cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The thermal expansion of graphite within the layer planes

The thermal expansion of graphite within the layer planes has been investigated by X-ray diffractometer and powder diffraction techniques. Direct measurements of the a lattice dimension over the whole range of temperatures from −196° C to 3000° C have been made for the first time. Two specimens were studied, one a spectroscopic electrode material of p ≈ 0.2 and the other a highly orientated pyrolytic graphite. The variation of the coefficient of thermal expansion αa was computed from the measured variation with temperature of the a lattice dimension. It is shown that above about 400° C there is a progressive expansion of the interatomic spacings in the basal plane with αa approaching a limiting value of 1.2 × 10−6 per °C. This provides the first experimental confirmation of theoretical prediction. Below 400° C there is an expansion with decrease in temperature. Below 0° C the rate of expansion rapidly decreases and a limiting value of the a lattice parameter is approached at − 196° C. These findings are consistent with the results of Nelson and Riley who found a minimum in the a-dimension at about 400° C. The experimental data are compared with those predicted by theory and with those obtained by other workers.
Collection efficiency and transfer characteristics of CID image sensors

Abstract The collection process of the photogenerated charge in charge-injection device (CID) image sensors is examined and a method is presented by which the collection efficiency can be calculated. Numerical techniques are utilized in the analysis. The method is applied to a specific epitaxial type structure. The contribution of the depleted and undepleted regions to the total collection efficiency of the sensor is calculated. The relation between output signal charge and incident light intensity is also investigated. It is shown that the collection efficiency decreases with increasing signal charge and this results in non-linear transfer characteristics at high signal levels.
Larval development following juvenile hormone analogue treatment of eggs of the lesser milkweed bug, Lygaeus kalmii

Abstract When juvenile hormone analogues were applied to developing embryos of Lygaeus kalmii, at the approximate time of blastokinesis, morphological effects were observed in larval life as well as at the time of metamorphosis. Of particular interest was the finding that the distinctive colour pattern characteristic of early larval instars was retained in later instars. A hypothesis is presented which explains these results and the different results reported in the literature for other insects.
The application of the comparative method by English civilians: The case of William Fulbecke and Thomas Ridley

(1981). The application of the comparative method by English civilians: The case of William Fulbecke and Thomas Ridley. The Journal of Legal History: Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 169-185.
The relationship between the activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index in peripheral vestibular dysfunction

Background and Purpose. People with vestibular dysfunction experience dizziness, vertigo and postural instability. The persistence of these symptoms may result in decreased balance confidence. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between decreased balance confidence and gait dysfunction in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Method. A retrospective review of 137 charts with the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) scores was completed. Spearman rank–order correlation analysis was performed of the total sample, by age group and by degree of vestibular weakness. Results. A moderate correlation of r = 0.58 (p<0.001) was found between the ABC Scale score and the DGI score in the total sample. Those with mild or moderate vestibular weakness had a correlation of r = 0.72 (p<0.001) between the ABC Scale score and the DGI score, compared with a correlation of r = 0.48 in those with severe or total vestibular weakness. Conclusions. Decreased balance confidence and increased fall risk are critical issues for people with vestibular dysfunction. The effects of aging did not have a significant impact on the relationship. The correlation between balance confidence and gait dysfunction was stronger in those with mild or moderate vestibular weakness, although those with severe or total weakness were more disabled by their vestibular symptoms. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
USE OF TEMPORAL ENVELOPE CUES IN SPEECH RECOGNITION BY NORMAL AND HEARING-IMPAIRED LISTENERS

The temporal acuity of listeners with sensorineural hearing loss is currently a matter of some controversy. In this study, the ability of normal‐hearing and hearing‐impaired listeners to utilize temporal cues of speech was measured directly. In addition to natural (unprocessed) nonsense syllables, several processed‐speech conditions were employed. Nonsense syllables were digitally processed to remove the original spectral information, resulting in a time‐varying speech envelope amplitude modulating a noise carrier. The processed‐speech conditions were the envelope of a broadband speech signal modulating a broadband noise, a low‐pass speech signal modulating a low‐pass noise, a high‐pass speech signal modulating a high‐pass noise, and a two‐channel signal comprised of the low‐ and high‐pass modulated signals combined. Recognition of the envelope stimuli in quiet and also in modulated and steady noise backgrounds was tested. Listeners were tested at presentation levels yielding their maximum performance on a syllable recognition task. The hearing‐impaired listeners performed more poorly on a recognition task than the normal‐hearing listeners for unprocessed speech signals. However, for listeners with hearing losses of either flat or sloping configuration, there was no significant deficit in their ability to use temporal cues in speech, even in frequency regions of hearing loss up to 70 dB HL. These results demonstrate that moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss does not impair the temporal (nonspectral) acuity of listeners in terms of speech recognition, when audibility of the stimuli is compensated for.
Structure and evolutionary origin of the gene encoding mouse NF-M, the middle-molecular-mass neurofilament protein.

