cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TOWARD A REALIZATION OF PSYCHOLINGUISTIC PRINCIPLES IN THE ESL READING CLASS

This article is an attempt to utilize psycholinguistic research to develop a framework for the teaching of reading to second language (L2) learners. The first section highlights current psycholinguistic reading theory and develops goals for L2 reading teachers based on this theory. The proficient reader is viewed as an active, information-processing individual who uses a minimum number of clues to extract the author's message from the page. It becomes the responsibility of teachers to train students to determine their own goals and strategies for a particular reading, to give students practice and encouragement in using a minimum number of syntactic and semantic clues to obtain the maximum amount of information, and to encourage students to take risks, to guess, and to ignore their impulses to be always correct. In an attempt to translate theory into practice, the second section of the article explores the implications of a psycholinguistic perspective for the learning environment, teacher behavior, and the preparation and use of L2 reading materials. The optimum learning environment is viewed as one in which students and teachers work together: teacher intervention is minimized as students are encouraged to use their developing skills to solve reading problems on their own. Materials development is viewed as being composed of the development of reading skills exercises (scanning, skimming, reading for thorough comprehension, and critical reading) and the development of language skills exercises (vocabulary, structure, and discourse). The third section of the article discusses lesson planning within a psycholinguistic framework and presents a sample lesson plan in English as a second language which emphasizes a skills approach to reading. Lessons are planned for maximum flexibility, allowing the teacher to take advantage of students' interests and needs.
Mid-infrared Spectrum of Dilute Holes in Antiferromagnetic CuO 2 layers

The optical absorption spectrum from 0.1 to 1.5 eV photon energy is presented for extremely lightly oxygen doped crystals of La 2 CuO 4 . Crystals grown by two different methods have different low temperature spectra and different temperature dependencies. However, at room temperature the spectra are nearly identical, suggesting that they result from the optical absorption of free isolated holes in the two dimensional antiferromagnetic CuO 2 square lattice.
Maximum longitudinal electric-field component of the evanescent wave excited by incident p-polarized light in total internal reflection at a dielectric–dielectric interface

For a given amplitude of the electric field of incident p-polarized light, the longitudinal z component of the electric field of the evanescent wave traveling parallel to the interface in the rarer medium in total internal reflection at a dielectric–dielectric interface reaches a maximum at an angle of incidence given by in which N > 1 is the ratio of refractive indices of the two transparent media. The associated maximum coupling coefficient as a function of N is given by . It is also shown that the Fresnel complex-amplitude interface transmission coefficients of incident p- and s-polarized light have equal absolute values at . Five other significant properties of total internal reflection at this special angle of incidence are also noted.
Does gravitational pressure of blood hinder flow to the brain of the giraffe

Vascular pressure consists of the sum of two pressures: (a) pressure developed by the pumping of the ventricles against the resistance of vessels, designated as viscous flow pressure, and (b) pressure caused by gravity, traditionally called hydrostatic, better described as gravitational pressure. In a conduit, both of these pressures must be overcome when a liquid is discharged to a higher level of gravitational potential energy. If a liquid is returned to its original level, gravity neither helps nor hinders flow because of the siphon effect. This circumstance prevails in the circulatory system. Hence, P1-P2 in the Poiseuille equation excludes gravitational pressure between those points. The long neck of the giraffe, therefore, poses no impediment to blood flow in the erect posture. The giraffe has a high aortic pressure. This is not for driving the blood to its head but is for minimizing the gravitational drop of intravascular pressure and collapse of the vessels. The cerebral circulation is protected by the cerebrospinal fluid which undergoes parallel changes in pressure with posture. Other vessels in the head are less protected by connective tissue, surrounding muscles and other structures. The high aortic pressure in the giraffe is probably caused by the high total peripheral resistance of the systemic circuit due to vascular adaptations related to the overall height of the animal.
Identifying the Stroma as a Critical Player in Radiation-Induced Mammary Tumor Development

Tumor development requires facilitative alterations in the stroma. In this issue of Cancer Cell , Nguyen et al. provide evidence that irradiation of mammary stroma drives accelerated development of mammary tumors that are more likely to be estrogen receptor-negative and implicate stromal production of transforming growth factor-β in this process.
Delayed primary closure of bladder exstrophy: immediate postoperative management leading to successful outcomes.

