cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of wounding on the riboflavin status of the rat

Abstract The effects of wounding on riboflavin status of the rat were investigated. Male Sprague Dawley rats were intramuscularly injected in the hind limb with lambda-carrageenan. Four groups were studied: ad libitum control (C); wounded (W); pair-fed to wounded (P); and pair-fed to wounded supplemented to receive 60μg riboflavin daily (R). All groups were fed a 15% casein diet containing 2 μg riboflavin per g diet. Decreased food intake in the W and P groups was associated with weight loss, less positive nitrogen and riboflavin balance, and increased erythrocyte glutathione activity coefficients (ERG-AC). In spite of restricted food intake, R group values were closer to C group for riboflavin balance and ERG-AC, suggesting that these parameters are affected primarily by riboflavin intake. Nitrogen balance improved but did not reach control values. Liver riboflavin was significantly lower in the W group when compared to all other groups (p
Cyanogenic glycosides of the Turneraceae

Eighty species of Turneraceae were tested and found to be cyanogenic. Analysis by HPLC and NMR and comparisons of Rt values from paper chromatograms showed all to possess tetraphyllin A and B and epitetraphyllin B and deidaclin as their cyanogens. These data confirm the close relationship of this family with other families which produce structurally related cyanogens: the Passifloraceae, Malesherbiaceae and Flacourtiaceae.
Elevated sacral skin temperature (Ts): a risk factor for pressure ulcer development in hospitalized neurologically impaired Thai patients

Pressure ulcer incidence and sacral skin temperature (T(s)) were measured in hospitalized neurologically impaired Thai patients ( n = 17) positioned supine and then laterally. Pressure ulcer incidence within 2 weeks of admission was 47%. Regardless of reclining position, mean sacral T(s) in subjects who developed a pressure ulcer was higher ( p < .01) than those who did not develop an ulcer. The data suggest that T(s) may increase at least 1.2 degrees C 24-96 hr before sacral pressure ulcer development. Sacral T(s) may be an objective predictor of sacral pressure ulcer development in hospitalized neurologically impaired Thai patients.
Community-Acquired Clostridium difficile Infection: An Emerging Problem

The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been increasing in recent years with a trend towards higher hospitalization and mortality rates. Well-known risk factors such as age and antimicrobial usage have been known to play a role in the development of both hospital-acquired and community-acquired CDI but other potentially novel risk factors such as proton pump inhibitor usage, close contact with a colonized individual and zoonotic or foodborne transmission may contribute to community-acquired cases. There also have been new developments in management of CDI with the use of donor feces for treatment of those with recurrent disease and in the use of probiotics as a strategy for preventing CDI.
Dairy Production Research in the United States Department of Agriculture

Research, demonstration, and the collection and dissemination of information useful to the dai ry farmer have been carried on in the United States Department of Agriculture for about 70 years. The first work was done by the Bureau of Animal Industry. During the last quarter of the 19th century the d a i r y i n d u s t r y had grown to such prominence in the agricultural economy that Congress enacted legislation to establish a special Dairy Division in the Bureau of Animal Indus t ry to pursue research and education for the benefit of that industry. While the dai ry industry was making rapid growth at this time, R. E. Hodgson it was at a low state of efficiency. In 1890 there were about 15 million cows kept for milk on farms. Their average production was about 2,700 lb. of milk and 115 lb. of butterfat . Knowledge of feeding and the production of efficient, low-cost feed supplies was limited. There was no testing program to guide farmers in their breeding and feeding operations or in culling poor cows from their herds. Methods of producing milk of high sanitary quality were inadequate.
Fatigue predicts mortality in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between fatigue and survival over 10 years in a population of older community-dwelling primary care patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Medicare health maintenance organization and Veterans Affairs primary care programs. PARTICIPANTS: Older primary care patients (N=492). MEASUREMENTS: Fatigue, operationalized as feeling tired most of the time, was assessed at baseline. Mortality was ascertained from the National Death Index. Covariates included demographics, comorbidity, cognitive function, depressive symptoms, body mass index, self-rated health, functional status, and gait speed. RESULTS: Mortality rates at 10 years were 59% (123/210) for older adults with fatigue, versus 38% (106/282) for those without fatigue (P<.001). After adjustment for multiple potential confounders, participants who were tired at baseline had a greater risk of death than those who were not (hazard ratio=1.44, 95% confidence interval=1.08–1.93). CONCLUSION: A single simple question “Do you feel tired most of the time?” identifies older adults with a higher risk of mortality. Further research is needed to identify and characterize the underlying mechanisms of fatigue, to develop and test specific treatments, and to determine whether improvement leads to decreased morbidity and mortality.
Characterization and Distribution of Three New Clonal Lineages of Phytophthora infestans Causing Late Blight in Wisconsin from 2009 to 2012