We describe the complete sequence of the gene encoding mouse NF-M, the middle-molecular-mass neurofilament protein. The coding sequence is interrupted by two intervening sequences which align perfectly with the first two intervening sequences in the gene encoding NF-L (the low-molecular-mass neurofilament protein); there is no intron in the gene encoding NF-M corresponding to the third intron in NF-L. Therefore, both the number of introns and their arrangement in the genes coding NF-L and NF-M contrast sharply with the number and arrangement of introns in the genes of known sequence, encoding other members of the intermediate filament multigene family (desmin, vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and the acidic and basic keratins); with the exception of a single truncated keratin gene that lacks an encoded tailpiece, these genes all contain eight introns, of which at least six are placed at homologous locations. Assuming the existence f a primordial intermediate filament gene containing most (if not all) the introns found in contemporary non-neurofilament intermediate filament genes, it seems likely that an RNA-mediated transposition event was involved in the generation of an ancestral gene encoding the NF polypeptides. A combination of insertional transposition and gene-duplication events could then explain the anomalous number and placement of introns within these genes. Consistent with this notion, we show that the genes encoding NF-M and NF-L are linked.
The Effectiveness of IV β-Agonists in Treating Patients with Acute Asthma in the Emergency Department: A Meta-analysis

Objectives To determine the benefit of IV β 2 -agonists for severe acute asthma treated in the emergency department (ED). Methods Randomized controlled trials were identified using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CINAHL; the Cochrane Airways Review Group database; hand searching; bibliographies; pharmaceutical companies; and author contact. Studies where IV β 2 -agonists were compared to placebo and/or existing standards of care were considered. Where appropriate, trials were combined using odds ratios (ORs) or weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results From 746 identified references, 55 potentially relevant articles were identified and 15 articles were included. All trials were performed outside North America and were published prior to 1997. Three main treatment strategies were reviewed: strategy 1 (three articles), IV β 2 -agonists with inhaled β 2 -agonists vs inhaled β 2 -agonists; strategy 2 (six articles), IV β 2 -agonists alone vs inhaled β 2 -agonists; and strategy 3 (six articles), IV β 2 -agonists vs IV methylxanthines. Compared to all treatments, IV β 2 -agonist use did not lead to clinical or statistical significant differences in vital signs, pulmonary functions, laboratory measures, adverse effects, or clinical success. Although statistically nonsignificant, seven methodologically strong studies demonstrated that peak expiratory flows and heart rates were unchanged following β 2 -agonist use compared to all other treatments at 60 min (8.3 L/min [95% CI, 17.6 to 34.2] and 3.65 beats/min [95% CI, 2.9 to 10.2], respectively), with an increased risk of adverse effects (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 0.5 to 8.2). Conclusions Evidence is lacking to support the use of IV β 2 -agonists in ED patients with severe acute asthma. Moreover, the clinical benefit appears questionable, while the potential clinical risks are obvious. The only recommendations for IV β- 2 agonist use should be in those patients in whom inhaled therapy is not feasible, or in the context of a controlled clinical trial comparing IV β 2 -agonists with standard care vs standard care alone.
Assessing the effect of a treatment when subjects are growing at different rates

The analysis of covariance is often used in the context of premeasure/postmeasure designs to compare treatment and control groups in both randomized [ 11 and nonrandomized [2] studies. The intent is to adjust the difference between the changes in the 2_groups for any difference which might exist at baseline, i.e., for any difference between the premeasures in the 2 groups. An important assumption underlying the use of the analysis of covariance is that the slopes of the lines for the regression of the postmeasure on the premeasure in the 2 groups are equal. In this paper we describe a program which can be used to test the hypothesis of equal slopes; and performs an alternative analysis which does not depend on this assumption. This is done in the’context of comparing treatment and control groups with respect to a measurement subject to natural maturation as in [3]. Equal slopes in this context means equal growth rates; unequal slopes implies that the 2 groups are growing at different rates. The method, known as the JohnsonNeyman procedure [4] is, however, more genera1 than this, and can be used in any two-sample comparison where an alternative to the usual analysis of covariance is deemed appropriate. The procedure identities a ‘region of significance’ which is especially useful in practice. This region consists of a set of values of the premeasure for which the treatment and the control groups are significantly different with respect to the postmeasure.
Severe refractory orofacial Crohn's disease: report of a case.