Objective To present the critical features of our postoperative plan for children undergoing delayed primary bladder closure because appropriate postoperative management is crucial to successful exstrophy repair. Methods Using an institutionally approved database, patients with bladder exstrophy whose primary bladder closure was performed at least 1 month after birth were identified. All aspects of the postoperative management were reviewed. Results A total of 20 patients (18 boys) were identified: 19 with classic bladder extrosphy and 1 with an exstrophy variant. The patients underwent closure at a mean age of 9.9 months. All patients underwent pelvic osteotomy and immobilization for an average of 34.8 days. Analgesia was administered by way of a tunneled epidural catheter in 90% of patients for an average of 18.8 days, and 12 patients (60%) required adjunct intravenous analgesia. Bilateral ureteral catheters and suprapubic tubes were used in all patients. Total parenteral nutrition was administered to 10 (83%) of 12 patients who underwent closure after 2000. All patients received preoperative antibiotics and 2 weeks of postoperative intravenous antibiotics that was followed by oral prophylaxis. The mean hospital stay was 6.3 weeks. With an average follow-up of 7.4 years, delayed closure was 100% successful. Conclusion Successful delayed primary closure of bladder exstrophy requires a multidisciplinary approach. The keys to success include osteotomy, pelvic immobilization, analgesia, nutritional support, maximal bladder drainage, and infection prophylaxis.
Molecular dynamics simulation of β-sheet formation in self-assembled peptide amphiphile fibers

The influence of amino acid sequence on the secondary structure of peptide amphiphile (PAs) cylindrical micelles and fibers that are self-assembled in solution is studied using molecular dynamics simulations. Simulations for two choices of PAs were performed, starting with structures that have the correct overall shape, but which restructure considerably during the simulation, with one fiber being composed of valine rich PAs and the other of alanine rich PAs. Self-assembly is similar in both simulations, with stable fibers (diameter is 7.7–8 nm) obtained after 40 ns. We find that the valine rich PA fiber has a higher β-sheet population than the alanine rich fiber, and that the number of hydrogen bonds is higher. This behavior of the valine rich fiber is consistent with experimental measurements of higher stiffness, and it shows that stiffness can be varied while still maintaining self-assembly.
Stimulation of Ovine Placental Lactogen Secretion by Arginine Infusion

Arginine has been demonstrated to be a potent stimulus to GH and PRL secretion. To determine the effect of arginine on plasma ovine placental lactogen (oPL) concentrations, arginine (50 g in 350 ml distilled water, pH 7.4) or hypertonic saline of identical volume, osmolality, and pH was infused iv over a 30-min period into nine pregnant ewes, and blood samples from chronic indwelling venous catheters were obtained at frequent intervals before and for 8 h after the infusions. After the infusion of hypertonic saline, plasma oPL concentrations (measured by homologous RIA) decreased 20--50% over 1--2 h and then returned to baseline concentrations. After the infusion of arginine, plasma oPL concentrations also decreased by 20--50% for 1--2 h. However, 2--3 h after the infusion, plasma oPL concentrations in creased 79--115% (delta = 204--700 ng/ml) over preinfusion concentrations in seven ewes and 454% (2930 ng/ml) and 1142% (2042 ng/ml) in two ewes and remained elevated for the remainder of the 8-h interval. When the amount of arginine infused was reduced from 50 to 25 g, an increase in plasma oPL concentrations occurred in only one of five ewes. Plasma oPL concentrations increased by 8--58% after infusions of 50 g alanine or glycine but did not increase after 50 g glutamic acid. The delayed oPL response to arginine suggests that the increase in plasma oPL concentrations is not caused directly by arginine but rather by changes in the synthesis, secretion, and/or degradation of oPL induced indirectly by arginine.
Electromagnetic Forces on a Superconductor

Measurements of the eddy current damping of the rotational oscillations of a tin sphere suspended in a magnetic field from a torsion fiber give the expected results as a function of the magnetic field and the conductivity as long as the tin is a normal conductor. Below the transition temperature, however, the damping torque becomes less than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ times its value in the normal state and no changes in period are observed except those attributable to residual frozen-in moments.
A Celebration of Life and Womanhood