Phytophthora infestans causes late blight of potato and tomato, a disease that has been estimated to cost U.S. potato growers $287.8 million annually. We collected isolates of P. infestans from Wisconsin from 2009 to 2012 and determined distribution of clonal lineages and mating types and sensitivity to the systemic fungicide mefenoxam. We also sought to evaluate the current utility of an analysis of the Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi) allozyme locus for predicting mefenoxam sensitivity with the aim of delivering timely information to growers. Overall, 143 isolates were collected from 52 locations in 20 Wisconsin counties from 2009 to 2012. Three clonal lineages, US-22, US-23, and US-24, were identified and were novel to Wisconsin and the U.S. US-22 is of the A2 mating type and sensitive to mefenoxam, with Gpi 100/122. US-23 and US-24 are of the A1 mating type and primarily intermediately sensitive to mefenoxam, with Gpi 100/100 and 100/100/111, respectively. Because of this close correlation and the unique Gpi patterns for each lineage present, we were able to predict mefenoxam sensitivity directly from samples using the allozyme assay and quickly deliver management information to growers. Both mating types were present in Wisconsin in 2009 and 2010 but were spatially separated and no evidence of sexual recombination or soil persistence was detected. The presence of new clonal lineages of P. infestans in Wisconsin indicates a need for continued close monitoring of late blight to facilitate generation of timely information for enhanced short-term and long-term late blight management.
Room temperature deformation behavior of multiphase Ni20at.%Al30at.%Fe and its constituent phases

The microstructure of the multiphase alloy Ni20Al30Fe (where the composition is in approximate atomic per cent), processed through a casting and hot-extrusion route, consisted of a pro-eutectic β′ (ordered b.c.c. or B2-structured) phase in a fine (0.5 μm lamellae width) eutectic. The eutectic consisted of β′ + γ (f.c.c.) phases; the γ phase itself contained γ′ (ordered f.c.c. or L12-structured) precipitates. When tested in tension at room temperature, this alloy exhibited up to 20% elongation and a yield strength of up to 850 MPa. Crack stopping by the γ–γ′ phase was concluded to be an important factor contributing to the ductility of the alloy. In contrast, β′ Ni30Al20Fe, which had a composition similar to that of the pro-eutectic phase of the multiphase alloy, exhibited a similar yield stress of 800 MPa but only 2% elongation. This alloy deformed by «001a slip. Finally, the alloy Ni12Al40Fe, which was similar to the γ–γ′ phases of the multiphase alloy, exhibited 28% tensile elongation and a yield strength of 507 MPa and deformed by «110a slip.
Modern control applications to manual control-historical perspective and future direction

Control theory has been applied to modeling human operator response for the past thirty years. Progress in manual control theory and applications has, therefore, been intimately dependent upon the state-of-the-art in control theory. This close relationship is particularly evident in the modeling methodology dominant during certain periods of its history. Thus, in the fifties and early sixties, classical control theory was the underlying foundation of manual control. However, with the advent of modern control theory in the late sixties and seventies, there has been an increasing application of these new tools; specifically, linear optimal control methods are utilized in characterizing human response as a controller in closed-loop regulation or tracking tasks. This paper attempts to put these developments in manual control in historical perspective. Existing methodology is assessed in terms of the practical requirements in manual control system evaluation, test and design. The merits and limitations of present methods are identified followed by an enumeration of desirable objectives and directions in future research.
On the possibility of solar dust ring formation due to increased dust-ion drag from coronal mass ejections

Abstract Model calculations of circumsolar dust are conducted taking into account the increased ion drag due to the interaction of F-coronal dust with CMEs inside 8 R s . The choice of 8 R s is not arbitrary, after considering the severe plasma environment inside this region. Dust particles are allowed to spiral inward towards the Sun via the Poynting-Robertson drag, and the characteristics of the CMEs are applied in order to numerically compute the increased ion drag on F-coronal dust. The results show that the spiraling time would roughly be cut in half for dust particles inside 8 R s . Differences in the spiraling time due to the dependence of the magnitude of increased ion drag on dust particle size, creates separation in the heliocentric distance of the orbits of small (> 10 μm) vs. larger particles. This result could create conditions where a dust ring or rings may appear as a transient feature, which would explain former citing of such dust rings by observers and their absence by others.
Water-intake of saturated soils

In his profound work “Data of geochemistry” Clarke accepts the estimate that of the total of about 337,000,000 cubic miles of water within the hydrosphere of the Earth, 29,347 cubic miles falls as precipitation on the land-area and 6,524 cubic miles returns to the oceans as stream-flow annually [see 1 of references at end of paper]. Thus it appears that less than 0.002 per cent of the Earth's capital of water takes part in the ocean-land-ocean circulation. It is this small fraction of the Earth's store of water that has performed wonders throughout the sedimentary history of the Earth. It has been responsible for Nature's public works in sculpturing continents as they emerged from the oceans time after time throughout the ages.
Constraint isomorphism and the generation of stochastic data

