cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The neural processing of foreign-accented speech and its relationship to listener bias.

Foreign-accented speech often presents a challenging listening condition. In addition to deviations from the target speech norms related to the inexperience of the nonnative speaker, listener characteristics may play a role in determining intelligibility levels. We have previously shown that an implicit visual bias for associating East Asian faces and foreignness predicts the listeners’ perceptual ability to process Korean-accented English audiovisual speech (Yi et al., 2013). Here, we examine the neural mechanism underlying the influence of listener bias to foreign faces on speech perception. In a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, native English speakers listened to native- and Korean-accented English sentences, with or without faces. The participants’ Asian-foreign association was measured using an implicit association test (IAT), conducted outside the scanner. We found that foreign-accented speech evoked greater activity in the bilateral primary auditory cortices and the inferior frontal gyri, potentially reflecting greater computational demand. Higher IAT scores, indicating greater bias, were associated with increased BOLD response to foreign-accented speech with faces in the primary auditory cortex, the early node for spectrotemporal analysis. We conclude the following: (1) foreign-accented speech perception places greater demand on the neural systems underlying speech perception; (2) face of the talker can exaggerate the perceived foreignness of foreign-accented speech; (3) implicit Asian-foreign association is associated with decreased neural efficiency in early spectrotemporal processing.
Reduction of skylight reflection effects in the above-water measurement of diffuse marine reflectance: comment

Use of a vertical polarizer has been suggested to reduce the effects of surface reflection in the above-water measurements of marine reflectance. We suggest using a similar technique for airborne or spaceborne sensors when atmospheric scattering adds its own polarization signature to the upwelling radiance. Our own theoretical sensitivity study supports the recommendation of Fougnie et al. [Appl. Opt. 38, 3844 (1999)] (40-50 degrees vertical angle and azimuth angle near 135 degrees, polarizer parallel to the viewing plane) for above-water measurements. However, the optimal viewing directions (and the optimal orientation of the polarizer) change with altitude above the sea surface, solar angle, and atmospheric vertical optical structure. A polarization efficiency function is introduced, which shows the maximal possible polarization discrimination of the background radiation for an arbitrary altitude above the sea surface, viewing direction, and solar angle. Our comment is meant to encourage broader application of airborne and spaceborne polarization sensors in remote sensing of water and sea surface properties.
Transformation of cortisone to cortisol in human skin.

Abstract Cortisone-4-14C was incubated with specimens of human abdominal skin and foreskin. Paper chromatography detected the formation of several radioactive metabolites. Based on reverse isotopic dilution and the preparation of acetates, the major metabolite identified was cortisol and two minor metabolites were Reichstein's substances U (17, 20β,21-trihydroxypregn-4-en-3,11-dione) and epi-U (17, 20α, 21-trihydroxypregn-4-en-3,11-dione). Addition of an NADPH generating system in the incubation medium increased several fold the amounts of metabolites formed. Addition of NADH was less effective. NAD and NADP had little or no effect. Since topically applied cortisone lacks the therapeutic efficacy of cortisol, although the skin is capable of transforming cortisone to cortisol, the amount of cortisol actually formed from cortisone is assumed to be below the therapeutical level.
Two‐dimensional dose distribution of a miniature x‐ray device for stereotactic radiosurgery

The PhotonRadiosurgery System is a miniature x-ray device developed for the treatment of small intracranial neoplasms. The x rays are generated at the tip of a 10-cm-long, 3-mm-diam probe with a nearly isotropic distribution. Results from measurements of the two-dimensional dose distribution around the x-ray source are presented using two methods: (1) dose measurement with an ionization chamber and a water phantom system and (2) dose measurement with radiochromic film and a solid water phantom. The shape of the two angular dose distributions in the axial plane agree with each other to within approximately 10% and the dose at 10 mm from the source, orthogonal to the probe axis, was about 20% lower than at the same distance along the axis. The relative dose difference of 20% corresponds to a change in distance from the source of ±0.3 mm at 10 mm. It is shown that the anisotropy of radiation distribution in the axial plane can be improved to approximately 10% by adjusting the electron beam with a 12% reduction in the overall radiation output.
Magnetic field dependence of the resistivity and susceptibility of the above-100-K Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu superconductor

The magnetic field dependence of the resistivity and susceptibility of multiphase Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O compounds exhibiting transport and diamagnetic anomalies at \ensuremath{\simeq}115 and \ensuremath{\simeq}75 K are reported. The field dependence of the latter yields values of ${H}_{c1}$ and $d\frac{{H}_{c2}}{\mathrm{dT}}(T={T}_{c})$ very similar to those found for the $\mathrm{Y}(R){\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}x}$ family of Cu perovskitelike superconductors. The field dependence of the above-100-K region strongly suggests that bulk superconductivity, as opposed to filamentary or fluctuation behavior, dominates at these temperatures.
Theoretical Study on Pt Particle Adsorbate Bonding: Influence of Support Ionicity and Implications for Catalysis

