cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A computerized infrared monitor for following movement in aquatic animals

Reliable monitoring of the movement of small aquatic animals presents some unique problems. In the case of the larval salamander, the animal may be less than an inch long and move in sporadic short bursts. A device is described that utilizes infrared emitters and wide-band sensors inter-faced to a computer for monitoring location and movement of animals between light and dark environments over extended periods of time. The system employs a multiplexed digital input, is inexpensive, and can be easily expanded to deal with a range of monitoring problems that may occur with a wide range of both aquatic and terrestrial species.
Cross-border mergers and acquisitions by emerging market firms: A comparative investigation ☆

Abstract This paper applies and extends resource dependence theory (RDT) to comparatively investigate major factors that determine the level of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) by emerging market firms (EMFs) in developed and developing markets. We argue that the resource dependence logic of M&As (or simply the M&A logic) provides a unique perspective in better understanding the internationalization of EMFs via cross-border M&As, but the explanation is bounded by institutional environment (i.e., government effectiveness) in a host nation. Our empirical results, based on a large panel data analysis of cross-border M&As by EMFs from nine emerging economies from 2000 to 2012, suggest that the intensity of EMFs to acquire vital resources for constraint absorption increases the likelihood of their cross-border M&As and the positive relationship is negatively moderated by host government effectiveness. On top of that, consistent with the predictions of resource dependence arguments, we found differences in the determinants of cross-border M&As by EMFs in developed and developing countries. Finally, host country factors attracting Chinese M&As are different from those attracting other emerging economies. Thus, generalization of Chinese M&A deals to other EMFs need to be cautious.
US Army's new handheld standoff mine detection system (HSTAMIDS)

The US Army launched a new program, called HSTAMIDS, to develop a handheld standoff mine detection capability for the dismounted soldier. This system will be comprised of active and passive sensor technology. Sensor integration will be accomplished using a high speed digital parallel processor; providing near real-time mine cueing and mine location data transmission to the operator's audio and visual display. The envisioned system will allow "plug-and-play" operation, permitting use in a variety of environmental conditions and operational scenarios. The HSTAMIDS program is the next developmental phase of the US Army's Close-In Man Portable Mine Detector (CIMMD) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) Program. During extensive field testing conducted by the US Army's Test and Evaluation Command (TECOM) in 1995, CIMMD technologies were evaluated against real metallic and nonmetallic anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. Results of the field tests showed that the CIMMD technologies met user requirements for continued development.
Broadband light absorber based on one-dimensional gratings in semiconductor films

We design and fabricate a light absorber based on one-dimensional gratings in amorphous Si. We obtain high theoretical and experimental absorption in unpolarized light over wide wavelength and angular ranges.
Laboratory Tests for the Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infections

Abstract Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated infectious diarrhea. For various reasons, the prevalence of C. difficile infection (CDI) has increased substantially in the last decade, and the clinical presentation and epidemiology of the disease appears to have changed. Combined, these factors have made the diagnosis of CDI a challenge for clinicians and microbiologists alike. In recent years, nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAATs) have become commercially available, and many laboratories have abandoned the traditional methods of enzyme immunoassay or culture for the diagnosis of C. difficile infections in favor of these newer methods. This review addresses the advantages and limitations of both the old and new techniques.
Macro‐ and micronutrient‐release characteristics of three polymer‐coated fertilizers: Theory and measurements

In spite of several published studies we have an incomplete understanding of the ion-release mechanisms and characteristics of polymer-coated fertilizers (PCF). Here we extend current conceptual models describing release mechanisms and describe the critical effects of substrate moisture and temperature on macro- and micronutrient release of three PCF types: Polyon ® , Nutricote ® , and Osmocote ® . Nutrient release was quantified at weekly intervals for up to 300 d from 5°C to 40°C in water and chemically inert sand, substrates that allowed release quantification without confounding effects of ion sorption/desorption. At least two release-timeframe formulations of each PCF type were studied and all products had similar nutrient concentrations to allow isolation of the effect of coating technology. Contrary to several studies, our data and model indicate that there is no significant difference in nutrient-release rates in water and a moist, solid substrate. This means that release rates determined in water can be used to model bio-available nutrient concentrations in moist soil or soilless media where sorption/desorption properties alter concentrations after release. Across all PCF, the nutrients most affected by temperature were typically N, K, B, Cu, and Zn, while the least affected were P, Mg, and Fe. We also found consistent differences among the coating technologies. Osmocote fertilizers released faster than specified at both high and low temperatures. Nutricote had relatively steady release rates over time and a nonlinear response to temperature. Polyon released more slowly than specified but replicate samples were highly uniform.
Electro-adhesive forceps for tissue manipulation

