cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discovery of sound sources by an autonomous mobile robot

In this work, we describe an autonomous mobile robotic system for finding, investigating, and modeling ambient noise sources in the environment. The system has been fully implemented in two different environments, using two different robotic platforms and a variety of sound source types. Making use of a two-step approach to autonomous exploration of the auditory scene, the robot first quickly moves through the environment to find and roughly localize unknown sound sources using the auditory evidence grid algorithm. Then, using the knowledge gained from the initial exploration, the robot investigates each source in more depth, improving upon the initial localization accuracy, identifying volume and directivity, and, finally, building a classification vector useful for detecting the sound source in the future.
Neighborhood disadvantage, neighborhood safety and cardiometabolic risk factors in African Americans: biosocial associations in the Jackson Heart study.

Objective We examined associations between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, perceived neighborhood safety and cardiometabolic risk factors, adjusting for health behaviors and socioeconomic status (SES) among African Americans.
Recovery of ammonium nitrogen by solvent extraction for the determination of relative 15N abundance in regeneration experiments

Abstract A new sample preparation method for 15 N tracer measurement of ammonium regeneration in seawater is described. Ammonium nitrogen is incorporated into indophenol, extracted into dichloromethane and concentrated by evaporation. The isotopic ratio of the indophenol nitrogen is determined by emission spectroscopy. A small amount (0.2 μmol) of unlabeled nitrogen is introduced by reagents used during sample preparation. For samples of equal nitrogen content, the coefficient of variation is constant and the precision of the isotopic ratio determination is inversely related to the relative 15 N abundance. Differences of 0.19 atom% 15 N can be measured in 5.0 μM NH 4 + samples of 5.0 atom% 15 N (SD = 0.07, n = 3, p = 0.05). Interface from forms of dissolved organic nitrogen prevalent in marine environments are negligible.
Bachelor’s Degree Completion Across State Contexts: Does the Distribution of Enrollments Make a Difference?

Growing accountability pressures, accompanied by a lack of readily accessible measures of institutional performance, have led to an increasing focus on graduation rates. Although previous research has illuminated myriad factors influencing students’ likelihood of educational success, it has not paid adequate attention to how state contexts may shape student outcomes. I build on the small but growing body of research exploring the role of state characteristics in facilitating student success in higher education. Controlling for a range of state and individual attributes, I examine how one aspect of the state context––the distribution of enrollments in 2 vs. 4-year public institutions––is related to bachelor’s degree attainment of students attending public 4-year colleges and universities. The results suggest that the larger the proportion of students attending community colleges in a state, the higher the probability of bachelor’s degree attainment at public 4-year institutions. This appears to be a product of student sorting: the presence of community colleges facilitates sorting of students into higher education in a way that is associated with higher degree completion at public 4-year institutions. These findings have important implications for research on student outcomes and policies aimed at evaluating the performance of public 4-year institutions.
Clinical Presentation and Management of Carcinoid Tumors

The generally indolent nature of neuroendocrine tumors is an advantage in the management of patients who have localized disease, and surgery alone is often curative. This same property presents a challenge in the treatment of patients who have metastatic disease, in whom standard cytotoxic chemotherapy has a limited benefit. In such patients, the use of somatostatin analogs, interferon, and the treatment of hepatic metastases may provide effective palliation. The highly vascular nature of carcinoid tumors has led to the investigation of antiangiogenic agents in this setting. Preliminary reports of activity associated with agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway suggest that such strategies may play a role in the future treatment of patients who have this disease.
Overlay measurement accuracy enhancement by design and algorithm

Advanced design nodes require more complex lithography techniques, such as double patterning, as well as advanced materials like hard masks. This poses new challenge for overlay metrology and process control. In this publication several step are taken to face these challenges. Accurate overlay metrology solutions are demonstrated for advanced memory devices.
Generation-recombination noise in multiple quantum well infrared photodetectors

Generation-recombination noise in quantum well infrared photodetectors is considered theoretically. A numerical model and procedure for noise power calculation is proposed. It is shown that the transient response current due to extra charge generation from a QW is not described by a simple exponential model. Transient current is composed of fast and slow components. The autocorrelation coefficient is also non- exponential, having two components with different time scales and amplitudes. The noise power spectral density has a strong frequency dispersion at low frequencies, due to the modulation of the injection current from the emitter. Analytical model for non-equilibrium high-frequency noise is proposed.
Combatting rendering latency

Latency or lag in an interactive graphics system is the delay between user input and displayed output. We have found latency and the apparent bobbing and swimming of objects that it produces to be a serious problem for head-mounted display (HMD) and augmented reality applications. At UNC, we have been investigating a number of ways to reduce latency; we present two of these. Slats is an experimental rendering system for our Pixel-Planes 5 graphics machine guaranteeing a constant single NTSC field of latency. This guaranteed response is especially important for predictive tracking. Just-in-time pixels is an attempt to compensate for rendering latency by rendering the pixels in a scanned display based on their position in the scan.
Effects of relative humidity on chloroacetanilide and dinitroaniline herbicide desorption from agricultural PM2.5 on quartz fiber filters.

