cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controls on localization and densification of a modern décollement: Northern Barbados accretionary prism

In the Northern Barbados Ridge area, the decollement zone beneath the accretionary prism lies in a lower Miocene radiolarian claystone. Seismic data allow recognition of this continuous stratigraphic horizon seaward of the accretionary prism. Logging-while-drilling (LWD) data show that the radiolarian claystone is of low density relative to surrounding sediments and indicate that the interval densified heterogeneously with progressive deformation. The low-density interval is relatively weak, and possibly overpressured, which together foster decollement zone propagation. Characterization of densification processes in this interval by image analysis shows that reorientation of clays by shear-enhanced consolidation and tectonic overburden is the dominant densification process. The correlation between densification and clay reorientation suggests that predeformational conditions play a deciding role in decollement propagation. 3D seismic reflection data show that the topographic relief of the decollement zone arcward of the deformation front is greater than that in the protodecollement zone and is apparently controlled by basement structure. Thus, it is unlikely that the processes forming the decollement zone are truncating relief in the protodecollement surface, but rather sliding over it along a weak stratigraphic interval. Although localization of the decollement may be originally due to low density and weak sediments, strain softening in a smectite-rich lithology and, perhaps, development of a low permeability cap may contribute to the continued deformation in this stratigraphic interval.
The Role of Parathyroid Hormone in the Maintenance of Plasma Calcium Levels in Rats

Investigations were carried out in rats to determine the relative roles of kidney and bone in the regulation of plasma calcium by parathyroid hormone (PTH). The effects of endogenous PTH were studied by parathyroid ablation. Parathyroid glands were removed by thyroparathyroidectomy (TPTX) since parathyroidectomy appears to release calcitonin and thyroidectomy itself does not alter plasma calcium levels. Changes in plasma calcium, urinary calcium and urinary hydroxyproline were determined 3 hr or 24 hr after TPTX in rats of varying ages and in animals fed a calcium-deficient diet for 30 days to enhance PTH secretion and bone turnover. The following observations were made. 1)Plasma calcium but not hydroxyproline decreased 3 hr after TPTX. 2) The degree of hypocalcemia was inversely related to age. 3) By 24 hr, urinary hydroxyproline had decreased and plasma calcium fallen further. 4) Plasma calcium and urinary hydroxyprolinedecreased immediately in immature rats and rats fed a calcium-deficient diet. 5) TPT...
Cellular dissection of circadian peptide signals with genetically encoded membrane-tethered ligands.

Summary Background Neuropeptides regulate many biological processes. Elucidation of neuropeptide function requires identifying the cells that respond to neuropeptide signals and determining the molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral consequences of activation of their cognate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in those cells. As a novel tool for addressing such issues, we have developed genetically encoded neuropeptides covalently tethered to a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycolipid anchor on the plasma membrane ("t-peptides"). Results t-peptides cell-autonomously induce activation of their cognate GPCRs in cells that express both the t-peptide and its receptor. In the neural circuit controlling circadian rest-activity rhythms in Drosophila melanogaster , rhythmic secretion of the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) and activation of its GPCR (PDFR) are important for intercellular communication of phase information and coordination of clock neuron oscillation. Broad expression of t-PDF in the circadian control circuit overcomes arrhythmicity induced by pdf 01 null mutation, most likely as a result of activation of PDFR in PDFR-expressing clock neurons that do not themselves secrete PDF. More restricted expression of t-PDF suggests that activation of PDFR accelerates cellular timekeeping in some clock neurons while decelerating others. Conclusions The activation of PDFR in pdf 01 null mutant flies—which lack PDF-mediated intercellular transfer of phase information—induces strong rhythmicity in constant darkness, thus establishing a distinct role for PDF signaling in the circadian control circuit independent of the intercellular communication of temporal phase information. The t-peptide technology should provide a useful tool for cellular dissection of bioactive peptide signaling in a variety of organisms and physiological contexts.
CALLING FOR “ISLAMIC PROTESTANTISM” IN INDONESIA AND BEYOND: Towards Democratic and Pluralistic Islam

This paper discusses the notion of “Islamic Protestantism” as a vehicle to create a face of democratic and pluralistic Islam. Drawing from the works of some prominent Muslim reformists and Western scholars, it addresses in some parts the works of Indonesian scholars. The choice of democracy and pluralism as a main focus in this paper is based on the fact that these two issues, representing the basic ideological doctrines in the ever-increasing globalized world, are not only fundamental doctrines of modern Western political philosophy but also now primary concerns of modern Islamic political thought. Inspired by the Christian Reformation, this piece tries to promote an idea of “Islamic Protestantism” by applying decons­truc­tion and socio-historical approach as methods to understand Islamic discourses, texts, and history.
Terrorism In Dictatorships

