cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inductive power harvesting for a touchless transmission line inspection system

Transmission line inspection becomes increasingly more important as power system infrastructure ages because proactively identifying line maintenance needs is crucial for minimizing outages. Utilizing robots to conduct such inspections is both safer for humans and less costly in terms of labor, but finding an appropriate on-line robot design presents its own set of challenges. This paper proposes a touch-free transmission line inspection system in which an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) conducts all inspection activities and, while doing so, charges from the line via inductive power transmission. Two coil designs are presented and tested for this charging application - one with an air core and one with a line-enclosing core clamp. Finally, the benefits and challenges associated with each design are discussed, along with the general practicality of inductive charging via transmission lines for UAV applications.
Computational Modeling Approach in Probing the Effects of Cytosine Methylation on the Transcription Factor Binding to DNA

Introduction: Cytosine methylation at CpG dinucleotides is a chief mechanism in epigenetic modification of gene expression patterns. Previous studies demonstrated that increased CpG methylation of Sp1 sites at -268 and -346 of protein kinase C e promoter repressed the gene expression. Materials & Methods: The present study investigated the impact of CpG methylation on the Sp1 binding via molecular modeling and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Each of the Sp1 sites contain two CpGs. Methylation of either CpG lowered the binding affinity of Sp1, whereas methylation of both CpGs produced a greater decrease in the binding affinity. Computation of van der Waals (VDW) energy of Sp1 in complex with the Sp1 sites demonstrated increased VDW values from one to two sites of CpG methylation. Molecular modeling indicated that single CpG methylation caused underwinding of the DNA fragment, with the phosphate groups at C1, C4 and C5 reoriented from their original positions. Methylation of both CpGs pinched the minor groove and increased the helical twist concomitant with a shallow, hydrophobic major groove. Additionally, double methylation eliminated hydrogen bonds on recognition helix residues located at positions -1 and 1, which were essential for interaction with O6/N7 of G-bases. Bonding from linker residues Arg565, Lys595 and Lys596 were also reduced. Methylation of single or both CpGs significantly affected hydrogen bonding from all three Sp1 DNA binding domains, demonstrating that the consequences of cytosine modification extend beyond the neighboring nucleotides. Results: The results indicate that cytosine methylation causes subtle structural alterations in Sp1 binding sites consequently resulting in inhibition of side chain interactions critical for specific base recognition and reduction of the binding affinity of Sp1.
Prospect theory for prosumer-centric energy trading in the smart grid

In this paper, the problem of energy trading between smart grid prosumers that can simultaneously consume and produce energy is studied. The problem is formulated as a noncooperative game between prosumers whose goal is to meet their energy demands at minimum cost by optimally utilizing their storage units and renewable (wind) energy sources. In this game, each prosumer will declare the amount of energy that will be sold or bought to maximize a utility function that captures the tradeoff between the profits gained from selling energy and the penalty incurred for failing to meet the declared amount, due to the stochastic nature of wind energy. The proposed game explicitly accounts for each prosumer's subjective perceptions using the framework of prospect theory (PT). In particular, a prosumer's perception of the probability of its possible profits from trading energy is captured via the weighting effect. In addition, the prosumer's valuation of its gains and losses with respect to its own preferences is captured via the so-called framing effect. To find the equilibrium of this game, a best response algorithm is proposed. Simulation results show the difference in prosumer behavior using traditional game-theoretic and prospect-theoretic analysis. In particular, the results show that probability weighting increases the sensitivity of the prosumers to penalties. Moreover, under PT, a prosumer tends to sell less energy compared to a conventional game-theoretic scenario.
Impact of location to repeat mobile mammography utilization trends: 10-year analysis of a comprehensive urban cancer center.

6577 Background: Mobile Mammography Units (MMU) are a model of community outreach through targeted locations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between MMU utilization and sc...
Abstract 19: Prognostic Value of Plasma Choline and Betaine Depend on the Intestinal Microflora-generated Metabolite Trimethylamine N-oxide