This study quantified the release of seven relatively polar preemergence herbicides to the gas phase from soil-generated PM2.5-loaded quartz fiber filters (QFFs) and bare QFF as a function of relative humidity (RH). A 48-hour desorption fraction, F48, was defined to evaluate the relative desorption behavior of herbicides from two families, chloroacetanilide (alachlor, butachlor, metolachlor, and propachlor) and dinitroaniline (pendimethalin, prodiamine, and trifluralin) using temperature- (8 °C) and humidity- (10−64% RH) controlled air at a flow rate of 4 L/min. With increasing RH, an increase in F48 by a factor of 2−8 was observed for all herbicides, except metolachlor and butachlor, which showed significantly strong sorption to both sorbents. The conjugate carbonyl oxygen and amide nitrogen in the chloroacetanilide structure enables stronger specific interactions with the sorbents, leading to lower desorption compared to the dinitroaniline herbicides. Desorption of chloroacetanilides decreased in the or...
The Angular Distributions of Tritons from the C 14 (d, t) C 13 Reaction

The reactions leading from the C/sup 14/ ground state to the ground state and first excited states of C/sup 13/ were studied using 14.8-Mev incident deuterons. Outgoing particles were magnetically analyzed and were detected by a Csl(Tl) crystal. The resulting pulses were sorted by a six-channel pulse-height analyzer. The targets were prepared by depositing carbon (enriched to 29% in C/ sup 14) on gold foil. Positive identification of the levels was made by substitution of a natural carbon target, and also by observation of the variation of recoil energy as a function of scattering; angle. Experimentally observed angular distributions of tritons leading to the low-lying states C/sup 13/ were compared with those predicted by the theory of Butler, and the results are shown. (M.H.R.)
Pediatric therapists' perspectives on occupation-based practice.

Abstract Aims: The aim of this study was to describe the perspectives on occupation-based practice of 22 pediatric occupational therapists in a medical facility in the Midwestern United States. Methods: The study used a grounded theory approach to analyze the individual, semi-structured interviews of 22 pediatric occupational therapists. Transcripts were initially coded using Ethnograph™ 5.0 software and analysis continued using constant comparison techniques and memo writing to produce emergent themes of meaning. Findings: The doing of occupation-based practice was based in personal identity and influenced by professional education. Occupation-based practice was more satisfying and rewarding for therapists, and they found it more effective and individualized. Patients and families were perceived by therapists to find occupation-based practice more motivating, understandable, valuable, and easily generalized to everyday life. However, occupation-based practice was seen as more difficult in a medical-based...
Rat bite fever: fever, arthritis, and rash in a 4-year-old boy.

: Rat bite fever is a rare but potentially fatal Gram-negative infection that predominantly affects populations with exposure to rats, notably children. The clinical presentation is nonspecific and requires a high threshold of suspicion to elicit a history of rat exposure. We report here a case of a child whose diagnosis was made retrospectively but with good outcome.
Changes in brain met-enkephalin concentrations with peripheral CCK injections in Zucker rats

Abstract There is increasing evidence that peptides in the brain are important in the control of food intake. Administration of opioid and CCK peptides have elicited hunger and satiety, respectively. To evaluate the interaction of these peptides and their role in the central nervous system, concentrations of met-enkephalin were measured in the hypothalamus of rats following peripheral administration of CCK; in addition, effects of feeding and fasting and obesity were studied. In CCK- vs. saline-injected rats met-enkephalin concentrations were decreased in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), suprachiasmatic nucleus (SC), supraoptic nucleus (SON), dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). In fed compared with fasted rats met-enkephalin concentrations were higher in the anterior hypothalamus (AH) and lower in the SC; in obese compared with lean rats, concentrations were higher in the AH, PVN, SC, SON, DMH, lateral hypothalmus and VMH. These results show that peripheral injections of CCK can decrease concentrations of met-enkephalin in the brain and suggest a mechanism by which these peptides may interact to influence behavior. In addition, the findings support the hypothesis that the hyperphagia which is typical of obese rats may be due to increased concentrations of met-enkephalin.
An intelligent grouping algorithm for cellular manufacturing

Abstract The methodology presented in this paper will provide a means of identifying part families/machine cells using design and manufacturing characteristics simultaneously. The technique used is a self-organizing neural network called interative-activation and competition (IAC) which acts as a content-addressable memory. This neural network is used to define a similarity index of the pairwise comparisons of parts based on a variety of design and manufacturing characteristics. A bond energy algorithm partitions the matrix of part similarity indices to create part families and inferred from the part families are machine cells. A brief example will be examined as well as discussion of the results.
Regulation of Neuronal Survival Factor MEF2D by Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy

Chaperone-mediated autophagy controls the degradation of selective cytosolic proteins and may protect neurons against degeneration. In a neuronal cell line, we found that chaperone-mediated autophagy regulated the activity of myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D), a transcription factor required for neuronal survival. MEF2D was observed to continuously shuttle to the cytoplasm, interact with the chaperone Hsc70, and undergo degradation. Inhibition of chaperone-mediated autophagy caused accumulation of inactive MEF2D in the cytoplasm. MEF2D levels were increased in the brains of alpha-synuclein transgenic mice and patients with Parkinson's disease. Wild-type alpha-synuclein and a Parkinson's disease-associated mutant disrupted the MEF2D-Hsc70 binding and led to neuronal death. Thus, chaperone-mediated autophagy modulates the neuronal survival machinery, and dysregulation of this pathway is associated with Parkinson's disease.
Ternary feldspar thermometry in granulites from the Oaxacan Complex, Mexico

Coexisting feldspars from across 2,000 km2 of the granulite facies Oaxacan Complex, southern Mexico exhibit variable amounts of solid solution from nearly binary (Ab-An and Ab-Or) to substantially ternary (Ab-An-Or). Reintegrated analyses of 21 coarsely exsolved perthite (AF)-plagioclase (PL) pairs yield AF=Or30–63 Ab30–56An2–15 and PL=Or1–2Ab70–84An11–28. These data have been used to test existing two feldspar geothermometers for this extended composition range. For all compositions, temperature estimates show relatively little spread in value (660° to 795° C, 7 kbar) using the Haselton et al. (1983) calibration (HHHR). These temperatures are in fair agreement with estimates of 750±40° C for feldspar pairs with nearly binary compositions using the Stormer (1975) thermometer (STO). However, STO temperatures increase significantly (to 990° C) with increasing ternary solid solution in AF, suggesting that thermometers derived for binary systems are inaccurate for ternary compositions. Isotherms drawn from HHHR which take into account variable anorthite solution in alkali feldspar show that estimated temperature decreased by 50–100° C for each 5 mole percent anorthite in alkali feldspar. Experimentally determined solvus relations (Seck 1971) require feldspars with significant ternary solid solution to have crystallized or to have equilibrated at higher temperature than feldspars with more binary compositions. However, petrographic and field relations of ternary and binary feldspars in the Oaxacan Complex suggest they were all equilibrated at similar metamorphic pressures and temperatures and do not support a model where ternary feldspars have preserved higher premetamorphic temperatures. The composition of coexisting feldspars from other Precambrian granulite-facies terranes are also inconsistent with Seck's (1971) results. Hence, thermometers which fit Seck's solvus relations may not yield accurate temperatures in high grade metamorphic terranes. Parallel tie-lines for ternary and binary feldspars in the Oaxacan Complex and the consistency of inferred temperatures (HHHR) for many granulite terranes suggest that estimation of temperature using tie-line slopes rather than solvus width may yield more accurate results for these samples. Peak metamorphic conditions in the Oaxacan Complex are inferred to have been 730±50° C, 7±1 kbar. Pressure estimates from four garnet-plagioclase barometers show good agreement. Results of feldspar thermometry are consistent with diopside-forsterite equilibria in marbles which restrict T=720–765° C at P=7 kbar.
SU‐E‐T‐759: Evaluation of Pencil Beam Convolution and Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm in Stereotactic Lung Irradiation

Purpose: To evaluate dose distributions in stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)treatment plans for lungtumors calculated with pencil beam convolution (PBC) algorithm with modified Batho power law (MBPL) against heterogeneity corrected anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA) of the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system. Methods: The 4D CTimage data from twenty patients with low stage non‐small cell lungcancer were used to create treatment plans with 5 to 7 fields 6 MV coplanar non‐opposing beams. Internal target volumes (ITVs) were given a 0.7 cm margin to create planning target volumes (PTVs). Plans were generated with PBC (MBPL) for tissue heterogeneity and optimized with a prescribed dose of 60 Gy in 3 fractions to at least 95% of the PTV. These optimized plans were recalculated with AAA, with identical beam arrangements, fluences and monitor units, to generate comparison plans. Results: The AAA plans had lower average minimum, mean and maximum PTV doses by 17%, 8.2% and 2.1% respectively compared to PBC plans. The average dose to 95% of the PTV volume (D95) for AAA plans was lower by ∼14% compared to PBC. The average percentage of uninvolved lung volume receiving minimum doses of 10 Gy (V10) and 20 Gy (V20) was below 10.3% and 5.3% for both PBC and AAA plans. The AAA plans had lower average mean and maximum uninvolved lungdose by 8.6% and 8.9% respectively compared to PBC plans. Conclusions: The average D95 of 51.6 Gy calculated with AAA compared to 60 Gy with PBC in this study agrees well with the recent suggestion by the quality assurance working group of phase III Rosel study of prescription dose reduction of 10% from 60 Gy to 54 Gy when utilizing AAA instead of PBC.
Control of a biomimetic brain machine interface with local field potentials: Performance and stability of a static decoder over 200 days

