cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geometric algorithms for target localization and tracking under location uncertainties in wireless sensor networks

Since the onset of wireless sensor networks, target localization and tracking have received much attention in a wide range of applications including battle field surveillance, wildlife monitoring and border security. However, little work has been done that addresses the realistic considerations of uncertainties in sensor locations and evaluates their impacts on the accuracy of target localization and tracking. In this paper, we carry out a rigorous study of these problems using a computational geometry approach. We introduce the geometric structures of order-k max and min Voronoi Diagrams (VDs) and propose an algorithm to construct these diagrams. Based on order-k max and min VDs, efficient algorithms are developed to evaluate the likelihood of noisy sensor readings and kNN queries, which serve as building blocks in target localization and tracking under sensor location uncertainties.
When t = 1 and N = 2: Creating a Political Science Program at a New Research University

If you could start a political science program from scratch, how would you do it? Given no institutional history, how would you design graduate and undergraduate programs? How would you grow your faculty? How would you attempt to build a reputation in the absence of a reputation at time t -1? In an interdisciplinary environment, with which disciplines would you work most closely? For most political science professors, these might be interesting hypothetical questions to consider. For the two of us, these questions are very real and have dominated our recent work lives as we have just finished our first year as the founding political science faculty at the brand new University of California campus, UC Merced. We thank Carissa Hansford, Shawn Kantor, and Jennifer Nicholson for helpful comments and suggestions.
ScanPUF: Robust ultralow-overhead PUF using scan chain

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) have emerged as an attractive primitive to address diverse hardware security issues, such as chip authentication, intellectual property (IP) protection and cryptographic key generation. Existing PUFs, typically acquired and integrated in a design as a commodity, often incur considerable hardware overhead. Many of these PUFs also suffer from insufficient challenge-response pairs. In this paper, we propose ScanPUF, a novel PUF implementation using a common on-chip structure used for improving circuit testability, namely scan chain. It exploits path delay variations between the scan flip-flops in a scan chain to create high-quality (in terms of uniqueness and robustness) secret keys. Furthermore, since a scan chain provides large pool of scan paths to create a signature, we can achieve high volume of secret keys from each chip. Since it uses a prevalent on-chip structure, the overhead is extremely small (2.3% area of the RO-PUF), primarily contributed by small additional logic in the signature-generation cycle controller. Circuit-level simulation results with 1000 chips under inter- and intra-die process variations show high uniqueness of 49.9% average inter-die Hamming distance and good reproducibility of 5% intra-die Hamming distance below 85 °C. The temporal variations due to device aging effect e.g. bias temperature instability (BTI) lead to only 4% unstable bits for ten-year usage. The experimental evaluation on FPGA (Altera Cyclone-III) exhibits 47.1% average inter-Hamming distance, as well as 3.2% unstable bits at room temperature.
Dwarfism and social identity: Self-help group participation

Abstract This paper describes a specific process relating to destigmatization and social identity which is a chief dynamic operative in a self-help group for dwarfs, Little People of America. In our society persons of abnormal short stature typically experience varied forms of stigmatized and stigmatizing social interactions within the average sized world. Data are presented here from a recent study of dwarfs and their families which examined a variety of dimensions of the dwarfism experience and the impact of self-help group membership on social identity and life style. It is suggested that a cognitive restructuring of self-image occurs through the process of forced objective perception of others who share a similar physical condition. This acceptance of self-identity and the physical identification of dwarfism then allows the person to lead his/her life more happily and effectively.
A Brief Overview of the Principles of Psychotherapy with Asperger's Syndrome

People with Apserger’s syndrome understand and respond to the world in a very different way from other people. Individual psychotherapy can be an important approach, in addition to other therapies ...
Rediscovery of a letter written by George Washington to his dentist John Greenwood.

A letter written by George Washington in 1791 has been rediscovered recently. The letter apparently concerns repairs to old dentures and receipt of new ones.
THE SEARCH FOR VALUE

The article discusses the search for value by focusing on the known and the obvious, rather than offering new hypotheses, models and statistics. It reminds the reader that there are certain attributes of value that are basic and enduring. Among them are product quality, employee relations, customer consideration and the all‐pervasive factor of management. All are well‐known, but are often ignored.
Health-related quality of life profiles based on survivorship status for head and neck cancer patients.

