cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TEEVE-Remote: A Novel User-Interaction Solution for 3D Tele-immersive System

3D Tele-immersion (3DTI) system enables geographically distributed users to interact with each other in the virtual 3D space. Many 3DTI applications require users to have frequent physical movement in the application (e.g, 3D interactive exergaming, remote therapy). However, traditional user interaction (UI) solution (which includes large display, mouse/keyboard) for 3DTI system does not give users much freedom to move during the interaction and thus has difficulties to meet this requirement. In this work, we design and implement a novel UI solution TEEVE-Remote which utilizes state-of-the-art camera, mobile phone and display technologies to overcome the difficulties and therefore significantly improve the user experience of 3DTI system.
Light-Emitting Hair Follicles: Studying Skin Regeneration With In Vivo Imaging

Cutting-edge imaging technologies and new luminescent and fluorescent genetic tools now make it possible to study hair regeneration in vivo in real time at the microscopic single-cell level and at the macroscopic level of hair follicle populations. These technologies also allow for noninvasive assessment of the skin's clinically relevant homeostatic parameters, such as oxidative stress levels and pH.
PROFILES OF SUCCESSFUL CRAFT MICRO-RETAILERS

This research sought to provide insight on those strategies and business activities associated with successful micro-retail entrepreneurs, specifically in arts-related firms where minimal research ...
A multiscale systems approach to microelectronic processes

This paper describes applications of molecular simulation to microelectronics processes and the subsequent development of techniques for multiscale simulation and multiscale systems engineering. The progression of the applications of simulation in the semiconductor industry from macroscopic to molecular to multiscale is reviewed. Multiscale systems are presented as an approach that incorporates molecular and multiscale simulation to design processes that control events at the molecular scale while simultaneously optimizing all length scales from the molecular to the macroscopic. It is discussed how design and control problems in microelectronics and nanotechnology, including the targeted design of processes and products at the molecular scale, can be addressed using the multiscale systems tools. This provides a framework for addressing the “grand challenge” of nanotechnology: how to move nanoscale science and technology from art to an engineering discipline.
Diquark fragmentation studies at the CERN ISR

The Lamp Shade Magnet spectrometer was used to trigger on 30° pions of momentum ≳5 GeV/c in pp collisions at the CERN ISR. Forward pion and proton production in the trigger hemisphere indicate that hadronization of diquarks is primarily recombination resulting in high x baryon formation. The data support universality of diquark fragmentation in pp and deep inelastic leptoproduction reactions.
Wireless coverage with disparate ranges

One of the most fundamental task of wireless networks is to provide coverage of a set of targets. Suppose that all nodes and targets lie in a plane, and all nodes have circular coverage ranges of arbitrary radii. The problem Minimum Wireless Cover (MWC) seeks the fewest nodes to cover the targets. If all nodes are associated with some positive prices, the problem Cheapest Wireless Cover (CWC) seeks a cheapest set of nodes to cover the targets. If all nodes have bounded lives, the problem Max-Life Wireless Cover (MLWC) seeks wireless coverage schedule of maximum life subject to the life constraints of individual nodes. In this paper, we present a polynomial time approximation scheme (PTAS) for MWC, and two randomized 2O(log* n)-approximation algorithms for CWC and MLWC respectively, where n is the number of nodes, and log* n is the iterated logarithm of n with base 2.
Developers of the hepatitis B vaccine.

air at VA facilities, one of the many pieces of unfinished business beyond those major issues that we discussed in our Commentary. We agree that all facilities where current and past military personnel serve and receive treatment should be 100% smoke-free and note the recent Institute of Medicine report Combating Tobacco in Military and Veteran Populations. The report, which was commissioned by the Department of Defense (DOD) in 2007, calls for the DOD to set a timeline to eliminate smoking on military installations. The report also recommends that the DOD stop selling tobacco products in military commissaries and exchanges, prohibit tobacco use anywhere on military installations, and treat tobacco use in the same way as other health-related behaviors, such as alcohol abuse and poor physical fitness. We join Matthews and the Institute of Medicine in urging the VA and the DOD to take more immediate steps to protect the health of the men and women who serve in the armed services, as well as the civilians (such as Dr Matthews) working to serve them.
Mediastinal surgery in connective tissue tunnels using flexible endoscopy