We consider the problem of generating random data under constraints that are expressed in terms of different parameter sets. These constraints must be consistent between the parameter sets. However, this requirement of constraint consistency has to date not received much attention in the literature. The major objective of this article is to propose a formal concept called constraint isomorphism to detect and help avoid inconsistencies between the constraints. The method presented here can be used as a verification technique for random-data generation. As a case study, we illustrate our methodology on the total-tardiness problem: a NP-hard job scheduling problem. Since generating random data under constraints is an extremely common problem, especially in the simulation arena, the technique has a wide spectrum of potential applications.
Is residential treatment effective for opioid use disorders? A longitudinal comparison of treatment outcomes among opioid dependent, opioid misusing, and non-opioid using emerging adults with substance use disorder

Background Opioid misuse and dependence rates among emerging adults have increased substantially. While office-based opioid treatments (e.g., buprenorphine/naloxone) have shown overall efficacy, discontinuation rates among emerging adults are high. Abstinence-based residential treatment may serve as a viable alternative, but has seldom been investigated in this age group.
RESEARCH NOTE NUMERICAL SCALE-POINT LOCATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTING THE LAM (LABELED AFFECTIVE MAGNITUDE) SCALE

In a recent paper, we described the development and application of a labeled affective magnitude (LAM) scale for assessing liking/disliking (Schutz and Cardello 2001). Here we present the exact numerical scale-point locations corresponding to the verbal labels of the scale, so that investigators can easily construct the LAM scale for use with either paper or computer-based ballots.
Clusters of deviant speech dimensions in the dysarthrias.

Correlation matrices were used to demonstrate co-occurrence of deviant speech dimensions observed. Application of this technique led to the emergence of eight distinctive clusters of dysfunction. Each of seven neurologic disorders studied had its own unique group or pattern of clusters. However, any one cluster emerged in and was shared by more than one disorder. Inspection of the dimensions present in a cluster permitted giving the cluster a logically determined name based usually on the defective physiology responsible for the cluster. Knowledge of the neuromuscular characteristics of each disorder led to deductions concerning the neuromuscular substrate for each cluster. Intercluster correlations yielded clues concerning co-occurrence of certain neuromuscular defects. Further inspection led to identification of the probable neuromuscular bases of individual deviant speech dimensions. These conclusions may serve as hypotheses for more accurate physiologic and neurophysiologic measurements to further del...
A Lagrangian Model for Baroclinic Genesis of Mesoscale Vortices. Part I: Theory

Abstract The problem of weakly stratified, weakly sheared flow over (or under) obstacles is solved approximately by using a Lagrangian approach that obtains solutions on isentropic or Bernoulli surfaces and hence reveals the vortex lines immediately. The new method is based on a decomposition of the vorticity in dry, inviscid, isentropic flow into baroclinic and barotropic components. The formulas for both baroclinic and barotropic vorticity are exact formal solutions of the vorticity equation. A nonhydrostatic Lagrangian model approximates these solutions based on a primary-flow–secondary-flow approach. The assumed primary flow is a three-dimensional steady potential flow so that it is a solution of the governing inviscid equations only in the absence of stratification and preexisting vorticity. It is chosen to be irrotational in order to eliminate the primary flow as the origin of rotation. Three particular potential flows are chosen for their simplicity and because pieces of them approximate mesoscale ...
Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica Recessive Fibroblasts Produce Increased Concentrations of cAMP Within a Collagen Matrix

Human dermal fibroblasts grown in tissue culture can be suspended and cultured in collagen lattices. These fibroblast-populated collagen lattices (FPCL) undergo a reduction in size by the process of lattice contraction. Fibroblasts from patients with epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica recessive, EBdr, produce excessive quantities of cAMP. These high concentrations of cAMP may be related to the inability of the EBdr fibroblast to elongate and spread out when incorporated into the collagen matrix. Fibroblasts with these morphologic characteristics are not effective in contracting collagen lattices. EBdr fibroblasts in FPCL have intracellular concentrations of cAMP 8 times greater than those of normal fibroblasts in FPCL. They also have a dendritic morphology. The addition of cholera toxin or dibutyryl cAMP to normal human fibroblasts will cause elevated levels of intracellular cAMP and will inhibit the elongation and spreading of cells and lattice contraction. The cytoskeletal morphology of EBdr fibroblasts differs from that of normal human fibroblasts in FPCL. The use of rhodamine phalloidin, a specific fluorescent stain for F-actin filaments, reveals that EBdr fibroblasts show a pattern of actin distribution shared by normal fibro- blasts cultured in the presence of dibutyryl cAMP or cholera toxin. It is proposed that the contractile forces responsible for lattice contraction are identical to those forces responsible for the spreading and elongation of cells. EBdr fibroblasts fail to spread and elongate within a collagen matrix and are therefore not effective in lattice contraction.
Multiple roles for Cdc42 in cell regulation