Background. As the methodologies for evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in head and neck cancer patients have matured over the past 10 years, there has been an increasing focus on reporting longitudinal data. These studies have primarily focused on long-term survivors. This study addresses the HRQOL of both long-term and short-term survivors. Methods. This is a prospective, longitudinal study of 479 head and neck cancer patients followed for at least 3 years after diagnosis. Analysis of longitudinally collected HRQOL scores was based on survivorship status. Results. The HRQOL for 3 survivorship groups: short-term (died 3 years) were different at all time points (pretreatment, 3, 6, and 12 months). Differences were greatest between the short-term and long-term survivors. Long-term survivors demonstrated the best HRQOL and an improving HRQOL trajectory at 12 months. The HRQOL of short-term survivors declined precipitously throughout all available follow-up. Intermediate-term survivors did show some improvement following treatment but had a declining HRQOL trajectory at 12 months. Conclusion. The HRQOL profiles of head and neck cancer patients differed significantly depending on survivorship status. Long-term HRQOL results should be analyzed within the context of the results for all of the patients eligible to have been included in the initial study cohort. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007.
Religion and development in South-east Asia: A comparative study

Abstract This article assesses the impact of Buddhism and Islam on the development processes of Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Three factors are presented as the major elements in these religions affecting modernization: the basic tenets of the faith, how it is practised and the manner in which religion is manipulated for political purposes. While there is some ambiguity in each case, the latter two elements appear to be the most vital. The paper concludes by focusing upon what might be the most important contemporary religious influence, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.
Nonlinear State Estimation in the Presence of Multiple Steady States

This paper concerns the problem of state estimation in nonlinear deterministic processes. For moderately nonlinear deterministic processes, the inadequacy of full-order Luenberger observer and extended Luenberger observer with constant gain is shown analytically and through numerical simulation of a chemical reactor. The results indicate that the convergence of an extended Luenberger observer with constant gain may be poorer than that of a simple linear Luenberger observer. A nonlinear observer design method with varying gain is applied to a classical exothermic stirred-tank reactor with multiple steady states. Under significant observer-initialization errors and several observer gains, the global asymptotic convergence of the nonlinear observer is demonstrated through numerical simulations. In the presence of the multiple steady states, the nonlinear observer converges to the same steady-state operating point at which the reactor operates, irrespective of the observer initial conditions.
Clustering of pattern recognition receptors for fungal detection.

The innate immune system is the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Innate cells recognize microbes via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs); initiate innate immune responses; and eventually trigger adaptive immunity. Association of heterologous PRRs synergistically enhances their signal intensity. Such PRR cluster formation is essential for fungal detection in generating antifungal immunity. In this review, PRR cluster formation to detect fungi and to initiate innate immune responses is discussed.
Muon-alpha-particle sticking probability in muon-catalyzed fusion.

The Green's-function Monte Carlo method is used to calculate the ground-state wave function of the muonic-molecular ion composed of a negative muon bound to a deuteron and a triton. Using the sudden approximation, the probability that the muon will remain bound to the escaping alpha particle after fusion occurs is found to be 0.90%, about 25% smaller than previous estimates based on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The numerical method for determining the wave function is discussed in detail.
Subinhibitory fluoroquinolone exposure selects for reduced beta-lactam susceptibility in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and alterations in the SOS-mediated response

Growth of fluoroquinolone (FQ)-susceptible methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the presence of sub-MIC FQ has been shown to enhance methicillin resistance in traditional nosocomial MRSA isolates. We aimed to confirm this phenomenon in nine community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) clinical isolates, and to identify candidate genes that might account for this unusual phenotype. Overnight growth of CA-MRSA strains in tryptic soy broth containing a subinhibitory concentration of either ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin resulted in a concentration-related increase in the number of colonies that grew on nafcillin agar, such that about one CFU in four exhibited significantly higher resistance to nafcillin, with only a modest increase in FQ MIC. No mutations were found in the quinolone-resistance determining region of gyrA and grlA. DNA microarray studies of a representative levofloxacin-exposed clone found that gene expression was increased for 53 open reading frames (ORFs), including norR and mecA, and decreased for 10. The majority of these ORFs encode regulatory and stress response proteins. In conclusion, sublethal exposure to FQ alters the SOS response in CA-MRSA and selects in a non-lethal manner for stable mutants with enhanced expression of methicillin resistance.
The Streetcorner Preacher Sowing Good Seeds by the Wayside

Alleluia, alleluia, Lord, I glorify your name. Thank you, Jesus, Heaven come to your heart, heaven come to your heart. Amen, amen. Devil is here, but Jesus is right here. Alleluia, alleluia Praise the Lord. Thank you, Jesus.
Ten suggestions for a gender-equitable CS classroom

Though considerable attention has been paid to the creation of a nurturing environment for women in the field of computer science, proposed solutions have primarily focused on activities outside of the classroom. This paper presents a list of suggestions for modifications to both the pedagogy and content of CS courses designed to make the CS classroom environment more inviting for women students.
An experimental simulation of los angeles reactive pollutant program (LARPP) operation 33-part I. experimental simulation in an outdoor smog chamber

