cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intellectual Property Protection in Collaborative Design through Lean Information Modeling and Sharing

ing intellectual property is vital to maintain organizational competence in today’s global business environment. In this paper, a lean information modeling and sharing framework is described to support engineering data security management in a peer-to-peer collaborative environment. It allows for selective and interoperable data sharing with finegrained access control at both the server and client sides, thus securing different levels of design information dissemination for intellectual property protection purposes. The considerations of time and value-adding activity with roles, policy delegation relation in a distributed context, and fine-grained control at data set level in the model are to adhere to the general least privilege principle in access control. Heterogeneous design data are exchanged selectively through an eXtensible Markup Language common interface, which provides a neutral format to enhance data interoperability and prevents reverse engineering. DOI: 10.1115/1.2190235
Minitrack: Electric Power System Monitoring and Control

This minitrack focuses on topics related to the monitoring and control of complex systems such as power systems to ensure that disturbances have a minimal impact on performance. Specific topics include: steady-state and dynamic security assessment where the impacts of pre-specified contingencies are analyzed; Available Transfer Capability (ATC) which quantifies the ability of the interconnected system to accept increases in power transfers; widearea measurement technologies, state estimation, and the investigation of new realtime control strategies.
Impact of Serum Estradiol on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Ovulatory Women

Background: Estrogens are thought to possess antioxidant properties in vivo, with estradiol being the most biologically active and available. Unlike ovulatory women, those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a relative steady-state serum estradiol concentration across a typical month. To better understand the antioxidant role of serum estradiol in premenopausal women, we evaluated biomarkers of oxidative stress at two time points in both ovulatory and anovulatory cycles (ie, women with PCOS). Methods: A total of 16 women (7 PCOS, 9 ovulatory) completed this study. Ovulatory women were tested on cycle day 3, and again on cycle day 21. Women with PCOS were tested at a random time and returned to the clinic 14 days later. At each visit, blood was collected for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC). Estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were also measured. Results: There were no significant differences observed in any oxidative stress biomarker between ovulatory and PCOS women. Estradiol levels were positively correlated with TEAC in women with PCOS (r = 0.57; P = 0.03), but not in ovulatory women. While not statistically significant, negative correlations were noted between estradiol and MDA and estradiol and H2O2 in women with PCOS but not in ovulatory subjects. Conclusions: Our data indicate that oxidative stress biomarkers do not differ between PCOS and ovulatory women. The changing estrogen level that occurs throughout ovulatory cycles does not appear to impact overall oxidative status when compared to the relative steady-state estradiol levels in PCOS subjects in our study. Furthermore, estradiol may be associated with antioxidant status and biomarkers of oxidative stress in women with PCOS but not in those with regular menstrual cycles.
The application of time-variant filters to time analysis

Abstract Timing with semiconductor nuclear radiation detectors, particularly Ge(Li) detectors, is increasing in importance in the field of nuclear research. In determining the time of occurrence of a nuclear event from such a detector, the present limitation by current timing methods is charge collection variations in the detector. The ultimate limitation of timing uncertainty, however, in any semiconductor detector is given by the ratio of noise to signal slope at the point of discrimination. For a minimum value of timing error, therefore, a low noise level and fast rise time signal are necessary. Lowest noise and fastest rise time are contradictory requirements; and therefore, an optimum filter and a minimum timing error can be determined. The optimum filter is normally non-realizable; however, the minimum timing error associated with the optimum filter provides a good basis for comparison of realizable filters. For a given noise spectrum and signal spectrum, an examination of the effect of certain realizable filters on timing error is presented. The filters included are RC low-pass, RC high-pass, and the combination of RC low-pass, RC high-pass. Both the time-invariant and time-variant cases were examined, and theoretical data is compared for each case indicated to demonstrate the advantages of the time-variant filter for timing. The advantages of the time-variant filter are lower discriminator levels, allowing the reduction of the effect of charge collection variations on timing error, and lower noise/slope error at low discriminator levels. A time measurement on 511 keV gamma rays using a 20 cm 3 coaxial Ge(Li) detector and time-variant filtering on the preamplifier output signal resulted in a timing error spectrum with fwhm equal to 5.63 nsec and fw(0.1)m equal to 10.58 nsec.
An Integrated Assessment of Climate Change and the Accelerated Introduction of Advanced Energy Technologies - An Application of MiniCAM 1.0

