cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining the effect of social distancing on the compound growth rate of COVID-19 at the county level (United States) using statistical analyses and a random forest machine learning model.

Abstract Objectives The goal of the present work is to investigate trends among US counties and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) growth rates in relation to the existence of shelter-in-place (SIP) orders in that county. Study design This is a prospective cohort study. Methods Compound growth rates were calculated using cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases from January 21, 2020, to March 31, 2020, in all 3139 US counties. Compound growth was chosen as it gives a single number that can be used in machine learning to represent the speed of virus spread during defined time intervals. Statistical analyses and a random forest machine learning model were used to analyze the data for differences in counties with and without SIP orders. Results Statistical analyses revealed that the March 16 presidential recommendation (limiting gatherings to ≤10 people) lowered the compound growth rate of COVID-19 for all counties in the US by 6.6%, and the counties that implemented SIP after March 16 had a further reduction of 7.8% compared with the counties that did not implement SIP after March 16. A random forest machine learning model was built to predict compound growth rate after a SIP order and was found to have an accuracy of 92.3%. The random forest found that population, longitude, and population per square mile were the most important features when predicting the effect of SIP. Conclusions SIP orders were found to be effective at reducing the growth rate of COVID-19 cases in the US. Counties with a large population or a high population density were found to benefit the most from a SIP order.
Direct Determination of a Spacecraft Orbit from the Doppler Data Signature

A method for determining a spacecraft orbit solely from Doppler data is described. After removing known components from the Doppler signature, the portion of the signature due only to the spacecraft motion relative to the central body is parameterized. A Newton-Raphson method is applied to obtain the solution. Parameters which yield a nearly diagonally dominant partials matrix are defined. A wide range of convergence is demonstrated for data from the Magellan orbiter around Venus and for simulated data from the NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) mission. This new method is particularly important for orbits around asteroids and comets, where a velocity error of only a few meters per second can place the spacecraft in an entirely unknown orbit.
Systemic Therapy for Locally Advanced and Metastatic Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States, affecting 3.3 million individuals with a total of 5.4 million NMSCs diagnosed in the United States annually (Rogers et al., JAMA Dermatol. 06360:1081–1086, 2015). NMSC is typically considered a localized neoplasm with variable metastatic potential (0.0028–0.55% for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 5.2% for primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)) (Lo et al., J Am Acad Dermatol. 24(5 Pt 1):715–9, 1991; Seo et al., Ann Dermatol. 23(2):213–6, 2011; Kauvar et al. Dermatol Surg. 41(11):1214–40, 2015). In general, the standard treatment modality for NMSC has been surgical excision; nevertheless, those patients with inoperable tumors or metastatic disease necessitate a different treatment approach. Considering that approximately 30% of patients with unresectable cSCC responded to treatment of any kind, and the overall survival for these individuals is less than a year, recent advances in research have been driven by the unmet need of patients with advanced NMSC disease (Jarkowski et al. Am J Clin Oncol. 00(00):1–4, 2014; Gatalica et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 23(12):2965–70). This chapter focuses on the discussion of systemic therapeutic options with hedgehog pathway inhibitors and immunotherapy.
Does Cortical Inhibition Explain the Correlation Between Bistable Perception Paradigms

When observers view a perceptually bistable stimulus, their perception changes stochastically. Various studies have shown across-observer correlations in the percept durations for different bistable stimuli including binocular rivalry stimuli and bistable moving plaids. Previous work on binocular rivalry posits that neural inhibition in the visual hierarchy is a factor involved in the perceptual fluctuations in that paradigm. Here, in order to investigate whether between-observer variability in cortical inhibition underlies correlated percept durations between binocular rivalry and bistable moving plaid perception, we used center-surround suppression as a behavioral measure of cortical inhibition. We recruited 217 participants in a test battery that included bistable perception paradigms as well as a center-surround suppression paradigm. While we were able to successfully replicate the correlations between binocular rivalry and bistable moving plaid perception, we did not find a correlation between center-surround suppression strength and percept durations for any form of bistable perception. Moreover, the results from a mediation analysis indicate that center-surround suppression is not the mediating factor in the correlation between binocular rivalry and bistable moving plaids. These results do not support the idea that cortical inhibition can explain the between-observer correlation in mean percept duration between binocular rivalry and bistable moving plaid perception.
Oxidative defluorination of fluorinated ethylene propylene polymer in moist Cl2 at a low temperature: A mechanistic insight

