cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Hypothalamic Hamartoma: A Model of Subcortical Epileptogenesis and Encephalopathy

Although uncommon, the hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is often associated with a devastating clinical syndrome, which may include refractory epilepsy, progressive cognitive decline, and deterioration in behavioral and psychiatric functioning. Contrary to conventional thinking which attributed seizure origin to cortical structures, the hamartoma itself has now been firmly established as the site of intrinsic epileptogenesis for the gelastic seizures (ie, characterized by unusual mirth) peculiar to this disorder. It also appears that the HH contributes to a process of secondary epileptogenesis, with eventual cortical seizure onset of multiple types in some patients. Anticonvulsant medications are known to be poorly effective in this disorder. Treatment, including some innovative approaches to surgical resection, is now targeted directly at the HH itself, with impressive results. Younger patients, in particular, may avoid the deteriorating course described earlier. Access to tissue from larger numbers of patients at single or collaborating centers specializing in HH surgery will allow for research into the fundamental mechanisms producing this little understood disorder. Refractory epilepsy associated with HH is the premier human model for subcortical epilepsy and an excellent model for secondary epileptogenesis and epileptic encephalopathy.
Financial Restriction and the Developmental State in East Asia: Toward a More Complex Political Economy

Recent financial crises in Asia have renewed debates over the appropriate degree and scope of government intervention in financial markets. Governments in two countries affected by financial crises...
Direct evidence for spontaneous branch migration in antiparallel DNA Holliday junctions.

The Holliday junction is a central intermediate in genetic recombination. It contains four strands of DNA that are paired into four double helical arms flanking a branch point. In naturally-occurring Holliday junctions, the sequence flanking the branch point contains twofold (homologous) symmetry. As a consequence of this symmetry, the junction can undergo a conformational isomerization known as branch migration, which relocates the site of branching. In the absence of proteins and in the presence of Mg2+, the four arms are known to stack in pairs, forming two helical domains whose orientations are antiparallel. Nevertheless, the mechanistic models proposed for branch migration are all predicated on a parallel alignment of helical domains. Here, we have used antiparallel DNA double crossover molecules to demonstrate that branch migration can occur in antiparallel Holliday junctions. We have constructed a DNA double crossover molecule with three crossover points. Two adjacent branch points in this molecule are flanked by symmetric sequences. The symmetric crossover points are held immobile by the third crossover point, which is flanked by asymmetric sequences. Restriction of the helices that connect the immobile junction to the symmetric junctions releases this constraint. The restricted molecule undergoes branch migration, even though it is constrained to an antiparallel conformation.
GIS-Based Virtual Geotechnical Database for the St. Louis Metro Area

The St. Louis metropolitan area is the focus of the U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazard Program's plan for assessing the likely risks of an earthquake emanating from the New Madrid Seismic Zone or the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, which are the most active seismic zones recognized in the Midwestern United States. The St. Louis metro area includes portions of eight counties located both in Missouri and Illinois that abut the state boundary formed by the Mississippi River. The Illinois and Missouri geological surveys have prepared geologic maps and data sets that employ dissimilar geodata information, differing map units, map scales, and storage formats, with geodata stored in analog or digital formats. This research sought to combine the dissimilar geodata sets and to integrate them into a single Virtual Geotechnical Database within an accepted geographic information system (ArcGIS), which could be manipulated to retrieve subsurface data and to perform an array of spatial analyses. The geodatabase is intended to promote standardization of geologic interpretations between Missouri and Illinois and will be available to other researchers. The existing body of data was manipulated to extract useful information on the surficial geology, loess thickness, bedrock geology, well locations, and measured values of shear wave velocity, which could be conjoined to create stand-alone GIS information layers. “Depth-to-bedrock” refers to the lithologic contact with early Paleozoic-age strata recognized by formational assignments across the two states. Depth-to-bedrock and groundwater table elevations underling the study area were interpolated using geostatistical methods of ordinary kriging and cokriging, respectively.
Multiple generations of hibonite in spinel-hibonite inclusions from Murchison

