cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance evaluation of automatic object detection with post-processing schemes under enhanced measures in wide-area aerial imagery

Performance analysis of object detection combined with post-processing schemes are challenging especially that the spatial resolution of images is low in wide-area aerial imagery. In this paper, we present the quantitative results of ten object detection algorithms combined with several post-processing schemes including filtered dilation, heuristic filtering, sieving and closing, a three-stage scheme which involves thresholding with respect to area and compactness, and the proposed scheme of median filtering, opening and closing, followed by linear Gaussian filtering with nonmaximum suppression. We verified the sieving and closing as well as the three-stage scheme display better Fβ-score and PASCAL value via four vehicle detection algorithms. We evaluated combinations of ten object detection and segmentation methods with two post-processing schemes by adopting a set of recent evaluation metrics, i.e., Jaccard Index (JI), Fbw measure, the structure similarity measure (SSIM) and the enhanced alignment measure (EAM). Automatic detection outputs are compared with their ground truth in low-resolution aerial datasets. Classified detection results are established on ten algorithms each combined with the selected post-processing schemes. We take two widely used datasets (VIVID and VEDAI) for performance analysis, compare the detections and time cost of each algorithm either without or with the proposed scheme, and verified our approach via replacing either datasets or algorithms. Quantitative evaluation under a set of enhanced measures proves our test with validity, efficiency, and accuracy.
ExoReL${}^{{\mathfrak{R}}}$: A Bayesian Inverse Retrieval Framework for Exoplanetary Reflected Light Spectra

The high-contrast imaging technique is meant to provide insight into those planets orbiting several astronomical units from their host star. Space missions such as Wide-Field InfraRed Survey Telescope, Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission, and Large Ultra-Violet/Optical/InfraRed Surveyor will measure reflected light spectra of cold gaseous and rocky planets. To interpret these observations, we introduce EXOREL^R (Exoplanetary Reflected Light Retrieval), a novel Bayesian retrieval framework to retrieve cloud properties and atmospheric structures from exoplanetary reflected light spectra. As a unique feature, it assumes a vertically nonuniform volume mixing ratio (VMR) profile of water and ammonia, and uses it to construct cloud densities. In this way, clouds and molecular mixture ratios are consistent. We apply EXOREL^R on three test cases: two exoplanets (υ And e and 47 Uma b) and Jupiter. We show that we are able to retrieve the concentration of methane in the atmosphere, and estimate the position of clouds when the signal-to-noise ratio of the spectrum is higher than 15, in line with previous works. Moreover, we described the ability of our model to give a chemical identity to clouds, and we discussed whether or not we can observe this difference in the planetary reflection spectrum. Finally, we demonstrate how it could be possible to retrieve molecular concentrations (water and ammonia in this work) below the clouds by linking the nonuniform VMR profile to the cloud presence. This will help to constrain the concentration of water and ammonia unseen in direct measurements.
Clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in patients older than sixty: An age-based analysis.

Abstract Objective The diagnosis of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) is being made more frequently in elderly patients. The goal of this study is to evaluate complications and clinical outcome in patients ≥ 60 years-old who underwent clipping of UIAs. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study. Clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale score) was determined at the latest clinical follow-up. Complications and outcomes were compared between age groups (60–69, 70–80) and subgroups (60–64, 65–69, 70–74, and >75). Results The study population consisted of 255 patients (range 60–80 years-old) who underwent 262 clipping procedures for UIAs. Mean follow-up duration was 15.6 months (± 27.5). Major complications occurred in 20 patients (7.6%) and mortality in 3 patients (1.1%). Medical complications occurred in 26 patients (10%). Mean length of hospital-stay was 4.7 days (± 5.8). 89.6% were discharged to home. 87.8% had a favorable clinical outcome. The 70–80 age group had significantly more complications (P = 0.03) than the 60–69 group and a significantly longer hospital stay (6.02 vs. 4.3 days, P = 0.04). The older group was less likely to discharge to home and more likely to require rehabilitation (P = 0.002). Favorable clinical outcome did not significantly differ between the two groups (85.7% vs. 88.4%, P = 0.56). There was a trend for increasing complications from the younger to older subgroups (P = 0.008) and a reduction in the likelihood to discharge to home (P Conclusion Although complications, length of hospital-stay, and discharge to non-home destinations increase with older age, the majority of patients ≥ 60 may have favorable clinical outcomes.
Task #5: Treatment Process for Reusing and Recycling Produced Water