Oral involvement is common in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and can precede intestinal symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. We report a case of severe orofacial CD. A 41-year-old woman presented with palate and tongue ulcers. Biopsies showed acute inflammation with ulcer. Colonoscopy demonstrated ascending colon ulceration. Biopsies revealed acute colitis and mild architectural distortion. Prednisone was started but the symptoms recurred with taper; steroids were resumed and infliximab (IFX) 5 mg/kg was infused. After improvement, oral pain and weight loss returned. A G tube was placed. Mercaptopurine was started at 1.5 mg/kg per day. IFX was increased to 10 mg/kg. Debridement of the oral ulcers and a skin graft to the lips was performed. Pathology from oral and facial lesions was consistent with granulation tissue and fibrosis with chronic inflammation. She was readmitted several months later for weight loss and dehydration. Abdominal pain, distension, and feculent drainage developed around the G tube. Repeat computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated pneumatosis. Laparotomy revealed purulent drainage from a perforated segment of sigmoid colon. Histology was consistent with perforated CD. Despite ventilatory and hemodynamic support and broad-spectrum antibiotics, the patient died 1 week later. Our case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing and managing orofacial CD. In this case, medical treatment was initiated based on a high index of suspicion. CD was only confirmed after intestinal resection very late in the disease course. Treatment of orofacial CD includes topical or systemic steroids, immunomodulators, and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies. As our case demonstrated, patients can be refractory to therapy.
Transurethral bladder cryoablation in the porcine model.

OBJECTIVES To examine the feasibility of transurethral, focal, full-thickness bladder wall cryoablation in the porcine model using a novel 38-cm cryoablation probe. METHODS A total of 18 pigs were divided into three groups. Groups 1 (n = 6) and 2 (n = 6) underwent transurethral bladder wall cryoablation in a saline environment with two freeze-thaw cycles. The pigs in groups 1 and 2 were killed after 1 and 3 weeks, respectively. The pigs in group 3 (n = 6) underwent transurethral cryoablation after the bladder had been insufflated with carbon dioxide gas. The pigs in group 3 were killed after 1 week. In all groups, laparoscopic access was obtained to protect the abdominal contents from the transmural cryoablation process. Bladder integrity was evaluated with cystography and laparoscopic visualization, and each cryolesion was excised en bloc for extensive histopathologic evaluation. RESULTS All 18 pigs successfully underwent bladder wall cryoablation. For all groups, the preoperative, postoperative, and sacrifice cystograms were without evidence of extravasation. No urinomas, hematomas, or adhesions were present in groups 1 and 2. Minimal adhesions were identified in 3 (50%) of 6 pigs in group 3. For groups 1, and 2, the mean length and width of the area of complete necrosis on histopathologic evaluation was 6.5 and 3.0 mm and 2.3 and 1.3 mm, respectively. For group 3, the mean diameter of the cryolesion was 8.2 mm. Full-thickness necrosis was confirmed in all groups. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study have shown that, in this model, complete full-thickness transurethral bladder wall cryoablation, with maintenance of bladder wall integrity, is feasible.
Massachusetts Reform Plus President Bush’s Tax Credits: A National Model?

The Massachusetts health reform offers an important opportunity for a new federal-state strategy to cover the uninsured. President George Bush’s proposed health insurance tax credits could be added to the Massachusetts health reform. The combined plan would include Medicaid expansions; offer workers affordable coverage through competitive insurance markets; and provide federal, state, employer, and individual financing. Many other states might be interested in similar federal-state partnerships for the forty-five million uninsured Americans. Ending the national impasse on coverage needs this kind of bold initiative.
Comparison of coincident Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aerosol optical depths over land and ocean scenes containing Aerosol Robotic Network sites

[1] The Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), launched on 18 December 1999 aboard the Terra spacecraft, are making global observations of top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiances. Aerosol optical depths and particle properties are independently retrieved from these radiances using methodologies and algorithms that make use of the instruments' corresponding designs. This paper compares instantaneous optical depths retrieved from simultaneous and collocated radiances measured by the two instruments at locations containing sites within the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). A set of 318 MISR and MODIS images, obtained during the months of March, June, and September 2002 at 62 AERONET sites, were used in this study. The results show that over land, MODIS aerosol optical depths at 470 and 660 nm are larger than those retrieved from MISR by about 35% and 10% on average, respectively, when all land surface types are included in the regression. The differences decrease when coastal and desert areas are excluded. For optical depths retrieved over ocean, MISR is on average about 0.1 and 0.05 higher than MODIS in the 470 and 660 nm bands, respectively. Part of this difference is due to radiometric calibration and is reduced to about 0.01 and 0.03 when recently derived band-to-band adjustments in the MISR radiometry are incorporated. Comparisons with AERONET data show similar patterns.
Accuracy of Clinical Neuropsychological Versus Statistical Prediction in the Classification of Seizure types