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) have the potential to restore lost function to individuals with severe motor impairments. An important design specification for BMIs to be clinically useful is the ability to achieve high performance over a period of months to years without requiring frequent recalibration. Here, we report the first successful implementation of a biomimetic BMI based on local field potentials (LFPs). A BMI decoder was built from a single recording session of a random-pursuit reaching task for each of two monkeys, and used to control cursor position in real time (online) over a span of 210 days. Performance using this BMI was similar to prior reports using BMIs based on single-unit spikes for 2D cursor control. During this ongoing study, target acquisition rates remained constant (in 1 monkey) or improved slightly (1 monkey) over a 7 month span, and performance metrics of cursor movement (path length and time-to-target) also remained constant or showed mild improvement as the monkeys gained practice. Based on these results, we expect that a stable, high-performance BMI based on LFP signals could serve as a viable alternative to single-unit based BMIs.
Has the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine been fully exonerated?

Initiated by a report in 1998 by Wakefield et al1 that the onset of a syndrome of ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia and nonspecific colitis accompanied by pervasive developmental disorder had appeared shortly after receipt of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine by 8 children, the vaccine was soon indicted as the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Subsequent reports elaborated on this theory, and several laboratories claimed to have detected measles virus or its genome in intestinal biopsies as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells from such autistic children.2–4 Other reports described elevated levels of measles antibodies in children with autism.5 In this issue of Pediatrics , D’Souza et al6 present their detailed, careful laboratory studies that refute these claims and explain the errors that led to them. Within a short time after the initial report by Wakefield et al, many parents in the United Kingdom and the United States opted to refuse the MMR vaccine for their infants and children. One explanation offered by the original reporters was that simultaneous MMR vaccination might lead to an aberrant immune response resulting in persistent infection and increased permeability of an inflamed gastrointestinal tract. Such conditions permitted the transport of opiate-like peptides to the central nervous system resulting in the autism syndromes.7 These claims occurred at a time of recognition that reports … Address correspondence to Samuel L. Katz, MD, Duke University Medical Center, Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Box 2925, Durham NC 27710. E-mail: katz0004{at}mc.duke.edu
Characteristics of DNA synthesized by methyl methanesulfonate-treated HEp-2 cells

Abstract HEp-2 cells were treated with 2_.10−3M methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) for 1 h. The DNA from such cells appeared to have single-strand breaks when centrifuged through alkaline sucrose gradients. Incubation of the cells after MMS treatment but prior to lysis led to a loss of the MMS-induced lesions. Cells containing MMS-induced lesions do not divide at the same rate as normal cells. They are able to incorporate thymidine into DNA but the new DNA that is made has a lower sedimentation rate in alkali if it is made before the template DNA is completely repaired. DNA made by cells whose template DNA has been completely repaired by the time of new DNA synthesis sediments normally in alkaline gradients. It is suggested that MMS-induced damage can be repaired but in order for cell recovery to accompany this repair, the synthesis of new DNA must be delayed until after the repair process is complete.
Thermophoretic deposition of aerosol particles in turbulent pipe flow

Abstract Thermophoretic deposition of aerosol particles was measured in a 0.965 m long, 0.49 cm ID stainless-steel pipe under laminar and turbulent flow conditions. The experiment consisted of heating an aerosol to a specified temperature, and then passing it through an annular water cooled (20°C) heat exchanger to induce thermophoretic deposition onto the pipe walls. Experimental parameters varied were particle diameter (0.1–0.7 μ m), flow rate (5, 20 and 35 l min -1 ), and the gas temperature at the entrance to the cooling section (300–425 K). The flow rates, 5, 20 and 35 l min -1 corresponded to Reynolds numbers of 1379, 5517 and 9656, respectively. Particle materials used were sodium chloride and polystyrene latex spheres. Experimental results showed a complex coupling of the turbulent and thermophoretic deposition mechanisms with turbulent deposition dominating over thermophoresis for the larger particle sizes at 35 l min -1 . The thermophoretic deposition component was extracted from the total deposition and was compared with theoretical predictions. A theoretical expression was derived and compared with other expressions from the literature. Experimental deposition efficiencies were found to be between 1.1 and 2.0 times greater than the theoretical predictions. The discrepancy between theory and experiment increased as Reynolds number and particle size were increased. This discrepancy was attributed to factors not included in the theory which may involve deposition enhancement due to turbulent eddy transport or non-uniform particle concentration gradients at the entrance to the pipe cooling section.
Changes in Oral Apparatus Structure Accompanying Vacuolar Formation in the Macrostomal Form of Tetrahymena vorax. A Model for the Formation of Food Vacuoles in Tetrahymena