Defluorination of fluorinated ethylenepropylene (FEP) occurred by reaction with moist Cl2 in the presence of HCl and O2 at -20 °C is described. White smooth FEP (CF2.0) fiber has gone through a severe morphological transformation to black tattered brittle carbonaceous mass (CF>0.5 to CF≤1.0) with extensive swelling; strand diameter increased from 269 to 663 µm. Structurally − CF2 − CF(CF3) − is transformed into − CF = CF − as evidenced from spectroscopic data. A single-electron transfer (SET) mediated reaction is described that led oxidation and chlorination reaction induced by HOCl (E0 + 1.49 V). Theoretical calculations have been done to estimate the β′F–γF distance in –β′CF2–αCF(CF3)– βCF2–γCF2– (1.617 A) and the -F–C-C–C- dihedral angle to elucidate the mechanism of β-elimination pathway. Increase in molar volume (Vm) by 66% was observed from 35.8 in FEP to 59.6 cm−3 mol−1 explained the swelling.
Distance Learning in Collegiate Aviation: Meeting the Needs of Airport Professionals

Distance learning, referring to those courses which can be completed via the computer and internet and entirely absent from the traditional classroom, is increasing in popularity among both students and academic programs. Although (as of Spring 2006 course offerings) 24 institutions currently offer on-line aviation academic courses, this equates to only 21 percent of the institutions in the most recent Collegiate Aviation Guide (Prather, in press). As the demand for distance learning continues to grow, especially among non-traditional students, it is useful to consider the demand among airport professionals for aviation distance learning courses and degrees. A mixed mode survey with multiple contacts was distributed to a randomly selected sample of 200 members of the American Association of Airport Executives during Fall 2005 and Spring 2006. A response rate of 52 percent revealed that many airport professionals view distance learning as affordable, convenient, flexible, of reasonable quality, and impersonal. Additionally, many are interested in pursuing distance learning but are unaware that complete aviation degrees can be completed on-line, and feel that more universities should offer aviation degree programs via distance learning. As we move to meet the educational needs of working adults in a mobile society, our conception of the university must extend beyond place and embrace process. An adult university cannot be campus-bound, rather its borders must be defined by the lives of its students. (Sperling, as cited in Lehrer and Connolly, 1994, p. 13)
Does the Presence of Women in Management Impact Gender Inequality

Differential access to managerial jobs and occupations creates and sustains inequality on other important markers of gender inequality, as these positions bestow many benefits on their incumbents. Also, the demographic composition of managerial positions has important consequences for those who work at lower levels, as managers are critical actors who shape the allocation of rewards in organizations. In this chapter, I review theoretical and empirical work on both the question of access and whether women’s presence in managerial jobs affects gender inequality. Although there has been a marked increase in women’s representation in managerial roles, progress has slowed. This has far-reaching implications for gender inequality, as a burgeoning body of literature shows that women’s presence in managerial hierarchies reduces gender inequality.
Use of Expert Systems for Life Cycle Analysis

As environmental regulations become more stringent, manufacturers are confronted with the task of productdesign considering environmental impacts. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a developing technique that attacks this problem. LCAs provide environmental information for decision making by consumers, manufacturers, and governments. These decisions significantly affect the ability to maximize source reduction, re-use, recyclability, and recycled content. LCAs can aid in diminishing the negative impact a product has on the environment and can be utilized as a partial solution of our nations' (worlds') growing waste management problem. To date, the application of LCAs has varied from product comparison to process development and improvement. The results from these analyses have differed because of differing assumptions and differing choices of boundary conditions. An appropriate Life Cycle Analysis should be consistent across products, locations, and especially across experimenters. The development of LCAs lends itself to computer-assisted design methods such as the techniques of Expert Systems, due to the large amount of information associated with successfully developing an LCA. In this paper, we will discuss using Hierarchical Classification, a specific "task specific architecture" expert systems approach, to organize the terms necessary in performing an LCA. Although not yet definitive, we believe our experience indicates that such approaches to organizing the vast knowledge necessary to accomplish an LCA may be a key factor in eventual successful development of comprehensive LCAs in industry.
Diet Induced Obesity Alters Muscle Spindle Afferent Function in Adult Male Mice

Balance impairment and chronic low level systemic inflammation have both been associated with obesity. As inflammatory factors have been shown to alter the activity of Group Ia/II muscle spindle af...
On the Notion of Pseudo-Free Groups

We explore the notion of a pseudo-free group, first introduced by Hohenberger [Hoh03], and provide an alternative stronger definition. We show that if Z \(^{\rm *}_{n}\) is a pseudo-free abelian group (as we conjecture), then Z \(^{\rm *}_{n}\) also satisfies the Strong RSA Assumption [FO97,CS00,BP97]. Being a “pseudo-free abelian group” may be the strongest natural cryptographic assumption one can make about a group such as Z \(_{n}^{\rm *}\). More generally, we show that a pseudo-free group satisfies several standard cryptographic assumptions, such as the difficulty of computing discrete logarithms.
Using multi-scale sampling and spatial cross-correlation to investigate patterns of plant species richness

