cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Driver Response Times Based upon Research and Real Life Data

The purpose of this paper was to build upon previous research, identify the variables that significantly influence driver response times, and to determine the amplitude (constant) of that influence. The goal is that this research will explain why seemingly analogous published studies have come to very different driver response time results. An analogous driver response situation is defined as being in one of four groups: (1) lead vehicles that were stopped or moving slowly, (2) being cut off (when a vehicle changes lanes into the path of the responding driver), (3) path intrusions, or (4) known lights, icons or sounds. It was found that research that measured response times in analogous situations can be used to estimate the mean response time for a particular situation if adjustments are made to account for methodological differences between the studies. Non-analogous studies are poor predictors of driver response. (An anticipated light stimulus response cannot accurately predict the response time to a path intrusion or lead vehicle). Mean driver response times can be predicted within 400 ms without accounting for individual difference. Therefore, external validity can be obtained regardless of the testing method (closed course, simulator or road), as long as the subject is unaware of either the stimulus or the appropriate response. Having a subject respond to multiple events does not (by itself) suggest that drivers will respond significantly faster.
Sex trafficking: a target for situational crime prevention?

One of the controversial issues surrounding sex trafficking is its links to prostitution. Among the points of disagreement are the degree to which sex trafficking feeds prostitution, and whether all prostitution is sex trafficking. Such disagreements aside, there is no question that the profit from sex trafficking derives from the exploitation of victims as prostituted persons. Thus, any preventive efforts focused on containing and reducing sex trafficking must, we believe, take account of its connections with prostitution.
ATLAS: A Distributed File System for Spatiotemporal Data

A majority of the data generated in several domains is geotagged. These data also have a chronological component associated with them. Pervasive data generation and collection efforts have led to an increase in data volumes. These data hold the potential to unlock valuable insights. To facilitate such knowledge extraction in a timely manner, the underlying file system must satisfy several objectives. In this study, we present Atlas, a distributed file system designed specifically for spatiotemporal data. Atlas includes several capabilities that are suited for performing large-scale analyses: aligning dispersion with data access patterns, load balancing storage, and facilitating interoperation with analytical engines such as Hadoop and Spark. Our empirical benchmarks profile several aspects of Atlas, and demonstrate the suitability of our methodology.
Using students' epistemic uncertainty as a pedagogical resource to develop knowledge in argumentation

This longitudinal case study explores how students’ epistemic uncertainty in argumentation can be adapted as a resource to develop knowledge in a fifth-grade classroom. Major data sources include 1...
Optimal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine allocation using real-time seroprevalence estimates in Rhode Island and Massachusetts

As three SARS-CoV-2 vaccines come to market in Europe and North America in the winter of 2020-2021, distribution networks will be in a race against a major epidemiological wave of SARS-CoV-2 that began in autumn 2020. Rapid and optimized vaccine allocation is critical during this time. With 95% efficacy reported for two of the vaccines, near-term public health needs require that distribution is prioritized to the elderly, health-care workers, teachers, essential workers, and individuals with co-morbidities putting them at risk of severe clinical progression. Here, we evaluate various age-based vaccine distributions using a validated mathematical model based on current epidemic trends in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We allow for varying waning efficacy of vaccine-induced immunity, as this has not yet been measured. We account for the fact that known COVID-positive cases may not be included in the first round of vaccination. And, we account for current age-specific immune patterns in both states. We find that allocating a substantial proportion ( > 75%) of vaccine supply to individuals over the age of 70 is optimal in terms of reducing total cumulative deaths through mid-2021. As we do not explicitly model other high mortality groups, this result on vaccine allocation applies to all groups at high risk of mortality if infected. Our analysis confirms that for an easily transmissible respiratory virus, allocating a large majority of vaccinations to groups with the highest mortality risk is optimal. Our analysis assumes that health systems during winter 2020-2021 have equal staffing and capacity to previous phases of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic; we do not consider the effects of understaffed hospitals or unvaccinated medical staff. Vaccinating only seronegative individuals avoids redundancy in vaccine use on individuals that may already be immune, and will result in 1% to 2% reductions in cumulative hospitalizations and deaths by mid-2021. Assuming high vaccination coverage ( > 28%) and no major relaxations in distancing, masking, gathering size, or hygiene guidelines between now and spring 2021, our model predicts that a combination of vaccination and population immunity will lead to low or near-zero transmission levels by the second quarter of 2021.
Fractions as Parts of a Whole

But what should one imagine by a fraction or a fraction number? With ordinary fractions, one usually thinks of fractions of unit sizes or of other sizes. When asked to represent fractions of unit sizes, one could make sketches as in Fig. 3.1.
Fourier-basis structured illumination imaging with an array of integrated optical phased arrays.

