cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Extremism in South Asia: Pakistan at the crossroads

The surprising electoral success of a number of religious parties in the 2002 national elections in Pakistan brought the question of religion and politics to the forefront in an unprecedented fashion. The main issues are: the extent to which this demonstrates a break with the past; the relationship between violent extremism, terrorism and politico-religious groups; and the implications for regional and international relations. The subsequent victory of more secular mainstream political parties in the elections of 2008, following the dramatic assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, holds the promise of reversing Pakistan's slide towards extremist politics. But at the same time jihadi groups are redoubling their efforts inside Pakistan and in the border areas with Afghanistan. The two main political parties have only a tenuous power-sharing agreement at the center, the resurgent secular Pashtun National Awami Party (NAP) in the North-West Frontier Province has been a prime target for intimidation and attacks by religious radicals and remains highly vulnerable, and the prime minister and parliament are having to “co-habit” with a hostile President Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan is at a critical juncture. None of these trends can be understood without a deeper analysis of the evolution of politicized Islam in Pakistan. In Pakistan, as in neighboring countries, we find a wide spectrum of general political sentiment, from secularism to religious extremism. Most importantly, within the context of religio-political groups in Pakistan, we find notable variations even among groups with common origins and overlapping sympathies. How can we understand these divergences?
Kinetically stabilized metastable polarization states in ferroelectric ceramics

Abstract By directly using experimental hysteresis loop data, a Landau theory-based model has been developed to investigate the effects of externally applied stimuli (electric field, stress, and temperature) on the average, time-dependent response in ferroelectric ceramics. For both PLZT and BNT-BT-KNN systems, experimentally observed (macroscopic) metastable states are a result of a free energy minimum that develops at a zero polarization state when the sample is subject to an externally applied field. Additionally, the frequency dependent hysteresis response demonstrates that a transition between relaxor ferroelectric and antiferroelectric develops at a critical cycling frequency, in agreement with the literature. The appearance of frequency-induced and electric field amplitude-induced kinetically stabilized phases is proposed and summarized in terms of frequency-stress and frequency-temperature response maps.
Measuring flavor changes with vapor sampling and gas liquid chromatographic analysis

A review of headspace gas chromatographic analysis including its use in qualitative and quantitative analysis, and some sources of errors and limitations of this method is presented. Special emphasis is given to combining headspace gas sampling with salting-out procedures to enrich vapors, steam distillation coupled with headspace gas chromatographic analysis, and subtractive techniques for identification.
High-Throughput Quantification of SH2 Domain–Phosphopeptide Interactions with Cellulose–Peptide Conjugate Microarrays

The Src Homology 2 (SH2) domain family primarily recognizes phosphorylated tyrosine (pY) containing peptide motifs. The relative affinity preferences among competing SH2 domains for phosphopeptide ligands define "specificity space," and underpins many functional pY mediated interactions within signaling networks. The degree of promiscuity exhibited and the dynamic range of affinities supported by individual domains or phosphopeptides is best resolved by a carefully executed and controlled quantitative high-throughput experiment. Here, I describe the fabrication and application of a cellulose-peptide conjugate microarray (CPCMA) platform to the quantitative analysis of SH2 domain specificity space. Included herein are instructions for optimal experimental design with special attention paid to common sources of systematic error, phosphopeptide SPOT synthesis, microarray fabrication, analyte titrations, data capture, and analysis.
A simple multi-class boosting framework with theoretical guarantees and empirical proficiency

There is a need for simple yet accurate white-box learning systems that train quickly and with lit- tle data. To this end, we showcase REBEL, a multi-class boosting method, and present a novel family of weak learners called localized similar- ities. Our framework provably minimizes the training error of any dataset at an exponential rate. We carry out experiments on a variety of synthetic and real datasets, demonstrating a con- sistent tendency to avoid overfitting. We eval- uate our method on MNIST and standard UCI datasets against other state-of-the-art methods, showing the empirical proficiency of our method.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Deception to the Eyesight

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare soft tissue tumors. Despite their rarity, these tumors are the most common gastrointestinal (GI) mesenchymal tumors. They can involve various parts of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs growth can be intramural, intraluminal or exophytic. Symptoms are usually related to GI bleeding and to adjacent organ compression by the tumor. Endoscopy can suggest the diagnosis, but tissue sampling is required for the diagnosis. Herein, we present a unique case of GIST where the patient had negative endoscopic findings despite the large size of the tumor, thus abdominal computed tomography scan and endoscopic ultrasound was required to make the diagnosis.
The risk for problematic opioid use in chronic pain: What can we learn from studies of pain and reward?

