cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Sounds To Music: The Contextualizations of Pitch

Current musicology demands opposing explanations of pitch structure, a styles-driven approach that ignores both the kinetics common to diverse musics and the broadly shared bases of human perception. To establish a unified theory, a ““from-bit-to-whole”” path is argued, noting sensory, neural, and cognitive domains as they are relevant and empirically confirmed. After preliminary discussion of the most elemental dynamics of tone bunching into wholes, an extensive examination of melodic pitch framing ensues. The tonality frame is observed in melodies from a broad sampling of eras and cultures; thus is confirmed a conception of organization that ties the spectral content of the single tone to the chord and to melody, both bearing in common the properties of sonance and root. Such an explanation helps link current musical practice with conceptualizations and practices of both ancient and exotic cultures.
Insights into the impact of phenolic residue incorporation at each position along secretin for receptor binding and biological activity

Abstract Understanding of the structural importance of each position along a peptide ligand can provide important insights into the molecular basis for its receptor binding and biological activity. This has typically been evaluated using serial replacement of each natural residue with an alanine. In the current report, we have further complemented alanine scanning data with the serial replacement of each residue within secretin-27, the natural ligand for the prototypic class B G protein-coupled secretin receptor, using a photolabile phenolic residue. This not only provided the opportunity to probe spatial approximations between positions along a docked ligand with its receptor, but also provided structure–activity insights when compared with tolerance for alanine replacement of the same residues. The pattern of sensitivity to phenolic residue replacement was periodic within the carboxyl-terminal region of this peptide ligand, corresponding with alanine replacements in that region. This was supportive of the alpha-helical conformation of the peptide in that region and its docking within a groove in the receptor amino-terminal domain. In contrast, the pattern of sensitivity to phenolic residue replacement was almost continuous in the amino-terminal region of this peptide ligand, again similar to alanine replacements, however, there were key positions in which either the phenolic residue or alanine was differentially preferred. This provided insights into the receptor environment of the portion of this ligand most critical for its biological activity. As the structure of the intact receptor is elucidated, these data will provide a guide for ligand docking to the core domain and to help clarify the molecular basis of receptor activation.
Phase balancing algorithms

Abstract Unbalanced loads on feeders increase power system investment and operating costs. Single-phase lateral loads phase swapping is one of the popular methods to balance such systems. In this paper, six algorithms for phase balancing are studied, including a genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, a greedy algorithm, exhaustive search, backtracking algorithm and a dynamic programming algorithm. The novel dynamic programming algorithm in particular produces optimal solutions for this NP-complete problem efficiently.
Floating-point to logarithmic encoder error analysis

The logarithmic number (LNS), which supports high-speed, high-precision arithmetic, is envisioned as a possible arithmetic coprocessor attachment to a floating-point (FLP) processor. An error analysis of an FLP-to-LNS encoder is presented. Analytic expressions for the probability density function of the encoding error are derived for a number of cases, according to the memory word lengths used for the encoding. Simulation has verified the theoretical results. >
Glucocorticoids antagonize the sedative action of ethanol in mice

The effect of corticosterone on sleep time in mice following a hypnotic dose of ethanol (3 g/kg) was determined. An acute dose of the steroid (10 mg/kg) administered 15 min prior to ethanol injection significantly shortened the sleep time (by 55%). Brain levels of ethanol were not affected by the steroid treatment. The effect was specific to glucocorticoids because steroids without glucocorticoid activity including testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol were ineffective. These results indicate that glucocorticoids have an antagonistic effect to the acute action of ethanol in the brain. The rapid onset of the corticosterone action in antagonizing ethanol-induced sedation suggests that the action is mediated by a membrane mechanism rather than the classical steroid mechanism involving an intracellular receptor and gene expression.
Paleoclimatic Interpretations for Late Miocene of California Based on Marine Diatoms: ABSTRACT

The diatom assemblages of a 1,600-ft section of diatomites in the Monterey and Sisquoc Formations near Lompoc, California, give evidence of a warming trend within the late Miocene. Frequency changes of individual warm and cold water species, ratios of different ecologic types, and variations in the overall assemblage indicate a general increase in temperature during the period of deposition. The lower third of the section (upper Mohnian Stage) contains a cool-temperate microflora, characterized by relatively high frequencies of Denticula hustedtii Simonsen and Kanaya. A mixed warm- and cold-temperate assemblage predominates through the overlying 1,000 ft of diatomites, and the highest 80 ft (Delmontian Stage?) contains a warm-temperate microflora, with Coscinodiscus excen ricus Ehrenberg, C. lineatus Ehrenberg, Thalassionema nitzschioides Grunow, and Thalassiosira sp. Diatom evidence for these temperature changes is further supported by that from the fossil fish and sparse Foraminifera of the Lompoc section. The changes may reflect a general climatic warming, but also may result from local variations in current distribution, such as the fluctuations in the cold-water California Current proposed for the late Miocene of southern California. Diatoms may provide valuable paleoecologic evidence for this extensive diatomite facies in California, which lacks the more commonly utilized foraminiferal and invertebrate paleoecologic indicators. End_of_Article - Last_Page 769------------
Correlating magnetic field polarity changes with geologic phenomena