— Through freeze-thaw disaggregation of the Murchison meteorite, we have recovered, in addition to many spinel-hibonite spherules, several hibonite-rich inclusion fragments in which the hibonite has wider ranges in TiO2 contents (e.g., 0.07–8.6 wt% in one inclusion and 2–10 wt% in another) than previously observed within single inclusions. In these inclusions, there are sharp contacts between texturally early, Ti-poor hibonite and relatively late, Ti-rich hibonite, and the two types occur in complex intergrowth textures that are not consistent with crystallization from a melt in a single-stage cooling event. One inclusion has, in addition to relatively TiO2-rich hibonite, some that is virtually TiO2-free but contains ∼1 wt% MgO and ∼1.5 wt% SiO2. Instead of the common substitution of Mg + Ti for 2Al, Mg coupled with Si in this case, probably reflecting crystallization from an unusual, Ti-free silicate liquid. Ion microprobe analyses of Ti-rich and Ti-poor hibonite from this inclusion yield quite similar trace-element patterns and Mg-isotopic compositions. The results are most consistent with formation of Ti-rich hibonite from Ti-poor hibonite by addition of Mg and Ti to the latter by exchange with a hot, Ti-rich liquid. That this occurred without a resolvable change in the Mg-isotopic composition requires that the Ti-rich, second generation of hibonite formed <2.5 times 105 yr later than the Ti-poor hibonite. Observations of spinel-hibonite spherules and spherule fragments in our sample suite provide additional evidence that, despite the claims by Greenwood et al. (1994), spinel-hibonite spherules crystallized from individual, molten droplets, as earlier suggested by Macdougall (1981) and MacPherson et al. (1983).
Investigation of substance P transport across the blood-brain barrier.

Abstract The transport of substance P (SP) was investigated using the bovine brain microvessel endothelial cell culture model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The samples were derivatized precolumn with naphthalene dialdehyde, then analyzed by cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection. SP crossed the BBB in both the apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical directions through an active transport mechanism. The transport of SP from the apical side was demonstrated to be via transcytosis. The N-terminal (SP 1–4 ) and C-terminal (SP 3–11 ) fragments were also found to permeate the BBB from the apical side.
The time of being and the metaphysics of presence

From the dawn of his own thinking as well, Heidegger has brought Being and time together, most notably by describing Temporality as “the meaning of Being” in Being and Time. As we will see, he thinks that, starting on a path of thought laid out by Greek philosophers, Western culture has taken Being as presencing in two senses: (1) “to be” signifies presence at some here and now, and (2) “to be” signifies something with which we could be involved or at home with in our everyday world.2
Hemoglobin and haptoglobin determination by disc electrophoresis.

Summary 1. An acrylamide disc electrophoretic method is described for separation of hemoglobins with direct quantitation by densitometry; the method is rapid, accurate, and convenient. 2. By this method, measurement of hemoglobin A 2 in 70 normal subjects gave a mean of 2.96%, range 2.1–3.9%. Twenty-one subjects with β -thalassemia trait gave a mean of 6.32%, range 4.4–8.4%. 3. Hemoglobin F can be separated and quantitated by densitometry when present as more than 10% of the total. By this method, values for hemoglobin F are higher than those obtained by alkaline denaturation. 4. The method also allows convenient determination of haptoglobin types and semi-quantitation of serum haptoglobin level.
Synthesis of 2-(Perfluoroalkylether)- and -(Perfluoroaryl) Benzothiazoles(su1)☆

Abstract Benzothiazoles containing 2-perfluoroalkylether as well as perfluoroaryl substituents have been synthesized by two methods: (1) direct acylation of 2-aminobenzenethiol with perfluoroacyl halides, and (2) the reduction of N, Nt-diacy1-2, 2t-diaminodiphenyldisulfides followed by dehydrative cyclization. The intermediates formed in the direct acylation procedure are the N-acylaminobenzenethiols rather than the S-acyl derivatives.
Improvements in the re-flight of spaceflight experiments on plant tropisms

Abstract In order to effectively study phototropism, the directed growth in response to light, we performed a series of experiments in microgravity to better understand light response without the “complications” of a 1- g stimulus. These experiments were named TROPI (for tropisms) and were performed on the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS), a laboratory facility on the International Space Station (ISS). TROPI-1 was performed in 2006, and while it was a successful experiment, there were a number of technical difficulties. We had the opportunity to perform TROPI-2 in 2010 and were able to optimize experimental conditions as well as to extend the studies of phototropism to fractional gravity created by the EMCS centrifuge. This paper focuses on how the technical improvements in TROPI-2 allowed for a better experiment with increased scientific return. Major modifications in TROPI-2 compared to TROPI-1 included the use of spaceflight hardware that was off-gassed for a longer period and reduced seed storage (less than 2 months) in hardware. These changes resulted in increased seed germination and more vigorous growth of seedlings. While phototropism in response to red illumination was observed in hypocotyls of seedlings grown in microgravity during TROPI-1, there was a greater magnitude of red-light-based phototropic curvature in TROPI-2. Direct downlinking of digital images from the ISS in TROPI-2, rather than the use of analog tapes in TROPI-1, resulted in better quality images and simplified data analyses. In TROPI-2, improved cryo-procedures and the use of the GLACIER freezer during transport of samples back to Earth maintained the low temperature necessary to obtain good-quality RNA required for use in gene profiling studies.
Performance Comparison of Two Algorithms for Task Assignment