Active imaging and structured illumination originated in “bulk” optical systems: free-space beams controlled with lenses, spatial light modulators, gratings, and mirrors to structure the optical diffraction and direct the beams onto the target. Recently, optical phased arrays have been developed with the goal of replacing traditional bulk active imaging systems with integrated optical systems. In this paper, we demonstrate the first array of optical phased arrays forming a composite aperture. This composite aperture is used to implement a Fourier-based structured-illumination imaging system, where moving fringe patterns are projected on a target and a single integrating detector is used to reconstruct the spatial structure of the target from the time variation of the back-scattered light. We experimentally demonstrate proof-of-concept Fourier-basis imaging in 1D using a six-element array of optical phased arrays, which interfere pairwise to sample up to 11 different spatial Fourier components, and reconstruct a 1D delta-function target. This concept addresses a key complexity constraint in scaling up integrated photonic apertures by requiring only N elements in a sparse array to produce an image with N2 resolvable spots.
Suicide Attempts Among Racial and Ethnic Groups in a Nationally Representative Sample

Evaluate suicide attempt prevalence and potentially related sociodemographic and psychiatric factors among racial and ethnic groups. Between 2012 and 2013, the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) conducted semi-structured interviews with 36,309 adults in the USA. We identified lifetime suicide attempt prevalence and significant predictors for each racial/ethnic group using stratified logistic regressions. Analyses were exploratory without a priori hypotheses. Asian/Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander and Black individuals had the lowest prevalence of suicide attempts while Alaska Native/American Indian and White individuals had the highest prevalence. Identifying as female and meeting criteria for psychiatric diagnoses featuring mood regulation difficulties (depression, borderline personality disorder, bipolar I disorder) were consistently related to a suicide attempt history across racial and ethnic groups, whereas substance abuse disorders and other sociodemographic factors differed between racial and ethnic groups in their associations with suicide attempt history. Although several factors were consistently related to suicide risk across racial and ethnic groups, the prevalence of suicide attempts and overall pattern of related factors were not uniform between racial and ethnic groups. Study findings highlight the importance of considering suicide risk within the context of race and ethnicity both regarding the overall prevalence of risk and in determining personal factors associated with elevated risk. A failure to appreciate experiences related to race and ethnicity may adversely impact suicide risk assessment and treatment, ultimately contributing to health disparities. Results suggest that additional research is warranted.
Overview of serum and tissue markers in colorectal cancer: a primer for radiologists

Serum and tissue tumor markers provide crucial information in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of colorectal cancers. Tissue tumor markers are increasingly used for determination of targeted chemotherapy planning based on genotyping of tumor cells. Recently, plasma-based technique of liquid biopsy is being evaluated for providing tumor biomarkers in the management of colorectal cancer. Tumor markers are commonly used in conjunction with imaging during initial staging, treatment determination, response assessment, and determination of recurrence or metastatic disease. Knowledge of tumor markers and their association with radiological findings is thus crucial for radiologists. Additionally, various novel imaging techniques are being evaluated as potential noninvasive imaging biomarkers to predict tumor genotypes, features, and tumor response. We review and discuss the potential role of these newer imaging techniques.
Association and Predictive Ability of Jump Performance with Sprint Profile of Collegiate Track and Field Athletes.

This study examined the relationship between broad jump (BJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and light load countermovement jump (LL-CMJ) performance and sprint performance and Sprint Profile measures in athletes. Additionally, this study aimed to determine the predictive ability of jump measures on Sprint Profile components. Twenty-five athletes performed BJ, CMJ, LL-CMJ, 30-metre acceleration and 30-metre maximal speed fly-by sprints. Results revealed moderate to very large correlations between BJ, CMJ and LL-CMJ performance with acceleration sprint completion times (r = -0.423 to -0.807; p < 0.05), fly-by sprint completion times (r = -0.452 to -0.838; p < 0.05) and maximal sprint speed (r = 0.424 to 0.794; p < 0.05). Additionally, associations were observed with multiple jumping measures and components of the Sprint Profile (r = 0.431 to 0.777; p < 0.05) during acceleration sprints. Furthermore, the BJ distance was the best predictor of Sprint Profile components during acceleration sprints (R2 = 0.57-0.76; p < 0.01) and maximal speed fly-by sprints (R2 = 0.775; p < 0.001). The forces and the manner of force application during the BJ to propel the athlete forwards and upwards are similar to those necessary to exhibit superior sprint performance. This may be due to the rapid generation of forces and orientation of force application during both movements.
Upheavals during the Late Maastrichtian: Volcanism, climate and faunal events preceding the end-Cretaceous mass extinction

