cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An autonomous tracked vehicle with omnidirectional sensing

Operation of an autonomous vehicle along a marked path, in an obstacle-laden environment, requires path detection, relative position detection and control, and obstacle detection and avoidance. The design solution of the team from the U.S. Military Academy is a tracked vehicle operating open-loop in response to position information from an omnidirectional mirror, and to obstacle-detection input from the mirror and from a scanning laser. The use of a tracked rather than a wheeled vehicle is the team's open-loop solution to the problem of wheeled-vehicle slippage on wet and sandy surfaces. The vehicleresponds to sensor information from (1) a digital camera-mounted parabolic omnidirectional mirror for visual inputs and (2) a scanning laser for detecting obstacles in relief. Raw sensor data is converted synchronously into a global virtual context, which places the vehicle's center at the origin of a 2-D Cartesian coordinate system. A four-phase process is used to convert the camera's inputs into the data structures needed to reason about the vehicle's position relative to the course. Development of the path plan proceeds incrementally, using a space-sweeping algorithm to identify safe paths along waypoints within the course boundaries. An attempt is made to minimize translation errors by favoring paths which exhibit fewer sharp turns. Integration of Intel's OpenCV computer vision library and the Independent JPEG Group's JPEG library allow for very good encapsulation of the low-level functions needed to do most of the image processing. Ada95 is the language of choice for the majority of the team-developed software, except where needed to interface to motors and sensors. Use of an object-oriented high-level language has been invaluable in leveraging the efforts of previous years' development activities, and for maximizing the ability to log or otherwise respond to anomalous behavior. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heterogeneous nature of certain ribonucleases; human urine and sperm ribonucleases.

Abstract Purified ribonuclease preparations are obtained from human sperm and urine. The enzymes are prepared by procedures which result in the separation of a free and combined ribonuclease, as well as acid and alkaline ribonuclease. Differences in the action of these various enzyme preparations on yeast ribonucleic acid and on certain synthetic substrates are reported. Differences between these ribonuclease preparations as to heat stability and optimum pH, and elution from an ion-exchange resin column are described.
A Frequency Domain Technique Based on Energy Radial Projections for Robust Estimation of Global 2D Affine Transformations

The contribution of this paper is twofold: (1) it provides a thorough analysis of the frequency domain relationships relating two affine-warped images and (2) based on a fundamental equation between energy radial projections, it presents an original algorithm for estimating the global 2D affine transformation between the two images. It is well known that operating in the frequency domain allows one to separate the estimate of the affine matrix, related to the magnitudes of the Fourier transforms of the two images, from the estimate of the translation vector, related to their phases. Exploiting this property, our algorithm consists of two main steps: (1) the affine matrix is first estimated by solving, with a coarse-to-fine strategy, a suitable minimization problem formulated upon the radial projections of the image energies, and (2) after compensation for the contribution of the affine matrix, the translation vector is then recovered by means of phase correlation. The proposed method is very robust against perspective distortion and, with moderate translational displacements, it may also work when the two images differ along their peripheral areas. Experimental evidence of these characteristics is reported and discussed. The algorithm can be efficiently implemented via FFT and well suits applications requiring unsupervised and/or quasi-real-time estimation of global motion that can be described with 2D affine transformations.
An alternative promoter contributes to tissue- and inducer-specific expression of the rat UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A6 gene.

Abstract UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A6 (UGT1A6), a key enzyme catalyzing the glucuronidation of small planar phenols and amines, is expressed in a tissue- and inducer-dependent manner. Expression is high in kidney, gastrointestinal tract, and induced liver, with low expression in spleen, lung, and ovary. Exposure to certain chemicals, such as 3-methylcholanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene, β-naphthoflavone, and oltipraz elevates UGT1A6 mRNA in liver and to a lesser extent gastrointestinal tract and kidney, but not in other tissues. The mechanisms underlying this complex pattern of expression have been elusive. We have identified a new type of UGT1A6 mRNA (class 2) that differs in its 5′ untranslated sequence. The class 2 transcript is the more abundant type expressed in liver, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney. Transcription of the class 2 mRNA is initiated 107 bases 5′ of the UGT1A6 coding exon. The promoter region flanking the transcription start site contains an HNF1-like binding site identical to that in the human UGT1A6 gene. Both class 1 and class 2 mRNAs were elevated in liver by 3-methylcholanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene, β-naphthoflavone, and oltipraz, with preferential elevation of class 1 occurring after 3-methylcholanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene treatment. These data suggest that transcription from a second promoter contributes to tissue- and inducer-specific expression of rat UGT1A6.
The effects of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum on seeding of tumor in port sites in a rat model.

