cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Tuned Mass Dampers to Silence a Coordinate Measuring Machine

Nearly every manufacturing operation relies on servo-controlled automation and inspection machines. The design of these machines requires close attention to the relationships of the mechanical system with the electronic control system. Often, the attributes of one component can augment the weaknesses of another, and vice versa. For example, linear motions are traditionally produced with a rotary motor and ball screw. Recently, linear motors have gained popularity because of their numerous advantages. However, the servo-controls can, more easily, excite resonant frequencies in the machine structure. Therefore, controlling the machine at various speeds can produce excessive structural vibrations as different modes are excited. Thus, improvement in one component causes difficulties with another. An efficient solution is a tuned mass damper (TMD). This is a simple, modular device that consists of a weight, mounted on a spring along with a viscous energy absorber. The tuned mass damper is placed where the undesired vibratory motion is greatest. The size of the mass, spring and damper are adjusted, or tuned, so they oscillate out-of-phase with the structure and reduce the amplitude of vibration. This paper will review the theory of tuned dynamic dampers, and illustrate an application of integrating them into the design of a coordinate measuring machine.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN CHILDHOOD ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL)

Classic adverse prognostic factors in childhood ALL include age 9 years, elevated white blood count (WBC) and the presence of an anterior mediastinal mass (AMM). Sub-populations of ALL based upon immunologic surface markers suggest that T-cell leukemia is also an adverse factor. Using a recently described chemotherapy protocol (Med. & Ped. Oncol 2:157, 1976), we treated 69 children subclassified by newly described immunologic markers. T-cell disease, demonstrated by a human anti-thymocyte antibody, was found in 10/69, and another marker p23, 30 (a neodifferentiation antigen isolated from a human lymphoblastoid B-cell line) found in 54/69. Five of 69 were positive or negative for both markers. With a median follow-up of 21 months, disease-free survival for the p23, 30+ group was 85% by life-table analysis at 36 months, whereas the median time to relapse for the T+ group was 15 months. On the contrary, age and WBC were not statistically significantly different from the total group. Those with AMM did poorly, but all were also T+ patients. We conclude that childhood ALL represents aheterogenoua group of diseases, and that major prognostic discriminents must be re-evaluated in planning future treatment programs.
Thrombospondin-1/CD47 blockade following ischemia-reperfusion injury is tissue protective.

Background Nitric oxide has prosurvival effects that can limit ischemia-reperfusion injuries. However, the matrix glycoprotein thrombospondin-1 is induced following ischemia-reperfusion injury and limits nitric oxide signaling by engaging its cell surface receptor CD47. In this article, the authors examine whether postinjury blocking of this inhibitory signal can protect from ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat flap model. Methods A total of 40 tissue flaps were created in rats based solely on the deep inferior epigastric vessels. Microvascular clamps were used to create 45 minutes of ischemia time to the flaps. The flaps were then treated using a monoclonal antibody to CD47 or an isotype-matched control immunoglobulin G1 5 or 30 minutes after clamp removal. Twenty-four or 72 hours postoperatively, the necrotic area of the flap was determined, and serum, deep inferior epigastric vessels, and flaps were harvested for analysis from five rats in each respective group. Results Treatment with a CD47 antibody 5 minutes after reperfusion significantly reduces flap necrosis compared with immunoglobulin G1 control (9 percent versus 43 percent; p Conclusions Therapies targeting the thrombospondin-1 receptor CD47 offer potential for increasing tissue survival in ischemia-reperfusion injuries. The ability to protect when given after ischemia-reperfusion injury enables a broader clinical applicability.
Surgical options for endocardial lead placement when upper veins are obstructed or nonusable.

In 35 patients (24 adults, 11 children), two techniques were used to implant endocardial pacemaker or defibrillator leads in the presence of complete occlusion or nonusability of upper veins. The obstructed veins were the subclavian, innominate, and superior vena cava (SVC). Most of the obstructions occurred secondary to previous implant of multiple leads. Twenty-four patients had occlusion of the subclavian veins; 7 of both the subclavians and innominates; 4 had stenosis of the SVC. Twenty-seven patients with obstructed subclavian veins, but with patent innominates, underwent direct implants via cut-down internal jugular vein for one or two leads, as needed. Eight patients with obstructed innominate veins or SVC underwent a direct transthoracic transatrial approach (TTTA). This method involves a parasternal extrapleural route through the mediastinum to directly puncture the right atrium. The leads are then implanted endocardially, under fluoroscopy. There were no complications with either method, and the implanted units have been working well during up to 14 years follow-up. These two techniques circumvent the problem of obstructed upper veins—which limits the options for implanting endocardial pacing systems.
Reading for Narrative Truth through the Absence of Narrative Awareness in Wilkomirski's Fragments