A key finding in the terrorism literature is that dictatorships experience less terrorism than democracies. However, we have few explanations for why some dictatorships experience substantial threats from terrorism while others do not. A growing body of work on authoritarian politics focuses on political institutions in these regimes to explain a broad range of political outcomes. Building on this literature, we argue that opposition political party activity increases the collective action capacity of regime opponents and that elected legislatures can channel this mobilized capacity into support for the government. However, when active opposition parties operate in the absence of legislatures, political opponents increasingly turn to terrorism. We find evidence that terrorist groups are most likely to emerge in dictatorships with opposition political parties but no elected legislature. These regimes also experience the highest volume of subsequent attacks.
Presenilins function in ER calcium leak and Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide and is at present, incurable. The accumulation of toxic amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide aggregates in AD brain is thought to trigger the extensive synaptic loss and neurodegeneration linked to cognitive decline, an idea that underlies the 'amyloid hypothesis' of AD etiology in both the familal (FAD) and sporadic forms of the disease. Genetic mutations causing FAD also result in the dysregulation of neuronal calcium (Ca(2+)) handling and may contribute to AD pathogenesis, an idea termed the 'calcium hypothesis' of AD. Mutations in presenilin proteins account for the majority of FAD cases. Presenilins function as catalytic subunits of γ-secretase involved in the generation of Aβ peptide. Recently, we discovered that presenilns function as low-conductance, passive ER Ca(2+) leak channels, independent of γ-secretase activity. We further discovered that many FAD mutations in presenilins results in the loss of ER Ca(2+) leak function activity and Ca(2+) overload in the ER. These results provided potential explanation for abnormal Ca(2+) signaling observed in FAD cells with mutations in presenilns. The implications of these findings for understanding AD pathogenesis are discussed in this article.
RNA synthesis in synchronously growing populations of HeLa S3 cells. II. Rate of synthesis of individual RNA fractions.

The rates of synthesis of various species of RNA were examined in synchronously growing HeLa cells as a function of stage in the cell generation cycle. The synthesis of each RNA species examined occurs throughout interphase, but undergoes a two-fold increase in rate during early S which is dependent on the duplication of DNA; blocking the initiation of DNA synthesis also blocks the acceleration of RNA synthesis. To explain the data, a model is discussed in which the acceleration of RNA synthesis during early S is regulated by the number of active cistrons present; thus, as the genome is duplicated, more template is available for transcription, and the rate of RNA synthesis increases. Some implications of the model, and experimental evidence bearing on them, are also discussed.
Unforced Oscillation of Rip-Current Vortex Cells

AbstractA numerical simulation of a monochromatic surface gravity wave–driven flow over an alongshore quasi-periodic rip-channeled beach using the wave-resolving model Funwave is used to investigate coherent, very low-frequency (VLF) motions with characteristic frequencies f < 4.0 mHz inside of the surf zone generated by wave breaking. These oscillations of the nearshore cellular vorticity pattern occur for shore-normal waves over a wide range of amplitudes of the incident wave field and occur despite the wave forcing being essentially constant. The oscillations occur at the lower end of the VLF spectrum or around fp = 0.55 mHz. For small incident wave amplitudes, an equilibrium state consisting of a staggered counterrotating vortex array generates a net weak alongshore current that is also seen in drifter trajectories observed in the field. Using a simpler pseudospectral vorticity model of a single dipole generated by a smooth, stationary in time forcing function sb, this study shows show that the Strouh...
More pain or less? Comments on Broome

Broome's concern is 'the ethical question' as to whether we should 'follow people's judgements about the episodes when acting on their behalf' (Broome 1996: 116). His intuition is that we should not; if forced to decide between inflicting on a person the shorter or longer of the two painful episodes described above, we should, he feels, inflict the shorter episode involving less pain even if the person in question prefers the longer episode involving more pain. He does not, he admits, have the same intuition about comparable cases involving pleasure; where a person prefers less pleasure to more, Broome says 'I think we would agree that is what she should have' (Broome 1996: 117). But this disparity, he contends, can be explained as follows (ibid.):
Promises and pitfalls of meta-analysis in vaccine research.