ranks lower than many developed nations in life expectancy, infant mortality, and general health status. Studies have attributed this to the exacerbating effects of the social determinants of health, such as limited education, poverty, illiteracy, gender, and racial discrimination. Most of the burden of poverty and ill health falls on women, and maternal, infant, and child mortality increase as inequities rise within a given population. The health and well-being of women before, during, and after childbirth are pivotal factors in improving the economy and the future of any nation. The more compromised women are in a population, the worse the statistics on health indicators become and the longer lasting the effects are on future generations. With the Birthing Project, Kathryn Hall-Trujillo has cut to the core of the great disparity African American women experience in the United States. African American women are more likely to experience the death of a child and live a shorter life than white women. The 2006 infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births was 13.4 for African Americans, 2.4 times (or 240 percent higher than) the infant mortality rate for whites. African American women experience approximately 3,300 more infant deaths annually than should be expected in the United States. The Birthing Project brings an altered awareness to African American communities. Pregnancies and births are celebrated. Where pregnancy outcomes are regarded as the responsibility of the health-care system and are intricately linked to stress, racism, and lack of respect, a new framework is now emerging. Social support in the form of the SisterFriend network, which is centered on women giving of their time, experience, and care, is at the heart of the Birthing Project. A
Cartesian Grid Method for Moderate-Reynolds-Number Flows Around Complex Moving Objects

A method is presented to simulate the fluid dynamics of low- to moderate-Reynolds-number flows around solid objects with complex shapes on a fixed Cartesian grid. On grid points occupied by a solid object, the method forces the fluid motion to be equal to the motion of the solid object, whereas the boundary conditions on the solid‐fluid interface are enforced through a specific treatment of grid points close to the interface. The method is fairly easily implemented in both two and three dimensions, and a grid-refinement study shows that the method is globally close to second-order accurate. Steady and unsteady flow results over a cylinder and a sphere fixed in the grid show very good agreement with previous experimental and computational investigations. Computations of a cylinder moving in the grid with a surrounding fluid initially at rest produce results that compare very well with the fixed-cylinder results, thus demonstrating the validity of the method for moving geometry simulations. The method’s applicability to investigations of the unsteady aerodynamics of microscale flapping flight is demonstrated through simulations of the fluid dynamics of a flapping cantilever beam and a free-falling two-dimensional “leaf.” I. Introduction T HE motivation for the work presented in this paper is that recent advances in the research and development of microelectromechanical system technology have encouraged research into the potential construction of micro‐air vehicles (MAVs) at millimeter to centimeter scales. One of the many challenges associated with the design of MAVs is to develop a better understanding of aerodynamics at these small scales. MAVs operate at much smaller Reynolds numbers than traditional flying machines, which means that viscous effects are more dominant, forcing the development of new flight mechanisms for the efficient generation of lift and thrust. Nature has already mastered flight at these scales and gives a good indication of the challenges that lie ahead. Insects and birds achieve flight through a wide range of flapping wing motions that vary with animal size and specialization. This type of flight is characterized by a high degree of flow unsteadiness that is exploited for aerodynamic efficiency, thus making it very hard to analyze and mimic for the purpose of designing robotic MAVs. It is clear that computational fluid dynamics can be a very powerful tool in the effort to analyze the flow physics of flapping flight, but the very nature of the unsteady aerodynamics introduces complex moving boundaries. Usually, body-fitted deforming grids are used to simulate flows involving moving boundaries because this allows for a simple and accurate enforcement of the boundary conditions. Here one has the choice of using structured or unstructured grids (or a combination of both), but these approaches have some significant disadvantages for our application. With structured grids, usually only the simplest of geometries can be represented without running into grid quality issues unless a multiblock approach is used.
Eosinophilic oophoritis: association with positive Strongyloides stercoralis serology and clinical response to ivermectin.

Abstract Background Localized eosinophilic infiltration causing ovarian dysfunction is an unusual clinical problem. Case We report a 16-year-old girl with abdominal pain, ovarian cysts, and biopsy-proven eosinophilic oophoritis, which resulted in right oophorectomy. Subsequently, a large cyst developed in the left ovary, causing abdominal pain that was worse at the time of her menses, and biopsy again showed numerous eosinophilic microabscesses. Unexpectedly, a parasite serology test to Strongyloides stercoralis was positive, although stool tests for ova and parasites were negative and the total IgE and total eosinophil count were normal. After treatment with ivermectin, the patient's abdominal pain resolved, the serologic antibody titers to S stercoralis returned to normal, and subsequent ultrasonographic evaluations showed involution of the large cyst in the remaining ovary. Conclusion Eosinophilic oophoritis is a new disorder of localized tissue eosinophilia.
Complications of acute fatty liver of pregnancy treated with activated protein C

Introduction Acute fatty liver (AFL) of pregnancy is a difficult and challenging diagnosis. The treatment plan is usually supportive.
Comparative risk-adjusted mortality outcomes after primary surgery, radiotherapy, or androgen-deprivation therapy for localized prostate cancer.

