identifying sources of strength and potential vulnerabilities. Attention is focused on the benefits and risks for financial stability associated with changes in financial markets; the globalization of the banking system; and the role played by other important players in the global financial system such as pension funds, mutual funds, insurance companies, and hedge funds. The paper also examines risks to financial stability arising from current regulatory regimes.
Deleuze and Badiou on the Nature of Events

While any number of topics would serve to compare and contrast Deleuze and Badiou, this article will focus on the event. Focusing on the event serves several purposes. First, it provides a vantage point from which to elucidate a number of key topics in both philosophers. Second, while Badiou’s most recent work is already organized around his conception of the event, Deleuze’s discussion of the event is more diffuse. Thus, a discussion of the event in Deleuze will serve as heuristic to relate several of Deleuze’s (Deleuze and Guattari’s) texts. Finally, focusing on a single issue will clarify what is at stake in each conception of the event.
Cutting Edge: The Th1 Response Inhibits the Generation of Peripheral Regulatory T Cells

The possibility that effector T cells can be converted into forkhead box P3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) has potential therapeutic implications. To analyze the relationship between Th1 effectors and Tregs, we have used a model of systemic autoimmunity in which both effector and Tregs arise from a single population specific for a transgene-encoded systemic protein. In vitro, the presence of IFN-γ inhibits Treg generation during activation. Using IFN-γ reporter mice, we demonstrate that IFN-γ–producing cells tend not to develop into Tregs, and Th1 priming of T cells prior to cell transfer limits the number of forkhead box P3+ T cells generated in vivo. Moreover, transfer of IFN-γ−/− or STAT1−/− T cells resulted in an increase in the number of Tregs. These data support a role for Th1 effector molecules and transcription factors in the control of peripheral Treg generation and demonstrates the limited plasticity of Th1 populations.
A new species of the deep-sea shrimp genus Glyphocrangon A. Milne-Edwards (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Glyphocrangonidae) from the southeastern Atlantic off southern Africa

A new species of the deep-water shrimp genus Glyphocrangon A. Milne-Edwards, G. africana, is described from the southeastern Atlantic off Cape Point, South Africa. It had been previously confused with G. sculpta (Smith), but the presence of a covering of short setae on the body, antennal scale, and the last three pairs of pereopods and the different shape of the dorsolateral carinae on the second and third abdominal somites easily distinguishes the new species from G. sculpta. From another close relative G. podager Bate, G. africana is separated by the same set of the characters, as well as the sharp, spiniform intercarinal tubercles on the carapace.
A recursive filter for temporal analysis of cardiac motion

A framework for temporal analysis of left ventricular (LV) endocardial wall motion is presented. This approach uses a novel technique of two-dimensional harmonic estimation to model the periodic nature of cardiac motion. A method for flow vector computation is presented which defines a relationship between image-derived, shape-based correspondences and a more desirable, smoothly varying, set of correspondences. A sequential filter is then constructed which takes into consideration this relationship as well as knowledge of temporal trends. Experimental results for contours derived from cycles of actual cardiac magnetic resonance images are presented. Applications to the analysis of regional LV wall function are discussed. >
Phonemic Transformations: Mapping the Illusory Organization of Steady-State Vowel Sequences:

Previous research has shown that listeners presented with repeated sequences of brief steady-state vowels (30–100 msec) experience phonemic transformations (that is, illusory changes in the identity of the constituent speech sounds) and report hearing verbal forms consisting of one or more syllables rather than a succession of vowels. Often the signal is split perceptually into two simultaneous organizations differing in both timbre and phonemic content. The present studies employed sequences of eight 80-msec vowels and mapped the perceptual phonemes to acoustic phones by terminating the repeated sequence at predetermined positions and determining the last speech sound heard in the perceived verbal organization (Experiments 1 and 2). When two simultaneous organizations were heard, they were both mapped (Experiments 2 and 3). It was found that: (1) all listeners reported hearing a polysyllabic verbal organization together with either a noise-like non-linguistic residue or a second verbal organization; (2) ...
Visceral afferent and different fibers in sacral ventral roots in cats

Abstract (1) It was demonstrated by electrophysiological techniques that a few afferent fibers of pelvic nerve origin enter the spinal cord through sacral ventral roots in the cat. These fibers were activated by receptors in the bladder and rectal walls. Somatic afferent fibers in the sacral ventral roots were also identified. (2) Fibers of pelvic nerve origin in sacral ventral roots and conducting at velocities from approximately 15 to 50 m/sec represent only a very small proportion of the total population of pelvic nerve fibers. The conduction velocities were similar to those of dorsal root fibers derived from the pelvic nerve and it is suggested that these fast conducting fibers are the afferent fibers now demonstrated, and not parasympathetic preganglionic axons. (3) Previous conclusions derived from single unit studies regarding the distribution of conduction velocities in parasympathetic preganglionic axons were fully confirmed by a careful analysis of ventral root volleys.
A simple power control technique

