cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical Bayesian Spatio-Temporal Conway–Maxwell Poisson Models with Dynamic Dispersion

Modeling spatio-temporal count processes is often a challenging endeavor. That is, in many real-world applications the complexity and high-dimensionality of the data and/or process do not allow for routine model specification. For example, spatio-temporal count data often exhibit temporally varying over/underdispersion within the spatial domain. In order to accommodate such structure, while quantifying different sources of uncertainty, we propose a Bayesian spatio-temporal Conway–Maxwell Poisson (CMP) model with dynamic dispersion. Motivated by the problem of predicting migratory bird settling patterns, we propose a threshold vector-autoregressive model for the CMP intensity parameter that allows for regime switching based on climate conditions. Additionally, to reduce the inherent high-dimensionality of the underlying process, we consider nonlinear dimension reduction through kernel principal component analysis. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through out-of-sample one-year-ahead prediction of waterfowl migratory patterns across the United States and Canada. The proposed approach is of independent interest and illustrates the potential benefits of dynamic dispersion in terms of superior forecasting.
Quantifying cognitive decrements caused by cranial radiotherapy.

With the exception of survival, cognitive impairment stemming from the clinical management of cancer is a major factor dictating therapeutic outcome. For many patients afflicted with CNS and non-CNS malignancies, radiotherapy and chemotherapy offer the best options for disease control. These treatments however come at a cost, and nearly all cancer survivors (~11 million in the US alone as of 2006) incur some risk for developing cognitive dysfunction, with the most severe cases found in patients subjected to cranial radiotherapy (~200,000/yr) for the control of primary and metastatic brain tumors1. Particularly problematic are pediatric cases, whose long-term survival plagued with marked cognitive decrements results in significant socioeconomic burdens2. To date, there are still no satisfactory solutions to this significant clinical problem. We have addressed this serious health concern using transplanted stem cells to combat radiation-induced cognitive decline in athymic rats subjected to cranial irradiation3. Details of the stereotaxic irradiation and the in vitro culturing and transplantation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) can be found in our companion paper (Acharya et al., JoVE reference). Following irradiation and transplantation surgery, rats are then assessed for changes in cognition, grafted cell survival and expression of differentiation-specific markers 1 and 4-months after irradiation. To critically evaluate the success or failure of any potential intervention designed to ameliorate radiation-induced cognitive sequelae, a rigorous series of quantitative cognitive tasks must be performed. To accomplish this, we subject our animals to a suite of cognitive testing paradigms including novel place recognition, water maze, elevated plus maze and fear conditioning, in order to quantify hippocampal and non-hippocampal learning and memory. We have demonstrated the utility of these tests for quantifying specific types of cognitive decrements in irradiated animals, and used them to show that animals engrafted with hNSCs exhibit significant improvements in cognitive function3. The cognitive benefits derived from engrafted human stem cells suggest that similar strategies may one day provide much needed clinical recourse to cancer survivors suffering from impaired cognition. Accordingly, we have provided written and visual documentation of the critical steps used in our cognitive testing paradigms to facilitate the translation of our promising results into the clinic.
Initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) of polymeric nanocoatings

Initiated chemical vapor deposition of polymers (iCVD) is a process similar to hot-wire CVD (HWCVD) in which a free-radical initiating species is employed to greatly increase the growth rate while decreasing the required energy input. In general, iCVD allows for the deposition of linear polymer, copolymer and/or crosslinked films with a wide range of functions. Surveyed examples include antimicrobial, superhydrophobic, superhydrophilic, and other functional thin polymer films and coatings.
A Review of: “The Mindful Brain”: W. W. Norton, New York, 2007 ISBN-0-393-70470-X

Edited by Lora Beebe, PhD, RNThe University of Tennessee, College of Nursing, Knoxville, Tennessee, USAIn a chaotic world where many of us live on automatic pilot, there is a common craving for liv...
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and obesity in the WAGR syndrome.

Background Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been found to be important in energy homeostasis in animal models, but little is known about its role in energy balance in humans. Heterozygous, variably sized, contiguous gene deletions causing haploinsufficiency of the WT1 and PAX6 genes on chromosome 11p13, approximately 4 Mb centromeric to BDNF (11p14.1), result in the Wilms' tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation (WAGR) syndrome. Hyperphagia and obesity were observed in a subgroup of patients with the WAGR syndrome. We hypothesized that the subphenotype of obesity in the WAGR syndrome is attributable to deletions that induce haploinsufficiency of BDNF. Methods We studied the relationship between genotype and body-mass index (BMI) in 33 patients with the WAGR syndrome who were recruited through the International WAGR Syndrome Association. The extent of each deletion was determined with the use of oligonucleotide comparative genomic hybridization. Results Deletions of chr...
Epidermal growth factor rapidly stimulates prolactin gene transcription