Purpose No adequate randomized trials comparing active treatment modalities for localized prostate cancer have been reported. We analyzed risk-adjusted cancer-specific mortality outcomes among men undergoing radical prostatectomy, external-beam radiation therapy, or primary androgen deprivation therapy.
Efficient production of syngeneic anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies with high affinity and diverse specificity

Syngeneic monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies are of value in studies of the suppression of IgE synthesis. Procedures are described here for the production of high titers of murine anti-IgE antibodies by initiating immunization in the perinatal period, before mice develop tolerance to their autologous IgE. This in turn facilitates the production of monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies. Properties of some of these mAbs are reported, including affinity, fine specificity and ability to bind to IgE on B lymphoma cells or mast cells.
Common Factors in Psychotherapy Outcome: Meta-Analytic Findings and Their Implications for Practice and Research

It is often reported in meta-analytic studies of adult psychotherapy that psychotherapy produces positive change but that there are few significant differences between different types of psychother...
Biochemical Studies in a Patient with Subacute Neuropathic Gaucher Disease without Visceral Glucosylceramide Storage

Summary: Autopsy samples were obtained from a 12.5-year-old girl who died with a neurologic disorder consisting of myoclonus, myoclonic epilepsy, spasticity, strabismus, and mild mental retardation but no hepatosplenomegaly. Studies in leukocytes, cultured skin fibroblasts, brain, liver, and spleen of this patient revealed glucosylceramide β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.45, glucocerebrosidase) activity about 10% of controls, and well in the range found in samples from Gaucher disease patients. Extraction of the lipids from liver and spleen with chloroform-methanol (2:1) did not show accumulation of glucosylceramide or other lipid. Examination of the lipids in brain by high performance liquid chomatography revealed the presence of glucosylceramide, which is not found in brain samples from controls. Pathologic examination of the liver and spleen revealed no evidence of Gaucher disease. The brain showed many degenerative lesions and loss of neurons. There was no complementation of glucocerebrosidase activity when the cells from this patient were hybridized with cells from patients with Type 1 or Type 2 Gaucher disease. The reason for the lack of glucosylceramide storage in the liver and spleen has not been determined.
Eating Behaviour induced by Sounds

IN the course of pretraining hungry rats in a visual discrimination apparatus it was observed that background aoise often was followed by a complex chain of behaviour involving chewing, approach to food, and eating. Similar behaviour had been noted in rabbits and guinea pigs. This phenomenon was examined in a series of 40 male Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 250–300 g.
FMRI Using Exogenous Agents and Cerebral Blood Volume Contrast

The most robust techniques for fMRI employ gradient-echo imaging to measure task-induced changes in MRI signal resulting from endogenous or exogenous paramagnetic contrast agents within the bloodstream. In animal models, blood magnetization can be adjusted to optimal levels using injected agent, and fMRI then reflects dynamic changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV). In the absence of injected agent, blood magnetization, and signal changes are smaller, and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal reports a more complex physiology that depends upon changes in blood volume, flow, and oxygen utilization. This chapter focuses primarily upon the physics and physiology of dynamic fMRI measurements of CBV using exogenous contrast agent, both as a useful tool for fMRI applications and as a method that contributes to our understanding of BOLD signal. Other recent techniques to measure CBV using endogenous mechanisms also are described briefly, as well as the fMRI method for assessing changes in cerebral blood flow by arterial spin labeling. Together, these techniques are expanding the portfolio of useful fMRI methods beyond BOLD signal and contributing to our understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying the BOLD phenomenon.
Effects of Lime and Lime-Pelleted Seed on Legume Establishment and Growth in South Brazil

Studies of seed pelleting and liming for legume establishment at initial low pH levels in prepared seedbed and natural pasture situations were conducted in 1971 and 1972 at Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Lime-pelleted seed often improved establishment and increased subsequent dry matter herbage yield of soybeans, greenleaf desmodium, and perennial soybeans at low pH levels (4·8 and 4·9) and low lime rates. Applying agricultural lime at rates up to 6 t/ha generally improved legume establishment and herbage yields on prepared land or in disked natural grass sod, compared to unlimed areas.
Properties of Monotonic Effects on Directed Acyclic Graphs

Various relationships are shown hold between monotonic effects and weak monotonic effects and the monotonicity of certain conditional expectations. Counterexamples are provided to show that the results do not hold under less restrictive conditions. Monotonic effects are furthermore used to relate signed edges on a causal directed acyclic graph to qualitative effect modification. The theory is applied to an example concerning the direct effect of smoking on cardiovascular disease controlling for hypercholesterolemia. Monotonicity assumptions are used to construct a test for whether there is a variable that confounds the relationship between the mediator, hypercholesterolemia, and the outcome, cardiovascular disease.
NMR, PDF and RMC study of the positive electrode material Li(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2 synthesized by ion-exchange methods