Mediastinal surgery most often is performed via a transthoracic or transabdominal approach; however, the pre- and paratracheal mediastinum can be readily accessed with a transcervical approach. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and success rate of using a transcervical approach and flexible endoscopes to perform mediastinal surgery also in the retro- and paraesophageal mediastinum. Mediastinal operations on four live pigs and one human cadaver were performed using standard endoscopes through a small cervical incision. The procedure involved marking of four mediastinal lymph nodes using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). The esophagus was dissected to the phrenoesophageal junction by creating connective tissue tunnels with balloon dilatation and low-pressure CO2 insufflation. Heller myotomy was performed followed by sequential identification and removal of the marked nodes. Success rate of esophageal dissection to the diaphragm, Heller myotomy, directed mediastinal lymph node harvest, and complication rates were evaluated. Dissection of the esophagus to the diaphragm was achieved in 100% of attempts. Distal esophageal myotomy was performed in all cases. Harvest of marked lymph nodes (ln) was successful in 100% of animals (16/16 ln) and cadavers (2/2 ln). One major complication was recorded in the pig group (tension pneumomediastinum). The entire visceral mediastinum can be successfully accessed through a transcervical incision using flexible endoscopes. Directed lymph node harvest and esophageal myotomy is feasible with a high success rate. Connective tissue tunnels are safe, atraumatic, and a promising concept for targeted mediastinal exploration. With refinement in technology, this approach may be useful for a variety of mediastinal surgeries.
Testing Heuristics: We Have It All Wrong

The competitive nature of most algorithmic experimentation is a source of problems that are all too familiar to the research community. It is hard to make fair comparisons between algorithms and to assemble realistic test problems. Competitive testing tells us which algorithm is faster but not why. Because it requires polished code, it consumes time and energy that could be better spent doing more experiments. This article argues that a more scientific approach of controlled experimentation, similar to that used in other empirical sciences, avoids or alleviates these problems. We have confused research and development; competitive testing is suited only for the latter.
Parasympatholytic activity of (-)-Δ9-trans- Tetrahydrocannabinol in mongrel dogs

Abstract (-)-Δ 9 - trans -Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC) (0.312–5 mg/kg) shifted the frequency-response curves of vagal stimulation to the right and attenuated salivation induced by chorda tympani stimulation in dogs. This parasympatholytic activity of Δ 9 -THC was neither atropine-like in nature nor was it due to ganglionic blockade. It is postulated that Δ 9 -THC may interfere with the release of acetylcholine.
A note concerning some recent treatments of dielectric screening in metals

Abstract A discussion is given of the asymptotic behavior of the effective electron-electron interaction function developed in some recent treatments of static dielectric screening in metals.
Treatment Response in Association with Adherence Patterns to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Perinatally Acquired HIV Infection.

Background:Assessment of longitudinal adherence patterns on virologic and immunologic responses to HAART in perinatally acquired HIV patients has not been studied.Methods:Perinatally infected pediatric HIV patients with adherence documented at least twice and corresponding viral load and T-cell (%) data measured during 2008-2009 were studied. Multiple adherence measures were utilized to identify patients with persistent adherence, nonadherence, or alteration of adherence. Virologic and immunologic outcomes were assessed.Results:Persistent adherence, nonadherence, and alteration of adherence to HAART were recorded in 41.9%, 8.1%, and 50.0% of 62 studied patients. Persistent adherence was associated with higher likelihood for persistent virologic suppression and lower risk for persistent virologic failure.Conclusion:Alteration of adherence to HAART is a significant predictor of persistent virologic failure and high viremia in perinatally infected HIV patients. Implementation of longitudinal adherence assess...
Natural Resource Economics Issues, Analysis, and Policy

A unified exposition of the principles of optimum use of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources, set in the framework of historical natural resource concerns and real world resource markets. Utilizes most up-to-date theoretical and empirical research results from economics, geology, hydrology, and the environmental sciences. Characterizes the role of natural resources in long-term economic growth; describes and analyzes problems and policy issues of energy, nonenergy minerals, forestry, fisheries, water resources, and preserved natural environments. Reviews factors critical to the future and seeks to derive a responsible natural resources policy'' that emphasizes intergenerational equity. Includes several extended case studies.
Ultrastructural immunolabeling in diagnostic surgical pathology: illustrative cases.

Ultrastructural immunolabeling techniques can be reproducibly applied to resolve diagnostic dilemmas in surgical pathology. The technique utilized for processing and labeling the cases presented in this article is simple and reproducible. The specimens were fixed in Carson-Millonig phosphate-buffered 4% formaldehyde fixative and embedded in LR White resin following a well-described protocol. Immunogold labeling allows precise localization of antigenic sites without compromise of the underlying ultrastructural morphologic findings; thus detailed immunomorphologic assessment is achieved. Immunoelectron microscopy techniques permit clarification of doubtful immunocytochemistry results by labeling antigenic epitopes in cases in which light microscopy immunocytochemistry techniques fail to show unequivocal positive results (probably as a consequence of small amounts of detectable antigen present in the tissues). Not only does ultra-structural labeling permit identification of focally positive reactions essenti...
Aromatic polyamides. XII. Effect of the polymeric unit linkage position on the thermal decomposition and flammability of the unsubstituted and halogen-substituted aromatic polyamides