An open-loop power control technique that establishes a linear relationship between a d.c. control voltage and the average load voltage is described. The output voltage is insensitive to input a.c. line voltage fluctuations as well as variations in supply frequency. The control output is versatile enough to drive a semiconductor on/off switch or an s.c.r. bridge operating either as a rectifier or as an inverter.
The UNL trichromatic colorimeter

The UNL trichromatic colorimeter was designed to perform color-matching experiments under a range of stimulus conditions. The colorimeter can be set up with a conventional 10° structure-free bipartite viewing field (either horizontally or vertically bisected) but can also be configured for field sizes as large as 102° (wide) × 50° (high), and depth cues can be introduced into the viewing field. This article documents the construction and performance of the apparatus, including the structural components, light sources, optics, filters, and instrumentation. Maxwell method CMFs measured at a homogeneous 10° horizontally bisected field are reported with results that compare favorably with CMFs reported by Thornton under similar stimulus conditions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 30, 209–220, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.20109
Global correlation of mesoscale ocean variability with seafloor roughness from satellite altimetry

Both seafloor bathymetry and eddy kinetic energy at the ocean surface can be estimated by making use of satellite altimeters. Comparing the two quantities shows that in regions of the ocean deeper than about 4800 m, surface eddy kinetic energy is greater over smooth abyssal plains than over rough bathymetry, while the opposite is true in shallower waters. Thus in the deep ocean, bottom roughness may dissipate eddy kinetic energy. A simple model indicates that the dissipation rate increases as root-mean-squared bottom roughness increases from 0 to 250 m and decreases to negative values (implying eddy generation) for higher roughness.
The effect of ketamine and nitrous oxide on the human pupillary light reflex during general anesthesia.

Abstract The neurotransmitters and receptor types involved in the afferent arm of the human pupillary light reflex are unknown. We hypothesized that the pupillary light reflex is mediated in part by NMDA receptors and that it would be depressed by the NMDA antagonists, nitrous oxide and ketamine. To study this question, sixteen patients received general anesthesia with desflurane, fentanyl, and muscular relaxation with rocuronium. After a stable level of general anesthesia had been obtained and at least 1 h after the start of the surgical procedure, ketamine 1 mg/kg (N = 8) or saline (N = 8) was injected intravenously by random selection. Heart rate, pupil size, pupillary light reflex, BIS scores, and blood pressure were measured every 2 min before and for 30 min after drug administration. A similar study of sixteen patients was then conducted with either addition of 60% nitrous oxide or 60% nitrogen to the gas mixture. We observed that the pupillary light reflex was depressed by ketamine and nitrous oxide by approximately 50%. The BIS score, representing the processed electroencephalogram, was elevated by ketamine and unchanged with nitrous oxide. Heart rate, pupil size, and blood pressure were unchanged by the drugs when compared to the control groups. We conclude that the two NMDA antagonists ketamine and nitrous oxide depress the human pupillary light reflex during general anesthesia whereas other monitored parameters were either unchanged or paradoxically elevated by the drugs. These findings present evidence that glutamate NMDA receptor activation is involved in generating the human pupillary light reflex.
The use and effects of vital fluorescent dyes: observation of motor nerve terminals and satellite cells in living frog muscles.

Several different fluorescent mitochondrial dyes were tested as vital stains for motor nerve terminals and other cells in frog skeletal muscles. It was found that 3,3′diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide and 4-(4-diethylaminostyryl)-N-methylpyridinium iodide were most useful. Both dyes labelled motor nerve terminals with high reliability. Electrophysiological and morphological control experiments showed that these dyes could be used to repeatedly observe neuromuscular junctions in living animals without affecting synaptic growth or remodelling. The importance of appropriate controls was emphasized by the finding that illumination, if excessively intense or prolonged, can cause physiological and structural damage to nerve terminals. Additional observations indicated that these dyes may be useful for determining the mitochondrial content, and therefore oxidative capacity, of living muscle fibres. It was also found that the fluorescent dyes labelled cells identified as muscle satellite cells, and that these myoblast precursors could be visualized in fixed whole mounts with a nitroblue tetrazolium stain. Both methods were used to study reactive cells that were closely associated with muscle fibres in lesioned muscles. Mitochondrial dyes also labelled the microvasculature, associated axons and other cells.
Hydatid cyst embolization to the pulmonary artery: CT and MR features