The influence of the support ionicity on the adsorption of H, CHx (x = 2, 3), and O on supported Pt particles is investigated using density functional theory (DFT). The DFT calculations reveal that the importance of the 6s,p states for the Pt adsorbate bonding increases in the order Pt−O < Pt−CH2 < Pt−CH3 < Pt−H. Both the Pt−H and Pt−O bond strengths are strongly affected by changes in the support ionicity whereas the difference for the Pt−CHx bond strength is much smaller. The Pt−H bond strength is higher for ionic supports, whereas the Pt−O bond strength is higher for acidic or more covalent supports. These bond strength changes occur because the support ionicity has a large impact on both the Pt 6s,p and 5d states. On ionic supports with electron rich oxygen atoms, the 6s,p states are pushed toward the surface of a metal cluster where it can participate in H bonding, whereas on supports with electron poor oxygen atoms (existing in acidic supports or for supports with more covalent cations) the 6s,p sta...
The Application of Adaptive Finite Element Analysis to Heat and Mass Transfer Problems

Abstract The application is discussed of an efficient and reliable adaptive finite element methodology, for the analysis of heat and mass transfer problems, common in thermal processing of agricultural materials and products. The proposed technique first uses a unified error estimator to assess the accuracy and reliability of the finite element solution. It then employs an automatic adaptive refinement strategy to reduce the errors to acceptable values. The proposed methodology is capable of handling linear, non-linear, steady-state and transient problems and can easily be extended and applied to other transport problems.
System simulation models for on-board hydrogen storage systems

Abstract System simulation models for automotive on-board hydrogen storage systems provide a measure of the ability of an engineered system and storage media to meet system performance targets. Thoughtful engineering design for a particular storage media can help the system achieve desired performance goals. This paper presents system simulation models for two different advanced hydrogen storage technologies – a cryo-adsorption system and a metal hydride system. AX-21 superactivated carbon and sodium alanate are employed as representative storage media for the cryo-adsorbent system and the metal hydride system respectively. Lumped parameter models incorporating guidance from detailed transport models are employed in building the system simulation models. Simulation results to test the storage systems’ ability to meet fuel cell demand for different drive cycles and varying operating conditions are presented. Systems are engineered to provide the ability to refuel a vehicle in a short time guided by DOE targets. Gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen densities are computed for the engineered systems and compared to the DOE system goals.
Coulson function and Hosoya index: extension of the relationship to polycyclic graphs and to new types of matching polynomials

Gutman et al. [Chem. Phys. Lett. 355 (2002) 378–382] established a relationship between the Coulson function, $$F(G,x) \,{=}\,n - [\hbox {i}x{\phi}^{\prime}(G,\hbox {i}x)/{\phi}(G,\hbox{i}x)]$$ , where \phi is the characteristic polynomial, and the Hosoya index Z, which is the sum over all k of the counts of all k-matchings. Like the original Coulson function, this relationship was postulated only for trees. The present study shows that the relationship can be extended to (poly)cyclic graphs by substituting the matching, or acyclic, polynomial for the characteristic polynomial. In addition, the relationship is extended to new types of matching polynomials that match cycles larger than edges (2-cyc1es). Finally, this presentation demonstrates a rigorous mathematical relationship between the graph adjacency matrices and the coefficients of these polynomials and describes computational algorithms for calculating them.
Dynamic blocking for railyards: Part I. Homogeneous traffic

Abstract This paper and its companion present a study of railroad classification yard strategies that allow for blocks of destinations to be assigned to classification tracks in different ways, depending on the time of day, week or month. With the same number of tracks, more classifications can be handled by this method. The paper examines homogeneous traffic; that is, traffic patterns where all blocks have the same amount of traffic, where cars for all blocks depart equally frequently from the yard and where the overall traffic flow does not change with time. The results represent the beginning of a better understanding of yard operations, which should be useful for designing new yards, planning expansions of existing ones and evaluating the impact of changes (planned and unplanned) on traffic patterns. The paper concentrates on two sorting strategies: sorting by train (perhaps the most commonly used strategy in the United States today), and triangular sorting. For both strategies, formulas are given for the minimum number of tracks, number of switches and for the total space requirements. For triangular sorting, the yard delay and total space depend on the time chosen between reswitches. These two measures of performance can be reduced if one is willing to accept a sorting effort slightly higher than minimum. The trade-off can be explored numerically. For sorting by train, yard delay and total space are not significantly affected by the sorting method; there is no such trade-off. It appears that sorting by train results in less work, delay and space requirements than triangular sorting, at least in most instances when either could be used. Triangular sorting, however, can be used when there are not enough tracks to allow sorting by train.
Induction Machine Characterization for Short-Term or Momentary Stall Torque