Abstract Meta-analysis continues to grow in usage despite increased concern regarding its soundness. Over twenty meta-analyses directly pertain to vaccines. Vaccine researchers need to understand the technique as well as the criticisms. Meta-analysis involves four steps. First, the meta-analyst should establish certain criteria in advance of the second step where the meta-analyst gathers the data—the results of the individual studies. Third, the meta-analyst assesses the individual studies for combinability and, fourth, the meta-analyst actually combines the data to generate conclusions. Vaccine meta-analyses have addressed a variety of vaccines and a variety of study objectives including efficacy, immunogenicity and safety. Three classical concerns revolve around the issue of publication bias, data dredging and individual study variability. Additionally, vaccine meta-analyses suffer concerns particular to the field of vaccine research.
Manganese porphyrin complexes. VII. chloro(α,β,γ,δ, tetraphenylchlorin) manganese (III)

Abstract Chloro(tetraphenylchlorin)manganese(III) has been synthesized and characterized. Visible and infrared spectra of the complex have been measured and band assignments made. The Mn(III) → Mn(II) reduction potential, E 1 2 = −0.15 v (vs SCE), of the complex in dimethylformamide was determined polarographically. The visible spectrum of Mn(II) complex was recorded. Although the properties are consistent with the general model proposed for Mn(III) porphyrins, quantitative differences exist between the chlorin and porphyrin complexes. These can be interpreted to conclude that there is weaker in-plane bonding and stronger axial bonding in the chlorin derivatives.
Quantifying Biofilm Structure: Facts and Fiction

There is no doubt among biofilm researchers that biofilm structure is important to many biofilm processes, such as the transport of nutrients to deeper layers of the biofilm. However, biofilm structure is an elusive term understood only qualitatively, and as such it cannot be directly correlated with any measurable parameters characterizing biofilm performance. To correlate biofilm structure with the parameters characterizing biofilm performance, such as the rate of nutrient transport within the space occupied by the biofilms, biofilm structure must first be quantified and expressed numerically on an appropriate scale. The task of extracting numerical parameters quantifying biofilm structure relies on using biofilm imaging and image analysis. Although defining parameters characterizing biofilm structure is relatively straightforward, and multiple parameters have been described in the computer science literature, interpreting the results of such analyses is not trivial. Existing computer software developed...
Potential use of estrogen-like drugs for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Prior epidemiological studies have shown decreased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease among women who were long-term users of hormone replacement therapy. In vitro studies have shown that estrogens possess antioxidant activity, protect cells from the cytotoxic effect of β-amyloid peptides, and decrease the amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein. Animal studies have shown that estrogens promote neuronal plasticity and lead to decresed levels of cerebral β-amyloid peptide accumulation via decreased amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein. Recently, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effects of estrogen plus progestin treatment in women over 65 years of age found that this treatment was associated with increased incidence of probable dementia. It is not known whether this combination of hormones or the late age at which the therapy was administered was responsible for the adverse outcome.
Fast approximate surface evolution in arbitrary dimension

The level set method is a popular technique used in medical image segmentation; however, the numerics involved make its use cumbersome. This paper proposes an approximate level set scheme that removes much of the computational burden while maintaining accuracy. Abandoning a floating point representation for the signed distance function, we use integral values to represent the signed distance function. For the cases of 2D and 3D, we detail rules governing the evolution and maintenance of these three regions. Arbitrary energies can be implemented in the framework. This scheme has several desirable properties: computations are only performed along the zero level set; the approximate distance function requires only a few simple integer comparisons for maintenance; smoothness regularization involves only a few integer calculations and may be handled apart from the energy itself; the zero level set is represented exactly removing the need for interpolation off the interface; and evolutions proceed on the order of milliseconds per iteration on conventional uniprocessor workstations. To highlight its accuracy, flexibility and speed, we demonstrate the technique on intensity-based segmentations under various statistical metrics. Results for 3D imagery show the technique is fast even for image volumes.
Thematic organization of web content for distraction-free text-to-speech narration

People with visual disabilities, especially those who are blind, have digital content narrated to them by text-to-speech (TTS) engines (e.g., with the help of screen readers). Naively narrating web pages, particularly the ones consisting of several diverse pieces (e.g., news summaries, opinion pieces, taxonomy, ads), with TTS engines without organizing them into thematic segments will make it very difficult for the blind user to mentally separate out and comprehend the essential elements in a segment, and the effort to do so can cause significant cognitive stress. One can alleviate this difficulty by segmenting web pages into thematic pieces and then narrating each of them separately. Extant segmentation methods typically segment web pages using visual and structural cues. The use of such cues without taking into account the semantics of the content, tends to produce "impure" segments containing extraneous material interspersed with the essential elements. In this paper, we describe a new technique for identifying thematic segments by tightly coupling visual, structural, and linguistic features present in the content. A notable aspect of the technique is that it produces segments with very little irrelevant content. Another interesting aspect is that the clutter-free main content of a web page, that is produced by the Readability tool and the "Reader" feature of the Safari browser, emerges as a special case of the thematic segments created by our technique. We provide experimental evidence of the effectiveness of our technique in reducing clutter. We also describe a user study with 23 blind subjects of its impact on web accessibility.
A critique of Vihvelin's Three-fold Classification

