cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Digital image reasoning for tracking excavation activities

Abstract Efficient and safe construction of underground space is a key aspect in the development of infrastructure within densely populated urban environments. Construction processes are usually adjusted, based on information collected from field monitoring, to control induced ground movements such that the impact on nearby structures and utilities is minimized. An important component of field monitoring includes the development of a detailed timeline record of various construction activities especially soil removal. This paper explores the use of two image based techniques – Close-Range Photogrammetry and Image Reasoning – to perform semi-automated tracking of excavation activities. A new image reasoning algorithm, enhanced pattern detection and comparison (EPDC), is introduced to quickly identify changes in poor contrast excavation surfaces. EPDC is illustrated using laboratory and field trials. The proposed image reasoning algorithm paves the way for new uses of large numbers of digital camera and webcam images now available at many construction sites to acquire detailed construction staging information.
Protection imperfect: the security of some computing environments

Il a ete observe que des systemes d'exploitation tres conviviaux ne peuvent pas assurer une securite complete. L'objectif de ce rapport est d'appuyer cette affirmation et, simultanement, de demontrer la necessite de developper des mesures de protection contre les degâts causes par des attaques portees a ces systemes
Patterns of leucine incorporation in the spermathecal accessory glands of the post-ecdysial adult female Tenebrio molitor

Abstract The spermathecal accessory glands of female mealworm beetles become fully active by six days after pupal-adult ecdysis. Coincident with the morphological maturation, increases occur in protein and RNA content and in total leucine incorporation. Three classes of differentiation-specific proteins are increasingly prominent and show heightened rates of leucine incorporation by the sixth day.
Use of High Energy Photons Does Not Compromise Pathologic Response Rate in Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose/Objective: Most cooperative group trials involving radiation for lung cancer require treatment of the primary tumor with photon energies 6MV. When treating tumors of the lung with higher energy photons most planning systems are unable to accurately determine the contribution of scatter at the interface of the low density lung and the higher density tumor, potentially leading to decreased target coverage and poorer local control. At The University of Maryland our standard approach has involved the use of higher energy photons ( 15MV) in the neoadjuvant setting because the better dose homogeneity obtained decreases hot spots in the surgical bed potentially leading to decreased postoperative mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study is to examine the pathologic complete response rate of primary tumors in patients with stage IIB-IIIB NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiation at our institution to determine if our use of high energy photons has led to a lower than expected complete response rates. Published cooperative group trimodality experiences have reported complete response rates of 18–21%.
Pleural Flap Closure of Pericardial Defects Following Intrapericardial Pneumonectomy

Persistent pericardial defects following intrapericardial pneumonectomy are, historically, the major cause of iatrogenic cardiac herniation. This complication is uniformly fatal when unrecognized and untreated and has been associated with a 43% mortality even with surgical correction. Suture approximation of all small defects is recommended, and a technique for routine pleural flap closure of moderate to large-sized defects is described.
SU-E-T-144: A Novel Phantom for Verifying Patient Orientation Integrity in Radiation Oncology Treatment Planning

Purpose: The American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 53 Report (TG53) describes an extensive list of quality assurance tests for treatment planning systems. One important task described is patient positioning and immobilization. Methods: The DOVe phantom (Integrated Medical Technologies, Troy, NY) is designed to provide verification of patient orientation. This phantom has dimensions of 25.8 cm by 25.8 cm by 4.5 cm, with a uniform density of negative 315 HU. On one side, there is an engraved head (including nose); on the opposing side, are two engraved feet. Each face includes twelve labels in orientations readable only in the corresponding clinical setup: head/feet first and supine/prone/left/right. In order to verify patient orientation, the DOVe was scanned on a Philips Brilliance Big Bore CT simulator in all combinations of head/feet first and supine/prone/left/right. Simultaneously, isocenter transfer and physical/TPS distance agreement (other TG53 tests) were verified by placing two metal BBs separated by 2.4 cm upon the face of the phantom as isocenter. After transfer to the TPSs, patient orientation, the isocenter location, and separation distance were verified. Results: All clinical setup orientations matched between visual inspection, Philips CT software, Eclipse, and Pinnacle. The HU values of the material were within 10 HU range across the entire volume. The isocenter placements were within 1 mm for all orientations. The agreement between physical/TPS distances was within 1 mm for isocenter BBs as well as phantom dimensions. Conclusion: The DOVe phantom is a novel and useful tool for physicists. While primarily designed to provide a visual confirmation of patient orientation, this phantom is also conducive to performing other TG53 TPS QA tests. These tests include: HU value, physical/TPS distance agreement, and accuracy of isocenter transfer. This project was supported by Integrated Medical Technologies.
Collapse of TA-Calmodulin (TACaM) upon Binding to Ca2+ Pump Peptide C28 Exposes the TA Moiety to Water and Quenches Its Fluorescence