Abstract Objectives: The use of laparoscopic surgical techniques for the resection of intraperitoneal malignancies has been rapidly increasing in recent years; concomitantly, tumor recurrences at trocar sites have also been reported. These reports bring into question the appropriateness of pneumoperitoneum and laparoscopic techniques for carcinoma removal. We hypothesized that the carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum and instrumentation used during laparoscopic procedures contribute to a greater incidence of tumor implantation into the ventral peritoneal wall wound sites than seen with laparotomy. This study, which used port placement and carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in an animal model, was designed to determine the relative incidences of tumor implantation into wound sites of the ventral peritoneal wall for laparoscopy and laparotomy. Study Design: Viable MAT B III rat mammary adenocarcinoma cells were injected into the lower right quadrant of the peritoneal cavity of Fisher 344 rats (1 × 10 5 cells/rat). The animals were then divided into 4 groups: 1 group (n = 9) served as a control group and received no further manipulations; another (n = 8) underwent a midline laparotomy; another (n = 8) had four 18-gauge trocars inserted into the peritoneal cavity; and the last (n = 8) underwent induction of a 7- to 8-mm Hg carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in addition to the insertion of four 18-gauge trocars. All animals were maintained under surgical conditions for 2 hours. Animals were killed at 7 days, and the ventral peritoneal wall was examined for macroscopic evidence of tumor formation. Results: A total of 32 possible sites of tumor implantation were measured. The control group showed no significant macroscopic evidence of tumor translocation to the ventral peritoneal wall. Among the 32 measured sites the laparotomy group had an overall lower incidence of tumor implantation at the peritoneal wall wound sites (n = 5) than did the group with the trocars alone (n = 20) group ( P = .003) and the group with trocars plus carbon dioxide insufflation (n = 29, P P = .02). Conclusions: Trocar use during laparoscopic surgical procedures led to greater translocation of free tumor cells to peritoneal wall wound sites than did laparotomy in this animal model. The addition of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum further increased implantation of tumor cells at trocar sites. These results provide evidence that the use of laparoscopic techniques for resection of intraperitoneal malignancy needs further long-term study. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:1329-34.)
Prefiltration Using Formed‐in‐Place Metallic Membranes Reduces Microbial Content of Whey

Membranes were challenged with whey containing Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis. Logarithmic reduction values (LRV) of lactococci and rejection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) were measured. Increasing lactococci from 10(7) to 10(9) did not affect IgG rejection. Of 20 membranes formed on conventional stainless steel substrates, none achieved 5 LRV and passed > 50% IgG. Challenges of 20 DS-type altered substrates with 3 mM phosphate buffer containing lactococci yielded 5.2 average LRV. DS-type substrates used to microfilter whey containing lactococci yielded 5.3 to 7.3 LRV and passed 66% to 77% of the IgG.
Field-induced phase separation in one dimension

Phase separation is induced in the one-dimensional Ising chain (or lattice-gas model of a fluid) by means of an external field that changes sign in the middle of the chain. The magnetization profile (or density profile of the analogous fluid) is obtained analytically. It is found to decay exponentially rapidly to the bulk-phase magnetizations (or densities), the exponential decay parameter being the correlation length in the bulk phases in the presence of the field. This is in accord with earlier theoretical ideas. The interfacial tension is also obtained analytically. In an appropriately defined limit of large neighboring-site spin-spin interactions and small external field the interface becomes infinitely broad while the amplitude of the profile and the interfacial tension both vanish, in close imitation of the approach to a critical point in a real fluid. In this asymptotic limit the interfacial tension is related to the amplitude of the profile in the way that is predicted by earlier theories of interfaces near critical points, with critical-point exponents now those appropriate to one dimension. The exact interfacial profile and tension are used to test several approximations, including a corrected form of the “barometric law” and local (square-gradient) and nonlocal forms of the van der Waals theory.
Negativity of ground-state interaction energies of atom-excess-electron systems

Abstract Any atom—excess-electron system confined to an arbitrary finite region of space that is free of external fields and which can be characterized by a non-relativistic spin-free hamiltonian has, in the limit of infinite nuclear mass of the atom, an exact ground-state expectation value of the atom—electron interaction hamiltonian that is negative-definite.
Neonatologists' practices and experiences in arranging retinopathy of prematurity screening services.

BACKGROUND Neonatologists play a central role in identifying infants who require screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and in coordinating screening and treatment when necessary. No previous study has evaluated neonatologists' practice or experience related to these activities.
Generic programming in Fortran

Parametric Fortran is an extension of Fortran that supports the construction of generic programs by allowing the parameterization of arbitrary Fortran constructs. A parameterized Fortran program can be translated into a regular Fortran program guided by values for the parameters. This paper describes the extensions of Parametric Fortran by two new language features, accessors and list parameters. These features particularly address the code duplication problem, which is a major problem in the context of scientific computing. The described techniques have been successfully employed in a project that implements a generic inverse ocean modeling system.
A Breakpoint Moment: Leadership Visions and Values for Trustees of Collegiate Mission.