This article analyzes the false Holocaust memoir, Fragments: Memories of a Wartime Childhood by Binjamin Wilkomirski, as a case study in autobiographical truth. The author proposes close reading as a means to detect contradictions within the text and argues for a reevaluation of the pop-cultural attachment to authorial claims of factuality in autobiography.
An example of horizontal conflict alert resolution using symbolic reasoning

In air traffic control, two or more aircraft approaching each other within a close distance will create a conflict alert situation. To reduce the risk of mid-air collisions, a warning and resolution system is needed to issue alerts and provide maneuver resolutions. The current traffic-alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) resolves potential conflicts by issuing directives for vertical maneuvers. A lot of research has been done to investigate the possibility of increasing airspace capacity by incorporating horizontal maneuvering of aircraft. This paper discusses a new approach to computing the horizontal maneuver resolutions. More specifically, symbolic reasoning about dynamic systems in conflict alert situations is used to derive resolution advisories.
Summary and Frequency of KR Presentation Effects on Retention of a Motor Skill

Abstract This experiment investigates the recent proposal of Schmidt, Young, Swinnen, and Shapiro (1989) that summary knowledge of results (KR) improves skill retention. In Schmidt et al.'s experiment, however, summary length varied concomitantly with the frequency of KR presentation. The current investigation held KR presentation frequency constant while manipulating the number of trials seen in the summary KR display. Subjects were required to perform a timing task on a linear slide. Five groups (n = 12) of subjects participated in acquisition trials then in 10-min and 2-day delayed no-KR retention tests. In 4 conditions, subjects completed each acquisition block without any KR, but following each block they received KR on either 15, 7, 3, or 1 of the 15 trials performed in that block. In the final condition subjects received immediate KR. Analysis of the absolute constant error (|CE|) data for acquisition revealed all groups improved with practice and the immediate KR group performed better than all th...
The social construction and subjective reality of activity settings: Implications for community psychology

A major focus of the article is the idea that activity settings are in part social constructions of the participants. The socially constructed “meaning” of an activity setting is a complex mix of ecological, cultural, interactional, and psychological features. These features may be observed and assessed, directly and indirectly, in terms of personnel, cultural values, tasks, scripts for conduct, and motives and purposes of actors. Empirical illustrations and extensions to community psychology are drawn from research with different populations: Native Hawaiian children and families, Spanish-speaking children and Mexican and Central American immigrant parents, Euro-American families with a developmentally delayed child, and Euro-American families who intentionally adopted nonconventional child-rearing values and practices.
To click or not to click: Learning to teach to the microwave generation

Teachers in higher education are faced with unique challenges associated with contemporary learners. Students entering college today have enjoyed a technology rich environment that has socialized them towards expectations of rapid information exchange, instant gratification, and a tendency towards reduced or non-textbook reading. Furthermore, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 in the USA has imprinted the notion that education should be directed towards teaching to the examination. Advances in technology have also provided educators with a host of gadgets to augment instruction. However, the majority of nursing faculty members are from a generation that may be resistant to welcoming newfangled electronic tools. The purpose of this article is to discuss the pedagogical method of using clicker technology in theory courses to achieve desired learning outcomes. A paradigm case and narrative are included to describe a resulting effect on teaching.
Aerobic metabolism of β-amino-n-butyric acid by Pseudomonas putida

The aerobic metabolism of β-amino-n-butyric acid was studied with cell-free extracts of a strain of Pseudomonas putida isolated in pure culture through enrichment from a liquid medium containing DL-β-amino-n-butyrate as the sole energy source. The extracts catalyze the decomposition of L-(+)-β-amino-n-butyrate in the presence of pyruvate. D-(−)-β-amino-n-butyrate is not decomposed and does not inhibit the deamination of the L-isomer. The products of the transamination reaction are aceto- acetate and alanine. Experiments on the substrate specificity of the transaminase activity showed that other β- and γ-amino acids can serve as efficient amino donors, whereas corresponding α-amino acids are poor substrates. The further metabolism of acetoacetate is discussed on the basis of the demonstration of acetoacetyl-CoA: succinyl-CoA transferase and acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase activities in the crude extracts as well as activities of glyoxylate cycle enzymes. A complete reaction scheme for the ultimate conversion of β-amino-n-butyric acid to succinate is presented and discussed.
Dichotomous Choices On Life-Dilemma Problems, Subjective Expected Utility, and the Group Shift Effect.