Two reported correlations are discussed in this paper: the first claims a correlation between magnetic polarity and oxidation state of igneous rocks, and the second claims that the Hawaiian hot-spot chain exhibits a significantly dominant normal-polarity bias. On the basis of mechanistic arguments and examination of the sample distribution, the first correlation is shown to be due to a data artifact. Although the second correlation is supported by magnetic modeling of seamounts given in this paper, it too may be due to a data artifact. The most likely alternative explanation is that it originates from a bias imparted by viscous remanent magnetization (VRM) in the Brunhes chron. The role of VRM may be far more important in determining large-scale magnetic anomalies than is generally believed.
Mycobacterial growth indicator tube for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid and rifampin

The reliability of mycobacteria growth indicator tubes (MGIT) for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid and rifampin was evaluated by comparing MGIT results to those obtained by the radiometric BACTEC TB system. To resolve discrepancies, MGIT and BACTEC TB tests were repeated, and the method of proportion was performed. For the 89 isolates evaluated, there was complete agreement between MGIT and BACTEC results for rifampin: 70 isolates were susceptible, and 19 were resistant. After initial testing of isoniazid, both methods agreed for 85 isolates (95.5%): 72 were susceptible, and 13 were resistant by both methods; 2 were resistant by BACTEC but susceptible by MGIT, and 2 were resistant by MGIT but susceptible by BACTEC. Based on results of discrepant analysis for the latter four isolates, all four were resistant to isoniazid. Thus, MGIT correctly detected susceptibility and resistance to isoniazid for 97.3% and 100% of the isolates, respectively. The mean time to MGIT results was 6.38 +/ 0.11 days (range, 6 to 14 days), compared to a mean of 9.09 +/- 1.90 days (range, 4 to 12 days) for BACTEC (p < .001). MGIT provides a rapid and reliable, nonradiometric alternative to BACTEC for susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis to isoniazid and rifampin.
Correlation between β-Relaxation and α-Relaxation in the Family of Poly(n-butyl methacrylate-stat-styrene) Random Copolymers

Previously a rough correlation between the logarithm of the most probable secondary β-relaxation time at the glass temperature Tg, log[τβ(Tg)], and the Kohlrausch−Williams−Watts (KWW) exponent, (1 − n), of the primary α-relaxation correlation function exp[−(t/τα)1-n] was found when examining a whole host of chemically different glass-forming materials including amorphous homopolymers, small molecule van der Waal liquids, plastic crystals, and inorganic compounds. This rough correlation is expected from the exact correlation between the logarithm of the primitive relaxation time of the coupling model at the glass temperature Tg, log[τo(Tg)], and (1 − n) and from the similarity between the β-relaxation and the primitive relaxation, both being free from intermolecular cooperativity. This correlation holds only when n in the KWW exponent (1 − n) can be identified with the coupling parameter nα of the α-relaxation in the coupling model. Now, this correlation is examined on a series of poly(n-butyl methacrylate...
Equivalent roaded area as a measure of cumulative effect of logging

A watershed disturbance index developed by the USDA Forest Service called equivalent roaded area (ERA) was used to assess the cumulative effect from forest management in California's Sierra Nevada and Klamath mountain ranges. The basins' ERA index increased as logging and road-building occurred and then decreased over time as management ceased and vegetation recovered. A refinement of the standard index emphasized disturbances in sensitive, near-channel areas, and evaluated recovery periods of 20, 30, and 50 years. Shorter recovery periods yielded better correlations between recovering forest systems and aquatic response than the longer recovery period, as represented by ERA and diversity or dominance, respectively. The refined ERA index correlated more closely with macroinvertebrate dominance and diversity information that was available for part of the study period. A minimum ERA threshold of 5% was detected, below which no effect to the macroinvertebrate community was observed. Above this threshold, elevated ERA values were associated with a decline in macroinvertebrate diversity and an increase in dominance of the top five taxa. Use of an ERA technique that emphasizes near-channel areas and biological thresholds would contribute to the Forest Service's implementation of ecosystem management.
Histologic identification of polyethylene wear debris using Oil Red O stain.

