cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
No Blind Spots: Full-Surround Multi-Object Tracking for Autonomous Vehicles Using Cameras and LiDARs

Online multi-object tracking (MOT) is extremely important for high-level spatial reasoning and path planning for autonomous and highly-automated vehicles. In this paper, we present a modular framework for tracking multiple objects (vehicles), capable of accepting object proposals from different sensor modalities (vision and range) and a variable number of sensors, to produce continuous object tracks. This work is a generalization of the MDP framework for MOT proposed by Xiang et al. , with some key extensions - First, we track objects across multiple cameras and across different sensor modalities. This is done by fusing object proposals across sensors accurately and efficiently. Second, the objects of interest (targets) are tracked directly in the real world . This is a departure from traditional techniques where objects are simply tracked in the image plane. Doing so allows the tracks to be readily used by an autonomous agent for navigation and related tasks. To verify the effectiveness of our approach, we test it on real world highway data collected from a heavily sensorized testbed capable of capturing full-surround information. We demonstrate that our framework is well-suited to track objects through entire maneuvers around the ego-vehicle, some of which take more than a few minutes to complete. We also leverage the modularity of our approach by comparing the effects of including/excluding different sensors, changing the total number of sensors, and the quality of object proposals on the final tracking result.
A Generalized Version of ACE and Performance Analysis

This paper considers the problem of detecting a signal that belongs to an unknown one dimensional subspace of $\mathbb {C}^{N \times 1}$ in additive interference-plus-noise whose covariance matrix is unknown. The interference-plus-noise is assumed to be modeled as a complex multivariate zero-mean random vector whose covariance matrix ${\bf R}$ , is estimated from signal-free training vectors. The hypothesis test, labeled the generalized Adaptive Coherence Estimator (GACE) involves two test vectors, both of which contain the unknown signal. The test statistic reduces to the ACE test statistic as the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio of any one of the test vectors increases without limit. In the limit of large number of training samples the GACE test statistic reduces to the magnitude square of the inner-product of a signal vector in additive statistically independent white noise vectors. Analytical expressions for the probability of false alarm and the probability of detection of the GACE test are derived and the test is shown to have the constant false alarm rate (CFAR) property. Sample results to illustrate the performance of the detector are provided and compared with the performance of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) for the specific problem, along with results on the sequential application of the GLRT and GACE.
Vertigo: Why Doesn’t Scottie Recognize “Madeleine”?

Having recovered from a catatonic state occasioned by the shock of seeing a body fall from a church tower, Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart) notices a group of women approaching on a San Francisco sidewalk. One woman intrigues him (Kim Novak), but he does not recognize her as the same woman he has known as “Madeleine.” Since a viewer does recognize her, why doesn’t Scottie? Answering this question involves aspects of film acting discussed by James Naremore and the effect on spectators of what V.F. Perkins calls “a movie’s world.”
Screening and Intervention for Skin Cancer in the Galapagos.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the general dermatological needs and correlation of tentative skin cancer screening diagnoses with histopathological confirmation in the highly sun-exposed locals of the Galapagos Islands. METHODS An institutional review board-approved prospective study was performed at Blanca's House, a nonprofit surgical volunteer organization, free clinics in the Galapagos. After consent, a 40-item modified SPOTme-inspired questionnaire was completed. Partial or total body skin examinations were conducted by board-certified dermatologists. Board-certified plastic and general surgeons performed excisional biopsies on suspicious lesions. Individuals younger than 18 years, and non-Spanish or non-English speakers were excluded. RESULTS A total of 273 patients were included in the study, of which 202 reported skin concerns. Benign nevi (n = 76), seborrheic keratosis (n = 42), melasma (n = 19), actinic keratosis (n = 16), acne (n = 15), eczema (n = 13), fungal infections (n = 12), seborrheic dermatitis (n = 5), and psoriasis (n = 5) were most commonly identified.Twelve patients (4.4%) had presumptive skin cancer after screening. Six of 8 biopsies confirmed cancer (group 1), 2 declined a biopsy and 2 were unresectable. Seven basal cell carcinomas and one squamous cell carcinoma were excised with clear margins. A right lower eyelid melanoma was diagnosed and subsequently treated in the United States where invasive melanoma with a Breslow thickness of 0.3 mm was found.Compared with the noncancer group (group 2: n = 265), group 1 had significantly higher likelihood of reporting having seen a dermatologist (P = 0.02), taking any medications (P = 0.0001), having blonde or red hair (P = 0.01), having blue or green eyes (P < 0.0001), and having used indoor tanning equipment (P < 0.0001). Group 1 was also more likely to report 4 or more blistering sunburns (P = 0.08), which approached significance. When evaluated by a dermatologist, group 1 was significantly more likely to be classified as "high risk" for developing cancerous lesions (P < 0.0001) compared with group 2. CONCLUSIONS Skin concerns in the Galapagos included benign and malignant conditions. There is a need for dermatological care in this medically underserved population. This modified SPOTme-inspired skin cancer questionnaire, confirmed by histology, is a useful tool in identifying high-risk patients and detecting skin cancer in international communities that would have otherwise experienced delays in diagnosis or treatment.
The differential treatment of women during service recovery: How perceived social power affects consumers’ postfailure compensation