CaM labeled with a fluorescent triazinylaniline (TA) derivative at Lys-75 shows 2 species upon binding to PMCA or to the CaM-binding peptide from PMCA (C28). The 1st, transient, species is slightly more fluorescent than the free CaM, while the 2nd, stable, species is much less fluorescent. The 1st species can also be emulated in a stable form by binding TA-CaM to a shorter peptide, C20. The fluorescence of TA derivatives is quenched and red-shifted by polarizable solvents such as water. TANMe2 has an emission maximum of 391 nm in a non-polar solvent (toluene), which is red-shifted to 419 nm in ethanol (permittivity = 24.5). The emission maxima of TACaM-C20 and TACaM-C28 are 409 nm and 421 nm respectively. Using the Lippert equation, we find that the effective permittivity that TA sees in TACaM-C20 is about 5 and in TACaM-C28 is about 30. Structures of TACaM-C20 (based on 1CFF) and TACaM-C28 (based on our new NMR data on CaM-C28) were made. The C20 complex has the TA residue surrounded by the extended CaM molecule, in an environment containing relatively little water. In the C28 complex the CaM molecule is collapsed. The surroundings of the TA residue are calculated from these molecular structures of hydrated TA-CaM, and the results are comparable with the experimental fluorescence data. (Supported by grants TW06837 and NS51769 from the NIH)
Allosteric Modulation of β2-Adrenergic Receptor by Zn2+

Zn 2+ is abundant in the brain, where it plays a role in the function of a number of enzymes, structural proteins, and transcription factors. Zn 2+ is also found in synaptic vesicles and is released into synapses achieving concentrations in the range of 100 to 300 μM [ Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1997; 94: 13386–13387; Mol Pharmacol 1997; 51: 1015–1023]. Therefore, Zn 2+ may play a physiological role in regulating the function of postsynaptic channels and receptors. We characterized the effect of Zn 2+ on the functional properties of the β 2 -adrenergic receptor (β 2 AR). We found that physiological concentrations of Zn 2+ increased agonist affinity and enhanced cAMP accumulation stimulated by submaximal concentrations of the βAR agonist isoproterenol. These results provide evidence that Zn 2+ released at nerve terminals may modulate signals generated by the β 2 AR in vivo.
Herbicide-impregnated mulches for weed control in container nursery stock

Abstract Isopropyl-m-chlorocarbanilate (chlorpropham), chlorpropham plus p-chlorophenyl-N-methylcarbamate (PPG-124), S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC), N,N-dimethyl-2,2-diphenylacetamide (diphenamid) and 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil) were evaluated for plant tolerance and weed control when incorporated on milled pine bark mulch and applied at a depth of 1.27 cm to five species of container-grown nursery stock. During two seasons, all impregnated mulches except EPTC at 5.6 kg/ha and diphenamid at 5.6 kg/ha provided adequate long-season broadleaf weed control. Similarly, long-season grass weed control was acceptable with all herbicide-impregnated mulches except chlorpropham at 2.2 kg/ha, chlorpropham plus PPG-124 at 2.2 plus 0.4 kg/ha and diphenamid at 5.6 kg/ha. Plant injury appeared on all five species of nursery stock when dichlobenil was impregnated on pine bark mulch at a rate of 13.4 kg/ha.
The vertical distribution of chlorophyll

The vertical distribution of chlorophyll in the sea generally shows a maximum concentration at a depth which may vary from at or just below the surface, to near or below the bottom of the euphoric zone. The easiest distributions to explain are those where the maximum chlorophyll concentration is at or very near the surface. These are found when a population is photosynthesizing actively during the first stages of an outburst, and the distribution corresponds roughly with the change with depth of the photosynthetic rate (Steele, 1957). However, these form a small proportion of observations, probably because outbursts are usually restricted to comparatively short periods of time. The more usual distributions show a maximum in the chlorophyll concentrations well below the surface and below the depth of maximum photosynthesis.
Suppressed recovery of plant community composition and biodiversity on dredged fill of a hurricane-induced inlet through a barrier island