The synthesis, thermal characterization, and oxygen index of aromatic polyamides varying with polymeric unit linkage positions (meta and/or para units) and halogen substitution have been reported. It has been found that polyamides containing para units are more thermal stable than those containing meta units. There is no significant effect of the main chain structure studied here on either the pyrolysis pathways or flammability of similarly halogen substituted polyamides.
Performance assessment and validation of piezoelectric active-sensors in structural health monitoring

A sensor diagnostics and validation process that performs in situ monitoring of the operational status of piezoelectric (PZT) active-sensors in structural health monitoring (SHM) applications is presented. Both degradation of the mechanical/electrical properties of a PZT transducer and the bonding defects between a PZT patch and a host structure could be identified by the proposed process. This study also includes the investigation into the effects of the sensor/structure bonding defects on high-frequency SHM techniques, including Lamb wave propagations and impedance methods. It has been found that the effects are significant, modifying the phase and amplitude of propagated waves and changing the measured impedance spectrum. These changes could lead to false indications on the structural conditions without an efficient sensor-diagnostic process. The feasibility of the proposed sensor diagnostics procedure is then demonstrated by analytical studies and experimental examples, where the functionality of the surface-mounted piezoelectric sensors was continuously deteriorated. The proposed process can provide a metric that can be used to determine the sensor functionality over a long period of service time or after an extreme loading event. Further, the proposed method can be useful if one needs to check the operational status of a sensing network right after its installation.
Why Are Two Different Cross-linkers Necessary for Actin Bundle Formation In Vivo and What Does Each Cross-link Contribute?

In developing Drosophila bristles two species of cross-linker, the forked proteins and fascin, connect adjacent actin filaments into bundles. Bundles form in three phases: (a) tiny bundles appear; (b) these bundles aggregate into larger bundles; and (c) the filaments become maximally cross-linked by fascin. In mutants that completely lack forked, aggregation of the bundles does not occur so that the mature bundles consist of <50 filaments versus approximately 700 for wild type. If the forked concentration is genetically reduced to half the wild type, aggregation of the tiny bundles occurs but the filaments are poorly ordered albeit with small patches of fascin cross-linked filaments. In mutants containing an excess of forked, all the bundles tend to aggregate and the filaments are maximally crossbridged by fascin. Alternatively, if fascin is absent, phases 1 and 2 occur normally but the resultant bundles are twisted and the filaments within them are poorly ordered. By extracting fully elongated bristles with potassium iodide which removes fascin but leaves forked, the bundles change from being straight to twisted and the filaments within them become poorly ordered. From these observations we conclude that (a) forked is used early in development to aggregate the tiny bundles into larger bundles; and (b) forked facilitates fascin entry into the bundles to maximally cross-link the actin filaments into straight, compact, rigid bundles. Thus, forked aligns the filaments and then directs fascin binding so that inappropriate cross-linking does not occur.
Efficacy of Modified Cover Testing for Detection of Incipient True Strabismus with Pseudostrabismus Diagnosis

Retrospective studies have shown that as many as 15% of patients with pseudostrabismus go on to develop true strabismus. This prospective study was conducted to examine the efficacy of utilizing a ...
Electron paramagnetic resonance saturation studies of P-700+ reaction center chlorophyll in plant photosynthesis.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) power saturation and saturation recovery methods have been used to determine the spin lattice, T1, and spin-spin, T2, relaxation times of P-700+ reaction-center chlorophyll in Photosystem I of plant chloroplasts for 10 K less than or equal to T less than or equal to 100 K. T1 was 200 mus at 100 K and increased to 900 mus at 10 K. T2 was 40 ns at 40 K and increased to 100 ns at 10 K. T1 for 40 K less than or equal to T less than or equal to 100 K is inversely proportional to temperature, which is evidence of a direct-lattice relaxation process. At T = 20 K, T1 deviates from the 1/T dependence, indicating a cross relaxation process with an unidentified paramagnetic species. The individual effects of ascorbate and ferricyanide on T1 of P-700+ were examined: T1 of P-700+ was not affected by adding 10 mM ascorbate to digitonin-treated chloroplast fragments (D144 fragments). The P-700+ relaxation time in broken chloroplasts treated with 10 mM ferricyanide was 4-times shorter than in the untreated control at 40 K. Ferricyanide appears to be relaxing the P-700+ indirectly to the lattice by a cross-relaxation process. The possibility of dipolar-spin broadening of P-700+ due to either the iron sulfur center A or plastocyanin was examined by determining the spin-packet linewidth for P-700+ when center A and plastocyanin were in either the reduced or oxidized states. Neither reduced center A nor oxidized plastocyanin was capable of broadening the spin-packet linewidth of P-700+ signal. The absence of dipolar broadening indicates that both center A and plastocyanin are located at a distance at least 3.0 nm from the P-700+ reaction center chlorophyll. This evidence supports previous hypotheses that the electron donor and acceptor to P-700 are situated on opposite sides of the chloroplast membrane. It is also shown that the ratio of photo-oxidized P-700 to photoreduced centers A and B at low temperature is 2 : 1 if P-700 is monitored at a nonsaturating microwave power.
Communication on the Grassmann manifold: a geometric approach to the noncoherent multiple-antenna channel