We report results from the application of an integrated assessment model, MiniCAM 1.0. The model is employed to explore the full range of climate change implications of the successful development of cost effective, advanced, energy technologies. These technologies are shown to have a profound effect on the future magnitude and rate of anthropogenic climate change. We find that the introduction of assumptions developed by a group of ‘bottom-up’ modelers for the LEESS scenarios into a ‘top-down’ model, the Edmonds-Reilly-Barns Model, leads to ‘top down’ emissions trajectories similar to those of the LEESS. The cumulative effect of advanced energy technologies is to reduce annual emissions from fossil fuel use to levels which stabilize atmospheric concentrations below 550 ppmv. While all energy technologies play roles, the introduction of advanced biomass energy production technology is particularly important. The consideration of all greenhouse related anthropogenic emissions, and in particular sulfur dioxide, is found to be important. We find that the consideration of sulfur dioxide emissions coupled to rapid reductions in carbon dioxide emissions leads to higher global mean temperatures prior to 2050 than in the reference case. This result is due to the short-term cooling impact of sulfate aerosols, which dominates the long-term warming impact of CO2 and CH4 in the years prior to 2050. We also show that damage calculations which use only mean global temperature and income may be underestimating damages by up to a factor of five. Disaggregating income reduces this to a factor of two, still a major error. Finally, the role of the discount rate is shown to be extraordinarily important to technology preference.
Reality Monitoring in Adults Reporting Repressed, Recovered, or Continuous Memories of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

People who report either repressed or recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) may have deficits in reality monitoring--the process whereby one discriminates memories of percepts from memories of images. Using signal detection methods, the authors found that adults reporting either repressed or recovered memories of CSA were less able to discriminate between words they had seen from words they had imagined seeing than were adults reporting either never having forgotten their CSA or adults reporting no history of CSA. Relative deficits in the ability to discriminate percepts from images (i.e., low d') were apparent on only some tests. The groups did not differ in their criterion--response bias--for affirming having seen versus imagined stimuli. Language: en
Formation and thermal stability of BMI-based interpenetrating polymers for gas separation membranes

Abstract Semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) were prepared by sol–gel technique through in situ polymerization of bismaleimide (BMI) in thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI) as well as in polysulfone (PSF). This synthesis route allows arresting thermoset/thermoplastic phase separation at an early stage by solidifying the semi-IPNs through membrane phase inversion. The phase separation could be observed visually in the casting solution or by optical microscope on the surface of the produced membranes. These semi-IPNs with a density lower than their thermoplastic base polymer allowed easier water penetration during membrane phase inversion. This led to improved membrane morphology that was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Membranes fabricated from these semi-IPN materials had thinner skin layers and longer straight fingers perpendicular to membrane surface. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that these semi-IPNs membranes have improved glass transition temperatures but a lower thermal stability. However, at ambient conditions, these membranes with their improved structure and morphology showed superior gas separation characteristics compared to base polymers. For example, the permeance was increased by 12–15 times without a significant decrease in the selectivity of oxygen over nitrogen in air separation experiments.
Solution Growth Of Thallium-Doped Silicon For 3-5 Micrometer Photoconductive Detectors

A method for growth of single-crystal silicon doped heavily, with thallium has been developed to make use of the good match of the thallium acceptor cutoff wavelength (5.0μ) to the 3-5μ atmospheric window. The method involves recrystallization of silicon from a tin-thallium solution kept saturated by a silicon source wafer. Growth conditions used success fully to date range from 1100°C to 1370°C in growth temperature, and from 7% to 50% tin fraction in the tin-thallium solvent. The thallium doping increases monotonically with increas, ing growth temperature or thallium fraction in the solvent. A model of the dependence of the thallium doping on temperature and solvent composition is presented, as well as the estimated solubility limit of thallium in silicon. The most heavily doped crystal was grown at 1370°C from a Sn.14T1.86 solvent, and produced a maximum photoionization absorption of 2cm-1 at 3μ. This corresponds to a predicted quantum efficiency of 18% in a 1-mm thick detector. The Hall mobility of the grown material near liquid nitrogen temperature is found to approach 2000cm2/V-sec.
The checkerboard technique: An essential progress in SIMS data acquisition and evaluation

Abstract This article describes the combination of the traditional primary ion beam raster scanning which is usually applied in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and a new secondary ion evaluation technique, namely the checkerboard technique. The principal idea of the checkerboard technique is explained by showing that the dynamic range/detection limit and verification of the depth profile shape are provided without repeated runs. The effort necessary to align structured samples for analysis is reduced considerably. The application examples in this article stem from failure analysis in semiconductor research.
Sex work and exclusion in the tourist districts of Salvador, Brazil.

Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia, in the Northeastern region of Brazil, is composed of racialized, gendered, and sexualized spaces in which certain people are welcome, while others are marginalized and excluded. Praca da Se, in the Centro Historico, is a major site of both the local commercial sex industry and the tourist industry in Salvador. With their public visibility in sites heavily frequented by tourists, sex workers in Salvador reveal how sexuality is public, politically contested, economically charged, and, most significantly, racialized. If, as Tom Boellstorff argues, ‘globalization resignifies the meaning of place rather than making place irrelevant’ (2007, 23), how does one then study racialized sexualities in the context of the globalized tourism industry? How do class, space, and race influence practices of sex work and sex tourism in Salvador? This article offers a critical analysis of racialized sexualities in the study of the sexual economies of tourism in Salvador. I conceptualize...
Polarization labeling spectroscopy of NO2

Abstract Polarization-labeling spectroscopy is used to simplify the visible spectrum of nitrogen dioxide. Nonlinear polarization effects are used to label and probe molecules in selected rotational-vibrational levels. Those labeled molecules can be detected by their depolarizing effect on a probe laser. The resulting spectra are considerably less complicated than normal absorption spectra. P - and R -branch transitions can be readily identified, and approximate excited-state rotational constants are determined. With more powerful lasers, it may be possible to use polarization labeling to unravel the very complicated vibrational structure of the NO 2 excited states.
Getting the Ball Rolling: Voluntary Contributions to a Large-Scale Public Project

This paper studies dynamic voluntary contributions to large-scale projects. While agents can observe the progress of the project and their own costs of contribution, they have incomplete information about the contribution costs of others. I show that the equilibrium pattern of contributions is influenced by the interplay of two opposing incentives: First, agents prefer to free ride on others for contributions. However, second, agents also wish to encourage each other to contribute by increasing their own contributions. Main findings of the paper include: (1) Agents make concessions toward the completion of the project by increasing their contributions as the project moves forward, (2) as additional agents join the group, existing agents increase their contributions in some states and reduce it in others. In particular, agents increase their contributions in the initial stages of the project to increase its value to others and secure their future contributions as a result, (3) groups that are formed by more patient agents and that undetake larger projects tend to be larger, and (4) groups that rely on voluntary contributions tend to be too small compared to the social optimum. The empirical evidence on contributions to open source software projects supports my findings.
Preventative and therapeutic vaccines for fungal infections: from concept to implementation

Many challenges confront the development of fungal vaccines for humans including differences in host susceptibility, varied pathogenic mechanisms employed by the different species of fungi and mechanisms of host resistance. Hence, no single antigen can be expected to serve as a pan fungal vaccine. Instead, it is likely that progress for fungal vaccines will have to be made at the level of each individual organism. In recent years, tremendous strides have been made in understanding the immunopathogenesis of medically important fungal infections and identifying putative vaccine candidates. Such discoveries will facilitate the introduction of fungal vaccines into the therapeutic armamentarium of clinicians. The fungi under discussion in this review include Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, Coccidioides spp., Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Pneumocystis jirovecii.
Urinary benzo[a]pyrene and its metabolites as molecular biomarkers of asphalt fume exposure characterized by microflow LC coupled to hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

As a step to study the health effects of asphalt fume exposure, an analytical method was developed to characterize benzo[a]pyrene and its hydroxy metabolites in the urine of asphalt fume-exposed rats. This method is based on microflow liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to hybrid quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOFMS). Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the experiment, with 8 as controls and 16 exposed to asphalt fumes in a whole-body inhalation chamber for 10 days (4 h/day). Generated at 150 °C, the asphalt fume concentration in the animal exposure chamber ranged 76−117 mg/m3. In the urine of the asphalt fume-exposed rats, benzo[a]pyrene and its metabolites of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol(±), and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrotetrol(±) were identified, and their concentrations were determined at 2.19 ± 0.49, 16.17 ± 0.3, 6.28 ± 0.36, and 29.35 ± 0.26 ng/100 mL, respectively. The metabolite concentrations from the contro...
In situ monitoring of crystallographic changes in Pd induced by diffusion of D