Participants responded to risk and caution life-dilemma problems in either a group discussion or a control procedure. Before and after experimental treatment, participants filled in a questionnaire involving whether or not the character in the dilemma should take the risk, the lowest probability they would accept before recommending to the character that he take the risk, and utilities and subjective probabilities of the various outcomes within the dilemmas. It was found that, while the discussion condition yielded shifts on the “lowest probability” question, only very meager shifts were found on the dichotomous “yes-or-no” question, suggesting that it may be difficult to generalize the results of group shift research to real-life groups who must make decisions on a yes-or-no basis. In addition, it was found that the behavioral decision theory concept of subjective expected utility was very accurate in predicting the participants’ dichotomous choices on the dilemmas.
A CONTRIBUTION TO THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SPECIFIC INFECTIOUS CYSTITIS AND PYELONEPHRITIS OF COWS

Bacteriological examination of the genito-urinary tract of calves originating in a herd in which infectious cystitis and pyelonephritis exists among the cows, revealed a variety of cultural types of diphtheroids. Of these types, one obtained from a considerable number of the calves resembled in morphology and cultural characters the organism cultivated from the actual cases of the disease. This group had agglutination affinities like those of the organism mentioned and was capable of absorbing agglutinin from antiserum specific for it. When three cows were inoculated intra-urethrally with cultures isolated from the sheaths of calves, two developed transient infections and the other a severe prolonged cystitis and pyelonephritis.
Relationship of body energy status to inflammation-induced anorexia and weight loss.

Abstract LENNIE, T. A. Relationship of body energy status to inflammation-induced anorexia and weight loss. PHYSIOL BEHAV 64 (4) 475–481, 1998.—The response to acute inflammation of rats at two levels of prior weight reduction were compared with normal-weight rats to examine how prior alterations in body energy status influence inflammation-induced anorexia and weight loss. Specifically, body weights were either reduced by 6%, the level of weight loss expected in normal-weight rats following induction of acute inflammation, or by 12%, a level 6% below that expected of the normal-weight rats. Rats were either allowed to eat ad lib. on postinflammation Day 1 or were kept on food restriction until Day 5, when anorexia was no longer expected to be present. As predicted, normal-weight rats allowed to eat ad lib. beginning Day 1 displayed the most severe anorexia. Total food intake of this group over the first 5 days following inflammation induction was 33% less than the control (CON) group. Rats with 6% prior weight reduction displayed a milder anorexia, eating only 15% less than the CON group over the first 5 days. In contrast, rats with 12% prior weight reduction ate the same amount of food as the CON group. Interestingly, similar feeding patterns were observed in rats that resumed ad lib. feeding on Day 5. The outcome of these various feeding patterns was to bring body weights of all the inflammation groups to the same level, approximately 6% below CON group weights. These results provide further evidence that proinflammatory mediators induce a temporary reduction in the amount of body tissue (weight) spontaneously maintained that is directly proportionate to the magnitude of insult.
ABR switch mechanisms: design issues and performance evaluation

Abstract Considerable protocol development efforts in recent ATM Forum activities have been centered on the traffic management of available bit rate (ABR) service. The goal is to efficiently manage the leftover network bandwidth and fairly distribute it among contending ABR virtual connections (VC) so that communication links can be optimally utilized. A rate-based flow control mechanism has been adopted for that purpose. While the ATM Forum Traffic Management Specification Version 4.0 document gives a complete description of the end system behavior, it gives only a high level description of the switch or intermediate network nodes, leaving the details of their behavior vendor implementation dependent. This paper is concerned with the variety of ABR switch mechanisms available for implementation with the current end system definition. The various switch mechanisms can be broadly classified in two categories depending on the type of feedback information provided to the end system. The feedback mechanism is either binary involving setting the EFCI bit in the data cell header or explicit rate in which case the switch has to calculate a target rate and send it back to the source through an RM cell. Also within each category, different subgroups are formed based on the type of queuing involved (for example per port queuing, per VC accounting, per VC queuing) and the congestion declaration criteria adopted (for example queue thresholding, queue derivative, load monitoring). Our goal is to provide an overview of the various switch mechanisms available and discuss their performance characteristics accordingly. The performance metrics used include queue length, source flow-controlled cell rate dynamics, fairness of bandwidth allocation in the steady state and ramp-up time in the network transient state. Simulations of the different switch algorithms' dynamics for network configurations and scenarios of interest are presented.
The Attribution of Attitudes

Abstract Three experiments were conducted within the framework of correspondent inference theory. In each of the experiments the subjects were instructed to estimate the “true” attitude of a target person after having either read or listened to a speech by him expressing opinions on a controversial topic. Independent variables included position of speech (pro, anti, or equivocal), choice of position vs. assignment of position, and reference group of target person. The major hypothesis (which was confirmed with varying strength in all three experiments) was that choice would make a greater difference when there was a low prior probability of someone taking the position expressed in the speech. Other findings of interest were: (1) a tendency to attribute attitude in line with behavior, even in no-choice conditions; (2) increased inter-individual variability in conditions where low probability opinions were expressed in a constraining context; (3) that this variability was partly a function of the subjects' own attitudes on the issue; (4) that equivocation in no-choice conditions leads to the attribution that the equivocator opposes the assigned position. The main conclusion suggested is that perceivers do take account of prior probabilities and situational constraints when attributing private attitude, but perhaps do not weight these factors as heavily as would be expected by a rational analysis.
RELEASE OF [3H]GABA FROM IN VITRO PREPARATIONS: COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF DABA AND β‐ALANINE ON THE K+ AND PROTOVERATRINE STIMULATED RELEASE OF [3H]GABA FROM BRAIN SLICES AND SYNAPTOSOMES