Many studies have reported on the pattern of neuropsychological test performance across varied seizure diagnosis populations. Far fewer studies have evaluated the accuracy of the clinical neuropsychologist in formulating an impression of the seizure diagnosis based on results of neuropsychological assessment, or compared the accuracy of clinical neuropsychological judgment to results of statistical prediction. Accuracy of clinical neuropsychological versus statistical prediction was investigated in four seizure classification scenarios. While both methods outperformed chance, accuracy of clinical neuropsychological classification was either equivalent or superior to statistical prediction. Results support the utility and validity of clinical neuropsychological judgment in epilepsy treatment settings.
Post-Failure Behavior of Laminates I — No Stress Concentration

Experimental and analytical results are presented for the post-failure behavior of unnotched quasi-isotropic glass-epoxy laminates. The analysis is based on a simplified tangent modulus method and a maximum stress ply failure criterion. Several ply failure models are considered, involving vari ous combinations of stiffness reduction. The most significant finding is that matrix failure in the 90° layers must be supplemented by reduction of E11 as a result of a fiber instability mode.
Centered distributions with cauchy conditionals

We introduce a bivariate distribution with Cauchy conditionals that is centered at the origin. The construction is patterned after the functional equation methods employed by Castillo and Galambos(1987), Arnold(1987), Castillo and Galambos(1989), and Arnold and Strauss( 1988a) in the development of various bivariate densities with conditionally specified distributions. An application of the Cauchy conditionals density as a model for body mass index(BMI) and cholesterol ratios is presented.
Flexural behavior of aged prestressed concrete girders strengthened with various FRP systems

Abstract Many prestressed concrete bridges are in need of upgrading in order to increase their posted capacities. Departments of transportation across the country have been faced with large financial burdens on the maintenance budget, negative psychological effects on highway users, long traffic delays during maintenance, potential safety hazards, and reduced service life as a result of the deficiencies. In response to considerable consultation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), a research project with practical goals was initiated to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and value engineering of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) repair and strengthening systems for prestressed concrete bridge girders. This paper presents the first phase of the research program, involving the testing under static loading conditions of eight prestressed concrete bridge girders, six strengthened with various CFRP systems. Results show that the ultimate capacity of prestressed concrete bridge girders can be increased by as much as 73% using CFRP without sacrificing the ductility of the original member. Transverse CFRP U-wrap reinforcements are recommended along the length of the girder to control debonding type failures. The second phase of the research will examine the fatigue behavior of the strengthened girders, and provide analysis under service loading conditions.
Application of the Serber potential to low energy hyperon-nucleon scattering

Abstract Theoretical expressions for the hyperon-nucleon scattering cross sections at low energy are derived which give these cross sections as simple linear combinations of the nucleon-nucleon cross sections. The assumptions necessary for this derivation are: a) there exists a universal coupling between pions and baryons, and b) the nucleon-nucleon interaction can be described by a Serber potential. In addition, the approximations must be made of neglecting effects of K mesons and baryon mass differences. The restriction to low energy is necessary because the assumption is needed that the scattering be appreciable only when the hyperon and nucleon are in a state of zero orbital angular momentum.
Telecommunication privatisation: mixed progress

Questions the effectiveness of regulation and the openness of markets in telecommunications, when government has a vested stake momentarily in a telecoms provider. Looks at various countries’ways of handling such as global alliances, and gives recommendations to safeguard sales of public property, using a Figure to give extra emphasis and explanations.
Privacy, property rights and efficiency: The economics of privacy as secrecy

There is a long history of governmental efforts to protect personal privacy and strong debates about the merits of such policies. A central element of privacy is the ability to control the dissemination of personally identifiable data to private parties. Posner, Stigler, and others have argued that privacy comes at the expense of allocative efficiency. Others have argued that privacy issues are readily resolved by proper allocation of property rights to control information. Our principal findings challenge both views. We find: (a) privacy can be efficient even when there is no “taste” for privacy per se, and (b) to be effective, a privacy policy may need to ban information transmission or use rather than simply assign individuals control rights to their personally identifiable data.
Identification of Neopterin as a Potential Indicator of Infection in Burned Patients

Abstract : Several fluorescent substances are present in the supernatants of acid precipitated whole blood or plasma from burned patients. Perchloric acid supernatants of sera from infected, but not uninfected, burned rats contained a fluorescent substance with maximum emission at 420 nm at 355-nm excitation (355 ex/420 em). In this study of serum from burned human patients, several fluorescent substances were resolved by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. One of these fluorescent components had an high-pressure liquid chromatography retention time and fluorescent characteristics identical to those of neopterin. The identification of this component as neopterin was verified by thermospray mass spectrometry. Serum neopterin concentrations were then determined in supernatants of patient serum samples having various levels of 355 ex/420 em fluorescence. A correlation was found between the concentrations of neopterin determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography and the presence of bacteremia in burned patients. These findings suggest that neopterin, which is a useful indicator of infection In other clinical settings, may also be an indicator of infection in bumed patients.
ROBUST SENSING AND CONTROL OF WELD POOL SURFACE