Problematic prescription opioid use is cited as a primary contributor to the current ‘opioid epidemic’ in the United States, which is characterized by recent rapid increases in individuals seeking treatment for opioid dependence and staggering rates of opioid overdose deaths. Individuals with chronic pain are commonly prescribed opioids to treat pain, and by this mere exposure are at increased risk for the development of problematic opioid use. However, the factors contributing to variation in risk across patients have only recently begun to be unraveled. In the present review, we describe the recent and expanding literature on interactions between pain and reward system function in an effort to inform our understanding of risk for problematic opioid use in chronic pain. To that end, we describe the limited experimental evidence regarding opioid abuse liability under conditions of pain, and offer suggestions for how to advance a research agenda that better informs clinicians about the factors contributing to opioid addiction risk in patients with chronic pain. We raise mechanistic hypotheses by highlighting the primary conclusions of several recent reviews on the neurobiology of pain and reward, with an emphasis on describing dopamine deficits in chronic pain, the role of the reward system in mediating the affective and motivational components of pain, and the role of opponent reward/anti-reward processes in the perpetuation of pain states and the development of problematic opioid use behaviors. Finally, we also argue that positive affect—which is directly regulated by the mesolimbic reward system—is a key pain inhibitory factor that, when deficient, may increase risk for problematic opioid use, and present a model that integrates the potential contributions of pain, reward system function, and positive affect to problematic opioid use risk.
Exploring students’ perceptions of service-learning experiences in an undergraduate web design course

ABSTRACTService-learning is an experiential learning experience where students learn and develop through active participation in community service to meet the needs of a community. This study explored student learning experiences in a service-learning group project and their perceptions of service-learning in an undergraduate web design course. The data showed that the service-learning project helped students learn the course material, feel more connected to the surrounding community, and improve their communication and problem-solving skills for their careers. The participants appreciated the opportunity to work with the service-learning partner and will be likely to look for more opportunities to get involved in the community. Time constraints, group work, working with real clients, and technical limitations were reported as major challenges in the group project.
Do Aesthetic Design Principles Predict Visual Appeal of a Simple Control Panel

Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between a product’s degree of usability and its degree of beauty. Both directions of causality have been demonstrated leading to “what is beautif...
Analysis of small-signal impedance of STATCOMs in D-Q frame

Small-signal models of impedances for grid-tied converters have recently attracting researchers' attention and shown of great importance in stability analysis. This paper proposes the impedance model in d-q frame for STATCOMs, including dynamics from synchronization, current and voltage loops and reveals the significant features compared to other types of grid-tied converters that the 1) grid impedance should be taken into account because of regulated point of common coupling voltage, 2) full impedance matrix due to nearly zero power factor and 3) flipped polarity of impedances at low frequency as a result of inversed direction of reactive power. All these characteristics render difficulty in applying stability criterion. The model was verified experimentally with a scaled-down STATCOM prototype.
Branch order regression for modeling brain vasculature.

Purpose Many biological objects, including neuronal dendrites, blood vasculature, airways, phylogenetic trees, produce tree structured data. Current methods of analysis either ignore the complex structure of trees or use distance-based methods which limit the scope of multivariate modeling. Methods We propose a branching process model which enables analysis of both the branching structure and associated properties. Our novel parametrization preserves an important aspect of tree structure, namely its branch order. The model is amenable to standard methods of analysis, like generalized linear/additive models. Results The model fit the distribution of the observed data quite well when applied to a collection of 98 brain artery systems. The estimated probability of branching decreases log linearly with branch order. Likewise, the average diameter of arteries decreases, while average length increases with branch order. Frontal arterial branches are on average longer and thinner than those in the back at equivalent branch orders. A mechanistic arterial branching model based on Poiseuille's blood flow law, which uses vessel length and diameter information, fit the observed branching structure significantly better. This model is further improved by including branch order, suggesting viscoelastic flow impacts branching in narrower vessels. Conclusion After adjustment for branch order, brain arterial branching probabilities decreased significantly with age and length, but increased with diameter. Arteries become thicker and branch less frequently with increasing age, but the age effect decreases with branch order.
Barriers to Providing Extended School Year Services to Students with Disabilities: An Exploratory Study of Special Education Directors.

The purpose of the current study was to examine barriers, if any, reported by special education directors to providing extended school year (ESY) services. Results indicate four barriers to providi...
Using the Social Vulnerability Index to Examine Local Disparities in Emergent and Elective Cholecystectomy