Crystallographic changes in a palladium wire cathode were monitored in situ, as deuterium was electrochemically deposited on the surface and diffused radially into the wire. Initially, the wire was pure Pd. A constant electrolysis current density of 1 ${\mathrm{m}\mathrm{A}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ was maintained and D slowly diffused into the wire. As the D concentration increased, the wire transformed from pure Pd, to the \ensuremath{\alpha} phase, and finally into the \ensuremath{\beta} phase. This reversible phase transformation begins on the surface and progresses radially inward. During the experiment, x-ray-diffraction data were collected from a volume element of about 180 pl. This volume element was systematically moved in 50-\ensuremath{\mu}m steps from the edge to the center of a 1.0 mm diameter Pd wire. Throughout the course of the experiment, the bulk value of x in ${\mathrm{PdD}}_{x},$ as determined from simultaneous measurements of the electrical resistivity, increased from 0 to \ensuremath{\sim}0.72. For each setting of the volume element, a monotonic increase in the volume of the \ensuremath{\alpha} phase was observed, until the material entered the two-phase region. Once the \ensuremath{\beta} phase appeared, the volumes of both phases decreased slightly with continued loading. The integrated intensities of diffraction peaks from each phase were used in conjunction with the known phase diagram to estimate the rate of compositional change within the volume element. The diffusion rate for the solute atoms was estimated to be $57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s},$ based on the temporal and spatial dependence of the integrated intensities of the diffraction peaks from each phase. These data also were used to evaluate the time dependence of the concentration of the solute atoms $\ensuremath{\partial}c/\ensuremath{\partial}t$ and their diffusivity D. The value of $\ensuremath{\partial}c/\ensuremath{\partial}t$ increased linearly from $6.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}{\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ at the surface, to $7.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}{\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ midway into the wire. D was computed to be $(3.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}/\mathrm{s}$ when the transition began at $r=250\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m};$ 2 ks later it had decreased to $(2.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}/\mathrm{s}.$ This may be due to the fact that the volume of the \ensuremath{\beta} lattice also decreased during this period.
Is bilateral protected specimen brush sampling necessary for the accurate diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia?

Background: Clinical acumen alone is unreliable in establishing a diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and controversy exists over which diagnostic tools should be utilized to confirm a clinical suspicion of VAP. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of blind protected specimen brush (PSB) sampling in the diagnosis of VAP and if bilateral PSB sampling is necessary. Methods: Prospective study comparing blind PSB sampling with bronchoscopic directed PSB sampling in thirty-four consecutive SICU patients with a clinical suspicion of VAP. All patients underwent blind PSB sampling followed by bronchoscopic directed contralateral PSB sampling. Results: Twenty-four of 34 patients (71%) were diagnosed to have VAP. The concordance rate between blind and directed PSB samples was 53% (18/34). When blind PSB was positive (15/34), the contralateral sample yielded a different microorganism in three patients (9%). When blind PSB was negative (19/34), infection was present in the contralateral lung in nine patients (26%). Blind PSB sampling alone was inaccurate in 35% of patients. Conclusions: The low concordance between blind and directed PSB suggests the need to sample both lung fields. Bilateral PSB sampling can identify unsuspected pathogenic microorganisms in the contralateral lung.
Parallel fault identification algorithm

Consider a system of n units, at most t < n2 of which are faulty. Suppose each unit is capable of testing any other unit for a possible fault, but that results of tests performed by faulty units might be incorrectly or even maliciously reported. We give an adaptive algorithm which identifies the faulty units in O(1 + log[nt]t) rounds of testing using O(n) tests. Previous adaptive algorithms required at least t + logn rounds of testing and n + t − 1 tests. If t < n1−e, our algorithm runs within O(1) rounds.
Architecture, Symmetry and Mechanism of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors

Ionotropic glutamate receptors - AMPA, kainate and NMDA - are localized to the postsynaptic density and they mediate the majority of excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system by opening a transmembrane ion channel upon binding of glutamate. Despite their central role in signal transduction at chemical synapses, the principles of receptor mechanism, grounded on atomic structure of an intact receptor, are not well understood. Early work on the genetically excised agonist binding domain provided a simple model for glutamate-induced activation: agonist binding promotes closure of the clamshell-shaped binding domain. Further studies suggested that these binding domains are assembled as a dimer-of-dimers, a symmetrical arrangement different from the putative 4-fold, tetrameric symmetry of the ion channel domain. How are these different internal symmetries reconciled? To answer this question and to gain insight into the mechanisms of receptor function, we solved the atomic structure of the AMPA-sensitive rat GluA2 receptor complex. The receptor harbors an overall axis of two-fold symmetry and, as foreshadowed by studies on the isolated domains, the extracellular domains are organized as pairs of local dimers, with the ion channel exhibiting four-fold symmetry. The 2-fold (dimeric) and 4-fold (tetrameric) symmetry mismatch between the extracellular and ion channel domains, respectively, is mediated by two pairs of conformationally distinct subunits, A/C and B/D. Remarkably, the manner in which the A/C subunits are coupled to the ion channel gate is different from that of the B/D subunits, with the A/C subunits adopting a conformation distinct from the B/D subunits. The structural studies on glutamate receptors, together with vast knowledge of receptor function and biophysics, now allow us to develop mechanisms of function for AMPA, kainate and NMDA receptors based on three-dimensional, atomic resolution structure.
Expression of DNAJB12 or DNAJB14 Causes Coordinate Invasion of the Nucleus by Membranes Associated with a Novel Nuclear Pore Structure