In this article we investigate a new algorithm for solving the optimal task assignment problem. The assignment is based on Stone's "throughput" metric with the optimality criteria being the total cost for execution and interprocess communication. Two approaches studied are a new approach based on genetic algorithms and A*, a well known tree search algorithm for solving the same problem. We use the algorithm execution time as a performance criteria for the two algorithms. It is shown that the genetic algorithm techniques are more favorable than A* for larger search spaces while for smaller search spaces A* is preferred.
Classification of vowels and consonants by individuals with moderate mental retardation: development of arbitrary relations via match-to-sample training with compound stimuli

This study explored whether an identity-matching-based stimulus equivalence procedure could be used to teach vowel and consonant stimulus classes to 2 adolescent females with moderate mental retardation. Delayed match-to-sample trials presented a compound sample stimulus consisting of printed letters and a spoken word ("vowel" or "consonant"). The correct comparison stimulus matched only one of the letters in the compound sample. Subsequently, test trials assessed whether arbitrary relations had formed among the individual stimuli from each compound sample and whether stimuli from different compound samples had merged into larger stimulus classes. Both participants acquired five-member classes of vowel and consonant stimuli, which subsequently generalized to vocal classification and to identification in the context of four-letter words. Follow-up tests showed that the generalized performances remained intact after 6 weeks. These procedures suggest an economical approach to stimulus class development.
In search of usable security: five lessons from the field

A new system reduces the time to enroll in a secure wireless network by two orders of magnitude, and it also gets high marks for usability and user satisfaction. This article provides a real-world example revealing five general lessons for usable, secure system design.
Channel Energy Based Estimation of Target Trajectories Using Distributed Sensors With Low Communication Rate

Sensor localization using channel energy measurements of distributed sensors has been studied in various scenarios. However, it is usually assumed that the target does not move significantly during the time needed to collect and process the data from the sensors. We want to estimate the trajectory of a moving target using a network of distributed sensors that measure only the received signal strength (RSS), sampled and as a function of time, without knowledge of the target amplitude/source level. To reduce the communication load, sensors communicate a reduced data set to the fusion center (FC), generated through local processing. It consists of three characteristic parameters: i) the maximum measured amplitude, corresponding to the closest-point-of-approach (CPA); ii) the corresponding time index; and iii) the time it takes for the amplitude to diminish by 6 dB relative to the CPA. To generate the reduced data sets, each sensor calculates a local maximum likelihood (ML) estimate of its parameters. The accuracy of these local estimates can be reasonably described by their respective Fisher information matrices (FIMs). The FC combines the data transmitted by the sensors using a ML-like formulation based on the local FIMs. This results in a heavily nonlinear least-squares problem, which we initialize via geometrical considerations. This approach has a very low communication load, performs comparably to a centralized estimator, and due to the modularized setup, any measurement model at the sensors can be considered.
Never Forgetting the East Side: Michael Gold's Jews Without Money

A man on an East Side soap-box, one night, proclaimed that out of the despair, melancholy and helpless rage of millions, a world movement had been born to abolish poverty. I listened to him. O workers’ Revolution, you brought hope to me, a lonely suicidal boy. You are the true Messiah. You will destroy the East Side when you come, and build there a garden for the human spirit. O Revolution, that forced me to think, to struggle and to live O great Beginning! (Gold 309)
A comparative study of the implementation of STATCOM and SVC on DFIG-based wind farm connected to a power system

This paper investigates and compares the implementation of two FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission System) devices to overcome the voltage stability issue for Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG)-based wind farm. The study includes the implementation of both a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), and the static var compensator (SVC) as dynamic reactive power source at the point of common coupling to maintain stable voltage. The system study is performed using the MATLAB/Simulink and the results show that the both devices improve the transient voltage stability and therefore help the DFIG-based wind farm to remain in service during grid faults. The performance of the two devices in terms of time response, the injected amount of reactive power and the application cost was studied at length. During grid faults, the RSC is blocked and restarts when the fault is cleared and the PCC voltage is reestablished. The control schemes of the DFIG, Rotor Side Converter(RSC), Grid Side Converter (GSC), and the FACTS devices have been suitably designed and coordinated. It was concluded that the application cost of both devices varies depending on the fault type and location. STATCOM becomes a very cost effective solution when the required injected reactive power is not large, such as for a single-line-to-ground fault and lower voltage sag. The static VAR compensator (SVC), on the other hand, becomes very attractive application (cost effective) when a large amount of reactive power needs to be injected, such as three-phase fault conditions.
Cell-based chemical genetic screen identifies damnacanthal as an inhibitor of HIV-1 Vpr induced cell death.