American higher education is an enterprise of complex heritage, mission, and governance culture—an enterprise expected to serve as both cultural curator and cultural critic. Contemporary issues such as the call for accountability and the pressure of marketplace ideology present colleges and universities with a possible breakpoint change moment in both mission and leadership, as established policy and philosophic principles are challenged and leadership vision and values are similarly called to question. This article probes the particular effect of marketplace ideology on colleges and explores three metaphors of leadership role and value: the Servant/Exemplar Leader, the Steward/Trustee Leader, and the Artist/Designer Leader.
The Layers of the Apocalypse: An Integrative Approach to Revelation's Macrostructure

The structure of John's Apocalypse represents a perennial problem, drawing much attention while managing to elude a consensus around any one structural model. This article posits that the structure of the Apocalypse comprises a tripartite framework of individual layers woven together in a cohesive literary unity. The surface structure represents the first layer and provides the most accessible means for understanding the major and minor divisions. A second layer of intertextual parallels is evidenced by the way the Apocalypse apparently models portions of the Old Testament. A final layer consists of intratextual connections linking repetitive terms and phrases in a complex system of internal cross-references. By recognizing the surface structure, the intertextual layer and intratextual layer, interpreters can further explore how these individual layers influence the structure of the Apocalypse. This approach may also prove useful when investigating the meaning of the text through its structure.
The evolution of speed, size and shape in modern athletics

In the present study, we show that the fastest runners and swimmers are becoming not only faster but also heavier, taller and more slender. During the past century, the world record speeds for 100 m-freestyle and 100 m-dash have increased with body mass (M) raised to the power 1/6, in accordance with the constructal scaling of animal locomotion. The world records also show that the speeds have increased in proportion with body heights (H) raised to the power 1/2, in accordance with animal locomotion scaling. If the athlete's body is modeled with two length scales (H, body width L), the (M, H) data can be used to calculate the slenderness of the body, H/L. The world records show that the body slenderness is increasing very slowly over time.
Antioxidant-rich spice added to hamburger meat during cooking results in reduced meat, plasma, and urine malondialdehyde concentrations

Background: Emerging science has shown the effect of oxidation products and inflammation on atherogenesis and carcinogenesis. Cooking hamburger meat can promote the formation of malondialdehyde that can be absorbed after ingestion. Objective:We studied the effect of an antioxidant spice mixture on malondialdehyde formation while cooking hamburger meat and its effects on plasma and urinary malondialdehyde concentrations. Design: Eleven healthy volunteers consumed 2 kinds of burgers in a randomized order: one burger was seasoned with a spice blend, and one burger was not seasoned with the spice blend. The production of malondialdehyde in burgers and malondialdehyde concentrations in plasma and urine after ingestion were measured by HPLC. Results:Rosmarinic acid from oregano was monitored to assess the effect of cooking on spice antioxidant content. Forty percent (19 mg) of the added rosmarinic acid remained in the spiced burger (SB) after cooking. There was a 71% reduction in the malondialdehyde concentration (mean ± SD: 0.52 ± 0.02 μmol/250 g) in the meat of the SBs compared with the malondialdehyde concentration (1.79 ± 0.17 μmol/250 g) in the meat of the control burgers (CBs). The plasma malondialdehyde concentration increased significantly in the CB group as a change from baseline (P = 0.026). There was a significant time-trend difference (P = 0.013) between the 2 groups. Urinary malondialdehyde concentrations (μmol/g creatinine) decreased by 49% (P = 0.021) in subjects consuming the SBs compared with subjects consuming the CBs. Conclusions: The overall effect of adding the spice mixture to hamburger meat before cooking was a reduction in malondialdehyde concentrations in the meat, plasma, and urine after ingestion. Therefore, cooking hamburgers with a polyphenol-rich spice mixture can significantly decrease the concentration of malondialdehyde, which suggests potential health benefits for atherogenesis and carcinogenesis. This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01027052","term_id":"NCT01027052"}}NCT01027052.
Pronunciability rating and learning of doubly homogeneous paired-associate lists

Forty Ss learned homogenous paired-associate lists consisting of 12 number-CVC trigram pairs equated for association value and familiarity. Two groups of 10 Ss each learned lists having low PR (easy to pronounce) response terms; 2 groups learned lists having high PR (difficult to pronounce) response terms. High and low PR groups did not differ significantly either in terms of mean number of trials to reach criterion or mean total number of correct responses over 25 trials. Rank-order correlations indicated that PR predicted neither the length of the integrative stage nor the total number of correct associations for these CVC trigrams. Results were discussed in terms of list homogeneity with respect to PR and trigram form-class, and in terms of the particular items comprising the lists.
Children's Behavior toward and Understanding of Robotic and Living Dogs