Hydraulic fracturing operations produce large amounts of produced water which is generally disposed of in deep-injection wells. A treatment process was designed to process this water into a clean brine that is suitable for reuse within hydraulic fracturing operations, and to prevent the potential contamination of groundwater and increased seismic activity, a concern associated with deep well injection. Sand filtration and coagulation/flocculation with dissolved air floatation (DAF) are both used in water treatment to remove solids and other impurities. These were both tested experimentally to determine if they can treat large amounts of produced water with economical costs. Coagulation/flocculation with a DAF unit was more effective at creating a clean brine that could be reused in hydraulic fracturing than the sand filtration. The designed bench apparatus produced a clean brine with a turbidity of 5.8 NTU and 0.42 mg/L of total organic carbon compared with specifications in the task statement of 25 NTU and 30 mg/L. A treatment process was developed with this technology that will process 20,000 bbl/day of produced water, with the ability to be scaled up to 100,000 bbl/day, with a fixed capital investment (FCI) of $3.2 million and an annual operating cost of $2.02/m3 of produced water treated.
The dialectics of indexical semiosis: scaling up and out from the “actual” to the “virtual”

Conventional indexicality is semiotically effective when regimented by its meta-indexical (or “metapragmatic”) interpretant, a conceptual scheme presumed upon by participants in communication that determines the categories of possibility for a relevant “here-and-now” of indexically signaled co-presence, just as, conversely, such an interpretant is an emergent consequence of the sign’s pointing to its object. In the more general case of non-denotational indexicality – forms indicating everything from perduring demographic characteristics of participants in interaction to their role incumbencies, voicings of identity, and momentary relational attitudes and affects (loosely termed “stances”) – the culture – and thus group-specific metapragmatics (or “ethno-metapragmatics”) is central to how indexicals entail the mutual (il)legibility of interlocutors and the (in)coherence of interactional projects in which they are engaged, the “interactional text” of what is happening. This inherent metapragmatic functionality of models of indexical signs and their contexts is, in general, itself influenced by genres of metapragmatic discourse about social life that “circulate” among networks of people who participate in certain sites of sociality. Such “circulation” is a virtual reality that comes into being via chains of interdiscursivity, allowing us to imagine an “ideological” plane with its own order of virtual semiotic dialectic that, notwithstanding, we experience in actual interactional context by its effects on the ever-changing what and how of indexicality.
An Analysis of the Strategic Planning Process at Large Hub Airports in the United States

The focus of this research study was to test the theory of strategic planning in relation to the nation’s 31 large hub airports. Strategic planning is reported to increase an organization’s performance, operations, and overall effectiveness. Strategic planning has been used in the private and public sectors for decades. Airports are an often over-looked industry falling uniquely between the public and private sectors. The 31 large hub airports have a significant impact on the nation’s economy and are the main catalyst for air transportation in the United States. Therefore, it is prudent to study this industry, and to determine the overall effectiveness of strategic planning for airports. The research indicates that large hub airports regularly engage in strategic planning and the plans they have developed and implemented have had a positive impact on the airport’s overall performance and effectiveness.
Moduli for Spherical Minimal Immersions

Let V be a Euclidean vector space. A map f : S m → SV is conformal if $$ \left\langle {{f_*}({X_x}),{f_*}({Y_x})} \right\rangle = c(x)\left\langle {{X_x},{Y_x}} \right\rangle , {X_x},{Y_x} \in {T_x}({S^m}), x \in {S^m}, $$ (3.1.1) for some positive function c : S m → R, called the conformality factor.
Pneumococcal Vaccines: Manufacture and Quality Control for Product Release