We study the capacity of multiple-antenna fading channels. We focus on the scenario where the fading coefficients vary quickly; thus an accurate estimation of the coefficients is generally not available to either the transmitter or the receiver. We use a noncoherent block fading model proposed by Marzetta and Hochwald (see ibid. vol.45, p.139-57, 1999). The model does not assume any channel side information at the receiver or at the transmitter, but assumes that the coefficients remain constant for a coherence interval of length T symbol periods. We compute the asymptotic capacity of this channel at high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in terms of the coherence time T, the number of transmit antennas M, and the number of receive antennas N. While the capacity gain of the coherent multiple antenna channel is min{M, N} bits per second per Hertz for every 3-dB increase in SNR, the corresponding gain for the noncoherent channel turns out to be M* (1 - M*/T) bits per second per Hertz, where M*=min{M, N, [T/2]}. The capacity expression has a geometric interpretation as sphere packing in the Grassmann manifold.
Coordination of the dynamics of yeast sphingolipid metabolism during the diauxic shift

Background The diauxic shift in yeast requires cells to coordinate a complicated response that involves numerous genes and metabolic processes. It is unknown whether responses of this type are mediated in vivo through changes in a few "key" genes and enzymes, which are mathematically characterized by high sensitivities, or whether they are based on many small changes in genes and enzymes that are not particularly sensitive. In contrast to global assessments of changes in gene or protein interaction networks, we study here control aspects of the diauxic shift by performing a detailed analysis of one specific pathway–sphingolipid metabolism–which is known to have signaling functions and is associated with a wide variety of stress responses.
In Vivo Activities of Amoxicillin and Amoxicillin-Clavulanate against Streptococcus pneumoniae: Application to Breakpoint Determinations

The in vivo activities of amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate against 17 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae with penicillin MICs of 0.12-8.0 mg/liter were assessed in a cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenic murine thigh infection model. Renal impairment was produced by administration of uranyl nitrate to prolong the amoxicillin half-life in the mice from 21 to 65 min, simulating human pharmacokinetics. Two hours after thigh infection with 10(5) to 10(6) CFU, groups of mice were treated with 7 mg of amoxicillin per kg of body weight alone or combined with clavulanate (ratio, 4:1) every 8 h for 1 and 4 days. There was an excellent correlation between the MIC of amoxicillin (0.03 to 5.6 mg/liter) and (i) the change in log10 CFU/thigh at 24 h and (ii) survival after 4 days of therapy. Organisms for which MICs were 2 mg/liter or less were killed at 1.4 to 4.2 and 1.6 to 4.1 log10 CFU/thigh at 24 h by amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate, respectively. The four strains for which MICs were >4 mg/liter grew 0.2 to 2.6 and 0.6 to 2. 3 logs at 24 h despite therapy with amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate, respectively. Infection was uniformly fatal by 72 h in untreated mice. Amoxicillin therapy resulted in no mortality with organisms for which MICs were 1 mg/liter or less, 20 to 40% mortality with organisms for which MICs were 2 mg/liter, and 80 to 100% mortality with organisms for which MICs were 4.0-5.6 mg/liter. Lower and higher doses (0.5, 2, and 20 mg/kg) of amoxicillin were studied against organisms for which MICs were near the breakpoint. These studies demonstrate that a reduction of 1 log10 or greater in CFU/thigh at 24 h is consistently observed when amoxicillin levels exceed the MIC for 25 to 30% of the dosing interval. These studies would support amoxicillin (and amoxicillin-clavulanate) MIC breakpoints of 1 mg/liter for susceptible, 2 mg/liter for intermediate, and 4 mg/liter for resistant strains of S. pneumoniae.
Stability analysis of the Backward Euler time discretization for the pin-resolved transport transient reactor calculation

Abstract Three-dimensional, full core transport modeling with pin-resolved detail for reactor dynamic simulation is important for some multi-physics reactor applications. However, it can be computationally intensive due to the difficulty in maintaining accuracy while minimizing the number of time steps. A recently proposed Transient Multi-Level (TML) methodology overcomes this difficulty by use multi-level transient solvers to capture the physical phenomenal in different time domains and thus maximize the numerical accuracy and computational efficiency. One major problem with the TML method is the negative flux/precursor number density generated using large time steps for the MOC solver, which is due to the Backward Euler discretization scheme. In this paper, the stability issue of Backward Euler discretization is first investigated using the Point Kinetics Equations (PKEs), and the predicted maximum allowed time step for SPERT test 60 case is shown to be less than 10 ms. To overcome this difficulty, linear and exponential transformations are investigated using the PKEs. The linear transformation is shown to increase the maximum time step by a factor of 2, and the exponential transformation is shown to increase the maximum time step by a factor of 5, as well as provide unconditionally stability above a specified threshold. The two sets of transformations are then applied to TML scheme in the MPACT code, and the numerical results presented show good agreement for standard, linear transformed, and exponential transformed maximum time step between the PKEs model and the MPACT whole core transport solution for three different cases, including a pin cell case, a 3D SPERT assembly case and a row of assemblies (“striped assembly case”) from the SPERT model. Finally, the successful whole transient execution of the stripe assembly case shows the ability of the exponential transformation method to use 10 ms and 20 ms time steps, which all failed using the standard method.
Validation of the Expanded Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II and III