In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel created an inlet over 500 m wide and 10 m deep that connected the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound. This breach was subsequently filled with sediments dredged from the adjacent sound. The purpose of this study was to determine if the barrier island terrestrial plant communities were naturally re-establishing through primary succession. In 2006–2008, we compared plant communities, soil carbon and nitrogen, and Aeolian transport of sediments in undisturbed back-dunes, undisturbed shrub thickets, putative back-dunes, and putative shrub thickets. We found that species richness and evenness were low on the filled area relative to adjacent plant communities that had persisted through the storm. Plants on the filled area were almost entirely limited to a band of primarily Spartina patens found at the margin of the sound and there were no signs of establishing the typical zonation of back dune grasses, shrubs, and salt marsh. Evaluation of soil quality suggests that nutrients and organic material are not limiting recovery. Aeolian transport, however, was demonstrably higher across the filled area, where no dense stands of taller plants buffered the airflow. Plant re-establishment is suppressed by wind erosion inhibiting deposition of seeds. Recovery of the site will likely depend on the rhizomatous spread of S. patens from the sound shore. S. patens can then potentially facilitate the colonization of other species by buffering the wind and trapping seeds of other plants. Ironically, this slow recovery may benefit federally threatened bird species that require sparse vegetation for nesting success.
NASA Mars Project: Evolution of climate and atmosphere

The scientific highlights of the Mars: Evolution of its Climate and Atmosphere (MECA) study project are reviewed and some of the important issues in Martian climate research that remain unresolved are discussed.
Can string theory predict the Weinberg angle

We investigate whether the hypercharge assignments in the standard model can be interpreted as a hint at grand unification in the context of heterotic string theory. Our analysis is a follow-up to the recent mini-landscape analysis of the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{6}$-II orbifold of the ${\mathrm{E}}_{8}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathrm{E}}_{8}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ heterotic string. In that analysis, an intermediate grand unified theory (GUT) was a requirement for finding MSSM-like theories. Nevertheless, about 1% of the models in this mini-landscape were MSSM-like. In this paper we remove this GUT restriction. To this end, we introduce a general method to calculate $\mathrm{U}(1{)}_{Y}$ for any heterotic orbifold and compare our findings to the cases where hypercharge arises from a GUT. Surprisingly, in the overwhelming majority of 3-2 standard models, a nonanomalous hypercharge direction can be defined, for which the spectrum is vectorlike. For these models, we calculate ${sin﻿}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{w}$ to see how well it agrees with the standard GUT value. We find that 12% have ${sin﻿}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{w}=3/8$, while all others have values which are less. Finally, 89% of the models with ${sin﻿}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{w}=3/8$ have $\mathrm{U}(1{)}_{Y}\ensuremath{\subset}\mathrm{SU}(5)$.
Inner Ear Injuries in Whiplash

AbstractBetween 1994-99, two-hundred-twenty-seven motor vehicle collision (MVC) patients with whiplash symptoms including neurologic changes were received for review in a consulting neurology practice. Evaluation of the entire cohort revealed 90% with either a damaged peripheral labyrinth or cochlea; 69% had both. If there had been a loss of consciousness (LOC) noted as a result of the subject MVC, inner ear damage was found in virtually every case. Ninety-two percent (92%) of the patients with inner ear damage met the criteria for a diagnosis of inner ear concussion (IEC); 63% of IEC patients met the diagnostic criteria for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Sixty-four percent (64%) of IEC cases were diagnosed with secondary endolymphatic hydrops (EH), and 21% were found to have a uni- or bilateral perilymph fistula (PLF). Most patients with IEC met the diagnostic criterion for more than one subdiagnosis.The patient population was also evaluated for mild neurologic abnormalities by LOC status; ...
Psychiatric aspects of epilepsy.

Patients who have epilepsy frequently have comorbid psychiatric disorders. Research into the relationship between seizures and psychiatric disorders has begun to reveal a complex relationship between neurobiology and behavior. This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and aggression in epilepsy. The psychopharmacology of anti-epileptic drugs and other psychotropics in epilepsy, including relevant information about drug—drug interactions, is summarized to assist with treatment decisions. Finally, a discussion of psychogenic seizures and epilepsy surgery reviews recent treatment recommendations.
Edge profile optimal constellation labeling

Structurally distinct constellation labeling exists within both the Gray code and the set-partitioning paradigm. Different labeling choices within either paradigm can provide different bit error rates, especially at low SNR. This paper demonstrates that symmetric ultracomposite (SU) labeling, an extension of the binary reflected Gray code, provides undominated edge profiles for all standard PSK, PAM and square QAM constellations. (The edge profile lists the minimum distance for each binary symbol error) The SU structure can accomodate either the Gray code or the set-partitioning paradigm. It is the clear labeling choice for standard PSK, PAM and square QAM constellations. An extension of SU labeling provides quasi-SU (QSU) labeling for all 2/sup 2n+1/-cross constellations for n>1. QSU labeling satisfies the quasi-Gray property for cross constellations. For cross constellations, set-partitioning and QSU labeling structures are distinct. For 32-cross, QSU labeling has a superior edge profile and is preferred when the trellis does not have parallel branches. Despite its inferior profile, set-partitioned 32-cross is still preferred when the trellis has parallel branches.
Unified Salary Schedule and Student SAT Scores: Adverse Effects of Adverse Selection in the Market for Secondary School Teachers.