Capturing, separation and removal of thin, evasive, and often transparent membranes attached to the underlying tissue is typically a very difficult task in vitreoretinal surgery. The most challenging part of such procedures is in initial separation of the membrane, which then allows for a strong grip of the micro-tweezers holding it from two sides. Attempts of performing this procedure often lead to piercing and otherwise damaging the underlying tissue. Accordingly, there is a need for devices that could attach to tissue in a minimally-traumatic manner approaching it from only one side. It is desirable that such a device would attach to a tissue on a push of a button and release it on demand. We developed a technique that allows for strong attachment of an electrode to tissue with a single electrical pulse, and disconnection of it from the tissue with a different pulse. Adhesion does not require any electrical support after the pulse, and the adhesive forces generated on a wire electrode of 50 micrometer in diameter are sufficient for manipulation of all types of cellular and non-cellular intraocular tissues. To reduce electroporation-related tissue damage the bipolar train of pulses is applied with burst duration 50-200 microsecond. At optimal pulse parameters the tissue damage is limited to a single layer of cells adjacent to the surface of electrode. Electrically-induced adhesion is very convenient for lifting and manipulation of vitreoretinal membranes. It can also be used for attachment of a needle to a membrane and injection of liquid into the sub-membrane space, thus separating the membrane from the underlying tissue without peeling. Similarly, injection of medication into small retinal blood vessels can be performed without insertion of the needle inside the blood vessels.
Buckling Mode Localization in Restrained Columns Under Cyclic Loading

The buckling mode localization of a multiply supported column subjected to fully reversed, displacement-controlled cyclic loading is studied numerically. The results show that localization can take place and lead to limit loads similar to those reported in other structural members in the literature. Analysis of the results reveals the mechanisms by which localization takes place.
NGO collaborations: sharing and pooling projects

Humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly facing challenges due to the growing number of actors in the humanitarian relief sector as well as the high incidence of natural disasters. A prominent means of mitigating these challenges is through the mediation of inter-organizational structures such as collaboration bodies, which attempt to find mechanisms to coordinate information technology and information management (IT/IM). The intent of this paper is to understand the coordination mechanisms undertaken by collaboration bodies focused on IT/IM. The two prominent forms of initiatives used by collaboration bodies to achieve these ends are sharing and pooling projects. Sharing projects are those projects which seek resources from members within the collaboration body. Conversely, pooling projects look to procure resources from outside the confines of the collaboration body. This study utilizes a comparative case study approach to generate a set of propositions regarding the characteristics and implications of technological infrastructure based collaborations.
A Gestural Representation of the Process of Composing Chinese Temples

Concentrating on the process of design rather than on just the final design artifact, this research illustrates a computing-based design environment that can represent the process of composing Chinese temple facades. Temple compositions are constructed by generating tessellated vocabulary elements, relating vocabulary elements in a topological mosaic, and integrating the mosaic into temple facades. Assuming this compositional machinery, this article examines the design environment, which includes presentation of the machinery to the designer, techniques by which a designer interacts with the machinery, and methods to depict the process of interaction and render process as an aesthetic experience. A gestural language provides the means to interact with the machinery as well as to create the marks that record the process of interaction. The gestural language furnishes the designer with mechanisms for experiencing and representing the compositional process, realizing and reflecting upon process, and sharing process with other members of a design studio, it enables compositional process to be represented in temporal framework that reflects the designer's sense of presence. invoking gestures to comopose temple elements, engaging in gestural conversations to explore the compositional process, representing scenes of temple compositions, and eventually forming a basis for the preservation of design craft.
Non-equilibrium structure factor for the disordering of adsorbed monolayers

Abstract We consider the non-equilibrium, time-dependent elastic-scattering structure factor S(q,t), for the disordering of an ordered overlayer, initially in equilibrium at temperature TI and characterized by the structure factor S(q,0)=x(q,TI, upon a sudden increase in temperature TI→TF at constant coverage, such that the adsorbates equilibrate at TF in a disordered phase. The initial decay of a peak in x(q,TI) proceeds exponentially in time, exp (− t τ q ) , where τq is a wavevector-dependent lifetime, before it crosses over to a power-law, t−1 decay. When x(q,TI) is peaked at the boundaries of the Brillouin zone (BZ), the peak approximately maintains its shape in q-space as it decays exponentially. Except near the center of the BZ, after the peak has decayed sufficiently, the dependence of S(q,t) on q is as though the spins quasi-equilibrate to the equilibrium structure factor associated with TF, x(q,TF), in that the ratio S(q,t) x(q,T F ) is independent of q, is dependent on time, approaching unity as t−1 for large t. For systems exhibiting an initial peak for q ≈ 0, the peak decays exponentially but does not preserve its shape, since τq strongly depends on q, diverging as q−2 for q→0. For these systems too, away from the center of the BZ, S (q,t) x(q,T F ) rapidly evolves to a slowly decaying function of t t w , independent of q. In this case, however, the characteristic time scale, tw, is anomalously long, proportional to ξ2, where ξ is the correlation length associated with the initial state. This behavior of tw can be related to the random walk of domain boundaries.
Femtosecond and nanosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of trinitrotoluene

