cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Fault-Tolerant Multipoint Cycle Routing Algorithm (MCRA)

In this paper we propose a new efficient fault tolerant multipoint routing algorithm for optical networks. The routing for a multipoint request is accomplished by finding a bidirectional cycle simple or nonsimple including all nodes that are participating in the multipoint session. Each link can be used only once. Use of a cycle ensures that a single link (or node in case of simple cycle) failure does not interrupt the session except the failed node if it was part of the multipoint session. Determining the smallest cycle with a given set of Multi-point (MP) nodes is a NP-Complete problem. Therefore, we explore heuristic algorithms to determine an appropriate cycle to route multipoint connections. We allow non-simple cycles to route requests as they use fewer resources than simple cycles in some cases. We also provide an ILP formulation for routing multipoint request and compare its results with the output of our best heuristic algorithm. On Arpanet for over 80% of the time, our best heuristic is able to find a cycle that is within 1.2 times that of the optimal.
Medical treatment of acquired nystagmus

Ophthalmologists and neurologists often encounter patients with acquired forms of nystagmus. In many such patients, the nystagmus causes disabling visual symptoms that can potentially be alleviated by suppressing the nystagmus. Numerous treatments for acquired nystagmus have been proposed, including medical, optical and surgical treatments, but few have been evaluated in prospective clinical trials. In this article, we review those medical treatments that have been shown to suppress certain acquired forms of nystagmus, with emphasis on those that have been evaluated in clinical trials.
“Eyeballing” Trends in Climate Time Series: A Cautionary Note

In examining a plot of a time series of a scalar climate variable for indications of climate change, an investigator might pick out what appears to be a linear trend commencing near the end of the record. Visual determination of the starting time of the trend can lead to an incorrect conclusion that the trend is significant when the assessment is based on standard linear regression analysis; in fact, a presumed level of significance of 5% can be smaller than the actual level by up to an order of magnitude. An alternative procedure is suggested that is more appropriate for assessing the significance of a trend in which the starting point is identified visually.
Robust Control Design for the Poloidal Magnetic Flux Profile Evolution in the Presence of Model Uncertainties

The potential operation of a tokamak fusion reactor in a highly efficient steady-state mode is directly related to the achievement of certain types of radial profiles for the current flowing toroidally in the device. The evolution in time of the toroidal current profile in tokamaks is related to the evolution of the poloidal magnetic flux profile, which is modeled in normalized cylindrical coordinates using a nonlinear partial differential equation usually referred to as the magnetic diffusion equation. We propose a robust control scheme to regulate the poloidal magnetic flux profile in tokamaks in the presence of model uncertainties. These uncertainties come mainly from the resistivity term of the magnetic diffusion equation. First, we either simulate the magnetic diffusion equation or carry out experiments to generate data ensembles, from which we then extract the most energetic modes to obtain a reduced-order model based on proper orthogonal decomposition and Galerkin projection. The obtained reduced-order model corresponds to a linear state-space representation with uncertainty. Taking advantage of the structure of the state matrices, the reduced-order model is reformulated into a robust control framework, with the resistivity term as an uncertain parameter. An H ? controller is designed to minimize the regulation/tracking error. Finally, the synthesized model-based robust controller is tested in simulations.
Reconstructing Dryopteris “semicristata” (Dryopteridaceae): Molecular profiles of tetraploids verify their undiscovered diploid ancestor

 Premise of the study: Discovering missing ancestors is essential to understanding the evolutionary history of biodiversity on Earth. Evidence from extinct species can provide links for reconstructing intricate patterns of reticulate relationships among extant descendents. When fossils are unavailable and other evidence yields competing hypotheses to explain species ancestry, data from proteins and DNA can help resolve confl icts and generate novel perspectives. The identity of a parent shared by two tetraploid species in the cosmopolitan fern genus Dryopteris has remained elusive for more than 50 years. Based on available data, four hypotheses were developed previously, each providing a different resolution to this uncertainty.  Methods: New molecular evidence from studies of isozymes and restriction site analysis of chloroplast DNA tested the competing hypotheses about the diploid ancestors of these two extant Dryopteris polyploids.  Key results: The results falsify two of the hypotheses, resolve the uncertainty in the third, and support the fourth.  Conclusions: Our data validate the prior existence of Dryopteris “ semicristata, ” which was proposed 38 years ago as a diploid progenitor of the allotetraploids D. cristata and D. carthusiana but has never been collected. After developing a phylogeny using the new molecular data, we describe a plausible morphology for D. “ semicristata ” by extrapolating likely character states from related extant species.
Distributed coverage verification in sensor networks without location information