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles are frequently implicated in causing failure of total joint arthroplasties by eliciting a foreign body reaction. The majority of these particles are subcellular and many are submicron in size. Identification of these small particles of UHMWPE by conventional histologic techniques is difficult. We have therefore investigated the utility of Oil Red O (ORO) stain to identify UHMWPE on histologic sections. A wide variety of specimens was studied including an experimental rabbit model with subcutaneous implantation of polyethylene particles as well as specimens from clinical cases with joint arthroplasties. The sensitivity and specificity of ORO stain was compared to conventional polarized light microscopy for the identification of particulate UHMWPE debris. The ORO stain was found to be as sensitive in identifying particulate UHMWPE debris as polarized light microscopy. However, ORO stain was less specific: two specimens that did not contain any UHMWPE also stained with ORO. Careful examination of standard hematoxylin and eosin stained sections with polarized light was therefore more specific for the identification of particulate UHMWPE. As a single test, the ORO stain does not appear to offer any clear advantage specifically for the identification of UHMWPE. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIRST LANGUAGE OF EXAMINEES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO DIFFERENTIAL ITEM FUNCTIONING

To ensure fairness, it is important to better understand the relationship of language proficiency to standard psychometric analysis procedures. This paper examines how results of differential item functioning (DIF) analysis are affected by an increase in the proportion of examinees who report that English is not their first language in the analysis sample of a large-scale assessment. The results vary by group. In some combinations of focal/reference groups, the magnitude of DIF is not appreciably affected by whether the DIF is performed on examinees whose first language is not English. In other groups, the first language status matters. The results vary by type of test as well. In addition, the magnitude of DIF for some items is substantially affected by whether the DIF is performed on examinees whose first language is not English.
Temperature and size dependence for Monte Carlo simulations of TIP4P water

A series of Monte Carlo simulations has been carried out to characterize the temperature and size dependence of the results for liquid water using the TIP4P potential function. Five temperatures from -25 to 100°C and four system sizes from 64 to 512 molecules have been studied. Comparisons are made with experimental thermodynamic and structural data as well as results of prior simulations.
Catheterization of the lumbar subarachnoid space for long-term CSF collection in unanesthetized nonhuman primates

Chronic indwelling spinal catheters facilitate administration of drugs and serial sampling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Most catheters used in primates enter the ventricles or rostral subarachnoid space. This paper describes a procedure for catheterizing the lumbar subarachnoid space. Although the technique is invasive, maintenance and utilization of the catheter do not disturb the subject. The preparation remains patent for up to 21 days and permits both intrathecal drug administration and collection of CSF samples from unanesthetized subjects.
Changes in left ventricular morphology and function after mitral valve surgery.

Degenerative mitral valve disease is the leading cause of mitral regurgitation in North America. Surgical intervention has hinged on the symptoms and ventricular changes that develop as compensatory ventricular remodeling occurs. In the present study, we sought to characterize the temporal response of left ventricular (LV) morphology and function to mitral valve surgery for degenerative disease and to identify the preoperative factors that influence reverse remodeling. From 1986 to 2007, 2,778 patients with isolated degenerative mitral valve disease underwent valve repair (n = 2,607 [94%]) or replacement (n = 171 [6%]) and had ≥1 postoperative transthoracic echocardiogram; 5,336 transthoracic echocardiograms were available for analysis. Multivariate longitudinal repeated-measures analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with reverse remodeling. The LV dimensions decreased in the first year after surgery (end-diastolic from 5.7 ± 0.80 to 4.9 ± 1.4 cm; end-systolic from 3.4 ± 0.71 to 3.1 ± 1.4 cm). The LV mass index decreased from 139 ± 44 to 112 ± 73 g/m 2 . The reduction in LV hypertrophy was less pronounced in patients with greater preoperative left heart enlargement (p 0.2). In conclusion, a positive response toward normalization of LV morphology and function after mitral valve surgery is greatest in the first year. The best response occurs when surgery is performed before left heart dilation, LV hypertrophy, or LV dysfunction develop.
The Relation of Life Stress and Social Support to Emotional Disequilibrium During Pregnancy

A convenience sample of 141 medically normal adult women in the mid-trimester of pregnancy were tested with standardized instruments during a routine prenatal visit. Life stress was measured for the 12-month-period preceding testing. The dependent variable, emotional disequilibrium, was a factor-analyzed construct derived from measures of state anxiety, trait anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Life stress accounted for 29.71% of the variance in emotional disequilibrium (p = .0001), and social support accounted for a separate and non-interactive 3.11% of the variance (p = .01). Emotional disequilibrium in pregnancy decreased as a function of decreasing life stress and increasing social support.
Single coronary artery anomaly: classification and evaluation using multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography.