The local environment and short-range ordering of Li(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2, a potential Li-ion battery positive electrode material obtained via an ion-exchange route from Na(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2, were investigated by using a combination of 6Li Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy and neutron Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis, associated with Reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) calculations. 6Li MAS NMR experiments on Li(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2 showed that there are almost no Li ions in the transition metal layers. Neutron diffraction data for the precursor Na(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2 indicated that there is no Na/Ni disorder and that the material is perfectly layered. Neutron PDF analysis of Li(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2 and Na(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2 revealed differences in the local transition metal arrangements between those present in the ion-exchanged material and its precursor, and those found in the cathode material synthesized directly from hydroxide starting materials. Large clusters of 3456 atoms were built to investigate cation ordering. Reverse Monte Carlo results, for both the Na and Li-containing compounds, showed a non-random distribution of Ni and Mn cations in the transition metal layers: in the first coordination shell, Ni atoms are on average close to more Mn ions than predicted based on a random distribution of these ions in the transition metal layers. Analysis of the number of Ni/Ni, Mn/Mn and Ni/Mn pairs in the second coordination shell revealed that the Ni and Mn cations show a clear preference for ordering in zigzags rather than in chains.
Image Denoising by Adaptive Kernel Regression

This paper introduces an extremely robust adaptive denoising filter in the spatial domain. The filter is based on non-parametric statistical estimation methods, and in particular generalizes an adaptive method proposed earlier by Fukunaga [1]. To denoise a pixel, the proposed filter computes a locally adaptive set of weights and window sizes, which can be proven to be optimal in the context of non-parametric estimation using kernels. While we do not report analytical results on the statistical efficiency of the proposed method in this paper, we will discuss its derivation, and experimentally demonstrate its effectiveness against competing techniques at low SNR and on real noisy data.
A multifaceted distraction intervention may reduce pain and discomfort in children 4–6 years of age receiving immunisation

Commentary on: FR Berberich, Z Landman. Reducing immunization discomfort in 4- to 6-year-old children: a randomized clinical trial. Pediatrics2009;124:e203–9.
The management of allergic contact dermatitis.

Summary An eczema may be caused or complicated by an allergic contact dermatitis. Careful patch testing, realization of the significance of a patient's sensitization and persistant search for contact with the allergen would cure or alleviate many a chronic eczema.
Organometallic motifs in the structures of solid state ternary carbides of the late transition metals

Solid state ternary transition metal carbides containing carbon, a middle to late transition metal (Re to Ni), and a highly electropositive multivalent metal such as lanthanide, yttrium, or thorium exhibit a number of structural motifs resembling those in metal carbonyls and other transition metal derivatives of strong π-acceptor ligands. This paper presents models for the chemical bonding in the transition metal—carbon subnetworks of the ternary late transition metal carbides LnCoC (Ln=lanthanide), Ln2ReC2, Th2NiC2, Ln2FeC4, Ln3MC4 (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir), Ln4NiC5, Ca4Ni3C5, and Er8Rh5C12. Carbide ligands present in such materials include terminal C4− in Th2NiC2 and Y2ReC2, μ2-C4− in YCoC or Y2ReC2 similar to the central allene carbon atom, 1,2-bridging C24− in Sc3CoC4 formally derived from ethylene, μ3-bridging C24− in LnMC2 (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Ru) formally derived from ethylene, and 1,1-bridging C22− in Ln2FeC4 isoelectronic with μ2-CO group in metal carbonyls.
Simulating the effect of privacy concerns in online social networks

While sharing information is the main purpose of online social networks (OSN), privacy is a major concern. It has been argued that the lack of privacy protection caused the massive departure of users from MySpace in 2008 [1] - specially, due to mass media coverage on dangers of teenagers' public profiles and the appearance of Facebook, which provided a more private OSN. Besides mass media, we explore the impact of family and friends in instilling privacy concerns on teenagers. We develop an agent-based model to simulate propagation of privacy concerns through connection in a social network, and the effect of individual users' privacy decisions on the level of overall participation in an OSN. We report the results of simulating different privacy propagation factors. Our results are useful to understand and predict hidden patterns of user behavior that lead to changes in the number of active users in an OSN.
A quasi-"Isotropic" antenna in the microwave spectrum

The general problem of radiation by apertures on spherical surfaces was first considered theoretically by Stratton and Chu in 1941. More recently, the problem was again considered by Bailin and Silver, and Mushiake and Webster. All numerical and experimental efforts to date have been restricted to the special case of a very small sphere as measured in wavelengths. This paper is in effect an extension of the previous results to the case of large spheres uniformly excited by an equatorial slot of varying size. The detailed numerical and experimental results are restricted to the first TM and TE modes. In general, it is possible to show that the large spherical slot antenna can be made unusually "isotropic" with a far-field coverage factor of over 98 per cent.
Recorded interactive seminars and follow-up discussions as an effective method for distance learning.