In this essay, I argue for the rejection of Vihvelin's ‘Three-fold Classification’ (3-FC), a nonstandard taxonomy of free-will compatibilism, incompatibilism, and impossibilism. Vihvelin is right that the standard taxonomy of these views is inadequate, and that a new taxonomy is needed to clarify the free-will debate. Significantly, Vihvelin notes that the standard formal definition of ‘incompatibilism’ does not capture the historically popular view that deterministic laws pose a threat to free will. Vihvelin's proposed solution is to redefine ‘incompatibilism.’ However, Vihvelin's formal definition of ‘incompatibilism’ is flawed according to her own arguments. In addition, Vihvelin's characterization of ‘compatibilism’ is (at best) incomplete, and at least two important free-will views are missing from her proposed taxonomy. Given the problems with Vihvelin's arguments for 3-FC, her novel view of the dialectic between the major free-will views lacks support.
Clumped isotope thermometry in deeply buried sedimentary carbonates: The effects of bond reordering and recrystallization

We utilize carbonate clumped isotope thermometry to explore the diagenetic and thermal histories of exhumed brachiopods, crinoids, cements, and host rock in the Permian Palmarito Formation, Venezuela, and the Carboniferous Bird Spring Formation, Nevada, USA. Carbonate components in the Palmarito Formation, buried to ∼4 km depth, yield statistically indistinguishable clumped isotope temperatures [ T (Δ47)] ranging from 86 to 122 °C. Clumped isotope temperatures of components in the more deeply buried Bird Spring Formation (>5 km) range from ∼100 to 165 °C and differ by component type, with brachiopods and pore-filling cements yielding the highest T (Δ47) (mean = 153 and 141 °C, respectively) and crinoids and host rock yielding significantly cooler T (Δ47) (mean = 103 and 114 °C). New high-resolution thermal histories are coupled with kinetic models to predict the extent of solid-state C-O bond reordering during burial and exhumation for both sites. Application of these models, termed “THRMs” (thermal history reordering models), suggests that brachiopods in the Palmarito Formation experienced partial bond reordering without complete equilibration of clumped isotopes at maximum burial temperature. In contrast, clumped isotope bonds of brachiopods from the Bird Spring Formation completely equilibrated at maximum burial temperature, and now reflect blocking temperatures achieved during cooling. The 40–50-°C-cooler clumped isotope temperatures measured in Bird Spring Formation crinoids and host rock can be explained by recrystallization and cementation during shallow burial combined with a greater inherent resistance to solid-state reordering than brachiopods.
The method of subspace corrections

Abstract This paper gives an overview for the method of subspace corrections. The method is first motivated by a discussion on the local behavior of high-frequency components in a solution to an elliptic problem. A simple domain decomposition method is discussed as an illustrative example and multigrid methods are discussed in more detail. Brief discussions are also given to some non-linear examples including eigenvalue problems, obstacle problems and liquid crystal modelings. The relationship between the method of subspace correction and the method of alternating projects is observed and discussed.
An economic analysis of robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for endometrial cancer: Costs, charges and reimbursements to hospitals and professionals

Abstract Objective To determine the actual costs, charges, and reimbursements associated with robotic vs. laparoscopic surgery for endometrial cancer. Methods Data were collected from hospital billing records, MD professional group billing records, tumor registry, and medical records on operations performed by a single surgeon from one institution between 2008 and 2010. For comparison, surgical groups were matched based on age, histology, and stage of disease over the same time period. Results Of 54 patients, 27 underwent robotic surgery (RS) and 27 had laparoscopic surgery (LS). The median age was 57years. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups based on age, stage, and histology. The hospital charges for RS were higher at $64,266 vs. $55,130 for LS (p=0.036). However, the reimbursement to the hospital was not statistically different at $13,003 for RS and $10,245 for LS (p=0.29). Operating suite, room and board, anesthesia, post anesthesia care unit, and pathology accounted for over 90% of hospital charges. The surgeon charges for RS and LS were $6824 and $6327, respectively (p=0.033) and the anesthesiologist charges were $4049 and $2985, respectively (p=0.001). However, there were no differences in reimbursement to the surgeon (p=0.74) and anesthesiologist (p=0.84) between the two operative approaches. Conclusions Our data showed that the direct costs and charges associated with robotic surgery were higher compared to laparoscopic surgery. However, actual reimbursements to the hospital, surgeon, and anesthesiologist were not significantly different between the two surgical approaches.
A 53 MHz Randomly Triggered Synchronous Predetermined Scaler for Accelerator Diagnostics