The large cytopharyngeal pouch of the macrostomal form of Tetrahymena vorax, following the addition of calcium, can form a sealed, empty vacuole. The open cytostomal region of this cell, which averages about 16 μ in diameter, is closed by an upward (ventral) movement of the right and posterior ribbed walls, both of which project into the cytostomal cavity. At the same time, the anterior and left walls of the cytostome-cytopharyngeal complex move to the right, forming a diagonally (right to left) placed furrow in the floor of the buccal cavity as these walls meet. As a result of the movement, the edges of the single membrane-bounded cytopharyngeal pouch are brought together and fuse, producing the closed vacuole. Elements of the cytoskeleton appear to participate in the closure process. Three major groups of ribbed wall microtubules support the open cytostome. The anterior ribbed wall microtubules pass laterally along the anterior (dorsal) portion of the cytopharyngeal pouch to the left where they end in the specialized cytoplasm. Middle oral rib microtubules terminate at the right and posterior margin of the cytopharynx while microtubules from the most posterior region of the ribbed wall pass to the left terminating in the specialized cytoplasm. The fine filamentous reticulum, a striated reticulum that borders the right, posterior, and anterior margins of the cytostome-cytopharyngeal complex, is in an ideal position to participate in these movements. It is anchored anteriorly high up in the buccal cavity to the cross-connective between the third membranelle and the undulating membrane complex. It courses beneath the right and posterior ribbed walls and runs laterally along the anterior margin of the cytopharynx to the left side. Contraction or pulling of this reticulum would act to bring the microtubule-reinforced walls of the cytopharynx together permitting fusion of the cytopharyngeal pouch membranes to form a sealed vacuole.
Friction, wear and magnetic performance of metal evaporated and particulate magnetic tapes:

AbstractMetal evaporated (ME), metal particle (MP) and barium ferrite (BaFeO) magnetic tapes are leading candidates for ultra-high-density magnetic tape recording applications. Using a commercial video cassette recorder as a magnetometer and the Wallace equation, changes in the r.m.s. head output level were correlated to changes in head-to-tape spacing as tape wear occurred during play/rewind cycling tests. Interface stability and recording performance at a 0.6 μm recording wavelength were measured to bit level resolution using a drop-out counter. Some pause mode testing was done for comparison with streaming mode experiments. Methodologies to measure head and tape wear were developed and applied to worn specimens. Development of the experimental apparatus with nanometer vertical and submicrosecond temporal resolutions has enabled unprecedented understanding of the interplay of friction, wear and surface topography in a sliding contact. Waviness of ME tape and high roughness of BaFeO tape led to poor high...
Detection of cell-mediated immunity in Type I diabetes mellitus

Abstract Type I insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is thought to result from chronic, cell-mediated, ‘autoimmune’ islet damage. Antibody testing is extensively used to define and follow the pre-diabetic population. However, the assay for cell mediated immunity (CMI) should be more predictive of impending disease. This report shows that it is possible to detect human islet reactive CMI in the IDDM patient. Groups of athymic CD-1 nu/nu mice were injected intraperitoneally with either mononuclear blood cells (MBCs) or plasma from 10 newly diagnosed Type I diabetic patients and 10 normal control subjects. Both glycemic control and histopathology were used to assay islet specific CMI in diabetic individuals. None of the injected mice showed any impairment of glycemic control. However, MBCs from six of 10 diabetic patients, but from none of the 10 normal subjects, induced significant mononuclear cell infiltrate in the pancreas of the recipient mice (P=0.005). The infiltrate was focused on the islet tissue and no damage was seen in control tissues. No histological abnormalities were observed when plasma was transferred. We conclude that cellular reactivity seen in this model is tissue specific and disease associated. Our findings provide evidence that CMI to human islet tissue can be detected in IDDM patients.
The value of a neighborhood street with reference to the cul-de-sac

This article provides empirical evidence from Halifax, Nova Scotia, confirming the view that the type of neighborhood street can affect home values. The study identifies two categories of streets-the cul-de-sac and the grid-and measures their impacts on home value. The hypothesis that the cul-de-sac would attract premium values was supported by the study. In this study, the cul-de-sac generated a 29 percent price premium over the grid street pattern. The study concludes with a discussion of planning and development implications.
An Exploration of Accuracy and Convergence of the Degenerate Uniform Strain Hexahedral Element: A Solution to the Unmeshed Void in an All-Hexahedral Mesh

The uniform strain hexahedral element mesh has long been a work horse for getting accurate and convergent answers in high deformation solid mechanics analyses. Obtaining an all-hexahedral mesh can be a difficult and time consuming process thus limiting the element’s use in design phase computations. Unconstrained paving and plastering offers a technique to get an all-hexahedral mesh automatically but still can leave un-meshable voids [1]. While degenerated forms of the uniform strain hexahedral element such as the wedge have been used sparingly, they have garnered limited general acceptance. We present a more exhaustive numerical exploration of the degenerated hexes with the hope of encouraging their use to resolve the un-meshable voids. The results of patch tests are used to numerically demonstrate linear completeness of the degenerate elements. A manufactured solution analysis is then used to show optimal convergence rates for meshes containing degenerate elements. Additionally, applications to a torsion rod and high velocity impact are used to highlight the accuracy and applicability of degenerates for solving more complex problems.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Computed tomography in the management of head and neck cancer