Introduction Previous studies have suggested that, although orthodontic residents prefer to be live and interactive in a seminar, they learn almost as much when watching a previously recorded interactive seminar and following up with live discussion. Our objective was to test the effectiveness and acceptability of using previously recorded interactive seminars and different types of live follow-up discussions. Methods Residents at schools participating from a distance completed preseminar readings and at their convenience watched streaming video of some or all recordings of 4 interactive seminar sequences consisting of 6 seminars each. Afterward, distant residents participated in 1 of 4 types of interaction: local follow-up discussion, videoconference, teleconference, and no discussion. The effectiveness of the seminar sequences was tested by pretest and posttest scores. Acceptability was evaluated from ratings of aspects of the seminar and discussion experience. Open-ended questions allowed residents to express what they liked and to suggest changes in their experiences. Results In each seminar sequence, test scores of schools participating through recordings and follow-up discussions improved more than those participating live and interactive. After viewing, residents preferred local follow-up discussion, which was not statistically different from participating live and interactive both locally and from a distance. Videoconference and teleconference discussions were both more acceptable to residents than no follow-up discussion, which was found to be significantly below all methods tested. Conclusions When residents are live and interactive in a seminar, there does not appear to be a significant difference between being local vs at a distance. Recorded interactive seminars with follow-up discussions are also an effective and acceptable method of distance learning. Residents preferred local follow-up discussion, but, at a distance, they preferred videoconference to both teleconference and no discussion.
Large-Margin Discriminative Training of Hidden Markov Models for Speech Recognition

Discriminative training has been a leading factor for improving automatic speech recognition (ASR) performance over the last decade. The traditional discriminative training, however, has been aimed to minimize empirical error rates on training sets, which may not be well generalized to test sets. Many attempts have been made recently to incorporate the principle of large margin (PLM) into the training of hidden Markov models (HMMs) in ASR to improve the generalization abilities. Significant error rate reduction on the test sets has been observed on both small vocabulary and large vocabulary continuous ASR tasks using large-margin discriminative training (LMDT) techniques. In this paper, we introduce the PLM, define the concept of margin in the HMMs, and survey a number of popular LMDT algorithms proposed and developed recently. Specifically, we review and compare the large-margin minimum classification error (LM-MCE) estimation, soft-margin estimation (SME), large margin estimation (LME), large relative margin estimation (LRME), and large margin training (LMT) with a focus on the insights, the training criteria, the optimization techniques used, and the strengths and weaknesses of these different approaches. We suggest future research directions in our conclusion of this paper.
Temporal and spatial expression of cuticular proteins of Anopheles gambiae implicated in insecticide resistance or differentiation of M/S incipient species

Published data revealed that two of the 243 structural cuticular proteins of Anopheles gambiae, CPLCG3 and CPLCG4, are implicated in insecticide resistance and a third, CPF3, has far higher transcript levels in M than in S incipient species. We studied the distribution of transcripts for these three genes in the tissues of An. gambiae and the location of the proteins in the cuticle itself to gain information about how these cuticular proteins contribute to their important roles. Our data are consistent with CPLCG3/4 contributing to a thicker cuticle thus slowing penetration of insecticides and CPF3 possibly having a role in the greater desiccation tolerance of the M form. Using RT-qPCR, we established the temporal expression of the genes and by in situ hybridization we revealed the main tissues where their mRNAs are found. Electron microscopy immunolocalization, using secondary antibodies labeled with colloidal gold, allowed us to localize these proteins within different regions of the cuticle. The temporal expression of these genes overlaps, albeit with higher levels of transcripts from CPF3 in pharate adults and both CPLCG3 and CPLCG4 are higher in animals immediately after adult eclosion. The main location of mRNAs for all three genes is in appendages and genitalia. In contrast, the location of their proteins within the cuticle is completely different. CPF3 is found exclusively in exocuticle and CPLCG3/4 is restricted to the endocuticle. The other CPF gene expressed at the same times, CPF4, in addition to appendages, has message in pharate adult sclerites. The temporal and spatial differences in transcript abundance and protein localization help to account for An. gambiae devoting about 2% of its protein coding genes to structural cuticular proteins. The location of CPLCG3/4 in the endocuticle may contribute to the thickness of the cuticle, one of the recently appreciated components of insecticide resistance, while the location of CPF3 might be related to the greater desiccation resistance of the M form.
Explaining Russia's Output Collapse