Abstract The late Maastrichtian was a time of major climate, evolution and extinction extremes. Rapid climate warming of 2–3 °C in intermediate waters between 69.5 and 68 Ma (top C31r to base C30n) accompanied maximum evolutionary diversification (43% increase, zone CF5 to low CF4) in planktic foraminiferal history, followed immediately by a cluster of extinctions. During the last 250 ky of the Maastrichtian (C29r, zones CF2–CF1), rapid warming of 4 °C in intermediate waters and 8 °C on land resulted in high-stress environments ending in the mass extinction. The end-Cretaceous mass extinction is recorded in sediments between massive Deccan lava flows in India and attributed to SO 2 and CO 2 outgassing leading to ocean acidification. The early late Maastrichtian climate and faunal upheavals are not well known. Here we document the faunal similarities of both events from the Indian Ocean through the Tethys and Gulf of Mexico. Results show that both extreme warm events are marked by high-stress environments characterized by decreased abundance and diversity of large specialized species and dwarfing, high abundance of low oxygen tolerant species, and disaster opportunist surface dweller Guembelitria blooms. The similarity in faunal response with the Deccan warming of C29r (CF2–CF1) suggests that volcanism was also responsible for the warming and faunal upheaval of the early late Maastrichtian. Major volcanic activity at this time included the onset of Deccan eruptions and Ninetyeast Ridge volcanism. The role of the Chicxulub impact appears to have been a contributing, rather than causal, factor in the mass extinction.
Formation of pattern in regenerating tissue pieces of hydra attenuata. I. Head-body proportion regulation.

Abstract The precision with which an almost uniform sheet of hydra cells develops into a complete animal was measured quantitatively. Pieces of tissue of varying dimensions were cut from the body column of an adult hydra and allowed to regenerate. The regenerated animals were assayed for number of heads (hypostomes plus tentacle rings), head attempts (body tentacles), and basal discs. To ascertain whether the head and body were reformed in normal proportions, the average number of epithelial cells in the heads and bodies was measured. Pieces of tissue, from 1 2 to 1 20 an adult in size, formed heads that were a constant fraction of the regenerate. Thus, over a 10-fold size range, a proportioning mechanism was operating to divide the tissue into head area and body area quite precisely, but appeared to reach limits at the extremes of the range. However, the regenerates were not all normal miniatures with one hypostome and one basal disc. As the width-length ratio of the cut piece was increased beyond the circumference-length ratio of the intact body column, the incidence of extra hypostomes in the “head” and body tentacles and extra basal discs in the “body” rose dramatically. A proportioning mechanism based on the Gierer-Meinhardt model for pattern formation is presented to explain the results.
Complex Adaptive Systems: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life

As social and natural science inquiry moves toward a new paradigm that encourages a greater use of emergence and pattern recognition, the social work field remains underrepresented. Those familiar ...
Distributed Wombling by Robotic Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a distributed coordination algorithm for robotic sensor networks to detect boundaries that separate areas of abrupt change of spatial phenomena. We consider an aggregate objective function, termed wombliness, that measures the change of the spatial field along the closed polygonal curve defined by the location of the sensors in the environment. We encode the network task as the optimization of the wombliness and characterize the smoothness properties of the objective function. In general, the complexity of the spatial phenomena makes the gradient flow cause self-intersections in the polygonal curve described by the network. Therefore, we design a distributed coordination algorithm that allows for network splitting and merging while guaranteeing the monotonic evolution of wombliness. The technical approach combines ideas from statistical estimation, dynamical systems, and hybrid modeling and design.
Gut characteristics and assimilation efficiencies in two species of herbivorous damselfishes (Pomacentridae: Stegastes dorsopunicans and S. planifrons)

The morphological and physiological mechanisms by which marine herbivores assimilate energy and nutrients from primary producers and transfer them to higher trophic levels of reef ecosystems are poorly understood. Two wide-ranging Caribbean fishes, the dusky damselfish, Stegastesdorsopunicans, and the threespot damselfish, S. planifrons, defend territories on patch reefs in the Archipelago de San Blas, Republic of Panama. We examined how relative intestine length and retention time influence digestion and absorption of energy and nutrients in these fishes. The dusky damselfish has a relative intestine length (RIL=intestine length/standard length) of 1.2 and a Zihler index {ZI=intestine length (mm)/10[mass(g)1/3]} of 3.4. These values are significantly lower (PRIL=PZI 0.05) for both dusky (6.6 h) and threespot damselfish (6.5 h). Thus, food travels the length of the threespot damselfish intestine ~2.5 times faster than it does in the dusky damselfish intestine. Levels of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid are significantly (0.003<P<0.030) higher in the feces of dusky damselfish than in the feces of threespot damselfish, when both species were fed a natural diet of benthic diatoms collected from damselfish territories. This indicates threespot damselfish have a greater nutrient-specific and total assimilation efficiency than do dusky damselfish. Furthermore, when fed an artificial pellet diet, protein absorption efficiency differed significantly (P=0.014) between species; threespot damselfish absorbed 98.3% of dietary protein, whereas dusky damselfish absorbed 96.4% of dietary protein.
Space/time adaptive processing architecture implementations using a high performance scalable computer