A 53 MHz random triggered recycling, predetermined start-stop scaler is described. The scaler has a range from 2-to-9999 counts, sensitivity of 40 mV rms and provides both NIM and TTL standard logic outputs. The scaler is composed mainly of standard ECL integrated circuits including universal counters, configured in a "synchronous parallel carry" connection, and ordinary logic gates and flip-flops. Special circuitry has been designed to prevent start-up counting errors due to the phase randomness between the applied start triggering and input signal transitions. Following a start trigger, the scaler cycles until disabled, delivering an output pulse each time the predetermined count is reached. The time jitter of the output pulses with respect to the periodic input signal is less than 0.1 ns. High resolution examination of the behavior of individual charge bunches within the accelerator is made possible when the scaler is set to count the machine's harmonic number. If the scaler is set one digit away from the harmonic number, the output pulses advance one bunch for each turn around the machine, allowing a sequential display of the contents of each bucket in the machine.
The experience of professional autonomy among psychotherapists in Korea and the United States

Abstract This study investigates professional autonomy as experienced by psychotherapists in Korea and in the United States using data collected as part of a collaborative international study of the development of psychotherapists (Orlinsky et al. (1999). Psychotherapy Research, 9(2), 127–153; Orlinsky & Ronnestad, (2005). How psychotherapists develop: A study of therapeutic work and professional growth. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association). The major aims are: to compare the extent of professional autonomy experienced by psychotherapists in Korea and by their counterparts in the USA; and to explore the professional and social correlates of the professional autonomy experienced by Korean therapists and compare these with the correlates of autonomy experienced by American therapists. These aims are pursued through analyses of a database of questionnaire responses. Results indicate that Korean therapists, compared to American therapists in our sample experience significantly lower levels of professional autonomy. For Korean therapists, whether they have a salient theoretical orientation in their practice is the single most important influence in their experience of work autonomy. Seniority and work setting are also significant correlates of autonomy for the Korean therapists. Similar to Korean therapists, seniority and having a salient orientation are also important influences on the way American therapists experience professional autonomy. American therapists, who work in independent practice experience higher work autonomy, whereas American social workers tend to experience lower professional autonomy.
Thermodynamic state ensemble models of cis-regulation.

A major goal in computational biology is to develop models that accurately predict a gene's expression from its surrounding regulatory DNA. Here we present one class of such models, thermodynamic state ensemble models. We describe the biochemical derivation of the thermodynamic framework in simple terms, and lay out the mathematical components that comprise each model. These components include (1) the possible states of a promoter, where a state is defined as a particular arrangement of transcription factors bound to a DNA promoter, (2) the binding constants that describe the affinity of the protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions that occur in each state, and (3) whether each state is capable of transcribing. Using these components, we demonstrate how to compute a cis-regulatory function that encodes the probability of a promoter being active. Our intention is to provide enough detail so that readers with little background in thermodynamics can compose their own cis-regulatory functions. To facilitate this goal, we also describe a matrix form of the model that can be easily coded in any programming language. This formalism has great flexibility, which we show by illustrating how phenomena such as competition between transcription factors and cooperativity are readily incorporated into these models. Using this framework, we also demonstrate that Michaelis-like functions, another class of cis-regulatory models, are a subset of the thermodynamic framework with specific assumptions. By recasting Michaelis-like functions as thermodynamic functions, we emphasize the relationship between these models and delineate the specific circumstances representable by each approach. Application of thermodynamic state ensemble models is likely to be an important tool in unraveling the physical basis of combinatorial cis-regulation and in generating formalisms that accurately predict gene expression from DNA sequence.
Perceptions and Framing of Risk, Uncertainty, Loss, and Failure in Entrepreneurship

Research indicates that perceptions of risk and loss affect decision-making. Entrepreneurship presents a context in which risk, failure, and loss frequently frame decisions. This paper presents a review of the entrepreneurship literature that is grounded in Kahneman and Tversky's 1979 article on prospect theory. The theory's contribution to the understanding of how the framing of losses affects decisions offers a useful foundation for considering streams of research in entrepreneurship and small business, given that the prospects for loss and failure are high in these endeavors. This review identifies 79 articles and organizes them into four broad themes: risk-taking perspectives of the entrepreneur and stakeholders, aspirations and reference points, organizational innovation and change, and learning from failure. The review concludes by considering the future research potential in the topics of regret, mental accounting, and an understanding of competitors.
Analysis of open loop higher harmonic control at high airspeeds on a modern four-bladed articulated rotor

The effects of open loop higher harmonic control (HHC) on rotor hub loads, performance, and push rod loads of a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter rotor at high airspeeds (up to 200 knots) and moderate lift (10,000 lbs) were studied analytically. The analysis was performed as part of a wind tunnel pre-test prediction and preparation procedure, as well as to provide analytical results for post-test correlation efforts. The test associated with this study is to be concluded in the 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) at the NASA Ames Research Center. The results from this analytical study show that benefits from HHC can be achieved at high airspeeds. These results clear the way for conducting (with the requirement of safe pushrod loads) an open loop HHC test a high airspeeds in the 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel using an S-76 rotor as the test article.
A big step in the study of small cell lung cancer