Abstract Female consumers often experience marketplace discrimination in service encounters. Researchers have examined women’s differential treatment in many settings, but they have yet to study how women are treated during service-recovery encounters. We found evidence that male providers discriminated against female consumers during the service-recovery process in three experiments. Specifically, male providers offered less compensation to female consumers who complained after a failure than to male consumers who experienced the same failure. Further, we found that perceptions of consumer social power may explain this effect. We offer suggestions for how firms can identify internal marketplace gender discrimination, as well as how they can prevent and treat this significant problem. We also suggest that managers create anticipatory protocols and scripts and engage employees in both bias and interpersonal accuracy training.
A Roadmap for Youth Thriving: A Commentary on the Arnold and Gagnon Vision for Positive Youth Development

Youth development researchers and practitioners have the common goal of understanding and enhancing the positive development of all young people. The work of Professors Mary Arnold and Ryan Gagnon on the 4-H Thriving Model provides a creative and richly theoretically and empirically informed vision for promoting positive youth development (PYD) through integrating youth development research and practice. Their vision is an exemplar of how theoretically predicated and cutting-edge developmental science and the enactment of youth programs can be mutually informative. Drawing on the theory, research, and ideas for program design encompassed within the Science of Learning and Development (SoLD) Alliance, which applies developmental scholarship that integrates research from multiple disciplines and underscores the malleability, agency, and specificity of mutually influential coactions between youth and their contexts, Professors Arnold and Gagnon illustrate the features of researchopractice integration that must be enacted for innovative progress in programs aimed at enhancing youth thriving. The compelling roadmap for promoting PYD through the integrations framed by the 4-H Thriving Model will advance youth development practice, developmental science theory and research and, most important, the lives of the diverse young people of our nation.
The Colorado River Delta and California's Central Valley are critical regions for many migrating North American landbirds

Migration is an important component of some species full annual cycle. California's Central Valley and the Colorado River Delta provide important riparian and wetland habitats for migrating waterbirds in the arid west of North America, but little is known about whether these locations are important at the population level to migrating landbirds. We used eBird Status and Trends abundance data to quantify the importance of the Central Valley and Colorado River Delta to landbirds by estimating the proportion of the breeding population of 112 species that use each site during migration. We found that ∼17 million landbirds use the Colorado River Delta in the spring and ∼14 million in the fall. Across 4 study regions in the Central Valley, up to ∼65 million landbirds migrate through in the spring and up to ∼48 million in the fall. In the spring and fall, respectively, up to 37 and up to 30 species had at least 1% of their continental population migrate through the study regions. We also quantified the spatial concentration of each species across latitudinal transects to determine the extent to which study regions were acting as migratory bottlenecks. Landbird abundances were spatially concentrated in study regions 29.4% of all migration weeks, indicating that each study region acts as a migratory bottleneck. This application of eBird data is a powerful approach to quantifying the importance of sites to migrating birds. Our results provide evidence of population-level importance of the Central Valley and Colorado River Delta for many migratory landbirds.LAY SUMMARYMigratory birds are declining throughout North America, and we must identify places birds need during migration so they can safely move between breeding and winter locations. The Colorado River Delta and the Central Valley are known as important landscapes for wildlife, but their importance to migrating landbirds is not well known. We used eBird data to measure the importance of the Colorado River Delta and California's Central Valley to birds that migrate through western North America. Many species have substantial portions of their populations that depend on these locations during migration. Conservation of the Colorado River Delta and Central Valley are important for the entire populations of many breeding landbird species of North America.
Artificial intelligence in stone disease

Purpose of review Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a machine, or computer, to simulate intelligent behavior. In medicine, the use of large datasets enables a computer to learn how to perform cognitive tasks, thereby facilitating medical decision-making. This review aims to describe advancements in AI in stone disease to improve diagnostic accuracy in determining stone composition, to predict outcomes of surgical procedures or watchful waiting and ultimately to optimize treatment choices for patients. Recent findings AI algorithms show high accuracy in different realms including stone detection and in the prediction of surgical outcomes. There are machine learning algorithms for outcomes after percutaneous nephrolithotomy, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, and for ureteral stone passage. Some of these algorithms show better predictive capabilities compared to existing scoring systems and nomograms. Summary The use of AI can facilitate the development of diagnostic and treatment algorithms in patients with stone disease. Although the generalizability and external validity of these algorithms remain uncertain, the development of highly accurate AI-based tools may enable the urologist to provide more customized patient care and superior outcomes.
Science fiction film