Pre and post-Doppler STAP architectures are considered for a target implementation on an Analog Devices super-Harvard architecture (SHARC) based high performance scalable computer utilizing a Myrinet/sup TM/ communications network. Mapping and partitioning tasks perform an initial feasibility and sizing analysis for an implementation which performs both architectures on the same hardware. Further modelling and simulation studies utilize a discrete event simulator to perform detailed analyses of three different block and sample recursive algorithm mappings onto the target hardware in order to obtain insight into processor and communication utilization and data latency.
Particle-based fluid simulation on the GPU

Large scale particle-based fluid simulation is important to both the scientific and computer graphics communities. In this paper, we explore the effectiveness of implementing smoothed particle hydrodynamics on the streaming architecture of a GPU. A dynamic quadtree structure is proposed to accelerate the computation of inter-particle forces. Our method readily extends to higher dimensions without undue increase in memory or computation costs. We show that a GPU implementation runs nearly an order of magnitude faster than our CPU version for large problem sizes.
Toxinogeny in Corynebacterium diphtheriae After Loss of Catalase, Cystinase, or Deoxyribonuclease Activity

The relationship of catalase, cystinase, and deoxyribonuclease activity to toxinogeny in Corynebacterium diphtheriae was examined. Mutants deficient in each activity were isolated after mutagenization of strain C4 with nitrosoguanidine. All mutants were converted to toxinogeny after lysogenization with beta-converting phage, thus establishing that there is no absolute link between toxin production and these enzymatic activities. No differences were observed in the rate of lysogenization of the mutants by beta-converting phage over that of the parental strain. However, the data suggest that catalase mutants lysogenic for beta phage are generally induced at a higher rate than the parental strain after irradiation with ultraviolet light. Cystinase mutants vary widely in their rate of induction whereas the deoxyribonuclease mutants are similar to the parental strain. The relationship of these results to the production of toxinogenic strains is discussed.
Septic pulmonary emboli secondary to an infected right atrial thrombus

6. cardiovascular medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 19841399. Goodwin JF. The frontiers of cardiomyopathy. Br Heart J 1982;48:1. Benotti JR, Grossman W, Cohn PF. Clinical profile of restrictive cardiomyopathy. Circulation 1980,61:1206. Siegel RJ, Shah PK, Fishbein MC. Idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy. Circulation 1984;70:165. Shabetai R, Grossman W. Profiles in constrictive pericarditis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and cardiac tamponade. In: Grossman W, editor. Cardiac catheterization and angiography. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1980:358. Cassling RS, Lortz JB, Olson DR, Hubbard TF, McManus BM. Fatal vasculitis (periarteritis nodosa) of the coronary arteries: Angiographic ambiguities and absence of aneurysms at autopsy. J Am Co11 Cardiol 1985;6:707.
672 CaNa 2 EDTA PROVOCATIVE TESTS (EPT's) IN CHILDREN WITH MILD-MODERATE INCREASED LEAD (Pb) ABSORPTION

Screening programs for Pb poisoning emphasize measurements of blood Pb and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP). A far more sensitive index of the size of chelatable and potentially toxic Pb stores, the EPT, has yet to be evaluated in children with mild-moderate increased lead absorption. EPT's were performed in 20 such children: 4 CDC Class II (Pb 30-49μg/dl, EP 50-109μg/dl) and 16 in Class III, who were further subdivided: IIIa (Pb 30-49μg/dl, EP > 110μg/d1) and IIIb (Pb 50-69μg/dl, EP>50μg/dl). CaNa2EDTA (500 mg/m2/dose) was given q 12 H × 2, and the 24-hour urinary Pb (uPb) excretion was measured. A positive EPT was defined as urinary excretion of Pb ≥ 500μg/24H. Conclusions: 1) Measurements of blood Pb and/or EP are imprecise indicators of chelatable Pb, as determined by the EPT, in children with mild-moderate increased Pb absorption; 2) 70% of all children in this study required 5 days of treatment for increased Pb absorption; 3) Based on conventional screening tests, these children may have gone untreated; 4) We suggest that all children with blood Pb>30 and EP>50 should have careful assessment of the size of chelatable Pb stores by a precise method, namely, the CaNa2EDTA provocative test.
Rate coefficients for the reaction of OH with (E)-2-pentenal, (E)-2-hexenal, and (E)-2-heptenal

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of the OH radical with (E)-2-pentenal (CH3CH2CHCHCHO), (E)-2-hexenal (CH3(CH2)2CHCHCHO), and (E)-2-heptenal (CH3(CH2)3CHCHCHO), a series of unsaturated aldehydes, over the temperature range 244–374 K at pressures between 23 and 150 Torr (He, N2) are reported. Rate coefficients were measured under pseudo-first-order conditions in OH with OH radicals produced via pulsed laser photolysis of HNO3 or H2O2 at 248 nm and detected by pulsed laser-induced fluorescence. The rate coefficients were independent of pressure and the room temperature rate coefficients and Arrhenius expressions obtained are (cm3 molecule−1 s−1 units): k1(297 K) = (4.3 ± 0.6) × 10−11, k1(T) = (7.9 ± 1.2) × 10−12 exp[(510 ± 20)/T]; k2(297 K) = (4.4 ± 0.5) × 10−11, k2(T) = (7.5 ± 1.1) × 10−12 exp[(520 ± 30)/T]; and k3(297 K) = (4.4 ± 0.7) × 10−11, k3(T) = (9.7 ± 1.5) × 10−12 exp[(450 ± 20)/T] for (E)-2-pentenal, (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-heptenal, respectively. The quoted uncertainties are 2σ (95% confidence level) and include estimated systematic errors. Rate coefficients are compared with previously published room temperature values and the discrepancies are discussed. The atmospheric degradation of unsaturated aldehydes is also discussed.
The influence of patriarchal behavior on birth control access and use among recent Hispanic immigrants.