Land managers need better techniques to assess exotic plant invasions. We used the cross-correlation statistic, IYZ, to test for the presence of spatial cross-correlation between pair- wise combinations of soil characteristics, topographic variables, plant species richness, and cover of vascular plants in a 754 ha study site in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, U.S.A. Us- ing 25 large plots (1000 m 2 ) in five vegetation types, 8 of 12 variables showed significant spatial cross-correlation with at least one other variable, while 6 of 12 variables showed significant spatial auto-correlation. Elevation and slope showed significant spatial cross-correlation with all variables except percent cover of native and exotic species. Percent cover of native species had significant spatial cross-correlations with soil variables, but not with exotic species. This was probably because of the patchy distributions of vegetation types in the study area. At a finer resolution, using data from ten 1 m 2 subplots within each of the 1000 m 2 plots, all variables showed significant spatial auto- and cross-correlation. Large-plot sampling was more affected by topographic factors than species distribution patterns, while with finer resolution sampling, the opposite was true. However, the statistically and biologically significant spatial correlation of native and exotic species could only be detected with finer resolution sampling. We found exotic plant species invading areas with high native plant richness and cover, and in fertile soils high in nitrogen, silt, and clay. Spatial auto- and cross-correlation statistics, along with the integration of remotely sensed data and geographic information systems, are powerful new tools for evaluating the patterns and distribution of native and exotic plant species in relation to landscape structure.
Observations on Cyclic Nucleotides in Human Semen

In agreement with earlier studies, we have found that the human seminal plasma yields considerably higher values for cyclic nucleotides when compared with spermatozoa. However, we have also shown that these values vary markedly both between different individuals and in specimens from the same individual at different times. Levels recorded for seminal plasma were 25 to 18, 937 nM of cyclic AMP and 0.54 to 3.57 nM of cyclic GMP. These levels were unrelated to those of either fructose (from the seminal vesicles) or zinc and citric acid (from the prostate). We have demonstrated also that in most specimens of seminal plasma the level of cyclic AMP remained stable during a 1-hour incubation at 37 C or during prolonged storage at −40 C. Washed suspensions contained 13.2 to 27.2 pmol cyclic AMP/100 million spermatozoa. Adenylate cyclase activity of human semen was confined to the spermatozoa; it was several times higher in the presence of Mn2+ than Mg2+ and was unresponsive to sodium fluoride. The latter findings are consistent with enzyme activity derived from a dissociated catalytic component of adenylate cyclase.
Digital India: Understanding Information, Communication and Social Change

One of the great foresights and enduring initiatives of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the development of technology research centres that would eventually lead to the country ...
Optimizing Memory Transactions for Multicore Systems

The shift to multicore architectures will require new programming technologies that enable mainstream developers to write parallel programs that can safely take advantage of the parallelism offered by multicore processors. One challenging aspect of shared memory parallel programming is synchronization. Programmers have traditionally used locks for synchronization, but lock-based synchronization has well-known pitfalls that make it hard to use for building thread-safe and scalable software components. Memory transactions have emerged as a promising alternative to lock-based synchronization because they promise to eliminate many of the problems associated with locks. Transactional programming constructs, however, have overheads and require optimizations to make them practical. Transactions can also benefit significantly from hardware support, and multicore processors with their large transistor budgets and on-chip memory hierarchies have the opportunity to provide this support.
Frictional properties of natural fault gouge from a low‐angle normal fault, Panamint Valley, California

[1] We investigate the relationship between frictional strength and clay mineralogy of natural fault gouge from a low-angle normal fault in Panamint Valley, California. Gouge samples were collected from the fault zone at five locations along a north–south transect of the range-bounding fault system, spanning a variety of bedrock lithologies. Samples were powdered and sheared in the double-direct shear configuration at room temperature and humidity. The coefficient of friction, μ, was measured at a range of normal stresses from 5 to 150 MPa for all samples. Our results reinforce the intuitive understanding that natural fault gouge zones are inherently heterogeneous. Samples from a single location exhibit dramatic differences in behavior, yet all three were collected within a meter of the fault core. For most of the samples, friction varies from μ = 0.6 to μ = 0.7, consistent with Byerlee's law. However, samples with greater than 50 wt % total clay content were much weaker (μ = 0.2–0.4). Expandable clay content of the samples ranged from 10 to 40 wt %. Frictional weakness did not correlate with expandable clays. Our results indicate that friction decreases with increasing total clay content, rather than with the abundance of expandable clays. The combination of field relations, analytical results, and friction measurements indicates a positive correlation between clay content, fabric intensity, and localization of strain in the fault core. A mechanism based upon foliations enveloping angular elements to reduce friction is suggested for weakening of fault gouge composed of mixed clay and granular material. We provide broad constraints of 1–5 km on the depth of gouge generation and the depth at which fault weakness initiates. We show that slip on the Panamint Valley fault and similar low-angle normal faults is mechanically feasible in the mid-upper crust if the strength of the fault is limited by weak, clay-rich fault gouge.
Reduction of Quinones with Hydriodic Acid: Benz[a]anthracene