Abstract The use of the unified salary schedule for secondary school teachers, where pay is based solely on the years of schooling and teaching experience, results in adverse selection in the market for teachers. Alternative salaries for mathematics and English teachers are compared with teaching salaries. Unlike prior studies of this issue, this paper empirically examines the effects of these salary structures on learning outcomes. Higher alternative (nonteaching) wages for teachers of any subject (mathematics or verbally oriented) result in the relatively able people leaving or staying away from teaching, which in turn adversely affects student performance in these subject areas. It is found, using data for the U.S. between 1985 and 1991, that there is a strong negative effect of the opportunity cost of teaching in a specialty on the performance of students in that area, evidenced by student scores in the SAT quantitative and verbal sections.
IBM FSD VLSI Chip Design Methodology

The IBM Corporation's Federal Systems Division (FSD) has designed, developed and implemented a VLSI design methodology selected specifically for the DoD's design environment. The military industry VLSI requirements and IBM FSD's design system goals for developing chip design methodology are described. Substantial reduction in computer costs and design schedule using the methodology and the design system components is demonstrated. The rationale behind selecting the specific combination of tools, from the many design systems in IBM, for forming the FSD chip design system and the methodology is explained.
Chiral effective field theory for nuclear forces: Achievements and challenges

I start with a historical review of the theories of nuclear forces and then shift to the main focus, which is the chiral e ective field theory approach to nuclear forces. I summarize the current status of this approach and discuss the most important open issues: the proper renormalization of the chiral two-nucleon potential and sub-leading three-nucleon forces.
Information Networks in the Arterial Wall

The main task of the arterial system is to secure an adequate supply of oxygen to organs. This fact implies the integration of multiple signals in the vascular wall. This review deals with the exchange of information between and among smooth muscle and endothelial cells through gap junctions in the vessel walls of arteries and arterioles.
Hybrid control of robot manipulators

A robot manipulator must be able to satisfy any consistent position and force specifications in a well-defined Cartesian coordinate frame. In this paper, we present a method to achieve such a hybrid control of position and force. While the desired compliance is specified in Cartesian space, the control is accomplished in joint space, thus effectively reducing the computation load. Results show that accurate position and force control is obtained.
Early cytoskeletal changes following injury of giant spinal axons in the lamprey

The spinal cord of the larval sea lamprey contains identified giant axons that readily regenerate following spinal transection. In this study, we used serial light and electron microscopy to analyze the early ultrastructural consequences of axotomy in the proximal stumps of these axons near the lesion site. Axotomy results in two types of striking ultrastructural changes: 1) changes associated with the degeneration of axoplasm and subsequent retraction of the cut axon from the lesion and 2) changes associated with the early stages of axonal regeneration. Degenerative changes include the disruption of mitochondria to form large vacuoles, the collapse of neurofilaments into closely packed masses (condensed filamentous cores; CFCs), and the appearance of amorphous electron-dense bodies (dense granular masses; DGMs). Events associated with regeneration include the disappearance of vacuoles, DGMs, and CFCs and the appearance of small, sprout-like projections from the axon stump. Thus, we show that degenerative and regenerative events can be clearly separated from one another in identified axons, unlike the situation in the central nervous systems of amniote vertebrates such as mammals.
Electromagnetic research at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences of New York University

This paper presents current electromagnetic research efforts and research completed during the past few years at New York University. In the research itself emphasis has been placed on basic problems involving appreciable mathematical complexity and mathematical methodology. However, this account describes the results from the standpoint of their contribution to microwave problems, ionospheric and tropospheric propagation, diffraction, the inverse propagation and synthesis problem, antenna and waveguide theory, and other physical problems.
Experimental Method for Determining Surface Energy Anisotropy and Its Application to Magnesia

An experimental technique has been developed to determine the surface energy anisotropy of crystalline solids. The technique is based on atomic force microscopy measurements, which are used to quantify the geometry of thermal grooves, and electron backscattered diffraction pattern measurements, which are used to specify crystallographic orientations. Observations are made at circumferential thermal grooves, where it is assumed that Herring's local equilibrium condition for a triple junction holds and that the grain-boundary energy is independent of its boundary plane. A truncated double Fourier series is used to approximate the surface energy, and the unknown coefficients of the series are determined by fitting the observations to the local equilibrium condition. The method, which should be applicable to most polycrystalline materials, has been tested on magnesia that has been thermally grooved at 1400°C in air. The maximum of the best-fit surface energy function is at (111) and the minimum is at (100). The relative surface energies of the low-index planes are γ 110 /γ 100 = 1.040 ± 0.008 and γ 111 /γ 100 = 1.072 ± 0.010.
Dynamics and stability of a new class of periodic solutions of the optical parametric oscillator