Science Fiction Film examines one of the most enduring and popular genres of Hollywood cinema, suggesting how the science fiction film reflects attitudes toward science, technology, and reason as they have evolved in American culture over the course of the twentieth century. J. P. Telotte provides a survey of science fiction film criticism, emphasizing humanist, psychological, ideological, feminist, and postmodern critiques. He also sketches a history of the genre, from its earliest literary manifestations to the present, while touching on and comparing it to pulp fiction, early television science fiction, and Japanese anime. Telotte offers in-depth readings of three key films: Robocop, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and THX 1138, each of which typifies a particular form of science fiction fantasy. Challenging the boundaries usually seen between high and low culture, literature and film, Science Fiction Film reasserts the central role of fantasy in popular films, even those concerned with reason, science, and technology.
Tensor Calculus and Formal Concepts

This chapter introduces tensor calculus using formal concepts which aid the better understanding of intelligence.
The Death of God and the Meaning of Life

What is the meaning of life? In today's secular, post-religious scientific world, this question has become a serious preoccupation. But it also has a long history: many major philosophers have thought deeply about it, as Julian Young so vividly illustrates in this thought-provoking second edition of The Death of God and the Meaning of Life. Three new chapters explore Soren Kierkegaard’s attempts to preserve a Christian answer to the question of the meaning of life, Karl Marx's attempt to translate this answer into naturalistic and atheistic terms, and Sigmund Freud’s deep pessimism about the possibility of any version of such an answer. Part 1 presents an historical overview of philosophers from Plato to Marx who have believed in a meaning of life, either in some supposed ‘other’ world or in the future of this world. Part 2 assesses what happened when the traditional structures that give life meaning began to erode. With nothing to take their place, these structures gave way to the threat of nihilism, to the appearance that life is meaningless. Young looks at the responses to this threat in chapters on Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Camus, Foucault and Derrida. Fully revised and updated throughout, this highly engaging exploration of fundamental issues will captivate anyone who’s ever asked themselves where life’s meaning (if there is one) really lies. It also makes a perfect historical introduction to philosophy, particularly to the continental tradition.
The Supreme Court and the Rule of Law: Indian Law Case Studies

This past August, while accepting the "Rule of Law" award from the American Bar Association, Justice Breyer proclaimed that our constitutional system "floats on a sea of public acceptance." At that time, Breyer's statements were meant to highlight his expectation that the Court will decide its cases following the "rule of law," and if not, that the American public would take to the streets to resolve their disputes. However, Breyer's statement, while demonstrative of his faith in the rule of law, does not always ring true. In fact, as I argue, the Supreme Court often decides its cases by ignoring, rather than following, the rule of law. This problem is particularly acute in the body of federal Indian law - which has cast a disastrous shadow on tribal interests. Tribes have lost about three-quarters of their cases before the Supreme Court since 1988. Yet, curiously, prior to 1988, tribal interests won slightly more than half of their cases. What changed? The result of this obfuscation, I show, is an unrelenting assault on tribal interests before the Court - and the rule of law more generally. Analyzing federal Indian law in this manner makes transparent the Court's frightening disrespect for the rule of law.
Cholesterol and Bile Acid Absorption During Bile Acid Therapy in Obese Subjects Undergoing Weight Reduction

One of the potential complications of bile acid therapy for gallstone disease is the promotion of intestinal absorption of cholesterol, thereby increasing the influx of cholesterol in body pools. To determine whether bile acid feeding is associated with an increased absorption of intestinal cholesterol, absorption measurements were made in 8 obese subjects given chenodeoxycholic acid (CCDA) or Bilron (750 mg/day). The bile acids were given in random order, separated by control periods, in patients undergoing weight reduction. Absorption of cholesterol (mass and percent) and of bile acids were determined by a technique of combined measurements of biliary lipid secretion and fecal steroid excretion. Our data showed that during treatment with either bile acid, a marked increase in pool size and hepatic secretion of bile acids occurred. However, despite an increased flux of bile acids through the intestinal tract, there was no significant increase in cholesterol absorption as compared to control periods. Absorption rates during administration of the two bile acids were approximately the same. Furthermore, plasma cholesterol concentrations were stable throughout both control and treatment periods. Bile acid absorption remained highly efficient (greater than 96%) during all periods, even with administration of exogenous bile acids.
The composition of octopus renal fluid