It has been proposed that the major portion of [3H]GABA released from rat cortical slices upon exposure to high K+ comes from a neuronal pool. Using carrier mediated exchange diffusion of DABA or β-alanine in the superfusion medium for GABA in the slice as a technique for manipulating neuronal and glial pools of GABA, it was found that DABA but not β-alanine substantially reduced the K+ stimulated release of [3H]GABA. The present study using synaptosomes as an in vitro model of the nerve ending was undertaken to ascertain whether this neuronal pool of releasable [3H]GABA was associated with a specific transmitter pool in nerve endings. A continuous superfusion system employing a Ca2+ pulse to produce a calcium coupled release (Levyet al, 1973) was used to study the effect of two concentrations (20 μm, 1 mm) of DABA and β-alanine on the release of [3H]GABA from synaptosomes. In contrast to the results in slices, DABA at both concentrations had no effect on the release of [3H]GABA from synaptosomes in spite of evidence that exchange diffusion was occurring. With protoveratrine as the releasing agent there was no effect of DABA on the release of [3H]GABA from either slices or synaptosomes. The results suggest that the major portion of [3H]GABA released from cortical slices by high K+ comes from a non-transmitter pool in the neuron. Use of K+ stimulated release of amino acids from cortical slices as a criterion for neurotransmitter function must be viewed with caution.
West's Syndrome

West's syndrome (infantile spasms) can be considered the classic disorder of the catastrophic childhood epilepsies. Although West's syndrome was identified 160 years ago, it is still not fully understood today. Because of the multiple etiologies associated with West's syndrome, the evaluation and treatment of the disease are complex, and, to date, there are no drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of infantile spasms. The multiple etiologies associated with infantile spasms require that physicians take a broad look at all therapeutic options. There are, however, logical sequences that physicians should pursue when trying to treat this disorder. This article reviews the etiologies associated with West's syndrome, antiepilepsy drug therapies currently being used to treat the syndrome, and other treatment options available to clinicians.
Role of cladding-layer nonlinearity in controlling filamentation in broad-area semiconductor lasers and amplifiers

Summary form only given. We have proposed that a cladding-layer nonlinearity has the potential of decreasing the deleterious effects of gain saturation (which leads to lateral mode filamentation), thereby making it possible to realize stable broad-area semiconductor lasers. To demonstrate the beneficial effects of cladding-layer nonlinearities as simply as possible, we consider an AlGaAs broad-area semiconductor laser, operating continuously at a constant current, and iteratively solve for the intracavity fields while including diffraction, carrier diffusion, spatial hole burning, and self-defocusing.
A distributed application server for automatic differentiation

The ADIC Application Server brings the accuracy and efficiency of automatic differentiation to the World Wide Web. Users of the ADIC Application Server can upload source code written in ANSI-C, manage remote files, differentiate selected functions, and download code augmented with derivative computations. Using a simple driver and linking to the appropriate libraries, the user can compile and run the differentiated code locally. We discuss the unique requirements for an automatic differentiation application server and describe the implementation of the ADIC Application Server.
Surgeon workload and motion efficiency with robot and human laparoscopic camera control.

Background: Surgeons are now being assisted by robotic systems in a wide range of laparoscopic procedures. Some reports have suggested that robot-assisted camera control (RACC) may be superior to a human driver in terms of quality of view and directional precision, as well as long-term cost savings. Therefore, we setout to investigate the impact of RACC of surgeon motion efficiency. Methods: Twenty pigs were randomized to undergo a standardized laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with either a human or RACC system, the AESOP 2000. All procedures were performed by the same surgical fellow. Time was recorded for dissection and suture phases. Inertial motion sensors were used to monitor both the surgeon's hands and the camera. Digitized data were analyzed to produce summary measures related to overall motion. Results: The operative times were slightly longer with RACC (mean 80.2 ± 20.6 vs 73.1 ± 15.4 min, not significant). With regard to operative times and surgeon motion measures, the only statistically significant differences were for setup and breakdown times, which contributed <15% to the total time for the procedure. Conclusion: In terms of impact on surgeon motion efficiency and operative time under normal surgical conditions, RACC is essentially the same as an expert human driver. However, careful planning and structuring of the surgical suite may yield some small gains in operative time.
Dynamics of auxin‐dependent Ca2+ and pH signaling in root growth revealed by integrating high‐resolution imaging with automated computer vision‐based analysis