In this paper, we present three distributed algorithms for coverage verification in sensor networks with no location information. We demonstrate how, in the absence of localization devices, simplicial complexes and tools from algebraic topology can be used in providing valuable information about the properties of the cover. Our approach is based on computation of homologies of the Rips complex corresponding to the sensor network. First, we present a decentralized scheme based on Laplacian flows to compute a generator of the first homology, which represents coverage holes. Then, we formulate the problem of localizing coverage holes as an optimization problem for computing a sparse generator of the first homology. Furthermore, we show that one can detect redundancies in the sensor network by finding a sparse generator of the second homology of the cover relative to its boundary. We demonstrate how subgradient methods can be used in solving these optimization problems in a distributed manner. Finally, we provide simulations that illustrate the performance of our algorithms.
Embodied Matters: Bolivian Fantasy and Indigenismo

Presento un nuevo analisis del indigenismo boliviano, basado en una investigacion de la revista musical "Fantasia Boliviana" de los anos 50. Trabajando a partir de historias orales de quienes participaban en esta produccion musical, el articulo plantea una vision compleja de como funcionaba el discurso del indigenismo en la ciudad de La Paz durante la epoca del gobierno Revolucionario. A diferencia de la literatura o pintura indigenista, en esta produccion los participantes representaban lo indigena a traves de sus propios cuerpos. Fantasia Boliviana atraia a participantes de clases sociales distintas y de subjetividades etnicas que no cabian facilmente en las clasificaciones de "indio" y "mestizo." Varios participantes desarrollaban un discurso que alababa las representaciones indigenas de esta produccion, tomandolas como expresion maxima de la nacion. A la vez, participantes hablaban de su trabajo en terminos del "Arte," respondiendo en parte a un regimen de valor que venia del mundo occidental. Fantasia Boliviana demuestra un indigenismo que servia no solamente para transformar las actitudes de mestizos-criollos hacia los indigenas, sino tambien para influir en las opiniones sobre Bolivia que podrian tener los extranjeros.
Meta-RaPS approach for solving the resource allocation problem

Project scheduling is an important planning function that involves scheduling activities of a project such that the total completion time for the entire project is minimized. In performing this function, one is often faced with the problem of limited resources in addition to considering the time element and precedence constraints of the project. The task of allocation of limited resources to competing activities further complicates the project scheduling procedure. Because of the fact that the Resource Allocation Problem is a very known and well-studied combinatorial problem, a number of heuristic rules can be found in literature. In this paper, authors present a new approach, Meta-RaPS (metaheuristic for randomized priority search), to address this combinatorial problem. This article will show experimental results using the Meta-RaPS approach on several well-known resource constrained project scheduling problem test sets.
Biocompatibility of a sonicated silk gel for cervical injection during pregnancy: in vivo and in vitro study.

Objective:To evaluate the biocompatibility of silk gel for cervical injection.Study Design:Silk gel was injected into the cervix of pregnant rats on day 13 (n = 11) and harvested at day 17. Histolo...
Effect of 24-hour corneal biomechanical changes on intraocular pressure measurement.

Purpose To study 24-hour changes of corneal biomechanical properties and their influences on measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods Fifteen healthy young volunteers (age range, 20-25 years) were housed for 1 day in a sleep laboratory. Sitting and supine central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured every 2 hours with an ultrasonic pachymeter. Sitting IOP and corneal hysteresis, an indicator of viscoelasticity, were measured with a noncontact tonometer. Results There were consistent 24-hour variations of CCT and IOP for the group. Nocturnal mean CCT and nocturnal mean IOP were significantly higher than the diurnal mean CCT and diurnal mean IOP, respectively. The peak CCT occurred at 1:30 to 5:30 AM and the trough CCT at 1:30 PM. The peak IOP occurred at 5:30 AM and the trough IOP at 9:30 PM. Cosine fits of each subject's 24-hour CCT and IOP data showed synchronized rhythms. The phase timing of 24-hour CCT rhythm was significantly earlier than the phase timing of 24-hour IOP rhythm. Twenty-four-hour variation of corneal hysteresis was inconsistent and cosine fits of 24-hour data of corneal hysteresis did not display a 24-hour rhythm. Conclusions In healthy young adults, CCT was thicker, and IOP was higher during the nocturnal period than during the diurnal period. Nocturnal peak CCT occurred a few hours earlier than did nocturnal peak IOP. The twenty-four-hour change in corneal viscoelasticity was not significant. There was no evidence that the 24-hour change in IOP was due to the change in corneal biomechanical properties.
Diversification of Cardiomyogenic Cell Lineages During Early Heart Development