The first industrially produced pneumococcal polysaccharide (PS) vaccine was made under contract from NIAID to Eli Lilly and Company. The source of the strains for this vaccine was the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), which in essence generated, characterized, and maintained the master seeds. Pneumococcal identity testing should include analyses of colony morphology, Gram staining, and the ability of the organism to ferment insulin and to be lysed in the bile solubility test, as well as its sensitivity to optochin. Personnel involved with production and control should be satisfactorily trained on the standard operating procedures for dealing with emergencies arising from accidental spillage, leakage, or other possible events that may disseminate pneumococcal organisms. All these personnel should maintain records of this training and include records of being vaccinated with a licensed pneumococcal vaccine. PS identification can take the form of a serological method using type-specific antisera. The assay should not only identify the specific type of the PS but also rule out that the PS reacts with any of the other sera, thus demonstrating specificity. Nuclear magnetic resonance is being employed on an ever-increasing scale, not only to identify, characterize, and quantify the particular PS but also to monitor each lot for various impurities, such as the most frequent contaminant, the C-polysaccharide. The efficacy and effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have been difficult to establish with well-controlled clinical trials and will become more complicated in the future.
A microRNA expression signature for the prognosis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Unlike most other types of head and neck cancer, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has many unique characteristics, including its strong association with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection 1. Epidemiologic studies indicate that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer occurs commonly in patients of younger age, with higher numbers of sex partners, more oral sex exposure, and lower smoking rates 1–4. Previous studies also show that oropharyngeal cancer patients with HPV infection generally have more favorable outcome compared to those without HPV infection 3–7. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this divergence in disease outcome are largely unknown. Although the overall incidence of head and neck cancer has decreased steadily in the past decades, the number of reported oropharyngeal cancer cases has increased significantly 8, 9. Thus, there is an urgent need to focus specifically on oropharyngeal cancer to determine its unique characteristics with the goal of developing specific and targeted treatments. Currently, oncologists rely primarily on tumor stage to make treatment decisions for oropharyngeal cancer. In recent years, the HPV status of oropharyngeal cancer has also been proposed as a promising prognostic marker and treatment factor 3–7. In this study, we investigated the prognostic value of microRNAs (miRNAs) for oropharyngeal cancer. miRNAs are a family of small non-coding RNAs that suppress the expression of their gene targets 10. About one thousand human miRNAs have been identified to date. Both computational and experimental studies indicate that thousands of human protein-coding genes are directly regulated by miRNAs 11–13. Thus, miRNAs function as master regulators for many important biological processes, including cell growth, apoptosis, viral infection, cancer initiation and progression 10, 14–17. Previous studies show that miRNA expression signatures are promising biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of a wide array of human cancers 18, 19. However, the prognostic value of miRNAs in oropharyngeal cancer has not been investigated to date. Relevant to our study, recent studies show that miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in head and neck cancer cell lines as well as in tumor tissues as compared to normal tissues 20–24. In addition, altered miRNA expression has also been reported in relation to HPV expression in cancer cell lines 25. These miRNA studies focused primarily on the early diagnosis of head and neck cancer, but not the prediction of disease outcome. More importantly, all these studies were performed using heterogeneous tumor tissues or cell lines from multiple types of head and neck cancer. It is now evident that oropharyngeal cancer has many unique characteristics that are distinct from other head and neck cancers. Thus, these published results may not be applicable to oropharyngeal cancer. To avoid these pitfalls, we focused our miRNA analysis exclusively on oropharyngeal SCC.
Requirements Elicitation Technique Selection: A Theory-Based Contingency Model.

Requirements elicitation has been recognized as a critical stage in system development projects, yet current models prescribing particular elicitation techniques are still limited in their development and application. This research reviews efforts aimed at addressing this, and synthesizes a common structure consisting of project contingencies, elicitation techniques, logic of fit, and a success construct, arguing for the need to more comprehensively study and organize each. As a first step in this research, models drawn from organizational literature are used to categorize project contingencies into dimensions dealing with their impact on the uncertainty and equivocality of the overall development project.
Expanding the Definition of Asian Diasporic Studies

Abstract Korean and other Asian adoptees are increasingly becoming a part of the racial landscape in the United States, although their presence is omitted or minimally addressed in Asian diasporic studies. In 1999, after 45 years of “feeling shame and a sense of guilt” (Lee, 1999, para. 3) First Lady Hee-Ho Lee marked the South Korean government's official recognition of adoptees as overseas Koreans. As involuntary immigrants, this population has both shared and unique experiences with other Korean immigrants. Current literature on Asian American acculturation, assimilation, and identity does not capture the experiences of Asian adoptees (McDonaldB MinK OysermanS Phinney et al., 2000; Tse, 1999). This article presents quantitative research that considered the constructs of ethnic and racial identity for Korean adoptees, their relationship to each other, and to the process of acculturation. This study of adoptees (N = 69), ranging in age from early-adolescence to you...
An augmented electric field integral equation formulation for dielectrics and conductors at low frequencies

A full wave integral equation method for dielectrics and conductors is developed based on the augmented electric field integral equation. This method rigorously models dielectrics and conductors to solve circuit interconnects and packaging problems. By treating the two regions rigorously and solving both the internal and external problems with the augmented electric field integral equation, accurate results for dielectrics are obtained efficiently. The conductors, however, are modeled as highly lossy dielectrics. A novel integration technique is analyzed and adopted to capture the wave properties inside the conductors. A strategy of integrating this method with the mixed-form fast multipole algorithm is presented. With the fast algorithm, more complicated, multi-scale structures with a large number of unknowns can be solved. Some numerical results show the capability of this method to solve realistic circuit problems efficiently and accurately.
Video based system monitoring