Femtosecond and nanosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were used to study trinitrotoluene (TNT) deposited on aluminum substrates. Over the detection wavelength range of 200–785 nm, we have observed emission from CN and C2 molecules as the marker for the explosive with femtosecond LIBS. In contrast, the signal for nanosecond LIBS of TNT is dominated by emission from the elemental constituents of the explosive. Aluminum emission lines from the substrate are also observed with both femtosecond and nanosecond excitation and indicate the role played by the substrate in the interaction.
The Arctic skua Stercorarius parasiticus L. in northwest Hornsund, Spitsbergen, summer of 1980

The Arctic Skua stercorarius parasiticus was observed on the northwestern coast of Hornsund from 8 July to 2 September 1980, on the coastal tundra from Worcesterpynten to the mouth of the Bratteg river, and on the south bank of the river to its outRow from the Myrktjenna lake. A coastal belt with about 15. 1 km of shoreline and about 5.74 km2 of tpndra was covered. The density of breeding pairs, clutch and egg size, hatching success. distribution. and seasonal variability of abundance of birds were noted.
The Bridle Procedure

The "bridle" procedure is a modification of the transfer of the tibialis posterior to the dorsum of the foot for the treatment of a supple equinus or equinovarus deformity of the ankle and hindfoot. I...
The 13C NMR conformational analysis of 9,10-dihydroanthracene monoanions

Abstract The 13C NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants for the parent and t -butyl 9,10-dihydroanthraceneyl lithiums indicate sp2 hybridization and flattened geometries.
Interactions between active defects in glasses at low temperatures

This manuscript describes recent evidence suggesting that interactions between low-lying defects, TLS, in amorphous solids at low temperatures produce a hole in the distribution of TLS at zero local field which modifies the AC dielectric constant and sound velocity. These interactions are also believed responsible for the anomalous temperature dependence seen in dielectric and acoustic losses in the low temperature limit.
Cartoons varying in low-level pain ratings, not aggression ratings, correlate positively with funniness ratings

In three studies, cartoons were rated for aggression, pain, and funniness in order to determine whether aggression, pain, or both correlated with funniness and whether a positive or inverted-U function described the relationship. Pain correlated more reliably with funniness than did aggression. A probable explanation for this is that cartoons showed greater variability in pain than in aggression ratings, since pain could be self-inflicted or could result from a mishap or from another's aggression. Funniness increased to asymptote within the first third of the pain dimension and was unaffected by further pain increases. No significant downward trend in funniness was observed with increased pain ratings. The results were interpreted by assuming that cartoon violence is a salient dimension, in which to create discrepancies, and that the discrepancies were reflected in the pain ratings.
MEMOCODE 2011 Hardware/Software CoDesign Contest: NoC simulator

The objective of the 2011 MEMOCODE Hardware Software CoDesign Contest was to improve the performance of a configurable Network-on-Chip (NoC) simulator. A C++ reference simulator was provided, whose output was defined to be correct. The simulator takes two inputs: (i) a specification of the NoC to be simulated (the target) and (ii) a traffic pattern that specifies the traffic to be simulated on that NoC. The simulator was designed to support virtually any NoC topology. Results were judged firstly on correctness (that the number of cycles is accurately modeled) and secondly on simulation speed (the amount of time it takes to complete the entire simulation.)
The effect of ultrathin selenium overcoat on the stability of tellurium-based optical recording media☆

Abstract An ultrathin selenium overcoat about 20–40 A thick was found to be quite effective in retarding both the uniform and the localized degradation rate of tellurium-based optical recording media in room ambient and high humidity and temperature accelerated testing environments. Results from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of selenium-overcoated tellurium films and TeSe alloy films suggested the formation of a high selenium concentration TeSe alloy for the selenium-overcoated film. The effect of the selenium overcoat is interpreted in terms of the presence of this TeSe alloy which is capable of retarding both the oxidation and weight loss degradation mechanisms reported previously for thin tellurium films. This interpretation is consistent with the results from the electrochemical studies made on these films in that the open-circuit potential of the selenium-overcoated films corresponds to those for TeSe alloy films having about 90% Se.
Autonomic nervous tone and regulation of heart rate in the goldfish, Carassius auratus

Abstract 1. Heart rate regulation in resting and exercising goldfish was investigated by pharmacological blockade of cardiac autonomic fibers in unrestrained goldfish. 2. In resting fish, atropine (1 mg/kg) elicits rapid rate increases averaging 110%; subsequent injection of propranolol (1 mg/kg), but not phentolamine (2 mg/kg), reduces heart rate. 3. Propranolol decreases heart rate and blocks the full atropine-induced increase, while phentolamine does not. 4. Calculated sympathetic tone (as % intrinsic heart rate) was 22% at 20–25°C; parasympathetic tone was 66%. 5. Enforced swimming (1.5 BL/sec) induces rapid cardioacceleration, which is abolished by propranolol. 6. Fluorescence histochemistry reveals adrenergic innervation of the muscular walls of all heart chambers. 7. An active role for the sympathetic nervous system in cardiovascular adjustments for exercise is suggested.
Integrated Brownian motions and exact L2-small balls

