cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HyperMap: Compressed 3D Map for Monocular Camera Registration

We address the problem of image registration to a compressed 3D map. While this is most often performed by comparing LiDAR scans to the point cloud based map, it depends on an expensive LiDAR sensor at run time and the large point cloud based map creates overhead in data storage and transmission. Recently, efforts have been underway to replace the expensive LiDAR sensor with cheaper cameras and perform 2D-3D localization. In contrast to the previous work that learns relative pose by comparing projected depth and camera images, we propose HyperMap, a paradigm shift from online depth map feature extraction to offline 3D map feature computation for the 2D-3D camera registration task through end-to-end training. In the proposed pipeline, we first perform offline 3D sparse convolution to extract and compress the voxelwise hypercolumn features for the whole map. Then at run-time, we project and decode the compressed map features to the rough initial camera pose to form a virtual feature image. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is then used to predict the relative pose between the camera image and the virtual feature image. In addition, we propose an efficient occlusion handling layer, specifically designed for large point clouds, to remove occluded points in projection. Our experiments on synthetic and real datasets show that, by moving the feature computation load offline and compressing, we reduced map size by 87−94% while maintaining comparable or better accuracy.
Natural variation in the maternal and zygotic mRNA complements of the early embryo in Drosophila melanogaster

Maternal gene products supplied to the egg during oogenesis drive the earliest events of development in all metazoans. After the initial stages of embryogenesis, maternal transcripts are degraded as zygotic transcription is activated, this is known as the maternal to zygotic transition (MZT). Altering the abundances of maternally deposited factors in the laboratory can have a dramatic effect on development, adult phenotypes and ultimately fitness. Zygotic transcription activation is a tightly regulated process, where the zygotic genome takes over control of development from the maternal genome, and is required for the viability of the organism. Recently, it has been shown that the expression of maternal and zygotic transcripts have evolved in the Drosophila genus over the course of 50 million years of evolution. However, the extent of natural variation of maternal and zygotic transcripts within a species has yet to be determined. We asked how the maternal and zygotic pools of mRNA vary within and between populations of D. melanogaster. In order to maximize sampling of genetic diversity, African lines of D. melanogaster originating from Zambia as well as DGRP lines originating from North America were chosen for transcriptomic analysis. Single embryo RNA-seq was performed at a stage before and a stage after zygotic genome activation in order to determine which transcripts are maternally deposited and which are zygotically expressed within and between these populations. Differential gene expression analysis has been used to quantify quantitative changes in RNA levels within populations as well as fixed expression differences between populations at both stages. Generally, we find that maternal transcripts are more highly conserved, and zygotic transcripts evolve at a higher rate. We find that there is more within population variation in transcript abundance than between populations and that expression variation is highest post- MZT between African lines. Determining the natural variation of gene expression surrounding the MZT in natural populations of D. melanogaster gives insight into the extent of how a tightly regulated process may vary within a species, the extent of developmental constraint at both stages and on both the maternal and zygotic genomes, and reveals expression changes allowing this species to adapt as it spread across the world.
Characterization and sequence analysis of the scrA gene encoding enzyme IIScr of the Streptococcus mutans phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose phosphotransferase system.

Abstract The Streptococcus mutans GS-5 scrA gene coding for enzyme IIScr of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose phosphotransferase system (PTS) was localized upstream from the scrB gene coding for sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase activity after Mu dE transposon mutagenesis of plasmid pMH613. The cloned scrA gene product was identified as a 68-kilodalton protein by minicell analysis after isolation of the gene in plasmid pD4. In addition, the membrane fraction from Escherichia coli cells containing pD4 exhibited sucrose PTS activity upon complementation with enzyme I and HPr from strain GS-5. The nucleotide sequence of the scrA region revealed that this gene was located immediately upstream from the scrB gene and divergently transcribed from the opposite DNA strand. The scrA gene was preceded by potential Shine-Dalgarno and promoterlike sequences and was followed by a transcription terminator-like sequence. The scrA gene coded for an enzyme IIScr protein of 664 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 69,983. This enzyme IIScr protein was larger than the comparable proteins from Bacillus subtilis and E. coli containing sucrose-metabolizing plasmid pUR400. The 491-amino-acid N-terminal sequence of the S. mutans enzyme IIScr was homologous with the B. subtilis and E. coli sequences, and the 173-amino-acid C-terminal sequence of the S. mutans protein was also homologous with the Salmonella typhimurium enzyme IIIGlc and the 162-amino-acid C terminus of E. coli enzyme IIBgl. These results suggest that the sucrose PTS system of S. mutans is enzyme III independent.
Theory of the terahertz radiation via excitation of the semiconductor structures above the absorption edge