The aim of this study was to use multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance (MRA) angiography to illustrate the classification and clinical characteristics of single coronary artery anomaly (SCAA). Retrospective evaluation of 22 adult and pediatric patients with SCAA by way of a medical archiving system was performed between June 2001 and August 2012. Imaging modalities used for coronary artery evaluation included MRA and MDCT angiography. Of the 22 patients, the majority (n = 8; 36 %) showed an interarterial course, the subtype having the worst prognosis. The retroaortic course (n = 3; 14 %) and course anterior to the pulmonary trunk (n = 3; 14 %) were the next most frequent patterns. Additional types (n = 8; 36 %) included the following: L-I, R-III, septal, and combined. Four patients (18 %) showed atherosclerotic involvement. SCAA anomaly was diagnosed as an incidental finding in the majority of patients evaluated initially for cardiovascular diseases (n = 19; 86 %). Two patients (9 %) required surgical interventions solely for their anomaly. Nine patients (41 %) were found to have coexisting congenital heart disease. Although conventional catheter angiography is responsible for the current classification of SCAA, advanced imaging modalities are useful in the evaluation of morphological and clinical characteristics of single coronary arteries.
Shifting fixation to another pursuit target: Selective and anticipatory control of ocular pursuit initiation

Abstract The retinal input variable controlling angular velocity of smooth ocular pursuit is velocity of image movement. If fixation is shifted between targets with different visual velocities, the pursuit velocity increment required to stabilize the new target's image with respect to foveal retina equals the angular velocity of its movement over peripheral retina before the shift. Full stabilization of the new target's image could be achieved more promptly if presaccade image velocity were used to set postsaccade pursuit velocity, but pursuit initiation could be effectively controlled from peripheral retina in this manner only if conflicting velocity information from other parts of the retina were excluded. Eye movements were recorded as subjects watched a display containing both stationary and moving objects: The recordings showed that each time the subject shifted fixation from a stationary to a moving target, a substantial fraction of the final pursuit velocity had already been attained with 20 msec after termination of the saccadic movement. Since the input-output lag of the pursuit control system is of the order of 100 msec, it follows that the input used to set the new pursuit velocity had impinged upon the retina before the saccade. This pattern of pursuit initiation was not altered when another, contrasting stimulus-velocity was added. The results indicated that a small nonfoveal region of the retina may provide the dominant controlling input for saccade-associated pursuit initiation even in the presence of conflicting velocity information from the fovea or from other parts of the retina.
For Their Country's Good: The Convict Women of the Ship Harmony—1829

ABSTRACT The sailing vessel, Harmony, transported ninety six female convicts from Great Britain to Australia in 1829. The social background of the age cohorts, which cluster around birth years 1793 and 1805, are presented. The women came from Ireland, Scotland and England, and most were born in small towns or the country; seventeen were Londoners and an additional eleven came from large towns. The heights of the women are compared to economic indexes by a regression analysis in order to assay a secular trend. Heights are also compared to those of other women in the nineteenth century. Details of the voyage to Van Diemen's Land are presented, as are facts concerning individual women.
Is tissue maturation necessary for flight? Changes in body composition during postnatal development in the big brown bat

Patterns of offspring development reflect the availability of energy and nutrients, limitations on an individual’s capacity to use available resources, and tradeoffs between the use of nutrients to support current metabolic demands and tissue growth. To determine if the long period of offspring dependency in bats is associated with the need for an advanced state of tissue maturation prior to flight, we examined body composition during postnatal growth in the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus. Despite their large size at birth (22% of maternal mass), newborn bats are relatively immature, containing 82% body water in fat-free mass. However, the total body water content of newborn bat pups decreases to near-adult levels in advance of weaning, while concentrations of total body fat and protein exceed adult values. In contrast to many other mammals, postnatal growth of bat pups was characterized by relatively stable concentrations of calcium and phosphorus, but declining concentrations of magnesium. These levels remained stable or rebounded in late postnatal development. This casts doubt on the hypothesis that low rates of mineral transfer necessitate an extended lactation period in bats. However, our finding of near-adult body composition at weaning is consistent with the hypothesis that extended lactation in bats is necessary for the young to achieve sufficient tissue maturity to undertake the active flight necessary for independent feeding. In this respect, bats differ from most other mammals but resemble birds that must engage in active flight to achieve nutritional independence.
Persistent arithmetic, reading, or arithmetic and reading disability

The achievement of 1,075 school children was followed to the end of grade 7 or 8. Retrospective details of birth, medical history, and infant adaptive behavior, as well as current information about preschool behavior, were provided by parents before kindergarten entry when their children were ages four to five. At that time, each child was given language, preacademic, and visual-motor tests, and a short-form verbal IQ was obtained. For grades 1 to 8, a mean 6.9 percent qualified as low in arithmetic (including 3.9 percent low only in arithmetic) and 9 percent as low in reading (including 6 percent low only in reading). Groups of children with persistent disability in arithmetic only (2.3 percent), reading only (6.6 percent), and arithmetic plus reading (3.4 percent) were compared on all variables, and gender differences were examined. The specific arithmetic group was superior to the other two groups in preschool verbal IQ and language, and had suffered more birth problems and illness. As found by Rourke and his colleagues (e.g., Rourke and Finlayson 1978) for older children, boys with a specific arithmetic disability showed a preschool profile with high verbal scores and low nonverbal scores. Many gender differences were found for the total sample, but few for the learning disability subgroups.
Cellulose nanocrystals as a reinforcing material for electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate) fibers: Formation, properties and nanomechanical characterization