Plants adapt to a changing environment by entraining their growth and development to prevailing conditions. Such 'plastic' development requires a highly dynamic integration of growth phenomena with signal perception and transduction systems, such as occurs during tropic growth. The plant hormone auxin has been shown to play a key role in regulating these directional growth responses of plant organs to environmental cues. However, we are still lacking a cellular and molecular understanding of how auxin-dependent signaling cascades link stimulus perception to the rapid modulation of growth patterns. Here, we report that in root gravitropism of Arabidopsis thaliana, auxin regulates root curvature and associated apoplastic, growth-related pH changes through a Ca2+-dependent signaling pathway. Using an approach that integrates confocal microscopy and automated computer vision-based image analysis, we demonstrate highly dynamic root surface pH patterns during vertical growth and after gravistimulation. These pH dynamics are shown to be dependent on auxin, and specifically on auxin transport mediated by the auxin influx carrier AUX1 in cells of the lateral root cap and root epidermis. Our results further indicate that these pH responses require auxin-dependent changes in cytosolic Ca2+ levels that operate independently of the TIR1 auxin perception system. These results demonstrate a methodology that can be used to visualize vectorial auxin responses in a manner that can be integrated with the rapid plant growth responses to environmental stimuli.
Effect of Alkali Hydroxides on the Strength and Fatigue of Fused Silica Optical Fiber

A two-point bend technique is used to determine the strength of “pristine” bare fused silica optical fiber in aqueous solutions of the group I alkali metal hydroxides (Li through Cs) in the concentration range 10−4N to 1N (pH range 10 to 14). In the highest concentration solutions, a strong cation effect is exhibited with a minimum strength for KOH while fibers in LiOH and CsOH are typically 20% and 10% stronger, respectively. The cation effect decreases with decreasing concentration until at 10−4N no effect is apparent. Tetramethylammonium hydroxide gives intermediate strengths between CsOH and LiOH. The results correlate closely with published results for the dissolution rate of silica which exhibit a maximum rate for KOH. In contrast, the results do not correlated with published subcritical crack growth data which show no cation effect for Na through Cs. These results support the pit etching model for pristine fiber strength proposed by Kurkjian et al. and argue against the presence of cracks or cracklike objects in these materials.
Quantization of Secondary Energy and Multiple Fire-Ball Production*>

We present a phenomenological model of multiple particle production characterized by the quantization of secondary energy found in the analysis of cosmic-ray jets. Within the framework of the model, the predictions agree satisfactorily with all available experimental data. They are briefly mentioned or outlined. The explanation of all experimental features pertaining to fire-ball production is displayed in datail, as an example, to show how1the model works quantitatively.
Synthesizing synchronous elastic flow networks

This paper describes an implementation language and synthesis system for automatically generating latency insensitive synchronous digital designs. These designs decouple behavioral correctness from design performance by allowing any sub-component to dynamically stall without changing correct system activity. This is accomplished by imposition of global invariants and use of local control in the form of Synchronous-Elastic Flow (SELF) networks, which are directly synthesized. This design description format reduces the complexity of implementing correct SELF networks and does not require pre-design of a correct conventional synchronous design. The design description is a specialized guarded atomic action language which is particularly suited for succinctly describing SELF designs. We present the language syntax, semantics and synthesis techniques illustrated by the design of a latency tolerant cache controller.
VEGETATION CHANGE ALONG THE ARIZONA-SONORA BOUNDARY∗

ABSTRACT A segment of the international boundary dividing southeastern Arizona and northeastern Sonora provides an opportunity to examine the impact of culturally distinct land-use patterns on plant communities that were homogeneous prior to completion of a continuous fence line separating the two countries. Photographs taken in 1892, 1969, and 1976 illustrate the changing spatial contrasts in wild vegetation spanning the international boundary. Since the drought and overstocked range conditions of the early 1890s, there has been a general increase in herbaceous and woody vegetation. Presently, grass is taller and there is greater grass cover with less barren ground on the United States side. These conditions result from different grazing histories and different livestock management practices in the two countries.
Ideal Affect: Cultural Causes and Behavioral Consequences:

Most research focuses on actual affect, or the affective states that people actually feel. In this article, I demonstrate the importance and utility of studying ideal affect, or the affective states that people ideally want to feel. First, I define ideal affect and describe the cultural causes and behavioral consequences of ideal affect. To illustrate these points, I compare American and East Asian cultures, which differ in their valuation of high-arousal positive affective states (e.g., excitement, enthusiasm) and low-arousal positive affective states (e.g., calm, peace-fulness). I then introduce affect valuation theory, which integrates ideal affect with current models of affect and emotion and, in doing so, provides a new framework for understanding how cultural and temperamental factors may shape affect and behavior.
Dendritic cell maturation by innate lymphocytes coordinated stimulation of innate and adaptive immunity