1. The urine of the octopus,Octopus hongkongensis (Hoyle), has been subjected to a qualitative analysis for 38 different elements. 2. Only 12 ions, namely, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, arsenate, bromide, chloride, fluoride, phosphate, and sulfate, were present in detectable amounts. 3. Quantitative measurements of these 12 ions were attempted, and the results were compared with sea water composition.
The Anatomy of Restaurant Reviews: an Exploratory Study

Abstract A content analysis of newspaper restaurant reviews from five U.S. cities was conducted. Descriptors critics used to describe their experiences were cataloged. The descriptors were then classified into eight categories based on theoretical constructs used in the restaurant customer evaluation literature. The constructs catalogued in this study were: (1) Quality of food and beverage (2) Quantity of food (3) Quality of service (4)Ambience and atmosphere (5) Menu variety (6) Price and value (7) Other customers (8) Professionalism. Critics' primarily focused their comments on Quality of food and Ambience and atmosphere. This is consistent with the importance customers report in criteria for dining out. Service and pricing were reflected in symbolized scales accompanying many reviews. When an exception occurred during the dining experience, the critic would discuss price, service, and other exceptions to their expectations. Both positive and negative exceptions were covered in reviews. Restaurants newl...
Looking at electronic resources librarians: Is there gender equity within this emerging specialty?

Purpose – The position of electronic resources librarian emerged as a specialty to deal with the management of digital resources, but little has been written about the librarians now working in this specialty. This article aims to review the history of gender inequity in libraries, outline salary issues in libraries, and attempt to define what an electronic resources librarian is, with systems librarians being used for comparison.Design/methodology/approach – Electronic resources librarians were surveyed for gender, salary, and other demographic information in an attempt to determine whether gender equity or gender stratification is occurring within their specialty.Findings – The majority of respondents work in the USA, but 20 percent worked around the world. Results appear to indicate that males are not being favored over females for employment in this library specialty. Experience and geographic location were found to be the only significant factors affecting salary.Research limitations/implications – F...
Quantum state synthesis of superconducting resonators

We present a theoretical analysis of different methods to synthesize entangled states of two superconducting resonators. These methods use experimentally demonstrated interactions of resonators with artificial atoms, and offer efficient routes to generate nonclassical states. We analyze the theoretical structure of these algorithms and their average performance for arbitrary states and for deterministically preparing NOON states. Using a new state synthesis algorithm, we show that NOON states can be prepared in a time linear in the desired photon number and without any state-selective interactions.
Multicultural Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom: Approaches, Strategies and Tools: Preschool–2nd Grade

In her recently published book Multicultural Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom: Approaches, Strategies and Tools: Preschool-2nd Grade, Mariana Souto-Manning discusses the fact that although...
Physical behavior of lipase substrates.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on some of the known orientations of lipid substrates at the oil or phospholipid water interface. Phospholipids have been known for 70 years to be interracial molecules. Most long-chain phospholipids have two acyl chains of 12 to 22 carbons and a highly hydrophilic headgroup anchored to one of the two primary carbons of the glycerol. These groups, such as phosphorylcholine, phosphorylethanolamine, phosphoryl serine, phosphoryl inositol, and phosphoryl glycerol, all lend a strong hydrophilic part to the phospholipid molecule that prevents it from being soluble in oil (hydrocarbon). The two hydrocarbon chains, however, partition strongly into oil. Because the solubility of phospholipids is virtually nil in both the aqueous and the oil phase, if only an aqueous phase is present then phospholipids will form their own surface by making bilayers or other related structures in which the chains of the lipid are segregated with each other and separated from the polar groups, and the polar groups interact with water.
Thermo-cross-linkable fullerene for long-term stability of photovoltaic devices

In this study, a highly soluble PCBM-based thermo-cross-linkable fullerene precursor has been synthesized for use in bulk heterojunction based organic solar cells. The cross-linking was achieved using a thermally activated benzocyclobutene (BCB) molecule. The thermo-crosslinking reaction is initiated at temperatures as low as 150 °C. Compared to PCBM, the cross-linked fullerene is highly insoluble and has a diffusional mobility in poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) that is an order of magnitude slower than PCBM. Its electron mobility is comparable to that of PCBM and organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices consisting of bulk heterojunction active layers with P3HT or PTB7 and this fullerene show very similar efficiencies. Devices prepared either with pure cross-linked fullerene or its mixture with PCBM as acceptors in OPVs have been shown to be highly stable to accelerated aging with little loss in device efficiency up to 48 hours of aging at 150 °C. This compares to a loss of 60% of initial efficiency in identically prepared devices when using PCBM as the acceptor. Optical microscopy and grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) shows that a probable cause for this excellent stability in the cross-linked fullerene containing BHJs is associated with a significant inhibition of formation of crystals of fullerene.
The Stanford GraphBase: A Platform for Combinatorial Computing