We will introduce a class of m-times integrated Brownian motions. The exact asymptotic expansions for the L2-small ball probabilities will be discussed for members of this class, of which the usual m-times integrated Brownian motion is an example. Another example will be what we call an Euler-integrated Brownian motion. We will also find very sharp estimates for the asymptotics of the eigenvalues of the covariance operator of integrated Brownian motions and will, therefore, obtain exact, not just logarithmic, asymptotics.
Environmental Impact of Lethal Yellowing Disease of Coconut Palms

Lethal Yellowing disease has been devastating Coconut, and presumably 14 other species of palms (including Palmyra and Date Palms), in mainland Florida since 1971. The urban environment has changed rapidly with the death of palm trees along streets, parks, and beaches. The disease is now present around the Caribbean Sea and presumably in West Africa.Widespread injections of oxytetracycline into both diseased and healthy palms are now being carried out in Florida in an effort to control the disease temporarily. The vector has not yet been identified. ‘Malayan Dwarf’ variety and the newly developed ‘Maypan’ hybrid are resistant to the disease and are being used to replace more susceptible varieties.The potential for environmental and economic disaster from the introduction of the disease to unaffected tropical countries, and the need for controlling its spread, are emphasized.
Women's Studies: A Study of Feminist Identity Development in Women

The present study investigated the effects of women's studies courses on women students' feminist identity development as defined by Downing and Roush (1984). In Study 1, the authors operationalized the five stages of the Downing and Roush model. Factor and reliability analyses performed in both Study 1 and Study 2 yielded a 39-item, self-descriptive, closed-ended feminist identity development scale (FIDS). In Study 2, the FIDS was administered at the beginning and end of the semester to 184 students in introductory women's studies courses and 39 controls. MANOVA and qualitative data from an open-ended questionnaire and semistructured interviews revealed that the women's studies students did experience development in terms of the model's stages, while the controls did not. In addition to suggesting a novel approach to evaluating women's studies courses, the results provided preliminary validity for the FIDS and the model on which it was based.
Spice, pot, and stroke

The endocannabinoid system includes 2 types of G-protein coupled receptors: CB1 (mostly in the brain) and CB2 (in peripheral lymphoid tissue). The major cannabinoid ligands are arachidonylethanolamine ("anandamide," the Sanskrit word for bliss) and 2-arachidonylglycerol ("2AG"). It is by binding to CB1 receptors that δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana ("pot"), produces its intended subjective effects.
Normal myelin composition and phospholipid synthesis in adrenalectomized rats with reduced brain myelin and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity.

: The composition of CNS myelin was investigated in rats adrenalectomized at day 14 and killed 7 days later, previously shown to result in a 25% reduction in the amount of bulk-isolated myelin and a 40% decrease in brain glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. The proportions of the major myelin proteins, as well as the specific activity of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase, were the same in the myelin from both adrenalectomized and control animals. The amount of total phospholipid and the proportions of individual phospholipids were also normal in myelin from the adrenalectomized animals. The amount of nonmyelin phospholipid in whole brain was unchanged by adrenalectomy. Labeling studies carried out 4 days after adrenalectomy of 14-day-old animals showed no change in the synthesis rates of the major myelin phospholipids as compared with the synthesis rate of nonmyelin phospholipids. Furthermore, incorporation of [1,(3)-14C]glycerol into the glycerol moiety of ethanolamine plasmalogen, which requires glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was also normal, showing that the reduced oligodendroglial glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity following adrenalectomy was not rate-limiting for myelin phospholipid synthesis.
Cerebrovascular Ischemic Events With High Positive Anticardiolipin Antibodies

Background and Purpose—The aim of our study was to characterize the patient profile and prognostic value associated with high positive IgG (>100 GPL) anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). Methods—We studied the clinical, laboratory, radiological, and prospective historical features of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in patients with >100 GPL titers. From our neurology department, 27 consecutive patients were prospectively identified and followed up (mean follow-up time, 34 months). Results—The mean age of our cohort was 41 years. Lupuslike illness occurred in 3; 23 had primary antiphospholipid syndrome, including 3 who met criteria for Sneddon’s syndrome; 1 patient had progressive systemic sclerosis. Cerebral infarcts occurred in 74% and were recurrent in 37%. Systemic ischemic events, most commonly deep vein thrombosis, occurred in 37%. Tobacco use was documented in 85%, hyperlipidemia in 74%, hypertension in 44%, and diabetes mellitus in 7% of patients. A prominent headache history was present in 67%. Lupu...
Correlated Label Propagation with Application to Multi-label Learning