Viral protein R (Vpr), one of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory proteins, contributes to multiple cytopathic effects, G 2 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The mechanisms of Vpr have been intensely studied because it is believed that they underlie HIV-1 pathogenesis. We here report a cell-based small molecule screen on Vpr induced cell death in the context of HIV-1 infection. From the screen of 504 bioactive compounds, we identified damnacanthal (Dam), a component of noni fruit, as an inhibitor of Vpr induced cell death. Our studies illustrate a novel efficient platform for drug discovery and development in anti-HIV therapy which should also be applicable to other viruses.
Proliferation of Maize (Zea mays L.) Roots in Response to Localized Supply of Nitrate

Maize (Zea mays L.) plants with two primary nodal root axes were grown for 8 d in flowing nutrient culture with each axis independently supplied with NO3-. Dry matter accumulation by roots was similar whether 1.0 mol m-3 NO3- was supplied to one or both axes. When NO3- was supplied to only one axis, however, accumulation of dry matter within the root system was significantly greater in the axis supplied with NO3-. The increased dry matter accumulation by the +N-treated axis was attributable entirely to increased density and growth of lateral branches and not to a difference in growth of the primary axis. Proliferation of lateral branches for the +N axis was associated with the capacity for in situ reduction and utilization of a portion of the absorbed NO3-, especially in the apical region where lateral primordia are initiated. Although reduced nitrogen was translocated to the -N axis, concentrations in the -N axis remained significantly lower than in the +N axis. The concentration of reduced nitrogen, as well as in vitro NO3- reductase activity, was greater in apical than in more basal regions of the +N axis. The enhanced proliferation of lateral branches in the +N axis was accompanied by an increase in total respiration rate of the axis. Part of the increased respiration was attributable to increased mass of roots. The specific respiration rate (micromoles CO2 evolved per hour per gram root dry weight) was also greater for the +N than for the -N axis. If respiration rate is taken as representative of sink demand, stimulation of initiation and growth of laterals by in situ utilization of a localized exogenous supply of NO3- establishes an increased sink demand through enhanced metabolic activity and the increased partitioning of assimilates to the +N axis responds to the difference in sink demand between +N and -N axes.
Predicate learning and selective theory deduction for a difference logic solver

Design and verification of systems at the register-transfer (RT) or behavioral level require the ability to reason at higher levels of abstraction. Difference logic consists of an arbitrary Boolean combination of propositional variables and difference predicates and therefore provides an appropriate abstraction. In this paper, we present several new optimization techniques for efficiently deciding difference logic formulas. We use the lazy approach by combining a DPLL Boolean SAT procedure with a dedicated graph-based theory solver, which adds transitivity constraints among difference predicates on a "need-to" basis. Our new optimization techniques include flexible theory constraint propagation, selective theory deduction, and dynamic predicate learning. We have implemented these techniques in our lazy solver. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques on public benchmarks through a set of controlled experiments.
Toward automatic robot instruction from perception-recognizing a grasp from observation

Deals with the programming of robots to perform grasping tasks. To do this, the assembly plan from observation (APO) paradigm is adopted, where the key idea is to enable a system to observe a human performing a grasping task, understand it, and perform the task with minimal human intervention. A grasping task is composed of three phases: pregrasp phase, static grasp phase, and manipulation phase. The first step in recognizing a grasping task is identifying the grasp itself. The proposed strategy of identifying the grasp is to map the low-level hand configuration to increasingly more abstract grasp descriptions. To achieve the mapping, a grasp representation is introduced, called the contact web, which is composed of a pattern of effective contact points between the hand and the object. A grasp taxonomy based on the contact web is also proposed as a tool to systematically identify a grasp. The grasp can be described at higher conceptual levels using a certain mapping function that results in an index called the grasp cohesive index. This index can be used to identify the grasp. Results from grasping experiments show that it is possible to distinguish between various types of grasps using the proposed contact web, grasp taxonomy and grasp cohesive index. >
Distribution and Evolution of the Mobile vma-1b Intein.

Inteins are self-splicing parasitic genetic elements found in all domains of life. These genetic elements are found in highly conserved positions in conserved proteins. One protein family that has been invaded by inteins is the vacuolar and archaeal catalytic ATPase subunits (vma-1). There are two intein insertion sites in this protein, “a” and “b.” The b site was previously thought to be only invaded in archaeal lineages. H ere we survey the distributionand evolutionary histories of the b site inteins and show that the intein is present in more lineages than previously annotated, including a bacterial lineage, Mahella australiensis 50-1 BON. We present evidence, through ancestral character state reconstruction and substitution ratios between host genes and inteins, for several transfers of this intein between divergent species, including an interdomain transfer between the archaea and bacteria. Although inteins may persist within a single population or species for long periods of time, transfer of the vma-1b intein between divergent species contributed to the distribution of this intein.
Water flux in soil and subsoil on a steep forested slope