Below the band gap optical excitation of the ultrashort electrical pulses in the semiconductors due to the optical rectification have been studied by numerous groups. The situation when the excitation pulse is above the band gap have not been studied up until recently, since, it had been assumed that (a) the response time is determined by the recombination time (i.e. it is slow) and (b) the screening effects will severely attenuate the effect However, in recent results strong THz radiation had been observed. We have developed a simple theory that explains how high intensity terahertz radiation is obtained in zinc-blende materials and in the two-dimensional structures despite the constraints mentioned above. Our theory uses the combination of Kane k.p theory and bond charge theory of the nonlinear susceptibilities. We have shown that the optical rectification tensor has two different components. The first ultrafast (virtual) component has the "refractive-index-like" dispersion and relatively small magnitude. The second component is real and is associated with the absorption of electron from the bonding orbital of the valence band into the antibonding orbital of the conduction band. >
An Analysis of the Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of Faculty Development for Online Teaching

This article presents the results of a national study of 39 higher education institutions that collected information about their cost measures used to evaluate faculty development for online teaching as well as decisions they would make to expand, keep, scale back, or eliminate various faculty development activities and contents in a budget-cutting situation. Generally, institutions are more likely to expand low marginal cost training (e.g., online modules) and eliminate training content dealing with tools (e.g., Facebook/Twitter). The two most popular cost measures used are dollars per hours of training provided per academic year and dollars spent per new online course per academic year.
Design of a multi-mode pipelined multiplier for floating-point applications

The design of a VLSI multimode pipelined multiplier is presented. The multiplier is designed to accept three types of operands: IEEE FP (floating point) double- and single-format and 32-b two's complement integers. The multiplier complies fully with the IEEE standard for floating point arithmetic, with the exception of denormalized numbers. All rounding modes and exception handling are supported. The high performance of the multiplier is made possible by the use of octal Booth encoding of the multiplier to reduce the number of partial products. In addition, a novel fast carry adder, the optimized-carry-multiplexed adder, is used to accelerate the critical carry propagation paths. The multiplier is designed to operate at 40 MHz and is pipelined to allow a new operation to begin every clock cycle. Thus, 40-MFLOPS operation is possible in double-precision and integer modes. In single-precision mode, two operations are performed in parallel, yielding 80-MFLOPS performance. >
The Effects of Differential Labeling on Professional Concepts and Attitudes toward the Emotionally Disturbed/Behaviorally Disordered.

An investigation was undertaken to ascertain whether preservice and inservice educators' perceptions of the emotionally disturbed/behaviorally disordered would be influenced within a multidimension...
The Impact of a Derogatory Remark on Prejudice Toward a Gay Male Leader1

A laboratory experiment examined the impact of a derogatory remark on expressions of prejudice toward a gay male leader. Students participated in same-sex groups with a male confederate who was obviously gay or presumably straight. Half of the participants in the gay condition heard a derogatory remark about the confederate. This resulted in 3 experimental conditions: gay/remark, gay/no remark, and straight/no remark. Participants evaluated the leader's abilities less favorably and evidenced more negative nonverbal behaviors toward him in the gay/remark condition than in the gay/no remark or straight/no remark conditions. These findings extend research on derogatory remarks to a nonracial minority and highlight the powerful effect of immediate social context on expressions of prejudice.
Increased resistance of immature red cells of rat and dog to osmotic lysis.

Mature male rats were injected with radioiron, which labeled immature red cells that were in the stage of hemoglobin synthesis at the time. Washed cells were subjected to lysis by hypotonic saline at 14 intervals ranging from 1 to 85 hours after 59Fe injection. Lysis curves were determined colorimetrically (for the whole population) and by scintillation counting of 59Fe gamma rays (for the labeled population). Newly labeled rat red cells are much more resistant than mature erythrocytes. The mature curve of osmotic resistance is acquired about 67 hours after injection. The delivery of labeled cells continues for more than 36 hours, so the maturation of osmotic properties of a typical rat red cell takes about 30 hours from entry into the circulation. Washed dog cells behave in similar fashion but delivery continues for three days and the mature lysis curve does not appear until five days after labeling, so that maturation takes about two days. Preincubation of cells is requisite for the appearance of osmotic resistance, but the basis of the incubation effect is not yet known.
Government Budgets and Money: How Are They Related?

Do deficits necessarily result in money-supply increases and inflationary consequences? The authors review the recent extensive literature on the relationship between fiscal variables and the money supply.
Purification of microtubule protein from beef brain and comparison of the assembly requirements for neuronal microtubules isolated from beef and hog.