Reduction of Quinones with Hydriodic Acid: Benz[a]anthracene product: benz[a]anthracene Keywords: addition, to CO; deoxygenation; reduction, CO CH2; benz[a]anthracene; benzene
Kinetic and Energetic Analysis of Thermally Activated TRPV1 Channels

Thermal TRP channels are important for thermal sensation and nociception, but their gating mechanisms have remained elusive. With optically generated submillisecond temperature steps from 22°C to >60°C, we have directly measured the activation and deactivation kinetics of TRPV1 channels, and from the measurements we determined the energetics of thermal gating. We show that activation by temperature follows single exponential time courses. It occurs in a few milliseconds and is significantly faster than activation by agonists. The gating has characteristics of a melting process involving large compensatory enthalpy (>100 kcal/mol) and entropy changes with little free energy change. The reaction path is asymmetrical with temperature mainly driving the opening while the closing has nominal but negative temperature dependence (i.e., sensitivity to cold). Both voltage and agonists alter the slope of the temperature-dependent gating curve as well as shifting the midpoint. However, compared to the energetic effect of temperature on gating, the effect of voltage is small. Our data on the interdependence between voltage and direct temperature responses are not fit to a model involving independent stimuli but instead support a temperature-sensing mechanism that is coupled to charge movement or agonist binding.
The voices of the medical record.

The medical record, as a managerial, historic, and legal document, serves many purposes. Although its form may be well established and many of the cases documented in it ‘routine’ in medical experience, what is written in the medical record nevertheless records decisions and actions of individuals. Viewed as an interpretive ‘text’, it can itself become the object of interpretation. This essay applies literary theory and methodology to the structure, content, and writing style(s) of an actual medical record for the purpose of exploring the relationship between the forms and language of medical discourse and the daily decisions surrounding medical treatment. The medical record is shown to document not only the absence of a consistent treatment plan for the patient studied but also a breakdown in communication between different health professionals caring for that patient. The paper raises questions about the kind of education being given to house staff in this instance. The essay concludes with a consideration of how such situations might be more generally avoided.
Mechanical Properties of Artificial Protein Matrices Engineered for Control of Cell and Tissue Behavior

Genetic engineering methods were used for the preparation of artificial proteins containing sequences designed to reproduce essential features of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The long-term objective of the work is to develop matrices for use in the engineering of small-diameter vascular grafts. The CS5 domain of fibronectin provides binding sites for vascular endothelial cells, while an elastin-like repeat, [(VPGIG)2(VPGKG)(VPGIG)2], controls the mechanical properties and includes sites for covalent cross-linking. Bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate and disuccinimidyl suberate were used to cross-link artificial ECM protein films for uniaxial tensile testing. Variation in the amount of cross-linker and protein weight fraction allowed preparation of films with Young's moduli ranging from 0.07 to 0.97 MPa. The weight fraction of protein in the hydrated, cross-linked films was measured to be between 0.2 and 0.4; the molecular weight between cross-links (Mc) varied from 3000 to 38 000. The moduli and Mc of the ...
Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in acid sensitive lakes

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations and fluxes were measured in 210 Pb dated sediment cores taken from nine lakes in four regions identified as susceptible to acidification. Calculated PAH accumulations were compared with historic S emissions, accumulation of sedimentary S and anthropogenic metal accumulations to determine if PAH could be used as an indicator of combustion-derived sulfate deposition. Comparisons between regions indicated that the Adirondacks have a significantly higher burden of PAH than do northern New England, the northern Great Lakes States and northern Florida. This difference likely results from significant upwind PAH sources to the Adirondack lakes. Detailed investigation of the largest lake in the study set, Big Moose Lake, indicates that PAH may serve as conservative, combustion indicators in large lakes. In this lake, PAH fluxes and concentrations were significantly correlated with historical S emission rates. These data suggest that PAH measured in sediment cores from large lakes can serve as indicators of past combustion product deposition.
Epithelial Cell Proliferation Contributes to Airway Remodeling in Severe Asthma

Rationale: Despite long-term therapy with corticosteroids, patients with severe asthma develop irreversible airway obstruction.Objectives: To evaluate if there are structural and functional differences in the airway epithelium in severe asthma associated with airway remodeling.Methods: In bronchial biopsies from 21 normal subjects, 11 subjects with chronic bronchitis, 9 subjects with mild asthma, and 31 subjects with severe asthma, we evaluated epithelial cell morphology: epithelial thickness, lamina reticularis (LR) thickness, and epithelial desquamation. Levels of retinoblastoma protein (Rb), Ki67, and Bcl-2 were measured, reflecting cellular proliferation and death. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to study cellular apoptosis.Measurements and Main Results: Airway epithelial and LR thickness was greater in subjects with severe asthma compared with those with mild asthma, normal subjects, and diseased control subjects (p = 0.009 and 0.033, respectively). There wa...
The TREK/E36 experiment at J-PARC