The relationships between the Expanded Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale (HFMSE) and genotype and motor and respiratory outcomes were examined in patients with spinal muscular atrophy types II and III (n = 70). The correlation between the HFMSE and Gross Motor Function Measure was r = 0.98. Correlations between HFMSE and forced vital capacity (percentage of predicted normal) (n = 56) and a functional rating (n = 57) were r = 0.87 and r = 0.92, respectively. Correlations with strength were as follows: knee extension, r = 0.74 (n = 60); elbow flexion, r = 0.77 (n = 61); and knee flexion, r = 0.74 (n = 58). The HFMSE differentiated patients by SMN2 copy number (P = .0007); bi-level positive airway pressure use, <8 versus ≥8 hours/day (P < .0001); ambulatory status (P < .0001); and spinal muscular atrophy type (P < .0001). The HFMSE demonstrates significant associations with established measures of function, strength, and genotype, and discriminates patients based on function, diagnostic category, and bi-lev...
Grid-Current Flow as a Factor in the Design of Vacuum-Tube Power Amplifiers

In the design of class C amplifiers analytical methods have been proposed which give good results from the standpoint of plate-circuit operating condition. Similar methods have not been available for the determination of grid-circuit conditions. It is the purpose of this paper to describe a method by which this result can be obtained. An analytical determination of grid-circuit operating conditions requires a knowledge of grid current as a function of the grid and plate voltages. Since good approximations for the space current in a triode are available, an expression for grid current can be had if the ratio of plate-to-grid current as a function of plate and grid voltage can be determined. Theoretical considerations show that the ratio of plate current to grid current should be a function of the ratio of plate voltage to grid voltage. The nature of this functional relation is determined experimentally and a comparatively simple and accurate expression for grid current in cases in which there is only a small amount of secondary emission is thus obtained. The design procedure for class C amplifiers is based upon the allowable grid and plate dissipation. The method of determining optimum operating conditions on the basis of plate-circuit analysis alone is modified to include the analytical determination of the corresponding grid-driving power and grid loss. This procedure results in the determination of the operating conditions which will give the highest output which can be obtained without exceeding the allowable grid or plate dissipation.
MOLECULAR CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AQPZ, A WATER CHANNEL FROM ESCHERICHIA COLI

The aquaporin family of molecular water channels is widely expressed throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. No bacterial aquaporins are known; however, sequence-related bacterial genes have been identified that encode glycerol facilitators (glpF). By homology cloning, a novel aquaporin-related DNA (aqpZ) was identified that contained no surface N-glycosylation consensus. The aqpZ RNA was not identified in mammalian mRNA by Northern analysis and exhibited bacterial codon usage preferences. Southern analysis failed to demonstrate aqpZ in mammalian genomic DNA, whereas a strongly reactive DNA was present in chromosomal DNA from Escherichia coli and other bacterial species and did not correspond to glpF. The aqpZ DNA isolated from E. coli contained a 693-base pair open reading frame encoding a polypeptide 28-38% identical to known aquaporins. When compared with other aquaporins, aqpZ encodes a 10-residue insert preceding exofacial loop C, truncated NH2 and COOH termini, and no cysteines at known mercury-sensitive sites. Expression of aqpZ cRNA conferred Xenopus oocytes with a 15-fold increase in osmotic water permeability, which was maximal after 5 days of expression, was not inhibited with HgCl2, exhibited a low activation energy (Eα = 3.8 kcal/mol), and failed to transport nonionic solutes such as urea and glycerol. In contrast, oocytes expressing glpF transported glycerol but exhibited limited osmotic water permeability. Phylogenetic comparison of aquaporins and homologs revealed a large separation between aqpZ and glpF, consistent with an ancient gene divergence.
Commentary Paper 2 on "On Stable Dynamic Background Generation Technique Using Gaussian Mixture Models for Robust Object Detection'"