Abstract The reactions occurring along LARPP operation 33 were simulated in the UNC outdoor smog chamber. Variable rates of dilution and computer-controlled precursor injections were determined from analysis of the mixed region along the operation's trajectory. Also, the production of ozone equivalent to LARPP by static systems (initial injection only) and the effect of the products of the previous day's reactions were investigated. The difference between simulation and LARPP O3 concentrations for one run was within the limits of measurement error at the end of the experiment, although simulation O3 production lagged behind that of LARPP earlier. The other simulation produced 6pphm less O3 than LARPP. The inability to simulate the effects of day-old materials and the use of acetaldehyde to represent all aldehydes were judged to reduce O3 production in the chamber relative to the atmosphere. In static experiments, one-half to two-thirds of the LARPP morning nonmethane hydrocarbons were found to have roughly equal O3 production potential to LARPP. Both simulation and static runs support the hypothesis that, under similar meteorological condition, the ozone produced is more closely related to the total precursor input divided by the total volume of air into which it is mixed than to initial concentrations.
A 65nm CMOS 4-element Sub-34mW/element 60GHz phased-array transceiver

The 60GHz band has received significant attention as an enabler for multi-Gb/s wireless communication. Practical mm-Wave systems will require relatively large phased arrays in order to robustly overcome path-loss and fading issues. Despite significant progress [1,2], CMOS implementations of 60GHz phased arrays have so far been area and power hungry. This paper therefore presents a 60GHz 4-element 65nm CMOS phased-array transceiver consuming <34mW/element (including LO synthesis and distribution) that utilizes baseband (BB) phase shifting and holistic impedance optimization.
Tube stresses due to in-plane thermal expansion of tubesheets in closely spaced double tubesheets

Abstract An approximate analysis of thermal stresses developed in heat exchanger tubing between closely spaced double tubesheets is presented. Tube loading is caused by in-plane differential thermal movement of the adjacent tubesheets. To obtain solutions valid for arbitrary spacing between the tubesheets, the effect of shear deformation is included. The effect of edge restraint such as peripheral flange bolting is also included. Typical results are presented to illustrate the interaction of bending and shear in the tubes.
Intense microwave generation with a free-electron laser amplifier

The free-electron laser (FEL) is a source of coherent radiation in which the electron beam is coupled to the radiation field by a trasverse periodic magnetic field. The frequency of the radiation is primarily determined by the magnetic field strength and period, and the electron beam energy. We are investigating an FEL operating at 34.6 GHz which utilizes a 3.5-MeV, 800-A electron beam. The FEL is designed to maintain resonance through the entire device; that is, the magnetic field is adjusted (tapered) as the electrons traverse the interaction region and lose energy. With the proper magnetic field profile, we have observed radiated power in excess of 1 GW and a conversion efficiency (electron beam to radiation) of 35%.
Children's Openness to Interacting with a Robot Scale (COIRS)

Current human-robot-interaction research methods could benefit from an age-appropriate scale that measures children's attitudes towards robots. This paper presents the design process and evidence for the validity of the Children's Openness to Interacting with a Robot Scale (COIRS). We report findings from a pilot test on a diverse population of 172 U.S. students between the ages of 8–11. High average scores on the COIRS suggested that children in this sample were highly open to interacting with a robot.
Outcomes of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Therapy in Treatment of β‐Thalassemia: A Retrospective Analysis

Thalassemia is one of the most common single-gene disorders that can be cured by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donor. In families that have an affected child, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can be used to select an unaffected, HLA-identical embryo. In brief, this procedure requires in vitro fertilization, oocyte retrieval, fertilization, and blastomere biopsy for identification of unaffected HLA-identical embryos. After delivery, umbilical cord blood from the sibling donor is collected for HCT. The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes of families using PGD therapy for cure of beta-thalassemia and to review the limitations of PGD therapy. Families affected with beta-thalassemia who attempted PGD therapy were retrospectively identified and reviewed for indication, attempted cycles, successful pregnancy, and transplantation outcomes. Eight identified families affected by thalassemia underwent PGD. The diagnosis of their affected children included six cases of beta-thalassemia major and two cases of transfusion-dependent hemoglobin E-beta-thalassemia patients. A total of 14 cycles of PGD were attempted, ranging from one to four attempts per family. Following successful identification of HLA-identical cells, two pregnancies occurred, of which one resulted in engraftment of a beta-thalassemia child. PGD therapy offers the possibility of recruiting a suitable donor for HCT, yet is limited by financial cost due to labor-intensive techniques, low probability of obtaining an HLA-matched unaffected embryo, variable implantation capacity, and significant emotional impact. Improvements in PGD therapy's efficacy and cost will make this a more viable option for affected families.
Full-time occlusion compared to part-time occlusion for the treatment of amblyopia.