DNAJB12 and DNAJB14 are transmembrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that serve as co-chaperones for Hsc70/Hsp70 heat shock proteins. We demonstrate that over-expression of DNAJB12 or DNAJB14 causes the formation of elaborate membranous structures within cell nuclei, which we designate DJANGOS for DNAJ-associated nuclear globular structures. DJANGOS contain DNAJB12, DNAJB14, Hsc70 and markers of the ER lumen and ER and nuclear membranes. Strikingly, they are evenly distributed underneath the nuclear envelope and are of uniform size in any one nucleus. DJANGOS are composed primarily of single-walled membrane tubes and sheets that connect to the nuclear envelope via a unique configuration of membranes, in which the nuclear pore complex appears anchored exclusively to the outer nuclear membrane, allowing both the inner and outer nuclear membranes to flow past the circumference of the nuclear pore complex into the nucleus. DJANGOS break down rapidly during cell division and reform synchronously in the daughter cell nuclei, demonstrating that they are dynamic structures that undergo coordinate formation and dissolution. Genetic studies showed that the chaperone activity of DNAJ/Hsc70 is required for the formation of DJANGOS. Further analysis of these structures will provide insight into nuclear pore formation and function, activities of molecular chaperones, and mechanisms that maintain membrane identity.
Comments on papers by P. R. Wilson concerning sunspots

In a series of papers Wilson (1972a, b, 1973) has proposed a Carnot cycle to explain the cooling of a sunspot. It is the purpose of this note to point out some inconsistencies in these papers. If the cooling cycle envisaged by Wilson operates at all, it falls short of the cooling required in a spot by a factor of at least 100. (auth)
Stem cell self-renewal: centrosomes on the move

Three recent studies show that centrosome asymmetry correlates with self-renewal of Drosophila neural and germline stem cells and that equalizing centrosomes disrupts asymmetric cell division.
The Production Planning Problem: Clearing Functions, Variable Lead Times, Delay Equations and Partial Differential Equations

Determining the production rate of a factory as a function of current and previous states is at the heart of the production planning problem. Different approaches to this problem presented in this book are reviewed and their relationship is discussed. Necessary conditions for the success of a clearing function as a quasi steady approximation are presented and more sophisticated approaches allowing the prediction of outflow in transient situations are discussed. Open loop solutions to the deterministic production problem are introduced and promising new research directions are outlined.
BLOOD CHEMICAL CHANGES IN EXPERIMENTAL STREPTOCOCCUS SEPTICEMIA.

The following changes have been found to occur in rabbits given fatal intravenous doses of Streptococcus hemolyticus : The blood sugar concentration drops at a constant rate throughout the disease, but does not reach a condition of hypoglycemia. Glycogen is present in the liver at death. The CO2 capacity is lowered markedly at first, then returns to a somewhat higher level, at which it continues until the terminal stage of the disease, when the acidosis becomes very marked. Inorganic phosphorus is markedly increased in concentration at the terminus of the disease. This increase is greater in animals showing an acute course than in those in which the disease is of the fulminating type. Calcium also shows terminal changes, decreases occurring in both groups. In the acutely infected rabbits the decrease is less than in the fulminating group, although in both a pathological level is reached. Non-protein nitrogen and creatinine are greatly increased in the terminal stages, in both groups of animals. It is suggested that these observations can be explained on the assumption of a large amount of acid production by the streptococcus in vivo .
Olfactory Experience II: Objects and Properties

The philosophy of perception has been dominated by vision, with very little discussion of the chemical senses – olfaction and gustation. In this second entry of a pair on olfactory experience, I consider what olfaction has to tell us about two issues: (i) the nature of perceptual objects and (ii) the nature of perceptual properties and, in particular, the secondary qualities. Given the scant work on olfaction in the philosophical literature, my discussion not only surveys what philosophers have said about olfaction so far, but considers the most plausible views and/or most pressing questions in each area of inquiry.
Validation of LOC-I interventions

The basic tenet of this paper is that today’s national airspace systems, at least in advanced industrial countries, qualify as so-called Highly Reliable Systems (HRS). In an HRS, even the type of accident that causes the most fatalities is a rare event. This means that in an HRS, the avoidance of accidents is a frequent event. Therefore, the best way to improve an already highly reliable system would be to learn from the cases where accidents have been avoided. This is not possible, however, because you can’t learn from what is unknown. Instead, safety managers resort to retrospective analyses of the most deadly accidents overall. In an unreliable system, it makes sense to correct what is wrong. In an HRS, however, any mitigation efforts that arise from rare, unpredictable, and often unique events carry great danger to upset the balance of the HRS. Such interventions must be scrupulously vetted, in a series of steps that become increasingly costly as the series progresses. This paper makes some suggestions for these steps. If the anticipated benefit from the intervention is not worth the cost of such a thorough review for unintended consequences, then it may be better to accept the existing high reliability of the system as good enough and leave the system unchanged.
HEART: an automated beat-to-beat cardiovascular analysis package using Matlab.