The conventional wisdom on peak-duty drive design leads to vastly oversized machines, following design strategies that are based on continuous ratings. This paper investigates induction machine time ratings that allow peak electrical capabilities to be fully attained. The machine transient thermal response is used to identify four heating regimes based on the dominant heat-transfer mode: subtransient, transition, transient, and temperature creep. A strong connection between the subtransient mode and $i^{2} t$ ratings is presented. The impacts of stator and rotor losses on the end-winding temperature are independently identified. This information is combined into a transient thermal impedance characteristic, which provides time ratings as a function of stator and rotor losses with less than 10% error. This method is also adapted for unbalanced supply conditions and rotor-related excess heating conditions with similar error. An implementation of time rating information on a drive system is shown to exploit machine peak ratings. The presented characterizations inform the short-term peak energy density of induction machines.
Frequency of recording of diabetes on U.S. death certificates: analysis of the 1986 National Mortality Followback Survey.

We used data from the 1986 National Mortality Followback Survey to estimate the frequency of recording of diabetes on death certificates and to determine factors associated with recording of diabetes among decedents aged 25 years and older who died in the U.S. in 1986. Among 2766 decedents for whom a history of diabetes was provided by a personal informant, diabetes was recorded on an estimated 38.2% of death certificates and was listed as the underlying cause of death on an estimated 9.6%. The frequency of recording of diabetes was strongly related to age and duration of diabetes--among those aged 25-44 years who had had diabetes for 15 or more years, the frequency of recording was 71.9%. When other listed causes of death included conditions that may have been related to diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes was recorded between 45 and 70% of the time, depending on the other causes. Diabetes is usually not recorded on death certificates, and the likelihood of recording is related to decedent characteristics, particularly age, duration of diabetes, and co-morbidity.
The Importance of Thickness to the Crystallization of Amorphous thin Films

The crystallization of an amorphous thin film, when it is annealed, can be described in terms of the latent heat of the transformation and an activation energy which depends upon the configurational entropy of the surface of the crystallizing interface. An expression is derived for anatase, the low temperature form of titanium oxide, which is consistent with the growth that is observed.
Proportion of positive adjectives and personal relevance of adjectival descriptions as determinants of attraction

Abstract Interest in impression formation as a function of adjectival descriptions and in interpersonal attraction as a function of attitude statements has led to two separate bodies of research and theory which are conceptually similar. It was proposed that the positive and negative descriptive adjectives used in investigations of impression formation would influence attraction responses in the same linear fashion as had been established for similar and dissimilar attitudes. It was also hypothesized that the motivational context of the stimuli would be positively related to the steepness of the linear function. With two independent samples of subjects ( N = 63 and 90), three sets of adjectives of differential favorableness were presented at three levels of personal relevance. Analysis of variance indicated strong support for the first hypothesis ( p p p
Specificity in the Projections of Prefrontal and Insular Cortex to Ventral Striatopallidum and the Extended Amygdala

The basal forebrain functional-anatomical macrosystems, ventral striatopallidum, and extended amygdala are innervated by substantially coextensive distributions of neurons in the prefrontal and insular cortex. This suggests two alternative organizational schemes: convergent, in which a given cortical area projects exclusively to only one of these macrosystems and divergent, in which a given cortical area innervates both forebrain macrosystems. To examine the underlying organization and possibly discriminate between these alternatives, rats were injected with two retrograde tracers in different parts of ventral striatopallidum or extended amygdala (homotypic injection pairs) or with one tracer in each macrosystem (heterotypic). The prefrontal and insular cortex was evaluated microscopically for overlap of retrograde labeling and double labeling of neurons. Homotypic injection pairs in the ventral striatum and extended amygdala produced extensive overlap of retrogradely labeled neurons and significant double labeling, suggesting that cortical projections spread broadly within macrosystems. In contrast, heterotypic injection pairs produced significant overlap of retrograde labeling but negligible double labeling, indicating that ventral striatopallidum and extended amygdala receive inputs from separate sets of prefronto- and insular cortical neurons. The caudomedial shell of the nucleus accumbens, a supposed "transition" zone between striatopallidum and extended amygdala, had extended amygdala-like afferents but produced few double-labeled neurons and these only when paired with ventral striatopallidum. The data suggest that a modular organization of the basal forebrain, with postulated independent information processing by the ventral striatopallidal and extended amygdala macrosystems, is reflected in a corresponding segregation of output neurons in the prefrontal and insular cortices.
Design and protection of an information network under a partial ordering: A case study