It is commonly assumed that Hispanic immigrants in the United States subscribe to a patriarchal ideology that keeps women subordinated to men, often through violence and exploitative reproductive behaviors. If this assumption is true, we might expect to find that in the Hispanic culture patriarchal males control decision-making about access to and use of birth control. Structured interviews of 100 Hispanic men and 100 Hispanic women who were recent immigrants to a Midwest community were conducted to examine this assumption. Results did not support this assumption among this study population. We found no patriarchal ideology supporting women’s subordination to men, violence as a mechanism of control, reproduction as a way of exploitation, or cultural influences discouraging access to and use of birth control in the Hispanic community. Rather, these immigrants revealed adequate knowledge of birth control use and positive perceptions of gender equality. Gaining a better understanding of the limited influence of patriarchal ideology on the use of birth control and family planning services among this Hispanic community may inform the development of family planning services tailored for new Hispanic immigrants.
Guest Editorial: Digital Image Recovery and Synthesis

This PDF file contains the editorial “Guest Editorial: Digital Image Recovery and Synthesis” for OE Vol. 33 Issue 10
A Multi-Channel Power Controller for Actuation and Control of Multiple SMA Actuators

This paper presents a multi-channel electronic power controller device for Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators. The use of shape memory alloy wires as actuators has been proposed in numerous novel applications such as Smart Inhaler System [1], BAT Micro Air Vehicle [2], etc. These systems have multiple SMA wires for actuation of their mechanisms. The SMA wires can be actuated by controlling the joule heating or the electric power in that wire. This paper describes the development of a multi-channel power device that can control multiple SMA actuators simultaneously. The device presented herewith utilizes a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) board and a custom built electronic device to independently and simultaneously control electric power in three different SMA actuators. The controller adapts to the non linear and hysteretic behavior of the resistance of the SMA actuators and adjusts the pulse width modulated voltage across them to maintain the desired value of power. The controller uses the resistance measurement of the SMA actuators as feedback. With the help of modeling efforts to relate resistance to strain, it is envisioned that feedback position control of these actuators can be implemented without the necessity of a sensor. The device is tested with graphic user interface which enables a user to control various parameters during operation of this device and to monitor the results. The design and implementation of this device is detailed in this paper along with its performance charts. The results relate the input power, observed actuation strokes and measured resistances in the SMA actuators under various conditions. A relevant discussion on implementing position control in Smart Inhaler System using this device is also presented.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Ion selectivity of the Kat1 K+ channel pore

Kat1 is a highly selective inward-rectifying K+ channel that opens for extended periods under conditions of extreme hyperpolarization. Over 200 point mutants in the pore region of the Kat1 K+ channel were generated and examined in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Xenopus oocytes to assess the effect of the mutations on ion selectivity. Substitutions at the tyrosine of the signature sequence G-Y-G resulted in the most significant alterations in ion selectivity, consistent with its role in the selectivity filter. However, greater than 80% of the mutations throughout the greater pore region also conferred a defect in selectivity demonstrating that the entire pore of Kat1 contributes to the ion selectivity of this channel. Surprisingly, we identified a novel class of mutant channel that conferred enhanced selectivity of K+ over Na+. Mutants of this class frequently displayed sensitivity to the competing ion Cs+. This finding has led us to speculate that the Kat1 channel pore has evolved to balance not o...
Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-Like Proteins in Protein Regulation

The discovery of the ubiquitin system was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004. Labeling of intracellular proteins for degradation by a multienzymatic complex, called the proteasome, was identified as the main function of this system. Subsequently, it was discovered that the attachment of ubiquitin to proteins can modify their function without degradation. Finally, a number of other molecules were recognized to be conjugated to proteins in a manner similar to ubiquitin and were henceforth called ubiquitin-like proteins. This review provides an overview of this class of molecules and its implication for function, subcellular location, and half-life of proteins.
Shape-based searching for product lifecycle applications