In this work we develop new algorithms for video comparison, for video alignment, and for determining the similarity between entire video clips or detecting similarities between sub-videos. The intent of this work is to develop video-based techniques for autonomous monitoring of systems in industrial, manufacturing, and research environments. We develop an algorithm, Dynamic Time and Space Warping, to determine a model-free similarity between an example and an unknown video. The algorithm optimally shifts space and warps time according to local measures of video similarity. The resulting similarity measure is an optimal path of similarity versus space and time used to optimally align or compare the two videos. We demonstrate the applicability of such similarity measures to industrial wear monitoring failure prediction, and assembly-line feedback control and to non-industrial settings with examples in sports and entertainment. We extend the similarity machinery and introduce a new technique for video event-detection. The local similarity is integrated along the optimal space-time path in order to determine a cumulative similarity. We demonstrate the applicability to content query and surveillance, we identify the temporal and spatial location inside of a large video stream which is similar to a query, or template, video. We explore applications in video classification. We investigate the performance degradation and robustness of the algorithms to noise via distortion of real examples and simulation. We develop techniques to aid engineers in the selection of a video template that is relevant to their monitoring application and locally robust to noise. We explore the structure and computational complexity of the algorithms. We demonstrate that the algorithms are highly-parallelizable and that the fast processing rates necessary for many industrial monitoring applications are achievable.
Effects of ground plane shape on performance of probe-fed, circularly polarized, pentagonal patch antenna

This paper presents the effects of square, circular and pentagonal shaped ground planes on the VWSR and axial ratio characteristics of a probe-fed, circularly polarized, pentagonal patch antenna designed on grounded dielectric (/spl epsiv//sub r/=2.2 and 4.5) substrates. The degradation of 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth with increase in substrate permittivity is emphasized here along with the effects on VSWR characteristics.
Evaporation Decay Organic Nucleus of ice Particle

Evaporation rates have been determined for two organic ice nucleus particles: 1,5-Dihydroxynaphthalene and metaldehyde aerosols, produced by powder vaporization-condensation method and by vapor activation method, respectively. The aerosols are injected into a large smoke chamber inside a walkin environmental room and allowed to evaporate under dry conditions at different temperatures. The decay rates of aerosols are determined in a mixing chamber at -15 C with intermittent sampling at predetermined time intervals. The aerosol concentration losses are compared with cumulative size distributions, and assuming that the decay proceeds from smaller sizes, lifetimes of particles for different temperatures are determined as a function of minimum size. Metaldehyde particles less than 0.6 um in diameter de- cay within 20 minutes at temperature as cold as -20 C, and 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene particles within several hours, if particle diameters are smaller than 0.2 um at the same temperature. These data are expected to provide the basis for estimating, as well as minimizing, the extent of possible downwind and environmental contamination through use of these organic ice nucleants.
Heat Shock Induction of Manganese Peroxidase Gene Transcription in Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The expression of manganese peroxidase (MnP) in nitrogen-limited cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium is regulated by heat shock at the level of gene transcription. Nitrogen limitation and manganous ion [Mn(II)] previously have been shown to regulate mnp gene transcription. Northern (RNA) blot analysis demonstrates that 45 degrees C heat shock results in the accumulation of mnp mRNA, even in cells grown in the absence of Mn. Heat shock induces mnp gene transcription in 4- or 5-day-old cells, and mnp mRNA is detectable after 15 min at 45 degrees C. Maximum accumulation of mnp mRNA is observed 1 to 2 h after transfer of cultures to 45 degrees C. Two hours after heat shock-induced cultures grown in the absence of Mn are transferred back to 37 degrees C, mnp mRNA is no longer detectable. Higher levels of mnp mRNA are obtained with simultaneous induction by Mn and heat shock than by either treatment alone. Neither MnP enzyme activity nor protein is detectable in heat-shocked cultures grown in the absence of Mn. However, higher MnP activity is found in the extracellular medium of cultures induced by both heat shock and Mn than in the medium of cultures induced by Mn alone. These results suggest that the putative heat shock elements found in the promoter region of the mnp genes are physiologically functional and that Mn may be required for a posttranscriptional step of MnP production under heat shock conditions.
Comparison of site-to-site measurement reproducibility using UK National Physical Laboratory and Austrian Research Center test sites as a reference

Twenty Radiated emission sites are compared using a sinusoidal reference transmitter in the frequency range of 30 to 1000 MHz. The data is referenced to results measured on the UK National Physical Laboratory and Austrian Research Centers reference sites. The data on nineteen site is reported in this article, the data on the one remaining was done at three meters and not comparable. Of the nineteen sites, nine performed from four to six measurements on different days and usually with different people. Statistically, the results of these nine sites show 95% of the measurements made were within +/-2.1 dB from the average of the reference sites. Test result differences in repeated EMC tests are partially caused by physical characteristics of the measurement sites and changes or differences in the measurement chain. This program has met the requirements of A2LA and NVLAP for site-to-site comparisons. Being programmable the source could be easily adaptable to "blind" proficiency assessments.
Should Sociology Departments Train Students for Careers in Evaluation? An Analysis of Evaluation Methodology Courses