In this paper, we discuss a practical information system using a partial ordering for protecting information from illicit dissemination and modification. We use an office automation system designed to assist in the operation and management of a law office as an example. We briefly review recent results in the use of partial orderings for protection and administration of information networks, describe the design process wherein a partial ordering is used to represent the structure of information and its use in a law office, and show how this particular system was designed and used. We show examples of how the partial ordering was used to simplify risk analysis and guide well informed administrative decision making. We consider the practicality of this implementation, and the effects of security and integrity protection on the performance of the office. We summarize results and point out possible extensions of this work.
Obstetric Anesthesia: Outside the Labor and Delivery Unit

The maternal mortality rate in the United States has stagnated for the past 2 decades. To further lower morbidity and mortality, we must take a broader perspective. When a pregnant woman is treated in a nonobstetric part of the hospital, care must adapt quickly to her special needs. Excessive concern as to medication, radiation, and litigation may render her care neither safe, timely, efficient, effective, nor patient-centered. Anesthesiologists can significantly improve the care of the pregnant patient by applying their uniquely broad-based skills, experience, and knowledge outside the labor unit.
Transport in nanoscale conductors from first principles

We describe a first-principles atomistic approach to calculate the electronic and atomic dynamics of nanoscale conductors under steady-state current flow. The approach is based on a self-consistent solution of the Lippmann-Schwinger equation within the density-functional formalism for a sample connected to two bare metallic electrodes with a finite bias. Three-terminal device geometries can also be described easily using the present approach. The formalism provides the most fundamental quantities to describe the dynamics of the whole system: the self-consistent electronic wave functions. With these, the forces on the atoms are determined according to a Helmann-Feynman-like theorem that takes into account the contribution of the continuum of states as well as of the discrete part of the spectrum. Examples of applications will be given in the case of molecular devices with different anchoring groups at the interface between the molecule and the electrodes. In particular, we find that conductances close to the quantum unit ${(2e}^{2}/h)$ can be achieved with a given molecular structure simply by increasing the atomic number of the anchoring group.
TCT-281 The Association Between Cholesterol Crystal And Features Of Plaque Vulnerability On Optical Coherence Tomography

Cholesterol crystals are often seen abundantly within atheromatous plaques and at sites of plaque disruption. Recent studies have demonstrated that crystallization of cholesterol promotes volume expansion potentially, triggering plaque rupture. However, the relationship between cholesterol crystals
Synaptic organization of the mammalian olfactory glomerulus: new findings including an intraspecific variation.

The olfactory glomeruli of several mammalian species have been analyzed in serial thin sections. The types and frequencies of glomerular synaptic connections were determined in fields at least 8 μm × 8 μm × 7 μm in size. In all animals examined, axons of olfactory receptors synapsed onto mitral and tufted cell dendrites which were both pre- and postsynaptic to dendrites of periglomerular cells. Receptor cell axons synapsed onto periglomerular cell dendrites of the Mus musculus molossinus, dwarf Netherlands rabbit, and Sprague-Dawley rat, but receptor cell axons did not synapse onto periglomerular cell dendrites of the Balb/c mouse. Synapses between two periglomerular cell dendritic segments were noted in the rabbit, rat, and Balb/c mouse. We conclude that the synaptic arrangements found in the olfactory glomeruli of the molossinus, rabbit and rat are characteristic of the mammalian olfactory glomerulus, and that the synaptic connections of the Balb/c mouse represent a modification of this basic pattern. The finding that the olfactory glomeruli of two strains of mice possess different synaptic connections implies that data derived from even closely related experimental animals should be compared with caution.
Thiol – ene UV-curable coatings using vegetable oil macromonomers

Abstract Allyl, acrylate, and vinyl ether derivatives of castor oil were synthesized and blended with multifunctional thiols for evaluation as thiol–ene ultraviolet (UV) curable systems. The UV cured films were characterized and evaluated via ASTM tests, gel content, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as a function of time. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and DMA studies established that property advancement resulted from auto-oxidation, continued thiol–ene polymerization, or a combination of both mechanisms.
Effect of intravenous iron on haemodialysis catheter microbial colonization and blood‐borne infection

SUMMARY: Background: Intravenous (i.v.) iron is employed to treat absolute and relative iron deficiency in end-stage renal disease patients. However, there exists the possibility that i.v. iron increases infection risk. This pilot study examines whether i.v. iron gluconate acutely increases tunnelled haemodialysis catheter colonization, microbial growth, or blood-borne infection. Methods: Nineteen patients with haemodialysis catheters who met criteria to receive an i.v. iron load entered the study. Six matched patients with catheters who did not receive iron were controls. Blood aspirated from the catheter prior to initiation of haemodialysis was sent for qualitative/quantitative cultures. The study consisted of three baseline cultures, five cultures during iron (125 mg of ferric gluconate per treatment), and three cultures following iron administration. Patients were monitored for infection for 30 days following iron. Results: Fifteen iron-treated patients and six controls completed the study. Thirty-three per cent of treated patients were colonized at baseline; 66% were colonized following iron. Thirty-three per cent of controls (2/6) were colonized at baseline; no new colonization developed during follow up. Neither treated patients nor controls had significant microbial growth within catheters; one patient in the iron-treated group developed candidaemia. Conclusion: Intravenous iron is not associated with acute microbial growth in catheters or clinical infection. However, a trend towards increased catheter colonization following iron administration exists.
Consumer‐rated Quality Characteristics as Related to Purchase Intent of Fresh Pork