Abstract Uniform fibers composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) reinforced with progressively increasing contents of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), up to 41 wt% CNCs, have been successfully produced by electrospinning. The morphological, thermal and nanomechanical properties of the composite sub-micron fibers were investigated. The CNCs derived from wood pulp by sulfuric acid hydrolysis were well dispersed in solutions of PMMA and the processing solvent N , N -dimethylformamide prior to fiber formation. Well-formed fibers with controllable diameters were generated reproducibly at all CNC contents investigated including 41 wt%. The orientation of the CNCs along the fiber axis was facilitated by the electrospinning process and observed directly from microscopy examination. Shifts in thermal transitions of PMMA with increasing CNC content suggest hydrogen bonding interactions between CNC hydroxyl groups and carbonyl groups on the PMMA matrix. Nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis (nano-DMA) was performed using nanoindentation on single fibers perpendicular to the fiber axis. Many of the current challenges associated with single fiber nanoindentation are addressed, such as fiber diameter range and minimum, depth to diameter ratio, and valid depth range under these experimental conditions. Fibers that contained 17 wt% CNCs showed a modest increase of 17% in the storage modulus of PMMA, a high modulus polymer of interest for transparent composite applications.
Slitmasks from observer to telescope: astrometric slitmask manufacturing and control for Keck spectrographs

This paper documents the astrometric slitmask design, submission, fabrication, control and configuration tools used for two large spectrographs at W. M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i. For supplemental illustrations and documents, including an online version of the poster and interactive demos, we refer the reader to http://spg.ucolick.org/Docs/SPIE/2004 .
Stumbling, bumbling, teleporting and flying … librarian avatars in Second Life

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of issues related to library involvement in a popular virtual world, the massively multiplayer online role‐playing game (MMORG) Second Life.Design/methodology/approach – Interviews with librarians participating in Second Life expand on the rationale for participating in this 3‐D virtual world as well as various uses of Second Life and other new technologies for all types of libraries and librarians.Findings – Benefits to both libraries and librarians from participating in a virtual world like Second Life include opportunities for collaboration, creativity, learning, and global networking with other librarians, educators, and technologists.Originality/value – Virtual worlds are new to most libraries, librarians, and administrators. This interview will be of interest and value to all those interested in extending their reach in reference, collections, and information literacy by pushing out to new technological frontiers and exploring and taking ...
Assessment of drug-related problems in clinical nutrition patients.

Background: Medication use in clinical nutrition patients is affected by concomitant disease states and alterations in medication administration and delivery. The purpose of this evaluation was to document the number and type of drug-related problems that occurred and to evaluate the effect pharmacists had on the care of nutrition patients. Methods: Patients were evaluated by a pharmacist who was part of the clinical nutrition team. Drug-related problems were identified and recommendations were made to resolve them. Acceptance of the recommendations and patient outcomes were documented. Results: After the evaluation of 440 patients, 220 pharmacist interventions were made. Interventions included 35 drug information requests and 185 recommendations made to solve identified drug-related problems in 126 patients. The most frequent drug-related problems were drug interactions (33/185) and untreated indications (24/185). Of 185 recommendations, 166 were accepted, and 19 were accepted with a modification. A tota...
GA optimized reconfigurable frequency selective surfaces for passive standoff detection of chemical agents

In this paper we present a new class of reconfigurable frequency selective surfaces (FSS) for the remote passive detection of chemical agents. The frequency selective surface is composed of a periodic tiled pixelized pattern on a thin dielectric substrate. The pixelized pattern consists of squares of either metallic patches or chemoresistive patches. In the absence of an analyte, the chemoresistive patches have a high impedance and in the presence of an analyte they have a low impedance. The FSS is designed to provide a sharp narrowband reflection resonance that shifts down in frequency with exposure to the analyte. The geometry of the FSS is selected via a Genetic Algorithm (GA) [1].
Practicing psychology in the art gallery: Vernon Lee's aesthetics of empathy