Background Recent metabolomics and animal model studies show trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), an intestinal microbiota-dependent metabolite formed from dietary phosphatidylcholine (PC), is linked with coronary artery disease (CAD) pathogenesis. Prognostic determinants of other PC metabolites recently associated with prevalent CAD risk, such as choline and betaine, have not been described. Methods We examined the relationship between fasting plasma choline, betaine, and TMAO and future risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE=death, myocardial infraction, stroke) over 3-year follow-up in 3,916 subjects undergoing elective coronary angiography. All analytes were quantified by stable isotope dilution LC/MS/MS. Results In our study cohort (mean age 63±11 years, 64% male), median [IQR] TMAO, choline, and betaine levels were 3.7 [2.4-6.2] μM, 9.8 [7.9-12.2] μM, and 41.1 [32.5-52.1] μM, respectively. Modest but statistically significant correlations were noted between TMAO and choline (r=0.33, p<0.001) and between TMAO and betaine (r=0.09, p<0.001). Higher plasma TMAO, choline and betaine levels were associated with a 2.7-fold, 1.9-fold, and 1.4-fold increased risk of MACE, respectively (Quartiles 4 vs 1: p<0.01, each). Following adjustments for traditional risk factors and hsCRP, elevated TMAO (Quartiles 4 vs 1: Hazard ratio, 1.97 [95% CI 1.50-2.60], p<0.01), choline (HR 1.34 [95% CI 1.03-1.74], p<0.05) and betaine levels (HR 1.33 [95% CI 1.03-1.73], p<0.05) each predicted increased MACE risk, but only TMAO predicted MACE risk when all 3 metabolites were included in the model (HR, 1.73 [95% CI 1.3-2.31], p<0.01). Choline and betaine only predicted increased MACE risk in those with elevated TMAO levels. Conclusion Elevated plasma levels of TMAO, and to a lesser extent choline and betaine, are associated with incident MACE risk. However, high choline and betaine levels are only associated with higher risk of future MACE with concomitant increase in TMAO. Collectively, these findings further support the atherogenic associations between intestinal-microflora dependent metabolism of PC and atherosclerosis in humans.
Troubling Bodies in Follow the North Star

In this essay, Ruth Laurion Bowman recounts and analyses her experience participating in the immersive performance developed by Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, in Indiana, where visitors pay to play the part of nineteenth-century runaway slaves. Bowman draws on body, performance, and critical race theories to argue that the performance deactivates the agency of the fugitive slave while nonetheless implying that the experience is personal and relevant to the consumer. In this way, the park implements and profits from new service economy strategies and serves as a troubling model for how complex issues such as race and slavery are performed.
Pharmacokinetics of intravenous clindamycin phosphate in captive Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus).

This study was designed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of clindamycin, a lincosamide antibiotic, in Bennett's wallabies. The pharmacokinetic properties of a single intravenous (IV) dose of clindamycin were determined in six wallabies. A single 20-min IV infusion of 20 mg/kg of clindamycin was administered, followed by blood collection prior to, and up to 12 hr after clindamycin administration. Plasma clindamycin concentrations were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection. Pharmacokinetic variables were calculated using a two-compartment model with first order elimination which best fit the data. The mean volume of distribution at steady-state, distribution half-life, and elimination half-life were 898.25 ml/kg, 0.16 hr, 1.79 hr, respectively. No adverse effects were noted after IV administration.
The Help Center of the New American University, it's IT and Beyond

This is a behind-the-scenes look at Arizona State University's Help Center, a university that embraces a "one university" approach for many campuses. The ASU Help Center is an IT Help Desk and beyond, providing tier 1 support for other foundational services such as financial aid, parking and others. This will be a look at a structure in evolution, services in development, implementing a customer-service focused culture, and processes to onboard new services and the metrics that tie it all together. At its core, this will be a look at how ASU is growing it's 24 X 7 Help Center to be the front door to all major ASU services and to serve the Arizona community.
Consistent Individualized Feature Attribution for Tree Ensembles.

Interpreting predictions from tree ensemble methods such as gradient boosting machines and random forests is important, yet feature attribution for trees is often heuristic and not individualized for each prediction. Here we show that popular feature attribution methods are inconsistent, meaning they can lower a feature's assigned importance when the true impact of that feature actually increases. This is a fundamental problem that casts doubt on any comparison between features. To address it we turn to recent applications of game theory and develop fast exact tree solutions for SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanation) values, which are the unique consistent and locally accurate attribution values. We then extend SHAP values to interaction effects and define SHAP interaction values. We propose a rich visualization of individualized feature attributions that improves over classic attribution summaries and partial dependence plots, and a unique "supervised" clustering (clustering based on feature attributions). We demonstrate better agreement with human intuition through a user study, exponential improvements in run time, improved clustering performance, and better identification of influential features. An implementation of our algorithm has also been merged into XGBoost and LightGBM, see this http URL for details.
Musical composition and gestural diagrams