Abstract Gas tungsten arc welding is the primary process for precision joining of metals. To develop a simple yet durable sensing and control system for this process, a novel sensor which requires no additional attachment is proposed to sense the depth of the weld pool surface using a non-transferred arc. To assure its effectiveness and accuracy, a flat surface is periodically established to provide a real-time reference so that the weld pool surface depth can be accurately measured. Because of possible large process variations, an interval model control algorithm with adaptively updated intervals is adopted. Closed-loop experiments showed that the developed control system is capable of achieving quality welds and is robust with respect to different variations.
Event shapes in e+e− annihilation

We present a complete set of rotationally invariant observables (Hl) which characterizes the ‘shapes’ of final states in e+e− annihilation. They are infrared stable when calculated in QCD perturbation theory. We compare the ‘shapes’ of final states from the processes e+e− → qq, e+e− → qq(G) and from the three-gluon decays of heavy vector mesons. We also consider the production and decay of heavy quarks and leptons. Using a realistic model for the development of hadron jets, we find that for c.m. energies above about 10 GeV, these processes may be clearly distinguished by their distributions in the Hl. We indicate how our analysis may be extended to deep inelastic lepton-hadron interactions and hadron-hadron collisions involving large transverse momenta.
Associations between obesity and asthma in a low-income, urban, minority population.

Abstract Background Community-based studies of obesity, asthma, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and adipokines among low-income, urban, minority populations are lacking. Oxidative stress, perhaps modulated by adipokines, may increase airway inflammation in obese individuals. Objectives To characterize associations between obesity and asthma in a low-income, urban, minority community and evaluate adipokines, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidant-antioxidant balance in association with asthma and obesity. Methods A door-to-door evaluation of asthma and obesity prevalence was performed in a low-income housing development. Nonsmoking adults and children underwent additional evaluation, including allergy skin testing, and measures of serum adipokines, and indicators of oxidative stress in blood and exhaled breath. Results The prevalences of current asthma and a body mass index in the 85th percentile or higher were 15.8% and 35.3%, respectively, among 350 nonsmokers older than 4 years. Asthma and obesity were not associated with one another (odds ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.84). Among 116 nonsmoking participants who underwent biomarker evaluation, obesity was not associated with exhaled nitric oxide. In multivariate logistic models that adjusted for age category, sex, and a body mass index in 85th percentile or higher, leptin concentrations in the highest quartile were associated with asthma (odds ratio, 8.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-50.2) but not with atopy. Adiponectin was associated with total antioxidant capacity in exhaled breath. Conclusion Asthma and obesity, although both common in a low-income, minority community, were not associated with one another. Nevertheless, adipokines were associated with asthma status and with markers of oxidative stress in the lungs, providing some support for an adipokine-inflammatory mechanistic link between the two conditions.
Sequential Common-Value Auctions with Asymmetrically Informed Bidders

)We study an inﬁnitely repeated ﬁrst-price auction with common values. We focus on one-sidedincomplete information, in which one bidder learns the objects’ value, which itself does not change overtime. Learning by the uninformed bidder occurs only through observation of the bids. The proprietaryinformation is eventually revealed, and the seller extracts essentially the entire rent (for large discountfactors). Both players’ pay-offs tend to 0 as the discount factor tends to 1. However, the uninformed bidderdoes relatively better than the informed bidder. We discuss the case of two-sided incomplete informationand argue that, under a Markovian reﬁnement, the outcome is pooling as information is revealed onlyinsofar as it does not affect prices.
The Effect of Spiritual Experience on the AA Promises, Locus of Control and Family Dynamics in Recovery Within Alcoholics Anonymous

ABSTRACT This article examines the effect of the two types of spiritual experiences found in Alcoholics Anonymous on the promises of AA, locus of control measures and family dynamics. Participants in the study included 71 members of Alcoholics Anonymous (40 males and 31 females) from groups located in Southern New Jersey. Those with slower spiritual experiences had more conflict (triangulation) with their parents, felt more parental intimidation, were more external on a locus of control measure and spent less time in daily prayer than those with a sudden spiritual experience. More promises were attained by those claiming a spiritual experience.
Investigation of Shunt Resistances in Single-Junction a-Si:H Alloy Solar Cells