A rationally designed, conditional p53 and Rb allele-based and lung-targeted mouse model of human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) provides the cancer research community with a valid and important new tool to use in translational research against this deadly disease.
In catheter ablation of AF, continuing vs interrupting warfarin reduced periprocedural thromboembolic events

Source Citation Di Biase L, Burkhardt JD, Santangeli P, et al. Periprocedural stroke and bleeding complications in patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation with different antico...
Relation of system dimensionality and order parameters.

Orientational order parameters are useful metrics for characterizing the probability distribution for vector-valued quantities such as the dipole moment or optical axis of molecules in materials such as liquid crystals and organic glasses. These parameters are the moments of the underlying orientational probability distribution. Many molecular systems can be characterized using a single centrosymmetric (even) moment. For dipolar systems, an applied electric or magnetic field can break the symmetry of the system, leading to nonzero acentric (odd) moments. For complex systems, it is difficult to characterize the nature of the bulk structures and to quantitatively understand the relationship between acentric and centrosymmetric moments. We have found that it is useful to relate the moments of the distribution in terms of an apparent dimensionality of the ordering process. Here we show that the idea of noninteger dimensionality, originally introduced by Stillinger, provides a useful method to characterize the...
Television in the Multichannel Age: A Brief History of Cable Television

Mullen, M. (2008). Television in the multichannel age: A brief history of cable television. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishing. 238 pages. With the inauguration of the domestic cable-satellite dis...
Document clustering: an optimization problem

Clustering algorithms have been widely used in information retrieval applications. However, it is difficult to define an objective "best" result. This article analyzes some document clustering algorithms and illustrates that they are equivalent to the optimization problem of some global functions. Experiments show their good performance, but there are still counter-examples where they fail to return the optimal solution. We argue that Monte-Carlo algorithms in the global optimization framework have the potential to find better solutions than traditional clustering, and they are able to handle more complex structures.
The Story of Oxygen

The history of oxygen from discovery to clinical application for patients with chronic lung disease represents a long and storied journey. Within a relatively short period, early investigators not only discovered oxygen but also recognized its importance to life and its role in respiration. The application of oxygen to chronic lung disease, however, took several centuries. In the modern era, physiologists pursued the chemical nature of oxygen and its physiologic interaction with cellular metabolism and gas transport. It took brazen clinicians, however, to pursue oxygen as a therapeutic resource for patients with chronic lung disease because of the concern in the 20th century of the risks of oxygen toxicity. Application of ambulatory oxygen devices allowed landmark investigations of the long-term effects of continuous oxygen that established its safety and efficacy. Although now well established for hypoxic patients, many questions remain regarding the benefits of oxygen for varying severity and types of chronic lung disease.
Seasonal and Spatial Patterns in Diurnal Cycles in Streamflow in the Western United States

The diurnal cycle in streamflow constitutes a significant part of the variability in many rivers in the western United States and can be used to understand some of the dominant processes affecting the water balance of a given river basin. Rivers in which water is added diurnally, as in snowmelt, and rivers in which water is removed diurnally, as in evapotranspiration and infiltration, exhibit substantial differences in the timing, relative magnitude, and shape of their diurnal flow variations. Snowmelt-dominated rivers achieve their highest sustained flow and largest diurnal fluctuations during the spring melt season. These fluctuations are characterized by sharp rises and gradual declines in discharge each day. In large snowmelt-dominated basins, at the end of the melt season, the hour of maximum discharge shifts to later in the day as the snow line retreats to higher elevations. Many evapotranspiration/infiltration-dominated rivers in the western states achieve their highest sustained flows during the winter rainy season but exhibit their strongest diurnal cycles during summer months, when discharge is low, and the diurnal fluctuations compose a large percentage of the total flow. In contrast to snowmelt-dominated rivers, the maximum discharge in evapotranspiration/infiltration-dominated rivers occurs consistently in the morning throughout the summer. In these rivers, diurnal changes are characterized by a gradual rise and sharp decline each day.
New Approaches to the Study of Childhood Language Disorders

Not long ago, poor language skills did not necessarily interfere with the quality of a person's life. Many occupations did not require sophisticated language or literacy. Interactions with other people could reasonably be restricted to family members and a few social or business contacts. But in the 21st century, advances in technology and burgeoning population centers have made it necessary for children to acquire high levels of proficiency with at least one language, in both spoken and written form. This situation increases the urgency for us to develop better theoretical accounts of the problems underlying disorders of language, including dyslexia. Empirical investigations of language-learning deficits largely focus on phonological representations and often ask to what extent labeling responses are "categorical." This article describes the history of this approach and presents some relevant findings regarding the perceptual organization of speech signals-findings that should prompt us to expand our investigations of language disorders.
A software radio-based UHF RFID reader for PHY/MAC experimentation