Background Occlusion of the better-seeing eye as a method of treatment for amblyopia has long been a standard of care. A difference exists between practitioners on using either full-time occlusion or part-time occlusion. Methods A retrospective review of pediatric patients (ages 3 to 7 years) with amblyopia was performed. The patients were prescribed either full-time occlusion or part-time occlusion for the primary treatment of their amblyopia. Exclusions were made for patients with an organic or structural component of their amblyopia. Twenty-one patients were included in the full-time occlusion group and 24 patients were included in the part-time occlusion group. Results Seventy-six percent of patients who completed full-time occlusion achieved 20/40 acuity or better and 67% achieved 20/30 or better, with an average treatment time of six weeks. Fifty-eight percent of patients who completed part-time occlusion achieved 20/40 acuity or better and only 46% achieved 20/30 or better, with an average treatment time of 26 weeks. For patients with 20/80 or worse amblyopia, 82% achieved 20/40 or better with full-time occlusion. Only 40% of part-time occluders with 20/80 or worse achieved 20/40. Occlusion amblyopia did not develop in any patient. Conclusion A higher percentage of amblyopic patients treated with full-time occlusion achieved 20/30 acuity in the amblyopic eye over a shorter duration of treatment.
Analysis and design of surface-normal Fabry-Perot electrooptic modulators

Design equations relating the refractive index shift, absorption change, cavity length, and grating properties of Fabry-Perot modulators are derived. Experimental results of reflection modulators with GaAs/AlGaAs multiple-quantum-well active regions are given. The design equations are applied by investigating the optimization of the reflectivity modulation and the sensitivity of the performance on the operating conditions. The modulation is found to be determined mainly by the index shift and is less sensitive to the accompanying absorption change for a chirp greater than one where the chirp is defined as the ratio of the real part of index change to the imaginary part. Modulation can also be obtained via absorption modulation when the chirp is small. However, the residual loss in the cavity with multiple quantum wells should be kept lower than 500 cm/sup -1/. >
Structure and Physical Stability of Hydrates and Thermotropic Mesophase of Calcium Benzoate

The aim of this study is to investigate the hydration and the dehydration processes of calcium benzoate hydrates (trihydrate and monohydrate), thermotropic mesophases (dehydrated mesophase and lyophilized mesophase) and amorphous state, and the influence of their molecular order on those processes. X-ray analysis revealed that trihydrate has a planar structure composed of two types of planes-one from benzoic acid, water, and calcium ion and another from benzoic acid and water-and that both planes are linked by three water molecules. It was found that calcium benzoate was able to exist as thermotropic mesophases by dehydration of trihydrate and lyophilization. These mesophases were characterized by polarizing-light microscopy (PLM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both mesophases prepared by two procedures showed some similar physical properties, but lyophilized mesophase seemed to have molecular structure with higher order than dehydrated mesophase. The mesophases exhibited different hydration behavior. The dehydrated mesophase showed a stepwise rehydration process where it became monohydrate first and then trihydrate. The lyophilized mesophase became trihydrate without appearance of monohydrate. An amorphous form could also be prepared and it rehydrated first to the monohydrate and then trihydrate. The results suggest that the more disordered dehydrated mesophase and amorphous state change to monohydrate whereas the more ordered lyophilized mesophase cannot change to monohydrate but only to trihydrate.
Heart rhythms, ventricular arrhythmias, and death in chronic heart failure.

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether abnormalities in heart rate variability(HRV) could act as markers of ventricular tachycardia and prognosis in patients with advanced, chronic heart failure. Fifty patients with chronic heart failure (45 men; mean age, 59 ± 9 years; New York Heart Association [NYHA] class II–III; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], 19 ± 9% and peak oxygen consumption, 16.6 ± 5.4 mL/kg/min) caused by idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 12) and ischemic heart disease (n = 38) were included in the study. Heart rate variability measures derived from 24-hour electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring (Marquette 8500 recorder, Marquette Electronics, Milwaukee, WI) were calculated in the time domain and frequency domain. Methods and Results: Twenty-five patients (50%) revealed episodes of ventricular tachycardia on 24-hour ECG monitoring (1–143 episodes). The presence of ventricular tachycardia was associated with lower LVEF but there was no difference in NYHA class and peak oxygen consumption between patients with and without ventricular tachycardia (LVEF, 16 vs 22%, P = .01; NYHA class, 2.6 vs 2.4; peak oxygen consumption, 16.5 vs 16.8 mL/kg/min, not significant). Patients with ventricular tachycardia exhibited markedly lower HRV measures. Multiple regression analysis was used to test HRV parameters as potential predictors of ventricular tachycardia. Among them, high-frequency power was the only independent predictor of the presence of ventricular tachycardia, and this predictive correlation was independent of LVEF and mean R-R interval duration. During a follow-up period of 24 ± 18 months, 12 patients (24%) died. No difference was found in age, etiology, NYHA class, peak oxygen consumption, or occurrence of ventricular tachycardia, but a lower LVEF (15 ± 6 vs 21 ± 9%, P = .046) was observed in those who died compared with those who survived. Certain estimates of HRV were in contrast, lower in those who subsequently died: standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals (61 ± 30 vs 101 ± 33 ms), standard deviation of 5-minute mean R-R intervals (55 ± 27 vs 92 ± 31 ms), mean of all 5-minute standard deviations of R-R intervals (22 ± 12 vs 37 ± 11 ms), and the low-frequency (3.2 ± 1.8 vs 4.8 ± 0.9 ln ms 2 ) and high-frequency (3.0 ± 1.1 vs 3.8 ± 0.8 ln ms 2 ) components of the HRV spectrum (all differences, P Conclusions: In patients with moderate to severe chronic heart failure, depressed indices of HRV on 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring could be related to higher risk of ventricular tachycardia and death, suggesting that analysis of HRV could be usefully applied to risk stratification in chronic heart failure patients.
Competitive analysis of caching in distributed databases