Consumers (n=556) rated pink color, wet/dry appearance, overall acceptability and purchase intent of normal, pale, soft and exudative (PSE), and dark, firm and dry (DFD) pork loin slices in PVC packages in five retail supermarkets. DFD samples appeared driest and PSE samples appeared wettest. Samples in the higher ranked two purchase intent categories appeared more wet than those in the lower three categories. The pinker PSE samples and all DFD samples were in the higher ranked purchase intent categories. Purchase intent generally paralleled overall acceptability; however, prediction equations indicated that wet/dry appearance, color and overall acceptability all contributed to purchase intent decision depending on muscle condition.
Baccalaureate criminal justice education in the south: A 1987–1988 status report

The status of baccalaureate criminal justice education is examined using both the population of criminal justice programs in the Southern Region of the United States and a random sample of the programs stratified by state. The study was designed and conducted to provide an empirical basis for the evaluation of current baccalaureate degree criminal justice programs in the South. Descriptive data concerning the colleges and universities which house these programs, background program information, and specific curricula and courses of each program during the academic year 1987–1988 are examined. The current status of the baccalaureate criminal justice curriculum in the South is evaluated.
Factors Influencing the Quantity of Abdominal Fat in Broilers 1. Rearing Temperature, Sex, Age or Weight, and Dietary Choline Chloride and Inositol Supplementation

Abstract Trials were conducted to study the effects of rearing temperature, sex, age or weight, and dietary choline chloride and inositol supplementation on the quantity of abdominal fat in broilers. Within each sex, there was no significant difference in the quantity of abdominal fat at 7, 8 or 9 weeks of age, when expressed as a percentage of body weight. In general, females had a larger percentage of abdominal fat than the males. Also, as the rearing temperature increased the percentage of abdominal fat increased. Dietary choline chloride and inositol supplementation did not significantly affect the percentage of abdominal fat in males or females.
Therapy of hereditary mouse muscular dystrophy with coenzyme Q7

Abstract Mice having a hereditary muscular dystrophy were curatively treated with coenzyme Q7 beginning in the fifth month of their life-span of eight months. The diet and animal management provided uniform groups for therapy for over two years. Therapy with CoQ7 increased survival to twice that of the control group in days from the onset of therapy to death and increased life-span to ten months. During therapy, physical performance initially improved, but later declined and death ensued. Dystrophic mice, as controls, only declined in physical performance to death. CoQ7 was isolated from the mitochondria from hearts and hind leg muscles of the orally treated mice. It appears that CoQ7 is substituting for and correcting the deficiency of CoQ9 in the dystrophic mice.
Mechanisms of the pathogenic autoimmune response in lupus: prospects for specific immunotherapy.

A major step towards understanding the basic mechanism of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prototypic autoimmune disease that developsspontaneously, has been the identification of nucleosomes as a primary immunogen in this disease. The production of pathogenic autoantibodies in SLE results from an MHC clas-II-restricted, cognate interaction between select populations of T helper cells and B cells that are specific for nucleosomal components. These observations pave the way for specific immunotherapy that blocks this pathogenic T and B cell interaction.
Pseudomyxoma Peritonei ‐ Experience from a Tertiary Referral Centre

Summary: : Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a clinical diagnosis of massive abdominal swelling by a gelatinous material, produced usually from an ovarian or appendiceal primary. It is a rare entity that is usually histologically benign but behaves clinically in a malignant fashion with recurrent growth, although not demonstrating histological stromal invasion. The disease remains localized to the peritoneal cavity and the clinical course is one of repeated episodes of intestinal obstruction caused by extrinsic compression that seem only to be relieved by surgical debulking. Variable responses have been obtained with adjuvant chemo-, radio- and immunotherapy, but these isolated responses are unable to be reproduced and so there is no accepted adjuvant treatment for this disease.
Nationalism after communism: reflections on Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland*

In addressing the subject of nationalism after communism, one might do one or both of the following two things: treat the subject from 1989/91 to the present, as the title of this lecture suggests; or, understand one’s task differently and revisit the subject of nationalism before and during the communist era. What the communist and pre-communist periods can tell us about nationalism might help us to evaluate nationalism today, after communism. Since the author is relatively least ignorant about the cases of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland, it is about them that I will speak today. Needless to say, this topic itself is broad, so of necessity our treatment will be crude and simplistic, and for this I must apologise in advance.
Static Indentation of Anisotropic Biomaterials Using Axially Asymmetric Indenters--A Computational Study