Abstract Background The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is a composite scale formulated by the Centers for Disease Control and is geocoded as a percentile ranking at the census tract level. SVI is potentially applicable to assess risk and target populations that are likely to present emergently for disease that could have been treated electively and target local disparities. We applied the SVI to compare cholecystectomy patients presenting emergently versus electively. Methods We identified patients who had undergone cholecystectomy at our academic medical center over a 6-month period. We abstracted patient demographics, chronic symptom duration, and diagnosis from the medical record. Patient addresses were geocoded to identify their census tract of residence and estimated SVI. Results Two hundred and fifty five patients met inclusion criteria. Most patients (n = 185, 72.5%) had surgery in the emergent setting. Emergent patients lived in areas of greater social vulnerability compared with elective patients (median SVI 75th versus 64th percentile, P 70th percentile) was associated with higher odds of undergoing an emergent versus an elective procedure (OR 2.05, P = 0.04). Conclusions The SVI has potential utility for examining health care disparities, performing comparably with a more complex model including individual risk factors. Because it is a composite measure geocoded at the census tract level for all communities in the United States, it has potential for targeting relatively discrete geographic areas for intervention. Being a geocoded measure also offers opportunity for linking with other data sets using geographic information systems.
An Exact Quantized Decentralized Gradient Descent Algorithm

We consider the problem of decentralized consensus optimization, where the sum of $n$ smooth and strongly convex functions are minimized over $n$ distributed agents that form a connected network. In particular, we consider the case that the communicated local decision variables among nodes are quantized in order to alleviate the communication bottleneck in distributed optimization. We propose the Quantized Decentralized Gradient Descent (QDGD) algorithm, in which nodes update their local decision variables by combining the quantized information received from their neighbors with their local information. We prove that under standard strong convexity and smoothness assumptions for the objective function, QDGD achieves a vanishing mean solution error under customary conditions for quantizers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first algorithm that achieves vanishing consensus error in the presence of quantization noise. Moreover, we provide simulation results that show tight agreement between our derived theoretical convergence rate and the numerical results.
Determination of Filter Media Zeta Potential

A method was devised to measure streaming currents developed when filtering tap water through a pilot rapid sand filter. From the streaming current data, the zeta potential of the filter media was calculated. The zeta potential value obtained is in line with other reported work. It is now possible to study what role the filter media surface potential plays in filtration.
Review of Probability Distributions for Modeling Count Data

Count data take on non-negative integer values and are challenging to properly analyze using standard linear-Gaussian methods such as linear regression and principal components analysis. Generalized linear models enable direct modeling of counts in a regression context using distributions such as the Poisson and negative binomial. When counts contain only relative information, multinomial or Dirichlet-multinomial models can be more appropriate. We review some of the fundamental connections between multinomial and count models from probability theory, providing detailed proofs. These relationships are useful for methods development in applications such as topic modeling of text data and genomics.
Neural Mechanisms of Itch

Itch is a unique sensation that helps organisms scratch away external threats; scratching itself induces an immune response that can contribute to more itchiness. Itch is induced chemically in the peripheral nervous system via a wide array of receptors. Given the superficial localization of itch neuron terminals, cells that dwell close to the skin contribute significantly to itch. Certain mechanical stimuli mediated by recently discovered circuits also contribute to the itch sensation. Ultimately, in the spinal cord, and likely in the brain, circuits that mediate touch, pain, and itch engage in cross modulation. Much of itch perception is still a mystery, but we present in this review the known ligands and receptors associated with itch. We also describe experiments and findings from investigations into the spinal and supraspinal circuitry responsible for the sensation of itch.
Current and Future Roles of Electrochemistry in Space

One needs only be a reasonably astute observer of Hollywood's depiction of space travel to assess that electrochemical systems play a critical role in space systems operation. Ron Howard's relatively accurate retelling of the Apollo 13 mission reminded his audience that the dramatic rupture of the spacecraft's second O2 tank impaired the electrical power system, which ran on three H2-O2 alkaline fuel cells that also provided water for the crew. Thankfully, the tank rupture only disabled two of the three fuel cells. The remaining fuel cell enabled a historic on-the-fly engineering response that relied on the remaining fuel cell and was worthy of a movie reminder one quarter of a century later.
Signal Sensing and Reconstruction Paradigms for a Novel Multi-Source Static Computed Tomography System

Conventional Computed Tomography (CT) systems use a single X-ray source and an arc of detectors mounted on a rotating gantry to acquire a set of projection data. Novel CT systems are now being pioneered in which a complete ring of distributed X-ray sources and detectors are electronically turned on and off, without any mechanical motion, to acquire a set of projections for tomographic reconstruction. This paper discusses new sensing and reconstruction paradigms enabled by this new CT architecture.
Intermediation frictions in equity markets

Stocks with similar characteristics but different levels of ownership by financial institutions have returns and risk premia that comove very differently with shocks to the risk bearing capacity of financial intermediaries. After accounting for observable stock characteristics, excess returns on more intermediated stocks have higher betas on contemporaneous shocks to intermediary willingness to take risk and are more predictable by state variables that proxy for intermediary health. The empirical evidence suggests that asset pricing models featuring financial intermediaries as marginal investors and frictions that induce changes in intermediary risk bearing capacity are useful in explaining price movements even in asset classes with comparatively low barriers to household participation.
The Role of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Non-Metastatic Goblet Cell Carcinoid of the Appendix: An 11-Year Experience from the National Cancer Database.