This paper makes two contributions. First, we introduce a model for evaluating the performance of data allocation and replication algorithms in distributed databases. The model is comprehensive in the sense that it accounts for I/O cost, for communication cost, and, because of reliability considerations, for limits on the minimum number of copies of the object. The model captures existing replica-management algorithms, such as read-one-write-all, quorum-consensus, etc. These algorithms are static in the sense that, in the absence of failures, the copies of each object are allocated to a fixed set of processors. In modern distributed databases, particularly in mobile computing environments, processors will dynamically store objects in their local database and will relinquish them. Therefore, as a second contribution of this paper, we introduce an algorithm for automatic dynamic allocation of replicas to processors. Then, using the new model, we compare the performance of the traditional read-one-write-all static allocation algorithm to the performance of the dynamic allocation algorithm. As a result, we obtain the relationship between the communication cost and I/O cost for which static allocation is superior to dynamic allocation, and the relationships for which dynamic allocation is superior.
Assessment of reservoir system variable forecasts

Forecast ensembles are a convenient means to model water resources uncertainties and to inform planning and management processes. For multipurpose reservoir systems, forecast types include (i) forecasts of upcoming inflows and (ii) forecasts of system variables and outputs such as reservoir levels, releases, flood damage risks, hydropower production, water supply withdrawals, water quality conditions, navigation opportunities, and environmental flows, among others. Forecasts of system variables and outputs are conditional on forecasted inflows as well as on specific management policies and can provide useful information for decision-making processes. Unlike inflow forecasts (in ensemble or other forms), which have been the subject of many previous studies, reservoir system variable and output forecasts are not formally assessed in water resources management theory or practice. This article addresses this gap and develops methods to rectify potential reservoir system forecast inconsistencies and improve the quality of management-relevant information provided to stakeholders and managers. The overarching conclusion is that system variable and output forecast consistency is critical for robust reservoir management and needs to be routinely assessed for any management model used to inform planning and management processes. The above are demonstrated through an application from the Sacramento-American-San Joaquin reservoir system in northern California.
Using Leader-Member Exchange Theory to Examine Principal–School Counselor Relationships, School Counselors’ Roles, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intentions:

Principals have considerable influence on shaping the role of school counselors with whom they work (Amatea & Clark, 2005; Dollarhide, Smith, & Lemberger, 2007; Ponec & Brock, 2000). Researchers used leader-member exchange theory (Graen & Uhl-Bien, 1995) to examine the relevance of principal-school counselor relationships to school counselors' role definition, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. A path analysis model explained 15% of the variance in how school counselors' roles are defined at the building level, 49% of the variance in school counselors' job satisfaction, and 20% of the variance in school counselors' turnover intentions. Implications for school counseling practice and leadership are provided.
APOL1 Variants Increase Risk for FSGS and HIVAN but Not IgA Nephropathy

A chromosome 22q13 locus strongly associates with increased risk for idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), HIV-1-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), and hypertensive ESRD among individuals of African descent. Although initial studies implicated MYH9, more recent analyses localized the strongest association within the neighboring APOL1 gene. In this replication study, we examined the six top-most associated variants in APOL1 and MYH9 in an independent cohort of African Americans with various nephropathies (44 with FSGS, 21 with HIVAN, 32 with IgA nephropathy, and 74 healthy controls). All six variants associated with FSGS and HIVAN (additive ORs, 1.8 to 3.0; P values 3 × 10−2 to 5 × 10−5) but not with IgA nephropathy. In conditional and haplotype analyses, two APOL1 haplotypes accounted for virtually all of the association with FSGS and HIVAN on chromosome 22q13 (haplotype P value = 5.6 × 10−8). To assess the role of MYH9 deficiency in nephropathy, we crossbred Myh9-haploinsufficient mice (Myh9+/−) with HIV-1 transgenic mice. Myh9+/− mice were healthy and did not demonstrate overt proteinuria or nephropathy, irrespective of the presence of the HIV-1 transgene. These data further support the strong association of genetic variants in APOL1 with susceptibility to FSGS and HIVAN among African Americans.
Comparative evaluations of 2-D predictor implementations for lossless compression of images