Experiment E36 is planned to run at the J-PARC K1.1BR kaon beamline in 2014-15 using a stopped kaon beam along with the TREK target and detector setup. The decay products of stopped positive kaons will be observed with a large-acceptance toroidal spectrometer capable of tracking charged particles with high resolution, combined with a photon calorimeter with large solid angle and redundant particle identification systems. With the aim to test lepton universality in the Ke2/Kμ2 ratio with high precision, the experiment is highly sensitive to new physics beyond the Standard Model. A further goal of E36 is to search for a heavy sterile neutrino in two-body kaon decay, along with additional searches for exotic decay modes including the possibility to produce a dark photon and to observe its decay into an e+e− pair. An overview of the planned measurements with E36 will be presented.
Risk factors for severe neutropenia following intra-arterial chemotherapy for intra-ocular retinoblastoma.

Purpose Intra-arterial chemotherapy is a promising strategy for intra-ocular retinoblastoma. Neutropenia is the most commonly encountered systemic toxicity and in this study we aimed to determine the risk factors associated with the development of severe (≥grade 3) neutropenia. Methods Retrospective review of 187 evaluable cycles of melphalan-containing intra-arterial chemotherapy from the first three cycles administered to 106 patients with intra-ocular retinoblastoma from May 2006 to June 2011. Cycles were considered to be evaluable if (1) blood count results were available in the 7 to 14 days post-treatment interval and (2) concurrent intravenous chemotherapy was not administered. Toxicity was assessed via the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Results 54 cycles (29%) were associated with grade 3 (n = 43) or grade 4 (n = 11) neutropenia. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression revealed that a higher melphalan dose (>0.40 mg/kg) was significantly associated with severe neutropenia during all 3 cycles (odds ratio during cycle one 4.11, 95% confidence interval 1.33–12.73, p = 0.01), but the addition of topotecan and/or carboplatin were not. Prior treatment with systemic chemotherapy was not associated with severe neutropenia risk in any analysis. Conclusions Intra-arterial melphalan-based chemotherapy can cause severe neutropenia, especially when a dose of greater than 0.40 mg/kg is administered. Further study with a larger sample may be warranted.
Fertility after bilateral cryptorchidism. Evaluation by paternity, hormone, and semen data.

Purpose: Evaluation of the fertility of a cohort of formerly bilaterally cryptorchid men in comparison with a group of formerly unilaterally cryptorchid men, and a group of control
Shortest path queries in planar graphs

The problem of processing shortest pa th queries in graphs arises in application areas such as intelligent t ranspor ta t ion system (ITS), geographic information system (GIS), and robotics. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithmic solution for processing shortest pa th queries in undirected planar graphs with non-negative edge weights. Previous algorithms for this problem on planar graphs all have a tradeoff between the query t ime and the da ta structure space used by the solutions. The previously best known trade-off on an n-vertex planar graph G in the worst case is O(v/-r) t ime for a pa th length query and O(v/-r + L) t ime for report ing an actual shortest path, with a da ta structure of O(n2/x/~) space, where r is an integer parameter with 1 < r _< n and L is the number of edges on the output shortest path. We present a new scheme, called frame search, that exploits the graph planari ty in a novel fashion. Wi th this scheme, we build an improved da ta structure of O(n + pv/-r + p2/r) space (in O(n + p2/v/~ + pr 3/4) time), where p is the minimum cardinality of a face-covering of the planar embedding of G with 1 < p < O(n), and r is an integer parameter with 1 < r < p. This da ta structure enables us to process each length query in O(v/-rlog r + a(n)) t ime and report an actual shortest path in an addit ional O(L) time, where a(n) is the inverse of Ackermann's function. In the worst case, our approach reduces the previously best query t ime by a factor of up to O(n 1/4) if the same amount of space is used. Our technique can also be applied to improve the previous query algorithms for some geometric shortest pa th problems on the plane.
Temperature dependence of hole mobility in n-type InSb upon electron bombardment

Abstract The mobility of the minority carriers, in n -InSb was investigated from the photomagnetoelectric effect as a function of temperature in the range of 12–80 K prior to and after bombardment with 1 MeV average energy beta particles. The hole mobility shows a minimum near 40 K which can be due to the h-e scattering becoming predominant in the region where other scattering mechanisms are relatively weak. After bombardment the curves have the same form but higher mobilities. This is due to a decrease of h-e scattering resulting from the decrease of the electron concentration, as determined from independent measurements.
Generalization of cluster treatment of characteristic roots for robust stability of multiple time‐delayed systems