Computed tomography is indispensable in determining the deeper extensions of tumors and proper treatment planning as well as in documentation of tumor resolution for lesions arising in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, orbit, and salivary glands. In the hypopharynx and larynx, computed tomography provides information of differing degrees of value according to the clinical stage, site of origin, and usual therapeutic approach for each tissue. Detection of subclinical cervical adenopathy needs further investigation. Computed tomography has not been of particular value for lesions arising in the oral cavity and oropharynx.
IMMUNOREACTIVE (I-R) SEROTONIN IN THE DEVELOPING HUMAN LUNG

26 human fetal (8-23 weeks) and 19 live born (24-41 weeks) lungs were examined for the presence of serotonin by immunocytochemistry using horseradish peroxidase bridging technique. Solitary intraepthelial neuroendocrine cells (NEs) and cell clusters (NEBs) were found in developing distal conducting airways as early as 10 weeks gestation and 6/8 first trimester fetal lungs were positive. By 14 weeks gestation many stained NEs and NEBs were present in future bronchi, bronchioles and alveolar ducts. As alveolarization occurred (18-22 weeks) the presence of stained cells at the terminal portion of alveolar ducts in close proximity to invading capillaries was striking and 16/18 second trimester fetal lungs contained many I-R stained cells and cell clusters. After terminal airway differentiation progressed toward term the total number of stained cells appeared to decrease dramatically. 14/19 newborn infants showed few stained cells. Although stained cells were difficult to find in the presence of acute neonatal lung disease, such as HMD, as conducting airway epithelial regeneration occurred with recapitulation of capillary invasion, positively stained NE and NEBs reappeared. This pattern of cells positively stained for I-R serotonin is in contrast to that of both I-R bombesin and I-R calcitonin in the fetal lung. The location of I-R serotonin stained cells at areas of capillary invasion is also more prominent than that of I-R bombesin or I-R calcitonin. It is suggested that serotonin might play a role in the vascularization of terminal airways. Supported by NIH grant HL 14214.
Birth weight, cognitive development, and life chances: A comparison of siblings from childhood into early adulthood

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Child Sample (CNLSY79), we sought to elaborate the complex interplay between childhood health and educational development over the early life course. Our approach made use of sibling comparisons to estimate the relationship between birth weight, cognitive development, and timely high school completion in models that spanned childhood, adolescence, and into early adulthood. Our findings indicated that lower birth weight, even after adjusting for fixed-family characteristics and aspects of the home environment that varied between siblings, was associated with decreased cognitive skills at age 5 and marginally significantly slower growth rates into adolescence. In addition, low birth weight increased the risk of not graduating by age 19, although this relationship reflected differences in cognitive development. Additional moderation analyses provided no evidence that birth weight effects are exacerbated by social conditions. Overall, the pattern of findings painted a complex picture of disadvantage, beginning in the womb and presumably via educational attainment, extending over the life course.
HPV vaccine for adolescent males: Acceptability to parents post-vaccine licensure

We examined mothers’ willingness to get their adolescent sons HPV vaccine. In December 2009, 2 months after approval of HPV vaccine for males, we surveyed a national sample of mothers with sons aged 9–18 (n = 406). More mothers were definitely or probably willing to get their sons HPV vaccine if the vaccine were free (47%) than if it cost $400 out of pocket (11%). The importance of HPV vaccine possibly protecting their sons’ future female partners from HPV-related disease was the strongest correlate of willingness. These findings are important to increasing acceptability to parents of HPV vaccine for their sons. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Adsorption of CH3S and CF3S on Pt(111) surface: a density functional theory study

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to study binding modes of adsorbed CX3S (X = H and F) on Pt(111) for a large range of adsorbate coverages and the consequent work function shifts. We find that these properties are all strongly correlated to the surface coverage. Depending on the molecular coverage on Pt surface, the work function shift may be as large as 0.7 eV for Pt–CH3S and 1.5 eV for Pt–CF3S with respect to the clean surface value. Two factors contribute to the work function shift: the charge transfer between the molecule and the surface, and the molecular dipole moment. While the charge transfer contribution always tend to decrease the work function, the molecular dipole moment contribution for the CH3S and CF3S cases are oppositely directed. Thus, appropriate choices of molecular components and control of surface coverage would be effective techniques to tune the work function of the metal surfaces.
Diffusion in Saturated Soil. I: Background

Recent studies suggest that diffusion may be an important, if not dominant, mechanism of contaminant transport through waste containment barriers. This paper represents the first of two papers pert...
Electromagnetic backreaction from currents on a straight string