A 2-D lossless predictive coding system is implemented using several existing and recently proposed algorithms. These are also evaluated for autoregressive (AR) and autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) predictor models. Results are given, using test images, which allow that the choice of the algorithms and the model can significantly affect the compression factor.
Visibility and the Stigmatization of Cancer: Context Matters1: VISIBILITY AND STIGMATIZATION OF CANCER

Few experimental studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of disease characteristics, such as visibility, on the stigmatization of cancer. The current study tested the reactions of undergraduates to vignettes that manipulated the visibility of cancer and the context in which help was needed by an individual with cancer. Results showed that participants were less willing to help the target individual when the cancer was visible and the context allowed stigmatization to be subtle. Further research should consider the relationships among disease attributes, the specific context where help is needed, and the stigmatization of individuals with cancer.
Mitral valve prolapse and glaucoma: a ‘floppy’ perception?

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is defined as the systolic displacement of one or both mitral leaflets into the left atrium. Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), with typical slow, progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and optic-nerve cupping. In primary open-angle glaucoma (OAG), the predominant form of glaucoma in Western countries, the iridocorneal angle is open and normal in appearance but aqueous humour outflow is diminished. How can an association between MVP and OAG even be postulated? Indeed, the two conditions share multiple common features, from a similar prevalence in the general population (approximately 3%)1 ,2 to the potential for significant adverse clinical outcomes (heart failure, need for surgery, sudden cardiac death in MVP and blindness in OAG).1 ,2 Most importantly, myxomatous degeneration is found histologically in prolapsing mitral leaflets in MVP, and in the trabecular meshwork of the iris and the ciliary body in OAG.1 ,3 The extracellular matrix (ECM) constitutes the fibroskeleton of a normal mitral valve and the normal trabecular meshwork in the eye. Valvular leaflets are populated on the surface by endothelial cells and by interstitial cells (VICs) within the valve.1 Quiescent VICs are non-contractile, fibroblast-like cells that can synthesise and degrade matrix enzymes. Enzymes secreted by VICs include matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs).1 Quiescent VICs maintain a tight balance between degradation and synthesis of the matrix proteins, thus allowing normal valve leaflet strength and function. Myxomatous degeneration is characterised by the accumulation of proteoglycans and consequent expansion of the middle spongiosa layer of the valve, and structural alterations of collagen in all components of the valve leaflet. Dysregulation of ECM components plays a key role in mediating these changes. In MVP, VICs acquire properties of activated myofibroblasts responsible …
Attitudes toward workers and toward their work: More evidence that sex makes a difference

A recent study by Pheterson, Kiesler, and Goldberg (1971) has been cited many times as providing evidence that women underrate the work of other women. Close examination of their results, however, revealed a number of ambiguities. The present study modified and extended their design in an attempt to describe the nature of sex biases more clearly. Students read and responded to descriptions of seminars which they expected to have an opportunity to attend. Independent variables included sex of student, sex of seminar leader, and type of seminar topic (female-oriented, male-oriented, or neutral). Analysis of the results revealed an interaction of leader expertise, leader sex, and student sex on the major dependent measures. Women indeed underrated the accomplishments of other women relative to those of other men if the other's competence had not been demonstrated, while males' evaluations were not affected by the sex of the target person. Female college students … rated paintings attributed to male art contest entrants more favorably than the identical paintings attributed to female entrants. However, when the subjects were told that the artists had been awarded prizes, they rated men and women equally. The presumed sex of the artist had no bearing on the subjects' judgments in judging paintings represented as prize winners, but when the paintings were represented as show entries, the subjects rated them higher if they thought the artists were men.
Optical folding-flash analog-to-digital converter with analog encoding.

We describe an optically assisted folding-flash analog-to-digital converter. The periodic transfer function of the Mach–Zehnder interferometer is used to perform analog folding on the electronic signal to be quantized. A novel analog encoding scheme for efficient generation of gray code digital data is proposed. The new encoding scheme eliminates the requirement for interferometers with ultralow Vπ, which, so far, has hindered the development of such systems. The encoding concept is experimentally demonstrated through the use of LiNbO3 modulators.
A New Genus and Two New Extant Species Closely Allied with the Fossil Genus Pauroripidius (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae)