Abstract Soil analyses, tensiometer, piezometer and precipitation data were used to evaluate water flux in soil and subsoil on a steep forested slope. Although unsaturated flow predominated in the soil during fourteen moderate-size winter storms, discontinuous saturation of upslope subsoil did occur at depths of 110–150 cm after at least 30 mm of rain fell in 12 h or less. This saturation persisted less than 20 h. Very slight changes in soilwater pressure head during storms effected relatively large changes in both magnitude and direction of water flux. Maximum water fluxes in the top meter of soil were 3–4.5 mm/h and maximum flux in the subsoil was 0.5 mm/h, slightly less than the minimum flux in the soil. Between storms, the vertical component of flux at the 10-cm depth was much less than the downslope component but equaled the downslope component during storms. Conversely, vertical components of flux at 70- and 130-cm depths were much less than downslope components during storms but equaled downslope components between storms. Analysis of piezometric levels, discharge from a seep, and streamflow revealed an abrupt decrease in rate of water flux to the lower part of the slope about 10 h after the end of rainfall. This decrease corresponded with nearly complete draining of larger pores that had filled with water during storms. Subsurface flow and channel interception averaged 97 and 3% of storm flow which, in turn, averaged 38% of total storm precipitation. No overland flow was observed.
The synthesis of roeharmine and (-)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroroeharmine

Abstract The total synthesis of roeharmine 1 as well as an enantiospecific synthesis of (−)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroroeharmine 2 has been achieved via the Pictet-Spengler reaction as a key step. The optical rotation of synthetic (−)-2 was found to be higher than that reported for the natural product. A possible mechanism for the racemization of 2 upon exposure to acid has been proposed and serves as a warning to alkaloid chemists who isolate ring-A alkoxylated indole alkaloids under acidic conditions.
Biological monitoring: Essential foundation for ecological risk assessment

(1997). Biological monitoring: Essential foundation for ecological risk assessment. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal: Vol. 3, The Preidential/Congressional Commission on Risk Assessment and Risk Management, pp. 993-1004.
The politics of political communication: Competing news discourses of the 2011 Egyptian protests

The world witnessed the Egyptian community building political protests toward fundamental government change in early 2011. This research explores how news discourse across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the U.S. constructed these political protests, and how media figure in their narratives. Digital media became central characters in the U.S. version, which often referred to events in Egypt as a ‘facebook revolution’. We question whether this emphasis was shared across other news sources outside of the U.S. in the Arab region. This study builds on research conducted on news discourse of political protests, how U.S. media cover the Middle East, and how comparative research informs our knowledge of political communication.
Effectiveness of Water Exercise on Postural Mobility in the Well Elderly: An Experimental Study on Balance Enhancement

BACKGROUND The fear of falling may cause elderly people to limit their movement. As movement errors are known to facilitate the acquisition of motor skills, the elderly may inadvertently cause the loss of postural skills by constraining their movements, and hence avoid potential movement errors. It was hypothesized that by having elderly individuals exercise in a risk-free environment-water was utilized in this experiment-their postural capabilities would improve. METHODS Four groups of elderly subjects (80 +/- 5.8 years old) were placed into four groups: Water Exercisers; Land Exercisers; Water Sitters; and Land Sitters. Each group met twice per week for 45 minutes for 5 weeks of simple exercises or socializing in the designated medium. The distance each individual could reach (Functional Reach, FR) was measured at the end of each week. RESULTS Initially, each group was at risk (FR < 10 inches) for falling Statistical testing showed that the Water Exercisers (WE) increased their FR almost every week; the Land Exercisers (LE) increased only during the first week; and the Water Sitters (WS) and Land Sitters (LS) did not increase at all. The FRs after 5 weeks were 13.4 +/- 1.6 (WE), 11.3 +/- 1.5 (LE), 9.6 +/- 1.3 (WS), and 9.3 +/- 0.71 (LS) inches for each group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The data showed that the postural capabilities in these elderly people, as measured by the FR, were enhanced by the production of movement errors that was facilitated in a water environment (in the case of the Water groups) or the initiation of a novel exercise program (Land Exercisers). Alternative explanations, and implication of these results, are discussed.
Prediction of a Critical Temperature for Aluminate Formation in Alumina/Copper–Oxygen Eutectic Bonding

A pseudobinary thermodynamic analysis of the alumina/ copper-oxygen eutectic bonding process yields a value of approximately 1076°C for the invariant temperature of the {Cu(ss), Cu(L1), CuAlO 2 , Al 2 O 3 } equilibrium. This temperature, which is 11°C above the eutectic, corresponds to a critical temperature for stability of the copper aluminate CuAlO 2 in eutectic bonding. Implications for controlling interface microstructure are highlighted.
Unsupervised learning of probabilistic grammars