Goblet cell carcinoids (GCC) are an aggressive, albeit rare, subtype of appendiceal tumors that exhibit distinct histologic features and lack clear treatment guidelines. We aimed to ascertain the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for GCC in a national cohort of patients. Patients who underwent a right hemicolectomy for stage I–III GCC of the appendix between 2006 and 2016 were selected from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Stratification based on AC receipt was performed. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazard regression were used to identify predictors of overall survival (OS). A total of 867 patients were identified, of whom 124 (14%) received AC. Patients in the AC group were significantly younger (54 vs. 57 years; p = 0.006) and were predominantly of male sex (60 vs. 48%; p = 0.012). On histopathology, patients in the AC group had a higher proportion of poorly/undifferentiated grade (27 vs. 5%; p < 0.001), T4 disease (35 vs. 11%; p < 0.001), and lymph node-positive disease (45 vs. 7%; p < 0.001) than patients who did not receive AC. After excluding patients diagnosed in 2016 due to a lack of follow-up data (n = 162), a survival advantage for the AC group was detected only after stratification for lymph node-positive disease (p = 0.007). On Cox proportional hazard regression, AC demonstrated an independent association with improved OS (hazard ratio 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.084–0.683; p = 0.007). The current analysis from the NCDB supports the role of AC for GCC of the appendix, chiefly for patients with lymph node metastatic disease.
Fanny Hill, la pornografía y la novela sentimental: el eslabón faltante en la gesta de la novela inglesa dieciochesca

This article analyzes how the English novel Fanny Hill (1748) by John Cleland synthesizes the Cervantine idealism, characteristic of the English sentimental novel, with Spanish realism, stemming from female picaresque. By situating this novel in the making of the eighteenth-century English novel, especially in its dialogue with Samuel Richardson’s novels and the Cervantine legacy, I aim to demonstrate that Fanny Hill is a metafiction or a deeply complex and reflexive novel. When displaying narrative reflexivity, Cleland analyzes the mechanics of the narrative genre in general and, in particular, of the pornographic novel. The mechanisms that he puts into place are the constant reflections on the literary craft, on the linguistic register, and on his audience. Fanny, as the “narrator”, focuses on the savoir faire of the pornographic novel that, by being mechanical and repetitive, requires a mechanical and repetitive narrative. Finally, the article highlights the symbolic, literary, economic, and gendered agency embodied by Fanny vis-a-vis other female protagonists, such as Richardon’s Pamela and Clarissa. By focusing on its synthesis of idealism and realism, and emphasizing its reflexivity, I argue that Fanny Hill is a text to be withdrawn from the private cases of pornography and to be included in the eighteenth-century English canon.
Frequency selection in frequency domain diffuse optical spectroscopy

Frequency domain diffuse optical spectroscopy (FD-DOS) is a non-invasive technique used to determine the optical absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of biological tissue. Incident light is modulated at radio frequencies and the amplitude and phase shift induced by tissue are analyzed. Here, we evaluate different modulation frequency selection schemes using simulated data. We used noise-free data to evaluate the inverse model, and noisy data using instrument-specific noise models. We found that careful tuning of the inversion algorithm parameters is required to achieve good results and adding modulation frequencies can sometimes result in worse performance depending on the instrument.
Coupled resonance via localized surface plasmon polaritons in Iridium-based refractory metamaterials

Abstract Plasmonic metamaterials (MMs) have enabled their novel applications across numerous engineering fields ranging from photodetecting to bio-imaging, cancer diagnosis, and photovoltaics. However, as a vast majority of reported plasmonic MMs are based on materials with a relatively low melting point such as Au or Ag, their utilities are limited for lower-temperature applications. Thus, realizing plasmonic resonance based on refractory materials will further extend their applications to higher-temperature environments. In this work, we numerically report plasmonic MMs built with Ir and HfO2, which are well-known highly refractory materials. These plasmonic MMs resonate selectively based on the excitation of localized surface plasmon polaritons and magnetic resonances. The wavelength where resonance occurs can be modulated by changing the width of the top metal of the structure. Moreover, we find that the resonance wavelength and the top metal’s width are in a polynomial relationship over the wavelength range studied. Therefore, with the tunable properties, the refractory plasmonic MMs in this work present a potential to extend the utilities of plasmonic devices for higher-temperature applications.
The catastrophic misinterpretation of physiological distress