Abstract The polymerization of microtubule protein from beef brain is inefficient under the same conditions which are optimal for the assembly of microtubules isolated from hog brain (0.1 m piperazine-N,N′-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) buffer at pH 6.94). In examining the conditions required for microtubule polymerization in both beef brain extract and purified microtuble protein, it was determined that the pH optimum was pH 6.62 or 0.3 pH unit lower than the reported optimum for hog. Other assembly requirements (ionic strength, Mg2+ and nucleotide concentration, temperature) remained essentially the same as for hog. By separating and recombining fractions of tubulin and nontubulin components prepared from beef and hog microtubule protein, the requirement for the reduction in pH was found to be due to the tubulin and not to the microtubule-associated proteins. It was also determined that the efficiency of beef tubulin assembly, as measured by the yield of microtubule polymer, decreased rapidly after slaughter with a half-time of 19 min. Furthermore, when the overall efficiency of polymerization was reduced, the extent of assembly at each cycle of purification by disassembly and assembly was also observed to be depressed. The variations in the requirements for neuronal tubulin assembly in two closely related mammals suggest that the conditions required for assembly of microtubule protein in other tissues and cell types may also be different.
Prenatal MR imaging of dural sinus malformation: a case report

Objective To describe prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of dural sinus malformation (DSM), a very rare, congenital form of dural arteriovenous shunt (DAVS), typically affecting newborns. Methods Ultrasound (US) and MRI were performed at 34 weeks' gestation, and the findings of these examinations were compared with postnatal MRI studies performed at 2 days and 1 month. Results US showed an anechoic, midline posterior fossa collection with irregular internal echodensities. Color Doppler showed prominent arterial vascularity at the lesion margins. The prenatal MRI showed a large, profoundly hypointense, midline retrocerebellar mass. Postnatal MRI, complemented with magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, showed the lesion to be a giant dural venous pouch fed by multiple mural arteriovenous shunts. Follow-up MRI at 1 month suggested latent venous hypertension and prompted endovascular treatment. Conclusion Prenatal MR imaging is useful to establish the diagnosis, to assess complications such as hydrocephalus and tonsillar prolapse, and to help plan perinatal management, postnatal follow-up, and treatment decision-making. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Unified Framework for Outlier Detection in Trace Data Analysis

Process trace data (PTD) is an important data type in semiconductor manufacturing and has a very large aggregate volume. While data mining and statistical analysis play a key role in the quality control of wafers, the existence of outliers adversely affects the applications benefiting from PTD analysis. Due to the complexities of PTD and the resultant outlier patterns, this paper proposes a unified outlier detection framework which takes advantages of data complexity reduction using entropy and abrupt change detection using cumulative sum (CUSUM) method. To meet the practical needs of PTD analysis, a two-step algorithm taking into account of the related domain knowledge is developed, and its effectiveness is validated by using real PTD sets and a production example. The experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the Fast Greedy Algorithm (FGA) and the Grubb's test, two commonly used outlier detection techniques for univariate data.
Medicinal plants of the eastern region of Madagascar

Sixty-eight plants used in the traditional medicinal practices of the Betsimisaraka and Tanala peoples of the eastern region of Madagascar are reported. Preparations and utilizations of these medicinal plants are as varied as the plants themselves. Some of the plants discussed are known to science, but because of the diversity of tribal groups in Madagascar, new preparations and utilizations of these plants were discovered based on the ethnobotanical data collected from the Betsimisaraka and Tanala. Many of the plants discussed remain to be chemically tested. Ethnopharmacological information is in danger of being lost in Madagascar as slash and burn agriculture destroys much of the forest, and the elder traditional healers, often illiterate, pass away without handing down their knowledge.
Left ventricular hypertrophy regression and function changes with ketanserin in elderly hypertensives.

Ketanserin is a serotonin antagonist with age-related antihypertensive efficacy. Its effects on left ventricular (LV) function and hypertrophy have not been adequately reported. We studied noninvasively 54 elderly hypertensives before and 6 months after ketanserin monotherapy. Mean blood pressure was controlled (174/101 to 145/86 mmHg, p<0.0001) with no heart rate changes. LV dimensions and volumes remained unchanged, as did all LV ejection indices, thus preserving LV output (p=ns). Total peripheral resistances fell (from means of 1986 to 1615 dynes, cm.s-5, p<0.0001), as did LV systolic wall stresses. Mean LV mass was reduced (248 to 237 g, p<0.0001), mainly due to interventricular septum thinning (11.8 to 11.1 mm, p<0.0001), resulting in a decrease in mean LV cross-sectional area (21.3 to 20.5 cm2, p<0.0001) and mass/volume ratio (2.14 to 2.01 p=0.0001). Thus, LV hypertrophy regression did not affect contractility (LV mass index relation to stress/end-systolic volume index, r=−0.558 before and r=−0.564 after ketanserin therapy). It is concluded that ketanserin is an effective antihypertensive agent in the elderly that reduces LV hypertrophy indices and maintains cardiac output, with no concomitant burdening on LV hemodynamics.
Cone over guide wire technique for difficult IVC filter retrieval.

Retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are placed in patients who are at temporary increased risk for pulmonary embolism, with or without contraindication for anticoagulation, with the expectation of subsequent removal. The failure to retrieve nonpermanent IVC filters is an increasingly encountered dilemma for vascular interventionalists. One of the more common causes of technical failure of retrieval is the presence of tilt in the orientation of the IVC filter, which may result in the retrieval hook abutting the wall of the IVC, preventing contact with the removal system [1]. This issue may be compounded by endothelialization of the filter hook [2]. We describe a nonconventional method for the retrieval of tilted IVC filters in two patients. This method uses a femoral access site that is contralateral to the direction of filter tilt in addition to the right internal jugular vein (IJV) access site. A cone-over-guide wire is then used to retrieve the filter, which has been realigned to the caval axis by the gentle application of tension on the guide wire ends. This technique can be used for filters of both the half-basket and double-basket design, when conventional and other nonconventional techniques fail and may make retrieval difficulties pertaining to filter hook endotheliazliation less relevant.
A Scratch-based CS0 course for at-risk computer science majors

This paper presents the results of a CS0 course based on the Scratch programming language that was designed to improve the retention of at-risk computer science majors. At the authors' university, prior to the introduction of the CS0 course, students who selected the computer science major but entered the university with weak mathematics preparation from high school left the major at a high rate. The Scratch-based CS0 course was developed to keep the students who had a desire to major in computer science engaged in the department, as well as prepare them for success in future computer science courses. This paper discusses the formal study that was conducted on the CS0 course offerings in Fall 2009 and Fall 2010, which reached about 120 students total, and over 60 in the target group of freshman CS majors with low mathematics placement scores. The study examined the course's effectiveness at improving the retention, performance and attitudes of these at-risk majors.
Anion and Cation Post-source Decay Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry of Small Peptides: Substance P, Angiotensin II, and Renin Substrate

Substance P, angiotensin II and renin substrate tetradecapeptide were used to compare post-source decay (PSD) fragmentation of positive and negative peptide ions in a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The peptides readily produced both [M+H]+ and [M−H]− ions by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Dissociation of the protonated molecules yielded primarily a+n and b+n fragment ions and low-mass ions characteristic of individual amino acid residues. In contrast, the distinguishing feature of the anion spectra is a complete, or almost complete, series of y+n ions. In addition, b−n, c−n, x−n, and [yn18]− fragment ions are found in the anion spectra. Anion formation from substance P is particularly interesting, because this peptide contains no acidic carboxyl groups to act as a charge site. In general, peptide cations produced predominantly fragment ions from the N-terminus, while anion dissociation gave primarily C-terminal fragment ions. The results suggest that cation and anion PSD yield complementary information on peptide primary structures.
Real-time online processing for remote sensing imagery

The realtime implementation is discussed for several detection and classification techniques: Orthogonal Subspace Projection (OSP), Filter Vector Algorithm (FVA), Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test (GLRT), RX algorithm, Constrained Energy Minimization (CEM), Target Constrained Interference Minimization Filter (TCIMF), and Constrained Linear Discriminant Analysis (CLDA). Two data dimensionality limitations are met in realtime processing. One is the number of classes to be classified cannot be larger than data dimensionality, i.e., the number of spectral bands (for some techniques), and the other is the number of independent pixel vectors used for processing must be larger than the number of bands for a data sample correlation or covariance matrix with full rank (for some techniques). In this paper, we present methods to take care of these two limitations: the former is solved by generating artificial band images to expand the data dimensionality, while the latter is solved by using a positive definite correlation matrix as initial matrix. Experiments using hyperspectral data and multispectral data demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods.
Unique Testing Capabilities of the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel, an Exercise in Aeroelastic Scaling

NASA Langley Research Center's Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) is the world's most capable aeroelastic test facility. Its large size, transonic speed range, variable pressure capability, and use of either air or R-134a heavy gas as a test medium enable unparalleled manipulation of flow-dependent scaling quantities. Matching these scaling quantities enables dynamic similitude of a full-scale vehicle with a sub-scale model, a requirement for proper characterization of any dynamic phenomenon, and many static elastic phenomena. Select scaling parameters are presented in order to quantify the scaling advantages of TDT and the consequence of testing in other facilities. In addition to dynamic testing, the TDT is uniquely well-suited for high risk testing or for those tests that require unusual model mount or support systems. Examples of recently conducted dynamic tests requiring unusual model support are presented. In addition to its unique dynamic test capabilities, the TDT is also evaluated in its capability to conduct aerodynamic performance tests as a result of its flow quality. Results of flow quality studies and a comparison to a many other transonic facilities are presented. Finally, the ability of the TDT to support future NASA research thrusts and likely vehicle designs is discussed.
The Relationship Between Psychiatric Disorders and the Ability to Age in Place in Assisted Living