A new perspective is presented for studying the stability robustness of nth order systems with p rationally independent delays. It deploys a holographic mapping procedure over the delay space into a new coordinate system in order to achieve the objective. This mapping collapses the entire set of potential stability switching points on a manageably small number of hypersurfaces, which are explicitly defined in the new domain. This property considerably alleviates the problem, which is otherwise infinite dimensional, and therefore notoriously complex to handle. We further declare some unrecognized features of these switching hypersurfaces, that they are (a) encapsulated within a higher-dimensional cube with edges of length 2π, which we name the ‘building block’, and (b) the ‘offspring’ of this building block, which represent the secondary stability switchings, appear within the adjacent and identical building blocks (cubes) stacked up next to each other. The final outlook is an exclusive representation of stability for this general class of systems at any arbitrary point in the delay space. Two example case studies are also provided, which are not possible to analyze using any other methodology known to the authors. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Critical Behavior of Magnets with Dipolar Interactions. IV. Anisotropy

Renormalization-group recursion formulas for magnets with dipolar interactions, derived in previous papers, are generalized to include the case of anisotropic exchange and dipolar forces. For a ferromagnet with a dominant $m$ isotropy (the original spins having $n=d=4\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\epsilon}gmg1$ components), the critical exponent $\ensuremath{\nu}$ is $2\ensuremath{\nu}=1+\frac{(\frac{1}{2}){(m+2)}^{2}\ensuremath{\epsilon}}{({m}^{2}+10m+12)}+O({\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{2})$ [to be compared with $2\ensuremath{\nu}=1+\frac{(\frac{1}{2})(m+2)\ensuremath{\epsilon}}{(m+8)}+O({\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{2})$ for the pure-exchange case]. For antiferromagnets, the pure-exchange exponents apply.
Multi-agent event recognition by preservation of spatiotemporal relationships between probabilistic models

We present a new method for multi-agent activity analysis and recognition that uses low level motion features and exploits the inherent structure and recurrence of motion present in multi-agent activity scenarios. Our representation is inspired by the need to circumvent the difficult problem of tracking in multi-agent scenarios and the observation that for many visual multi-agent recognition tasks, the spatiotemporal description of events irrespective of agent identity is sufficient for activity classification. We begin by learning generative models describing motion induced by individual actors or groups, which are considered to be agents. These models are Gaussian mixture distributions learned by linking clusters of optical flow to obtain contiguous regions of locally coherent motion. These possibly overlapping regions or segments, known as motion patterns are then used to analyze a scene by estimating their spatial and temporal relationships. The geometric transformations between two patterns are obtained by iteratively warping one pattern onto another, whereas the temporal relationships are obtained from their relative times of occurrence within videos. These motion segments and their spatio-temporal relationships are represented as a graph, where the nodes are the statistical distributions, and the edges have geometric transformations between motion patterns transformed to Lie space, as their attributes. Two activity instances are then compared by estimating the cost of attributed inexact graph matching. We demonstrate the application of our framework in the analysis of American football plays, a typical multi-agent activity. The performance analysis of our method shows that it is feasible and easily generalizable.
Incidence of intraoperative corneal abrasions and correlation with age using the hansatome and amadeus microkeratomes during laser in situ keratomileusis

To compare the incidence of intraoperative corneal abrasions using the Hansatome (Bausch & Lomb Surgical) and Amadeus (Advanced Medical Optics) microkeratomes and to determine whether there is a correlation between patient age and the occurrence of intraoperative corneal abrasions. Outpatient ambulatory laser vision correction center. The charts of 133 patients (263 eyes) having laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were randomized to LASIK performed by 2 surgeons using the same technique with alternative microkeratome selection. The incidence of intraoperative corneal abrasions was significantly higher with the Hansatome microkeratome than with the Amadeus microkeratome (P =.014). There was a significant correlation between increasing patient age and the incidence of corneal abrasions with both microkeratomes (P<.05). Laser in situ keratomileusis surgeons should be aware that certain microkeratome designs pose a higher risk for intraoperative corneal abrasions and that older patients are more susceptible to intraoperative corneal epithelial injury. These patients should be informed accordingly for appropriate consent.
Unraveling \(\mathcal {L}_{n, k} \): grassmannian kinematics

It was recently proposed that the leading singularities of the S-Matrix of $$\mathcal N $$ = 4 super Yang-Mills theory arise as the residues of a contour integral over a Grassmannian manifold, with space-time locality encoded through residue theorems generalizing Cauchy’s theorem to more than one variable. We provide a method to identify the residue corresponding to any leading singularity, and we carry this out explicitly for all leading singularities at tree level and one-loop. We also give several examples at higher loops, including all generic two-loop leading singularities and an interesting four-loop object. As an example we consider a 12-pt N4MHV leading singularity at two loops that has a kinematic structure involving double square roots. Our analysis results in a simple picture for how the topological structure of loop graphs is reflected in various substructures within the Grassmannian.
Three decade change in the prevalence of hearing impairment and its association with diabetes in the United States.