Probabilistic grammars define joint probability distributions over sentences and their grammatical structures. They have been used in many areas, such as natural language processing, bioinformatics and pattern recognition, mainly for the purpose of deriving grammatical structures from data (sentences). Unsupervised approaches to learning probabilistic grammars induce a grammar from unannotated sentences, which eliminates the need for manual annotation of grammatical structures that can be laborious and error-prone. In this thesis we study unsupervised learning of probabilistic context-free grammars and probabilistic dependency grammars, both of which are expressive enough for many real-world languages but remain tractable in inference. We investigate three different approaches. The first approach is a structure search approach for learning probabilistic context-free grammars. It acquires rules of an unknown probabilistic context-free grammar through iterative coherent biclustering of the bigrams in the training corpus. A greedy procedure is used in our approach to add rules from biclusters such that each set of rules being added into the grammar results in the largest increase in the posterior of the grammar given the training corpus. Our experiments on several benchmark datasets show that this approach is competitive with existing methods for unsupervised learning of context-free grammars. The second approach is a parameter learning approach for learning natural language grammars based on the idea of unambiguity regularization . We make the observation that natural language is remarkably unambiguous in the sense that each natural language sentence has a large number of possible parses but only a few of the parses are syntactically valid. We incorporate this prior information into parameter learning by means of posterior regularization. The resulting algorithm family contains classic EM and Viterbi EM, as well as a novel softmax-EM algorithm that can be implemented with a simple and efficient extension to classic EM. Our experiments show that unambiguity regularization improves natural language grammar learning, and when combined with other techniques our approach achieves the state-of-the-art grammar learning results. The third approach is grammar learning with a curriculum. A curriculum is a means of presenting training samples in a meaningful order. We introduce the incremental construction hypothesis that explains the benefits of a curriculum in learning grammars and offers some useful insights into the design of curricula as well as learning algorithms. We present results of experiments with (a) carefully crafted synthetic data that provide support for our hypothesis and (b) natural language corpus that demonstrate the utility of curricula in unsupervised learning of real-world probabilistic grammars.
Using Behavior Change Questionnaires to Tailor Personalized Health Communications in Pharmacy Practice

Health behavior change is often viewed as the rate-limiting step in a lifestyle medicine program. Health behavior change strategies that are tailored to an individual patient’s needs may help him/her become more successful at reaching his/her personal health goals. Based on the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, this article provides an example of using “Readiness to Participate in Lifestyle Behaviors” and “Confidence to Participate in Lifestyle Behaviors” questionnaires in a community pharmacy lifestyle medicine program to tailor health communications. The questionnaires are important to the program for setting individual patient goals and for assessing a patient’s progress in the lifestyle medicine program.
Value of CD23 Determination by Flow Cytometry in Differentiating Mantle Cell Lymphoma From Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) share many morphologic and immunophenotypic features. In addition to histomorphologic examination, it is customary to use the absence of CD23 to differentiate MCL from CLL/SLL, based primarily on reported comparisons of immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections. These findings are widely extrapolated to flow cytometric analysis, although available data are contradictory and not sufficiently detailed. We compared expression of CD23 by flow cytometry in 22 cases of MCL and 25 cases of CLL/SLL. Lymphoma cells in 12 of 22 MCLs were negative for CD23, and 10 showed dim expression. In contrast, none of 25 CLL/SLLs were negative for CD23, 4 were dimly positive, and 21 were moderately or brightly positive. Thus, a significant proportion of MCL exhibited overlap of CD23 expression in the low-intensity range with CLL/SLL. Clinically, there was no correlation between the intensity of CD23 expression and clinical stage at diagnosis or survival. These findings emphasize that by flow cytometry, MCL can be differentiated reliably from CLL/SLL using CD23 if negative expression is observed. However, with dimly positive expression, interpretation should be cautious.
Three 15-min Bouts of Moderate Postmeal Walking Significantly Improves 24-h Glycemic Control in Older People at Risk for Impaired Glucose Tolerance

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three 15-min bouts of postmeal walking with 45 min of sustained walking on 24-h glycemic control in older persons at risk for glucose intolerance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Inactive older (≥60 years of age) participants ( N = 10) were recruited from the community and were nonsmoking, with a BMI <35 kg/m2 and a fasting blood glucose concentration between 105 and 125 mg dL−1. Participants completed three randomly ordered exercise protocols spaced 4 weeks apart. Each protocol comprised a 48-h stay in a whole-room calorimeter, with the first day serving as the control day. On the second day, participants engaged in either 1 ) postmeal walking for 15 min or 45 min of sustained walking performed at 2 ) 10:30 a.m. or 3 ) 4:30 p.m. All walking was on a treadmill at an absolute intensity of 3 METs. Interstitial glucose concentrations were determined over 48 h with a continuous glucose monitor. Substrate utilization was measured continuously by respiratory exchange (VCO2/VO2). RESULTS Both sustained morning walking (127 ± 23 vs. 118 ± 14 mg dL−1) and postmeal walking (129 ± 24 vs. 116 ± 13 mg dL−1) significantly improved 24-h glycemic control relative to the control day ( P < 0.05). Moreover, postmeal walking was significantly ( P < 0.01) more effective than 45 min of sustained morning or afternoon walking in lowering 3-h postdinner glucose between the control and experimental day. CONCLUSIONS Short, intermittent bouts of postmeal walking appear to be an effective way to control postprandial hyperglycemia in older people.
A principal component analysis of 39 scientific impact measures.