The Rho family member Cdc42 can signal through a number of cellular pathways fundamental to growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Recently, information has come at an impressive pace, both with regard to previously identified targets for Cdc42 that regulate the actin cytoskeleton (e.g. WASP) and cellular stress pathways (e.g. PAK) and with regard to newly identified targets such as the coatomer protein complex and PAR6. Recent results hint at a previously unappreciated link between these various cellular processes.
Inferences about structure of aluminosilicates from viscosity data

Abstract Replacement of two cations of silica by two cations of alumina and one of baria in barium silicate glasses raises the strain, annealing and softening points even though the number of non-bridging oxygen atoms is unchanged. This observation is difficult to explain unless one postulates that a large moiety such as the S8 unit (described herein) moves as a whole during any flow process in this temperature range. The dependence of the strain point on the excess baria in a series of glasses having a constant number of non-bridging oxygens and constant alumina suggests that the negative charges of the alumina sites are balanced preferentially by barium ions rather than alkali ions.
Pharmacogenetics: the Dx perspective

The promise of the rapidly developing field of pharmacogenetics is that genetically determined propensities of individual patients to respond favorably or adversely to a given pharmacologic agent will be able to be determined prior to administration of that drug. The realization of that promise, however, is predicated on a number of developments in the capabilities of diagnostic laboratories. These developments include the introduction of automated technologies for efficiently and accurately detecting, quantifying and decoding specific nucleic acid sequences and the concomitant availability of information technology-based applications for rapidly analyzing, interpreting and then communicating complex genetic data to healthcare providers. This article will review currently available and developmental molecular diagnostic technology and in addition, describe the current status and speculate on the future of pharmacogenetic testing in the clinical laboratory.
The CMS Magnet Test and Cosmic Challenge (MTCC) Operational Experience and Lessons Learnt

The CMS detector is under construction for imminent operation at the LHC machine at CERN. The installation and commissioning of detector elements is being done in a surface hall before all the detector elements are lowered. The solenoidal magnet had to be tested before lowering, therefore the unique opportunity to operate all the sub-detectors and sub-systems together was exploited. This set of tests is called the MTCC Magnet Test and Cosmic Challenge. This article presents an overview of the results obtained when coherently running all CMS subsystems in a magnetic field, as well as operational and safety procedures.
Volar Fixation of Dorsally Displaced Distal Radius Fractures Using the 2.4-mm Locking Compression Plates

Purpose To determine whether volar fixed-angle plate fixation with a new plate system could be used to treat dorsally unstable distal radius fractures. We hypothesized that volar fixed-angle plate fixation with or without radial styloid fixed-angle plate fixation would provide sufficient rigidity to allow early active range of motion without compromising fracture reduction. The initiation of early active motion may improve functional outcomes. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of one institution's initial experience using a new volar fixed-angle plate system to treat dorsally displaced intra-articular and extra-articular distal radius fractures. Thirty-two fractures in 32 patients with dorsally displaced distal radius fractures were treated with a volar fixed-angle plate with or without a radial styloid fixed-angle plate. Fractures were classified using the AO classification. Radiographic parameters on preoperative, postoperative, and final follow-up radiographs were compared. The time to initiation of active range of motion was determined. Final follow-up ranges of motion and complications were reported. Finally, comparisons were made between the 23 fractures treated with a volar plate alone and the 9 fractures treated with a volar plate and a radial styloid plate. Results The average follow-up period was 13 months. Two thirds of the fractures were intra-articular. Average loss of reduction from initial postoperative to final follow-up radiographs was 0° of volar tilt, 1° of radial inclination, and 0 mm of radial length. Active wrist and forearm ranges of motion were initiated at an average of 11 days after surgery. The final follow-up flexion-extension and pronation-supination arcs averaged 112° and 151°, respectively. The 9 fractures treated with the combination of a fixed-angle volar plate with a fixed-angle radial styloid plate had greater initial displacement than did the 23 fractures treated with a volar plate alone. Otherwise, differences between the 2 groups were not significant. Only 1 radial styloid plate became symptomatic. Conclusions Volar plate fixation using a new fixed-angle plate system successfully can stabilize dorsally unstable distal radius fractures. Early active range of motion was facilitated without compromising fracture reduction.
Distributed computing for autonomous on board planning and sequence validation