A computer program is described for beat-to-beat analysis of cardiovascular parameters from high-4delity pressure and 5ow waveforms. The Hemodynamic Estimation and Analysis Research Tool (HEART) is a post-processing analysis software package developed in Matlab J that enables scientists and clinicians to document, load, view, calibrate, and analyze experimental data that have been digitally saved in ascii or binary format. Analysis routines include traditional hemodynamic parameter estimates as well as more sophisticated analyses such as lumped arterial model parameter estimation and vascular impedance frequency spectra. Cardiovascular parameter values of all analyzed beats can be viewed and statistically analyzed. An attractive feature of the HEART program is the ability to analyze data with visual quality assurance throughout the process, thus establishing a framework toward which Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliance can be obtained. Additionally, the development of HEART on the Matlab J platform provides users with the 5exibility to adapt or create study speci4c analysis 4les according to their speci4c needs. ? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A Range-wide Survey of the Endangered Black-capped Vireo in Texas

Vireo atricapilla (Black-capped Vireo) is an endangered migratory songbird with a breeding range that exists predominantly within Texas. Despite the species' listing under the Endangered Species Act in 1987, Black-capped Vireos were largely undocu- mented in much of the range. We sampled over 10,700 points in Texas, resulting in 2458 Black-capped Vireo detections. We examined the relationship between Black-capped Vireo occurrence and vegetation and broad-scale landscape variables, and we assessed if detections were clustered. Black-capped Vireo detections occurred often on a common soil type but were found where slopes were higher in the western part of the range. We found evidence of clustering in six of our eight study areas but no evidence of habitat metrics driving that clustering. These data improve the current knowledge of Black- capped Vireo distribution and offer opportunities for improved guidance for conservation and management efforts.
Couples' Reasons for Cohabitation: Associations With Individual Well-Being and Relationship Quality

This study uses a new measure to examine how different types of reasons for cohabitation are associated with individual well-being and relationship quality in a sample of 120 cohabiting heterosexual couples (N = 240). Spending more time together and convenience are the most strongly endorsed reasons. The degree to which individuals report cohabiting to test their relationships is associated with more negative couple communication and more physical aggression as well as lower relationship adjustment, confidence, and dedication. Testing the relationship is also associated with higher levels of attachment insecurity and more symptoms of depression and anxiety. Men are more likely than women to endorse testing their relationships and less likely to endorse convenience as a reason for cohabiting.
Effects of rumen-protected methionine on plasma amino acid concentrations during a period of weight loss for late gestating beef heifers

This study determined changes in plasma amino acid concentration in late-gestating (beginning 58 ± 1.02 days prior to calving), primiparous, winter-grazing range heifers receiving wheat middling-based supplement without (CON) or with rumen-protected methionine (MET) to provide 15 g DL-MET each day. Plasma was collected on days -2 and 0 (start of MET supplementation just prior to individually receiving supplement at 0700 hours). Plasma was sampled again on days 40, 42 and 44 prior to supplementation at 0700 and 1100 hours (4 h after receiving daily supplement). Data were analyzed with cow as the experimental unit. Continuous variables were analyzed by the main effects of treatment, date, or time and their interaction when appropriate. Comparable BW (P = 0.32) and BCS (P = 0.83) over the 44-day metabolism trial were found between both CON- and MET-fed heifers. MET-supplemented heifers had greater (P < 0.01) plasma concentrations of methionine indicating that the rumen-protection technology successfully delivered methionine to the small intestine. Supplementation with rumen-protected DL-MET caused a significant supplement × date interaction for glutamine (P = 0.03), glycine (P = 0.02), methionine (P < 0.01), and serine (P = 0.05). In addition, trends for supplement × date interactions were detected for leucine (P = 0.07), threonine (P = 0.09), valine (P = 0.08), total amino acids (TAA; P = 0.08), non essential amino acids (NEAA; P = 0.08), branched chain amino acids (BCAA; P = 0.08), and glucogenic amino acids (GLUCO; P = 0.08). These results suggest that the BCAA (leucine and valine) were utilized more efficiently with MET supplemented heifers compared to CON supplemented heifers. Plasma AA concentrations for glutamic acid (P < 0.01), histidine (P = 0.01), tyrosine (P < 0.01), and EAA (P < 0.01), all decreased throughout the study. These results further confirm methionine is a limiting amino acid in forage fed late-gestating heifers and further suggests the limitation when grazing dormant range forages as shown by improved utilization of other plasma amino acids when supplemental methionine was provided.
HandSCAPE: a vectorizing tape measure for on-site measuring applications