Many computer vision applications, such as scene analysis and medical image interpretation, are ill-suited for traditional classification where each image can only be associated with a single class. This has stimulated recent work in multi-label learning where a given image can be tagged with multiple class labels. A serious problem with existing approaches is that they are unable to exploit correlations between class labels. This paper presents a novel framework for multi-label learning termed Correlated Label Propagation (CLP) that explicitly models interactions between labels in an efficient manner. As in standard label propagation, labels attached to training data points are propagated to test data points; however, unlike standard algorithms that treat each label independently, CLP simultaneously co-propagates multiple labels. Existing work eschews such an approach since naive algorithms for label co-propagation are intractable. We present an algorithm based on properties of submodular functions that efficiently finds an optimal solution. Our experiments demonstrate that CLP leads to significant gains in precision/recall against standard techniques on two real-world computer vision tasks involving several hundred labels.
(R)Evolutionary Therapy: The Potential of Immunotherapy to Fulfill the Promise of Personalized Cancer Treatment

Since the millennium, personalized medicine has been at the forefront of therapeutic endeavors in medical oncology. The latest technology has given researchers the ability to define cancer at its molecular core. This has led to the development of "targeted therapies," designed to eliminate driver mutations while leaving healthy cells unscathed. Unfortunately, more than 10 years into the targeted molecular therapy era, successes have been infrequent, and toxicity remains largely unchanged compared with relatively indiscriminant, traditional chemotherapy. Emerging data suggests that the malignant clonal heterogeneity within solid tumors is so diverse that targeting one or even several mutations is likely to have minimal, transient impact. In recent years, new therapies have emerged that can effectively stimulate the immune system and improve survival in patients with metastatic disease. Through immune activation, there is the potential to target the cancer with a biologic diversity that can potentially rival the multiplicity of malignant mutations within tumors. Stimulating the immune system to become an evolving adversary against malignant cells may revolutionize cancer therapy in the years to come.
Maturation and long-term hypoxia-induced acclimatization responses in PKC-mediated signaling pathways in ovine cerebral arterial contractility

In the developing fetus, cerebral arteries (CA) show striking differences in signal transduction mechanisms compared with the adult, and these differences are magnified in response to high-altitude...
A new genus of the family Sejidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) based on Sejus krantzi and S. manualkrantzi Hirschmann, 1991

Sejus manualkrantzi (Acari: Mesostigmata: Sejidae) is synonymized with S. krantzi and is assigned to a new genus, Adenosejus.
Development of the implantable transvenous cardioverter

The development of the transvenous cardioverter, from the initial animal studies, to the clinical studies using temporary leads, to the initial permanent implants is described. Shocks ≤2.0 joules synchronized to the QRS complex and delivered through a specially designed catheter electrode placed in the apex of the right ventricle successfully terminate most episodes of ventricular tachycardia in patients. The implanted unit which also serves as a demand ventricular pacemaker, can be used to perform programmed electrophysiologic studies. Future devices must be capable of defibrillation and more accurate arrhythmia detection.
Anxiety is a better predictor of platelet reactivity in coronary artery disease patients than depression

Aims Depression and anxiety are linked to coronary events but the mechanism(s) remains unclear. We investigated the associations of depression and anxiety with serotonin-mediated platelet hyperactivity in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients in a cross-sectional study. Methods and results Three months after an acute coronary event, stable CAD patients ( n = 83) on aspirin and clopidogrel were evaluated for depression (beck depression inventory) and anxiety (hospital anxiety and depression scale), and their platelet reactivity was measured (optical aggregometry and flow cytometric fibrinogen binding in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP = 5 µM) and two serotonin + epinephrine doses [5HT:E (L) = 4 µM + 4 µM and 5HT:E (H) = 10 µM + 4 µM]. Platelet reactivity was significantly higher in depressed and anxious than in depressed only or non-depressed-and-non-anxious patients. Aggregation (mean ± SE) was 41.9 ± 2.6% vs. 32.2 ± 2.6% vs. 30.4 ± 3.7% with 5HT:E (L) and 46.9 ± 2.7% vs. 35.6 ± 2.7% vs. 31.7 ± 3.8% with 5HT:E (H) ( P < 0.05 for both). Differences in ADP aggregations were not significant, perhaps because of clopidogrel therapy. Flow cytometry findings were similar. In a multivariate linear regression model adjusted for age, body mass index, and each other, anxiety symptoms independently predicted all 5HT:E-mediated platelet reactivity measures, whereas depression predicted none. Conclusion Anxiety is associated with elevated serotonin-mediated platelet reactivity in stable CAD patients and symptoms of anxiety show strong, independent correlations with platelet function.
Using speech to identify gesture pen strokes in collaborative, multimodal device descriptions