This paper seeks to establish whether sociology departments should provide training in evaluation methodologies. First, the authors look at the current status of evaluation methodology courses within the offerings of sociology departments by examining course offerings from a sampling of sociology departments in doctoral and master’s level programs across the United States. The authors then discuss whether evaluation courses should be offered in sociology departments at the undergraduate, masters, or doctoral levels and whether there are career opportunities for sociologists trained in evaluation research. The authors conclude with reasons why evaluation courses should be offered within sociology departments.
Thrashing in two-phase locking revisited

The fraction of blocked transactions ( beta ) and the conflict rate, the ratio of locks held by all and active transactions, have been proposed as parameters to be monitored for load control. This study investigates the robustness of these parameters in the case of transactions requesting a variable number of locks and different processing times for transaction steps. Simulation results show that beta and the fraction of lock conflicts with blocked transactions rho both vary in a rather narrow range as transaction parameters are varied. The fact that rho is a key parameter and is suitable for implementing load control is demonstrated by developing an analytic solution method which utilizes it in an equation. Validation results show that this method is quite accurate and outperforms an earlier solution method based on two levels of transaction blocking. >
Convective transport in crustal magma bodies

Abstract Convective transport in enclosures is reviewed as it relates to magma bodies. Convective effects are discussed that are peculiar to the rheological character of magma. The large Prandtl number of magma delays onset of turbulence and causes velocity disturbances to extend far beyond the thermal boundary layer and well into the fluid core. A boundary layer analysis is used to show that convective transport in enclosed magma bodies produces an upward heat flux which can lead to migration of magma by upmelting. Multicellular convection is discussed and shown to produce upflow at the walls in cases where extensive cooling occurs at the top of the magma chamber. Multicellular convection can lead to bimodal magma systems and can also produce vertical zonation and layering. Examples of oscillatory convective circulation are given and this phenomena is discussed as a possible mechanism for eruptive cycles and for vertical zonation in magma chambers. Non-Newtonian rheology is also examined as it applies to convection in magma.
Simulation of the zero-temperature behavior of a three-dimensional elastic medium

We have performed numerical simulation of a 3-dimensional elastic medium, with scalar displacements, subject to quenched disorder. We applied an efficient combinatorial optimization algorithm to generate exact ground states for an interface representation. Our results indicate that this Bragg glass is characterized by power law divergences in the structure factor $S(k)\sim A k^{-3}$. We have found numerically consistent values of the coefficient $A$ for two lattice discretizations of the medium, supporting universality for $A$ in the isotropic systems considered here. We also examine the response of the ground state to the change in boundary conditions that corresponds to introducing a single dislocation loop encircling the system. Our results indicate that the domain walls formed by this change are highly convoluted, with a fractal dimension $d_f=2.60(5)$. We also discuss the implications of the domain wall energetics for the stability of the Bragg glass phase. As in other disordered systems, perturbations of relative strength $\delta$ introduce a new length scale $L^* \sim \delta^{-1/\zeta}$ beyond which the perturbed ground state becomes uncorrelated with the reference (unperturbed) ground state. We have performed scaling analysis of the response of the ground state to the perturbations and obtain $\zeta = 0.385(40)$. This value is consistent with the scaling relation $\zeta=d_f/2- \theta$, where $\theta$ characterizes the scaling of the energy fluctuations of low energy excitations.
Pause-and-play: automatically linking screencast video tutorials with applications

Video tutorials provide a convenient means for novices to learn new software applications. Unfortunately, staying in sync with a video while trying to use the target application at the same time requires users to repeatedly switch from the application to the video to pause or scrub backwards to replay missed steps. We present Pause-and-Play, a system that helps users work along with existing video tutorials. Pause-and-Play detects important events in the video and links them with corresponding events in the target application as the user tries to replicate the depicted procedure. This linking allows our system to automatically pause and play the video to stay in sync with the user. Pause-and-Play also supports convenient video navigation controls that are accessible from within the target application and allow the user to easily replay portions of the video without switching focus out of the application. Finally, since our system uses computer vision to detect events in existing videos and leverages application scripting APIs to obtain real time usage traces, our approach is largely independent of the specific target application and does not require access or modifications to application source code. We have implemented Pause-and-Play for two target applications, Google SketchUp and Adobe Photoshop, and we report on a user study that shows our system improves the user experience of working with video tutorials.
Age and Hodgkin's disease: the impact of competing risks and possibly salvage therapy on long term survival: an E.C.O.G. study.