We introduce HandSCAPE, an orientation-aware digital tape measure, as an input device for digitizing field measurements, and visualizing the volume of the resulting vectors with computer graphics. Using embedded orientation-sensing hardware, HandSCAPE captures relevant vectors on each linear measurements and transmits this data wirelessly to a remote computer in real-time. To guide us in design, we have closely studied the intended users, their tasks, and the physical workplaces to extract the needs from real worlds. In this paper, we first describe the potential utility of HandSCAPE for three on-site application areas: archeological surveys, interior design, and storage space allocation. We then describe the overall system which includes orientation sensing, vector calculation, and primitive modeling. With exploratory usage results, we conclude our paper for interface design issues and future developments.
Integrating the Study of Culture and Religion: Toward a Psychology of Worldview

We propose a psychology of worldview as an integrative framework for the study of culture and religion. We propose six aspects of worldview, each influenced by national and religious cultures: ontology (existential beliefs), epistemology (what can be known and how one should reason), semiotics (language and symbols used to describe the world), axiology (proximate goals, values, and morals), teleology (ultimate goals and the afterlife consequences of action), and praxeology (proscriptions and prescriptions for behavior). More attention to worldview can help remedy a lack of attention to: (i) the mutual influences of these different kinds of cultures (including national and religious), (ii) trans-national religious groups, (iii) non-religious belief systems, and (iv) the psychological predictors of cultural conflict. Worldviews can predict both individual and group behaviors and, further, afford a more nuanced understanding of cultural and religious processes as well as providing a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue.
Force and moment characterization of flapping wings for micro air vehicle application

This paper presents a method for investigating the unsteady aerodynamics of flapping wings for micro air vehicle application. For this purpose, a robotic flapper was designed and fabricated which can flap dynamically scaled wings in a desired kinematic pattern. An aerodynamic model and wing testing methodology was developed based on unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms. This model additionally accounts for the wing twisting. The experimental results show a good agreement with published data and the aerodynamic model compares well with the experimental results. The focus of the present work is on hovering flight, however, the methodology is general and can be extended to forward flight in future.
Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Preschool Children and Its Demography in a Military Psychiatric Clinic

Abstract This report presents the methods and results of psychiatric evaluation in a military psychiatric clinic of preschool children by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a child psychiatrist, a developmental pediatrician, a speech pathologist, an occupational therapist, and a social worker. Five or six children were evaluated in three weekly sessions. A cluster of symptoms concerning behavior problems was most frequently reported by the parents. About 40% of the children had developmental disorders. Most of the children evaluated needed only brief intervention. Seventy-five percent were seen in fewer than 10 sessions and half of the children had improved at the time of closing.
Phosphorylation of Ornithine Decarboxylase at Both Serine and Threonine Residues in the ODC-overproducing, Abelson Virus-transformed RAW264 Cell Line

Expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the initial enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, is essential for cell growth. The Abelson virus-transformed, murine macrophage-derived RAW264 cell line overexpresses ODC activity and enzyme protein at a level 100–1000-fold greater than in normal cells. Expression of ODC was completely dependent on extracellular stimulants and followed a temporally discrete pattern similar to that in normal cells. ODC was present in RAW264 cells as two major and one minor isoelectric forms. Analysis of ODC isolated from [32P]orthophosphate metabolically radiolabeled cells demonstrated that the basic isoelectric enzyme form was unphosphorylated, the two more acidic forms were phosphorylated, and both phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues were present in the phosphorylated ODC. Therefore, in the RAW264 cell line, ODC is overexpressed and phosphorylated at multiple sites on the enzyme molecule.
Imaging the Trauma Patient

Trauma patients frequently are imaged in the emergency department, as they are at high risk for significant internal injuries that would not be evident on conventional radiographs. Many institutions use “Fast” scan ultrasound (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma), a way of surveying the certain portions of the abdomen and pelvis looking for free fluid, which may indicate the presence of hemorrhage. When free fluid is found, the patient is then generally evaluated with enhanced computed tomography.
Perception and acceptable risks – the union of decision-theory, behaviour and the brain

Acceptability and perception drive risky environmental heath and safety decisions: protecting against nearly infinitesimal risks can involve expenditures of millions or billions of dollars. Societal decision-makers and individual taxpayers are asked to understand numbers that span over more than 15 orders of magnitude, numbers with which most individuals lack experience. For example, we perceived real estate values will continue to rise, and lenders, in part misperceiving the potential risks of defaults, lent to more than 7 million high-risk borrowers: more than a trillion dollars were involved in the sub-prime loans market disaster. Even when public agencies or industry perform a health or safety assessment and demonstrate low risk, such assertions are not sufficient justification for those at risk to accept as minimal guarantees of safety, as the Challenger disaster shows. However, to assert that a risk is correctly perceived and acceptable requires understanding of 'acceptable risk' numbers, otherwise any 'acceptable risk criterion' to justify a choice can hardly be meaningful. This paper's synthesis of theoretical and experimental aspects integrates decision-theoretic, behavioural and neurological results, including surprising or paradoxical choices.
Effective initialization of k-means for color quantization