The vertebrate heart is composed of a limited number of well-characterized cell types and therefore is an excellent system in which to study lineage-determination events and organogenesis. The diversification of atrial and ventricular myogenic lineages is evident in the morphology, physiology, and molecular composition of the fully formed heart and is essential to the circulatory and endocrine functions of the heart. Recent work from our laboratory and others has examined the origins of the atrial and ventricular myocyte cell lineages from the earliest stages of development. These studies have addressed where these lineages arise in the early vertebrate embryo, when diversified cell lineages are first evident in the primitive heart, and what mechanisms result in the separation of these lineages. Much of the information regarding myocyte lineage diversification has been obtained by study of the early chicken embryo because of its accessibility and potential for embryological manipulation. Additional studies in the mouse, frog, and zebra fish have significantly advanced our knowledge of early vertebrate cardiogenesis. Taken together, these studies demonstrated that the separation of atrial and ventricular myogenic lineages occurs before heart chamber formation and that the determination of these lineages is primarily based on the anteroposterior polarity of the heart progenitors in the very early embryo. In the present communication, we review the origins of the lineages and molecular events involved in generating atrial and ventricular myocyte populations. The chicken has been used as a model system in which to study the organogenesis of the heart in vertebrates.1 Fate-mapping studies of the early chicken embryo have followed the origins of the cardiovascular system from the very earliest stages of embryogenesis and have determined that the cells that will become the heart are one of the first mesodermal cell types to emerge from the primitive streak (Figure⇓, …
Mechanisms of Ligand-Induced Desensitization of the 5-Hydroxytryptamine2A Receptor

We have examined the cellular processes underlying the desensitization of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 2A receptor induced by agonist or antagonist exposure. Treatment of C6 glioma cells with either 5-HT or the 5-HT 2A receptor antagonist ketanserin resulted in an attenuation in 5-HT 2A receptor function, specifically the accumulation of inositol phosphates stimulated by the partial agonist quipazine. 5-HT-induced desensitization of the 5-HT 2A receptor involved receptor internalization through a clathrin- and dynamin-dependent process because it was prevented by concanavalin A, monodansylcadaverine, and by expression of the dominant negative mutants β-arrestin (319–418) and dynamin K44A. Although short-term (i.e., 10 min) 5-HT and ketanserin exposure resulted in the same degree of desensitization, ketanserin-induced desensitization was not prevented by these agents and did not involve receptor internalization. In contrast, prolonged ketanserin exposure (i.e., 2 h) resulted in 5-HT 2A receptor internalization through a clathrin- and dynamin-dependent process, as was observed after agonist treatment. Inhibitors of protein kinase C or calcium-calmodulin kinase II did not attenuate or prevent 5-HT-induced desensitization of the receptor. 5-HT 2A receptor desensitization induced by 5-HT and prolonged ketanserin treatment, but not by short-term ketanserin treatment, was prevented by the expression of the dominant negative mutant of G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)2, GRK2-K220R, and by an anti-GRK2/3 antibody. Our data indicate a dual mechanism of early and late desensitization by the antagonist ketanserin. Short-term ketanserin treatment reduced the specific binding of the agonist radioligand [ 125 I](±)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane ([ 125 I]DOI) and the ability of 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate to attenuate this binding, suggesting that at the early stage of antagonist-induced desensitization the capacity of the 5-HT 2A receptor to couple to G protein is impaired.
High-Mobility Transistors Based on Single Crystals of Isotopically Substituted Rubrene-d28

We have performed a comprehensive study of chemical synthesis, crystal growth, crystal quality, and electrical transport properties of isotopically substituted rubrene-d28 single crystals (D-rubrene, C42D28). Using a modified synthetic route for protonated-rubrene (H-rubrene, C42H28), we have obtained multigram quantities of rubrene with deuterium incorporation approaching 100%. We found that the vapor-grown D-rubrene single crystals, whose high qualities were confirmed by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy, maintained the remarkable transport properties originally manifested by H-rubrene crystals. Specifically, field-effect hole mobility above 10 cm2 V–1 s–1 was consistently achieved in the vacuum-gap transistor architecture at room temperature, with an intrinsic band-like transport behavior observed over a broad temperature range; maximum hole mobility reached 45 cm2 V–1 s–1 near 100 K. Theoretical analysis provided estimates of the density and characteristic energy of shallow and deep traps ...
Wild Host Plants of the Corn Earworm and the Tobacco Budworm in Eastern North Carolina

Surveys were conducted to determine the species of wild plants utilized as hosts by the corn earworm ( Heliothis zea (Boddie)) and the tobacco budworm ( Heliothis virescens (Fabricius)) in eastern North Carolina. In addition, an estimate was made of the abundance of several of these hosts. the abundance of Heliothis larvae on these plants, and mortality factors operating in these communities were investigated Corn earworm and tobacco budworm larvae were collected from 10 species of wild plants. The vast majority were found associated with toad flax ( Linaria canadensis var. texana (Steeled) Pennell) and several species of deergrass ( Rhexia mariana Linnaeus , Rhexia alifanus Walter, and Rhexia nashii Small). Toadflax serves as an early-season host for both the corn earworm and the tobacco budworm. while the tobacco budworm also occurs on deergrass later in the seasoil The parasites, Campoletis perdistinctus (Viereck) and Netelia sp., were reared from corn earworm larvae associated with toad flax. Cardiochiles nigricep8 Viereck parasitizes tobacco budworm larvae feeding upon deergrass.
Evaluating the Purple Force: Jointness in War and Peace