Abstract This study investigated children's reasoning about and behavioral interactions with a computationally sophisticated robotic dog (Sony's AIBO) compared to a live dog (an Australian Shepherd). Seventy-two children from three age groups (7–9 years, 10–12 years, and 13–15 years) participated in this study. Results showed that more children conceptualized the live dog, as compared to AIBO, as having physical essences, mental states, sociality, and moral standing. Children also spent more time touching and within arms distance of the live dog, as compared to AIBO. However, a surprising majority of children conceptualized and interacted with AIBO in ways that were like a live dog. For example, over 60% of the children affirmed that AIBO had mental states, sociality, and moral standing; and children were as likely to give AIBO commands as a living dog. Discussion broaches whether it is possible that a new technological genre is emerging that challenges traditional ontological categories.
Gender analysis of the pivotal results of the Medtronic Talent Thoracic Stent Graft System (VALOR) trial.

Purpose This study evaluated the differences between male and female patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) in a pivotal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved trial. Methods The Evaluation of the Medtronic Vascular Talent Thoracic Stent Graft System for the Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (VALOR) study was a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter, pivotal trial conducted in the United States. Patients were enrolled between December 2003 and June 2005. Follow-up was conducted at 30 and 365 days. Results VALOR enrolled 115 men (58.9%; 69.3 ± 11.7 years old), and 80 women (41.1%; 71.6 ± 10.1 years old). Iliac conduits were used more often in women, who had smaller diameter external iliac arteries, than in men (38.8% vs 8.8%, P P = .008), with more vascular access-related and respiratory complications. No gender-based differences were seen in all-cause mortality or in aneurysm-related death. The composite end point of 365-day "successful aneurysm treatment," defined as no aneurysm growth >5 mm at the 365-day follow-up visit compared with the 30-day follow-up visit and absence of any type I endoleak requiring a secondary procedure, favored women over men (98.2% vs 82.4%, P = .004). Conclusions TEVAR with the Talent device provided similar rates of 365-day mortality and morbidity for men and women. Although female patients had higher rates of periprocedural complications, they also more often had successful aneurysm treatment at the 1-year follow-up.
Alternatives to antibiotics: a symposium on the challenges and solutions for animal production

Antibiotics are one of the most important medical discoveries of the 20th century and will remain an essential tool for treating animal and human diseases in the 21st century. However, antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens and concerns over their extensive use in food animals has garnered global interest in limiting antibiotic use in animal agriculture. Yet, limiting the availability of medical interventions to prevent and control animal diseases on the farm will directly impact global food security and safety as well as animal and human health. Insufficient attention has been given to the scientific breakthroughs and novel technologies that provide alternatives to antibiotics. The objectives of the symposium ‘Alternatives to Antibiotics’ were to highlight promising research results and novel technologies that could potentially lead to alternatives to conventional antibiotics, and assess challenges associated with their commercialization, and provide actionable strategies to support development of alternative antimicrobials. The symposium focused on the latest scientific breakthroughs and technologies that could provide new options and alternative strategies for preventing and treating diseases of animals. Some of these new technologies have direct applications as medical interventions for human health, but the focus of the symposium was animal production, animal health and food safety during food-animal production. Five subject areas were explored in detail through scientific presentations and expert panel discussions, including: (1) alternatives to antibiotics, lessons from nature; (2) immune modulation approaches to enhance disease resistance and to treat animal diseases; (3) gut microbiome and immune development, health and diseases; (4) alternatives to antibiotics for animal production; and (5) regulatory pathways to enable the licensure of alternatives to antibiotics.
Non-redundant, linear-phase, semi-orthogonal, directional complex wavelets [image/video processing applications]

The directionality and phase information provided by nonredundant complex wavelet transforms (NCWTs) provide significant potential benefits for image/video processing and compression applications. However, because existing NCWTs are created by downsampling filtered wavelet coefficients, the finest scale of these transforms has a resolution 4/spl times/ lower than the real input signal. In this paper, we propose a linear-phase, semi-orthogonal, directional NCWT design using a novel triband filter bank. At the finest scale, the resulting transform has a resolution 3/spl times/ lower than the real input signal. We provide a design example to demonstrate three important properties for image/video processing applications: directionality, magnitude coherency, and phase coherency.
Variation-aware task allocation and scheduling for MPSoC