Estimates suggest that more than 75% of engineering design activity comprises reuse of previous design knowledge to address a new design problem. Reusing design knowledge has great potential to improve product quality, shorten lead time, and reduce cost. However, PLM systems, which address the issue of reuse by searching for keywords in filenames, part numbers or context attached to CAD models, do not provide a robust tool to search reusable knowledge. This paper presents a brief overview of a novel approach to search for 3D models. The system is built on a client-server-database architecture. The client takes in the query input from the user along with his search preferences and passes it to the server. The server converts the shape input into feature vectors and a unique skeletal graph representation. Details of the algorithms to perform these steps are presented here. Principal advantages of our graph representation are: (i) it preserves geometry and topology of the query model, (ii) it is considerably smaller than the B-Rep graph, and (iii) it is insensitive to minor perturbations in shape, but sensitive enough to capture the major features of a shape. The combined distance of feature vectors and skeletal graphs in the database provide an indirect measure of shape similarity between models. Critical database issues such as search system efficiency, semantic gap reduction and the subjectivity of the similarity definition are addressed. This paper reports our initial results in designing, implementing and running the shape search system.
The Development of a Ration for the Study of Perosis in Chicks

Abstract PEROSIS is a type of leg weakness and deformity which occurs among rapidly growing chicks, particularly when they are confined in battery brooders and on rations high in minerals. The other common name for perosis is “slipped tendon.” High inorganic phosphate additions to the ration are admitted to be a contributing cause of the trouble, although it is also stated in the literature that a high level of calcium carbonate may contribute to the development of perosis. Descriptions of the character of the deformity and attempts to correct it have been reviewed by Milby (1934) and Wilgus, Norris, and Heuser (1935). A variety of rations has been used by different investigators for the production of this deficiency, but in general some form of a practical ration has been used. Since we frequently observed slipped tendon in chicks grown on some of our synthetic diets, we were interested to learn if . . .
Applying medical survival data to estimate the three-parameter Weibull distribution by the method of probability-weighted moments

Abstract The method of probability-weighted moments is used to derive estimators of parameters and quantiles of the three-parameter Weibull distribution. The properties of these estimators are studied. The results obtained are compared with those obtained by using the method of maximum likelihood. The Weibull probability distribution has numerous applications in various areas: for example, breaking strength, life expectancy, survival analysis and animal bioassay. Because of its useful applications, its parameters need to be evaluated precisely, accurately and efficiently. There is a rich literature available on its maximum likelihood estimation method. However, there is no explicit solution for the estimates of the parameters or the best linear unbiased estimates. Further, the Weibull parameters cannot be expressed explicitly as a function of the conventional moments and iterative computational methods are needed. The maximum likelihood methodology is based on large-sample theory and the method might not work well when samples are small or moderate in size. Others have proposed a class of moments called probability-weighted moments. This class seems to be interesting as a method for estimating parameters and quantiles of distributions which can be written in inverse form. Such distributions include the Gumbel, Weibull, logistic, Tukey's symmetric lambda, Thomas Wakeby, and Mielke's kappa. It has been illustrated that rather simple expressions for the parameters can be written in inverse form in terms of probability-weighted moments (PWMs) for most of these distributions. In this paper we define the PWM estimators of the parameters for the three-parameter Weibull distribution. We investigate the properties of these estimators in a medical application setting. We also examine the added influence that censored data may have on the estimates.
The unusual dynamical environment of Phobos and Deimos

A three-dimensional numerical model is used to study the dynamical environment of Phobos and Deimos. Surface gravity, escape speeds, and ejecta impact contours are calculated both for the satellites at their present orbit distances, and for orbit distances they may have had in the past. Impact loci for Stickney ejecta are also calculated and compared with the observed groove locations in order to evaluate a possible secondary-impact origin for the grooves on Phobos. Attention is also given to the possible influence of the dynamical environment on shaping the satellites' surfaces.
Highly transparent conductive films of thermally evaporated In 2 O 3

Highly transparent (over 90% transmission in the visible range) and highly conductive (resistivity ≈2 × 10-4 ohm-cm) indium oxide (undoped) films have been produced by thermal evaporation from In2O3 + In source in a vacuum chamber con-taining low pressures of O2, . Film properties are comparable or superior to the best tin-doped indium oxide films that have ever been reported, and excellent reproducibility has been achieved. Hall effect measurements have revealed that the observed low resistivity is primarily a result of the excellent electron mobility (≏ 70 cm2/V-sec), although the electron concentration is also rather high (≥4 × l020/cm3). X-ray diffraction measurements show distinctly polycrystal-line In2O3 structure with a lattice constant ranging from 10.07A to 10.11A. Electrolytic electroreflectance spectra exhibit at least four critical transitions, from which we have determined the direct and indirect optical band gaps (3.56eV and 2.69eV, respectively). Burstein shifts due to the population of electrons in the condition band are also observed. From an internal photoemission study, the work function of the In2O3 film has been determined to be 5.0eV. These and other results, along with a discussion of the processing details are reported.
Trends in the Structures and Energetics of the Group 14 Metallocenes (C5H5)2M (M = Si−Pb): A Density Functional Theory Study

The unsubstituted group 14 metallocenes (C5H5)2M (M = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) were examined with density functional theory calculations. Geometries were optimized with a variety of functionals with pseudop...
Endoscopic detection of dysplasia in patients with Barretts esophagus using fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopies

We combine fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopies to obtain detailed information about the biochemical and morphological state of tissue. This information can be used for the detection of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus.
Topical treatment of acne vulgaris: Retinoids and cutaneous irritation ☆ ☆☆ ★

cles that involves a multifactored pathophysiology.1 Excessive sebum production, combined with abnormal desquamation of follicular epithelium, leads to an accumulation of these materials such that the lumina of sebaceous follicles become distended. This precursor, microscopic stage is known as a microcomedo. In this environment, Propionibacterium acnes proliferates and its production of proinflammatory chemotactic and cytokine factors is responsible for the inflammation of acne.2-4 Our therapeutic menu includes a variety of drugs, both topical and systemic, that can affect these areas of pathophysiology. The abnormal desquamation of follicular epithelium can be normalized by topical tretinoin and salicylic acid. These agents decrease the cohesion of corneocytes, minimize microcomedo formation and, in time, decrease both clinical noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions. The newer synthetic retinoid derivatives, adapalene and tazarotene, have also demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of acne. Despite differences in physical characteristics and receptor affinity, their molecular and cellular mechanisms of action are thought to be similar to those of tretinoin.5 The major disadvantage of topical therapy for the treatment of acne is that many of the agents used cause tolerability problems. Significant erythema, dryness, peeling, scaling, and irritation may result in discontinuation of treatment,6 and in patients who continue treatment, irritation may lead to compliance problems.7 Tretinoin-induced irritation, for example, is generally doseand vehicle-related, and the level of irritation ranges from high to low with the solution, gel, and cream formulations, respectively.8 Unfortunately, efficacy is frequently dose-related as well, and some patients do not progress to an optimal tretinoin concentration because of tolerance problems.7 With this in mind, pharmaceutical research programs have focused on methods of minimizing the irritation caused by topical retinoids while preserving or improving their therapeutic benefits. The results of these programs have yielded several new developments. Modified tretinoin delivery systems, which minimize irritant effects and provide therapeutic benefit, are now available. These include complexes of tretinoin with polymer molecules and incorporation of tretinoin in microsponge particles. Two new agents, adapalene and tazarotene, bind with nuclear retinoid receptors and exert retinoid effects in a variety of systems. They have been found to be clinically effective in acne and have been approved by the FDA. From the Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia. Reprint requests: James J. Leyden, MD, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Hospital, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:S1-4. Copyright © 1998 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. 0190-9622/98/$5.00 + 0 16/0/88698 Topical treatment of acne vulgaris: Retinoids and cutaneous irritation
Fast level-set image processing using optoelectronic processing

Level set methods have recently been applied to a number of image processing and computer vision applications. However, they have been suffered from the computational complexity. This paper exploits the parallel processing capability of opto-electronic signal processing systems for real-time level-set computation. The most timeconsuming operation in level set methods is the computation of the signed distance function from each grid point to the zero-level set. We show that it can be represented by thresholded correlation operations, and therefore it can be easily realized using an optical correlator. A fast level-set image processing system is constructed based on a joint transform correlation architecture. The simulation results are given.
Rotating objects to determine orientation, not identity: evidence from a backward-masking/dual-task procedure.

The effects of picture-plane rotations on times taken to name familiar objects (RTs) may reflect a process of mental rotation to stored viewpoint-specific representations: therotate-to-recognize hypothesis. Alternatively, mental rotation might be used after stored object representations are activated by a misoriented stimulus in order to verify a weak or distorted shape percept: thedouble-checking hypothesis. We tested these two accounts of rotation effects in object recognition by having subjects verify the orientations (to within 90°) and basic-level names of 14-msec, backward-masked depictions of common objects. The stimulus-mask interval (SOA) varied from 14 to 41 msec, permitting interpolation of the SOA required for 75% accuracy (SOAc). Whereas the SOAc to verify orientation increased with rotation up to 180°, the SOAc to verify identity was briefer and asymptoted at ∼60°. We therefore reject the rotate-to-recognize hypothesis, which implies that SOAc should increase steadily with rotation in both tasks. Instead, we suggest that upright and near-upright stimuli are matched by a fast direct process and that misoriented stimuli are matched at a featural level by a slightly slower view-independent process. We also suggest that rotation effects on RTs reflect apostrecognition stage of orientation verification: therotate-to-orient hypothesis, a version of double-checking that also explains the well-known reduction in orientation effects on RTs when naming repeated objects.
The effect of thin organic films on the surface plasma resonance on gold

Abstract Optical constants of organic monolayers on gold are calculated from shifts in the surface plasmon resonance. Two to several organized layers of cadmium arachidate (each known independently to be 2.68 nm thick) were deposited onto gold films. The angle of minimum attenuated total reflectance changed by about 0.5 degree, corresponding to a Δksp of approximately 900 cm-1 for each additional monolayer. Because of the large angular shifts and the simplicity of the ATR method, this technique appears to be an easy and accurate way to determine optical constants and monitor changes in thin (order of nm) interfacial layers on metals.
Integration of biological networks and pathways with genetic association studies