In recent years, the proliferation of joint, collaborative organizations in the U.S. military has been remarkable, and the term “jointness” has become a favored buzzword in the U.S. defense community. The arguments in support of increased interservice collaboration in U.S. military are generally based on the belief that jointness will improve warfighting capabilities. But, despite the embrace of jointness and its purported benefits in war and peace, little research in political science has sought to evaluate whether these collaborative efforts have actually improved overall military effectiveness. Accordingly, this paper evaluates historical cases of interservice collaboration in the U.S. to uncover whether and how jointness can make militaries more effective and efficient. More specifically, this paper assesses the successes and failures of joint coordination during the 20th century through qualitative case analysis of tactical airpower operations in WWII. In doing so, this paper identifies the conditions under which obstacles to joint effectiveness are most likely to be overcome.
Energy Analysis and System Optimization of Multipurpose Station

Multipurpose station is the primary part and energy consumption unit in oil and gas gathering and transportation system.It is necessary to research and optimize energy distribution of the multi-purpose station to reduce the cost and energy consumption.The oil field multi-purpose station was made based on a multipurpose station of Daqing oil field,the energy equilibrium models was made,and the energy consumption of the holistic multi-purpose station was analyzed.It takes the minimum energy power as the objective function to optimizing oil field multi-purpose station.The results show that the operation and running cost of system could be decreased with the system optimization method.
'Failure to thrive' in the elderly: diagnosis and management.

"Failure to thrive" (FTT) is a term used to describe a gradual decline in physical and/or cognitive function of an elderly patient, usually accompanied by weight loss and social withdrawal, that occurs without immediate explanation. Both age-related and sociodemographic factors predispose the elderly to FTT. The most common etiologies are dementia, depression, delirium, drug reactions, and a few chronic diseases. The diagnostic evaluation of patients with FTT includes a review of the patient's activities of daily living, cognitive function, and mood; a targeted history and physical examination; and selected laboratory studies. Early recognition and management of FTT can reduce the risk of further functional deterioration, hospitalization, or nursing home placement.
Resistance in Aerobic Gram-Positive Bacilli

Several genera of Gram-positive bacilli are capable of causing a varietyhuman infection including Bacillus, Listeria, Erysipelothrix, Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, Gardnerella, Actinomyces, and Nocardia. Several genera of Gram-positive bacilli are capable of causing a variety of human infections including Bacillus, Listeria, Erysipelothrix, Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, Gardnerella, Actinomyces, and Nocardia. This chapter focuses mainly on Bacillus spp. because B. anthracis is considered one of the most important potential bioterrorist agents, B. cereus is an important cause of foodborne infections, and non-B. anthracis species are an unusual but important source of human infection, especially in immunocompromised patients. Reviewed also are Listeria monocytogenes and Nocardia spp. because of their importance as human pathogens. Understanding the antibiotic spectrum of these pathogens and their common mechanisms of antibiotic resistance is crucial to the proper therapy for these pathogens.
Flow-Accelerated Corrosion

Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) is a phenomenon that results in metal loss from piping, vessels and equipment made of carbon steel. It occurs under conditions of flow, geometry and material, which are common in high-energy piping and tubing in nuclear, fossil and industrial power plants. Substantial progress has been made towards understanding the mechanism and in preventing FAC. This paper provides a sprinkling of that knowledge with particular emphasis for fossil and industrial plants.
Virtual Reality User Experience as a Deterrent for Smartphone Use While Driving

This study examines the effectiveness of virtual reality technology at creating an immersive user experience in which participants experience first hand the extreme negative consequences of smartphone use while driving. Research suggests that distracted driving caused by smartphones is related to smartphone addiction and causes fatalities. Twenty-two individuals participated in the virtual reality user experience (VRUE) in which they were asked to drive a virtual car using a Oculus Rift headset, LeapMotion hand tracking device, and a force feedback steering wheel and pedals. While driving in the simulation participants were asked to interact with a smartphone and after a period of time trying to manage both tasks a vehicle appears before them and they are involved in a head-on collision. Initial results indicated a strong sense of presence was felt by participants and a change or re-enforcement of the participant's perception of the dangers of smartphone use while driving was observed.
The Effect of Political Party on Processing and Attitudes