We present the design and evaluation of a flexible UHF RFID reader that enables new PHY/MAC designs to be prototyped and evaluated. Our reader is built using the USRP software radio platform in conjunction with software we developed in the open-source GNU Radio framework. We believe it is the first inexpensive tool that readily enables changes to the physical and MAC layer of RFID systems. We evaluate our reader and show that it can inventory commercial tags out to 6 meters, which approximates the range of a commercial reader with comparable transmit power. We then show two applications of our reader. The first evaluates the real-world performance of the EPC frame selection algorithm and finds that it performs better than expected. Second, using the Intel WISP programmable RFID tag, we implement and evaluate an extension to the Gen 2 standard that results in up to a five-fold increase in sample rate for streamed sensor data.
Severe Complications in an Infant Due to Sickle-cell Trait

Intravascular sickling with secondary damaging complica tions can take place in children heterozygous for sickle-cell anemia when dehydrated, acidotic and ill with an infection.
Polyimide as an acoustic absorber for high frequency SAW applications

A novel method is described for damping unwanted acoustic energy in high-frequency SAW (surface acoustic wave) devices through the use of a polyimide layer which is patternable with high resolution on the surface of the device. The polyimide layer maintains its absorptive acoustic properties after a high-temperature bakeout at 300 degrees C and exhibits excellent reliability. The application process and process tolerances are described. Experimental results for the acoustic attenuation factor are presented as a function of SAW frequency. The attenuation of 3.0-3.5- mu m-thick polyimide films for SAWs on LiNbO/sub 2/ was measured to be in the range of 10-20 dB/100 mu m at frequencies in the range of 300 MHz to 500 MHz. >
Global memory net: new collaboration, new activities and new potentials

In technological terms, it has been a long time since my PROJECT EMPEROR-I – a multimedia interactive videodisc project on the First Emperor of China's famous terracotta warriors and horses in 1984. At that time, PROJECT EMPEROR-I demonstrated that multimedia technology could change the way we seek, demand, and use information. Two decade later, fueled by enormous progress in science and technology, we have come a very long way from the use of interactive multimedia technology in the workstation environment to the global networked environment. We have moved from the use of hardcopy and analog resources to digital content, which users can search, retrieve and use instantly to meet their needs over the global network with no national boundaries. We have also moved from the offering of multimedia content of one specific subject topic to the digital content of all media formats on all related subject topics to the world instantly. We are truly living in a new period of unprecedented opportunities and challenges [1]! So, in this digital era, we have witnessed the exciting convergence of content, technology, and global collaboration in the development of digital libraries [2] with great potential for providing universal information access.
The presence of a separate COO/president and its impact on strategic change and CEO dismissal

This study focuses on the leadership structure at the very top of a firm. Specifically, it examines how the presence of a COO/president, who is separate from the CEO, affects strategic change and CEO dismissal. With longitudinal data on the tenures of 207 CEOs, results suggest that the presence of a separate COO/president increases the magnitude of strategic change under conditions of low firm performance but it decreases the magnitude of strategic change under conditions of high firm performance. In addition, the presence of a separate COO/president increases the likelihood of CEO dismissal under conditions of low firm performance, and this effect is stronger when the magnitude of strategic change is high; but it has no impact on the likelihood of CEO dismissal under conditions of high firm performance. These results suggest that the impact of the presence of a separate COO/president on strategic change and CEO dismissal varies across different organizational contexts. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rag-1-dependent cells are necessary for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 prevention of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease involving genetic and environmental risk factors. Geographic, genetic, and biological evidence suggests that one environmental risk factor may be lack of vitamin D. Here, we investigated how 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) inhibits experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an MS model. The experiments used adoptive transfer of TCR-transgenic (TCR1) cells specific for myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide into unprimed recipients. When unprimed TCR1 splenocytes were transferred, and the recipients were immunized with peptide, the mock-treated mice developed EAE, but the 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated recipients remained disease-free. Both groups had TCR1 T cells that proliferated in response to MBP Ac1–11 and produced IFN-γ but not IL-4 in the lymph node. In the central nervous system (CNS), the mock-treated mice had activated TCR1 T cells that produced IFN-γ but not IL-4, while the 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated mice had TCR1 T cells with a non-activated phenotype that did not produce IFN-γ or IL-4. When activated TCR1 T cells producing IFN-γ were transferred into unprimed mice, the mock-treated and the 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated recipients developed EAE. Likewise, the 1,25-(OH)2D3 did not inhibit Th1 cell IFN-γ production or promote Th2 cell genesis or IL-4 production in vitro. Finally, the 1,25-(OH)2D3 inhibited EAE in MBP-specific TCR-transgenic mice that were Rag-1+, but not in animals that were Rag-1-null. Together, these data refute the hypothesis that the hormone inhibits Th1 cell genesis or function directly or through an action on antigen-presenting cells, or promotes Th2 cell genesis or function. Instead, the evidence supports a model wherein the 1,25-(OH)2D3 acts through a Rag-1-dependent cell to limit the occurrence of activated, autoreactive T cells in the CNS.
Isn't it time to abandon cine film?