Indentation has historically been used by biomechanicians to extract the small strain elastic or viscoelastic properties of biological tissues. Because of the axisymmetry of indenters used in these studies however, analysis of the results requires the assumption of material isotropy and often yields an "effective" elastic modulus. Since most biological tissues such as bone and myocardium are known to be anisotropic, the use of conventional indentation techniques for estimating material properties is therefore limited. The feasibility of using an axially asymmetric indenter to determine material directions and in-plane material properties for anisotropic tissue is explored here using finite element analysis. The load versus displacement curves as would be measured by an indenter depend on the orientation of the indenter cross section relative to the in-plane material axes, thus suggesting a method for determining the underlying material directions. Additionally, the stiffness of the tissue response to indentation is sensitive to the values of the in-plane anisotropic material properties and prestretches, and thus test results can be used to back out relevant constitutive parameters.
Fuzzy Logic Based In-Process Tool-Wear Monitoring System in Face Milling Operations

A fuzzy logic based in-process tool-wear monitoring (FL-ITWM) system is developed and presented in this paper. The fuzzy membership function and rule bank were based on observations during cutting experiments using artificial tool-wear inserts in face milling operations. Maximum resultant force and cutting parameters (feedrate and depth of cut) were used as independent variables, and the system was verified using 25 test experimental runs. A t-test using an alpha value of 0.05 demonstrated that the system has greater than 90% accuracy when predicting tool-wear magnitude on-line.
Random restarting versus simulated annealing

Abstract We show by example that, when direct self-loops are eliminated, explicitly or implicitly, from simulated annealing that random restarting does not beat simulated annealing in the sense of an assertion to the contrary of Ferreira and Žerovnik.
Activity in the hippocampus and neocortical working memory regions predicts successful associative memory for temporally discontiguous events

Models of mnemonic function suggest that the hippocampus binds temporally discontiguous events in memory (Wallenstein, Eichenbaum, & Hasselmo, 1998), which has been supported by recent studies in humans. Less is known, however, about the involvement of working memory in bridging the temporal gap between to-be-associated events. In this study, subsequent memory for associations between temporally discontiguous stimuli was examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging. In the scanner, subjects were instructed to remember sequentially presented images. Occasionally, a plus-sign was presented during the interstimulus interval between two images, instructing subjects to associate the two images as a pair. Following the scan, subjects identified remembered images and their pairs. Images following the plus-sign were separated into trials in which items were later recognized and the pair remembered, recognized and the pair forgotten, or not recognized. Blood-oxygen-level-dependent responses were measured to identify regions where response amplitude predicted subsequent associative- or item memory. Distinct neocortical regions were involved in each memory condition, where activity in bilateral frontal and parietal regions predicted memory for associative information and bilateral occipital and medial frontal regions for item information. While activity in posterior regions of the medial temporal lobe showed an intermediate response predicting memory for both conditions, bilateral hippocampal activity only predicted associative memory.
Sedative use in patients receiving neuromuscular blocking agents from a helicopter flight team.

Abstract Introduction Cognitive awareness under general anesthetic may occur in up to 0.2% of patients, with approximately twice the risk in chemically paralyzed patients. Patients in emergency and critical care areas frequently receive neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA), but a recent survey indicated that only 90% to 96% of critical care nurses routinely provide concurrent sedative medications to those patients. We sought to determine the potential for awake paralysis in patients transported by helicopter critical care transport teams and to evaluate for associations with clinical factors. Methods A retrospective review was performed of the rotor-wing transport records of 103 consecutive patients receiving NMBAs and without cardiac arrest during their care. Using hospital-approved pharmacological references, independent reviewers determined whether individual patients were likely to be under the effects of sedative medications during their period of neuromuscular blockade. Descriptive statistics are reported, and the chi-square test was used to evaluate relationships. Results The sample population was 70.9% male, 89.3% adult, 53.4% trauma/surgical, 66% interhospital, and 88.3% normotensive (SBP > 90 mm Hg). Clinically, 91.3% of patients were judged as probably to have been under the effects of some sedative during their period of paralysis. There was not a significant association between the use of sedatives and any of the factors studied: sex, age, diagnosis, site of origin, flight nurse experience, or systolic blood pressure. Patients most commonly received benzodiazepine alone (70.2%), followed by benzodiazepine + opioid (23.4%), opioid alone (5.3%), and propofol (1.1%). Medication choice was also unrelated to any of the clinical factors studied. Discussion Awake paralysis is difficult to detect but is a serious practice complication. In anesthesia practice, 96% of such cases were considered substandard care, even with prompt recognition and management. Flight nurses administer sedatives at rates similar to other critical care nurses but not to all chemically paralyzed patients. We were unable to identify clinical correlations with medication use or omission. Additional phenomenological and quantifiable evaluations of consciousness during the transport of chemically paralyzed patients would be valuable studies. Conclusion Patients receiving NMBAs during transport by helicopter flight teams are at risk for awareness during paralysis. Both practice development and research efforts in this area would be useful.
A role for GABA in the control of ingestive behavior in rats: Effects of ethanolamine-O-sulfate and muscimol