Background: The impact of scientific publications has traditionally been expressed in terms of citation counts. However, scientific activity has moved online over the past decade. To better capture scientific impact in the digital era, a variety of new impact measures has been proposed on the basis of social network analysis and usage log data. Here we investigate how these new measures relate to each other, and how accurately and completely they express scientific impact. Methodology: We performed a principal component analysis of the rankings produced by 39 existing and proposed measures of scholarly impact that were calculated on the basis of both citation and usage log data. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the notion of scientific impact is a multi-dimensional construct that can not be adequately measured by any single indicator, although some measures are more suitable than others. The commonly used citation Impact Factor is not positioned at the core of this construct, but at its periphery, and should thus be used with caution.
Embedded implicatures as pragmatic inferences under compositional lexical uncertainty

How do comprehenders reason about pragmatically ambiguous scalar terms like some in complex syntactic contexts? In many pragmatic theories of conversational implicature, local exhaustification of such terms (‘only some’) is predicted to be difficult or impossible if the result does not entail the literal meaning, whereas grammatical accounts predict such construals to be robustly available. Recent experimental evidence supports the salience of these local enrichments, but the grammatical theories that have been argued to account for this evidence do not provide explicit mechanisms for weighting such construals against others. We propose a probabilistic model that combines previous work on pragmatic inference under ‘lexical uncertainty’ with a more detailed model of compositional semantics. We show that this model makes accurate predictions about new experimental data on embedded implicatures in both non-monotonic and downward-entailing semantic contexts. In addition, the model’s predictions can be improved by the incorporation of neo-Gricean hypotheses about lexical alternatives. This work thus contributes to a synthesis of grammatical and probabilistic views on pragmatic inference.
Developing Competitive Strategic Model Using Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) Approach for Handicrafts Ceramic Industry in Pulutan, Minahasa Regency☆

Abstract Pulutan Ceramics, located in Minahasa Regency has been established for decades and have a significant impact on the local economy. However, this industry is not able to compete with the new products. Some of the weaknesses can be identified namely: the provider does not have vision, raw materials, the end product is not competitive. This research is expected to analyze the internal and external environment that affect the industry operation and to develop model of strategy to compete in the market. The result is the industry can be possibly positioned as a competitive industry and has a prospect to grow.
The Reciprocal Relationship between Counterproductive Work Behavior and Workplace Mistreatment: Its Temporal Dynamics and Boundary Conditions

This research examines how employees’ behaviors shape their work environments and vice-versa. We identify and quantify the reciprocal relationship between three forms of workplace mistreatment (i.e., abusive supervision, ostracism, discrimination) and employees’ counterproductive work behavior (CWB) in a twelve-wave longitudinal study with a cross-lagged panel design. We show that employees’ bad behaviors at work (e.g., sabotage, theft, abuse of coworkers) are both a cause and a consequence of experiencing mistreatment from colleagues and supervisors. We investigate the temporal aspects of this reciprocal relationship and find that CWB-to-mistreatment and mistreatment-to-CWB effects both occur over a one-week time-span. Moreover, this reciprocal relationship continued across the twelve weeks of the study, and its magnitude neither intensified nor diminished over this time period. The CWB-to-mistreatment effect was roughly twice as large as the mistreatment-to-CWB effect, demonstrating the powerful influence of individuals’ behaviors on their work environments. Employees’ Conscientiousness moderated the reciprocal relationship by decreasing the frequency of CWB committed in response to mistreatment experienced the previous week, and to a lesser degree, by decreasing the frequency with which colleagues and supervisors mistreated employees who engaged in CWB the previous week. Surprisingly, no moderating influences were observed for individual differences in Honesty-Humility and Agreeableness, nor for organizational differences in procedural justice and the enforcement of an ethics code.
A Closed-Form Solution for Coarse Registration of Point Clouds Using Linear Features