As technology scales, the delay uncertainty caused by process variations has become increasingly pronounced in deep sub-micron designs. As a result, a paradigm shift from deterministic to statistical design methodology at all levels of the design hierarchy is inevitable [1]. In this paper, we propose a variation-aware task allocation and scheduling algorithm for Multiprocessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC) architectures to mitigate the impact of parameter variations. A new design metric, called performance yield and defined as the probability of the assigned schedule meeting the predefined performance constraints, is used to guide the task allocation and scheduling procedure. An efficient yield computation method for task scheduling complements and significantly improves the effectiveness of the proposed variation-aware scheduling algorithm. Experimental results show that our variation-aware scheduler achieves significant yield improvements. On average, 45% and 34% yield improvements over worst-case and nominal-case deterministic schedulers, respectively, can be obtained across the benchmarks by using the proposed variation-aware scheduler.
A curvilinear coordinate-based split-step parabolic equation method for propagation predictions over terrain

Propagation of radiowaves over irregular terrain and in an inhomogeneous atmosphere is solved by the parabolic equation method using the split-step Fourier algorithm on a terrain-conformal mesh. A piecewise continuous coordinate system is generated by the specification of: (1) the terrain profile shape at discrete points and (2) an upper height. The resulting mesh is conformal to the terrain at the lower boundary and gradually flattens off at the maximum height. In addition to preserving the number of points on any vertical line between the terrain and the maximum height from one range step to another, the coordinate transformation used in the paper produces a correction term in the refractive index whose gradient diminishes with height. As a result, the sampling requirements over steep terrain are relaxed when compared to the Beilis-Tappert transformation. Formulation and results are given both for the horizontal and vertical polarizations.
Modeling spectral diffuse attenuation, absorption, and scattering coefficients in a turbid estuary

Spectral diffuse attenuation coefficients were measured in the Rhode River and Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, on 28 occasions in 1988 and 1989. The model of Kirk was used to extract scattering and absorption coefficients from the measurements in waters considerably more turbid than those in which the model was previously applied. Estimated scattering coefftcients were linearly related to mineral suspended solids. Estimates of total absorption coefficients were decomposed as the sum of contributions by water, dissolved organic matter, phytoplankton chlorophyll, and particulate detritus, each having a characteristic spectral shape. The 1988 data were used to develop a model of scattering and absorption coefficients based on the specific curves regressed against water-quality parameters. Diffise attenuation coefficients in the 1989 data ranging from 1 to 10 m-l and photic depths ranging from < 1 to 4.5 m were predicted with a C.V. of about 25%. The problem of estimating concentrations of water-quality constituents from optical measurements was indeterminate due to the similarity in shape of the specific curves of dissolved substances and depigmented particulates. Chlorophyll concentration could be estimated because it was strongly related to water-corrected absorption in the 670-nm waveband, but several outliers occurred due to biological variability in specific absorption of pigments.
Phase unwrapping error reduction framework for a multiple-wavelength phase-shifting algorithm

We address a framework to reduce the unwrapping errors of the measurement system using a digital multiple-wavelength phase- shifting algorithm. In particular, the following framework is proposed: 1 smooth the raw phase by smoothing the sine and cosine images of the phase computation of the inverse tangent function; 2 locate and re- move the incorrectly unwrapped points by the monotonicity condition of the phase map; 3 obtain the unwrapped phase map for the shortest wavelength without smoothing; 4 detect holes and fill them to preserve as much useful information as possible. Experiments demonstrated that the proposed framework significantly alleviated the measurement errors caused by the phase noise. © 2009 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation
The Effects of Affluence, Economic Development, and Environmental Degradation on Environmental Concern: A Multilevel Analysis

The authors engage ecological modernization and treadmill of production theories as well as the longstanding postmaterialist values hypothesis and the objective problems subjective values hypothesis to assess the effects of national level affluence, economic growth, and environmental degradation on the likelihood of environmental concern of individuals in 38 nations. Results of multilevel logistic regression analyses indicate that a higher level of national affluence lessens the likelihood of individual-level proenvironmental concern, whereas contrarily, economic development and growth in environmental degradation both increase the likelihood of such values. The authors conclude by considering the theoretical implications of the findings and outlining future steps in this research agenda.
Sectional Parties, Divided Business

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) led the corporate attack on labor organization and government regulation in the early twentieth century. Yet NAM's deep distrust of coordination, in fact, developed years into its organizational life: at its inception, NAM organizers sought mechanisms to coordinate economic and political business activity, and held policy positions that resembled those favored by contemporaneous European manufacturers. Thus, the organization's dramatic shift in policy preferences almost a decade later was something of a sea change: suddenly NAM became committed to laissez-faire liberalism—the antithesis of coordination—and became best-known for its commitment to fighting organized labor.
Value of normal electrocardiographic findings in predicting resting left ventricular function in patients with chest pain and suspected coronary artery disease.