Abstract A detailed review of factors associated with survival was carried out in a cohort of 560 patients treated in two successive E.C.O.G. studies on advanced Hodgkin's disease. The study was undertaken to explore the impact of age on survival and to attempt to identify reasons for any observed differences. Data from two E.C.O.G. studies of patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease were examined separately and then pooled together. A special data request form was developed to capture additional information on treatments utilized for patients who were treated at relapse. The complete remission percentages were identical in both studies (72%) with no significant difference between the three age groupings ( 60 yr). This was true as well for disease-free survival. Nevertheless, overall survival was significantly better for the under aged 40 group and this difference was narrowed but not eliminated by competing risks. Our analysis of salvage therapy revealed a marginally significant difference in the CR% between the three groups, favoring the youngest cohort ( We conclude that a variety of conditions, both age and non-age dependent, impact on the survival of patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease who fulfill the rigid criteria for entry into cooperative group trials.
Purification and Characterization of Human Hypoxanthine/Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase

Human hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) was purified from red blood cells by the following two methods. Method A includes (a) elimination of hemoglobin by DEAE-cellulose, (b) DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, (c) specific elution of the enzyme from CM-Sephadex by pyrophosphate and (d) Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. Method B includes (a) elimination of hemoglobin by DEAE-cellulose, (b) acid treatment at pH 4.5, (c) ammonium sulfate fractionation, (d) DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, (e) heat treatment at 85°C and (f) Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. Homogeneous enzyme preparation was obtained by the two methods with 8000–9000-fold purification. The sedimentation coefficient (s20, w) was 5.5–5.6 S, and the molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated at about 85000 by the sedimentation equilibrium method. The subunit molecular weight of the untreated protein and S-carboxymethylmaleyl protein was estimated as 41000–45000 by the sedimentation equilibrium method in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride. However, the subunit size estimated by the sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis was only 26000. Amino acid composition of the enzyme was determined. Glucosamine, sialic acid and hexose were not detected in the enzyme.
Frequency-domain scene-based non-uniformity correction and application to microgrid polarimeters

ABSTRACT Non-uniformity noise is common in infrared imagers, and is usually corrected through calibration, often bymomentarily blocking the optical system with a relatively uniform temperature plate. The non-uniformitypatterns also tend to drift and require periodic recalibration, necessitating occasional loss of video from the imagerduring the recalibration process. Microgrid polarimeters are especially sensitive to xed-pattern noise becausethe polarization signal is acquired by dierentiation of neighboring pixels. Scene-based algorithms attempt toalleviate the need for recalibration of the imager through image processing techniques. We introduce a newfrequency-domain scene-based non-uniformity estimation and correction technique, and apply the technique toinfrared and microgrid polarimeter imagery. The technique demonstrates promising results for shutter-assisted(recalibration) video, for microgrid polarization systems as well as most spatially modulated sensor systems.Keywords: Long-wave infrared, Polarimetry, Microgrid, Scene-BasedNon-Uniformity Correction, Fixed-PatternNoise
Postsynthetic Modification: A Versatile Approach Toward Multifunctional Metal-Organic Frameworks

An isoreticular metal-organic framework (IRMOF-3) containing 2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (NH2−BDC) as a building block is shown to undergo chemical modification with a diverse series of anhydrides and isocyanates. The modification of IRMOF-3 by these reagents has been evidenced by using a variety of methods, including NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and the structural integrity of the modified MOFs has been confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and gas sorption analysis. The results show that a variety of functional groups can be introduced onto the MOF including amines, carboxylic acids, and chiral groups. Furthermore, it is shown that tert-butyl-based asymmetric anhydrides can be used to selectively deliver chemical payloads to the IRMOF. Finally, the results demonstrate that at least four different chemical modifications can be performed on IRMOF-3 and that the reaction conditions can be modulated to control the relative abundance of each group. ...
The effects of minimum legal drinking age 21 laws on alcohol-related driving in the United States.