Abstract Ethanolamine-O-sulfate (EOS) is an irreversible selective inhibitor of GABA-transaminase. Intracisternal injections of EOS (100–400 μg/brain) produced dose-related inhibition of food-motivated operant behavior, decreases in food consumption and body weight, inhibition of GABA-transaminase, and increases in brain GABA levels. The time course of the changes in brain GABA correlated with the alterations in food-related behaviors. EOS over the same dose range did not produce observable changes in behavior, changes in operant behavior not motivated by food, or produce a conditioned taste aversion. Although EOS crosses the blood-brain barrier poorly, repeated intraperitoneal injections of 250 and 500 mg/kg produced decreases in body weight and increases in brain GABA levels. Confirmation of a role for GABA was obtained in experiments using aminooxyacetic acid, another GABA transaminase inhibitor, and muscimol, a GABA receptor agonist. These results suggest that a prominent pharmacological effect of GABA receptor stimulation and elevation of whole brain GABA is anorexia indicating that this putative neurotransmitter has a function in regulating hunger (or satiety) in the rat.
Corporate support in the aftermath of a natural disaster: Effects on employee strains

Relief services provided by corporations to employees following a natural disaster were expected to be associated with reduced levels of employee strains. Data from 143 hurricane victims partially ...
Observations of hysteresis in solar cycle variations among seven solar activity indicators

We show that smoothed time series of 7 indices of solar activity exhibit significant solar cycle dependent differences in their relative variations during the past 20 years. In some cases these observed hysteresis patterns start to repeat over more than one solar cycle, giving evidence that this is a normal feature of solar variability. Among the indices we study, we find that the hysteresis effects are approximately simple phase shifts, and we quantify these phase shifts in terms of lag times behind the leading index, the International Sunspot Number. Our measured lag times range from less than one month to greater than four months and can be much larger than lag times estimated from short-term variations of these same activity indices during the emergence and decay of major active regions. We argue that hysteresis represents a real delay in the onset and decline of solar activity and is an important clue in the search for physical processes responsible for changing solar emission at various wavelengths.
The Germans Hail America: Some Aspects of Communication Media in Occupied Germany

FOR more than four years, through the various media of communication, American thought has had a steady and relentless impact on German culture. This has not come about by chance. The United States, in a determined effort to present information about itself, has made unprecedented use not only of print, radio, film, and the fine arts, but also of an institution less well known-the information center. The authors took part in this information program and their account of its development is largely first-hand, although most of the statistics are from the official reports of the U. S. Military Governor. In order to appreciate fully the extensive use being made of information facilities in Germany today, it is essential to consider the situation in this devastated country at the end of hostilities. Printing plants, publishing houses, radio stations, and motion picture theaters which had survived the war were closed by Military Government, along with the schools, libraries, legitimate theaters, and all communication services. Not even the postal, telephone, or telegraph services were operating. A person in Munich, for example, had no way of determining whether his cousins in Nuernbergmuch less his grandparents in Berlin-were still alive. He did not even know whether these cities still existed.
Drowsy Driving Detection by EEG Analysis Using Wavelet Transform and K-means Clustering☆

Abstract This research aims to develop a driver drowsiness monitoring system by analyzing the electroencephalographic (EEG) signals in a software scripted environment and using a driving simulator. These signals are captured by a multi-channel electrode system. Any muscle movement impacts the EEG signal recording which translates to artifacts. Therefore, noise from the recording is eliminated by subtracting the noisy signal from the original EEG recording. The actual EEG signals are then subjected to band pass filtering with cut-off frequencies 0.5 Hz and 100 Hz. The filtered signals are analyzed using a time-frequency technique known as the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). A third order Debauchies’ wavelet and five level decomposition is utilized to segregate the signal into five sub-bands, namely, delta (0.5 – 4 Hz), theta (4 – 8 Hz), alpha (8 – 12 Hz), beta (12 – 30 Hz) and gamma (> 30 Hz). First order statistical moments such as mean, median, variance, standard deviation and mode of the sub-bands are calculated and stored as features. These features serve as an input to the next stage of system classification. Unsupervised learning through K-means clustering is employed since the classes of the signals are unknown. This provides a strong decision making tool for a real-time drowsiness detection system. The algorithm developed in this work has been tested on twelve samples from the Physionet sleep-EDF database.
Francophone Africa and Security Sector Transformation: Plus Ça Change …