Late nineteenth-century psychologists and aestheticians were fascinated by the study of psychological and physiological aspects of aesthetic response, and the British intellectual and aesthete Vernon Lee was a major participant in this venture. Working outside the academy, Lee conducted informal experiments with Clementina Anstruther-Thomson, recording changes in respiration, balance, emotion, and body movements in response to aesthetic form. In fashioning her aesthetics of empathy, she mined a wealth of psychological theories of the period including motor theories of mind, physiological theories of emotion, evolutionary models of the usefulness of art, and, most prominently, the empathic projection of feeling and movement into form. Lee distributed questionnaires, contributed to scientific journals, carried out her own introspective studies, and debated aesthetics with leading psychologists. This paper critiques the prevailing view of Lee's aesthetics as a displaced sign of her gender or sexuality, and questions her status as simply an amateur in the field of psychology. Instead, I argue that Lee's empirically based empathy theory of art was a significant contribution to debates on psychological aesthetics at the outset of the twentieth century, offering a synthesis of Lipps's mentalistic Einfuhlung and sensation-based imitation theories of aesthetic response. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Osseous sequestration in the horse. A review of 68 cases

Sixty-eight cases of cortical bone sequestration in 67 equine patients were reviewed with regard to the clinical presentation, method of treatment, and outcome. All lesions were located in skeletal areas with minimal soft tissue coverage, with 53% of them in the metatarsal and metacarpal bones. At the time of admission, 60% of the patients with limb lesions were lame; the majority improved with therapy. After sequestrectomy, there was a trend for surgical wounds which could be managed by primary closure to heal more rapidly (3.8 weeks) than wounds which required second intention healing (6.4 weeks). The appearance of healed wounds, as evaluated by owners, was acceptable in 45 cases. Dissatisfaction with the appearance of the healed wounds in 22 cases suggested a need to address the issue of cosmetic results.
Evidential preferences: cultural appropriateness strategies in health communications

While there is widespread agreement that communication programs and materials will be more effective when they are ‘culturally appropriate’ for the populations they serve, little is known about how best to achieve this cultural appropriateness. The specific strategies used to realize the potential of culturally appropriate communication take many forms. This paper discusses an approach to assessing and understanding the presentation of statistical information (an evidential strategy) to enhance the perceived relevance of communications targeted to older African American men and women. Formative research on African Americans’ attitudes and knowledge of colorectal cancer explored preferences for presentation of statistical data. Focus group interviews elicited participants’ (n 5 49) thoughts and attitudes on and anticipated behavioral response to five strategies for presenting cancer data and evidence—general, race specific, disparity, social math and framing ;5-year probability of death or survival. A description is provided of the application of this approach to the development of a colorectal cancer campaign for African Americans. This strategy may prove useful in understanding and structuring the presentation of targeted cancer evidence that could result in more effective health communication.
The ten advances that have defined modern cardiology

Modern cardiology was born early in the twentieth century. Here I list and review what I believe to be the ten most important advances in the twentieth century in this field. They are as follows: electrocardiography, cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis, cardiac catheterization, cardiovascular surgery, coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary angioplasty, the coronary care unit, the development of new cardiovascular drugs, preventive cardiology, cardiac imaging, and implanted cardiac pacemakers/defibrillators.
Continuous versus intermittent delivery of nutrition via nasoenteric feeding tubes in hospitalized canine and feline patients: 91 patients (2002-2007).

Objective – To compare continuous to intermittent feeding at delivering prescribed nutrition in hospitalized canine and feline patients. Design – Retrospective clinical study. Setting – University teaching hospital. Animals – Fifty-four cats and 37 dogs. Measurements and Main Results – Twenty-four-hour periods of prescribed and delivered nutrition (kcal) were recorded, and the percentage of prescribed nutrition delivered (PPND) was calculated. If the patient received nasoenteric feeding for >1 day, then the average PPND per day was calculated. Frequency of gastrointestinal complications (vomiting, diarrhea, and regurgitation) was calculated per patient for each group. The PPND was not significantly different between patients fed continuously (99.0%) and patients fed intermittently (92.9%). Vomiting affected 29% of patients (26/91), diarrhea affected 26% of patients (24/91), and regurgitation affected 5% of patients (5/91). There was no significant difference in incidence of gastrointestinal complications between the patients fed continuously and the patients fed intermittently. There was a significantly higher incidence of diarrhea and regurgitation in dogs than in cats. Conclusions – PPND was not significantly different for continuous versus intermittent feeding via nasoenteric tubes. Frequencies of gastrointestinal complications were not significantly different between patients fed continuously and patients fed intermittently. Enterally fed dogs had a significantly higher frequency of regurgitation and diarrhea than enterally fed cats. Prospective studies are warranted to investigate causes for these potential inter-species differences.
A Revision of the Malagabdellinae (arhynchobdellida: Domanibdellidae), with a Description of a New Species, Malagabdella niarchosorum, from Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