We propose a new conceptual approach to system-level autonomy that exploits in a synergistic way recent breakthroughs in three specific areas: (1) Automatic generation of embeddable planning and validation software, where an existing activity plan generation tool (APGEN) is modified into an embeddable, lightweight version (APGEN-lite) that is suitable for insertion into the command and data handler (C&DH) subsystem of an autonomous spacecraft (S/C). APGEN-lite will generate and validate science opportunities activities in real time onboard the S/C. As a result, it will optimize the automatic delivery of science data to the ground, and dramatically reduce the operational costs. (2) Integration of telecommunications forecaster and planning tools, i.e. integration of a ground based telecom link analysis tool known as the telecommunications forecaster predictor (TFP) to the S/C environment by taking advantage of APGEN-lite, that will make use of advanced telecom technologies such as adaptive compression schemes. (3) Fault-tolerant assignment of computing tasks to multiple processors. Since it is responsible for its own planning and validation tasks, an autonomous S/C has much higher computing requirements than a conventional S/C. Therefore, the avionics architecture for autonomy has to be much more fault-tolerant than the traditional flight system design. The breakthrough that we exploit in our approach is a recently developed high-speed scalable fault tolerant distributed avionics architecture, which consists of two or more processors connected to multiple sensors, actuators, and science instruments by a high-speed, fault tolerant bus network.
Precision and Size Structure of Juvenile Percichthyid Samples Collected with Various Gears from Lake Texoma

Abstract We collected juvenile striped bass Morone saxatilis and white bass M. chrysops with various gears to evaluate size selectivity and the precision of mean catch per unit effort (CPUE). We used four types of trawls, horizontal and vertical gill nets, conventional electrofishing and electrofishing with a push net, cove rotenone, and bag seine. Trawling was ineffective for sampling juvenile striped bass (<30 cm total length) and white bass (<15 cm). Striped bass CPUE data were most precise for offshore and nearshore floating gill nets, and least precise for push-net electrofishing. Floating gill nets also provided relatively precise CPUE estimates for white bass. There were substantial differences in the size of fishes collected by the gears, with gill nets collecting the largest juveniles.
Hardware-Software Codesign for Geological Image Processing

In this paper, an integrated hardware-software platform is proposed to process geological images. This platform is versatile as it is configurable at run time. It also provides high-speed and low power consumption performances. The concept is illustrated by a prototype system for geological image registration. The FPGA is configured at run time to perform fast Fourier transform. The software part running on a microprocessor inside the same FPGA. The results show that complex geoscience imaging processing tasks are feasible on a small FPGA chip and suitable for on-board applications in an airplane. This complete hardware/software prototype can also be easily integrated as a part of a large PC-FPGA geological image processing system. To the knowledge of the authors, it is the first attempt to use hardware-software codesign approach for geological image processing, which will have significant impact for related applications.
Optimum design of a rectangular fin with a step change in cross-sectional area

Abstract The paper considers the optimum design (maximum heat dissipation for a fixed profile area) of a convecting, rectangular fin with a step change in cross-sectional area. The optimization problem is solved using the method of Lagrange multipliers. For the profile parameter A p (2 h/K ) 1 2 ) ranging from 10−4 to 1, the maximum enhancement in heat dissipation is about 9% compared with the uniformly thick fin. When the heat dissipation is specified, the saving in material with a step design can be as much as 23% compared with the uniform thickness design. The design procedure is illustrated with two examples.
Utilization, Spending, and Price Trends for Short- and Long-Acting Beta-Agonists and Inhaled Corticosteroids in the Medicaid Program, 1991-2010

Background Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that afflicts millions of people and accounts for substantial utilization of healthcare resources in most industrialized countries, including in the United States. However, the exact cost and utilization of anti-asthma medications in Medicaid in the past 2 decades have not been well studied. Considering the safety issues surrounding the long-acting beta-agonists, guideline updates, and the increase in asthma prevalence, understanding anti-asthma medication prescribing trends is important to payers and patients. Goal The purpose of this study was to analyze the utilization and spending trends for anti-asthmatic agents in the US Medicaid program over the past 2 decades. Methods This study was based on a retrospective, descriptive analysis of trends in utilization of and spending on anti-asthma medications, including short-acting beta-agonists, inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists, and inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist combinations. Quarterly utilization and expenditure data were obtained from the national Medicaid pharmacy files provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from quarter 1 of 1991 through quarter 2 of 2010. Average reimbursement per prescription was calculated each quarter as a proxy for drug price. Results The total number of prescriptions for the studied anti-asthma medications rose from 8.9 million in 1991 to 15.6 million in 2009, peaking at 20.8 million in 2005, the year before Medicare and Medicaid dual-eligible beneficiaries were moved to Medicare Part D. From 1991 to 2009, Medicaid spending on anti-asthma medications overall rose from $180.7 million to $1.3 billion, and spending on inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist combinations rose from $52.8 million in 2001-their first year on the market-to $411.7 million in 2009. The average price per prescription has risen in all the anti-asthma drug classes: overall, spending per prescription has increased 4-fold between 1991 and 2009, significantly faster than the consumer price index (57.5%) over the same period. In quarter 2 of 2010, Medicaid spent more on the combination medication fluticasone-salmeterol-$60 million-than on any other anti-asthma medication. Conclusion Anti-asthma medications are a major and growing expense for state Medicaid programs and can be expected to be the same for Medicare Part D in the future. Increased disease prevalence has in part contributed to the rise in pharmacotherapy cost. Nevertheless, drug therapy is crucial for managing asthma and asthma exacerbations.
Butterfat and Silage Carotenoids