Our study investigated how superficial and systematic processing influences people’s memory and attitudes. In our experiment, all subjects read 2 sets of excerpts from hypothetical political campaign advertisements with or without political party labels as the independent variable. We measured the level of processing and the subjects’ attitudes towards each candidate and their arguments. Previous research suggests that political party labels in fluence people’s attitudes about political issues and trigger the use of superficial processing, we expected a person who identified with one party to express favorable attitude evaluations of a candidate of the same party and less favorable attitude evaluations of a candidate in another party. If subjects did not identify with either the Republican or Democratic Party, we predicted that they would rate the candidates and their excerpts neutrally. We further hypothesized that subjects in the labeled groups, subjects who read excerpts either labeled Dem ocratic or Republican, would process information superficially (earning low memory test scores), while people in the no-label group would process information systematically (earning high memory test scores). Our results are inconclusive about the effect labels have on processing, but suggest that attitude evaluation is impacted by the strength of group affiliation. Implications of our findings are discussed and compared to previous research.
Proximity to Violence: War, Games, Glitch

Ball traces the uses of immersion—techniques that place a spectator in close proximity to a world, story, or character—to form and reform political subjectivities through a detailed comparison of International WOW Company’s immersive drama of the Iraq War, Surrender; the violent videogame Spec Ops: The Line; and Harun Farocki’s installation of four documentary films, Serious Games. Ball argues for locating the political potential of immersive theatre in the inadequacy of certain simulations to precisely render reality. Brought into proximity with an immersive model, a spectator inevitably encounters a glitch—the ostensible error that disrupts verisimilitude—that can interrupt the efforts of constituted powers to mask the reality of global conflict.
On the RSU-based secure distinguishability among vehicular flows

In the smart cities of the future, people expect to gather data from moving vehicles. Due to the existence of malicious users who claim to be in a traffic flow but actually are in others, a location proof for vehicular trajectory-based data needs to be developed. RoadSide Units (RSUs) are commonly used in smart cities, and a vehicular trajectory's location proof can be generated based on messages collected from RSUs along the trajectory. This paper studies the optimal RSU placement problem: Given a set of traffic flows, the objective is to place a minimum number of RSUs to securely distinguish all flows. A traffic flow is securely distinguishable if the set of its passing RSUs is unique among all traffic flows and unforgeable. To solve this problem, an RSU placement algorithm with an approximation ratio O(ln n) is proposed. In order to further reduce the number of deployed RSUs, this paper explores the credential propagation mechanism via Car-to-Car (C2C) communications, which essentially extend the coverage of an RSU. Approximation algorithms are proposed to solve the problem, and extensive real data-driven experiments demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Language Policy and Language Repression: The Case of Spanish Basques and Mexican Americans

This paper presents the argument that there are many similarities between the linguistic and cultural repression experienced by Basques in Spain and Mexican Americans in the United States. Linguistic and cultural repression, both historically and currently, is analyzed in terms of various language policies, especially those policies related to language use in school. The struggle for and importance of bilingual education for language and cultural maintenance is discussed. The paper concludes with the caution that the rise of conservative political groups such as The English Only Movement demonstrates that concern about linguistic and cultural repression is as imperative currently as it was historically.
Resetting educational technology coursework for pre-service teachers: A computational thinking approach to the development of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK)

This study presents the design of an educational technology course for pre-service teachers specific to incorporating computational thinking in K-8 classroom settings. Subsequently, it examines how participation in the course influences pre-service teachers' dispositions and knowledge of computational thinking concepts and the ways in which such knowledge can be combined with content and pedagogy to promote meaningful student outcomes. Data were collected from a self-reported survey and case reports focusing on the design, implementation, and outcomes of computational thinking related lessons in K-8 classrooms. Results indicated that the course positively influenced pre-service teachers’ knowledge of computational thinking concepts, tools, and practices. Yet, some participants demonstrated only surface understanding of computational thinking and were unable to design lessons that meaningfully integrated computational thinking concepts and tools with disciplinary content and pedagogy. Findings have implications for the design of teacher education experiences that help prepare pre-service teachers develop technological pedagogical content knowledge in relation to computational thinking concepts and practices.
N2 production and fixation in deep-tier burrows of Squilla empusa in muddy sediments of Great Peconic Bay

Abstract Global marine N budgets often show deficits due to dominance of benthic N 2 production relative to pelagic N 2 fixation. Recent studies have argued that benthic N 2 fixation in shallow water environments has been underestimated. In particular, N 2 fixation associated with animal burrows may be significant as indicated by high rates of N 2 fixation reported in muddy sands populated by the ghost shrimp, Neotrypaea californiensis (Bertics et al., 2010). We investigated whether N 2 fixation occurs at higher rates in the burrow-walls of the deep-burrowing (~ 0.5–4 m) mantis shrimp, Squilla empusa , compared to ambient, estuarine muds and measured seasonal in-situ N 2 concentrations in burrow-water relative to bottom-water. Acetylene reduction assays showed lower N 2 fixation in burrow-walls than in un-populated sediments, likely due to inhibitory effects of O 2 on ethylene production. Dissolved N 2 was higher in burrow-water than proximate bottom-water at all seasons, demonstrating a consistent balance of net N 2 production relative to fixation in deep-tier biogenic structures.
Information barrier experimental: Toward a trusted and open-source computing platform for nuclear warhead verification