Abstract Objective To examine trends in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related crashes among people younger than 21 in the United States and to review evidence on the effects of minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws. Methods Trends in alcohol-related crashes and alcohol consumption among young people were examined, and studies on the effects of lowering and raising the drinking age were reviewed. Results MLDA laws underwent many changes during the 20th century in the United States. Since July 1988, the MLDA has been 21 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Surveys tracking alcohol consumption among high school students and young adults found that drinking declined since the late 1970 s, and most of the decline occurred by the early 1990 s. These were the years when states were establishing, or reinstating, a MLDA-21. Among fatally injured drivers ages 16–20, the percentage with positive BACs declined from 61% in 1982 to 31% in 1995, a bigger decline than for older age groups; declines occurred among the ages directly affected by raising MLDAs (ages 18–20) and among young teenagers not directly affected (ages 16–17). Almost all studies designed specifically to gauge the effects of drinking age changes show MLDAs of 21 reduce drinking, problematic drinking, drinking and driving, and alcohol-related crashes among young people. Yet many underage people still drink, many drink and drive, and alcohol remains an important risk factor in serious crashes of young drivers, especially as they progress through the teenage years. Stepped-up enforcement of MLDA and drinking and driving laws can reduce underage drinking. Recent efforts to lower MLDAs to 18 and issue licenses to drink upon completion of alcohol education have gained local and national media attention. There is no evidence that alcohol education can even partially replace the effect of MLDA-21. Conclusions The cause and effect relationship between MLDAs of 21 and reductions in highway crashes is clear. Initiatives to lower the drinking age to 18 ignore the demonstrated public health benefits of MLDAs of 21. Impact on Industry Lowering the drinking age to 18 will increase highway crash deaths among young people.
Personality differences between anxious and nonanxious children within a dimensional framework

Abstract As part of a recent research protocol conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina Institute of Psychiatry, anxiety-disordered and nonanxious children (status determined by structured clinical interview) completed a number of questionnaires with the goal of assessing personality differences between groups within the two-dimensional personality conceptualization of hans J. Eysenck (comprising neuroticism and extraversion) and within the closely related two-dimensional personality conceptualization of Jeffrey A. Gray (comprising trait anxiety and impulsivity). Neuroticism and extraversion were assessed via the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Junior. Trait anxiety was assessed via the RCMAS, while an experimental adaptation of the Barratt Impulsiveness Questionnaire was used to assess impulsivity. As hypothesized, anxiety-disordered children were significantly more neurotic and significantly less extraverted (i.e., more introverted) than nonanxious controls. Also as anticipated, children diagnosed with anxiety disorders were higher on trait anxiety (RCMAS) than nonanxious controls. Extraversion proved a good predictor of presence of anxiety disorder, producing few false positives in a discriminant analysis. Results were in accordance with, and support, the theorizing of H. J. Eysenck and J. A. Gray and parallel recent findings in samples of anxious and nonanxious college students.
Adaptation of a surface plasmon resonance biosensor with microfluidics for use with small sample volumes and long contact times.

The efficient delivery of sample to surface-immobilized sites is a key element in biosensing. For a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor, this has been addressed by constant flow through a mic...
Does prior exposure to interpersonal violence increase risk of PTSD following subsequent exposure

Research has generally found a "dose relationship" between potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and the likelihood of developing PTSD, with greater number of events associated with greater likelihood. Most of these studies have been cross-sectional, however. A recent prospective study (Breslau, Peterson, & Schultz, 2008) found that PTSD response to prior potentially traumatic event (PTE) exposure, rather than prior exposure itself, acts as a risk factor for PTSD in response to subsequent PTE; however, this analysis combined many different types of events, and the unique contribution of specific events (e.g., assault) that may be associated with differential risk of PTSD was indeterminable. The present study examined the effects of cumulative PTE exposure prospectively using a two-wave design in the National Survey of Adolescents (N = 1703). History of assault and witnessing serious violence were the focal PTEs examined. Wave I assault without PTSD was found to predict PTSD at Wave II following exposure to new assault or witnessed violence; however, among those without prior PTSD, Wave I witnessed violence did not increase risk of subsequent PTSD following exposure.
Crack nucleation and growth as strain localization in a virtual-bond continuum

Abstract We have recently proposed a virtual internal bond (VIB) model with cohesive interactions between material particles as an alternative approach to modeling fracture. This approach differs from atomistic methods in that a phenomenological “cohesive force law” is assumed to act between “material particles” which are not necessarily atoms; it also differs from “cohesive surface” models in that, rather than imposing a cohesive law along a prescribed set of discrete surfaces, a network of cohesive bonds is statistically incorporated into the constitutive law of the material via the Cauchy–Born rule, i.e. by equating the strain energy density on the continuum level to the potential energy stored in the cohesive bonds due to an imposed deformation. With this approach, crack initiation and growth occur spontaneously when the classical condition for the loss of ellipticity in the elastic governing equations is satisfied. We demonstrate the application of the VIB model to failure detection, dynamic crack propagation, and fracture toughening with combined fracture and constrained plasticity in a multilayered structure.
Merging and transformation of raster images for cartoon animation