This paper explores sources of the output collapse in Russia during transition. A modified growth-accounting framework is developed that takes into account changes in factor utilization that are typical of the transition process. The results indicate that declines in factor inputs and productivity were both important determinants of the output fall. The contribution of the productivity drop was critical, but significantly smaller than previously reported. Copyright 2002, International Monetary Fund
Handling label noise in video classification via multiple instance learning

In many classification tasks, the use of expert-labeled data for training is often prohibitively expensive. The use of weakly-labeled data is an attractive solution but raises the problem of label noise. Multiple instance learning, whereby training samples are “bagged” instead of treated as singletons, offers a possible approach to mitigating the effects of label noise. In this paper, we propose the use of MILBoost [28] in a large-scale video taxonomic classification system comprised of hundreds of binary classifiers to handle noisy training data. We test on data with both artificial and real-world noise and compare against the state-of-the-art classifiers based on AdaBoost. We also explore the effects of different bag sizes on different levels of noise on the final classifier performance. Experiments show that when training classifiers with noisy data, MILBoost provides an improvement in performance.
The Combination of Push and Fuzzy Logic Control for the Production Control of a General Serial Line

Production control plays an important role in enterprise management. In this paper push policy and fuzzy logic control (FLC) policy were applied together into the production control of a general single-product serial line. The hybrid control system and the design of controller were described in detail. In a numeral example the Push/FLC system was compared with CONWIP, kanban and a crisp hybrid system called Local/Global Pull here. The results from the example showed that the hybrid Push/FLC system holds a quite low WIP level and an absolute superiority in order placement fluctuation control.
Small deformation rheological properties of dough are useful tool to predict the effects of modest sodium reduction on flour tortilla quality

Ingredient substitution can produce modest changes in wheat dough that are not detectable by standard methods, but significantly impact final product quality. This study used dynamic oscillatory frequency sweep tests to evaluate effects of substitution of sodium with potassium and calcium based leavening systems on tortilla dough viscoelastic properties in relation to final product quality. Treatments involved replacing 0, 50 and 100% NaHCO3. Complex modulus (G*) and phase angle (δ) values of dough samples were determined at increasing frequencies (0.01–10 Hz/25 °C) within the linear viscoelastic region (5 Pa/25 °C). Tortillas were processed and evaluated for quality over 16 d of storage. Traditional dough compression force and relaxation time from stress relaxation test did not detect treatment effects (P < 0.05). Significant differences (P < 0.05) in dough G* and δ values were detected above 3.162 Hz and 0.01 Hz, respectively. Final tortilla quality (flexibility, diameter, and color) was significantly affected by treatment. Tortilla flexibility was highly correlated with G* (r = −0.92) and δ (r = −0.80) at 10 Hz. Dynamic oscillatory testing can predict the functional performance of leavening agents for producing tortillas with superior shelf stability.
Building a Constraint Solver that Learns

FORR (FOrr the Right Reasons) is a cognitively plausible architecture for the rapid development of expertise (Epstein, 1992). To produce an adaptive, robust problem solver, FORR exploits many techniques observable in human learners. FORR itself is domain independent; a FORR-based application requires a set of domain-specific state representations and heuristics. Hoyle, a FORR-based game player, learned to play19 different two-dimensional, finite-board games as well or better than the best human experts (Epstein, 2001). Ariadne, a FORR-based pathfinder for two-dimensional mazes, learned to find its way efficiently through complex mazes modeled on real-world spaces (Epstein, 1998). This talk highlights the human-like facets of FORR, illustrating them with its most ambitious application to date: ACE (the Adaptive Constraint Engine) (Epstein, Freuder and Wallace, 2005). ACE learns to solve constraint satisfaction problems and can explain the rationales underlying each of its decisions during search. ACE has rediscovered an important graph-coloring heuristic (Epstein and Freuder, 2001). It also discovered a new search heuristic on a class of relatively small and easy problems, one which, when exported to a conventional solver, improved search performance by more than 96% on a class of larger, more difficult problems (Epstein et al., 2002). ACE now serves both as a test-bed for cognitive theories (e.g., fast and frugal reasoning (Epstein and Ligorio, 2004)) and as a vehicle for the development of new approaches to constraint solving (e.g., (Epstein et al., 2005; Epstein and Wallace, 2006)). ACE is a joint project with Eugene Freuder and Richard Wallace of the Cork Constraint Computation Centre.
CRAX/Cassandra Reliability Analysis Software