Hydatid cyst embolization to the pulmonary arteries is rare especially in the Western regions of the world. However, it can be mistaken for pulmonary embolism based on the similar clinical manifestations of cough, hemoptysis, and acute onset of chest pain. We report a case of a 32-year-old man presenting with these symptoms who was initially suspected of having pulmonary embolism. Subsequent imaging with CT and MR revealed hepatic hydatid cyst embolization to the pulmonary arteries. The significance of this case lies in the recognition of the unique radiologic features of pulmonary hydatid cyst embolization on CT and MR imaging to differentiate this entity from bland pulmonary thromboembolic disease.
Community-living elder's views on normal and low weight.

Objectives: To investigate community-living older adult’s understanding of normal and low weight.Design: Cross-sectional exploratory.Setting: Three counties in the Western United States.Participants: Community-living older adults (n=130), aged 65 and older, with a body mass index (BMI) <24 kg/m2.Measument: Interviews, using semi-structured questions, were analyzed using content analysis.Results: Only 22% (n=28) of the participants reported knowing the normal weight range for their age, and even fewer (2%, n=3) knew what a low weight was for their age. Most (n=125) reported receiving no information from their health care provider (HCP) on normal and low weight for their age.Conclusion: The majority of the participants were unaware that they were at-risk for poor nutritional status and low weight; they reported receiving little information from their HCP on preventing weight loss. Since most community-living older adults do not know what normal or low weight is for their age, they would benefit from receiving this information from their HCP.Rationale: Knowledge of older adults’ views on normal and low weight may lead to early identification of weight problems and improve an older adult’s nutritional status.
An expert system for manufacturing cell control

Abstract An expert control system was designed to control an unmanned manufacturing cell in order to meet the operational requirements of a cellular Manufacturing System (CMS). In this paper, a knowledge-based three-layer control concept was used to build the cell control system. This cell control system is built to include workers' experience and problem handling ability. The cell control algorithms and heuristics are based on the pull system control principle. A Petri net is used to generate the cell control algorithm. The structure of the control system and the application of the Petri net method will be demonstrated.
Influence of volumes of prostate, rectum, and bladder on treatment planning CT on interfraction prostate shifts during ultrasound image-guided IMRT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between prostate, bladder, and rectum volumes on treatment planningCT day and prostate shifts in the X Y Z directions on treatment days. Methods: Prostate, seminal vesicles, bladder, and rectum were contoured on CTimages obtained in supine position. Intensity modulated radiation therapy plans was prepared. Contours were exported to BAT-ultrasound imaging system. Patients were positioned on the couch using skin marks. An ultrasound probe was used to obtain ultrasoundimages of prostate, bladder, and rectum, which were aligned with CTimages. Couch shifts in the X Y Z directions as recommended by BAT system were made and recorded. 4698 couch shifts for 42 patients were analyzed to study the correlations between interfraction prostate shifts vs bladder, rectum, and prostate volumes on planning CT. Results: Mean and range of volumes (cc): Bladder: 179 (42–582), rectum: 108 (28–223), and prostate: 55 (21–154). Mean systematic prostate shifts were (cm, ±SD) right and left lateral: − 0.047 ± 0.16 (−0.361–0.251), anterior and posterior: 0.14 ± 0.3 (−0.466–0.669), and superior and inferior: 0.19 ± 0.26 (−0.342–0.633). Bladder volume was not correlated with lateral, anterior/posterior, and superior/inferior prostate shifts ( P > 0.2 ) . Rectal volume was correlated with anterior/posterior ( P 0.001 ) but not with lateral and superior/inferior prostate shifts ( P > 0.2 ) . The smaller the rectal volume or cross sectional area, the larger was the prostate shift anteriorly and vice versa ( P 0.001 ) . Prostate volume was correlated with superior/inferior ( P 0.05 ) but not with lateral and anterior/posterior prostate shifts ( P > 0.2 ) . The smaller the prostate volume, the larger was prostate shift superiorly and vice versa ( P 0.05 ) . Conclusions: Prostate and rectal volumes, but not bladder volumes, on treatment planningCT influenced prostate position on treatment fractions. Daily image-guided adoptive radiotherapy would be required for patients with distended or empty rectum on planning CT to reduce rectal toxicity in the case of empty rectum and to minimize geometric miss of prostate.
Engineered wetland: A water treatment option