Abstract Trusted measurement systems are critical for the verification of future arms-control treaties that involve confirming the authenticity of nuclear warheads on the basis of their radiation signatures. Several research efforts have produced prototype systems, but their designs are typically not published in detail, making it difficult to enable trust in these devices. The Information Barrier Experimental (IBX) is a new prototype built around the Red Pitaya computing platform using passive gamma spectroscopy. It is the first such platform designed to help a broad research community study vulnerabilities and define the required specifications for a common, trusted inspection system. It is low-cost, simple to assemble, and enables comprehensive hardware and software authentication studies. The device follows a digital data acquisition approach, which significantly reduces the number of components between scintillator and spectrum output. Measurements demonstrate that this approach is technically feasible and produces excellent measurement results.
Mixture Statistic Metric Learning for Robust Human Action and Expression Recognition

Background objects and textures in real-world video sequences often pose great challenges for human action and facial expression recognition. This paper proposes a mixture statistic metric learning for recognizing human actions and facial expressions in realistic “in the wild” scenarios. In the proposed method, multiple statistics, including temporal means and covariance matrices, as well as parameters of spatial Gaussian mixture distributions, are explicitly mapped to or generated on symmetric positive definite Riemannian manifolds. An implicit mixture of Mahalanobis metrics is learned from the Riemannian manifolds. The learned metrics place similar pairs in local neighborhoods and dissimilar pairs in relatively orthogonal regions on a regularized manifold. The proposed metric learning method also explores the prior distributions within the multiple statistics in the video sequences. The proposed method is tested on five action video data sets and three facial expression data sets and is compared with various state-of-the-art methods. Recognition accuracy and computational efficiency are evaluated in terms of average recognition rates and computational times in seconds, respectively. Competitive performances achieved on both action and facial expression recognition tasks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Catalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Using Cationic Organoaluminum and -Gallium Compounds

Ethide abstraction from Et3M (M = Al and Ga), (2,6-Ph2C6H3)AlEt2, 1, and (2,6-Dipp2C6H3)GaEt2, 2 (Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3), using the silylium ion [Et3Si][CHB11Cl11] afforded crystalline ion-like compounds [Et2M][CHB11Cl11] (M = Al, 3; Ga, 5) and [(2,6-Ph2C6H3)AlEt][CHB11Cl11], 4, and the likely solvent-separated ion pair [(2,6-Dipp2C6H3)GaEt][CHB11Cl11], 6. Crystalline compounds 3–5 feature cation···anion contacts in the solid state, and their solubility in low polarity benzene indicates that these contacts are maintained in solution. All compounds catalyze the reduction of CO2 with Et3SiH, but the activity of the gallium compound 5 is significantly lower due to its polymeric structure and the lower Lewis acidity of gallium. Whereas the reduction products from the reactions catalyzed by compounds 3–5 are mostly methane and toluene (from Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the benzene solvent), catalysis by 6 led mostly to Et3SiOCH3.
Forward and Reverse Waves: Modeling Distortion Products in the Intracochlear Fluid Pressure.

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions are sounds that are emitted by the cochlea due to the nonlinearity of the outer hair cells. These emissions play an important role both in clinical settings and research laboratories. However, how distortion products propagate from their generation location to the middle ear remains unclear; whether distortion products propagate as a slow reverse traveling wave, or as a fast compression wave, through the cochlear fluid has been debated. In this article, we evaluate the contributions of the slow reverse wave and fast compression wave to the propagation of intracochlear distortion products using a physiologically based nonlinear model of the gerbil cochlea. This model includes a 3D two-duct model of the intracochlear fluid and a realistic model of outer hair cell biophysics. Simulations of the distortion products in the cochlear fluid pressure in response to a two-tone stimulus are compared with published in vivo experimental results. Whereas experiments have characterized distortion products at a limited number of locations, this model provides a complete description of the fluid pressure at all locations in the cochlear ducts. As in experiments, the spatial variations of the distortion products in the fluid pressure have some similarities with what is observed in response to a pure tone. Analysis of the fluid pressure demonstrates that although a fast wave component is generated, the slow wave component dominates the response. Decomposition of the model simulations into forward and reverse wave components shows that a slow forward propagating wave is generated due to the reflection of the slow reverse wave at the stapes. Wave interference between the reverse and forward components sometimes complicates the analysis of distortion products propagation using measurements at a few locations.
Neglect and Attachment Insecurity