Cine has served our needs well since the early 1950s. For the first time, it allowed recording of motion studies of the cardiac structures on film. The cine technique has been standardized over the years, both the camera and the display. Cine filming techniques, however, have not advanced, except for new film products with faster emulsions and better-quality films. Video electronic imaging has made rapid advancements. These were prompted by the broadcast industry when the requirements for color were developed in the 1960s and by the advent of new recording techniques that provided a very stable video time base from analog tape recorders. The medical field has been able to capitalize on these developments and to produce some of our own that have not been applied in the broadcast world. These include pulsed progressive 525-line video acquisition of cardiac images in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We also have been able to capitalize on the improved detector technology that the broadcast world has developed, such as the plumbicon pickup tubes, which produce images with very little lag and so provide images with improved resolution. These developments also have enabled us to reduce radiation to both the patient and the laboratory personnel,more » especially with implementation of the pulsed progressive acquisition, with which the dose has been reduced 50%. With the advent of interventional procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, the need to assess images immediately cannot be fulfilled by cine filming because of the requirement for the processing of the film with its inherent delays. Quantification of cardiac structures is required to assess the outcome of interventional techniques.« less
Patterns of Multimodal Input Usage in Non-Visual Information Navigation

Multimodal input is known to be advantageous for graphical user interfaces, but its benefits for non-visual interaction are unknown. To explore this issue, an exploratory study was conducted with fourteen sighted subjects on a system that allows speech input and hand input on a touchpad. Findings include: (1) Users chose between these two input modalities based on the types of operations undertaken. Navigation operations were done primarily with touchpad input, while non-navigation instructions were carried out primarily using speech input. (2) Multimodal error correction was not prevalent. Repeating a failed operation until it succeeded and trying other methods in the same input modality were dominant error-correction strategies. (3) The modality learned first was not necessarily the primary modality used later, but a training order effect existed. These empirical results provide guidelines for designing non-visual multimodal input and create a comparison baseline for a subsequent study with blind users.
Improved approximation for transformation diagnostics

The suitability of a normal linear regression model may require transformation of the original response, and transformation diagnostics are designed to detect the need for such transformation. A common approach to transformation diagnostics is to construct an artificial explanatory variable, which is then tested in the augmented linear regression model for the original response. This paper describes corresponding diagnostics based directly on score statistics with accurate approximations for their standard errors. Several transformation models are covered. Some numerical illustrations are given.
Regeneration of activated carbon. Part I: Thermal decomposition of adsorbed sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate

Equilibrium adsorption isotherms and rates of thermal decomposition were measured for sodium dodecyl-benzene sulfonate (DBS) adsorbed on powdered activation carbon. The rate data were obtained in a thermal gravimetric apparatus operated both at constant temperature (522 to 666 K) and with a constant rate of temperature increase from 298 to 1023 K. About 50% of the adsorbed material could be removed at temperatures up to 748 K and only a small amount of the remaining 50% could be eliminated by further heating to 1,023 K. The residual adsorbate at 1,023 K was considerably greater than could be accounted for by inorganic materials such as Na2SO4. The kinetics of the decomposition up to 748 K could be explained by a two-reaction sequence, either parallel or consecutive reactions. Rates of decomposition were slower than found in earlier studies (Chihara et al., 1981) with adsorbed sucrose, and the kinetic steps were different. With sucrose, considerable decomposition occurred between 298 and 428 K. While with DBS, no decomposition was observed in this temperature range. Above 400 K, it was possible to explain the kinetics of decomposition in the case of sucrose by a single step forming residual carbon and volatile products, while with DBS, a two-reaction sequence was required.
Using community-based projects in software engineering education

Over the past six years, Seattle University's Master of Software Engineering program has adopted a common community-based software engineering project as the basis for class projects in a sequence of required and elective courses. These related projects offer a unifying experience for students in the program, allow in-depth treatment of course topics on a real software project, address needs of local non-profit organizations, and better prepare the students for their professional careers through civic engagement and leadership.