Over the past few years Sandia National Laboratories has been moving toward an increased dependence on model- or physics-based analyses as a means to assess the impact of long-term storage on the nuclear weapons stockpile. These deterministic models have also been used to evaluate replacements for aging systems, often involving commercial off-the-shelf components (COTS). In addition, the models have been used to assess the performance of replacement components manufactured via unique, small-lot production runs. In either case, the limited amount of available test data dictates that the only logical course of action to characterize the reliability of these components is to specifically consider the uncertainties in material properties, operating environment etc. within the physics-based (deterministic) model. This not only provides the ability to statistically characterize the expected performance of the component or system, but also provides direction regarding the benefits of additional testing on specific components within the system. An effort was therefore initiated to evaluate the capabilities of existing probabilistic methods and, if required, to develop new analysis methods to support the inclusion of uncertainty in the classical design tools used by analysts and design engineers at Sandia. The primary result of this effort is the CMX (Cassandra Exoskeleton) reliability analysis software.
Asiatic Exoticism in Italian Art of the Early Renaissance

The oriental influence on Italian art of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance has been frequently discussed during the last decades. It is undeniable that some artists of those times were inspired by ornament and iconography of a more or less definitely oriental origin. There is sufficient evidence of contacts between the East and the West in Italian paintings, both religious and secular.However numerous examples of this orientalism may appear to be, they are not always genuine. Therefore, the problem will always constitute a border-line case in the history of the Italian art of the Renaissance. This circumstance must be emphasized at the very outset of every investigation directed toward the explanation of this puzzling and striking aspect of a general and deep artistic renewal. Only a prudent examination of facts and problems can prevent the misleading conclusions of those scholars who have attributed to oriental models and motifs a revolutionary virtue and a decisive influence on the artistic feeli...
Clumsiness:: Review of Causes, Treatments, and Outlook

Child clumsiness results not from a single cause, but from a complex interaction of numerous dysfunctional subsystems. Research has identified differences between clumsy and non-disabled children in sensory functioning, information processing, and general motor control. The heterogeneity of this condition has made diagnosis and assessment difficult. Long-term studies indicate this is not a benign developmental delay that the child will outgrow. Motor problems appear to persist even into late adolescence with concomitant academic, social, and emotional problems. Intervention appears to be beneficial to some children; however, the gains are often not maintained when support is withdrawn. Some treatment techniques are suggested to therapists working with children with clumsiness.
Pterylography of Birds-of-paradise and the Systematic Position of Macgregor’s Bird-of-paradise(Macgregoria pulchra)

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Grey Relational Analysis of Main Quantity Traits of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Germplasms

The main traits of twenty-six safflower varieties were evaluated by the grey relational analysis in this paper.The result showed that the productions per plant were mostly affected by the branches number,then the effective fruits per plant,stem thickness,seeds number per fruit,the diameter of top flower,plant height,growth period,one thousand seed weight in decreasing order.The branches number were closely related with stem thickness,plant height,the effective fruits per plant,seeds number per fruit,and the effective fruits per plant were closely related to the branches number,stem thickness,seeds number per fruit,so,it was important to select individual with high branches number,high seeds number per fruit and mezzo growth period for breeding for high yield safflower varieties and pay enough attention to plant height,stem thickness,one thousand seed weight and the diameter of top flower.
Operational Situation and Principal Abnormal Circumstance of ±500 kV HVDC Power Transmission System from Gezhouba to Nanqiao in 2006

±500 kV HVDC power transmission project from Gezhouba to Nanqiao is the first long-distance,large-capacity and high-voltage HVDC project whose control protection system had been retrofitted solely by the domestic technical force.In this paper the statistics of main operational indices of ±500 kV Gezhouba-Nanqiao HVDC power transmission system in the year of 2006 are presented.The representative accidents triggered off by complex causes during its operation are analyzed,and corresponding countermeasures and suggestions are proposed.These operation experiences are suitable to other HVDC power transmission systems as well and contribute to further improve the design,commissioning and operation level of HVDC power transmission projects in China.