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was originally characterized as a growth factor for various cell types1,2 and was subsequently shown to affect a number of cellular and molecular processes3,4, of which many might be considered as a part of the pleiotropic growth response (enhanced uptake of glucose, uridine and amino acids and stimulated synthesis of protein, RNA and DNA). Very early responses to EGF, such as increased sodium fluxes5 and stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation6, have been proposed to mediate some or all of EGF's effects. In a number of tissues, EGF has been shown to increase the synthesis of specific proteins7-10. We have investigated the effects of EGF on prolactin synthesis in the GH4 rat pituitary cell line to gain further insight into the mechanism of EGF's actions on cellular functions. Addition of EGF to GH4 cells results in a three- to sixfold stimulation of prolactin synthesis, as well as a partial inhibition of cell growth7,8. In this report, we demonstrate that the increased prolactin synthesis appears to be the result of a rapid stimulation of prolactin gene transcription by EGF. It is tempting to speculate that very early transcription by EGF. It is tempting to speculate that very early transcriptional effects on specific genes, such as reported here in te case of the prolactin gene in GH4 cells, may mediate some or all of the later effects of EGF on cell cycle regulation in those cells for which it serves as a growth factor.
A 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Selective Parkinsonian Rat Model: Further Biochemical and Behavioral Characterization

The main focus of the present study was to define the rotational response of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats to dopaminergic agonists to separate the partially lesioned rats from those having complete substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) lesions. Animals were challenged by amphetamine and L-DOPA for 10 consecutive weeks. There was a correlation between rotational behavior and extent of midbrain cell loss. Rats with complete SN and <40% VTA lesion turned more than 5 times/min after amphetamine administration, but not after L-DOPA; animals with complete SN and 40-80% VTA lesions turned vigorously following amphetamine and began turning after L-DOPA administration. Rats with complete SN and VTA lesions turned less after amphetamine than the other two groups, while their turning after L-DOPA administration increased. Extracellular dopamine (DA) measured by microdialysis, intracellular DA measured by postmortem tissue punches, and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cell count in SN and VTA were also evaluated. It appears that the dopaminergic cells in the lateral VTA affect DA concentration in the medial caudate nucleus. In the nucleus accumbens of the lesioned side, DA release and metabolism substantially increased with the larger VTA lesion. Dopamine turnover rate in the caudate was also higher in the group with <40%VTA lesion.
Developmental effects of maternal stress in the CD-1 mouse induced by restraint on single days during the period of major organogenesis.

Abstract Maternal stress during gestation can produce significant fetal and/or postnatal effects, and can enhance the teratogenicity of other agents. We have previously shown that restraint stress on gestational day 8 in CD-1 mice produces significant increases in encephaloceles and supernumerary and fused ribs. In the present study we have examined the effects of stress induced by restraint on individual days during the period of major organogenesis (days 6–14). Weight loss and stress-induced analgesia as assessed by the tail-flick method were used to determine the degree of stress induced by a 12-h restraint period. Restrained animals lost significantly more weight and had longer tail-flick latencies than the concurrent food and water deprived controls on all gestational days. Significant increases in embryo/fetal mortality were also observed in the offspring of restrained animals. An increased incidence of supernumerary ribs was found in mice restrained on days 7 and 8. Since maternal toxicity induced by chemical teratogens may be accompanied by a general increase in maternal stress, our data suggest that such stress may be an etiological factor in teratology bioassays in which dose levels are sufficiently high to induce overt maternal toxicity.
Digestive turnover rates in freshwater turtles: The influence of temperature and body size

Abstract 1. 1. The digestive turnover times (ingestion to defecation) of five species of North American freshwater turtles were examined in the laboratory. 2. 2. Pond sliders ( Pseudemys s. scripta ) and painted turtles ( Chrysemys picta ) exhibited similar digestive turnover times (61 and 59 hr, respectively) at 25°C. 3. 3. Snapping turtles ( Chelydra serpentina ) had a significantly faster turnover time (31 hr) at 25°C, which was considered to be an adaptation for living in a cool, benthic habitat. 4. 4. Single specimens of a loggerhead musk turtle ( Sternotherus minor ) and stinkpot turtle ( Sternotherus odoratus ) had turnover times of 57 and 49 hr, respectively. 5. 5. Digestive turnover times were inversely correlated with temperature in C. picta between 16 and 34°C ( Y = −3.33 X + 131.53, r 2 = 0.76). 6. 6. Body size and digestive turnover times in P. scripta were not correlated at 25°C.
Positronium formation in positron-Li and positron-Na collisions at low energies

We present the positronium formation cross sections for a positron colliding with lithium and sodium for the collision energies from $0.01\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ up to $20\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ by the hyperspherical close-coupling method. For Li, our results agree with the experimental data and with other calculations. Our results for Na remain in agreement with previous close-coupling calculations, but do not support the latest experimental data for Na below $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. To validate our model potentials and method in the low-energy regime, the binding energies of positronic lithium and positronic sodium as well as the $s$-wave scattering lengths for positronium scattering from ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ are also presented.
Storm and fair-weather wave base: A relevant distinction?