Abstract Objective To examine the secular change of the prevalence of hearing impairment over three decades in U.S. adults with and without diabetes. Methods The cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES, the 1971–1973 [NHANES I] and the 1999–2004 [NHANES 1999–2004]) were used. Average pure-tone audiometry thresholds in decibels (dB) at 1, 2, 3, and 4 kHz frequencies of the worse ear were used to represent the participants' hearing status. Any hearing impairment was defined as average pure-tone audiometry threshold of the worse ear > 25 dB. Results From 1971 to 2004, among adults without diabetes aged 25 to 69 years, the unadjusted prevalence of hearing impairment decreased from 27.9% to 19.1% ( P Conclusions Persons with diabetes have a higher prevalence of hearing impairment, and they have not achieved the same reductions in hearing impairment over time as have persons without diabetes.
Animal navigation: longitude at last.

Summary Newly hatched sea turtles exposed to artificially generated magnetic fields with parameters characteristic of two sites 3700 km apart, differing only in longitude, can distinguish the two apparent locations and orient appropriately.
Quantitative and Qualitative Assessments of the Impact of Linguistic Theory on Information Science.

A citation analysis was performed on a subset of the information science literature in which quantitative and qualitative measures were employed to explore its relationship to linguistic theory. The overall findings showed that this portion of the information science literature cited linguistic theory very little. Further data analysis showed that small numbers of citing and cited authors accounted for most of the activity; that syntax and semantics occupied more attention from information scientists than other branches of linguistic theory; that information scientists did not cite the same works over time; and that most of the citations to linguistic theory belong to qualitative “non-use” categories. © 1991 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Keck observations of the 2002–2003 jovian ring plane crossing

Abstract We present new observations of Jupiter's ring system at a wavelength of 2.2 μm obtained with the 10-m W.M. Keck telescopes on three nights during a ring plane crossing: UT 19 December 2002, and 22 and 26 January 2003. We used conventional imaging, plus adaptive optics on the last night. Here we present detailed radial profiles of the main ring, halo and gossamer rings, and interpret the data together with information extracted from radio observations of Jupiter's synchrotron radiation. The main ring is confined to a 800-km-wide annulus between 128,200 and 129,000 km, with a ∼ 5000 km extension on the inside. The normal optical depth is 8 × 10 −6 , 15% of which is provided by bodies with radii a ≳ 5 cm . These bodies are as red as Metis. Half the optical depth, τ ≈ 4 × 10 −6 , is attributed to micron-sized dust, and the remaining τ ≈ 3 × 10 −6 to grains tens to hundreds of μm in size. The inward extension consists of micron-sized ( a ≲ 10 μm ) dust, which probably migrates inward under Poynting–Robertson drag. The inner limit of this extension falls near the 3:2 Lorentz resonance (at orbital radius r = 122 , 400 km ), and coincides with the outer limit of the halo. The gossamer rings appear to be radially confined, rather than broad sheets of material. The Amalthea ring is triangularly shaped, with a steep outer dropoff over ∼5000 km, extending a few 1000 km beyond the orbit of Amalthea, and a more gradual inner dropoff over 15,000–20,000 km. The inner edge is near the location of the synchronous orbit. The optical depth in the Amalthea ring is ∼ 5 × 10 −7 , up to 20% of which is comprised of macroscopic material. The optical depth in the Thebe ring is a factor of 3 smaller.
Systematische Überlegungen zu Husserls Einstellungslehre

In diesem Aufsatz skizziere ich eine systematische Rekonstruktion des phanomenologischen Grundbegriffs „Einstellung“. Zuerst wende ich mich an Husserls Erorterung des Einstellungsbegriffs im Hinblick auf die drei grundlegenden Bewusstseinsvermogen: Verstand, Wille und Gemut. Auf dieser Ebene spielt die vom Subjekt eingenommene Einstellung die wichtige Rolle eines Artikulationsprinzips, das den untergeordneten Elementen eines komplexen Aktgefuges eine umfassende Einheit verleiht. Daraufhin ziehe ich die Klasse der Erkenntniseinstellungen in Betracht: Ausgehend von der Grundunterscheidung zwischen personalistischen und naturalistischen Einstellung wende ich mich der naturlichen Einstellung zu und argumentiere, dass die personalistischen Einstellung ihren systematischen Kern darstellt. Die naturliche Einstellung kann demnach auch als menschliche Einstellung definiert werden, d.h., als diejenige Einstellung, in deren Rahmen sich die Subjekte ausschlieslich als menschliche Subjekte in der seienden Welt setzen. Zum Schluss untersuche ich die Funktion der phanomenologischen Reduktion als die Moglichkeit einer radikal neuartigen Einstellung im Gegensatz zu einer blosen Erste-Person-Perspektive innerhalb der naturlichen Einstellung.
Ultrasonically generated quantized vorticity in HeII

Abstract Ultrasound at one megahertz and electron bubble currents are used to probe superfluid helium. Onset of electron bubble trapping on sonically produced vortex lines occurs simultaneously with the onset of the subharmonic frequencies in the liquid.
Multidisciplinary Antepartum Model of Care to Improve Perinatal Outcomes