Dark current-voltage characteristics of one hundred twenty single-junction a-Si:H alloy solar cells were studied. Parametric Modelling of dark I-V Measurements was used to determine some of the cell parameters. Average shunt resistances were 31 to 1200 kΩ for intrinsic layer thicknesses of 200 to 800 nm, respectively. Current switching was observed during dark I-V Measurements; the current in the reverse-bias region varies approximately as the square of the voltage following the onset of switching. The I-V characteristics in the switched mode are not understood. Voltage history and scan rate play a role in dark I-V characteristics.
Efficient system for 3-D object recognition

This paper presents an efficient system for recovering the structural properties of objects. We build adaptive maps for interpreting the object structure. The System is decomposed into four major modules, the sensing interface acquires visual data and performs low and intermediate vision tasks for enhancing the acquired image sequences. A knowledge base contains different visual primitives and the possible exploratory actions. The map building and decision making module gets its input from the sensing interface and utilizes the different predicates that are stored in the knowledge base in order to resolve possible uncertainties. The decisions made in the map building and decision making module are then utilized by the controller module which resolves possible inconsistencies due to physical limitations of the sensing devices. The above process is repeated until the map contains a minimal number of interpretations that cannot be reduced further.
Open Access Issues and Engineering Faculty Attitudes and Practices

ABSTRACT The two primary means for accomplishing Open Access (OA) goals are the “author pays” or Gold model and the “self-archiving” or Green model, both of which can have variations or hybrids. There is a growing schism between proponents of the Gold and Green models. Scholar uptake on self-archiving has been very limited. At the same time, a great deal of concern has been expressed regarding the Gold model, particularly with regard to cost and the role of peer-review lite journals. With the evolving OA environment as a backdrop, the authors conducted a survey of university engineering faculty in order to better understand their OA practices and attitudes. The scholarly communication needs and activities of engineering faculty are more diverse than other scholars in that they have a broader and more varied literature, which includes journal articles, conference papers, technical reports, standards, handbook information, patents, and grey literature. The survey was comprised of 12 Likert scale questions a...
What employers want from students: a report from OOPSLA

Recently, two of our stronger graduate students had trouble finding work as software developers. Both students had done masters-level work in operating systems, networking, software engineering, and various "hot" technologies, including Java, C++, and client-server computing. Both students had also worked as programmers before starting graduate school. Given these credentials, I was surprised when these students, in effect, had to move closer to prospective employers before they gave serious consideration to their resumes.My students' experiences caused me to conduct an informal survey about the perceived value of a computer science degree. In October 1998, I asked employees from 23 exhibitors at OOPSLA '98---software, consulting, and training firms---to assess what their company expected from any applicant with a BS or MS in computer science. What follows are my findings, together with concluding observations regarding what these findings might signify.
Neurological exotropia: do we need to decrease surgical dosing?

Children with neurological disorders have a high prevalence of horizontal strabismus.1 Although esotropia predominates,1 exotropia is considered to be highly suggestive of neurological disease.2 Strabismic children with neurological impairment have poorer surgical outcomes, possibly due to variability of measurements and decreased fusional capacity.3 ,4 Nevertheless, they can benefit functionally and cosmetically from successful surgical correction.3 ,4 It has been noted that children with neurological esotropia are prone to surgical overcorrection.3 ,5 Consequently, strabismus surgeons often decrease surgical dosing in these children. It is unknown whether this same practice is advisable with neurological exotropia. This report describes our surgical results in nine patients with neurological exotropia who were treated with bilateral lateral rectus recessions. A retrospective chart review of strabismic patients examined by one of the authors (MCB) from 2008 through 2011 was performed. This chart review was approved by the Institutional Review …
On fault simulation for synchronous sequential circuits

We investigate the considerations to be employed in designing a fault simulator for synchronous sequential circuits described at the gate level. Three testing strategies and three methods of handling unknown state variable values are considered. Every combination of a test strategy and a method of handling unknown state variable values defines a different fault simulation procedure. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the different fault coverage levels achievable by the various procedures. Based on these results, a fault simulation procedure that combines the various considerations is proposed. >
Lipid metabolism in bone and bone cells. II. The in vitro incorporation of [32P] orthophosphate and [14C] serine into lipids of bone and bone cell cultures.