Surface waves are an important mechanism for the redistribution of sediment on shallow marine shelves, and are commonly interpreted as comprising two distinct populations: fairweather waves and storm waves, the latter of which are generally thought to penetrate to greater water depths. Here we used >2.3 ! 10 6 spectral density estimates for the surface ocean collected between 1996 and 2008 from 32 buoys in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the western Atlantic to test the hypothesis that surface waves in the modern ocean comprise two size modes. Although distinct wave size classes occur in some individual measurements and over the time scales of some individual storms, time-averaged frequency distributions of wave size are unimodal. Thus, there is no empirical basis for presupposing a distinct bimodal separation in the size of fair-weather and storm waves, or in the manifestation of such differences in stratigraphic successions. Instead, there is a continuously increasing probability that a wave will reach the bottom with decreasing water depth and a separate probability that describes the hydrodynamic state of the sediment-water interface. Wave size does, however, exhibit signifi cant geographic bimodality. Locations in the relatively protected Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions have modal wavelengths that are ~50 m less than waves at locations along the western Atlantic. Time-integrated estimates of the depth of wave penetration provide empirical constraints on the paleo-water depths of ancient sedimentary deposits and highlight differences between sheltered shelf environments, such as those that characterized many ancient epeiric seas, and open-ocean‐facing, narrow continental shelves.
CT of gallbladder cancer and its mimics: a pattern-based approach

On computed tomography (CT), gallbladder pathology may be detected incidentally or as the etiology of symptoms that prompted imaging. Accurate pathologic diagnosis can be challenging, however, due to overlapping appearances of malignant and benign gallbladder disease. This pictorial essay takes a pattern-based approach to CT of the gallbladder, to help the radiologist formulate the proper differential diagnosis.
CRACK DEALERS AND RESTRICTIVE DETERRENCE: IDENTIFYING NARCS*

Data drawn from semistructured interviews with 40 active street-level crack dealers are used to illustrate, apply, and expand the concept of restrictive deterrence. The article focuses on the perceptual shorthand dealers use to determine whether buyers in question are “narcs.” In presenting this shorthand, the article seeks to demonstrate how interactions among marketplace democratization (i.e., the idea of selling to as many different customers as possible to maximize profits), marketplace volatility, transactional brevity, and threats from law enforcement affect its complexity and refinement. Respondents operated out of a medium-sized, midwestern metropolitan area (population: 2.2 million) within a central city of 390,000.
Cloning of a functional replication origin of phage G4 into the genome of phage M13.

Abstract A chimeric single-stranded DNA phage, M13Gori1, has been formed as a result of the in vitro insertion of a 2216 base-pair HaeII fragment of bacteriophage G4 replicative form DNA into the replicative form DNA of bacteriophage M13. The inserted G4 DNA carries the dnaG-dependent origin for G4 complementary strand synthesis. The cloned G4 origin functions both in vivo and in vitro in the conversion of M13Gori1 single-stranded viral DNA to the duplex replicative form by a rifampicin-resistant mechanism. Labelling of the 3′ terminus of the single discontinuity in M13Gori1 replicative form II molecules synthesized in crude extracts and subsequent restriction analysis indicate that M13Gori1 complementary strand synthesis can be initiated at either the RNA polymeraseprimed M13 origin or at the dnaG-primed G4 origin. The M13Gori1 complementary strand initiated at the G4 origin terminates in the vicinity of the G4 origin after progressing around the circular template and traversing the M13 origin region, indicating the absence of a specific nucleotide sequence in the M13 origin for termination of the newly formed complementary strand. The ability of this chimeric phage to utilize the cloned G4 origin in vivo even in the presence of the presumed M13 pilot protein (gene 3 protein) indicate that the nucleotide sequence of the replication origin is sufficient for recognizing the appropriate initiation enzymes. Since decapsidation of M13 is tightly coupled to replicative form formation, initiation at the G4 origin, located over 1000 nucleotides from the M13 complementary strand origin, indicates that widely separated nucleotide sequences contained in the filamentous virion can be exposed to the cell cytoplasm during eclipse.
The nomenclatural status of Mycobacterium bovis