Pathogen recognition by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on dendritic cells (DCs) leads to DC maturation and the initiation of adaptive immunity. Recent studies have shown that innate lymphocytes—natural killer (NK), natural killer T (NKT), and γδ T cells—also trigger DC maturation. This interaction in turn expands and activates innate lymphocytes and initiates adaptive T cell immunity. Here, we comment on the evidence that these pathways are TLR independent and have the potential to respond to infection, malignancy, and immunotherapy.
Totally Implantable System for Venous Access in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Thirteen children with cystic fibrosis had a totally implantable reservoir surgically inserted for repeated courses of intravenous antibiotics. The youngest patient was 17 months at the time of implantation. The catheters have been in place for an average of 463 ± 200 days. Forty seven courses of intravenous antibiotics have been given over a total of 832 treatment days. Three patients had complications. One experienced catheter separation from the portal, one catheter became occluded, and a third catheter fractured and migrated to the right atrium but was successfully retrieved percutaneously.The catheters were accepted well by patients and parents. We conclude that implantable reservoir systems, although moderately expensive and not totally free of complications, offer another modality in the management of cystic fibrosis patients.
Analysis and visualization of index words from audio transcripts of instructional videos

We introduce new techniques for extracting, analyzing, and visualizing textual contents from instructional videos of low production quality. Using automatic speech recognition, approximate transcripts (/spl ap/75% word error rate) are obtained from the originally highly compressed videos of university courses, each comprising between 10 to 30 lectures. Text material in the form of books or papers that accompany the course are then used to filter meaningful phrases from the seemingly incoherent transcripts. The resulting index into the transcripts is tied together and visualized in 3 experimental graphs that help in understanding the overall course structure and provide a tool for localizing certain topics for indexing. We specifically discuss a transcript index map, which graphically lays out key phrases for a course, a textbook chapter to transcript match, and finally a lecture transcript similarity graph, which clusters semantically similar lectures. We test our methods and tools on 7 full courses with 230 hours of video and 273 transcripts. We are able to extract up to 98 unique key terms for a given transcript and up to 347 unique key terms for an entire course. The accuracy of the Textbook Chapter to Transcript Match exceeds 70% on average. The methods used can be applied to genres of video in which there are recurrent thematic words (news, sports, meetings, etc.).
Incidence, secular trends, and outcomes of prosthetic joint infection: A population-based study, Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1969-2007

Context.The epidemiology of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) in a population-based cohort has not been studied in the United States.Objectives.To provide an accurate assessment of the true incidence, secular trends, clinical manifestations, microbiology, and treatment outcomes of PJI in a population-based cohort.Design.Historical cohort study.Setting.Olmsted County, Minnesota.Participants.Residents who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) between January 1, 1969, and December 31, 2007.Methods.Incidence rates and trends in PJI were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, as were treatment outcomes among PJI case patients.Results.A total of 7,375 THAs or TKAs were implanted in residents of Olmsted County during the study period. Seventy-five discrete joints in 70 individuals developed PJI, during a mean ± SD follow-up of 6.8 ± 6.1 years. The cumulative incidence of PJI was 0.5%, 0.8%, and 1.4% after 1, 5, and 10 years after arthroplasty, respectively. Overall, the rate of survival free of clinical failure after treatment of PJI was 76.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 64.3–85.2) and 65.2% (95% CI, 33.1–76.2) at 3 and 5 years, respectively. The incidence and treatment outcomes did not significantly differ by decade of implantation, patient age at implantation, gender, or joint location.Conclusions.The incidence of PJI is relatively low in a population-based cohort and is a function of age of the prosthesis. Incidence trends and outcomes have not significantly changed over the past 40 years.
Development of gypsy moth larvae feeding on red maple saplings at elevated CO2 and temperature

Predicted increases in atmospheric CO2 and global mean temperature may alter important plant-insect associations due to the direct effects of temperature on insect development and the indirect effects of elevated temperature and CO2 enrichment on phytochemicals important for insect success. We investigated the effects of CO2 and temperature on the interaction between gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) larvae and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) saplings by bagging first instar larvae within open-top chambers at four CO2/temperature treatments: (1) ambient temperature, ambient CO2, (2) ambient temperature, elevated CO2(+300 m ll -1 CO2), (3) elevated temperature (+3.5�C), ambient CO 2, and (4) elevated temperature, elevated CO2. Larvae were reared to pupa- tion and leaf samples taken biweekly to determine levels of total N, water, non-structural carbohydrates, and an estimate of defensive phenolic compounds in three age classes of foliage: (1) immature, (2) mid-mature and (3) mature. Elevated growth temperature marginally reduced (P <0.1) leaf N and significantly reduced (P <0.05) leaf water across CO2 treatments in mature leaves, whereas leaves grown at elevated CO2 concentration had a significant decrease in leaf N and a significant increase in the ratio of starch:N and total non-structural carbohy- drates:N. Leaf N and water decreased and starch:N and total non-structural carbohydrates:N ratios increased as leaves aged. Phenolics were unaffected by CO2 or temperature treatment. There were no interactive effects of CO2 and temperature on any phytochemical measure. Gypsy moth larvae reached pupation earlier at the elevated temperature (female =8 days, P <0.07; male =7.5 days, P <0.03), whereas mortality and pupal fresh weight of insects were unrelated to either CO2, temper- ature or their interaction. Our data show that CO2 or temperature-induced alterations in leaf constituents had no effect on insect performance; instead, the long-term exposure to a 3.5�C increase in temperature shortened insect development but had no effect on pupal weight. It appears that in some tree-herbivorous insect systems the direct effects of an increased global mean temperature may have greater consequences for altering plant-insect interactions than the indirect effects of an increased temperature or CO2 concentration on leaf constituents.
ESIDE: An Integrated Development Environment for Component-Based Embedded Systems