In previous surveillance applications, algorithms for background modeling based on Gaussian mixture models (GMM) needed to specify two parameters: threshold T, which determines a proportion of the data that should be accounted for by the background, and a learning rate alpha specifying speed at which the distribution parameters change [Stauffer, CVPR 1999}. In the Basic Background Subtraction (BBS), foreground objects are found by subtracting a static foreground image. In the proposed algorithm, BBS is applied using background obtained from GMM. This way, threshold T is replaced by a foreground-background separation threshold S. The advantage is that S is less sensitive than T. To make the model respond faster to changes, recent observed value of the most dominant background component is used as a current value for a particular pixel, rather than the component mean value. Quantitative and qualitative results show the advantages of the proposed technique compared to GMM models.
Accelerating the analyses of 3‐way and 4‐way PARAFAC models utilizing multi‐dimensional wavelet compression

Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) is one of the most popular methods for evaluating multi-way data sets, such as those typically acquired by hyphenated measurement techniques. One of the reasons for PARAFAC popularity is the ability to extract directly interpretable chemometric models with little a priori information and the capability to handle unknown interferents and missing values. However, PARAFAC requires long computation times that often prohibit sufficiently fast analyses for applications such as online sensing. An additional challenge faced by PARAFAC users is the handling and storage of very large, high-dimensional data sets. Accelerating computations and reducing storage requirements in multi-way analyses are the topics of this manuscript. This study introduces a data pre-processing method based on multi-dimensional wavelet transforms (WTs), which enables highly efficient data compression applied prior to data evaluation. Because multi-dimensional WTs are linear, the intrinsic underlying linear data construction is preserved in the wavelet domain. In almost all studied examples, computation times for analyzing the much smaller, compressed data sets could be reduced so much that the additional effort for wavelet compression was more than recompensated. For 3-way and 4-way synthetic and experimental data sets, acceleration factors up to 50 have been achieved; these data sets could be compressed down to a few per cent of the original size. Despite the high compression, accurate and interpretable models were derived, which are in good agreement with conventionally determined PARAFAC models. This study also found that the wavelet type used for compression is an important factor determining acceleration factors, data compression ratios and model quality. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THE REFRACTORY PERIOD OF THE NORMALLY-BEATING DOG'S AURICLE; WITH A NOTE ON THE OCCURRENCE OF AURICULAR FIBRILLATION FOLLOWING A SINGLE STIMULUS

1. A method is described for determining the refractory period of the dog's auricle during the normal sinus rhythm. The advantages of the method are: (a) The total stimulating effects of repeated induction shocks are avoided. (b) The action current is recorded from a point one millimeter or less from the point of stimulation. (c) Alterations in the spontaneous rate of the auricle do not interfere with the accurate determination of the refractory period. 2. The values obtained for the normal refractory period and the changes produced by atropine and by stimulation of the vagus agree closely with those of previous observers. 3. The automatic features of the method make possible the determination of the refractory period under adrenalin. This drug brings about a distinct shortening of the refractory period but less than that produced by stimulation of the vagus. 4. During vagal stimulation a single induction shock, introduced soon after the end of the refractory period, frequently produces auricular fibrillation. The cause of this irregularity is discussed and its relation to clinical auricular fibrillation is suggested.
Age differences in implicit and explicit associative memory: exploring elaborative processing effects.

Research in memory processes suggests implicit memory is more resistant to the effects of aging than explicit memory. Two experiments examined how variations in level of processing affect memory for novel word-pair associations across age groups. The results indicate that new learning may rely on some degree of elaborate and even explicit processing and that older adults show deficits in any form of new learning. Explicit associative memory benefited from elaborative processing for both age groups and age differences appeared to relate to overall working-memory capacity rather than effective use of elaborative processes. These results support a model of associative memory that distinguishes automatic unconscious processes versus conscious controlled processes in which older adults exhibit deficits in associative memory tasks that actually rely on consciously controlled processes.
The Influence of Predictors on Adolescent Drug Use: An Examination of Individual Effects

The findings of t tests on an adolescent sample in Charleston, South Carolina, indicated that, without adjustments, Whites were significantly higher than Blacks on socioeconomic status, cumulative ...
A modified maximum correlation modeling method for fMRI brain mapping; application for detecting dyslexia

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of technologies that have proved to be helpful in studying the brain functions. In this paper, we have designed a hierarchical method that applies an optimization algorithm based on modified maximum correlation model (MCM) that can detect small variations across the two study groups. Based on the proposed method, we also hypothesize that dyslexia might represent fMRI brain signal activities in specific regions of the brain that are distinguishable from healthy brain fMRIpsilas. We have successfully tested our hypothesis using the proposed method on a dataset containing the fMRI of both healthy and dyslexic subjects.
The effects of syngas impurities on syngas fermentation to liquid fuels