Constructed wetlands are engineered land treatment systems that utilize natural processes to improve water quality. A system that consists primarily of vegetation, aquatic organisms, soils and microbes is designed to assist in treating wastewater by taking advantage of the same process that occur in nature, but in a more controlled setting. Successful and sustainable planning and management of an engineered wetland (EWL) will be highly influenced by the degree of understanding of not only the natural processes that occur in the EWL, but many other equally important elements and how these elements work jointly. Engineered weland has an input--namely influent wastewater, treatment process--and an output effluent. The treatment process becomes more complete when the wastewater has many constituents, some of which may be specific to a certain industry or source. It is essential to ascertain a reliable characterization of water quality and quantity over temporal and spatial variations, and the impact of these ...
Role of the Propeptide in Controlling Conformation and Assembly State of Hepatitis B virus e-antigen

Hepatitis B virus "e-antigen" (HBeAg) is thought to be a soluble dimeric protein that is associated with chronic infection. It shares 149 residues with the viral capsid protein "core-antigen" (HBcAg), but has an additional 10-residue, hydrophobic, cysteine-containing amino-terminal propeptide whose presence correlates with physical, serological, and immunological differences between the two proteins. In HBcAg dimers, the subunits pair by forming a four-helix bundle stabilized by an intermolecular disulfide bond. The structure of HBeAg is probably similar but, instead, has two intramolecular disulfide bonds involving the propeptide. To compare the proteins directly and thereby clarify the role of the propeptide, we identified mutations and solution conditions that render both proteins as either soluble dimers or assembled capsids. Thermally induced unfolding monitored by circular dichroism, and electrophoresis of oxidized and reduced dimers, showed that the propeptide has a destabilizing effect and that the intramolecular disulfide bond forms preferentially and blocks the formation of the intermolecular disulfide bond that otherwise stabilizes the dimer. The HBeAg capsids are less regular than the HBcAg capsids; nevertheless, cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions confirm that they are constructed of dimers resembling those of HBcAg capsids. In them, a portion of the propeptide is visible near the dimer interface, suggesting that it intercalates there, consistent with the known formation of a disulfide bond between C(-7) in the propeptide and C61 in the dimer interface. However, this intercalation distorts the dimer into an assembly-reluctant conformation.
Parent and teen agreement on driving expectations prior to teen licensure

OBJECTIVES: To examine pre-licensure agreement on driving expectations and predictors of teen driving expectations among parent-teen dyads. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 163 parent-teen dyads. Descriptive statistics, weighted Kappa coefficients, and linear regression were used to examine expectations about post-licensure teen driving. RESULTS: Teens reported high pre-licensure unsupervised driving (N = 79, 48.5%) and regular access to a car (N = 130, 81.8%). Parents and teens had low agreement on teen driving expectations (eg, after dark, κw = 0.23). Each time teens currently drove to/from school, their expectation of driving in risky conditions post-licensure increased (β = 0.21, p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-licensure improvement of parent-teen agreement on driving expectations are needed to have the greatest impact on preventing teens from driving in high risk conditions. Language: en
An improved In Vitro assay for Lymphotoxin

Abstract An In Vitro Microassay for Lymphotoxin (LT) is described. Target cell monolayers are established in the wells of a microtiter assay plate at a density of 100–500/well. Dilutions of Lymphotoxin containing medium are placed upon the target cell monolayers. The plates are sealed with a gas impervious film, and the cells are incubated for 24–48 hr. The cell numbers in each well are established initially, and after the incubation period. The percent destruction is based upon total cell counts of experimental wells compared to control wells. Comparison of the assay to the previously described assay, which is based upon ability of cells to incorporate 14 C amino acids into protein, with several batches of LT, shows the microassay to be 25 × more sensitive than the latter. Other advantages and disadvantages of the assay system are also described.
Market Share and Customers’ Perceptions of Quality: When Can Firms Grow Their Way to Higher versus Lower Quality?:

Market share can influence perceived quality through several different mechanisms, including signaling, creating network externalities, and inclusion as an attribute in consumers’ quality functions...
Minimal trees of given search number

Abstract A recurrence relation and asymptotic estimate for the number of minimal trees of given search number are derived. In addition, a language for describing these trees and structures within them is developed. Their automorphisms groups are also discussed.
Effects of regional integration on FDI: An empirical approach

Abstract This study uses an augmented gravity model to capture the effect of regional economic integration on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows in the cases of the EU, NAFTA, MERCOSUR, and ASEAN. Three important conclusions emerge: (i) regional integration has had a positive and significant effect on FDI, which is a combination of investment creation and diversion; (ii) investment diversion does occur in a significant number of cases, and hence it is a legitimate cause for concern, especially among developing countries that are not part of a regional grouping with at least one developed country; and (iii) FDI acts as a substitute for trade in a significant number of cases, although in some cases, it complements trade.