Abstract Cognitive theories of panic disorder suggest that the catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily sensations is the trigger for a panic attack. A challenge to cognitive theories is the suggestion that dyspnea (shortness of breath) is central to the development of panic and that negative cognitions are by-products of panic. To examine these seemingly contradictory theoretical perspectives, the present study investigated panic symptomatology in a sample of patients with chronic shortness of breath (i.e. pulmonary patients). Past studies have shown an increased prevalence of panic in pulmonary patients, a finding that may be useful in elucidating panic etiology. The current sample of pulmonary patients (N=28) confirmed previous reports of high prevalence rates of panic in this population. Based on self-report of panic symptomatology, a total of nine patients (32%) met DSM-IV criteria that were consistent with panic disorder. Multivariate comparison of participants with and without panic symptomatology revealed that panickers had significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression and agoraphobic cognitions. However, these groups showed no significant differences on physiological measures of pulmonary functioning. The authors conclude that dyspnea alone is inadequate in predicting panic development. High levels of panic symptomatology in pulmonary samples may reflect increased opportunities for these patients to misinterpret bodily sensations and, in particular, their pulmonary symptoms.
Meeting the Needs of the Gay and Lesbian Community

Abstract Gay and lesbian people experience many life circumstances differently as compared with those of their heterosexual counterparts. This premise extends to the seeking, accessing, and utilization of human services by members of the gay and lesbian community. A review of the empirical literature indicates that gay and lesbian consumers of mental and physical health services oftentimes encounter obstacles when seeking care, whether for themselves or their families, within human service organizations. Types of services represented include psychotherapy/counseling, addiction treatment, pediatric care, and gynecologic care. The authors conclude with social work implications, including recommendations for practice and policy, and future research.
Adequate expression for average particle size of microbiological aerosols.

Attention was called to the fact that mathematical expressions exist for relating the various means commonly employed to describe the average particle size of microbiological aerosols. These include the count median diameter (CMD), the mass median diameter (MMD), the petri ratio (Pa) size, and the settling rate (Vg) size. It was pointed out that the diameters derived from the Pa and Vg are mathematically identical to the average surface-diameter (SMD), because this average is determined from the square of the diameters, a relationship which also describes the settling of particles by the Stokes equation. The useful equations are: log SMD = log CMD + 2.3026 log2σg and log MMD = log CMD + 6.9078 log2σg where σg is the standard geometric deviation, and the CMD is determined on a count basis and the MMD on a weight basis. It was suggested that the SMD is the most adequate expression for the average particle size of microbiological aerosols.
DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SOILS FROM IN-SITU TESTS

Various field test (namely vibration tests on blocks or plates, steady-state vibration or Rayleigh wave tests, wave propagation tests, and cyclic load tests) were conducted at a number of sites in India to determine the dynamic shear modulus, G. Data obtained at different sites are described. The values of G obtained from the different tests at a given site vary widely. The rational approach for selecting the value of G from field tests for use in the analysis and design of soil-structure interaction problems under dynamic loads must account for the factors affecting G. The suggested approach, which provides a possible answer, is suitable in cohesionless soils below the water table where it is rather difficult, if not impossible, to obtain undisturbed samples.
CT demonstration of cavernous sinus fat.

CT demonstration of cavernous sinus fat deposits has been described as abnormal and potentially a specific sign of Cushing disease. CT scans of 100 patients without biochemical or clinical evidence of Cushing disease and of 10 patients with Cushing disease were studied retrospectively. Twenty-seven percent of the non-Cushing patients demonstrated fat in one or both cavernous sinuses. Forty percent of Cushing disease patients had detectable cavernous sinus fat. While fat deposits were more frequent in the Cushing disease group, this was not statistically significant (p = greater than .6). CT demonstration of cavernous sinus fat ordinarily should be regarded as a normal finding.
The New England Singing School: Ritual Change and Religious Culture in Revolutionary America

The New England singing school brought more than a new form of musical training to colonial and Revolutionary America. It also touched off a process of ritual change that permanently altered the religious culture of New England Congregationalism. The singing school first emerged in the early eighteenth century as a vehicle through which ministers asserted their cultic control over a restive laity. By mid-century, however, the emergence of itinerant lay singing masters had created a class of ritual specialists who challenged the traditional institutional authority of the clergy. The process of change intensified still further in the Revolutionary era as singing school scholars formed choirs who demanded special status as a lay community of ritual performers. By the end of the Revolution, the New England singing school had also changed the content of Congregationalist religious culture itself by providing a new ritual repertory of American musical settings for the sacred poetry of Isaac Watts that quickly replaced traditional Puritan psalmody.
Psychometric and Evidentiary Advances, Opportunities, and Challenges for Simulation-Based Assessment