Abstract 1. 1. Calvaria of new-born rats or bone cell cultures were incubated with buffer containing [ 32 P]orthophosphate or [ 14 C]serine to study lipid synthesis in mineralizing tissues. 2. 2. [ 32 P]Orthophosphate was readily incorporated into phospholipids by calvaria and bone cell cultures. As with [ 14 C]glucose or [ 14 C]glycerol (ref. 1), lecithin was more heavily labeled than the other phospholipids. The labeling of sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl serine could not be demonstrated from radioactive phosphate. ATP decreased the incorporation of this isotope into lipids. 3. 3. [ 14 C]Serine gave rise to a variety of radioactive lipids. The synthesis of phosphatidyl serine was enhanced by the addition of both CTP and ATP whereas the labeling of sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl ethanolamine was little affected by these two co-factors.
An implicit enumeration scheme for the flowshop problem with no intermediate storage

Abstract The scheduling of batch processing of materials may be modeled as a flowshop scheduling problem with no intermediate storage, for which the objective is to minimize the makespan. This paper presents a branch and bound procedure which makes use of lower bounds based on estimates of the mean and the variance of makespans derived from the completion of fixed partial sequences of job assignments. Methods of obtaining these estimates are given and a heuristic rule is used to obtain an initial solution which serves as an upper bound to the optimum.
Fast communication: Complex adaptive FIR digital filtering algorithm with time-varying independent convergence factors

The Complex Least Mean Square (Complex LMS) algorithm suffers from slow convergence and dependence on the choice of the convergence factor. In this paper, a novel Complex FIR Block Adaptive algorithm (Complex OBA-LMS) for digital filtering, which overcomes the inherent limitations of the Complex LMS, is presented. The proposed technique employs optimally derived convergence factors, updated at each block iteration, for independently adjusting the real and imaginary components of the Complex FIR adaptive filter coefficients. Simulation results confirm the performance improvement in terms of convergence speed and accuracy of the proposed method.
The two-photon spectrum of iron and silicon detected by resonant laser ablation

Abstract We report ionization spectra of Si and Fe atoms ablated at low fluence from bulk Si and Re targets, respectively. Two-photon transition intensities are calculated using second-order perturbation theory. We obtain moderate agreement between experimental and calculated intensities, assuming a temperature of 1100±200 K for Fe ablation from Re. Si and Fe are detected in excited electronic states up to 1.9 and 1.5 eV, respectively. Ablation of electronically excited Si is enhanced with exposure to oxygen or water. This effect is compared with a similar effect observed in ion induced sputtering of Si and other materials.
Protracted Oxidative Alterations in the Mechanism of Hematopoietic Acute Radiation Syndrome

The biological effects of high-dose total body ionizing irradiation [(thereafter, irradiation (IR)] are attributed to primary oxidative breakage of biomolecule targets, mitotic, apoptotic and necrotic cell death in the dose-limiting tissues, clastogenic and epigenetic effects, and cascades of functional and reactive responses leading to radiation sickness defined as the acute radiation syndrome (ARS). The range of remaining and protracted injuries at any given radiation dose as well as the dynamics of post-IR alterations is tissue-specific. Therefore, functional integrity of the homeostatic tissue barriers may decline gradually within weeks in the post-IR period culminating with sepsis and failure of organs and systems. Multiple organ failure (MOF) leading to moribundity is a common sequela of the hemotapoietic form of ARS (hARS). Onset of MOF in hARS can be presented as "two-hit phenomenon" where the "first hit" is the underlying consequences of the IR-induced radiolysis in cells and biofluids, non-septic inflammation, metabolic up-regulation of pro-oxidative metabolic reactions, suppression of the radiosensitive hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues and the damage to gut mucosa and vascular endothelium. While the "second hit" derives from bacterial translocation and spread of the bacterial pathogens and inflammagens through the vascular system leading to septic inflammatory, metabolic responses and a cascade of redox pro-oxidative and adaptive reactions. This sequence of events can create a ground for development of prolonged metabolic, inflammatory, oxidative, nitrative, and carbonyl, electrophilic stress in crucial tissues and thus exacerbate the hARS outcomes. With this perspective, the redox mechanisms, which can mediate the IR-induced protracted oxidative post-translational modification of proteins, oxidation of lipids and carbohydrates and their countermeasures in hARS are subjects of the current review. Potential role of ubiquitous, radioresistant mesenchymal stromal cells in the protracted responses to IR and IR-related septicemia is also discussed.
OPN01-6: Enabling Security Countermeasure and Service Restoration in Passive Optical Networks

In this paper, we introduce a novel passive and wavelength selective remote node specifically designed to enable security countermeasure in PONs. The central office could physically isolate problem makers from the network without disrupting regular links by issuing a wavelength specific control signal to this device. With its wavelength selective nature, the countermeasure-enabled passive device is also a natural candidate to a WDM-PON remote node. To demonstrate its feasibility, a discrete version of the device is implemented. In addition to enable countermeasure capability, a new kind of PON restoration technique that employs a hybrid optical-wireless network is proposed. Finally, cost and performance considerations are discussed in an 8-channel planer lightwave circuit example.
Energy Equation for Volatile Liquid Transport in Porous Media