In this paper we present ESIDE, an integrated development environment for component-based embedded systems. It leverages component-based software engineering principles to facilitate efficient, scalable, and robust hardware/software co-design, co-simulation, co-verification, and their seamless integration. We first describe the architecture and features of ESIDE. We then discuss several design decisions that we faced in developing ESIDE and the trade-offs in making these decisions. To provide perspective, we report our experiences in re-engineering TinyOS-based networked sensor systems into complete component-based designs that cover both hardware and software.
Narcissism and Anger: Self-Esteem and Contingencies of Self-Worth as Mediating Self-Structures

Theory and research suggest that an internalization of psychological “structure” related to self-esteem may mediate relationships of Maladaptive Narcissism with higher and Adaptive Narcissism with lower Anger. In the present study (N = 623), Self-Esteem and Contingency of Self-Worth Scales served as presumed indices of the presence or absence of structure. Maladaptive Narcissism predicted greater Anger and a relative absence of structure whereas Adaptive Narcissism displayed an opposite pattern of results. Constructs assessing structure partially mediated the Maladaptive Narcissism relationship with greater Anger. Mediation analyses also revealed that structure not only fully mediated the inverse Adaptive Narcissism linkage with Anger, but also suppressed an association with greater Anger that would otherwise have been evident. These data supported the idea that psychological structure related to self-esteem is noteworthy in explaining the implications of narcissism for personality and interpersonal functioning.
Towards content distribution networks with latency guarantees

This paper investigates the performance of a content distribution network designed to provide bounded content access latency. Content can be divided into multiple classes with different configurable per-class delay bounds. The network uses a simple distributed algorithm to dynamically select a subset of its proxy servers for different classes such that a global per-class delay bound is achieved on content access. The content distribution algorithm is implemented and tested on PlanetLab, a world-wide distributed Internet testbed. Evaluation results demonstrate that despite Internet delay variability, subsecond delay bounds (of 200-500ms) can be guaranteed with a very high probability at only a moderate content replication cost. The distribution algorithm achieves a 4 to 5 fold reduction in the number of response-time violations compared to prior content distribution approaches that attempt to minimize average latency. This paper presents the first wide-area performance evaluation of an algorithm designed to bound maximum content access latency, as opposed to optimizing an average performance metric.
Changing transcriptional initiation sites and alternative 5′‐ and 3′‐splice site selection of the first intron deploys Arabidopsis PROTEIN ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE2 variants to different subcellular compartments

†‡ § – †† Summary Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. possesses two PROTEIN-L-ISOASPARTATE METHYLTRANSFERASE (PIMT) genes encoding enzymes (EC 2.1.1.77) capable of converting uncoded L-isoaspartyl residues, arising spontaneously at L-asparaginyl and L-aspartyl sites in proteins, to L-aspartate. PIMT2 produces at least eight transcripts by using four transcriptional initiation sites (TIS; resulting in three different initiating methionines) and both 5¢- and 3¢-alternative splice site selection of the first intron. The transcripts produce mature proteins capable of converting L-isoaspartate to L-aspartate in small peptide substrates. PIMT:GFP fusion proteins generated a detectable signal in the nucleus. However, whether the protein was also detectable in the cytoplasm, endo-membrane system, chloroplasts, and/or mitochondria, depended on the transcript from which it was produced. On-blot-methylation of proteins, prior to the completion of germination, indicated that cruciferin subunits contain isoaspartate. The implications of using transcriptional mechanisms to expand a single gene’s repertoire to protein variants capable of entry into the cell’s various compartments are discussed in light of PIMT’s presumed role in repairing the proteome.
Higher order asymptotic elastic-plastic crack-tip fields under antiplane shear

Abstract The asymptotic stress and strain fields near the crack tip under antiplane shear are developed in an elastic power-law hardening material. Using an asymptotic expansion and separation of variables for the stress function, a series solution for all of the hardening exponents can be obtained. The stress exponents for the higher order terms are analytically determined; the angular distributions which are governed solely by plastic strains are also analytically obtained. Good agreement with the finite element solutions confirms the proposed approach. It is further demonstrated that the first three terms, controlled by two parameters, can be used to characterize the crack tip stress and strain fields with various hardening exponents.
Producing Guanxi: Sentiment, Self, and Subculture in a North China Village