Part 1: overview - Words, Roget, Books, Econ, Games, Miles, Plane, Lisa, Raman, Gates, Rand, Basic, Save technicalities - representation of Graphs, Words, Roget, Books, Econ, Games, Miles, Plane installation and use - how to obtain the files, installing CWEB, installing the graphbase, makefile details, troubleshooting, running the demos, storage considerations, running your own programs how to read CWEB programs - programs of the Stanford GraphBase, ASSIGN_LISA, BOOK_COMPONENTS, ECON_ORDER, FOOTBALL, GB_BASIC, GB_BOOKS, GB_DIJK, GB_ECON, GB_FLIP, GB_GAMES, GB_GATES, GB_GRAPH, GB_IO, GB_LISA, GB_MILES, GB_PLANE, GB_RAMAN, GB_RAND, GB_ROGET, GB_SAVE, GB_SORT, GB_WORDS, GIRTH, LADDERS, MILES_SPAN, MULTIPLY, QUEEN, ROGET_COMPONENTS, TAKE_RISC, TEST_SAMPLE, WORD_COMPONENTS, index to all the programs. Appendices: error codes summary of function calls - generators, nongenerators example graph parameters - undirected graphs, directed graphs 300 five-letter words.
Lasting Monuments and Durable Institutions: Labor, Urbanism, and Statehood in Northern Vietnam and Beyond

Archaeological research on monumentality, early urbanism, and emergent statehood in Southeast Asia and Vietnam has grown dramatically in recent years, and our understanding of social evolution in Southeast Asia has moved beyond traditional models of Sinicization and Indianization. Although many researchers recognize the significance of the historic and classical states of the first and second millennia AD, the seeds of statehood and urbanism can be seen in a moated settlement pattern during the first millennium BC. The largest in this category of Iron Age settlements, the heavily fortified Co Loa site in Vietnam’s Red River Valley, is emblematic of a tradition of settlements marked by earthworks and moat systems. The scale and extent of Co Loa’s massive earthen rampart system, involving a complex construction enterprise, reflect planning and implementation by a highly centralized, multigenerational, and institutionalized authority. Dating to the last centuries BC, Co Loa represents one of the earlier ancient state-level societies in Vietnam and the wider Southeast Asian region. Ultimately, the durability of Co Loa’s institutions of power and governance is suggested by the nature of its rampart system and construction process, and a package of variables contributed to emergent complexity. In particular, the presence of a monumental system of defensive works, combined with other archaeological markers for intraregional competition and violence, underscores the potential role of warfare and physical coercion in the course of political centralization.
Modeling of Drillstrings

In this paper we show how a drillstring can be modeled in terms of limited numbers of masses and springs for the purpose of building a test rig. The model should represent the drillstring dynamics to a reasonable degree of accuracy. We will use the real component of the Frequency Response Function and the stability diagram as measures of dynamic similarity between the model and drillstring. We will also show how the chosen modes can be decoupled and used in obtaining the bit displacement. The decoupled modes will be used in a proposed test rig configuration that would increase flexibility in adding or removing modes from the system. Obtaining a representative model of the test rig is critical to our ability to extrapolate laboratory data into field applications.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Contraception services for incarcerated women: a national survey of correctional health providers.

Abstract Background Incarcerated women have had limited access to health care prior to their arrest. Although their incarceration presents an opportunity to provide them with health care, their reproductive health needs have been overlooked. Study Design We performed a cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of 950 correctional health providers who are members of the Academy of Correctional Health Providers. Results A total of 405 surveys (43%) were returned, and 286 (30%) were eligible for analysis. Most ineligible surveys were from clinicians at male-only facilities. Of eligible respondents, 70% reported some degree of contraception counseling for women at their facilities. Only 11% provided routine counseling prior to release. Seventy percent said that their institution had no formal policy on contraception. Thirty-eight percent of clinicians provided birth control methods at their facilities. Although the most frequently counseled and prescribed method was oral contraceptive pills, only 50% of providers rated their oral contraceptive counseling ability as good or very good. Contraception counseling was associated with working at a juvenile facility, and with screening for sexually transmitted infections. Conclusions Contraception does not appear to be integrated into the routine delivery of clinical services to incarcerated women. Because the correctional health care system can provide important clinical and public health interventions to traditionally marginalized populations, services for incarcerated women should include access to contraception.
Stability Of Multilayers At High Temperatures

The temperature stability of metal (W, WRe, Co, Cr)-carbon multilayers has been studied using X-ray diffraction (θ-2θ and Debye-Scherrer) and electron microscopy. The results show that in all cases a crystallization occurs in the temperature range 650-750°C. As a consequence of this crystallization, the layered structure is destroyed, the surface of the film becomes rough and the X-ray reflectivity is considerably reduced. These results imply that efficient cooling or new multilayer structures will have to be developed for use at high temperatures or under high X-ray incident flux.
Decision trees for error concealment in video decoding

When macro-blocks are lost in a video decoder such as MPEG-2, the decoder can try to conceal the error by estimating or interpolating the missing area. Many different methods for this type of post-processing concealment have been proposed, operating in the spatial, frequency, or temporal domains, or some hybrid combination of them. In this paper, we show how the use of a decision tree that can adaptively choose among several different error concealment methods can outperform each single method. We also propose two promising new methods for temporal error concealment.
Comparison of structural theories for graphite intercalation compounds.