Objective Residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) has become a popular long-term care option in the past decade, in part because these settings offer residents a more home-like environment than nursing homes (NHs) while still offering supervision and assistance to meet individuals' personal and healthcare needs. One of the goals of RC/AL is to facilitate residents' ability to age in place by providing access to needed services and thereby delaying NH admission. This article explores individual and facility-level characteristics associated with discharge from RC/AL to NH with particular attention to persons with a psychiatric disorder. Methods A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the risk factors associated with discharge from RC/AL to NH for a nonrandom sample of 366 residents in 37 RC/AL facilities in one state. Results Thirty-two percent of residents sampled had a psychiatric disorder. Residents with a psychiatric disorder were 1.78 times more likely to discharge to a NH. Other factors significantly associated with discharge from a RC/AL to NH included age (older), being married, more hospitalizations, for-profit ownership status, and part of a NH or continuing care retirement community. Conclusion This article identifies both facility and individual characteristics that increase the likelihood of RC/AL residents discharging to NHs. Given that one of the main findings is that persons with a psychiatric disorder are at increased risk of discharge to NH, there is a need for improved provision of services for this population in RC/ALs to reduce premature discharge to NHs and to support aging in place in RC/ALs.
Reaction time slowing during high-load, sustained-attention task performance in relation to psychometrically identified schizotypy.

Prior research has demonstrated a reliable deficit in performance accuracy (e.g., d') on sustained-attention tasks in relation to psychometrically identified schizotypy and clinically diagnosed schizotypal psychopathology. The present study sought to expand the understanding of sustained-attention performance in relation to psychometric schizotypy through a study of reaction time (RT) performance. In this study, the author examined performance accuracy and RT on a high-load, sustained-attention task, the Continuous Performance Test-Identical Pairs (CPT-IP) version, in 31 high Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS) and 26 normal control (control PAS) subjects from a large university population. High PAS (psychometric schizotypy) subjects displayed significantly longer RT performance on the CPT-IP relative to controls. The RT slowing was not explained by mental state or general intellectual ability factors. Contrary to expectation, a difference in performance accuracy (e.g., d') was not observed between the groups; however, power and other considerations cloud the interpretation of this finding. The meaning of the observed RT slowing is examined and its relation to current models of the development of schizophrenia is discussed.
An efficient preparation of isosteric phosphonate analogues of sphingolipids by opening of oxirane and cyclic sulfamidate intermediates with α-lithiated alkylphosphonic esters

D-erythro-(2S,3R,4E)-Sphingosine-1-phosphonate (1), the isosteric phosphonate analogue of naturally occurring sphingosine 1-phosphate (1a), and D-ribo-phytosphingosine 1-phosphonate (2), the isosteric phosphonate analogue of D-ribo-phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (2a), were synthesized starting with methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-glycerate (4) and D-ribo-phytosphingosine (3), respectively. Oxirane 12 was formed in eight steps from 4, and cyclic sulfamidate 22 was formed in five steps from 3. The phosphonate group was introduced via regioselective ring-opening reactions of oxirane 12 and cyclic sulfamidate 22 with lithium dialkyl methylphosphonate, affording 13 and 23, respectively. The synthesis of 1 was completed by S N 2 displacement of chloromesylate intermediate 14b with azide ion, followed by conversion of the resulting azido group to a NHBoc group and deprotection. The synthesis of 2 was completed by cleavage of the acetal, N-benzyl, and alkyl phosphonate ester groups.
Early smoking initiation and nicotine dependence in a cohort of young adults

We examined the extent to which nicotine dependence and daily smoking might vary by age at first cigarette. The potential confounding effects of sex, race and history of childhood behaviour problems were examined as well. A sample of 1200 was randomly selected from the subset of 21-30-year-old members of a large HMO in the Detroit SMSA; 1007 (84%) agreed to participate. Personal interviews were conducted in respondents' homes, using the NIMH-DIS to elicit information on DSM-III-R diagnoses, including nicotine dependence. Controlling for sex and race, persons who smoked their first cigarette at 14 to 16 years of age were 1.6 times more likely to become dependent than those who initiated smoking at an older age (P = 0.03). The association was unchanged when history of childhood behaviour problems was also controlled. Smoking initiation before age 14 was not associated with increased probability of dependence. Persons who initiated smoking before age 14 had a longer lag time to daily smoking and a lower likelihood of progressing to daily smoking, compared to persons who initiated smoking later on. The findings suggest that, among persons who have ever smoked, there might be two distinct groups in whom the chances of developing dependence are considerably reduced. The first comprises persons who delayed first use until age 17. The second comprises persons who smoked their first cigarette before age 14, a group in whom the progression to daily smoking might be markedly slower than in persons who initiated smoking when they were older.
Wheels of Time: Some Aspects of Entanglement Theory and the Secondary Products Revolution