Abstract purpose: Characterization of left ventricular function is important in managing patients with coronary artery disease. Although many methods are available to assess left ventricular function, most are either expensive, invasive, or both. In this study, we examined the ability of normal or near-normal resting electrocardiographic findings to predict resting left ventricular ejection fraction, measured by resting radionuclid angiography, in 874 patients with chest pain and suspected coronary artery disease. patients and methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of 4,410 Mayo Clinic patients who underwent rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography for the evaluation of chest pain and known or suspected coronary artery disease; of these, 874 patients met the inclusion criteria for the current study. A 15-lead electrocardiogram, which was interpreted by the cardiologist or cardiology trainee working in the laboratory, was obtained at the same evaluation as the radionuclide study. results; In 590 patients with no previous history of a myocardial infarction and entirely normal resting electrocardiographic results without non-specific ST-T wave abnormalities, the mean left ventricular ejection franction was 0.63± 0.004, and 559 patients (95%) had a normal resting ejection fraction (defined as 0.50 or more). Both nonspecific ST-T wave abnormalities (p conclusion: Thus, an entirely normal result on an resting 12-lead electrocardiogram in patients with suspected coronary disease but no history of a previous myocardial infarction is a reliable (95%) predictor of normal left ventricular function. If non-specific ST-T wave abnormalities are noted, particularly if there is a history of a previous infarction, to the predictive value of the electrocardiographic findings in diminished.
Within water-body management: a needed but neglected complement to watershed management

Springer-Verlag 2010 Recent assessments by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency indicate that 44% of river and stream miles and 64% of lake and reservoir acres are impaired pursuant to section 305(b) of the U.S. Clean Water Act (E.P.A. 2009a). The impairments are caused by the transfer of nutrients, toxic substances and pathogens from watersheds, and to a lesser extent airsheds, to receiving waters. Eutrophication, the processes through which the flux of growth-limiting nutrients from watersheds to receiving waters stimulates excessive plant growth such as freshwater harmful algal blooms (FHABs), continues to increase (Hudnell 2008). Analyses of data from EPA’s first eutrophication survey conducted in 1972 indicated that 10‐20% of all U.S. lakes and reservoirs were eutrophic (Gakstatter and Maloney 1975). The Agency recently reported that over 50% of all U.S. lakes and reservoirs are eutrophic or hypereutrophic (E.P.A. 2009b). This alarming rate of increase signals the need for an evaluation of surface-water management and restoration policy, and identification of methods for reversing this trend, if we are to have a sustainable supply
Maximum shortening velocity of lymphatic muscle approaches that of striated muscle

Lymphatic muscle (LM) is widely considered to be a type of vascular smooth muscle, even though LM cells uniquely express contractile proteins from both smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. We tested t...
Properties of Low‐Fat Ground Beef Containing Potassium Lactate During Aerobic Refrigerated Storage

Low-fat patties containing water, carrageenan, encapsulated salt and hydrolyzed vegetable protein (carrageenan-based patties) with 0, 1, 2 or 3% potassium lactate were compared to low-fat all-beef patties with no additives. Carrageenan-based patties had enhanced (P<0.05) sensory properties (juiciness, tenderness, mealiness and beef flavor intensity) compared to all-beef patties. The bacterial populations of low-fat, carrageenan-based patties did not differ (P<0.05) from low-fat all-beef patties. Bacterial growth in low-fat, carrageenan-based patties was reduced through the use of 2 or 3% potassium lactate with no deleterious effects on the sensory properties of the low-fat, ground beef. However, low-fat, carrageenan-based patties underwent greater (P<0.5) discoloration and lipid oxidation during aerobic refrigerated storage than all-beef patties.
Development of Automated Scoring Algorithms for Complex Performance Assessments: A Comparison of Two Approaches.

Performance assessments are typically scored by having experts rate individual performances. The cost associated with using expert raters may represent a serious limitation in many large-scale testing programs. The use of raters may also introduce an additional source of error into the assessment. These limitations have motivated development of automated scoring systems for performance assessments. Preliminary research has shown these systems to have application across a variety of tasks ranging from simple mathematics to architectural problem solving. This study extends research on automated scoring by comparing alternative automated systems for scoring a computer simulation test of physicians'patient management skills; one system uses regression-derived weights for components of the performance, the other uses complex rules to map performances into score levels. The procedures are evaluated by comparing the resulting scores to expert ratings of the same performances.
Calculation of Magnetic Remanence

This paper outlines a technique for predicting the residual field in magnetizable media after the source is removed. Ship builders are considering the use of dc cables, and many land-based power systems have dc links as a power feed. What will the neighboring steel's remanent field be if the cables are excited with a large current, e.g., under short circuit conditions? This paper presents a procedure for replacing the steel with a continuum of nonlinear permanent magnets. The technique consists of discretizing the magnetizable medium into subregions, as defined by a contour plot of |Boarr|. Each subregion is assigned a magnetization curve according to the characteristic B in that region. The source field is used to assign local magnetization within these regions. The technique is novel, but the real contribution is a technique that can be implemented by any user of a commercial code, and not isolated to developers.
African American Adolescents’ Perceptions of Ethnic Socialization and Racial Socialization as Distinct Processes:

Ethnic socialization and racial socialization were examined as discrete concepts using a semistructured interview to assess message content for each form of socialization. We were interested in whether adolescents distinguished between these forms of socialization. Fifty-five African American 11th- and 12th-grade students were asked separate interview questions about the messages they received from mothers pertaining to ethnic socialization and racial socialization. As expected, the frequency of Black cultural messages was more strongly represented in response to the ethnic socialization question, whereas the frequency of minority messages was more strongly represented in response to the racial socialization question. The findings support distinct conceptualizations and measures of ethnic socialization and racial socialization.
Nicardipine to Control Neonatal Hypertension During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygen Support

OBJECTIVE:To describe the clinical course of a newborn (gestational age 38 wk, 6 d) administered intravenous nicardipine to control hypertension while on extracorporeal membrane oxygen (ECMO) support.SETTING:Urban, university teaching hospital.CASE SUMMARY:A 1-day-old male neonate presenting with a left congenital diaphragmatic hernia developed a sustained elevation in blood pressure following a change of ECMO tubing. After several unsuccessful treatment regimens, nicardipine was started at a rate of 0.5 μg/kg/min and aggressively titrated to 1.5 μg/kg/min. Nicardipine produced a sustained antihypertensive effect that was noticed 8 hours after the start of the infusion. The infusion was continued through postoperative day 2. Following a second circuit change, nicardipine was discontinued and sodium nitroprusside therapy was started. Treatment with nitroprusside failed to lower the blood pressure.DISCUSSION:Nicardipine is an effective antihypertensive agent for neonates receiving ECMO therapy. However, the...
Motion constraints from contact geometry: representation and analysis

A method to determine constraints on translational and rotational motion of planar and 3-D objects from their contact geometry is presented. Translations are represented by spatial vectors and rotations by axes in space. For each of these, a geometric realization (M/sub a/) of the space of motion parameters is created. Subspaces in M/sub a/ that represent the range of values of motion parameters that are disallowed due to the contact are identified. The geometric realization makes it easier to visualize results, provides a good measure of the extent of restraints between objects, reduces computations by eliminating redundant constraints, and simplifies computation of new constraints. The proposed representation can be used effectively to automate the evaluation of motion constraints. >
Interaction of electromagnetic waves with some natural surfaces

The problem of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with nonuniform surfaces (terrain, roadways, etc.) is of interest for predicting the apparent temperature of radiometers or radio telescopes. In this paper, the interaction is described by the differential scattering coefficients of the surface, in terms of which one may express such parameters of the surface as the radar cross section, the absorption coefficient, the albedo, etc. By making use of the reciprocity properties of the differential scattering coefficients, Kirchhoff's radiation law is derived in its most general form, which takes account of both the angular dependence and the polarization properties of the emitted radiation. Thus, the emissivity of the surface can also be expressed in terms of the scattering coefficients. General formulas for apparent surface temperature are obtained and are used to calculate the apparent temperature of an asphalt roadway and a vegetation-covered surface. The predicted temperatures are found to be in reasonably good agreement with measurements of Britt, Tolbert and Straiton at 4.3 mm wavelength.
Surface Temperature Variations in East Africa and Possible Causes

Abstract Surface temperatures have been observed in East Africa for more than 100 yr, but heretofore have not been subject to a rigorous climate analysis. To pursue this goal monthly averages of maximum (TMax), minimum (TMin), and mean (TMean) temperatures were obtained for Kenya and Tanzania from several sources. After the data were organized into time series for specific sites (60 in Kenya and 58 in Tanzania), the series were adjusted for break points and merged into individual gridcell squares of 1.25°, 2.5°, and 5.0°. Results for the most data-rich 5° cell, which includes Nairobi, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Kenya, indicate that since 1905, and even recently, the trend of TMax is not significantly different from zero. However, TMin results suggest an accelerating temperature rise. Uncertainty estimates indicate that the trend of the difference time series (TMax − TMin) is significantly less than zero for 1946–2004, the period with the highest density of observations. This trend difference continues i...
Two Alzheimer’s disease risk genes increase entorhinal cortex volume in young adults