Alkali liquids intercalated in graphite are subject to a strong periodic host potential. We compare here two theories for the modulation induced in the alkali density that result in different approximations for higher-order correlations, with computer simulations and experimental data. We show these two theories-one based on a cumulant expansion, the other on an angular truncation of the Lovet-Mou-Buff equation-agree analytically in the limit of weak host potential and are numerically similar at high temperatures for a realistic potential
Spatial Patterns of Immigrant Assimilation

This research compares the contemporary areal patterning of cultural and economic assimilation with patterns expected from a model of urban spatial assimilation described by Massey and modified by us. Using 1990 census data (PUMS) for 12 immigrant groups in the greater Los Angeles area, we locate the ethnic concentrations of each group and identify two additional zones based on distance from the concentration. The zones represent varying degrees of spatial assimilation. This method allows us to compare the distribution of immigrant cohorts over time and the degree of cultural and economic assimilation of residents of the different zones. Our findings confirm most geographical aspects of the modified model. Zonal differentiation occurs in the expected direction and is statistically significant although not strong for most groups. More recently arrived immigrant groups and those with higher incomes tend to show greater differences in assimilation between zones.
Extensive advanced maturation of medulloblastoma to astrocytoma and ependymoma

Four cases of medulloblastoma in children are reported in which a marked degree of differentiation towards neoplastic adult glioma cells was observed. The original immature and highly malignant tissue had largely disappeared in three and completely disappeared in the fourth. The mature tissues which replaced them included astrocytoma tissues in all four, but ependymoma tissues predominated in two. These cases illustrate a general principle applicable to embryonic tumors, defined as those originating in cells that are still immature. Such maturation and differentiation are presumably associated with a decrease in growth rate and an improved prognosis. A continuation of the process of maturation may account for the unexpectedly favorable course sometimes noted with gliomas in children. The processes of differentiation, dedifferentiation, and anaplasia are discussed, particularly the semantic implications of the terms, and it is suggested that the term "dedifferention" is unfortunate since it may have two different meanings. It may be used as a synonym of anaplasia, or it may imply a progression of change backward on the embryologic pathways along which primitive cells normally mature. The latter may not occur, but the assumption that it does leads to views concerning the glioma group as a whole and the phenomena described in this paper, which we hold to be untentable.
Crowdsourcing the acquisition of natural language corpora: Methods and observations

We study the opportunity for using crowdsourcing methods to acquire language corpora for use in natural language processing systems. Specifically, we empirically investigate three methods for eliciting natural language sentences that correspond to a given semantic form. The methods convey frame semantics to crowd workers by means of sentences, scenarios, and list-based descriptions. We discuss various performance measures of the crowdsourcing process, and analyze the semantic correctness, naturalness, and biases of the collected language. We highlight research challenges and directions in applying these methods to acquire corpora for natural language processing applications.
Genetic exchange between kingdoms.

Bacterial conjugation with two evolutionarily divergent yeasts has been observed in the laboratory. Whether such trans-kingdom conjugation events, other than the well known Agrobacterium —plant cell interaction, actually occur in nature is not known. However, a few putative events have recently been uncovered by gene (or protein) sequence analysis, suggesting that horizontal gene transfer between phylogenetic kingdoms may be a real phenomenon.
A practical approach to detect unique metabolic patterns for personalized medicine

Information-rich technologies have advanced personalized medicine, yet obstacles limit measurement of large numbers of chemicals in human samples. Current laboratory tests measure hundreds of chemicals based upon existing knowledge of exposures, metabolism and disease mechanisms. Practical issues of cost and throughput preclude measurement of thousands of chemicals. Additionally, individuals are genetically diverse and have different exposures and response characteristics; some have disease mechanisms that have not yet been elucidated. Consequently, methods are needed to detect unique metabolic characteristics without presumption of known pathways, exposures or disease mechanisms, i.e., using a top-down approach. In this report, we describe profiling of human plasma with liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FTMS). FTMS is a high-resolution mass spectrometer providing mass accuracy and resolution to discriminate thousands of m/z features, which are peaks defined by m/z, retention time and intensity. We demonstrate that LC-FTMS detects 2000 m/z features in 10 min. These features include known and unidentified chemicals with m/z between 85 and 850, most with <10% coefficient of variation. Comparison of metabolic profiles for 4 healthy individuals showed that 62% of the m/z features were common while 10% were unique and 770 discriminated the individuals. Because the simple one-step extraction and automated analysis is rapid and cost-effective, the approach is practical for personalized medicine. This provides a basis to rapidly characterize novel metabolic patterns which can be linked to genetics, environment and/or lifestyle.
Restoring lost samples from an oversampled band-limited signal