Summary Besides carotene and xanthophyll, pigments formed by the action of acids in silage are carried over into the butter fat of the milk. The usual methods of carotene analysis on butter fat do not distinguish between carotene and non-carotene pigments. By chromatographic methods the distribution of pigments in butters from cows on different forages was found to be as follows: pasture, 80 per cent carotene, 20 per cent non-carotene; molasses alfalfa silage, 68 per cent carotene, 32 per cent non-carotene; phosphoric acid alfalfa silage, 65 per cent carotene, 35 per cent non-carotene.
Biometric face recognition: from classical statistics to future challenges

Face recognition involves at least three major concepts from statistics: dimension reduction, feature extraction, and prediction. A selective review of algorithms, from seminal to state-of-the-art, explores how these concepts persist as organizing principles in the field. Algorithms based directly upon classical statistical techniques include linear methods like principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis. Nonlinear manifold methods, such as Laplacianfaces and Stiefel quotients, offer considerable performance improvements. Other noteworthy ideas include three-dimensional morphable models, methods using local regions and/or alternative feature spaces (e.g., elastic bunch graph matching and local binary patterns) and sparse representation approaches. Opportunities for innovative statistical and collaborative research in face recognition are expanding in tandem with the growing complexity and diversity of applications. WIREs Comput Stat 2013, 5:288–308. doi: 10.1002/wics.1262 Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website
Issues of representation, reflexivity, and research- participant relationships: Doing feminist cultural studies to improve health campaigns

I reflect upon findings from a feminist cultural study uncovering teen girls’ and parents’ perceptions of the Gardasil HPV/cervical cancer vaccine media campaign. I consider issues important to feminist researchers such as representation, reflexivity, and researcher–participant relationships as they relate to public relations research. Topics discussed are seeing the dark side of meeting our publics, renegotiating feminist ideals, and balancing strategic and feminist goals. I propose considerations for doing feminist cultural studies to inform campaign production.
EPCIS-Based Supply Chain Event Management A Quantitative Comparison of Candidate System Architectures

Supply Chain Event Management (SCEM) systems are decision support systems that allow for monitoring, prioritizing and reacting to events pertaining to the flow of goods in a supply chain. A major current trend in logistics concerns the tracking of materials by using the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. RFID reader data can be contextualized in the form of standardized supply chain events and exchanged along the supply chain in order to provide the informational basis of SCEM. Using analytical methods, we evaluate two candidate system architectures that enable the cross-company exchange of supply chain events with respect to efficiency and reliability: Event Pull proposed by the industry consortium EPCglobal and Event Push. Event Push is shown to be particularly suitable for the realization of SCEM applications.
Convergence of Activity Expansions for Lattice Gases

A recent theorem by Ruelle is shown to be applicable to the calculation of lower bounds on the radius of convergence of activity expansions for lattice gases. Systems with nearest-neighbor repulsive interactions are used as examples. Special consideration is given to systems whose molecules possess infinitely repulsive potentials.
System-level hardware/software trade-offs

Operating systems and development tools can impose overly general requirements that prevent an embedded system from achieving its hardware performance entitlement. It is time for embedded processor designers to become more involved with system software and tools.
Density-dependent effects of multiple predators sharing a common prey in an endophytic habitat