The stability and dynamics of a new class of periodic solutions is investigated when a degenerate optical parametric oscillator system is forced by an external pumping field with a periodic spatial profile modeled by Jacobi elliptic functions. Both sinusoidal behavior as well as localized hyperbolic (front and pulse) behavior can be considered in this model. The stability and bifurcation behaviors of these transverse electromagnetic structures are studied numerically. The periodic solutions are shown to be stabilized by the nonlinear parametric interaction between the pump and signal fields interacting with the cavity diffraction, attenuation, and periodic external pumping. Specifically, sinusoidal solutions result in robust and stable configurations while well-separated and more localized field structures often undergo bifurcation to new steady-state solutions having the same period as the external forcing. Extensive numerical simulations and studies of the solutions are provided.
Shape from contour: straight homogeneous generalized cones

The authors analyze the properties of straight homogeneous generalized cones (SHGCs) and derive the types of symmetries, that the limb boundaries and cross sections of these objects produce on the image plane. The constraints on the 3-D shape of the objects are formulated based on the symmetries and from the geometry of the projection models. Finally the methods that recover the 3-D shape from the image of their contours are discussed and recovered surfaces are shown for sample objects. >
Parametric study and estimation in CFD‐based PEM fuel cell models

We propose an integrated modeling and optimization framework including detailed computational fluid dynamics based models and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems. As an illustration, a multidimensional, multiphysics PEMFC model is constructed that accounts for major transport processes in the gas channels and the membrane electrode assembly. The resulting system of highly nonlinear partial differential-algebraic equations is fully discretized using a finite volume method, and the resulting large-scale nonlinear program is linked to a state-of-the-art interior point optimization algorithm. The framework is used for solving challenging parameter estimation problems resulting from incorporation of multiple experimental data points. Also, parametric studies are performed on detailed water transport mechanisms and distribution characteristics, and on overall system performance. Our proposed framework provides a robust and fast solution methodology, and is planned for modeling extensions and addressing other critical issues in PEMFC technology that require large-scale simulations. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008
Equal spacing and expanding schedules in children's categorization and generalization.

To understand how generalization develops across the lifespan, researchers have examined the factors of the learning environment that promote the acquisition and generalization of categories. One such factor is the timing of learning events, which recent findings suggest may play a particularly important role in children’s generalization. In the current study, we build on these findings by examining the impact of equally spaced versus expanding learning schedules on children’s ability to generalize from studied exemplars of a given category to new exemplars presented on a later test. We found no significant effects of learning schedule when the generalization test was administered immediately after the learning phase, but there was a clear difference when the generalization test was delayed by 24 h, with children in the expanding condition significantly outperforming children in the equally spaced learning condition. These results suggest that forgetting and retrieval dynamics may be lower level cognitive mechanisms promoting generalization and have several implications for broad theories of learning, cognition, and development.
Will You Still Play with Me If I Stop Making Nice? Conflicting Discourses in Collaborative Feminist Literacy Research

This article explores the complexities that arose as I attempted to engage in feminist literacy research in a 5th-grade classroom where I worked collaboratively with the classroom teacher to implement literature discussion circles into her literacy instruction. I address the contradictions and conflicts that emerged regarding issues of neutrality and comfort. Many of the dilemmas that arose were due to the tension that exists between feminist researchers' simultaneous calls for both disruption and closeness. I wanted to help the teacher disrupt her assumptions regarding literacy instruction but was uncomfortable in doing so because of my need to maintain comfort in our relationship. As we began to explore alternative ways of dealing with the power relations that were circulating in our research relationship, I discovered the need to disrupt my own assumptions regarding power, the expert position, and my need for maintaining comfort. The research described here aims to shed further light on what it means t...
Stochastic Partial Differential Equation-Based Model for Suspended Sediment Transport in Surface Water Flows