When a band-limited signal is sampled at its Nyquist rate, each sample is independent. When sampled in excess of that rate, the samples become dependent. Thus, if one or more samples are lost, they can be recovered from the remaining known values. Using Gerchberg's iterative algorithm applied to interpolation, we derive a closed form expression by which a finite number of data points can be regained from the remaining data in a uniformly oversampled signal. A second restoration algorithm-based on an observation due to Howard-is also presented.
Transfer of air through adsorbed surface films as a factor in foam stability

Abstract A simple floating bubble method for determining the permeability of adsorbed surface films to air is described. Data are presented for a selected group of pure detergents and detergent mixtures, and factors affecting the interpretation of the data in terms of foam stability are discussed. High foam stability depends on the adsorbed surface film having low permeability to air and high surface viscosity, and both of these effects may be the result of special solute pairs. Measurements of permeability and of surface viscosity provide valuable information regarding interreactions in adsorbed monolayers and in turn indicate the possibility of relating foam stability in a fundamental way to the chemical structure and composition of the detergent.
NGOs and Democratization in Transitional Societies: Lessons from Uganda

The failure of the state and the prominence of neo-liberalism as defined by economic and political liberalization have led to the euphoric embrace of non-governmental organization as the panacea for underdevelopment and authoritarianism in the 1990s. But, is this embrace of NGOs just another perpetuation of the “fadism” that has tended to dominant development studies? Can NGOs live up to the theoretical expectations? This article based on case study evidence from Uganda, attempts to bridge the gap between theory and reality by offering a realistic assessment of NGOs' capabilities in the context of democratization in transitional societies.
Regulation of the ovarian reserve by members of the transforming growth factor beta family

Genetic or environmental factors that affect the endowment of oocytes, their assembly into primordial follicles, or their subsequent entry into the growing follicle pool can disrupt reproductive function and may underlie disorders such as primary ovarian insufficiency. Mouse models have been instrumental in identifying genes important in ovarian development, and a number of genes now associated with ovarian dysfunction in women were first identified as causing reproductive defects in knockout mice. The transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) family consists of developmentally important growth factors that include the TGFBs, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), activins, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and growth and differentiation factor 9 (GDF9). The ovarian primordial follicle pool is the source of oocytes in adults. Development of this pool can be grossly divided into three key processes: (1) establishment of oocytes during embryogenesis followed by (2) assembly and (3) activation of the primordial follicle. Disruptions in any of these processes may cause reproductive dysfunction. Most members of the TGFB family show pivotal roles in each of these areas. Understanding the phenotypes of various mouse models for this protein family will be directly relevant to understanding how disruptions in TGFB family signaling result in reproductive diseases in women and will present new areas for development of tailored diagnostics and interventions for infertility.
CT diagnosis of perihepatic endometriosis complicated by malignant transformation

Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue becomes implanted on extrauterine sites, most commonly within the pelvis. Malignant transformation of endometriotic foci is rare, but has been frequently reported. We describe a patient with a CT scan demonstrating pathologically proven perihepatic endometriosis, including malignant transformation. Endometrioses should be considered in the differential diagnosis of perihepatic masses.
Electromagnetic Power Deposition in Prolate Spheroid Models of Man and Animals at Resonance

The Extended Boundary Condition Method is used to calculate resonance region power deposition in prolate spheroid models of animals and man. The mathematical models consist of homogeneous distributions of muscle tissue, although in the case of the man model calculations, a model consisting of homogenized muscle, fat, and bone is also considered. Calculations are made for bodies isolated in free space and irradiated by a plane wave. Resonant frequencies and power absorption characteristics are predicted for man and a number of commonly used experimental animals. The results given here will be useful in providing a theoretical basis for the interpretation of experimental results and in extrapolating experimentally derived animal results to man's body configuration.
Ethical problems in archival research: Beyond accessibility

While working on a project to prepare archived Mvskoke language materials for public access, the author encountered narratives that members of the speech community consider to be dangerous for some audiences. This paper demonstrates that this response would be mitigated if rich ethnographic information about these texts was available. The author suggests that present-day collectors of linguistic material should include ethnographic information relating to their corpora as part of an ethical consideration for future users.
Extension of Free-Electron Lasers into the Extreme Ultraviolet