ABSTRACT This article investigates why Francophone Africa, by and large, has ‘missed the boat’ of security sector transformation. It examines the factors that have contributed to the dearth of much-needed harmonization between the democratization of political systems in African states since the 1990s and the governance of their security sectors. It is argued that in nearly all aspects of security sector management, Francophone African states remained prisoners of French African security policies many facets of which did not conform to sound security sector governance principles or convey these to African (political or military) leaders. Most were not meant to, others, shaped by France's self-centered strategic and economic interests, sent at best mixed messages. The evidence indicates that Francophone Africa's security establishments, the armies in particular, were conceived as overseas appendices and instruments of French security policies both before and after the adjustments made necessary by the major...
Stereochemistry of the dealkoxycarbonylation of methyl α-cyanocinnamate and of the decarboxylation of the corresponding cyanoacid: a facile stereoselective route to Z-cinnamonitrile

Abstract Decarboxylation of E-3-phenyl-2-cyanopropenoic acid ( 1 ) in dimethyl sulfoxide containing sodium bicarbonate, lithium chloride, and water in molar excess afforded, with high stereospecificity, Z-cinnamonitrile ( 6 ). The dealkoxycarbonylation of the corresponding methyl ester ( 2 ) under similar reaction conditions was much less selective and resulted in a 1:1 mixture of E- and Z- stereoisomeric nitriles ( 6 and 7 ).
Autonomic innervation and photosensitivity of the sphincter pupillae muscle of two teleosts: Lophius piscatorius and Opsanus tau

The irises of both Lophius piscatorius (goosefish) and Opsanus tau (toadfish), like those of many other vertebrates, have a photosensitive sphincter pupillae that responds autonomously to light. The iris also constricts when exposed to either cholinergic or adrenergic agonists. Our data suggest that the adrenergic response is nonspecific and that the irises of both species receive primarily cholinergic innervation. However, both cholinergic and adrenergic agonists are capable of modifying the autonomous response of the iris to light.
Biologists under control

The Politics of Uncertainty: Regulating Recombinant DNA Research in Britain. By David Bennett, Peter Glasner and David Travis. Routledge & Kegan Paul: 1986. Pp.218. 20, 35. Cloning and the Constitution: An Inquiry into Governmental Policymaking and Genetic Experimentation. By Ira H. Carmen. University of Wisconsin Press: 1986. Pp.223. 22.50, 27.
Electronic correlations in the iron pnictides

When electrons experience Coulomb repulsion, their kinetic energy becomes significantly reduced. This effect has now been measured in the pnictide superconductor LaFePO, and shows that correlations between electrons in these materials are just as strong as in some copper oxide and ruthenate superconductors. In correlated metals derived from Mott insulators, the motion of an electron is impeded by Coulomb repulsion due to other electrons. This phenomenon causes a substantial reduction in the electron’s kinetic energy, leading to remarkable experimental manifestations in optical spectroscopy1. The high-transition-temperature (Tc) superconducting cuprates are perhaps the most studied examples of such correlated metals. The occurrence of high-Tc superconductivity in the iron pnictides2,3,4 puts a spotlight on the relevance of correlation effects in these materials5. Here, we present an infrared and optical study on single crystals of the iron pnictide superconductor LaFePO. We find clear evidence of electronic correlations in metallic LaFePO with the kinetic energy of the electrons reduced to half of that predicted by band theory of nearly free electrons. We deduce that electronic many-body effects are important in the iron pnictides despite the absence of a Mott transition.
Identification of salient contours in cluttered images

We present a model of contour extraction in which the perceptual salience of contours arises from long-range interactions between orientation-selective filters. It has been previously shown that salient contours may be extracted from noisy images by using a number heuristic features. Our algorithm is based on cortical mechanisms, and simulations show close agreement with results from recent anatomical, physiological and psychophysical studies including recent results of D.J. Field et al. (1993), I. Kovacs et al., and M.K. Kapadia et al. (1995). The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated on a range of psychophysical stimuli and real images.
A Pilot Study Evaluating Attention and Strategy Training Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

The prevalence of impairments in attention, working memory and executive functions associated with traumatic brain injury and developmental childhood diagnoses has resulted in increased research to identify effective treatments. The use of a broad based approach that combines both strategy training (domain specific training) and repetitive drill practice (domain general training), has been investigated in the acquired brain injury population with some promising initial findings although methodological issues and demonstration of transfer of training is challenging. This paper describes a pilot study, evaluating an integrated intervention, Attention Improvement Management (AIM) in eleven participants with cognitive processing impairments due to traumatic brain injury. The paper explores the therapy components that appear to be critical to achieving meaningful improvements in attention, working memory and executive functions using this hybrid approach. The results of the pilot study are analyzed to identify the clinical decisions and behaviors required by clinicians implementing even a highly proceduralized computer intervention such as AIM, in hopes of guiding current practice and improving future research investigations.