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program The Maternal–Child Health Services Multidisciplinary Antepartum Team Project was developed to identify evidence‐based practice and guide nursing care with a model of approach that involves all disciplines of care, plus the patient and her family. The goal of the multidisciplinary antepartum team is to use all members of the healthcare team, to address needs of the patient, to potentially lengthen pregnancy, improve fetal well‐being, decrease maternal adverse events, and reduce the need to admit infants to the neonatal intensive care unit. Proposed Change To improve maternal/fetal outcomes through early identification and communication of maternal risk factors by developing a multidisciplinary individualized plan of care. This team will use evidenced‐based nursing research to improve patient outcomes, decrease the emotional and physical stressors of a long‐term hospitalization, and to positively affect the patient's perception of the healthcare team. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation The Maternal–Child Healthcare team identified the need for improved communication and collaboration for long‐term hospitalized antepartum patients. A multidisciplinary team that included members from education, nursing, social services, research, and management convened to examine the need to improve antepartum care. As a result of the initial team planning, new nursing processes have been implemented. Specific changes include a daily huddle to discuss patient diagnoses, diagnostics, consultations, plan of care for the day, and the use of the antepartum SBAR tool to improve communication. The primary nurse reviews the daily plan of care with the team and the patient, and also solicits information from the patient to identify urgent needs, with specific attention to emotional and physical well‐being. A weekly meeting that includes the patient's obstetrician, perinatologist, neonatologist, nursing team, social services, pastoral care, and unit educators is planned to continue the collaborative care model to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient and the infant. Implications for Nursing Practice The patient's status is reviewed and evaluated daily by the nursing team at the daily huddle. The goals for the previous plan of care are reviewed, to be certain that goals were met or refined. Patient provides information to the nursing team daily to identify any needs that have yet to be addressed or resolved. The multidisciplinary team continues to meet, update, and communicate goals for the patient, until the patient gives birth or is discharged.
“If Not You, Then Who?” Advocating for the Physical Education Needs of Students with Disabilities

During my doctoral program, Dr. Bettye Myers of Texas Woman's University posed the question to us as educators: “If not you, then who?” She challenged us to consider who, other than educators, woul...
Image reproduction colorimetry

The field of colorimetry appears to be arbitrarily divided into two areas, matching-and-formulation colorimetry and image-reproduction colorimetry. It is believed that the end uses for the colorimetric data and the methods of color generation are sufficiently different in these two areas to warrant this division. Conditions that contribute to this division are the need for metamerism and the use of limited sets of primaries in reproduction work, the compromise of lightnesses due to tone reproduction, the availability and proper use of instrumentation compared to that desired, and the viewing conditions of the standard observer. All these contribute to produce significantly larger color differences in image-reproduction work than in matching and formulation. However, workers in reproduction studies can still draw useful conclusions when these conditions are properly understood.
Invertebrate assemblages of pools in arid‐land streams have high functional redundancy and are resistant to severe drying

Summary Seasonal droughts are predictable components of arid-land stream hydrology, and many arid-land aquatic taxa have adapted to their extreme environment. However, climate change is altering this predictable hydrology, producing longer and more severe droughts and creating novel disturbance regimes for resident organisms. The hydrologic transitions from flowing stream to fragmented pools to dry stream bed are frequently associated with steep decreases in taxonomic and functional diversity, referred to as thresholds of biodiversity loss. Less is known about how taxa respond between these thresholds, as fragmented pools gradually dry and abiotic conditions intensify. While an increasingly extreme environment may be expected to reduce taxonomic and trait richness, species adapted to predictable seasonal fragmentation may be resistant to declining water levels until all surface water is lost. We used aquatic mesocosms to test two competing hypotheses of the relationship between richness and pool drying for arid-land stream invertebrates: (i) the drought vulnerability hypothesis (richness gradually decreases with drying) and (ii) the drought resistance hypothesis (richness remains constant until complete drying occurs). We inoculated replicate mesocosms with aquatic invertebrates from arid-land streams in Arizona, U.S.A., and applied three drying treatments representing a continuum of drying stress commonly observed in local streams during the summer dry season (water depths: 10, 7 and 1 cm). Mesocosms were covered to restrict dispersal and colonisation processes and to isolate resistance (in situ survival of species) from resilience (community recovery following disturbance). After 45 days, we destructively sampled all invertebrates in the mesocosms and calculated various taxonomic and functional trait metrics. Taxonomic richness and composition did not differ between drying treatments, providing strong support for the drought resistance hypothesis. Severe drying was associated with lower invertebrate abundances and higher densities than the moderate and control treatments. This finding suggests that density-dependent processes generated by decreased available habitat may be more important determinants of community composition during droughts than abiotic stress in this system. We observed a near-complete overlap of trophic traits (body size and functional feeding group) and resistance traits (respiration mode and diapause) among the three treatments. This high functional redundancy may provide a buffer against changes to ecosystem functioning, even in cases of severe-drying-induced habitat contraction and fragmentation.