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium bovis has been used as the scientific name for two different bacteria, the one causing bovine tuberculosis, the other occurring in freshly drawn cow's milk. In the past the former bacterium was regarded as a subspecies (variety) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (viz. M. tuberculosis subsp. bovis), and in recent years it has been recognized as a distinct, species, M. bovis; whether as a subspecies or a species, the name of this organism is commonly attributed to “Bergey et al. 1934.” For the name of the latter bacterium, “(Bergey et al. 1923) Krasil'nikov 1949” is the author citation ordinarily given. However, from a careful analysis of the facts, it is evident that none of the specific or subspecific names in the genus Mycobacterium involving the epithet “bovis” has been validly published. Because the epithet “bovis” has been used the world over for many years in the scientific name of the organism responsible for bovine tuberculosis, the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Nomenclature of Bacteria is requested to issue an Opinion conserving the name Mycobacterium bovis (Bergey et al. 1934) Reed 1957 (Basionym: M. tuberculosis subsp. bovis Bergey et al. 1934).
Using live distributed objects for office automation

Web services and platforms such as .NET make it easy to integrate interactive end-user applications with backend services. However, it remains hard to build collaborative applications in which information is shared within teams. This paper introduces a new drag-and-drop technology, in which standard office documents (spreadsheets, databases, etc.) are interconnected with event-driven middleware ("live distributed objects"), to create distributed applications in which changes to underlying data propagate quickly to downstream applications. Information is replicated in a consistent manner, making it easy for team members to share updates and to coordinate their actions. We present our middleware platform, and show that it offers good performance and scalability, with small resource footprint. Moreover, because the approach is highly automated, and the underlying middleware is highly configurable, we're in a position to automatically address security and reliability needs that might otherwise be onerous. In addition to reviewing our existing system, we list open issues, which include integration with external data sources, and updating stored, but inactive objects.
Effects of Age and Word Frequency on Object Recognition and Naming in Children

Visual duration threshold, matching-response latencies, and object-naming latencies were obtained for 30 nine-year-old and 15 six-year-old, normal-speaking male children. Stimuli were drawings of o...
Tax Increment Financing and Education Expenditures: The Case of Iowa

This is the first study to directly examine the relationship between tax increment financing (TIF) and education expenditures, using the state of Iowa as a case study. I find that greater use of TIF is associated with reduced education expenditures. I also find little evidence to support the commonly held proposition that school spending increases when TIF districts expire. Finally, the negative price effect of TIF on education spending is increasingly larger for school districts in lower wealth or income groups compared with their counterparts in higher wealth or income groups. The negative, though small,effectofTIFoneducationspending,coupledwith nogainfromtheoften-claimedlong-runbenefitsofTIF, justifies policy measures to protect school districts from TIF.
Multifocal renal oncocytoma in a patient with Von Hippel-Lindau mutation

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare genetic disease with a lifetime risk of clear cell renal cell carcinoma in approximately 70% of cases. We present a case of a 63-year-old man with bilateral, multifocal renal masses. Genetic testing results were consistent with a VHL deletion. The patient had no other disease manifestations consistent with VHL. The patient underwent staged bilateral nephron-sparing procedures. Pathology of all renal masses revealed oncocytoma. To our knowledge, we describe the first reported case of multiple renal oncocytomas in a male patient with a germline VHL mutation.
Goal Change, Information Acquisition, and Transfer

This research examines factors that facilitate the transfer of knowledge gained from multiple product experiences motivated by one goal (i.e., desired benefit) to additional product experiences motivated by a second, different goal. In the first study, I investigate how information acquisition and choice differs with the second goal, as compared to experiences with the first. Results show that after the goal switch, subjects’ information acquisition is more efficient with respect to the second goal as compared with the first. Subjects’ information acquisition becomes increasingly brand based, and although the amount of information acquired during choice increases temporarily when the second goal is introduced, it is still less overall as compared with the first goal. In the second study, I demonstrate that successful performance to meet the second goal is related to subjects’ knowledge of the category and not simply procedural knowledge, and that two important characteristics of the knowledge base (for facilitating transfer) are whether it is organized by brand and whether the subject understands the relationship between the first and the second goal.
Polymer dynamics movies generated by program spacefil

Abstract The Spacefil molecular graphics program is used to generate movies of polymer configurations produced by Brownian dynamics simulations. Superimposed frames are found to be very useful for understanding the polymer motions.
Ganglioside variations in amphibian brain tissue

Abstract Variation in the content and pattern of brain gangliosides from three anurans and two urodeles was analysed by thin-layer chromatography. The pattern for all three anurans was basically similar, though quantitative differences among species were detected. Ganglioside patterns from the two salamanders were distinctively different from that of the anurans and from one another, and more closely resembled the patterns seen in other tetrapods. Ganglioside variations in amphibians appear to reflect phylogenetic relationships better than life history or ecological factors.
Ocular acid burn due to 20% concentrated salicylic acid