This study provides the first photo-documentation of some of the sanguivorous terrestrial leeches of Madagascar, including the characterization of the male and female reproductive systems that were previously considered to be ‘‘monotonous’’ in land leeches. Three species of Malagabdella are redescribed and one new haemadipsoid species, Malagabdella niarchosorum, n.sp., is described. M. niarchosorum, n.sp. is the second species described from Madagascar that possesses four complete annuli between the gonopores. The only other Malagasy leech with these same characteristics, Malagabdella dussumieri (Blanchard, 1917), has an unknown type locality, and the examination of the type specimen reveals characteristics suggesting that this leech was not from Madagascar. A revised and restricted provisional key for the Malagabdellinae is provided.
Borderline features are associated with inaccurate trait self-estimations

Many treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are based upon the hypothesis that gross distortion in perceptions and attributions related to self and others represent a core mechanism for the enduring difficulties displayed by such patients. However, available experimental evidence of such distortions provides equivocal results, with some studies suggesting that BPD is related to inaccuracy in such perceptions and others indicative of enhanced accuracy in some judgments. The current study uses a novel methodology to explore whether individuals with BPD features are less accurate in estimating their levels of universal personality characteristics as compared to community norms. One hundred and four students received course instruction on the Five Factor Model of personality, and then were asked to estimate their levels of these five traits relative to community norms. They then completed the NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Features scale (PAI-BOR). Accuracy of estimates was calculated by computing squared differences between self-estimated trait levels and norm-referenced standardized scores in the NEO-FFI. There was a moderately strong relationship between PAI-BOR score and inaccuracy of trait level estimates. In particular, high BOR individuals dramatically overestimated their levels of Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, estimating themselves to be slightly above average on each of these characteristics but actually scoring well below average on both. The accuracy of estimates of levels of Neuroticism were unrelated to BOR scores, despite the fact that BOR scores were highly correlated with Neuroticism. These findings support the hypothesis that a key feature of BPD involves marked perceptual distortions of various aspects of self in relationship to others. However, the results also indicate that this is not a global perceptual deficit, as high BOR scorers accurately estimated that their emotional responsiveness was well above average. However, such individuals appear to have limited insight into their relative disadvantages in the capacity for cooperative relationships, or their limited ability to approach life in a planful and non-impulsive manner. Such results suggest important targets for treatments addressing problems in self-other representations.
Performance analysis of real-time rewriting models

Real-time systems usually involve a subtle interaction of a number of distributed components and have a high degree of parallelism, which makes their performance analysis quite complex. Thus, traditional techniques, such as simulation, fail to produce reasonable results. Formal methods pose an interesting solution but they usually lack the capabilities to reason about quantitative time and probabilistic properties, which play a vital role in performance analysis. This paper addresses this issue by presenting a formal approach for assessing the performance of a real-time system. To describe the evolution of the system, we use a real-time rewriting logic, in which we mechanize the extraction of quantitative information from a timed model. To evaluate the performance, we first consider the set of runs obtained from different initial input values that are not equivalent modulo the equational theory associated with the model. The overall performance of the system is then evaluated as the performance of each run weighted by its probability mass function. In order to illustrate the practical effectiveness of the proposed approach, we present the formal modeling and performance analysis of a simple search engine.
Bounded degree energy aware topology discovery in ad hoc wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we present a strategy for topology discovery and reconfiguration in ad hoc wireless sensor networks. One of the most critical issues in designing a wireless sensor network is to optimize the number of clusterheads which consume more energy as compared to the ordinary nodes. In this paper, we briefly analyze the currently proposed topology discovery algorithms and then propose our algorithm called Bounded Degree Energy Aware Algorithm (BDEA) which elects clusterheads by weighted clustering approach. The proposed algorithm takes in to consideration the degree, energy, transmission range and mobility of a node. Load balancing is achieved by setting lower and upper bounds on the degree of a node for becoming a clusterhead. Communication cost is reduced by declaring some nodes as forwarding nodes. Energy is also conserved by setting a threshold on the amount of energy a node requires to become a clusterhead. Finally, we evaluate the performance of our proposed scheme using simulations. Performance is evaluated in terms of number of clusterheads, load balancing, reconfigurations, stability of clusters and network lifetime. Simulations show that BDEA has stability over varying transmission ranges. BDEA has a higher degree of load balancing and a longer network lifetime as compared to previously proposed topology discovery algorithms.
Contract Enforcement in the English East India Company

Long-distance trade depends crucially on the enforcement of long-distance contracts, those in which principals are significantly removed from agents. The problem of contract enforcement in the English East India Company, the largest of the English chartered companies, is explored through an analysis of the information environment, the formal employment contract, and the broader relational contract. The relationship between Company servants and Directors reflects a multi-task principal-agent problem, in which servants trade public for the Company and at same time conduct their own private trade. Private trade, sustained by the private use of Company resources, and dismissals were the mechanisms that make East India contract work. Mechanisms which served little purpose were salaries and pre-employment bonds.
Speech enhancement using the dual excitation speech model