Abstract A new genus is established for two engimatic Old World ripidiine beetle species. Neopauroripidius Falin and Engel, new genus (Ripidiinae: Ripidiini), exhibits many unique features indicative of a relationship to the fossil genus Pauroripidius Kaupp and Nagel as well as a distinct extra notal sclerite not otherwise known among the Ripiphoridae. The arrangement of sclerites in the thoracic notum permits a reinterpretation of homologies. Brief comments on character transformations within Ripidiini and the affinities of the new genus are provided. The type species, Neopauroripidius darlingi Falin and Engel, new species, is described from the Philippines, while a second species, N. howdeni Falin and Engel, new species, is described from South Africa.
A Gamma-convergence approach to the Cahn–Hilliard equation

We study the asymptotic dynamics of the Cahn–Hilliard equation via the “Gamma-convergence” of gradient flows scheme initiated by Sandier and Serfaty. This gives rise to an H1-version of a conjecture by De Giorgi, namely, the slope of the Allen–Cahn functional with respect to the H−1-structure Gamma-converges to a homogeneous Sobolev norm of the scalar mean curvature of the limiting interface. We confirm this conjecture in the case of constant multiplicity of the limiting interface. Finally, under suitable conditions for which the conjecture is true, we prove that the limiting dynamics for the Cahn–Hilliard equation is motion by Mullins–Sekerka law.
Phylogenetic Placement of Pelucha and new Subtribes in Helenieae Sensu Stricto (Compositae)

Abstract Results of phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from Heliantheae s.l. (sensu lato) lead us to conclude that Pelucha should be placed taxonomically in Helenieae s.s. (sensu stricto) rather than in Plucheeae or Inuleae s.l. The sister-group relationship between Pelucha and a clade comprising Psathyrotes and Trichoptilium inferred from nuclear ribosomal DNA trees is in accord with morphological characteristics shared by the three genera and with their common restriction to desert environments of western North America. The shrubby habit of Pelucha is unusual in the otherwise mostly-herbaceous Helenieae s.s. and is conceivably the result of evolution on islands in the Gulf of California. In a revised subtribal classification of Helenieae s.s., two new subtribes are erected: Psathyrotinae, for the group comprising Pelucha, Psathyrotes, and Trichoptilium, and Plateileminae, for Plateilema. Gaillardiinae is delimited to comprise Balduina, Gaillardia, and Helenium s.s., Marshalliinae i...
Wavelet-based model matching for FM denoising

A it transform--model based approach for suppressing noise in frequency modulated (FM) signals is presented. This approach is based on a model of the expected output of a wavelet filter bank in response to a noise-free FM signal. Resolving the discrepancy between filter bank output in response to a noisy FM signal and the expected output given by the model provides the mechanism for noise suppression. Specifically, a stationary phase approximation to the Morlet wavelet transform is used to form the model. The approach is shown to perform favorably on a numerical example when compared to both simple lowpass filtering (linear) and wavelet thresholding (non-linear) denoising techniques.
Evaluation of the surface roughness effect on suspended particle deposition near unpaved roads

Abstract The downwind transport and deposition of suspended dust raised by a vehicle driving on unpaved roads was studied for four differently vegetated surfaces in the USA states of Kansas and Washington, and one barren surface in Nevada. A 10 m high tower adjacent to the source (≈10 m downwind) and an array of multi-channel optical particle counters at three positions downwind of the source measured the flux of particles and the particle size distribution in the advecting dust plumes in the horizontal and vertical directions. Aerodynamic parameters such as friction velocity ( u * ) and surface roughness length ( z 0 ) were calculated from wind speed measurements made on the tower. Particle number concentration, PM 10 mass exhibited an exponential decay along the direction of transport. Coarse particles accounted for ≈95% of the PM 10 mass, at least to a downwind distance of 200 m from the source. PM 10 removed by deposition was found to increase with increasing particle size and increasing surface roughness under similar moderate wind speed conditions. The surface of dense, long grass (1.2 m high and complete surface cover) had the greatest reduction of PM 10 among the five surfaces tested due to deposition induced by turbulence effects created by the rougher surface and by enhanced particle impaction/interception effects to the grass blades.
Practice Building: Achieving Growth Through Computed Tomographic Myelography–Based Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Spinal Metastases

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is as an effective method to treat spinal metastases. Imaging is a critical component in the workup of patients who undergo stereotactic radiation treatment. Computed tomographic myelography may be more accurate than magnetic resonance imaging in the delineation of neural elements during SBRT. The task we faced was to offer a standardized method to rapidly and safely obtain high-quality computed tomographic myelography as part of a robust spine SBRT program. In detailing our experience, we support the greater, active participation of radiologists in the multidisciplinary care of patients with spinal metastases, while encouraging other radiologists to foster similar collaborations at their own institutions.
Environmental Impacts of Surgical Procedures: Life Cycle Assessment of Hysterectomy in the United States