This is a case report of severe conjunctival and corneal epithelial defects resulting from accidental exposure to salicylic acid that was mistakenly used instead of artificial tears (eye drops). The patient was treated with tobramycin 0.3%-dexamethasone 1% 3 times a day, cyclopentolate 1% twice a day, and artificial tears 6 times a day and underwent daily examinations until the corneal and conjunctival epithelial defects resolved. The corneal and conjunctival epithelial defects slowly resolved over 14 days. Visual acuity improved to its preinjury level of 20/40 in the affected eye. No residual corneal scarring was evident. Slowly resolving corneal and conjunctival epithelial defects can occur from direct contact with salicylic acid; therefore, this medication should be packaged and labeled differently from eye drops.
Comutagenesis of sodium arsenite with ultraviolet radiation in Chinese hamster V79 cells

Solar ultraviolet radiation has been associated with the induction of skin cancer. Recent studies have indicated that near-ultraviolet, especially UVB, is mutagenic. Exposure to trivalent inorganic arsenic compounds has also been associated with increased skin cancer prevalence. Trivalent arsenic compounds are not mutagenicper se, but are comutagenic with a number of cancer agents. Here, we test the hypothesis that arsenite enhances skin cancer via its comutagenic action with solar ultraviolet radiation. Irradiation of Chinese hamster V79 cells with UVA (360 nm), UVB (310 nm) and UVC (254 nm) caused a fluence-dependent increase in mutations at thehprt locus. On an energy basis, UVC was the most mutagenic and UVA the least. However, when expressed as a function of toxicity, UVB was more mutagenic than UVC. Nontoxic concentrations of arsenite increased the toxicity of UVA, UVB and UVC. Arsenite acted as a comutagen at the three wavelengths; however, higher concentrations of arsenite were required to produce a significant (P < 0.05) comutagenic response with UVB. The increased mutagenicity of UVB and UVA by arsenite may play a role in arsenite-related skin cancers.
Curbside Recycling in the U.S.a.: Convenience and Mandatory Participation:

This research examines the relationship between the success of a residential curbside recycling program (RCRP), measured as material recovery rate (MRR), and two program factors: (1) whether or not participation is mandated; and (2) convenience, measured by container provision, collection frequency and collection day relative to municipal solid waste collection day. Residential curbside recycling programs, with correct strategies and program design, can be an important part of solid waste management plans world-wide. While residential curbside recycling programs are growing in popularity, many basic design questions lie unanswered and successful program strategies are not always obvious. Data from 357 residential curbside recycling programs in the United States are used to test the hypotheses. Mandatory participation residential curbside recycling programs are seen to collect more material than voluntary participation residential curbside recycling programs. Container provision appears effective for voluntary, but not mandatory, residential curbside recycling programs. Increasing collection frequency appears to have a small positive effect on residential curbside recycling program success, while collection day has little effect on material recovery rate.
Scalable join patterns

Coordination can destroy scalability in parallel programming. A comprehensive library of scalable synchronization primitives is therefore an essential tool for exploiting parallelism. Unfortunately, such primitives do not easily combine to yield solutions to more complex problems. We demonstrate that a concurrency library based on Fournet and Gonthier's join calculus can provide declarative and scalable coordination. By declarative, we mean that the programmer needs only to write down the constraints of a coordination problem, and the library will automatically derive a correct solution. By scalable, we mean that the derived solutions deliver robust performance both as the number of processors increases, and as the complexity of the coordination problem grows. We validate our claims empirically on seven coordination problems, comparing our generic solution to specialized algorithms from the literature.
Addendum to “Wind speed trends over the contiguous United States”

[1] An earlier paper (Pryor et al., 2009) reports linear trends for annual percentiles of 10 m wind speeds from across the United States based on ordinary linear regression applied without consideration of temporal autocorrelation. Herein we show significant temporal autocorrelation in annual metrics from approximately half of all surface and upper air wind speed time series and present analyses that indicate at least some fraction of the temporal autocorrelation at the annual time scale may be due to the influence of persistent low-frequency climate modes as manifest in teleconnection indices. Treatment of the temporal autocorrelation slightly reduces the number of stations for which linear trends in10 m wind speeds are deemed significant but does not alter the trend magnitudes relative to those presented by Pryor et al. (2009). Analyses conducted accounting for the autocorrelation indicate 55% of annual 50th percentile 10 m wind speed time series, and 45% of 90th percentile annual 10 m wind speed time series derived from the National Climate Data Center DS3505 data set exhibit significant downward trends over the period 1973-2005. These trends are consistent with previously reported declines in pan evaporation but are not present in 10 m wind speeds from reanalysis products or upper air wind speeds from the radiosonde network.
Consensus control of linear second-order discrete-time systems with guaranteed rate of convergence

This paper presents necessary and sufficient conditions which guarantee consensus for a homogeneous network of linear second-order discrete-time systems. The eigenvalues of the graph Laplacian can be complex. Linear controllers which achieve consensus with a guaranteed rate of convergence are presented. The paper concludes with an example where the proposed controllers synchronize a network of discrete-time double integrators with several different convergence rates.
A mixture Kalman filter approach for blind OFDM channel estimation