A stochastic partial differential equation-based model has been derived based on the law of mass conservation and the Langevin equation of particle displacement to simulate suspended sediment transport in open-channel flows. In this model, the movement of any suspended sediment particle in turbulent flows is modeled as a stochastic diffusion process, which is composed of a drift term and a random term. The stochastic formula of fluid velocity is then substituted into the advection-diffusion (AD) equation to obtain the stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE) for suspended sediment transport. The lattice approximation is applied to solve the SPDE of suspended sediment transport in open channel flow. The proposed model, explicitly expressing the randomness of sediment concentration, has the advantage of capturing any randomly selected scenarios of particle movement and thus a more comprehensive quantitative description of sediment concentrations compared with the deterministic AD equation. As a result, the probability distribution of the sediment transport rate can be characterized based on a number of realizations obtained in the numerical experiments. It is found from the numerical experiments of particle trajectory that the transport of sediment particles is in the form of fully suspended load when the Rouse number is less than one. The ensemble mean sediment concentration of the proposed SPDE, obtained by the Monte Carlo simulation, agrees well with that of the deterministic AD equation.
Optimized high-order finite difference wave equations modeling on reconfigurable computing platform

Finite difference (FD) methods are the most prevalent numerical modeling algorithms for simulating linear wave propagation phenomena in geophysics, electromagnetics, and aero- or marine-acoustics applications. Unfortunately, evaluating time evolution for waves in large-scale 2D or 3D domains is computationally demanding and data-intensive. As such, its programs are often exclusively executed on high performance supercomputers. In this paper, we propose a solution to accelerate the execution of realistic wave field modeling problems on a baseline reconfigurable computing (RC) platform. By adopting appropriate high-order temporal and spatial FD schemes along with efficient on-chip data buffering structure, we alleviate external memory bandwidth bottleneck at the cost of increased floating-point computations, which fortunately can be absorbed by the pipelined computing engine with negligible speed penalty. In this way, a balance point can always be reached where the utilization of onboard reconfigurable hardware resources and external memory bandwidth are all optimized. The desirable simplicity and scalability properties of our method make it compatible with most commercial RC platforms. Moreover, our implementation is consistent with the prevalent PC-Cluster systems and can achieve better price-performance ratio along with much lower power consumption.
A scale-independent dominant point detection algorithm

A parallel algorithm for detecting dominant points on a digital closed curve is presented. The procedure requires no input parameter and remains reliable even when features of multiple sizes are present on the digital curve. The procedure first determines the region of support for each point based on its local properties, then computes measures of relative significance (e.g. curvature) of each point, and finally detects dominant points by a process of nonmaxima suppression. This procedure leads to an important observation that the performance of dominant points detection depends not only on the accuracy of the measure of significance, but mainly precise determination of the region of support. This solves the fundamental problem of scale factor selection encountered in various dominant point detection algorithms. The inherent nature of scale-space filtering in the procedure is addressed and the performance of the procedure is compared to those of several other dominant point-detection algorithms, using a number of examples. >
Can MPI be used for persistent parallel services

MPI is routinely used for writing parallel applications, but it is not commonly used for writing long-running parallel services, such as parallel file systems or job schedulers. Nonetheless, MPI does have many features that are potentially useful for writing such software. Using the PVFS2 parallel file system as a motivating example, we studied the needs of software that provide persistent parallel services and evaluated whether MPI is a good match for those needs. We also ran experiments to determine the gaps between what the MPI Standard enables and what MPI implementations currently support. The results of our study indicate that MPI can enable persistent parallel systems to be developed with less effort and can provide high performance, but MPI implementations will need to provide better support for certain features. We also describe an area where additions to the MPI Standard would be useful.
Enhanced Auditory Displays for Discriminating Landmines from Clutter Using Electromagnetic Induction Sensors

Landmine detection is primarily performed using electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors. These sensors detect the presence of metal and convey the information to the sensor operators via an audio signal. Reduction of false alarms from objects that contain metal but are not landmines, i.e. discrimination, is a challenging problem. Recent work on automated algorithms has shown promise towards reducing false alarm rates of EMI sensors. In this study, the audio signal was modified to encode the presence of metal as well as information regarding mine/non-mine belief in order to determine whether the additional information enabled operators to better discriminate mines from clutter. Using data collected from real landmines, we experimentally investigated which perceptual dimensions most effectively convey different aspects of the information contained in the sensor response to a listener. Results indicated that the presence of metal (detection) could be coded in the fundamental frequency of the audio signal, and that mine/non-mine belief (discrimination), determined using an automated algorithm, could be coded in a separate audio dimension. Operators performed better with this audio coding scheme than one where only metal content information was presented via the fundamental frequency of the audio signal.
The New Global Economy: Time-Space Compression, Geopolitics, and Global Uneven Development