Encouraged by experimental operation of free-electron lasers in the visible to far-infrared, several research centers are now designing and/or building devices to extend into the vacuum-ultraviolet and soft x-ray regions below 100 nm, collectively referred to as the extreme ultraviolet. Here, the peak- and average-power output of FEL oscillators and amplifiers should surpass the capabilities of any existing, continuously tunable photon sources by many orders of magnitude. These devices are certain to greatly enhance the future research capabilities of a number of scientific disciplines and industrial applications beyond those possible with synchrotron light sources. We review the features and output parameters of several of these active or proposed programs and the technological challenges that must be met to guarantee their success.
Cortical circumferential profile of SPECT cerebral perfusion in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract We developed a semiautomatic method termed "cortical circumferential profiling" for objective analysis of cerebral cortex function in emission tomographic neuroimaging studies. This method treats cortex as a continuous ring near the outer brain edge. A computer algorithm samples the cortex at 60 contiguous, equiangular locations, using 1-cm 2 samples. These values are plotted as a function of cortical angle to produce the cortical circumferential profile. This method was used in a study of regional cerebral perfusion in 15 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 8 elderly control subjects using N -isopropyl [I-123]-iodoamphetamine. Cortical circumferential profiling decreases variability, examines the entire cortex within slices at preselected levels above the orbital-meatal line, and facilitates intrasubject and intersubject comparisons.
LP methods in MPC of large‐scale systems: Application to paper‐machine CD control

An application of a linear-programming based model-predictive control strategy to the paper-machine cross-direction (CD) control problem is presented. The objective of CD control is to maintain flat profiles of variables of interest by minimizing worst-case deviations from setpoints (defects). These control problems can have as many as 200 actuatiors (inputs) and 400 sensor measurements (outputs). This large size coupled with the stringent real-time requiremnt of computing a control move in a few seconds poses a very challenging control problem. The LP-based strategy is particularly well suited for solving such classes of control problems. This strategy has demonstrated its ability to solve large-scale control problems (over 100 inputs and 100 outputs) in real time and exhibits robustness to model uncertainty.
Programming robot systems with knowledge

Abstract In this paper we describe the framework of an object-oriented knowledge base to facilitate automatic robot programming. In this framework, we take the object data model as the basis for knowledge representation, and utilize the knowledge in transforming high-level task descriptions to robot programs. In contrast to most current approaches, which are heuristic in nature, we show that robot assembly problems can be regarded as a subclass of the general planning problem and can be synthesized in a non-ad hoc way.
Dead Zones in LX-17 and PBX 9502

Pin and X-ray corner turning data have been taken on ambient LX-17 and PBX 9052, and the results are listed in tables as an aid to future modeling. The results have been modeled at 4 zones/mm with a reactive flow approach that varies the burn rate as a function of pressure. A single rate format is used to simulate failure and detonation in different pressure regimes. A pressure cut-off must also be reached to initiate the burn. Corner turning and failure are modeled using an intermediate pressure rate region, and detonation occurs at high pressure. The TATB booster is also modeled using reactive flow, and X-ray tomography is used to partition the ram-pressed hemisphere into five different density regions. The model reasonably fits the bare corner turning experiment but predicts a smaller dead zone with steel confinement, in contradiction with experiment. The same model also calculates the confined and unconfined cylinder detonation velocities and predicts the failure of the unconfined cylinder at 3.75 mm radius. The PBX 9502 shows a smaller dead zone than LX-17. An old experiment that showed a large apparent dead zone in Composition B was repeated with X-ray transmission and no dead zone was seen. This confirms the idea that a variable burn rate is the key to modeling. The model also produces initiation delays, which are shorter than those found in time-to-detonation.
Mushroom stem cells

Contrary to the rarity of totipotent cells in animals, almost every cell formed by a fungus can function as a "stem cell". The multicellular fruiting bodies of basidiomycete fungi consist of the same kind of filamentous hyphae that form the feeding phase, or mycelium, of the organism, and visible cellular differentiation is almost nonexistent. Mushroom primordia develop from masses of converging hyphae, and the stipe (or stem), cap, and gills are clearly demarcated within the embryonic fruiting body long before the organ expands and unfolds through water uptake and cell wall loosening. Though frequent references are made to gilled mushrooms in this article, the totipotent nature of fruiting body cells and lack of meristems is also applicable to basidiomycetes that spread their spore-producing tissues inside tubes (e.g., boletes), over spines and rippled surfaces, or form spores in cavities within the fruiting body. Even in the mature mushroom, every hypha retains its totipotency. Among animals, only sponges exhibit a similar degree of developmental flexibility, which is interesting, because these simple metazoans may be relatively close relatives of fungi.