Blind adaptive estimation of time-frequency-selective fading channels in OFDM systems is studied. Based on the Jakes' model, the channel state is modeled as an autoregressive (AR) process. The post-DFT data gives the observation of the channel state. If training symbols are available, a Kalman filter (KF) can be employed to track the channel. In the absent of training symbols, it is proposed to use mixture Kalman filter (MKF) to blindly estimate the channel and information symbols jointly. In view of the high complexity of the MKF for jointly estimation of all subchannels, it is further proposed to use an MKF for each subchannel respectively. A minimum mean square error (MMSE) combiner is used to further refine the channel estimates from the MKFs. The persubchannel MKF explores the time-domain correlation of the channel, while the MMSE combiner explores the frequency-domain correlation. This two-step solution offers a performance comparable to the optimal solution.
Paralyzed eyelids reanimated with a closed‐eyelid spring

Implantation of gold weights and open wire springs to close the eyelid have provided good corneal protection in selected patients with eyelid paralysis. These techniques, however, do not overcome lower eyelid drooping. The closed-eyelid spring technique was developed to address this problem, and, to date, the author has implanted 27 closed-eyelid springs. This technique has reestablished a voluntary blink, provided corneal protection, and effectively held the lower lid in a relatively normal position in 25 of 27 patients. This report describes patient selection, surgical technique, and results of implanting closed-eyelid springs to reanimate paralyzed eyelids.
Second Report of Isospora jaracimrmani (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Yemen Chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae), in Texas, U.S.A

Abstract Isospora jaracimrmani Modrý and Koudela is reported for the second time from the Yemen chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus. During November 1992, a captive C. calyptratus housed at the Dallas Zoo, Dallas County, Texas, U.S.A., was found to be passing oocysts of I. jaracimrmani. The original description of I. jaracimrmani was based on 18/43 (42%) captive specimens of C. calyptratus from the Czech Republic. This is the first time I. jaracimrmani has been reported from the United States. Comparative measurements and a photomicrograph of our isolate are included.
Inhibition of phospholipase A2 and insulin secretion in pancreatic islets

Abstract Arachidonic acid may be an important mediator of insulin secretion since (1) glucose activates phospholipase A 2 thus increasing endogenous unesterified levels of arachidonic acid, (2) arachidonic acid mobilizes Ca 2+ from the islet endoplasmic reticulum and (3) arachidonic acid has been proposed to regulate voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channels in the β-cell. We have used the phospholipase A 2 inhibitor, ( p -amylcinnanoyl)anthranilic acid (ACA), to determine whether phospholipase A 2 activation is required for glucose-induced insulin secretion. ACA inhibited in a dose-dependent manner glucose-induced insulin secretion, as well as glyceraldehyde and α-ketoisocaproic acid-induced insulin secretion. ACA also totally abolished glucose-induced arachidonate accumulation but did not affect phospholipase C suggesting that it was specific for phospholipase A 2 . Furthermore, ACA did not inhibit glucose oxidation. These observations suggest that glucose-induced arachidonate increase is essential for insulin secretion.
Transient Subcapsular Cataract Formation in a Child With Diabetes

Transient cataracts in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are rare and have been reported only in association with severe ketoacidosis or hyperosmolarity. 1-3 We present an adolescent with transient bilateral posterior subcapsular cataracts, which developed after the recent onset of IDDM without ketoacidosis or severe hyperosmolarity.
Treatments for Hepatitis B

New optimism surrounds treatments for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Interferon- alpha , lamivudine, and adefovir dipivoxil are currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of CHB. All 3 treatments possess unique characteristics with respect to their side effect profiles, potencies, and treatment niches within the spectrum of CHB. New agents, which are in various stages of clinical development, represent potential improvements within existing, as well as novel, classes of antiviral therapy, and they offer significant promise of a cure for the many patients with chronic and progressive hepatitis B. However, there remain many challenges in understanding the implications of drug resistance, the role of combination therapy, and how to define the response to therapy within subsets of patients with hepatitis B.
GEOGRAPHIC TARGETING OF INCREASES IN NUTRIENT EXPORT DUE TO FUTURE URBANIZATION

Urbanization replaces the extant natural resource base (e.g., forests, wetlands) with an infrastructure that is capable of supporting humans. One ecological consequence of urbanization is higher concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in streams, lakes, and estuaries. When received in excess, N and P are considered pollutants. Continuing urbanization will change the relative distribution of extant natural resources. Characteristics of the landscape can shape its response to disturbances such as urbanization. Changes in landscape characteristics across a region create a geographic pattern of vulnerability to increased N and P as a result of urbanization. We linked nutrient-export risk and urbanization models in order to identify areas most vulnerable to increases in nutrient-export risk due to projected urbanization. A risk-based model of N and P export exceeding specified thresholds was developed based on the extant distribution of forest, agriculture, and urban land cover. An empirical model o...
Ann Petry's In Darkness and Confusion and the Harlem Riot of 1943