Charge carriers moving at the speed of light along a straight, superconducting cosmic string carry with them a logarithmically divergent slab of electromagnetic field energy. Thus, no finite local input can induce a current that travels unimpeded to infinity. Rather, electromagnetic backreaction must damp this current asymptotically to nothing. We compute this backreaction and find that the electromagnetic fields and currents decline exactly as rapidly as necessary to prevent a divergence. We briefly discuss the corresponding gravitational situation.
Clinical evidence that Asperger's disorder is a mild form of autism

Objective: The aim of this study is to obtain clinical evidence to test the hypothesis that Asperger's disorder (AD) is a mild form of autism (AU). Method: A 78-item Likert scale (the RAADS) was administered to 25 adults with AD and 19 with AU (ages, 18-65 years) to assess presence, type, and duration of symptoms. Results: The following results were found: (a) subjects with AD and AU have similar symptoms throughout adulthood (responses to 72 of 78 questions were not significantly different); (b) subjects with AD had a significantly fewer total number of symptoms; (c) subjects with AD reported nonsignificantly fewer symptoms in the DSM-IV-TR domains of social interaction and repetitive patterns of behavior; and (d) subjects with AD had significantly fewer symptoms in the communication domain. Conclusions: The data support the hypothesis that AD is a mild form of AU, and that they share a common etiology and developmental neuropathology. It appears warranted in future diagnostic manuals to incorporate AU and AD into 1 diagnostic category such as, “Autism Spectrum Disorder, (with modifiers, severe, moderate, mild, atypical, and Asperger's type).” © 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.
The predictive capability of failure mode concept-based strength conditions for laminates composed of unidirectional laminae under static triaxial stress states

This paper represents the author’s contribution to the second world-wide failure exercise using his failure mode concept modelling capability. The second world-wide failure exercise deals with the behaviour of isotropic material and unidirectional as well as multidirectional unidirectional laminae-composed laminates subjected to three-dimensional (triaxial) states of stress. Twelve challenging test cases were provided by the organisers and those covered stress–strain curves and failure envelopes under three-dimensional stress states. The application of the new failure mode concept model has extended the three-dimensional modelling by taking into account the effects of hydrostatic pressure and second glass temperature shift factor on the stress–strain curves and failure envelopes. The failure mode concept model was capable of successfully solving the majority of all the problems and a comparison between the predictions and test data is planned to be published in Part B of the second world-wide failure exer...
Respiratory complications of rapidly progressive neuromuscular syndromes: Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis.

Neuromuscular respiratory failure is a common complication of both the Guillain-Barre syndrome and myasthenia gravis. Several key pathophysiological mechanisms contribute to the spiral of respiratory insufficiency in these diseases, including inspiratory, expiratory, and bulbar muscle weakness. It is important to identify patients with impending respiratory failure early to avoid emergency intubations. Several clinical features and bedside pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are useful in guiding decisions about intubation. Weaning is initiated when respiratory muscles have recovered sufficiently, and again, PFT criteria are helpful. Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis are the cornerstones of specific therapy for both illnesses when complicated by respiratory failure. Mortality and morbidity are dramatically increased by respiratory failure and are mainly due to associated medical complications. Optimal outcomes depend on avoidance of these and prompt implementation of immunomodulatory therapy.
Insertion Mutation of the Form I cbbL Gene Encoding Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase (RuBisCO) in Thiobacillus neapolitanus Results in Expression of Form II RuBisCO, Loss of Carboxysomes, and an Increased CO2 Requirement for Growth

It has been previously established that Thiobacillus neapolitanus fixes CO2 by using a form I ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), that much of the enzyme is sequestered into carboxysomes, and that the genes for the enzyme, cbbL and cbbS, are part of a putative carboxysome operon. In the present study, cbbL and cbbS were cloned and sequenced. Analysis of RNA showed that cbbL and cbbS are cotranscribed on a message approximately 2,000 nucleotides in size. The insertion of a kanamycin resistance cartridge into cbbL resulted in a premature termination of transcription; a polar mutant was generated. The mutant is able to fix CO2, but requires a CO2 supplement for growth. Separation of cellular proteins from both the wild type and the mutant on sucrose gradients and subsequent analysis of the RuBisCO activity in the collected fractions showed that the mutant assimilates CO2 by using a form II RuBisCO. This was confirmed by immunoblot analysis using antibodies raised against form I and form II RuBisCOs. The mutant does not possess carboxysomes. Smaller, empty inclusions are present, but biochemical analysis indicates that if they are carboxysome related, they are not functional, i.e., do not contain RuBisCO. Northern analysis showed that some of the shell components of the carboxysome are produced, which may explain the presence of these inclusions in the mutant.
Davis social links: integrating social networks with internet routing