Producing Guanxi: Sentiment, Self, and Subculture in. North China Village. Andrew B. Kipnis. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1997. xii. 226 pp., maps, figures, epilogue, notes, glossary, references, index.
Hyperphagia and Increased Fat Accumulation in Two Models of Chronic CNS Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Loss of Function

Central administration of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) causes a dose-dependent reduction in food intake, but the role of endogenous CNS GLP-1 in the regulation of energy balance remains unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that CNS GLP-1 activity is required for normal energy balance by using two independent methods to achieve chronic CNS GLP-1 loss of function in rats. Specifically, lentiviral-mediated expression of RNA interference was used to knock down nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) preproglucagon (PPG), and chronic intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1r) antagonist exendin (9-39) (Ex9) was used to block CNS GLP-1r. NTS PPG knockdown caused hyperphagia and exacerbated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced fat accumulation and glucose intolerance. Moreover, in control virus-treated rats fed the HFD, NTS PPG expression levels correlated positively with fat mass. Chronic ICV Ex9 also caused hyperphagia; however, increased fat accumulation and glucose intolerance occurred regardless of diet. Collectively, these data provide the strongest evidence to date that CNS GLP-1 plays a physiologic role in the long-term regulation of energy balance. Moreover, they suggest that this role is distinct from that of circulating GLP-1 as a short-term satiation signal. Therefore, it may be possible to tailor GLP-1-based therapies for the prevention and/or treatment of obesity.
Non-Gaussian linear mixing models for hyperspectral images

Modeling of hyperspectral data with non-Gaussian distributions is gaining popularity in recent years. Such modeling mostly concentrates on attempts to describe a distribution, or its tails, of all image spectra. In this paper, we recognize that the presence of major materials in the image scene is likely to exhibit nonrandomness and only the remaining variability due to noise, or other factors, would exhibit random behavior. Hence, we assume a linear mixing model with a structured background, and we investigate various distributional models for the error term in that model. We propose one model based on the multivariate t-distribution and another one based on independent components following an exponential power distribution. The former model does not perform well in the context of the two images investigated in this paper, one AVIRIS and one HyMap image. On the other hand, the latter model works reasonably well with the AVIRIS image and very well with the HyMap image. This paper provides the tools that researchers can use for verifying a given model to be used with a given image.
Recursive extended window interpolators applied to the design of IIR and fractional delay filters

This paper proposes a conceptual modification of the interpolator used by the extended window design (EWD) of IIR and fractional delay filters. The original EWD digitizes analog filters by performing a trigonometric polynomial interpolation along an extended window that ends at the current sampling time. The proposed changes increase the flexibility and the degrees of freedom of the interpolator in two ways. First, the interpolation space is expanded from the space spanned by a restricted set of sinusoidal functions to the space spanned by any set of linearly independent functions. Second, the Hermite interpolation (which processes the values of both the signal and some of its derivatives at sampling times) is considered in order to smoothen the interpolated signal. Since the input derivatives are not available, related parameters are estimated and updated recursively. The increased accuracy of the proposed recursive EWD relatively to nonrecursive EWD and WLS optimal filter designs is illustrated with an example.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of land surface parameters in the Red River of the North Basin

The movement and distribution of water in the hydrologic cycle is affected by the level and type of land surface parameters. Thus accurate representation of the physical and biological features of the landscape within a watershed is required. A strong link exists between climate variability and the resulting changes in such land surface parameters as energy, land-cover and surface microclimates. Imagery from Landsat and other satellites provide land-cover and surface microclimate information with high temporal and spatial accuracy. This paper utilizes the land surface temperature (LST) derived from the thermal band of Landsat images and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from its red and near-infrared bands to further improve land-cover and surface microclimate mapping. Remotely-sensed spatially distributed surface latent and sensible heat fluxes were also estimated. The study was conducted on 10,200 km 2 watershed area of the Red River of the North Basin, North Dakota/Minnesota. Over the period of 1974–2002, seven images from Landsat Multispectral Scanner, Thematic Mapper and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus sensors were used. Landsat images were processed using an unsupervised classification. Corrected LST and NDVI, which indicate a strong relationship with the land-cover data, were identified using scattergrams. Surface microclimate parameters (fractional vegetation cover, FVC and fractional impervious surface, FIS area) were estimated and their spatial and temporal distributions determined. Surface energy fluxes (latent and sensible heat) were assessed over space and time. The results indicate that vegetation cover (FVC > 0.5) increased from 7% in 1974 to 33% in 2002 due to cropland farming in the Red River Valley and an increase in impervious areas (FIS > 0.5) (by 79% from 1974 to 2001) attributed to the growing cities in the valley for the period of study. The study also indicated an increase in sensible and latent heat fluxes from 1998 to 2002 for areas classified as developed and cropland, respectively. Hydrograph analysis of the flowat Grand Forks gauging station also indicated runoff response of the basin has increased between 1993 and 2002 with all years having percent runoff greater than 10% compared to only 35% of the years between 1974 and 1993. � 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.