Abstract The novella In Darkness and Confusion by Ann Petry (1908-1997) is a fictional portrayal of the causes and nature of the Harlem Riot of 1943. Working as a journalist in New York City during the Second World War, this African-American novelist and short-story writer captured the frustrations and grievances that actual residents of that city felt toward the police, city officials, and the segregated military. This article compares Petry's insights as a journalist and fiction writer with those of historians and sociologists who have studied the 1943 Harlem Riot and the other more destructive, more deadly riots from the 1960s on.
On the asymmetry of Stokes profiles

We find all the sources of asymmetries in Stokes profiles available for a unidimensional line of sight. The analytical solution for the transfer equation for polarized light obtained by Lopez Ariste & Semel is used for this purpose. Three sources of asymmetries are obtained: the first is the well-known case of depth-dependent velocity fields; the two others are due to wavelength asymmetries in the absorption matrix and the emission vector. These emission vector asymmetries can be produced by the presence of a polarized (but symmetric) source function. Some formulae are derived describing the asymmetries owing to depth-dependent velocity fields in Stokes V for the case of the Zeeman effect in a multiplet, as well as for the net area of the Stokes V profile, the so-called net circular polarization (NCP). An implication of this last formula is that Milne-Eddington atmospheric models, even when generalized to velocity and magnetic fields that vary linearly with optical depth, cannot account for the observed NCPs.
Plasticity in adult sensory cortex: a review

There is growing evidence of significant plasticity in neuronal receptive fields and functional architecture in adult primary sensory cortex. Surgical lesions or rewiring of nerves in the periphery lead to large-scale changes in the corresponding cortical maps. Such changes are also seen after protracted training on sensory discrimination tasks, in a manner that reflects the subjects' improved discriminative abilities after training and is governed by their attentional state during training. More rapid and dynamic changes in cortical receptive field properties are seen with selective visual stimulation and during conditioning experiments. In the visual system, adult plasticity is clearly attributable to changes in cortex and not subcortical changes; moreover, the evidence suggests that the network of horizontal collaterals in primary visual cortex (V1) may play a significant role in V1 plasticity, both long-term and rapid. The same network is also likely to underlie some aspects of routine visual integrat...
Family history of Alzheimer’s disease limits improvement in cognitive function after bariatric surgery

Background/Objective:Bariatric surgery can reverse cognitive impairments associated with obesity. However, such benefits may be attenuated in individuals with a predisposing risk for cognitive impa...
3-D model construction using range and image data

This paper deals with the automated creation of geometric and photometric correct 3-D models of the world. Those models can be used for virtual reality, tele-presence, digital cinematography and urban planning applications. The combination of range (dense depth estimates) and image sensing (color information) provides data-sets which allow us to create geometrically correct, photorealistic models of high quality. The 3-D models are first built from range data using a volumetric set intersection method previously developed by us. Photometry can be napped onto these models by registering features from both the 3-D and 2-D data sets. Range data segmentation algorithms have been developed to identify planar regions, determine linear features from planar intersections that can serve as features for registration with 2-D imagery lines, and reduce the overall complexity of the models. Results are shown for building models of large buildings on our campus using real data acquired from multiple sensors.
Glass Inhomogeneity Measurement Using the Shelyubskii Method

On peut mesurer l'inhomogeneite dans une verre sous forme de la variante de la distribution de l'indice de refraction, par la methode de Shelyubskii. On presente en detail cette methode et son application au verre
Fire Frequency, Area Burned, and Severity: A Quantitative Approach to Defining a Normal Fire Year

Fire frequency, area burned, and fire severity are important attributes of a fire regime, but few studies have quantified the interrelationships among them in evaluating a fire year. Although area burned is often used to summarize a fire season, burned area may not be well correlated with either the number or ecological effect of fires. Using the Landsat data archive, we examined all 148 wildland fires (prescribed fires and wildfires) >40 ha from 1984 through 2009 for the portion of the Sierra Nevada centered on Yosemite National Park, California, USA. We calculated mean fire frequency and mean annual area burned from a combination of field- and satellite-derived data. We used the continuous probability distribution of the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) values to describe fire severity. For fires >40 ha, fire frequency, annual area burned, and cumulative severity were consistent in only 13 of 26 years (50 %), but all pair-wise comparisons among these fire regime attributes were significant. Borrowing from long-established practice in climate science, we defined “fire normals” to be the 26 year means of fire frequency, annual area burned, and the area under the cumulative probability distribution of dNBR. Fire severity normals were significantly lower when they were aggregated by year compared to aggregation by area. Cumulative severity distributions for each year were best modeled with Weibull functions (all 26 years, r2 ≥ 0.99; P < 0.001). Explicit modeling of the cumulative severity distributions may allow more comprehensive modeling of climate-severity and area-severity relationships. Together, the three metrics of number of fires, size of fires, and severity of fires provide land managers with a more comprehensive summary of a given fire year than any single metric.
The role of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in medicine: addressing the psychological and physical symptoms stemming from adverse life experiences.