Internet based communication systems appear in many forms from email to Instant Messenger and chat services to Voice over IP (VoIP). Common weaknesses of these current communication systems include inherent security vulnerabilities to attacks such as SPAM/SPIT/SPIM and DDoS, a lack of separation between routing address and identity, and a lack of message receiver controllability. Based on these observations, we describe preliminary ideas and analysis of a new communication architecture called DSL (Davis Social Links), which integrates the trust relationships of social networks into the internet communication infrastructure to provide receiver controllability, traceability, and global connectivity without centralized services or globally unique IDs. Although it is still in the early stages of development, we believe that DSL can help thwart many large-scale information-based attacks faced by the Internet community.
Comparison of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and amplified fragment-length polymorphism for epidemiological investigations of common nosocomial pathogens

Objective:To compare molecular typing by amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with respect to the ability to differentiate between epidemiologically related and unrelated isolates of common nosocomial pathogens recovered during a period of endemicity.Design:Retrospective laboratory analysis.Setting:Tertiary-care institution.Methods:17 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, 22 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 22 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) were typed by both methods.Results:AFLP generated comparable results to PFGE for A baumannii and P aeruginosa isolates; both methods identified epidemiologically related and unrelated isolates. However, strain typing of VRE isolates produced discordant results between the two methods. PFGE identified 10 different strain types and differentiated between all epidemiologically related and unrelated isolates. In contrast, AFLP generated only five different strain types, three of which contained both epidemiologically related and unrelated isolates.Conclusion:Molecular typing by AFLP is comparable to PFGE for A baumannii and P aeruginosa isolates. For VRE isolates, however, PFGE remains the method of choice.
National Geographic and Puerto Rico: A Case Study of Journalistic Authority and Collective Identity in the Digital Age

This article presents a case study of journalistic authority and collective identity in the context of the changes in mass communications prompted by web interactivity. It traces National Geographic's coverage of Puerto Rico and examines comments posted on an online forum in response to the magazine's first article on Puerto Rico that was widely available to Puerto Ricans themselves. The analysis demonstrates the challenges in representing culture when discussion about the other, or “them,” cannot be confined to insiders—“us”—because “they” may be networked and able to both access material and respond to it. Digital media interactivity allows groups to publicly dispute their representations, and in so doing to challenge journalistic authority.
Design and analysis of a layer seven network processor accelerator using reconfigurable logic

In this paper, we present an accelerator that is designed to improve performance of network processing applications, particularly layer seven networking applications. The accelerator can easily be integrated in Network Processors. We present the design details of two different FPGA implementations: a design where each task is implemented in the accelerator and another one where the accelerator must be partially reconfigured for different tasks. We also present novel algorithms for important tasks such as tree lookup and pattern matching that utilize the accelerator. We show that the accelerator improves the overall execution time by as much as 20-times for these tasks. We show that the accelerator can improve the execution time of a representative layer seven application by an order of magnitude. Finally, we discuss the effects of reconfiguration time and frequency over the performance of the accelerator.
Neural network decomposition strategies for large-scale fault diagnosis

Abstract To overcome the limitations of the black-box character of the standard neural network approaches, a network with ellipsoidal units has recently been proposed. This novel approach addresses three main issues: (a) to understand better and represent the nature of fault classification boundaries; (b) to determine the network structure without the usual trial and error schemes; and (c) to avoid erroneous generalizations. In this paper, we develop the ellipsoidal units approach further by addressing the problem of real-time large-scale fault diagnosis. For such applications neural networks become very large and complex, making the training and interpretation tasks time consuming and difficult. Networks with ellipsoidal units naturally lend themselves to the development of decomposition techniques that result in the training of smaller networks with fewer training patterns. Three decomposition strategies, namely, network decomposition, training set decomposition, and input space decomposition, have been...
Polygraphic recordings of EEG, ECG and blood pressure before, during and after fractional pneumoencephalography

Simultaneous and continuous recordings of EEG, ECG and blood pressure were performed on 12 patients during routine fractional pneumoencephalography with a standardized technique. The fractional insufflations of air were followed by a significant rise of the systolic and diastolic blood pressures and a significant decrease of the cardiac rate in the sense of a Cushing response. The onset and time duration of these vasomotor reactions corresponded to the well known air induced and transient elevation of the cerebrospinal fluid pressure. The circulatory response was more pronounced in one patient with an encephalographically proven convexity block which is considered to be due to an increased cerebrospinal fluid outflow resistance. In contrast, lumbar punctures were followed by a transient tachycardia and a less pronounced elevation of the blood pressure as a manifestation of a general stress reaction. There were no constant and reproducible EEG changes provoked by the air insufflations.
Full-Diversity Finite-Constellation 4 x 4 Differential STBC Based on Finite Quaternion Groups

This paper presents a novel way to construct unitary space-time block codes suitable for differential modulation. The new codes rely on quaternionic algebra to achieve finite constellation. Among these, a particular code with a codebook of size 48 is studied and shown to be differentially decodable by means of two symbol-by-symbol decoders (each symbol having 2 bits) and one larger decoder for a size 16 constellation. Simulations in a realistic WiMAX environment show the proposed code to outperform an optimized size 48 diagonal MPSK code by 1 dB. Ways to counter reduced performance in highly mobile environments are also suggested