This paper responds to that aspect of Andrew Sherratt’s writings that argued for building specifically archaeological theory. In describing a theory of entanglement, I have focused on the archaeological sensitivity to the complexities and practical interlacings of material things. The theory argues that human–thing entanglement comes about as a result of the dialectic between dependence (the reliance of humans and things on each other) and dependency (a constraining and limiting need of humans for things). Andrew’s discussion of the role of the wheel in his Secondary Products Revolution is a good example of how humans and things have become entangled so that, over the long term, we have been channeled down particular evolutionary pathways.
MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD ESTIMATION FOR A POISSON RATE PARAMETER WITH MISCLASSIFIED COUNTS

Summary This paper proposes a Poisson-based model that uses both error-free data and error-prone data subject to misclassification in the form of false-negative and false-positive counts. It derives maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) for the Poisson rate parameter and the two misclassification parameters — the false-negative parameter and the false-positive parameter. It also derives expressions for the information matrix and the asymptotic variances of the MLE for the rate parameter, the MLE for the false-positive parameter, and the MLE for the false-negative parameter. Using these expressions the paper analyses the value of the fallible data. It studies characteristics of the new double-sampling rate estimator via a simulation experiment and applies the new MLE estimators and confidence intervals to a real dataset.
Magnetic resonance imaging-guided neurosurgery in the magnetic fringe fields: the next step in neuronavigation.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the development of an alternative approach to intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMR)-guided neurosurgery and report our initial experience with 22 craniotomies and 16 brain biopsies. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are examined. METHODS: An iMR suite houses a 0.2-T open configuration system (Siemens Medical Systems, Erlangen, Germany) and is equipped with anesthetic gases and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible anesthesia machine and monitor. Standard operating instruments and equipment were tested for safety and compatibility in the magnetic fringe fields surrounding the open MRI system. We then performed brain biopsies and craniotomies in the iMR suite. RESULTS: Standard operating equipment functioned properly in the 0.5- to 10-mT zone and was not affected by the magnet's attractive force. Twenty-two craniotomies and 16 brain biopsies were performed in the interventional suite, using serial intraoperative MRI guidance, without injury to patients or operating room staff. CONCLUSION: Full neurosurgical procedures may be performed in the weak fringe fields surrounding an MRI system, using standard operating room equipment. This approach to iMR-guided neurosurgery offers a significant cost advantage over retrofitting an entire operative suite with MRI-compatible surgical equipment. The surgeon's familiarity with standard equipment and the reliability of the equipment are additional advantages. Neurosurgery in the fringe fields allows the neurosurgeon to utilize serial MRI with a minimum of inconvenience, disruption, and change to the standard neurosurgical procedure. Serial intraoperative imaging to visualize the changes in the brain that are associated with neurosurgical intervention seems to enhance the ability to safely and effectively accomplish neurosurgical goals.
Medial approach for drainage of the obturator musculature in children.

Background In a recent study designed to determine the anatomic location of infection in children presenting with acute hip pain, fever, and elevated inflammatory markers, we demonstrated the incidence of infection of the musculature surrounding the hip to be greater than twice that of septic arthritis. Importantly, the obturator musculature was infected in >60% of cases. Situated deep in the pelvis, surrounding the obturator foramen, debridement of these muscles and placement of a drain traditionally requires an extensive ilioinguinal or Pfannenstiel approach, placing significant risk to the surrounding neurovascular structures. We hypothesized that the obturator internus and externus could be successfully debrided using a limited medial approach. Methods An IRB-approved prospective study of children (0 to 18 y) evaluated in the pediatric emergency department by an orthopaedic surgeon to rule out septic hip arthritis at a tertiary care children's hospital (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012) was conducted. Infected obturator musculature was identified and confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging. Cadaveric dissection was performed comparing the ilioinguinal, Pfannenstiel, and proposed minimally invasive medial approach. The proposed approach was utilized to debride and place drains in 7 consecutive patients. Results Anatomic information gained from magnetic resonance images of patients with abscess within the obturator musculature, and from the results of cadaveric studies, allowed for planning of a novel surgical approach. We found that through the surgical approach used to perform an osteotomy of the ischium (Tonnis) the obturator externus could be debrided through the adductor brevis and the obturator internus could be debrided through the obturator foramen. Using our medial approach, resolution of symptoms in all children who underwent surgical drainage resulted without complication. Conclusions Our medial approach can safely access the obturator musculature for abscess decompression and drain placement with successful results. Advantages to this approach include: lower risk to neurovascular structures within the pelvis, less soft tissue trauma, and similarity to current techniques used for adductor lengthening, medial reduction of the dislocated hip, and osteotomy of the ischium. Level of evidence Level II.
Household food insecurity and dietary intake in Korea: results from the 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Objective To examine the prevalence of household food insecurity and compare dietary intake by food security status in a representative Korean population. Design Cross-sectional. Food security status of households was classified using an eighteen-item food security questionnaire. The nutrition survey comprised questions on dietary habits, a 24 h dietary recall and a semi-quantitative FFQ. Setting The 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects A total of 3007 households completed the food security questionnaire. Family members within each household aged ≥1 year (n 7118) participated in the nutrition survey. Results Results from the 2012 survey indicated that 88·7 % of Korean households showed food security. The remaining 11·3 % (9·3 % for food insecurity without hunger and 2·0 % for food insecurity with hunger) were in food-insecure households. The prevalence of household food insecurity was 13·2 % in households with children and 10·3 % in households without children. Mean daily intakes of energy, fat and carbohydrates were not significantly different between food-secure and food-insecure adults. In contrast, mean daily intakes of protein, crude fibre, vitamins and minerals as well as weekly consumption frequencies of vegetables, seaweeds, fruits, fruit juice, nuts, and milk and milk products were significantly lower in food-insecure adults compared with food-secure adults. Conclusions The study demonstrated that food insecurity is associated with reduced intakes of healthy foods and nutrients essential for health and growth in a representative Korean population.
Transmission of different angular-momentum modes in cylindrically symmetric photonic bandgap fibers in the near infrared