Two ideas have dominated discussion in recent studies of the social andpolitical impacts of globalization by those who think that globalization has had real e?ects and is not simply a synonym for the neo-liberal policies insti-tuted by many national governments beginning in the 1980s. The ?rst is the idea that everywhere in the world is becoming alike economically and culturally as a consequence of globalization. This is a scaling up from the national to a global scale of the old idea of modernization. From this perspective, common global norms about conduct, consumption standards, and cultural practices are spreading everywhere (John Meyer at Stanford University [e.g. Meyer 1996] and his students are perhaps representative of this thrust). This global modernization is often seen as brought about by causes implicit in a second idea, although proponents of the second idea may well not endorse the ?rst or vice versa. This is that current globalization is about the shrinking of the world because of revolutionary changes in communication and transportation technologies. In the long-term this process of time-space compression will produce greater economic similarities across places but immediately this need not be the case. Rather, di?erences between places may in fact intensify as involvement in a world of ?ows makes the characteristics of this or that place make the place more competitive globally. In the end, however, di?erent places will establish niches for themselves within the global economy, even if there is dislocation in the short-term.
Philadelphia-chromosome-positive pre-B-cell leukemia presenting as blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia

Cytogenetic studies of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) have shown that the majority of hemopoietic cells originate from pluripotential stem cells affected in this disease. Evidence that lymphocytes are also progeny of these stem cells, however, has been indirect. Philadelphia- chromosome-positive leukemic blasts from a 4 10/12-yr-old boy with CML in blast crisis had features characteristic of pre-B leukemic cells, including expression of cytoplasmic IgM and absence of surface immunoglobulin. Additional immunologic, enzymatic, and pharmacologic characterization of these cells supported their pre-B-cell phenotype. Together, these features provide direct evidence for CML stem cell ancestry to lymphocytes of the B-cell lineage.
Geometric Action Functionals

In this chapter we begin by teaching the reader all the necessary basics of rectifiable curves and absolutely continuous functions. We then introduce the class of geometric action functionals to which our theory can be applied (and in particular the subclass of Hamiltonian geometric actions), give several examples of geometric actions, and prove a lower semi-continuity property for them. Finally, we define the notion of a “drift” of an action, as a generalization of the drift vector field entering the Wentzell-Freidlin action.
Teachers talking about teaching and school: collaboration and reflective practice via Critical Friends Groups

Reflective practice has potentially positive effects on an organization’s capacity to focus on student learning and teaching practices. In an effort to comply with policy and provide teachers with opportunities to reflect on their practice, districts, schools, and teachers have turned to various models that feature collaborative experiences. One such model is the Critical Friends Group (CFG), focusing on the improvement of practice and learning experiences for children, using protocol-driven structured conversations. This article examines the mechanisms that support and sustain reflective practice within a community of practice and utilizes Wenger’s three dimensions of practice – mutual engagement, joint enterprise, and shared repertoire. The study followed a CFG in an elementary school using ethnographic case study methods to conduct a close examination of CFG meetings, protocol use, and analysis of teacher interviews. The propensity to ‘look out’ at school-wide issues vs. looking in at classroom practic...
Effect of Temperature on Biological Control of Two-Spotted Spider Mites by Phytoseiulus persimilis

The effectiveness of the mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot as a predator of the two-spotted spider mite. Tetranychus urticae (Koch) was studied in plant-growth chambers held at constant temperatures of 15, 20, 25, and 30°C. Lima bean seedlings were infested with eggs of the predator and adults of the prey. Both populations were sampled periodically, and counts were made. Excellent control of T. urticae occurred at 20°C, and somewhat poorer control at 15 and 25°C. There was no apparent control by the predator at 30°C. Some cryptic factor affected the prey population numbers at this temperature.
Precipitation and Dissolution of Alkaline Earth Sulfates: Kinetics and Surface Energy

The precipitation and dissolution of sparingly soluble alkaline earth sulfates play important roles in the establishment of geological equilibria (Davis and Hayes 1986). There is little doubt that there are close relationships among the interfacial tensions between the solid phases and their solutions, the observed solubilities, and the kinetics of crystallization and dissolution. The experimental methods used for investigating the rates of these reactions are reviewed with particular reference to the Constant Composition (CC) technique (Tomson and Nancollas 1978) which enables both crystallization and dissolution reactions to be studied at constant thermodynamic driving forces. Interfacial tensions of the alkaline earth sulfates may be measured using thin-layer wicking methods (Van Oss et al. 1992), and surface-tension components theory yields detailed information concerning the Lifshitz–van der Waals and Lewis acid–base parameters of the surface tension. The mechanisms of the growth and dissolution reactions are discussed from the point of view of kinetics and interfacial energies. ### Supersaturation Studies of crystallization from solution first require the preparation of metastable, supersaturated solutions in which the concentration of solute exceeds the saturation value at a given temperature and pressure. Some common expressions describing supersaturation are defined by Equations (1)–(3): \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \[{\Delta}C\ =\ C\ {-}\ Cs\] \end{document}(1) \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \[\mathit{S}\ =\ \frac{C}{C_{S}}\] \end{document}(2) \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \[\mathit{{\sigma}}\ =\ \frac{C\ {-}\ C\ \_{S}}{C\_{S}}\ =\ \mathit{S\ {-}}\ 1\] \end{document}(3) where C is the solute concentration (moles of solute per liter of solvent, for example), Cs is the solubility value, ΔC is the concentration driving force, S is the supersaturation ratio, and μ is the relative supersaturation. It is important to note that these definitions of supersaturation assume that the solutions are ideal despite the fact that they consist of mixtures of electrolytes and, in many cases, additional nonelectrolytes. The definitions are correct, therefore, only for very dilute solutions for which it is possible to assume that the activity coefficients are unity. In crystallization studies, one inevitably deals with solutions with high concentrations even …
Toxoplasmosis and its prevention in cats and man.