The parent-infant relationship serves as a blueprint for future relationships with others and the world. From this relationship, the infant learns whether he can depend on others to meet his needs, whether he can communicate with others effectively, and whether it is safe to explore his world. Attachment theory postulates that the parent-infant relationship provides the infant with the first opportunity to form a secure attachment to another human being, ideally characterized by warmth, trust, synchronicity, and reciprocity (Bowlby, 1969). However, in cases of childhood neglect, the parent or caregiver has not provided the scaffolding necessary for establishing a secure attachment. Consequently, neglect has been linked to increased psychological problems (e.g., depression and anxiety) and attachment insecurity in children and adolescents (Claussen & Crittenden, 1991; Gauthier, Stollak, Messe, & Aronoff, 1996; Hobbs & Wynne, 2002; Shipman, Edwards, Brown, Swisher, & Jennings, 2005). This chapter will include a brief discussion of attachment theory, attachment insecurity, and the impact of neglect on attachment. Additionally, implications for romantic relationships for individuals reared in a neglectful family of origin will be discussed.
The Spirit of the Letter: The Hebrew Inscription in Bermejo’s Piedat Revisited

The Hebrew inscription in the Piedat attributed to Bartolome Bermejo is usually viewed in relation to the possible involvement of conversos in the painting. Offering a broader exploration of the local setting as well as the visual and textual models available to Bermejo, this article goes beyond a narrow converso interpretation and situates the inscription within two different contexts: an environment of growing Christian interest in Hebraic knowledge and an Aragonese artistic experimentation with the iconography of the Man of Sorrows.
Movements of cultured corneal epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts in electric fields.

The effects of an externally applied direct-current electric field on the movement of cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts were studied. After a latency of approximately 20 minutes in an electric field, both epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts became spindle shaped and underwent galvanotropism by aligning their long axes perpendicular to the applied electric field. The electric field stimulus thresholds for galvanotropic movements in epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts were 4 V/cm and 6 V/cm, respectively. After an additional latency of 30 minutes, both cell types manifested galvanotaxic movements: epithelial cells commenced migration in the cathodal (downfield) direction and stromal fibroblasts in the anodal (upfield) direction. For both types of cells, ruffled membranes and lamellipodia were abundant at the leading edges of migrating cells, and cell processes underwent retraction at the trailing edges. At field strengths of above 10 V/cm, evidence of cellular damage (manifested by cellular rounding and detachment), attributable to the electric field treatment, was observed after 4 hours. These preliminary results suggest that galvanotaxic responses could be exploited clinically in the enhancement of corneal wound healing. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:2278-2282,1990 Several extrinsic factors are involved in the control of directed cell-shape changes and movement during cell migration. These include contact inhibition, chemotaxis, haptotaxis, and contact guidance. 1 Recently, the influence of physiologic electric (E) fields on the control of directional cell movements has attracted the widespread attention of cell biologists in the areas of developmental biology and wound healing. It is now known that many types of cells respond to weak direct-current (DC) E-fields with a galvanotropic response (the polarized shifting of cellular orientation in an E-field), followed by a galvanotaxic response (the migration of a cell in an E-field). 2
Multifunctional agriculture: Root and nitrogen dynamics in two alternative systems

The Corn Belt of the Midwestern United States is among the most productive grainproducing regions of the world. Yet the development of the Corn Belt has been accompanied by a suite of environmental concerns. Alternative systems have been proposed that remediate environmental quality while relying on fewer external inputs (e.g., synthetic nitrogen fertilizer) than dominate cropping systems of corn and soybean. Two examples of such alternative systems are diversified crop rotations and perennial bioenergy systems. In diverse and less diverse crop rotations, the supply of nitrogen (N) to crops is mediated by the N flux from external inputs as well as internal soil cycling, although evidence suggests that in diverse rotations internal soil N cycling plays a more prominent role. Chapter 2 explores belowground N cycling and provides evidence that diversifying crop rotations increases organic soil N pools and rates of N release from soil organic matter into labile organic forms. Chapter 3 contrasts perennial and annual bioenergy systems by their standing root biomasses and rates of root decomposition as they vary across landscape positions. Results suggest that root biomass is best predicted by choice of annual or perennial crop, but that within cropping systems root biomass is sensitive to landscape position. In contrast to root biomass, rates of root decay for each crop were constant across landscape positions.
Uterine Perforation During Removal of a Broken Majzlin Spring

A case is presented of uterine perforation in a 43-uear-old woman during the removal of a broken Majzlin Spring. The proximal segment was broken and pelvic x-ray located the segment in the myometrium near the right cornu. Attempts by probing failed to remove the segment and probing necessitated abdominal hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy. The patient required 1000 ml of whole blood but the postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged in 6 days. When an IUD is to be removed and strings are not visible hysterography should be used to locate the IUD position before probing. 5 additional patients had segments of broken Majzlin springs removed without anesthesia using hysterography to first locate the segments.
Cerebrospinal fluid and the early brain development of autism