This article characterizes the advances, opportunities, and challenges for psychometrics of simulation-based assessments through a lens that views assessment as evidentiary reasoning. Simulation-based tasks offer the prospect for student experiences that differ from traditional assessment. Such tasks may be used to support evidentiary arguments that differ considerably from those typical in assessment. These novel assessment arguments are richer or more nuanced than those commonly used in terms of the targeted inferences about students, the evidence that facilitates those inferences, and the tasks that allow for the collection of such evidence. Driving principles of assessment are reviewed, and their implications for specifying student, task, and evidence models for simulation-based assessments are described. Potential pitfalls in these and related aspects of the assessment development process are described. Strategies for solutions to some of the more imminent challenges to psychometrics for simulations ...
Masked Object Registration in the Fourier Domain

Registration is one of the most common tasks of image analysis and computer vision applications. The requirements of most registration algorithms include large capture range and fast computation so that the algorithms are robust to different scenarios and can be computed in a reasonable amount of time. For these purposes, registration in the Fourier domain using normalized cross-correlation is well suited and has been extensively studied in the literature. Another common requirement is masking, which is necessary for applications where certain regions of the image that would adversely affect the registration result should be ignored. To address these requirements, we have derived a mathematical model that describes an exact form for embedding the masking step fully into the Fourier domain so that all steps of translation registration can be computed efficiently using Fast Fourier Transforms. We provide algorithms and implementation details that demonstrate the correctness of our derivations. We also demonstrate how this masked FFT registration approach can be applied to improve the Fourier-Mellin algorithm that calculates translation, rotation, and scale in the Fourier domain. We demonstrate the computational efficiency, advantages, and correctness of our algorithm on a number of images from real-world applications. Our framework enables fast, global, parameter-free registration of images with masked regions.
Lives Stories Don’t Tell: Exploring the Untold in Autobiographies

Over the last 25 years, autobiography has gained increasing epistemological and methodological popularity and legitimacy in teacher education. Although this trend has opened up valuable new lines of inquiry, it has not been unproblematic. We have moved beyond the romantic, uncritical celebration of stories to the recognition of autobiographies as complex political texts that, when not open to inquiry and contextual analysis, can reinforce oppressive dominant ideologies. The teacher essay presented here, drawing on the growing field of self-study in teacher education, examines the role of particular social and political contexts in the production of autobiographies but also challenges teachers and teacher-educators to reflect on their roles in creating the contexts that affect autobiographical texts. The heart of the article is a narrative analysis of two specific incidents of self-censorship that occurred in teacher-education classrooms located in communities with undercurrents of anti-Semitism and homophobia. In exploring these instances of censorship, I question how censoring my sexual identity in an autobiography shared with my methods students may have been linked to one of my students censoring her Jewish identity in her autobiography. I argue that we can use our own experiences of self-censorship to question the kinds of pedagogical spaces we help create and sustain, an important issue in understanding how difference is denied or acknowledged in classroom spaces. Recommendations include: analyzing and critiquing the sociopolitical contexts in which classrooms are embedded (e.g., school and community); broadening the autobiographical frame to include more listening and attending to what students share outside of written texts; and recognizing silence not as a deficit of language but as a “counterlanguage” (Lewis, 1993) and as a “strategic suspension” (Hurtado, 1996) that can lead to political action.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms following stimulants.

Quatres lettres discutant de l'apparition de troubles obsessifs-compulsifs lors de traitement par les amphetamines, des reponses hormonales a l'ECT, de l'effet de la naloxone sur un sujet atteint de dyskinesie tardive et de l'effet de traitements par le lithium sur la permeabilite a l'eau des globules rouges
An electrophysiological correlate of conflict processing in an auditory spatial Stroop task: the effect of individual differences in navigational style.

Abstract Recent work has identified an event-related potential (ERP) component, the incongruency negativity (Ninc), which is sensitive to auditory Stroop conflict processing. Here, we investigated how this index of conflict processing is influenced by individual differences in cognitive style. There is evidence that individuals differ in the strategy they use to navigate through the environment; some use a predominantly verbal-egocentric strategy while others rely more heavily on a spatial-allocentric strategy. In addition, navigational strategy, assessed by a way-finding questionnaire, is predictive of performance on an auditory spatial Stroop task, in which either the semantic or spatial dimension of stimuli must be ignored. To explore the influence of individual differences in navigational style on conflict processing, participants took part in an auditory spatial Stroop task while the electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. Whereas behavioral performance only showed a main effect of congruency, we observed the predicted three-way interaction between congruency, task type and navigational style with respect to our physiological measure of Stroop conflict. Specifically, congruency-dependent modulation of the Ninc was observed only when participants performed their non-dominant task (e.g., verbal navigators attempting to ignore semantic information). These results confirm that the Ninc reliably indexes auditory Stroop conflict and extend previous results by demonstrating that the Ninc is predictably modulated by individual differences in cognitive style.
Solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance study of the similarities between milled wood lignin and cellulolytic enzyme lignin.