One challenge in building collaborative design tools that use speech and sketch input is distinguishing gesture pen strokes from those representing device structure, that is, object strokes. In previous work, we developed a gesture/object classifier that uses features computed from the pen strokes and the speech aligned with them. Experiments indicated that the speech features were the most important for distinguishing gestures, thus indicating the critical importance of the speech–sketch alignment. Consequently, we have developed a new alignment technique that employs a two-step process: the speech is first explicitly segmented (primarily into clauses), then the segments are aligned with the pen strokes. Our speech segmentation step is unique in that it uses sketch features for locating segment boundaries in multimodal dialog. In addition, it uses a single classifier to directly combine word-based, prosodic (pause), and sketch-based features. In the second step, segments are initially aligned with strokes based on temporal correlation, and then classifiers are used to detect and correct two common alignment errors. Our two-step technique has proven to be substantially more accurate at alignment than the existing technique that lacked explicit segmentation. It is more important that, for nearly all cases, our new technique results in greater gesture classification accuracy than the existing technique, and performed nearly as well as the benchmark manual speech–sketch alignment.
Transform relationship between Kerr-effect optical phase shift and nonuniform electric field distributions

Electric field distributions measured using the Kerr effect cause a phase shift between light components polarized parallel and perpendicular to the electric field, proportional to the magnitude squared of the electric field components in the plane perpendicular to light propagation integrated over the light path length. One wishes to recover the electric field distribution from measurements of light phase shifts. For axisymmetric geometries where the electric field depends only on the radial coordinate and whose direction is constant along the light path, as is the case along a planar electrode, the total phase shift for light propagating at a constant distance from the center of symmetry and the electric field distribution are related by an Abel transform pair, a special case of Radon transforms typically used in image reconstructions with medical tomography and holography. The more general Radon transform relates the optical phase shift to non-axisymmetric electric field distributions but is restricted to cases where the applied electric field is perpendicular to the plane of light propagation. If the applied electric field direction changes along the light path, it becomes necessary to account for the change in direction of the light components parallel and perpendicular to the applied electric field and the light polarization equations are generalized. >
Dephosphorylation of the Thylakoid Membrane Light-Harvesting Complex-II by a Stromal Protein Phosphatase

Light-harvesting complex-II (LHC-II) phosphatase activity has generally been examined in the intact thylakoid membrane. A recent report of peptide-phosphatase activity associated with the chloroplast stromal fraction (Hammer, M.F. et al. (1995) Photosynth Res 44: 107–115) has led to the question of whether this activity is capable of dephosphorylating membrane-bound LHC-II. To this end, heat-treated thylakoid membranes were examined as a potential LHC-II phosphatase substrate. Following incubation of the thylakoid membrane at 60°C for 15 min, the endogenous protein phosphatase and kinase activities were almost eliminated. Heat-inactivated phosphomembranes exhibited minimal dephosphorylation of the light harvesting complex-II. Peptide-phosphatase activities isolated from the thylakoid and stromal fraction were able to dephosphorylate LHC-II in heat-inactivated phosphomembranes. The stromal phosphatase showed highest activity against LHC-II at pH 9. Dephosphorylation of the LHC-II by the stromal enzyme was not inhibited by molybdate, vanadate or tungstate ions, but was partially inhibited by EDTA and a synthetic phosphopeptide mimicking the LHC-II phosphorylation site. Thus, the previously identified stromal phosphatase does appear capable of dephosphorylating authentic LHC-II in vivo.
Toxicity of radioiodine and radiophosphorus in rats in doses comparable to those used clinically.

Summary and Conclusions1. Radioactive phosphorus (P32) was administered by intubation to young male rats in doses equivalent to 4.6 mc. 7.0 mc and 11.6 mc for a 70 kg man. Similar radioiodine doses of I131 equivalent to 14.0 mc, 42, and 420 mc were given. All animals were sacrificed 6 weeks after dosing. 2. Except for a significant decrease in the testes body weight ratio and a moderate lymphopenia at the time of autopsy no growth curve, organ weight or histologic evidence of damage was discerned in the animals receiving P32. 3. Although no changes in weight gain or histologic evidence of organ damage was observed following the administration of I131, some variations in organ weight/body weight ratio were recorded. 4. In the doses here employed, which were comparable to those used clinically, no evidence of serious radiation damage was recorded.
Chronic pain and obesity in elderly people: results from the Einstein aging study.

OBJECTIVES—To determine the prevalence of chronic pain in the elderly and its relationship with obesity, associated co-morbidities and risk factors. DESIGN—Cross-Sectional SETTING—Community-based PARTICIPANTS—A representative community sample of 840 elderly subjects age 70 or older. MEASUREMENTS—We examined the prevalence of chronic pain and its relationship with obesity (categories defined by body mass index), other medical risk factors and psychiatric comorbidities. Chronic pain was defined by pain of at least moderate severity (≥ 4 on a 10-point scale) some, most or all of the time for the past three months. RESULTS—The sample was mostly female (62.8%) and the average age was 80 years (range 70–101 years). The prevalence of chronic pain was 52% (39.7% in men; 58.9% in women). Those with chronic pain were more likely to report a diagnosis of depression (OR 2.5, 95%CI=1.40– 4.55) and anxiety (OR 2.3, 95%CI=1.22–4.64). Compared to individuals with normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9), obese subjects (BMI 30–34.9) were twice as likely (OR 2.1, 95%CI=1.33–3.28) while severely obese subjects (BMI ≥ 35) were more than four times as likely (OR 4.5, 95%CI=1.85–12.63) to have chronic pain. Obese subjects were significantly more likely to have chronic pain in the head, neck/shoulder, back, legs/feet, and abdomen/pelvis than non-obese subjects. In multivariate models, obesity (OR 2.0, 95%CI=1.27–3.26) and severe obesity (OR 4.1, 95%CI=1.57–10.82) were associated with chronic pain after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, depression, anxiety and education. CONCLUSION—Chronic pain is common in this elderly population, affects women more than men and is highly associated with obesity.
Tubular duplication of colon and terminal ileum in a female child, case report, review of literature and proposal of a new classification