The healthcare sector is a driver of economic growth in the U.S., with spending on healthcare in 2012 reaching $2.8 trillion, or 17% of the U.S. gross domestic product, but it is also a significant source of emissions that adversely impact environmental and public health. The current state of the healthcare industry offers significant opportunities for environmental efficiency improvements, potentially leading to reductions in costs, resource use, and waste without compromising patient care. However, limited research exists that can provide quantitative, sustainable solutions. The operating room is the most resource-intensive area of a hospital, and surgery is therefore an important focal point to understand healthcare-related emissions. Hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to quantify environmental emissions from four different surgical approaches (abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic) used in the second most common major procedure for women in the U.S., the hysterectomy. Data were collected from 62 cases of hysterectomy. Life cycle assessment results show that major sources of environmental emissions include the production of disposable materials and single-use surgical devices, energy used for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and anesthetic gases. By scientifically evaluating emissions, the healthcare industry can strategically optimize its transition to a more sustainable system.
Linear instability of compressible plane Couette flows

The stability of compressible plane Couette flow, which is a simple case of hypersonic wall-bounded shear flows, is not well understood even though incompressible Couette flow has been studied extensively by linear stability analysis and shown to be stable to linear disturbances. As a first step in studying the stability of three-dimensional hypersonic boundary layers, this paper studies the temporal stability of compressible Couette flows with a perfect gas model. The full compressible linear stability equations are solved by both a high-order finite-difference global method and a Chebyshev spectral collocation global method. The accuracy of the linear stability codes are validated by comparing the solutions from the two approaches with known solutions for compressible boundary layer. Unstable first and second modes are found for compressible Couette flow at finite Reynolds numbers. The inviscid second modes are found to be the dominant instability. The results are consistent with the prediction by Duck et al. that unstable modes are possible for compressible Couette flow. The second modes are found to be two-dimensional and are stabilized by viscousity. The Mach number corresponding to the most unstable second modes increase with Reynolds number but has a finite limit. The second modes are destabilized first by wall cooling and then stabilized by further reduction of the lower wall temperature. This is different with what is known for boundary layer second mode instability. The first mode instability characteristics are also discussed in this paper.
Epidemiological investigation of the first human infection with avian H7N9 influenza virus in Jiangxi Province

Objective The study performed an epidemiological investigation of the first human infection with H7N9 avian influenza virus in Jiangxi Province to explore the possible source of infection, so to provide a scientific reference for the further understanding and prevention and control of avian influenza. Methods Descriptive epidemiological approach was used to field-investigate the patients, close contacts of the patients, and community farmers' markets and live poultry markets that the patients exposed to. Specimens of the close contacts and the environment of the markets were also collected and analyzed. Results The study found that the first confirmed case of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza virus in Jiangxi had no clear history of contact with dead poultry and that no pneumonia of unknown causes was detected among the close contacts. No evidence of human-to-human transmission was found, but environmental specimens of the markets were tested positive of nucleic acids of H7N9 avian influenza virus. Conclusion The first case of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Jiangxi Province is a local non-human-to-human transmitted infection. The source of infection may relate to the environmental exposure to the local markets.
Adolescent Religion: A Developmental Approach*

This paper examines the relationship between practice and internal religiousness (belief and experience) among adolescents. At ages 13-14 the influence of practice on internal religiousness was found to be greater than the reverse process. At ages 15-16 the influence of belief upon practice is greater than the influence of practice upon experiential religiousness. At ages 17-18 the greater influence of practice upon internal religiousness is reestablished. The results are interpreted in the context of a theory of religious development. The data are taken from a national probability sample of U.S. adolescents aged 13 to 18.
Protein-Linked DNA Strand Breaks Induced by NSC 314622, a Novel Noncamptothecin Topoisomerase I Poison

NSC 314622 was found to have a cytotoxicity profile comparable to the topoisomerase I (top1) inhibitors camptothecin (CPT) and saintopin in the National Cancer Institute In Vitro Anticancer Drug Discovery Screen using the COMPARE analysis. Invitro data showed that NSC 314622 induced DNA cleavage in the presence of top1 at micromolar concentrations. Cleavage specificity was different from CPT in that NSC 314622 did not cleave all sites induced by CPT whereas some sites were unique to the NSC 314622 treatment. Top1-induced DNA cleavage was also more stable than cleavage induced by CPT. NSC 314622 did not induce DNA cleavage in the presence of human topoisomerase II. High concentrations of NSC 314622 did not produce detectable DNA unwinding, which suggests that NSC 314622 is not a DNA intercalator. DNA damage analyzed in human breast carcinoma MCF7 cells by alkaline elution showed that NSC 314622 induced protein-linked DNA single-strand breaks that reversed more slowly than CPT-induced strand breaks. CEM/C2, a CPT-resistant cell line because of a top1 point mutation [Cancer Res55:1339–1346 (1995)], was cross-resistant to NSC 314622. These results demonstrate that NSC 314622 is a novel top1-targeted drug with a unique chemical structure.