Millions of genetic variants have been assessed for their effects on the trait of interest in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The complex traits are affected by a set of inter-related genes. However, the typical GWAS only examine the association of a single genetic variant at a time. The individual effects of a complex trait are usually small, and the simple sum of these individual effects may not reflect the holistic effect of the genetic system. High-throughput methods enable genomic studies to produce a large amount of data to expand the knowledge base of the biological systems. Biological networks and pathways are built to represent the functional or physical connectivity among genes. Integrated with GWAS data, the network- and pathway-based methods complement the approach of single genetic variant analysis, and may improve the power to identify trait-associated genes. Taking advantage of the biological knowledge, these approaches are valuable to interpret the functional role of the genetic variants, and to further understand the molecular mechanism influencing the traits. The network- and pathway-based methods have demonstrated their utilities, and will be increasingly important to address a number of challenges facing the mainstream GWAS.
Spiritual Wellness as a Protective Factor in Predicting Depression Among Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study examined the predictive power of spiritual wellness on depression in 83 mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. Spiritual wellness is a multidimensional construct that consists of four components: meaning and purpose in life, inner resources, transcendence, and positive interconnectedness. Each of the four spiritual components of spiritual wellness was investigated to determine their respective predictive power in predicting lower depression symptoms. Spiritual wellness components that were found to be significant predictors of lower depression symptoms in mothers were identified as protective factors. A hierarchical regression revealed that the spiritual wellness components of meaning and purpose in life and inner resources were significant predictors of lower depression symptoms and therefore served as protective factors in maternal depression. The findings of this study provide direction for future research to investigate how these spiritual wellness components can be incorporate...
Increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among psychiatric inpatients with bipolar I affective and schizoaffective disorders independent of psychotropic drug use.

Background: There are numerous reports of abnormal glucose metabolism, including increased rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus, in psychiatric patients. It remains unclear, however, whether there is an intrinsic relationship between abnormal glucose metabolism and particular psychiatric disorders, because the relationship is complicated by treatment with psychotropic medications that promote weight gain and hyperglycemia. This study aimed to clarify this relationship. Methods: The medical records of 243 inpatients, aged 50–74 years, with diagnoses of major depression, bipolar I disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, and dementia were reviewed. Psychiatric and type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnoses, medications, body mass index (BMI), age, gender, and race were recorded. Diabetes rates were compared to age, race, and gender-matched rates in the US general population. Results: Rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus were: schizoaffective (50%)>bipolar I (26%)>major depression (18%)=dementia (18%)>schizophrenia (13%) (p<0.006). Diabetic patients had a higher mean BMI (p=0.01), but not a significantly higher use of psychotropic medications previously reported to be associated with new-onset type 2 diabetes (e.g., phenothiazines, clozapine, olanzapine). Logistic regression revealed that psychiatric diagnosis and BMI were the only significant and independent predictors of diabetes diagnosis. Compared to national norms, diabetes rates were significantly elevated only in bipolar I affective and schizoaffective patients. Limitations: This study was a retrospective chart review of older, hospitalized patients. Conclusions: This is the first published study to show an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among psychiatric patients with particular psychiatric illnesses independent of the effects of age, race, gender, medication, and body mass. This finding, which requires replication in a larger scale, prospective study, suggests an intrinsic relationship between abnormal glucose metabolism and bipolar I affective and schizoaffective disorders.
One-pot multi-enzyme (OPME) chemoenzymatic synthesis of sialyl-Tn-MUC1 and sialyl-T-MUC1 glycopeptides containing natural or non-natural sialic acid

A series of STn-MUC1 and ST-MUC1 glycopeptides containing naturally occurring and non-natural sialic acids have been chemoenzymatically synthesized from Tn-MUC1 glycopeptide using one-pot multienzyme (OPME) approaches. In situ generation of the sialyltransferase donor cytidine 5′-monophosphate-sialic acid (CMP-Sia) using a CMP-sialic acid synthetase in the presence of an extra amount of cytidine 5′-triphosphate (CTP) and removal of CMP from the reaction mixture by flash C18 cartridge purification allow the complete consumption of Tn-MUC1 glycopeptide for quantitative synthesis of STn-MUC1. A Campylobacter jejuni β1–3GalT (CjCgtBΔ30-His6) mutant has been found to catalyze the transfer of one or more galactose residues to Tn-MUC1 for the synthesis of T-MUC1 and galactosylated T-MUC1. Sialylation of T-MUC1 using Pasteurella multocida α2–3-sialyltransferase 3 (PmST3) with Neisseria meningitidis CMP-sialic acid synthetase (NmCSS) and Escherichia coli sialic acid aldolase in one pot produced ST-MUC1 efficiently. These glycopeptides are potential cancer vaccine candidates.