The structures of milled wood lignin (MWL) and cellulolytic enzyme lignin (CEL) have been analyzed using traditional chemical methods and solution-state NMR techniques. Comparisons of the results obtained reveal that subtle differences exist between the two lignin preparations. Thioacidolysis produced higher monomer yields from CEL than MWL, suggesting MWL has a more condensed structure. Quantitative 13C NMR determined the degree of condensation in MWL to be 0.43 unit per aromatic moiety as compared to 0.36 in CEL. The MWL also contained a lower amount of β-O-4‘ substructures per aromatic ring than CEL, 0.41 versus 0.47, respectively. Carbohydrate analysis revealed that the MWL may contain a higher proportion of middle lamella material as compared to the CEL. Because the middle lamella is considered to have a more condensed lignin structure, on the basis of the bulk polymerization theory, these results could explain the differences in β-O-4‘ and degree of condensation. Keywords: Lignin; lignin isolation; ...
Hydrodynamics of /sup 3/He-A with arbitrary textures

The general condition that determines the equilibrium textures of superfluid $^{3}\mathrm{He}$-$A$ incorporating the interdependence of ${\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{V}}}^{(s)}$, ${l}_{i}$, and ${\ensuremath{\partial}}_{i}{l}_{j}$, is derived. This condition is used to generalize Graham's hydrodynamics to allow for arbitrary equilibrium textures and steady-state flow. A new procedure is introduced to ensure that angular momentum is locally conserved; it is found to imply various relations between certain reaction coefficients.
An interactional sociolinguistic analysis of turn-taking in an interpreted event

This paper describes several features of turns in the turn-taking exchange of an interpreted meeting between a professor and a student. Analysis of the transcript of the videotaped meeting revealed 1) turns with smooth transitions, or regular turns, 2) turns with pauses and gaps, 3) turns that occur when speakers talk at the same time, and 4) turns initiated by the interpreter. Interviews with all three participants demonstrate that they interact in complex ways. Both speakers and the interpreter create unique kinds of pauses, lag, overlapping talk, and turns. This analysis demonstrates the active involvement of the interpreter in managing face-to-face interaction.
Rapid monitoring of transesterification and assessing biodiesel fuel quality by near‐infrared spectroscopy using a fiber‐optic probe

Vegetable oil esters, particularly methyl esters, are being explored and used as alternative diesel fuel (biodiesel). The transesterification reaction which yields the methyl esters can be monitored for completion by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy using a fiber-optic probe. Although the NIR method is less sensitive than gas chromatography (GC) for quantifying minor components, by correlation with existing GC or other analytical data, biodiesel fuel quality can be assessed through the NIR method. The NIR method is easier and faster to use than GC.
Disorder and the Optical-Absorption Edge of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon

The effect of thermal and structural disorder on the electronic structure of hydrogenated amorphous silicon is investigated by measurement of the shape of the optical absorption edge as a function of temperature and thermal evolution of hydrogen. The data are consistent with the idea that the thermal and structural disorder are additive, and suggest that the disorder, rather than the hydrogen content, is the fundamental determining factor in the optical band gap.
The amino acid sequences of jacalin and the Maclura pomifera agglutinin.

Amino acid sequences for the α-chains of the Moraceae lectins, jacalin and Maclura pomifera agglutinin, were determined by protein sequencing. Both are 133 residues long and contain several genetically variant positions; the overall homology is 85%. A possible site for the known glycopeptide ot jacalin was located. The α-chains have a conserved tryptophan residue that may be part of the binding-site.
High-resolution state-selective study of transfer with excitation in the F8++H2 system.

In a recent publication [M. Schulz et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 62, 1738 (1989)] experimental evidence for a new process two-electron transfer with excitation, was reported. In this paper we describe a higher-resolution version of the experiment, in which two-electron transfer with excitation was not observed.
Inhibition of deprivation-induced feeding by naloxone and cholecystokinin in rats: effects of central alloxan.

Abstract Central administration of alloxan reduces the hyperphagic, but not the hyperglycemic response to glucoprivation by presumably acting upon brain glucoreceptors or a glucoprivic control mechanism. The present study evaluated whether central alloxan pretreatment respectively altered the dose-dependent suppressant effects upon deprivation (24-hr)-induced feeding of naloxone (0.01–10 mg/kg, IP) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8: 1–8 μg/kg, IP) in rats. Central alloxan (200 μg, ICV) failed to alter body weight, free-feeding and deprivation-induced feeding. Both naloxone and CCK-8 produced significant dose-dependent inhibitions of deprivation-induced feeding in control rats. Central alloxan treatment significantly diminished peak naloxone hypophagia induced by 2.5 and 10 mg/kg doses, and CCK-8 hypophagia induced by the 1 and 4 μg/kg doses. Coadministration of 3 M D-glucose, which acts as a cytoprotectant against alloxan-induced diabetes, blocked the attenuating actions of alloxan upon naloxone and CCK-8 hypophagia. These data indicate the effectiveness of central alloxan in restricting the ability of pharmacological agents to either stimulate or inhibit food intake in rats without altering basal intake or body weight maintenance.
Altruism and the internal reward system or the opium of the people