There is currently a renaissance of interest in the many functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Altered flow of CSF, for example, has been shown to impair the clearance of pathogenic inflammatory proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyloid-β. In addition, the role of CSF in the newly discovered lymphatic system of the brain has become a prominently researched area in clinical neuroscience, as CSF serves as a conduit between the central nervous system and immune system. This article will review the importance of CSF in regulating normal brain development and function, from the prenatal period throughout the lifespan, and highlight recent research that CSF abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are present in infancy, are detectable by conventional structural MRI, and could serve as an early indicator of altered neurodevelopment. The identification of early CSF abnormalities in children with ASD, along with emerging knowledge of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms, has the potential to serve as early stratification biomarkers that separate children with ASD into biological subtypes that share a common pathophysiology. Such subtypes could help parse the phenotypic heterogeneity of ASD and map on to targeted, biologically based treatments.
Program sliding

As program slicing is a technique for computing a subprogram that preserves a subset of the original program's functionality, program sliding is a new technique for computing two such subprograms, a slice and its complement, the co-slice. A composition of the slice and co-slice in a sequence is expected to preserve the full functionality of the original code.The co-slice generated by sliding is designed to reuse the slice's results, correctly, in order to avoid re-computation causing excessive code duplication. By isolating coherent slices of code, making them extractable and reusable, sliding is shown to be an effective step in performing advanced code refactorings.A practical sliding algorithm, based on the program dependence graph representation, is presented and evaluated through a manual sliding-based refactoring experiment on real Java code.
Improving corneal donation rates: a three-phase analysis of professional and patient factors.

This three-phase service evaluation project aimed to assess factors that influence corneal donation at the West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WSH) and St Nicholas Hospice Care (SNHC). Firstly, a questionnaire survey of multidisciplinary team members employed at SNHC was carried out in autumn 2014 to survey their knowledge and experience of corneal donation. Next, a questionnaire survey was given to patients admitted to SNHC from 25 June to 10 August 2015, unless they: were not eligible for donation, lacked capacity, or had difficulty discussing terminal illness. Finally, a retrospective study of …
2737. Comparison of Antibody Responses to Vaccination with a Pure Hemagglutinin Influenza Vaccine (rHA) and Licensed Subvirion Influenza Vaccine Made in Eggs or Cell Culture in Adults 60 Years and Older

Background Influenza is associated with increased mortality and morbidity for older adults. High-dose egg grown trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (Fluzone HD) is safe and provides superior immune responses in older adults compared with standard dose (SD). Recently, two new vaccines have been licensed in the United States: cell cultured inactivated vaccine FluCelVax and baculovirus-expressed pure hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine FluBlok. Data from one study demonstrated higher efficacy with FluBlok than SD Fluzone in older adults. There is no data however comparing HD Fluzone to FluBlok and FluCelVax has not been studied at all. The purpose of this study was to assess hemagglutinin inhibition (HAI) antibody responses to vaccination with three vaccines in adults ≥ 60 years.
Neuroanatomical Determinants of Secondary Trigeminal Neuralgia: Application of 7T Ultra-High-Field Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background Seven-Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated value for evaluating a variety of intracranial diseases. However, its utility in trigeminal neuralgia has received limited attention. The authors of the present study applied ultra-high field multimodal MRI to two representative patients with secondary trigeminal neuralgia due to epidermoid tumors to illustrate the possible clinical and surgical advantages of 7T compared with standard clinical strength imaging. Techniques included co-registration of multiple 7T sequences to optimize the detection of potential concurrent neurovascular and neoplasm-derived compression. Methods 7T MRI studies were performed using a whole body scanner. Two- and three-dimensional renderings of potential neurovascular conflict were created by co-registering time-of-flight angiography and T2-weighted turbo spin echo images in MATLAB and GE software. Detailed comparisons of the various field strength images were provided by a collaborating neuroradiologist (B.D.). Results 7T MRI clearly illustrated minute tumor-adjacent vasculature. In contrast, conventional, low-field imaging did not consistently provide adequate details to distinguish cerebrospinal fluid pulsatility from vessels. The tumor margins, although distinct from the trigeminal nerve fibers at 7T, blended with those of the surrounding structures at 3T. Two- and three-dimensional co-registration of time-of-flight angiography with T2-weighted MRI suggested that delicate, intervening vasculature may have contributed to these illustrative patients' symptomatology. Conclusions 7T provided superior visualization of vital landmarks and subtle nerve and vessel features. Co-registration of various advanced 7T modalities may help to resolve complex disease etiologies. Future studies should explore the extent to which this dual etiology might persist across tumor types and utilize diffusion-based techniques to quantify what microstructural differences might exist between patients with trigeminal neuralgia from varying etiologies.