AbstractThis paper presents a closed-form procedure for the coarse registration of three-dimensional (3D) point clouds using automatically extracted linear features, which have been manually matched. Corresponding linear features are defined by nonconjugate endpoints that do not necessarily define compatible direction vectors. Because the point clouds could be derived from different sources (e.g., laser scanning data sets and/or photogrammetric point clouds that are referenced to arbitrary reference frames), the proposed procedure estimates the scale, shift, and rotation parameters that relate the reference frames of these data sets. The proposed approach starts with a quaternion-based procedure for initial estimation of the transformation parameters using the minimal number of required conjugate line pairs (i.e., two noncoplanar linear features from each point cloud). The initial estimate of the transformation parameters is then used to ensure the compatibility of the direction vectors of the involved li...
Accuracy of Imaging Modalities in Detection of Baffle Leaks in Patients Following Atrial Switch Operation

Aims Patients with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) status post atrial switch operation are vulnerable to complications such as baffle leaks. The best noninvasive imaging modality to detect baffle leaks is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of different noninvasive imaging modalities in the detection of baffle leaks in this population. Methods and results A single center retrospective chart review of atrial switch patients was performed. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value for detecting leaks were calculated for transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with and without agitated saline, transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) with and without agitated saline, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI). Studies were included if performed within 1 year of catheterization. Angiography via catheterization was used as the gold standard for the detection of baffle leaks. Fifty-eight atrial switch patients (54 Mustards: four Sennings) from a single pediatric center, undergoing 76 catheterizations, were analyzed. Thirty-nine catheterizations documented a baffle leak. Overall combination of sensitivity and specificity was better in agitated saline studies (TTE: sensitivity 71.4%, specificity 100%; TEE: sensitivity 100%, specificity 92.3%) versus nonagitated studies (TTE: sensitivity 50.0%, specificity 100%; TEE: sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 77.8%; or cMRI: sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 100%). Conclusion TTE or TEE with agitated saline is superior to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or nonagitated saline TTE and TEE in detecting baffle leaks in atrial switch patients. Agitated saline studies should be performed in this population when looking for baffle leaks.
First Circuit Vacates Textron Work-Product Privilege Ruling and Grants Petition for Rehearing En Banc

This article reports that a majority of the judges of the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit voted on March 25, 2009 to hear the Textron work-product privilege case en banc. As a result, the court withdrew the panel opinion and the dissent, and vacated the judgment entered on January 21, 2009. The court scheduled the en banc hearing for June 2, 2009. For further discussion of the earlier Textron decision, see Douglas S. Stransky, "United States v. Textron, Inc.: A Hollow Taxpayer Victory for Privilege in the First Circuit."
Managerial ability and goodwill impairment

Abstract This study examines the relationship between managerial ability and goodwill impairment. I predict a negative relationship because prior studies suggest that more-able managers better prevent or reduce goodwill impairment, relative to less-able managers. Regression analysis reveals a significant and negative relationship between managerial ability and goodwill impairment measured as the likelihood of goodwill impairment and the magnitude of goodwill impairment losses. Overall, evidence suggests that managers with greater ability play an important role in preventing or reducing goodwill impairment.
Is the EDRF in the Cerebral Circulation NO? Its Release by Shear and the Dangers in Interpreting the Effects of NOS Inhibitors

Evidence from investigations of brain microcirculation (pial arterioles) reveals at least 3 different endothelium (EC) dependent mechanisms for dilation. Only one of the three can be triggered by acetylcholine (ACh) and in this vascular bed it is only this path that is dependent upon endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) which produces nitric oxide (NO) from arginine. In this vascular bed the ACh sensitive path cannot be triggered by bradykinin (BK). This state of affairs appears to differ from that found in other beds or in endothelium cultured from conductance vessels. In the cerebral micro-circulation there is considerable pharmacological evidence that the endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF) for ACh is not NO itself but may contain NO. In many experimental vascular settings the release of the NOS dependent EDRF is shear dependent. In the cerebral microcirculation there are several studies suggesting, in vivo, that this is correct. Among these are the following: (1) vessels narrow when shear is reduced after carotid ligation, and remain so along with unresponsiveness to ACh for at least ten minutes following resumption of flow. This may be important in developing stroke. The collapse is not passive due to low pressure. We know this because the narrowed vessels with their low intraluminal shear and pressure are still capable of large dilation by the NO donor, sodium nitroprus-side; (2) the antiplatelet effects of EC which are mediated, in part, by the EDRF for ACh are enhanced for 10 to 20 minutes following the transient increase and return of shear within these vessels. If the reverse is also true, reductions of shear may have important harmful proaggregant effects on platelets (and leukocytes) in the microvascular bed of developing infarcts. However most of the cited work depends upon pharmacological inhibitors of NOS to “prove” that NOS and an EDRF/NO are involved. In the last three years evidence in cats and rats shows that many of the NOS inhibitors also block K channels in cerebrovascular smooth muscle and that arginine, the “antidote” to the NOS inhibitors keeps the channels open. This latter work must force a reexamination of the conclusions reached in many studies.