We report the first controllable transmission of TE01 and HE11 modes (angular momenta 0 and 1, respectively) in cylindrically symmetric photonic bandgap fibers in the near-infrared and confirm that TE01 has lower losses than HE11.
Modeling of Parameters Affecting Phytate Phosphorus Bioavailability in Growing Birds

The current study was undertaken to establish a population from an unselected random-mating chicken population for the development of a model to predict factors that affect phytate P utilization in growing birds. A population was established from a mating of 40 male and 200 female chickens from the Athens Canadian randombred population. At 4 wk of age, birds were housed in individual metabolic cages and fed a diet containing 1.06% Ca, 0.35% total P, and 0.03% available P. After 3 d of acclimatization, feed consumption (FC) was measured and excreta produced in 3 consecutive d were collected. Individual 4-wk BW, BW gain (BWG), phytate P intake (PPI), inorganic P intake (IPI), Ca intake (CaI), N intake (NI), and energy intake (EI) during the 3 d excreta collection period were also measured. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) and relative growth rate were calculated. Phytate P bioavailability (PPB), Ca bioavailability (CaB), and N bioavailability (NB) were estimated from the disappearance of the nutrients during the passage of feed through the gastrointestinal tract. Energy bioavailability (EB) was measured by bomb calorimetry as the difference in the gross energy of the feed and the energy of the excreta. The major factors affecting PPB were CaB and EB for both sexes. In the males, BW contributed significantly to PPB. However, in the females, NB also contributed significantly to PPB. Faster growing birds tended to have a reduced retention time of feed compared with slow growing birds, and as a result utilized phytate P less. Birds that are able to utilize phytate P better are putatively able to release P for energy utilization. Therefore, the birds that were able to utilize phytate P better were also better energy utilizers.
PARAMETRIC EXCITATION FROM THERMAL FLUCTUATION AT PLASMA-DRIFT WAVE FREQUENCIES.

Parametric enhancement of thermal fluctuations at plasma drift wave frequencies, noting power balance between source, pump and signal and threshold damping dependence
Structural mechanisms of heavy-metal extrusion by the Cus efflux system

Resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily efflux systems are responsible for the active transport of toxic compounds from the Gram-negative bacterial cell. These pumps typically assemble as tripartite complexes, spanning the inner and outer membranes of the cell envelope. In Escherichia coli, the CusC(F)BA complex, which exports copper(I) and silver(I) and mediates resistance to these two metal ions, is the only known RND transporter with a specificity for heavy metals. We have determined the crystal structures of both the inner membrane pump CusA and membrane fusion protein CusB, as well as the adaptor-transporter CusBA complex formed by these two efflux proteins. In addition, the crystal structures of the outer membrane channel CusC and the periplasmic metallochaperone CusF have been resolved. Based on these structures, the entire assembled model of the tripartite efflux system has been developed, and this efflux complex should be in the form of CusC3-CusB6-CusA3. It has been shown that CusA utilizes methionine clusters to bind and export Cu(I) and Ag(I). This pump is likely to undergo a conformational change, and utilize a relay network of methionine clusters as well as conserved charged residues to extrude the metal ions from the bacterial cell.
Preschoolers' understanding of germs as invisible mechanisms