Abstract Biomass gasification to generate raw syngas used in anaerobic fermentation processes is one of several emerging technologies for the production of biofuels from biomass. The gasification-fermentation process can utilize a wide variety of lignocellulosic biomass such as prairie grasses, wood chips, and paper wastes, in addition to non-lignocellulosic biomass such as solid municipal wastes. Although the primary components of raw syngas used in the fermentation process are CO, H 2 , and CO 2 , several impurities can also be present. Some of these impurities may interfere with the fermentation process. Since the impurities will depend upon the feedstock, the gasifier type, and cleanup conditions, an understanding of the positive or adverse effects of the impurities on raw syngas fermentation is critical to understand the need for efficient gas cleaning processes required for commercialization. This work describes the impurities generated during gasification and discusses the potential accumulation of impurities in the fermentation media and the associated potential effects on the microbial fermentation process (e.g. cell toxicity, enzymatic inhibition and end product distribution). A wide distribution of impurity solubilities in the media shows that certain impurities, such as ammonia, are more likely to accumulate in the media. Additionally, entrained tar particulates greater than 0.025 μm, nitric oxide greater than 0.004 mol%, and ammonia in general have an adverse effect on the fermentation process. Therefore, a cleanup system suitable for raw syngas fermentation processes is evident although the degree of cleanup would likely depend upon the feedstock and the associated gasification process.
Optimizing stream programs using linear state space analysis

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is becoming increasingly widespread in portable devices. Due to harsh constraints on power, latency, and throughput in embedded environments, developers often appeal to signal processing experts to hand-optimize algorithmic aspects of the application. However, such DSP optimizations are tedious, error-prone, and expensive, as they require sophisticated domain-specific knowledge.We present a general model for automatically representing and optimizing a large class of signal processing applications. The model is based on linear state space systems. A program is viewed as a set of filters, each of which has an input stream, an output stream, and a set of internal states. At each time step, the filter produces some outputs that are a linear combination of the inputs and the state values; the state values are also updated in a linear fashion. Examples of linear state space filters include IIR filters and linear difference equations.Using the state space representation, we describe a novel set of program transformations, including combination of adjacent filters, elimination of redundant states and reduction of the number of system parameters. We have implemented the optimizations in the StreamIt compiler and demonstrate improved generality over previous techniques.
MICRODETERMINATION, ISOLATION, AND GAS-LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY OF 2-HYDROXY FATTY ACIDS.

SUMMARY A new method is described for the specific isolation of 2-hydroxy fatty acids, particularly from brain lipids. The procedure involves saponification of the lipids with KOH-propylene glycol, preliminary purification with a small silica gel column, and precipitation as the copper chelate. The total content of 2-hydroxy acids may be determined by direct colorimetric determination of the copper in the precipitate, or the acids may be liberated and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The acids are methylated with dimethoxypropane and acetylated with isopropenyl acetate prior to gas chromatographic analysis. The method is suitable for samples containing as little as 0.6 pmolcs of hydroxy acid, but is readily scaled up for preparative isolations. An improved titrimetric procedure for copper is desrribed.
In Search of Pain Consciousness or Pain and the Metaphysics of a Porsche 911

The relationship between consciousness and brain imaging is discussed from the vantage point of pain perception. It is argued that taking into consideration the temporal variations in perceived pain can pinpoint the brain circuitry specifically related to conscious, subjective perception of pain. Moreover, that this procedure is general enough to be used in examining clinical pain conditions. Brain regions activated with painful stimuli have now been described by a variety of laboratories using either positron emission tomography (PET) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). These studies have identified a large cortical network with many components. Pinpointing the functional roles of the different components of this network is a major focus of our current fMRI studies. To this end we examine the cortical circuitry of pain along the stimulus-perception dimension, and also demonstrate that small changes in painful stimulus parameters result in dramatic reorganization of the cortical network underlying pain perception. We also examine this cortical network underlying pain in different pain patient groups: one patient with large fiber polyneuropathy over the whole body below the neck, chronic reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD or CRPS I) patients, chronic back pain patients, and patients with syringomyelia. Cortical activations with painful stimuli or following the exacerbation of the pain that the patients suffer from results in giving us different insights to the spatio-temporal dynamics of the cortical network underlying pain and its re-organization in time.
Solidarity in preference aggregation: Improving on a status quo

Abstract Working in the Arrowian framework, we search for preference aggregation rules with desirable solidarity properties. In a fixed-population setting, we formulate two versions of the solidarity axiom welfare dominance under preference replacement. Although the stronger proves incompatible with efficiency, the combination of efficiency and our second version leads to an important class of rules which improve upon a “status quo” order. These rules are also strategy-proof, which reveals a further connection between solidarity and incentive properties. Allowing the population to vary, we again characterize the status quo rules by efficiency and a different solidarity axiom, population monotonicity. This extends a similar characterization of a subclass of these rules by Bossert and Sprumont (2014) .
Sentinel Lymph Node in Breast Cancer: Review Article from a Pathologist’s Point of View