Color quantization is an important operation with many applications in graphics and image processing. Most quantization methods are essentially based on data clustering algorithms. However, despite its popularity as a general purpose clustering algorithm, k-means has not received much respect in the color quantization literature because of its high computational requirements and sensitivity to initialization. In this paper, we investigate the performance of k-means as a color quantizer. We implement fast and exact variants of k-means with different initialization schemes and then compare the resulting quantizers to some of the most popular quantizers in the literature. Experiments on a set of classic test images demonstrate that an efficient implementation of k-means with an appropriate initialization strategy can in fact serve as a very effective color quantizer.
Verification of National Weather Service spot forecasts using surface observations

Software has been developed to evaluate National Weather Service spot forecasts. Fire management officials request spot forecasts from National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices to provide detailed guidance as to atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of planned prescribed burns as well as wildfires that do not have incident meteorologists on site. This open source software with online display capabilities is used to examine an extensive set of spot forecasts of maximum temperature, minimum relative humidity, and maximum wind speed from April 2009 through November 2013 nationwide. The forecast values are compared to the closest available surface observations at stations installed primarily for fire weather and aviation applications. The accuracy of the spot forecasts is compared to that available from the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD). Spot forecasts for a selected prescribed burn are used to illustrate issues associated with the verification procedures. Cumulative statistics for National Weather Service County Warning Areas and for the nation are presented. Basic error and accuracy metrics for all available spot forecasts and the entire nation indicate that the skill of the spot forecasts is higher than that available from the NDFD, with the greatest improvement for maximum temperature and the least improvement for maximum wind speed.
Human Models to Evaluate Urinary Biomarkers of Kidney Injury

It has been several years since the Board of Advisors and the Council of the American Society of Nephrology summarized a series of retreats undertaken to prioritize renal research directions given current resource limitations ([1][1]). All five working groups devoted to different areas of research
Parathyroid Hormone Applications in the Craniofacial Skeleton

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is known for its ability to 'build' bone, with research in this area centered on its use as an osteoporosis therapeutic. Recent interest has developed regarding its potential for regenerative applications such as fracture healing and osseous defects of the oral cavity. Many years of investigation using murine gene-targeted models substantiate a role for signaling at the PTH/PTH-related protein (PTHrP) receptor (PPR) in intramembranous bone formation in the craniofacial region as well as in tooth development. Pre-clinical studies clearly support a positive role of intermittent PTH administration in craniofacial bones and in fracture healing and implant integration. A few human clinical studies have shown favorable responses with teriparatide (the biologically active fragment of PTH) administration. Favorable outcomes have emerged with teriparatide administration in patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). New delivery strategies are in development to optimize targeted application of PTH and to help maximize local approaches. The promising host-modulating potential of PTH requires more information to further its effectiveness for craniofacial regeneration and osseous wound-healing, including a better delineation of cellular targets, temporal effects of PTH action, and improved approaches for local/targeted delivery of PTH.
The Theory of the Knowledge Square and the Concept of the Possibility Space, Open image in new window

We now turn our attention to the possibility space Open image in new window as the second building block of the knowledge square. The possibility space is a cognitive connector between the potential space, Open image in new window and the space of thenatural actual. It is an element of continuity of the epistemic chain of knowing and explaining where the potential space and its contents, relative to cognition, are taken to exist but unknown to cognitive agents as true ontological elements. The potential space is the initialization of activities of cognitive agents and their knowledge production process where knowledge and awareness of the elements must be abstracted by a process. The possibility space is made up of elements which are possible candidates for knowing from the potential space. It is cognitive construct in terms of ontology and epistemology. It constitutes an initial bridge between ontology and epistemology (the words epistemic and cognitive are interchangeably used in a number of occasions). The question, therefore, is: how are the concepts of possibility and possibility space defined, how are they connected and how are they related to the uncertainties and the process of knowing?
The advancement of human pluripotent stem cell-derived therapies into the clinic

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer many potential applications for drug screening and 'disease in a dish' assay capabilities. However, a more ambitious goal is to develop cell therapeutics using hPSCs to generate and replace somatic cells that are lost as a result of disease or injury. This Spotlight article will describe the state of progress of some of the hPSC-derived therapeutics that offer the most promise for clinical use. Lessons from developmental biology have been instrumental in identifying signaling molecules that can guide these differentiation processes in vitro, and will be described in the context of these cell therapy programs.