Abstract Recent studies have presented conflicting claims regarding whether young children's reasoning about biological content involves a unique set of causal mechanisms and theoretical entities. Three studies examined preschoolers' understanding of nonobservable causal mechanisms in causes of illness. According to traditional accounts, these children know that certain behaviors lead to illness but have no idea why or how. Many of the behaviors children cite as causes are actually mediated by the action of germs (e.g., contamination and contagion). Do children recognize that germs (nonobvious, invisible particles) are the mechanisms involved in some cases of illness causation? Study 1 demonstrates that 4- and 5-year-olds' predictions of who will get sick in cases of contamination and contagion are based on the presence or absence of germs. Study 2 serves as a control and further tests how children generalize this mechanism: Which causes do children think are mediated by germs? Data suggest that preschoolers understand but undergeneralize the role of germs. A final study indicates that younger preschoolers (3-year-olds) recognize that appearances may be deceiving when it comes to judging causes of illness. This understanding would seem to be a precursor to beliefs about specific mechanisms. Results are discussed in terms of commonsense theories and early conceptions of biology.
A ball-shaped underwater robot for direct inspection of nuclear reactors and other water-filled infrastructure

In this paper we present a new type of spherical underwater robot that is completely smooth and uses jets to propel and maneuver. This robot is specifically designed for the direct visual inspection of water-filled infrastructure such as the inside of nuclear powerplants. The unique propulsion architecture consists of a single bidirectional centrifugal pump combined with two fluidic valves. The pump is used to produce a high velocity jet while the valves are used to quickly switch the jet between output ports. The spherical shape means that the robot is simple to model and control, maneuverable, and robust to collisions. The propulsion architecture is described in detail along with a rigid body model for maneuvering control. A novel valve PWM controller is used to achieve heading control, and the controller performance is confirmed with both simulation and experiments. Finally, experiments are used to illustrate the turning and diving performance of the robot.
The use of local anesthesia in the presence of inflammation

Abstract In many cases it is difficult to obtain adequate local anesthesia, especially in the presence of acute or subacute inflammation. Vascular pain due to distention of blood vessels is proposed as a possible contributing mechanism. This may be controlled by constricting the blood vessels with a direct injection into the inflamed area. Whether this is due to the effect of the vasoconstrictor or the pressure of injecting fluid into a confined area has not yet been determined. Unmyelinated nerve fibers, some of which are closely related to blood vessels, have been demonstrated in periapical lesions. The present concept of the inadequacy of local anesthetics when injected into inflamed tissue is questioned.
On holomorphic families of Schrödinger-type operators with singular potentials on manifolds of bounded geometry

Abstract We consider a family of Schrodinger-type differential expressions L ( κ ) = D 2 + V + κ V ( 1 ) , where κ ∈ C , and D is the Dirac operator associated with a Clifford bundle ( E , ∇ E ) of bounded geometry over a manifold of bounded geometry ( M , g ) with metric g, and V and V ( 1 ) are self-adjoint locally integrable sections of EndE. We also consider the family I ( κ ) = ( ∇ F ) * ∇ F + V + κ V ( 1 ) , where κ ∈ C , and ∇ F is a Hermitian connection on a Hermitian vector bundle F of bonded geometry over a manifold of bounded geometry ( M , g ) , and V and V ( 1 ) are self-adjoint locally integrable sections of EndF. We give sufficient conditions for L ( κ ) and I ( κ ) to have a realization in L 2 ( E ) and L 2 ( F ) , respectively, as self-adjoint holomorphic families of type (B). In the proofs we use Kato's inequality for Bochner Laplacian operator and Weitzenbock formula.
Promotion of Hydrogen Release from Ammonia Borane with Mechanically Activated Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Nanoscale hexagonal BN additive for ammonia borane, AB, is shown to decrease the onset temperature for hydrogen release. Both the nano-BN and the AB:nano-BN samples are prepared by ball milling. The materials are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, 11B muclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and mass spectrometry, and the hydrogen release is measured by a volumetric gas burette system. Several effects of the mixtures of AB:nano-BN are shown to be beneficial in comparison with neat AB. These are the decrease of the dehydrogenation temperature, the decrease in NH3 formation, as well as the decrease of the exothermicity of hydrogen release with increasing the nano-BN concentration.
Simplified procedure for encapsulating cytochrome c in silica aerogel nanoarchitectures while retaining gas-phase bioactivity.

Cytochrome c (cyt. c) has been encapsulated in silica sol–gels and processed to form bioaerogels with gas-phase activity for nitric oxide through a simplified synthetic procedure. Previous reports demonstrated a need to adsorb cyt. c to metal nanoparticles prior to silica sol–gel encapsulation and processing to form aerogels. We report that cyt. c can be encapsulated in aerogels without added nanoparticles and retain structural stability and gas-phase activity for nitric oxide. While the UV–visible Soret absorbance and nitric oxide response indicate that cyt. c encapsulated with nanoparticles in aerogels remains slightly more stable and functional than cyt. c encapsulated alone, these properties are not very different in the two types of aerogels. From UV–visible and Soret circular dichroism results, we infer that cyt. c encapsulated alone self-organizes to reduce contact with the silica gel in a way that may bear at least some resemblance to the way cyt. c self-organizes into superstructures of protein w...