The major ways in which man acquires toxoplasmosis are through handling and consumption of raw meat and contact with feces (in litterpans and soil) from cats infected with Toxoplasma gondii. To prevent toxoplasmosis, certain steps should be taken. Meat should be heated throughout to 150 F (66 C) before consumption, and hands should be washed with soap and water after handling meat to remove any toxoplasma organisms contaminating the skin. Infection of indoor cats can be prevented by feeding them dry, canned, or boiled food and by restraining them from hunting. To the extent that diet cannot be controlled, an indoor eat's litterpan should be cleaned daily, feces should be flushed down the toilet, and the pan should be disinfected with boiling water. A person should wear disposable gloves while performing these tasks. Since soil contaminated by oocysts from T. gondii in feline feces is difficult to disinfect, contaminated sand in chil­ dren's sandboxes should be disposed of, and gloves should be worn while one is working with soil that may contain feces from cats. Pregnant women should avoid cats whose source of food is unknown and should not empty litter pans, as toxo­ plasmosis can be transmitted to infants in utero. The transmission of toxoplasmosis first became of interest with the discovery of neonatal infection. In the newborn baby, the disease often gives rise
Effects of crisis efficacy on intentions to follow directives during crisis

ABSTRACTSelf-efficacy has consistently been a useful predictor of behavioral intentions as a construct in many theories; yet, its role in audience adherence to instructing information during crisis is relatively unexplored. A national survey (N = 454) examines self-efficacy in public response to crisis directives and develops the concept of crisis efficacy as an important area for future research. In three crisis contexts (food-borne illness, weather emergency, and public health disease threat), crisis efficacy, along with several demographics, significantly predicted public response to instructing information. Crisis efficacy emerges as a construct with great potential to inform message design in crisis communication.
Efficacy of laidlomycin propionate to reduce ruminal acidosis in cattle

Three trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of laidlomycin propionate (LP) to reduce the incidence and severity of ruminal acidosis in cattle fed high-grain finishing diets. In each trial, LP was fed at 0, 6, or 12 mg/kg of diet DM. In two acidosis-challenge trials, ruminally fistulated steers were fed (DM basis) a 50% concentrate diet and then fed a 95% concentrate diet at a specific intake (2.75% BW) or steers were dosed intraruminally with a 100% concentrate diet. Laidlomycin propionate did not alter ruminal pH or total acid concentrations, but in Trial 1 the 6 mg/kg level altered (P < .10) the molar proportions of the acids, increasing total ruminal VFA and decreasing ruminal lactate. In Trial 3, a finishing trial, LP reduced (P < .10) intake day-to-day variation of individually fed steers during a 13-d adaptation period from a 65 to a 100% concentrate diet, suggesting reduced incidence of subacute acidosis. Feed intake was lower (P < .05) during the first 13 d of the trial due to LP but was not affected over the entire trial. Laidlomycin propionate improved feed efficiency (gain/feed) when calculated on a live weight basis (linear, P = .05) or carcass weight basis (linear, P = .20). Laidlomycin propionate does not prevent ruminal acidosis, but it may reduce the severity of ruminal acidosis during adaptation to a 100% concentrate diet.
Camera geo-calibration using an MCMC approach

We address the problem of single-image geo-calibration, in which an estimate of the geographic location, viewing direction and field of view is sought for the camera that captured an image. The dominant approach to this problem is to match features of the query image, using color and texture, against a reference database of nearby ground imagery. However, this fails when such imagery is not available. We propose to overcome this limitation by matching against a geographic database that contains the locations of known objects, such as houses, roads and bodies of water. Since we are unable to find one-to-one correspondences between image locations and objects in our database, we model the problem probabilistically based on the geometric configuration of multiple such weak correspondences. We propose a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling approach to approximate the underlying probability distribution over the full geo-calibration of the camera.