Background: A substantial body of research shows that adverse life experiences contribute to both psychological and biomedical pathology. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an empirically validated treatment for trauma, including such negative life experiences as commonly present in medical practice. The positive therapeutic outcomes rapidly achieved without homework or detailed description of the disturbing event offer the medical community an efficient treatment approach with a wide range of applications.
Perspective: Schools That “Beat the Odds” Implications for Reading Instruction

Despite advances in our understanding of the prevention of reading difficulties through quality instruction and early intervention (Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998), large numbers of students in our schools continue to experience reading difficulties. Many are referred for special education because of these problems. However, some schools are surprisingly successful in teaching the great majority of their students to read, despite conditions of poverty and other obstacles to success. This article describes the characteristics of five elementary schools that have been consistently successful in teaching children to read. Although the schools have widely diverse approaches to reading instruction, they share many characteristics. These common themes are summarized.
Comparison of Disturbance Impacts to and Spatial Distribution of Biological Soil Crusts in the Little San Bernardino Mountains of Joshua Tree National Park, California

Biological soil crust ecology in the hot Mojave Desert is poorly understood with regard to crust distribution and abundance, as well as the impacts of trampling disturbance on crust development. Our objective was to study biological soil crusts in 2 areas of differing disturbance pressures in the high desert region of Joshua Tree National Park, California, with respect to visible crust cover and frequency, chlorophyll a, and soil stability. Impacts on biological soil crusts from 2 distur- bance regimes, historic grazing and recent high foot traffic, were compared using a disturbance indicator. In addition, we measured a suite of abiotic and biotic soil parameters commonly associated with crust abundance and distribution and characterized occurrence with respect to 3 geomorphic features (pockets, slopes, and wash banks). Individual physical and chemical soil parameters historically have been associated with crust development. In con- trast, this study demonstrates that geomorphic features with a suite of soil properties clearly impacted crust develop- ment. In both study areas, wash banks showed the best crust development (51%-52% total crust cover) and slopes showed the poorest crust development (<37% total crust cover). Lichens and mosses were best developed in the pocket areas (1.1% and 1.5% cover, 25%-30% frequency), which can accumulate and retain moisture during and following precipitation events. Our disturbance index suggested that the high-foot-traffic area, being associated with a reduction in visible crust cover, has experienced more recent disturbance than the historically grazed sites. However, despite the reduction in cover, the high-foot-traffic area had more lichen and moss crusts, indicating that the crusts in this area are more succes- sionally mature. In contrast, the historically grazed area showed clear signs of recovery from past grazing disturbance, with a higher visual cover of biological soil crusts. However, crusts also had lower biomass values, supporting an earlier successional stage. Overall, we conclude that biological soil crusts of the Mojave Desert are very different in composition, form, and ecology than crusts of other desert regions of North America.
Going beyond literal command-based instructions: extending robotic natural language interaction capabilities

The ultimate goal of human natural language interaction is to communicate intentions. However, these intentions are often not directly derivable from the semantics of an utterance (e.g., when linguistic modulations are employed to convey politeness, respect, and social standing). Robotic architectures with simple command-based natural language capabilities are thus not equipped to handle more liberal, yet natural uses of linguistic communicative exchanges. In this paper, we propose novel mechanisms for inferring intentions from utterances and generating clarification requests that will allow robots to cope with a much wider range of task-based natural language interactions. We demonstrate the potential of these inference algorithms for natural human-robot interactions by running them as part of an integrated cognitive robotic architecture on a mobile robot in a dialogue-based instruction task.
Changes in US Mothers’ and Fathers’ Time Use—Causes and Consequences

Is fathers’ increased time with children a substitute for the time children spend with mothers? Connelly is concerned that this may be an assumption of Mincy, Um, and Turpin (Chapter “Effect of Father Engagement on Child Behaviors”). Based on the data from the harmonized American Heritage Time Use Study (AHTUS), Connelly argues that both mothers and fathers have increased their time in active childcaring over the last 40 years. While the increase has been larger for college-educated mothers and fathers than for non-college-educated parents, all mothers and fathers have increased their time with children. Both mothers and fathers enjoy spending time with children, and fathers may enjoy it even more so than mothers, according to Connelly and Kimmel (2014). As fathers spend more time with children they may become better at it, contributing more to the child’s positive development. What motivates parents to spend time with children and how does understanding their motivation help us understand the contributions that both parents make to child development?