Abstract A case of a four and a half years old girl with total colon and terminal ileal duplication with a normally situated anus, vestibular fistula, double bladder and urethra with a unique feature of loop duplication of terminal ileum and part of the colon is reported. A proposal is made for a new simplified classification.
EAR DOMINANCE IN CLASSROOM AND CLINIC SAMPLES

Non-language ear-preference for hand-held objects was measured for 120 high- and 120 low-achieving subjects in Grades 4, 8, and 12 and for 204 subjects with learning problems. Nonsignificant differences for proportions of right-ear preferences in the two groups were noted, but the correlation between ear preference and composite dominance was significant.
The changing family and women’s issues in the 1990s

Since the early 1800s when the work place and the home first experienced a clear-cut separation, causing women and men to be perceived as workers and nonworkers, no other period in American history has altered women’s and families’ role so radically as the recent three decades. There is a structural and spiritual difference between the family of the 1950s and that of the 1980s and 1990s. The American family today ranges from the conventional Ozzie and Harriet type to the single parent, working couple, lesbian or gay, blended, unconnected, teen parent or grandparent-led, and homeless family. The attendant challenges for caregivers and providers, particularly women, vary immensely, as was clearly indicated by a group of testifiers at a public forum convened by a women’s body in San Mateo County, California. Drawing from those testimonies, this article examines the various configurations of the American family and assesses the public policy implications of the impact on women of the changing American family. The principal inference is that as the changing family trend gathers further momentum in the 1990s, it will be imperative for policy makers and the American socioeconomy to respond creatively and constructively to the new American family and to women’s changing role in the family and economy.
A New Fault Location Algorithm Based on Fault Component from Finite Synchronized Phasor Measurement Unit

A new fault location algorithm based on fault component from finite synchronized phasor measurement units(PMUs) is presented.The algorithm utilizes one-bus-spaced-placement strategy to distribute PMUs.This algorithm can be used to locate fault position when PMU is installed at only one end of a transmission line.Pure system fault model is obtained first using the superposition principle.This model is then transferred into the system impedance equivalent model and the transferring model of injection current source on fault point;subsequently the fault position can be obtained.The algorithm is computationally efficient without the need for iteration operations and is not subject to fault solutions.It will not be affected by factors such as system topology,transition resistance,oscillation and system operation modes.Dynamic simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Effects of Variations in Sodium Intake on the Acute Vasodepressor Response to Kininase II Inhibition in Rats with Mild Two-Kidney, One-Clip Hypertension

1. Unilateral renal artery constriction in rats maintained on a sodium-deplete, but not sodium-replete, diet induced an augmented acute vasodepressor response to kininase II inhibition produced by an intravenous injection of the dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase inhibitor captopril (250 microgram) during continuous saralasin-induced angiotensin II blockade (10 microgram/min). Dietary sodium restriction alone in sham-operated rats had no effect. 2. Acute bilateral adrenalectomy (18-24 h) did not preclude the demonstration of an augmented response to kininase II inhibition in sodium-depleted rats with benign two-kidney, one-clip hypertension. Neither did chronic administration of deoxycorticosterone acetate in intact rats elicit an augmented response. 3. The augmented acute vasodepressor response to kininase II inhibition in sodium-depleted rats with benign two-kidney, one-clip hypertension is probably due to bradykinin potentiation and secondary to an increased activity of the kallikrein-kinin system. The mechanism responsible for this apparent increase is not known, but neither hyperangiotensinemia nor hyperaldosteronism seems to play a role.
FEMALE SEX HORMONES INHIBIT VOLUME REGULATION IN RAT BRAIN ASTROCYTE CULTURE

To determine whether sex steroids play any role in the increased morbidity associated with acute symptomatic hyponatremia in menstruant females, we studied the actions of estradiol, progesterone, a...
Stomal (Anastomotic) Ulcer From an Internist's Viewpoint

Bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract was the presenting symptom of stomal, or anastomotic, ulcer in 71 of this series of 137 cases seen over a period of more than 20 years. Ulcerlike pain was the next most common initial manifestation, occurring in 38. In five instances, retained sutures were visualized gastroscopically, up to 24 months after gastric surgery. In six cases, symptoms of gastric fistula were the first evidence of stomal ulcer. The interval between gastric surgery and discovery of stomal ulcer exceeded 10 years in more than 12 percent of these cases.
A comparison of membrane and bubble oxygenation as used in cardiopulmonary bypass in patients. The importance of pericardial blood as a source of hemolysis.