Abstract A set of hypotheses is advanced to explain altruistic behavior in human societies. It is postulated (1) that all human beings have an internal reward system, which is activated by prior social conditioning, especially by conditioning in youth; and (2) that, where there has been prior conditioning or evolutionary preparation, the performance of altruistic acts activates the internal reward system, so that the performer is in fact rewarded. It is suggested that the mechanisms of the internal reward system include the release of mood-controlling substances in the brain, and perhaps elsewhere in the body, such as the opioid peptides.
Prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 in Western New York: A 3-year study

Abstract Background We evaluated the distribution of 25OH-D2 and 25OH-D3 in a general patient population in Western New York to provide insights into how common detectable vitamin D2 is among samples from a general patient population. Methods Serum 25OH-D2 and 25OH-D3 results measured by LC-MS/MS from June 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 266,269 serum tests were included for analysis. The percentage of tests with 25OH-D2 levels above the assay limit of quantitation (LoQ) decreased from 32% to 17% over the course of the study period. The percentage of tests with 25OH-D2 levels higher than those of 25OH-D3 decreased from 21% to 12%. Sixty-seven percent of the test results with 25OH-D2 levels above the LoQ had serum concentrations of 25OH-D2 higher than those of 25OH-D3. Conclusion Prevalence of tests with quantifiable 25OH-D2 decreased over time and yet 17% of them still had detectable levels of 25OH-D2, 67% of which had 25OH-D2 levels higher than 25OH-D3. To achieve accurate 25-hydroxyvitamin D measurement, clinical laboratories should assess the accuracy of their assays, and if necessary, determine the local prevalence of 25OH-D2 to determine if mass spectrometry is the platform of choice to assess vitamin D deficiency.
Cis-interacting genes in the s region of the murine major histocompatibility complex.

Insight into the control of gene expression may be gained by analysing genetic systems marked by both regulatory and structural variants. In such systems one can determine whether a regulatory element controls structural genes on both chromosomes or only on the chromosome to which it is linked. The latter may be detected in individuals heterozygous at both the regulatory and structural loci, in which case the effect of each regulatory allele is seen to be exerted only on the cis-located structural allele. In prokaryotic organisms, the identification of cis interaction of this sort has allowed elucidation of many features of genetic regulation, first for the lac operon1 and subsequently for a variety of other systems2. In higher organisms, however, there have been few opportunities to observe cis-interacting genes3–13. The most thoroughly characterized mammalian system in this regard is the murine β-glucuronidase locus described by Paigen and his colleagues14–16, in which cis interaction has been shown to occur between two closely linked genetic elements—the β-glucuronidase structural gene itself and an androgen-activated regulatory gene which controls the quantity of β-glucuronidase expressed. We report here that cis-interacting genetic elements are also found in the S region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex H–2.
Evidence that most human Alu sequences were inserted in a process that ceased about 30 million years ago

The primate Alu interspersed repeats can be subdivided into classes on the basis of shared nucleotides at a set of diagnostic positions. Each of the classes of Alu sequences is apparently the result of past retrotransposition of transcripts of highly conserved class-specific source genes that differed from each other at the diagnostic positions. The nucleotides at the majority of positions are identical among the source genes and therefore were identical among all of the Alu sequences at the time of their insertion. These CONSBI (conserved before insertion) positions are useful because the changes that have occurred after insertion are recognizable and the divergence resulting from nucleotide substitutions, insertions, and deletions is informative. The divergence of Alu sequences at the CONSBI positions is a measure of the time since a class was inserted. The greatest majority of Alu sequences are in one class (identified as class II), and it is particularly suitable for such examination, since nearly full-length sequences are now known for nearly a thousand members of this class. The average divergence of class II members indicates that the class has an average age of about 40 million years. The distribution in divergence of class II accurately fits a sum of two Poisson distributions. The implication is that class II Alu sequences were derived from two massive past events of insertion of many Alu sequences. In this model the younger subset of class II sequences (corresponding to about 300,000 copies in the genome) has an average divergence of 5% at CONSBI positions. The older set of class II sequences (corresponding to about 150,000 genomic copies) has a 9% average divergence. Based on the drift rate of primate DNA sequences, the events of insertion probably occurred 30-50 million years ago. The goodness of the fit to the Poisson distribution indicates that no significant number of members of class II have been inserted since 30 million years ago.