Breast cancer staging, in particular N-stage changed most significantly due to the advanced technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy two decades ago. Pathologists have more thoroughly examined and scrutinized sentinel lymph node and found increased number of small volume metastases. While pathologists use the strict criteria from the Tumor Lymph Node Metastasis (TNM) Classification, studies have shown poor reproducibility in the application of American Joint Committee on Cancer and International Union Against Cancer/TNM guidelines for sentinel lymph node classification in breast cancer. In this review article, a brief history of TNM with a focus on N-stage is described, followed by innate problems with the guidelines, and why pathologists may have difficulties in assessing lymph node metastases uniformly. Finally, clinical significance of isolated tumor cells, micrometastasis, and macrometastasis is described by reviewing historical retrospective data and significant prospective clinical trials.
Extending NegEx with Kernel Methods for Negation Detection in Clinical Text

NegEx is a popular rule-based system used to identify negated concepts in clinical notes. This system has been reported to perform very well by numerous studies in the past. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of kernel methods to extend the performance of NegEx. A kernel leveraging the rules of NegEx and its output as features, performs as well as the rule-based system. An improvement in performance is achieved if this kernel is coupled with a bag of words kernel. Our experiments show that kernel methods outperform the rule-based system, when evaluated within and across two different open datasets. We also present the results of a semi-supervised approach to the problem, which improves performance on the data.
Clinical characteristics of alcohol combined with other substance use disorders in an American Indian community sample

Abstract Background Alcohol and other substance use disorders (SUD) pose major problems of morbidity and mortality in some American Indian communities, but little is known about the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and consequences of combined alcohol and other substance use disorders (multi-substance use disorder, MSUD) in those communities. Methods Using the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA), in a community sample of 876 American Indians, the clinical characteristics of lifetime DSM-5 moderate or severe alcohol use disorder alone (AUD alone) ( n = 146) and MSUD (defined as alcohol and ≥1 other SUD) ( n = 284) were evaluated and compared to 347 participants with no lifetime SUD (no SUD). Results The majority (57%) of participants with a SUD had multi-substance use disorder and 94% of those were with AUD. Stimulants (cocaine and/or amphetamine) and/or cannabis were the most common other SUDs. Participants with AUD alone were more likely to be male and have an earlier age of first alcohol intoxication than those with no SUD. Those with MSUD were more likely to have dropped out of high school, have antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or conduct disorder (CD), have earlier ages of first alcohol intoxication and first use of cannabis and stimulants, an earlier age of onset of AUD, and more of several AUD symptoms than those with AUD alone, but the same temporal course and time to remission of AUD. Conclusions MSUD is prevalent in this sample, is associated with multiple comorbidities and denotes a more severe alcohol syndrome than AUD alone.
Experiences of Selected Emerging Adults with Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties in Higher Education.

Postsecondary education is an important component of career development and achievement. However, students with emotional or behavioral difficulties (EBDs) are less likely to attend a postsecondary institution than their nondisabled peers and peers with disabilities. This qualitative study explored the experiences of emerging adults diagnosed with an EBD who are working toward their academic goals in a postsecondary setting. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews and brief follow-up interviews with five participants, aged 18 to 25. Various themes emerged from the study, including salient aspects of living with an EBD, how having an EBD impacts their transition experiences at a postsecondary institution, the ability to achieve their goals, and how they are able to manage these challenges.
Alkali metals in ethylenediamine: a computational study of the optical absorption spectra and NMR parameters of [M(en)3(δ+)·M(δ-)] ion pairs.

The optical absorption spectra of alkali metals in ethylenediamine have provided evidence for a third oxidation state, −1, of all of the alkali metals heavier than lithium. Experimentally determined NMR parameters have supported this interpretation, further indicating that whereas Na− is a genuine metal anion, the interaction of the alkali anion with the medium becomes progressively stronger for the larger metals. Herein, first-principles computations based upon density functional theory are carried out on various species which may be present in solutions composed of alkali metals and ethylenediamine. The energies of a number of hypothetical reactions computed with a continuum solvation model indicate that neither free metal anions, M−, nor solvated electrons are the most stable species. Instead, [Li(en)3]2 and [M(en)3δ+·Mδ−] (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs) are predicted to have enhanced stability. The M(en)3 complexes can be viewed as superalkalis or expanded alkalis, ones in which the valence electron density is pu...
Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus with the Amplatzer duct occluder: short-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND Transcatheter closure of the patent ductus arteriosus is a well established procedure. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and the safety of the Amplatzer duct occluder. METHODS AND RESULTS Occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus was attempted in 23 patients. The median weight was 11.7 Kg (range, 5 kg - 42.4 kg) with a mean ductus diameter of 3.7 mm (range, 1.6 - 7.2 mm). The immediate closure rate was 86% with a closure rate of 100% at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years following device placement. There was one device embolization that occurred immediately following device placement. No patient had aortic narrowing or pulmonary artery stenosis following the procedure. CONCLUSIONS The Amplatzer duct occluder is safe and effective in the closure of a patent ductus arteriosus up to 7.2 mm in diameter. Selecting a device at least 12 mm larger than the minimal ductal diameter can minimize embolization.