Multiple predator species feeding on a common prey can lead to higher or lower predation than would be expected by simply combining their individual effects. Such emergent multiple predator effects may be especially prevalent if predators share feeding habitat. Despite the prevalence of endophagous insects, no studies have examined how multiple predators sharing an endophytic habitat affect prey or predator reproduction. We investigated density-dependent predation of Thanasimus dubius (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and Platysoma cylindrica (Coleoptera: Histeridae) on a bark beetle prey, Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), in a laboratory assay. I. pini utilize aggregation pheromones to group-colonize and reproduce within the stems of conifers. T. dubius and P. cylindrica exploit these aggregation pheromones to arrive simultaneously with the herbivore. Adult T. dubius prey exophytically, while P. cylindrica adults enter and prey within the bark beetle galleries. Larvae of both predators prey endophytically. We used a multiple regression analysis, which avoids confounding predator composition with density, to examine the effects of varying predator densities alone and in combination on herbivore establishment, herbivore reproduction, and predator reproduction. Predators reduced colonization success by both sexes, and decreased I. pini reproduction on a per male and per female basis. The combined effects of these predators did not enhance or reduce prey establishment or reproduction in unexpected manners, and these predators were entirely substitutable. The herbivore’s net replacement rate was never reduced significantly below one at prey and predator densities emulating field conditions. Similar numbers of each predator species emerged from the logs, but predator reproduction suffered from high intraspecific interference. The net replacement rate of P. cylindrica was not affected by conspecifics or T. dubius. In contrast, the net replacement rate of T. dubius decreased with the presence of conspecifics or P. cylindrica. Combinations of both predators led to an emergent effect, a slightly increased net replacement rate of T. dubius. This may have been due to predation by larval T. dubius on pupal P. cylindrica, as P. cylindrica develops more rapidly than T. dubius within this shared habitat.
On the optimal choice of parameters in a fuzzy c-means algorithm

The authors propose a technique for determining the weighting exponent, m, a parameter in a fuzzy c-means algorithm, using the concept of fuzzy decision theory. They define a fuzzy goal as maximizing the number of data points in a cluster and a fuzzy constraint as the minimizing of the sum of square errors within a cluster. A decision about m is made by taking the intersection of the fuzzy goal and constraint such that given m, the fuzzy c-means algorithm produces good clusters. >
Trichomoniasis in adolescents: a marker for the lack of a public health response to the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States.

Despite being a readily diagnosed and treated sexually transmitted disease (STD) trichomoniasis is not reportable in the United States and control of trichomoniasis has received relatively little emphasis from public health STD control programs including that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More recently however appreciation of high rates of disease and of associations between trichomoniasis in women and both adverse pregnancy outcomes and an increased risk of HIV infection have suggested a need for increased control efforts. Trichomoniasis is caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The annual incidence of T. vaginalis infection in the United States has been estimated at 7.4 million cases with 1180 million cases worldwide. The World Health Organization has estimated that this infection accounts for almost one-half of all curable STDs worldwide. The prevalence of trichomoniasis trichomoniasis in women attending inner-city STD clinics in the United States typically approaches 25% and may be higher in certain populations. In Los Angeles California for instance the prevalence in black attendees at a public clinic was found to be 38%. Rates of T. vaginalis infection in men are largely unknown because of the poor sensitivity of the currently available diagnostic techniques for men. Recent studies using more-sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques have found that in some populations rates of T. vaginalis infection in men may equal those of chlamydia infection. (excerpt)
Flexible-Client: The Missing Piece Towards Transport Software-Defined Networks

We introduce architectures to enable flexible-client functionality in software-defined transport networks for the first time, and propose an effective algorithm to provision time-varying traffic. Transponders with flexible-client interfaces improve spectral, energy, and management efficiencies.
Enhancing Student Learning in Knowledge-Based Courses Integrating Team-Based Learning in Mass Communication Theory Classes

This study explores the adoption of the team-based learning (TBL) method in knowledge-based and theory-oriented journalism and mass communication (J&MC) courses. It first reviews the origin and concept of TBL, the relevant theories, and then introduces the TBL method and implementation, including procedures and assessments, employed in an undergraduate mass communication theory class in a large Midwest research university. Students showed significantly improved group knowledge versus individual knowledge over an entire semester through readiness assurance tests (RAT), which were also demonstrated in a pre–post survey and two peer evaluations. The significance of this study concerning students’ learning effectiveness and outcomes as well as its pedagogical implications for the J&MC field and beyond are discussed.
A sensitivity analysis for subverting randomization in controlled trials.

In some randomized controlled trials, subjects with a better prognosis may be diverted into the treatment group. This subverting of randomization results in an unobserved non-compliance with the originally intended treatment assignment. Consequently, the estimate of treatment effect from these trials may be biased. This paper clarifies the determinants of the magnitude of the bias and gives a sensitivity analysis that associates the amount that randomization is subverted and the resulting bias in treatment effect estimation. The methods are illustrated with a randomized controlled trial that evaluates the efficacy of a culturally sensitive AIDS education video.
Acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Objective. This study was pursued as an extension of a randomized clinical investigation of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF). The project included assessment of respiratory secretion cultures for pathogens associated with CF. The objective was to determine whether patients diagnosed through neonatal screening and treated in early infancy were more likely to become colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared with those identified by standard diagnostic methods. Methodology. The design involved prospective cultures of respiratory secretions obtained generally by oropharyngeal swabs at least every 6 months and more often if clinically indicated. Patients were managed with a standardized evaluation and treatment protocol at the two Wisconsin certified CF centers; however, there were community and environmental variations associated with the follow-up period as described below. Results. Overall, there were no differences in acquisition of respiratory pathogens between the screened and the control (standard diagnosis) groups. Evaluation of the data between and within the two centers, however, revealed significant differences with earlier acquisition of P aeruginosa in the center with the following distinguishing characteristics: urban location; following patients with the standard US approach in which newly diagnosed, young children were interspersed with older CF patients; and where there were more opportunities for social interactions with other CF patients. The differences were confined to the screened group followed in the urban center in which the median pseudomonas-free survival period was 52 weeks contrasted with 289 weeks in the other center. In addition, assessment of data for the entire CF populations followed at the two centers revealed that the urban center showed a significantly higher prevalence of P aeruginosa colonization in patients between the ages of 3 and 9 years. Conclusions. These results present questions and generate hypotheses on risk factors for acquisition of P aeruginosa in CF and suggest that clinic exposures and/or social interactions may predispose such patients to pseudomonas infections.
Mortality Prediction in Adult Respiratory Insufficiency