The task of assembling drawings and backgrounds together for each frame of an animated sequence has always been a tedious undertaking using conventional animation camera stands and has contributed to the high cost of animation production. In addition, the physical limitations that these camera stands place on the manipulation of the individual artwork levels restricts the total image-making possibilities afforded by traditional cartoon animation. Documents containing all frame assembly information must also be maintained.This paper presents several computer methods for assisting in the production of cartoon animation, both to reduce expense and to improve the overall quality.Merging is the process of combining levels of artwork into a final composite frame using digital computer graphics. The term “level” refers to a single painted drawing (cel) or background. A method for the simulation of any hypothetical animation camera set-up is introduced. A technique is presented for reducing the total number of merges by retaining merged groups consisting of individual levels which do not change over successive frames. Lastly, a sequence-editing system which controls precise definition of an animated sequence, is described. Also discussed is the actual method for merging any two adjacent levels and several computational and storage optimizations to speed the process.
Design of a management support system for hospital strategic planning

Recent changes in the health care industry that foster competition are drastically affecting hospital planning and marketing activities. Increased price competition, the development of less costly alternative health care delivery systems and providers, and the shift to prospective average-cost reimbursement for Medicare beneficiaries are major factors promoting a new emphasis on strategic hospital planning. Hospital information systems do not currently support the sophisticated data-collection and analysis requirements that will be needed to implement strategic planning activities. New data must be collected and old data must be analyzed and stored in new ways. New hospital information systems designs are needed to cope with the change in the economic structure of the health care industry and its effects on hospital information needs. This paper proposes a system design for a management support system that will assist hospital administrators and planners in analyzing internal organizational data and external industry data to develop strategic planning objectives, strategies, and business plans. Analysis of the structure and process of hospital strategic planning was performed to identify the information needs of hospital planners. A prototype system is currently being implemented at the University of Arizona. The system provides an integrating framework for data base management systems, executive information systems, model management systems, and dialogue management systems. Objective analytical models and subjective strategic planning models are available to assist with idea structuring and decision processing.
A GRASP for simultaneously assigning and sequencing product families on flexible assembly lines

This paper introduces a new model and solution methodology for a real-world production scheduling problem arising in the electronics industry. The production environment is a high volume, just-in-time, make-to-order facility with volatile demand over many product families that are assembled on flexible lines. A distinguishing characteristic of the problem is the presence of non-traditional sequence-dependant setup costs, which complicate our ability to find high-quality solutions. The scheduling problem arose when product variety exceeded the mix that the existing lines could accommodate. A nonlinear integer programming formulation is presented for the problem of minimizing setup costs, and a greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) is developed to find solutions. To select the GRASP parameter values, an efficient, space-filling experimental design method is used based on nearly orthogonal Latin hypercubes. The proposed methodology is tested on actual factory data and compared to a prior heuristic presented in the literature; our heuristic provides a cost savings in 7 out of the 10 cases examined, and an average improvement of 17.39 % which is shown to be highly statistically significant. This improvement is due in part to the introduction of a pre-processing step to determine preferential and non-preferential line assignment information.
One electron C-C bond forming reactions via allylstannanes: scope and limitations

Abstract Free radical (or “one-electron”) methodology for carbon-carbon bond forming reactions using allylstannanes is described in detail. Such reactions have the advantages of tolerating quite complex functionality in the substrate and of being nearly stoichiometric in reagents, and not requiring extensive experimentation for application to new substrates.
Curvature continuous interpolation of curve meshes

Abstract This paper presents a method for local construction of a curvature continuous ( GC 2 ) piecewise polynomial surface which interpolates a given rectangular curvature continuous quintic curve mesh. First, we create a C 2 quintic basic curve mesh, which interpolates the same grid points, preserves the tangent slopes and curvatures but not derivative vectors at the grid points. After estimating twist and higher order mixed partial derivatives for each grid point, we generate locally the so-called C 2 biquintic basic patches, which serve to compute the first and second order cross-derivative functions of the final interpolation surface. In order to match the tangents and second order derivative vectors of the original boundary curves at the grid points, these basic patches are reparametrized by 5 × 3 and 3 × 5 functions, which lead to vector-valued first and second order cross-derivative functions of degrees 7 and 9 of the final surface patches, and eventually lead to a GC 2 piecewise polynomial surface of degree 9 × 9, which is then converted to a GC 2 Bezier composite surface. By arranging the surface patches in a chess-board fashion, the degrees of the final surface patches can be 9 × 5 and 5 × 9. An example for the construction of a GC 2 ship hull, together with its color-coded curvature maps, is given to illustrate the method. This method is attractive because the final surface has a much lower degree than other similar methods, it allows flexible local modification of the original curve mesh and local editing of the interpolation surface, and it is easily integrated into state-of-the-art geometric modeling systems.