Two energy balance equations widely used to describe simultaneous transfer of heat and mass in porous media are inconsistent with control volume energy conservation. Potential energy, enthalpy, and internal energy terms are involved in the discrepancies. Energy within a volume is properly counted as the sum of internal, potential, and kinetic energy. However, one equation uses enthalpy where internal energy should have been used. In the other, potential energy and shifts in internal energy associated with heat of wetting are not included. Energy conservation for a control volume dictates summing convective fluxes of internal, potential, and kinetic energy at the control volume surface along with conducted heat and work crossing the boundary. The pressure–volume (pv) work at the volume surface may be combined with internal energy convection so that flow of enthalpy is used in the flux term. Examples of energy change versus work input in adiabatic processes illustrate the error introduced when enthalpy rath...
Organizational Approaches to Improving Resuscitation Effectiveness

Hemodynamic instability and shock are important causes of mortality worldwide. Improving outcomes for these patients through effective resuscitation is a key priority for the health system. This article discusses several organizational approaches to improving resuscitation effectiveness and outlines key areas for future research and development. The discussion is rooted in a conceptual model of effective resuscitation based on three domains: monitoring systems, response teams, and feedback mechanisms. Targeting each of these domains in a unified approach helps clinicians effectively treat deteriorating patients, ultimately improving outcomes for this high-risk patient group.
Statistical Support of the Proposed National Toxicology Program Protocol

Statistical issues related to the design, analysis and interpretation of carcinogenicity studies are considered. A proposed modification of the "standard" National Cancer Institute (NCI) design of carcinogenicity studies in rodents is discussed. The primary objective was to obtain a design that maintained the power of the NCI design for detecting carcinogenic effects, while increasing the precision with which the underlying dose-response model could be estimated. "Optimum" three-dose designs are presented and discussed. Data analysis issues are also considered. Comparisons of tumor incidence should include adjustments for survival differences, and, if possible, cause of death determinations should be made for each individual animal. In some instances historical control data can aid an investigator in the overall evaluation of experimental results. Several important problems are discussed that must be overcome before historical control data can be used in a meaningful way. One critical issue in the interpretation of tumor incidence data is the issue of false positives. Data from 25 recent long term feeding studies are used to derive a statistical decision rule that closely approximates the scientific judgment process used in these studies. The overall false positive rate associated with this decision rule was found to be no more than 7-8%.
Elements of Transcription Factor Network Design for T-Lineage Specification

The complex spectrum of cell types produced in mammalian hematopoiesis can be understood as the output of highly combinatorial transcription factor action. The generation of multiple diverse combinations of transcription factors from the common starting state of the hematopoietic stem cell must be explained through the cross-regulatory interactions of these transcription factors at several levels. Here, the operation of such a network is addressed through a focus on murine T cell development, where we have recently established regulatory linkages between GATA-3 and PU.1 and multiple other factors essential to this differentiation pathway. The action of both essential/rate-limiting factors and factors with effects that shift qualitatively with dose and time of action can be traced through the regulatory interaction network. Hypothetical models are proposed to indicate the network nodes that are differentially activated in normal T cell lineage progression and in cells diverted to other potential fates.
X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC STRUCTURES OF TWO POLYMORPHIC FORMS OF CIS-6-CARBOXY-2,10-DIOXA-1-PHOSPHABICYCLO-[4.4.0JDECANE 1-OXIDE

Abstract The title compound, cis-6-carboxy-2,10-dioxa-1-phosphabicyclo[4.4.0]decane 1-oxide (4), crystallizes in two different crystalline forms: 4a, monoclinic, P21/c, a = 7.7702(5) A, b = 7.1115(3) A, c = 17.8577(10), β = 99.146(5)°, V = 974.46(10) A3, Z = 4, Dcule = 1.501 Mg m−3, Cu Kα, λ = 1.54178 A, a = 2.51 mm−1, F(000) = 464, T = 298(2) K, R = 0.041 and 4b; orthorhombic, P212121, a = 7.9188(8) A, b = 10.8147(6) A, c = 11.261(2), V = 964.4(3) A3, Z = 4, Dcalc.lc = 1.515 Mg m−3, Cu Kα, λ = 1.54178 A, μ = 2.54 mm−1, F(000) = 464, T = 295(2)K, R = 0.046. In each form the structures are found to consist of two as-fused six-membered rings, with each ring in the chair conformation. Both structures exhibit intermolecular hydrogen bonding of the form P[dbnd]O…H[sbnd]O[sbnd]C[dbnd]O with 4a in the form of dinners and 4b in the form of helical chains. All corresponding bond lengths and angles are statistically the same for 4a and 4b. A significant difference in the orientation of the carboxy group in 4a and 4...