The results of treatment of acute respiratory insufficiency in the adult must be quantitated before indications for innovative treatment (such as extracorporeal oxygenation) can be defined. A method for retrospective and prospective data collection based on a graph of A-a gradient and time was evaluated in 45 patients. From this graph a pulmonary insufficiency index (PII) can be calculated which correlates well with mortality in this series. The mean PII of surviving patients was 0.84 and the highest value was 2.75. The mean PII of patients who died with pulmonary insufficiency was 15.9; the lowest value was 6.0. Using this method with a larger data base, it will be possible to predict mortality based on PII facilitating the study of ongoing management and innovative treatment methods.
A note on item information in any direction for the multidimensional three-parameter logistic model

The purpose of this note is twofold: (a) to present the formula for the item information function (IIF) in any direction for the Multidimensional 3-Parameter Logistic (M3-PL) model and (b) to give the equation for the location of maximum item information (θmax) in the direction of the item discrimination vector. Several corollaries are given. Implications for future research are discussed.
Short-Step Chebyshev Impedance Transformers

Impedance transforming networks are described which consist of short lengths of relatively high impedance transmission line alternating with short lengths of relatively low impedance line. The sections of transmission line are all exactly the same length (except for corrections for fringing capacitances), and the lengths of the line sections are typically short compared to a quarter wavelength throughout the operating band of the transformer. Tables of designs are presented which give exactly Chebyshev transmission characteristics between resistive terminations having ratios ranging from 1.5 to 10, and for fractional bandwidths ranging from 0.10 to 1.20. These impedance-transforming networks should have application where very compact transmission-line or dielectric-layer impedance transformers are desired.
A list of plants observed along the lower Missouri River by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804 and 1806

Abstract Members of the Lewis and Clark expedition collected plant specimens, identified plants using common names, or described in sufficient detail 108 plant species along the lower Missouri River to which modern scientific names can be assigned with different degrees of certainty. This project expands an earlier list made by Cutright of 12 plant species seen on the lower Missouri River. William Clark, the principal journalist on the lower Missouri River, described the plants in his journal entries. Meriwether Lewis collected the herbarium specimens along the lower Missouri River and made extensive, retrospective journal entries at Fort Mandan, North Dakota in the winter of 1804. The list of 108 lower Missouri River plant species is compiled from three major publications of the Lewis and Clark journals that included natural history and were edited by Elliott Coues, Reuben Thwaites, and Gary Moulton. This list is compared to a compilation by Elijah Criswell of almost 500 species of animals and plants see...
DIET OF NESTLING RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS AT THREE LOCATIONS

Abstract We conducted a 2-yr study of the nestling diet of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) at three locations to determine how it varied among sites. We photographed 5939 nest visits by adult woodpeckers delivering food items for nestlings. In 1994, we located cameras near three nest cavities on the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina and near two cavities at the Savannah River Site, which is on the Upper Coastal Plain. In 1995, cameras were installed on the Savannah River Site and in the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. The cameras recorded adults bringing 33 different types of food to nestlings. Wood roaches (Blattoidea: Blattellidae, Parcoblatta spp.) were the most common food composing 50% of the diet overall. They were also the most common prey at each location and for all but one of the woodpecker groups studied. Wood roaches were recorded in 26% of the visits photographed on the Lower Coastal Plain and 62% of the nest visits on the Upper Coastal Plain in 1994. In 1995, woo...
A "Global Eye" for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: A Critical Policy Analysis of the OECD's AHELO Study.

This article provides an overview and critical policy analysis of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) international Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) project which is currently under way. It briefly describes the purpose, components and participants of the AHELO project. Informed by a critical policy analysis framework, it provides a critical analysis of AHELO texts. Based on the review of AHELO texts, it argues that the OECD is constructing a global policy space for teaching and learning grounded in neo-liberal values.