A prospective clinical study involving more than 500 patients was designed to compare the Lande-Edwards membrane oxygenator and the Bentley bubble oxygenator. First, the importance of exposure of blood to the pericardium as the major source of hemolysis during open-heart surgery was confirmed. Because of this finding, we included in this study only those patients in whom the blood spilled into the pericardium was not returned to the pump. Under these circumstances, we found that hemolysis was relatively low in patients oxygenated with the Bentley bubble oxygenator but significantly lower in patients treated with the membrane oxygenator. Platelet loss was somewhat less in patients oxygenated with the membrane oxygenator.
The Summer Crisis and the Anticipation of a Real Napoleon

By June of 1917, even before the Bolsheviks’ attempt to seize power in July, some Russian intellectuals had come to believe that Russian Revolution should follow the script of the French Revolution. According to their thinking, the radicalization of the revolutionary process would eventually reach its climax and beget a dictator, a Russian Napoleon. As a matter of fact, the rise of Bolshevism and the increasing push towards anarchy in the country were viewed as a movement towards right-wing dictatorship. A right-wing dictatorship, a Russian Napoleon of some sort, was regarded as the political institution that would come to dominate the country for a long time. The ‘Jacobins’ were seen as a force that either would not be able to take power or a brief episode in a transitional period. This at least was the vision of A.N. Ruttsen, who was a member of the Kadets’ Central Committee. He shared this vision with another prominent Kadet, A. Izgoev, who later recalled their meeting in his memoirs. According to Izgoev, their conversation took place on a ‘hot June evenin’’ in 1917, in a room of the Kadets’ club. The club had a window overlooking the Neva, and watching the river the two politicians discussed the future of the country. The analogy with the French Revolution immediately crept into their minds, and they compared the Neva to the Seine. When Izgoev asked Ruttsen, who supposedly had a gift for it, to predict the future, Ruttsen replied,
Abstract P142: A Statistically Significant Reduction in Heart Failure Length of Stay: Moving the Mean Through Process Improvement

Background: The burden of acute heart failure (HF) remains formidable. Length of stay (LOS) must be minimized to control costs, while still maintaining positive outcomes. Inappropriate diagnoses an...
Management of Reducible Ventral Hernias: Clinical Outcomes and Cost-effectiveness of Repair at Diagnosis Versus Watchful Waiting.

Objective:To compare long-term clinical and economic outcomes associated with 3 management strategies for reducible ventral hernia: repair at diagnosis (open or laparoscopic) and watchful waiting.Background:There is variability in ventral hernia management. Recent data suggest watchful waiting is sa
Cardiac Issues in Adolescence

Serious cardiac pathophysiology is rare in adolescents, though palpitations, chest pain, and syncope are common presenting symptoms. This chapter serves to review the initial evaluation for these common complaints to enhance understanding of when a true cardiac etiology should be suspected and referral to cardiology should be pursued. In addition, this chapter discusses postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the management of structural heart disease in adolescents, preparticipation sports screening, and the importance of cardiovascular health in the adolescent years.
Modeling in Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics

Until now, we have dealt with applications from either classical mechanics or electrical circuits exclusively. In this chapter, we shall discuss nonequilibrium state thermodynamics. Most engineering students consider thermodynamics a rather difficult topic. The reason for this seeming difficulty lies in the fact that basically all available treatises of thermodynamics have been written by physicists rather than by engineers. Physicists are, by education, phenomenologically rather than systemically oriented. They do not wish to change the world, only to understand it. Therefore, their approach to dealing with problems is quite different from ours. Rather than looking at a system as a whole and trying to analyze the couplings of its subsystems (as we engineers do), they always try to single out individual phenomena and discuss those in isolation. As a consequence, most physics texts present the topic through a collection of various formulae, which are all individually correct and meaningful but hard to relate to each other. It is the aim of this chapter to bridge the gap between those individually well—known equations that govern the behavior of nonequilibrium state thermodynamic systems. According to Jean Thoma, another reason why most thermodynamics textbooks are obscure is the fact that they avoid to work with entropy flow as a physical variable.
Production Costs and the Theory of Supply

At the beginning of Chap. 11 it was noted that the utility-based theory of demand is not really a theory that tells us much about consumer choice; its real function is to disentangle the assumptions necessary to support the first condition of the Market Welfare Model, that the demand curve represents the marginal benefits to society. The situation on the supply side is a bit different, however. While the main function of the analysis of production costs is to do for the supply curve what utility theory does for the demand curve, the cost theory we will look at in this chapter is a genuinely useful tool for studying issues of technology and the organization of production.