The dual excitation (DE) speech model is applied to the problem of speech enhancement. The use of this model and its novel decomposition of speech into coexisting voiced and unvoiced components allow removal of additive wideband noise from the degraded speech with only the knowledge of the power spectrum of the noise. The unique properties of each component are exploited to improve the performance of the enhancement system. Informal comparisons between the DE speech enhancement system and a traditional spectral subtraction algorithm show a clear preference for the DE enhancement system. Although the amount of noise reduction in the two systems was similar, the DE system did not contain the tonal artifacts which were present in the spectral subtraction system. Preliminary evidence shows that the DE speech enhancement system may be able to improve the intelligibility of noisy speech for hearing impaired listeners. >
Genralized Serial Search Code Acquisition: The Equivalent Circular State Diagram Approach

A simple circular state-diagram method has been recently proposed [1], [2] for the modeling, analysis, and optimization of straight serial search code acquisition in spread-spectrum systems. Herein, the approach is generalized to arbitrary serial strategies, such as the Z -search expanding window search, etc., and arbitrary a priori probability distributions for the code phase uncertainty. The basic idea is the construction of equivalent circular state diagrams, wherefrom the transform domain description, i.e., the generating or characteristic function of the stochastic acquisition process is derived. This general method is readily systematized, circumvents the need for complicated time-domain combinatorial arguments, and allows past results [3], [4] to be obtained as particular examples. In principle, the generating function can be used to calculate any moment of the acquisition process; here, however, due to complexity considerations, we restrict our attention to the first moment and its associated performance measure, the mean acquisition time. Based on the derived analytical expressions for the mean acquisition time, an expanding-window single-dwell search strategy has been optimized in terms of the required number of partial windows, parameterized by the prior distribution of the phase uncertainty.
Magnetic Ceramics: IV, Development of a Complex Ferrite with a Rectangular Hysteresis‐Loop Characteristic

A complex ferrite composition was investigated to ascertain how much the magnetic properties of the final product were affected by body preparation, forming pressure, firing temperature, and time at peak temperature. One reducing and three oxidizing atmospheres, in addition to a quenching cycle, were investigated. The magnetic parameters μi and Bm increased with density, whereas Hc decreased. The specimens fired at the maximum peak temperature, or quenched from above 800°C, gave markedly diminished BT values. The maximum loop rectangularity followed the same pattern.
Aerodynamics of wing-assisted incline running in birds

Wing-assisted incline running (WAIR) is a form of locomotion in which a bird flaps its wings to aid its hindlimbs in climbing a slope. WAIR is used for escape in ground birds, and the ontogeny of this behavior in precocial birds has been suggested to represent a model analogous to transitional adaptive states during the evolution of powered avian flight. To begin to reveal the aerodynamics of flap-running, we used digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) and measured air velocity, vorticity, circulation and added mass in the wake of chukar partridge Alectoris chukar as they engaged in WAIR (incline 65-85 degrees; N=7 birds) and ascending flight (85 degrees, N=2). To estimate lift and impulse, we coupled our DPIV data with three-dimensional wing kinematics from a companion study. The ontogeny of lift production was evaluated using three age classes: baby birds incapable of flight [6-8 days post hatching (d.p.h.)] and volant juveniles (25-28 days) and adults (45+ days). All three age classes of birds, including baby birds with partially emerged, symmetrical wing feathers, generated circulation with their wings and exhibited a wake structure that consisted of discrete vortex rings shed once per downstroke. Impulse of the vortex rings during WAIR was directed 45+/-5 degrees relative to horizontal and 21+/-4 degrees relative to the substrate. Absolute values of circulation in vortex cores and induced velocity increased with increasing age. Normalized circulation was similar among all ages in WAIR but 67% greater in adults during flight compared with flap-running. Estimated lift during WAIR was 6.6% of body weight in babies and between 63 and 86% of body weight in juveniles and adults. During flight, average lift was 110% of body weight. Our results reveal for the first time that lift from the wings, rather than wing inertia or profile drag, is primarily responsible for accelerating the body toward the substrate during WAIR, and that partially developed wings, not yet capable of flight, can produce useful lift during WAIR. We predict that neuromuscular control or power output, rather than external wing morphology, constrain the onset of flight ability during development in birds.
Stability and dynamic range of a Mach-Zehnder wavelength shifter

In future wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) reconfigurable networks, the ability to shift a signal from one wavelength to another may be an essential function due to a limited number of available wavelengths. The Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) has sparked the interest of the WDM community because ofits ability to wavelength convert signals at high speed, in both inverting and noninverting configurations with a high output extinction ratio, and with low chirp. In this paper, we assess the stability of the extinction ratio of the MZI with variations in the SOA bias currents, as well as with the wavelength and the power of the pump and probe. We characterize the operating point stability of the MZI and find ranges for the bias currents and for the input parameters, in order to minimize the sensitivity of the extinction ratio (ER).