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk genes alter brain structure and function decades before disease onset. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, and a related gene, apolipoprotein J (APOJ), also affects disease risk. However, the extent to which these genes affect brain structure in young adults remains unclear. Here, we report that AD risk alleles of these two genes, APOE-e4 and APOJ-C, cumulatively alter brain volume in young adults. Using voxel-based morphometry in 57 individuals, we examined the entorhinal cortex, one of the earliest brain regions affected in AD pathogenesis. APOE-e4 carriers exhibited higher right entorhinal cortex volume compared to non-carriers. Interestingly, APOJ-C risk genotype was associated with higher bilateral entorhinal cortex volume in non-APOE-e4 carriers. To determine the combined disease risk of APOE and APOJ status per subject, we used cumulative odds ratios as regressors for volumetric measurements. Higher disease risk corresponded to greater right entorhinal cortex volume. These results suggest that, years before disease onset, two key AD genetic risk factors may exert influence on the structure of a brain region where AD pathogenesis takes root.
Endohelminths from the Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, and the American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, from Galveston Bay, Texas, U.S.A., and Checklist of Pelican Parasites

Ten species of endohelminths including 2 cestodes, 3 nematodes, and 5 trematodes were collected from 6 American white pelicans, Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, and 22 species of endohelminths including 2 acanthocephalans, 3 cestodes, 4 nematodes, and 13 trematodes were collected from 10 brown pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, from the Galveston, Texas, area. A mean of 120 and a range of 4 to 2,134 helminths were present in the American white pelican, and a mean of 57 and a range of 2 to 10,413 helminths were found in the brown pelican. Two cestodes, 3 nematodes, and 3 trematodes were common to both species of pelicans. Parvitaenia ibisae, Tetrabothrius sp., Capillaria sp. represent new host records for the American white pelican, and Echinochasmus cf. donaldsoni, Phagicola macrostoma, and Lyperosomum sp. represent new host records for the brown pelican. Hypotheses for the recent infection of pelicans with species of Bursacetabulus and Bursatintinnabulus along the Gulf coast are discussed.
Biomarkers of acute kidney injury in chronic heart failure: what do the signals mean?

Over the preceding decade, the nephrology community has enjoyed success in the development of urinary biomarkers that can predict the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) hours to days before a rise in serum creatinine is apparent [(1)][1]. Notably, following experimental acute tubular damage
Small Trader Reactions to Consecutive Earnings Surprises: A Market Test of Behavioral Theory*

Several analytical models explain post-earnings-announcement drift, momentum and mean-reversion by making assumptions about investor behavior. They posit that investors react more strongly as a series of similar earnings surprises continues. Related literature suggests that behavior should vary systematically with investor sophistication. This paper tests these claims by analyzing whether traders on the NYSE exhibit increasing reactions to a series of similar earnings surprises, and whether their behavior varies with trade size, a proxy for sophistication. Results show that smaller traders exhibit an increasing reaction, with significant increases between the first, second, and third surprise. The pattern is weaker for larger trade-size groups, disappearing for the largest. Controls for prior returns show that small traders generally act as contrarians and large traders as momentum traders, strengthening the results. Future drift is weaker for each subsequent surprise in a series, suggesting that increasing reactions are not attempts to capitalize on increasing returns.
Seasonal variation in spore abundance and dormancy of Gigaspora gigantea and in mycorrhizal inoculum potential of a dune soil

Seasonal abundance and dormancy were examined in field-collected spores of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (VAMF) Gigaspora gigantea. Monthly collections of soil were made from a sand d...
Upper limit of metastability of the vortex-free state of a two-dimensional superconductor in a nonuniform magnetic field

We calculate the magnetic field above which vortices necessarily appear in a two-dimensional superconducting film in a nonuniform magnetic field applied near its center, as in two-coil measurements of superfluid density. Experiments suggest that free vortices appear when the Meissner screening current density is large enough that the free-energy barrier for separating tightly-bound vortex-antivortex (V-aV) pairs into free vortices is comparable to ${k}_{B}T$, not at the much lower thermodynamic critical field. Specifically, we calculate the applied magnetic field above which there exists no metastable state without vortices. There is a simple analogy with the appearance of phase-slip centers in a one-dimensional superconducting wire.
Eleanor Sandry, Robots and communication

Eleanor Sandry’s book provides a multidisciplinary entrance point for understanding interaction and communication design ideas for autonomous robot systems. The main focus of the book is on communi...
Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity: Autonomic instability and muscle over-activity following severe brain injury.

AbstractBackground: Children who suffer from moderate-to-severe brain injury can develop a complicating phenomenon known as paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH), characterized by autonomic instability and identified clinically as a cluster of symptoms that can include recurrent fever without a source of infection, hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, agitation, diaphoresis and dystonia. Studies with adults have demonstrated that this cluster of symptoms is associated with poorer clinical outcomes (prolonged hospitalizations, poorer cognitive and motor function). However, there have been limited studies in children with PSH.Objective: To present a literature review regarding PSH following severe brain injury and highlight research needs in children with PSH.Methodology: Electronic databases (CINAHL, Ovid Medline, Web of Science and Google Scholar) were searched.Results: Thirty-one research articles met the criteria for inclusion. Several themes emerged regarding the phenomenon of interest during the...