By an adjoint functor argument, we reinterpret categorical gestures as being "continuous diagrams" with values in topological categories, which we therefore call "gestural diagrams". This allows to view traditional transformational diagrams as canonical restrictions of gestural diagrams and to reinterpret musical gesture theory in a natural way as a topological extension of transformational theory. We apply these tools to extend the concept of a musical score to a "processual diagrammatic score". Such a score not only captures the result of a compositional effort but also the poietic process and its underlying gestures. These conceptual extensions can be modeled on the level of denotators and forms so that an implementation for the Rubato Composer software becomes feasible. Recent developments in this software enable the definition of affine transformations using finger gesture input on trackpads. Once such gestures are abstracted in a transformational processual diagram we introduce a Bruhat decomposition argument for SL2(Z) to reconstruct canonical gestural diagrams. Based on this model, we suggest new ways of graphical software interaction that facilitate dynamic navigation and intervention in the composition's history.
VLSI Multiprocessor for Image Processing

Image analysis refers to the use of digital computers for Pattern Recognition and Image Processing (PRIP). On-line imagery data needs to be stored on disks and quickly retrieved for PRIP applications. This article presents a systematic approach to developing a special-purpose computer for processing pictorial information. This approach integrates both pattern-analysis and image-database-management capabilities into a unified design to meet the challenges. The integrated design is aimed at the development of a real-time and interactive computer system for both high-level pattern recognition and low-level image processing.
Snacking and Energy Balance in Humans

The prevalence of snacking and the number of snacks consumed per day have increased in the past three decades in the United States. These trends have been implicated in the incidence and prevalence of overweight/obesity. However, establishment of a quantitative relationship has been hampered by methodological issues. This chapter begins with a discussion of the strengths and limitations of various definitions of snacking. It then summarizes current snacking prevalence and how it plays a role in human energy balance acutely and body weight over the longer term. Although not consistent, the literature supports the view that snacking is positively related to body weight, especially when it is unplanned and contains energy-yielding beverages. The chapter concludes with a consideration of the role of snacking in weight management and how snacks can be incorporated in a healthy diet.
Abstract 552: Harnessing the Versatility of PLGA Nanoparticles for Targeted Cre-Mediated Recombination

The Cre/LoxP recombinase system has emerged as an important tool for the generation of conditional somatic mouse mutants. This method enables spatial control of gene activity in almost any tissue, ...
Optimization of therapies for men with advanced prostate cancer: a review of recent developments with a look toward the future.

Purpose of reviewSummarizes the rapid progress being made in treatment of advanced prostate cancer.Recent findingsDebate remains regarding the optimal sequencing of therapies in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer with attention focused on the use of abiraterone versus docetaxel. Randomi
Livin’ la vida intersectionality: a reflection on diversity within a latina board of directors

ABSTRACTIn this narrative essay, I reflect on my experience within a Latina Board of Directors, where members shared identity markers (all Latina; all women) and all assumed they were of like-mind,...
A 360-degree Rotatable RF Switch (360-RS) with Embedded Conductive Micro-Particles

Reconfigurable and tunable designs which provide multi-functionality are highly desirable in wireless communication systems. Amongst different methodologies to design radio frequency switching, Static Field Micro-Particle Components (SFM-PCs) have recently gained popularity due to a lack of feeding network and lower power consumption. However, the traditional structure fails to function correctly while rotated; hence, it is not suitable for many practical applications. In this work, a novel structure for SFM-PC is presented that can undergo a 360-degree rotation. The efficiency of the proposed design was evaluated by embedding it into a host discontinuous microstrip transmission line (TL). Both HFSS simulations and measurements in the anechoic chamber show that the frequency bandwidth of several GHz over a 360-degree rotation can be obtained.
SMARCA4-Deficient Thoracic Sarcomatoid Tumors Represent Primarily Smoking-Related Undifferentiated Carcinomas Rather Than Primary Thoracic Sarcomas.

Abstract Introduction Highly aggressive thoracic neoplasms characterized by SMARCA4 (BRG1) deficiency and undifferentiated round cell or rhabdoid morphology have been recently described and proposed to represent thoracic sarcomas. However, it remains unclear whether such tumors may instead represent sarcomatoid carcinomas, and how their clinicopathologic characteristics compare with those of nonsarcomatoid SMARCA4-deficient non–small cell lung carcinomas (SD-NSCC). Methods We identified 22 SMARCA4-deficient thoracic sarcomatoid tumors (SD-TSTs) with round cell and/or rhabdoid morphology and 45 SD-NSCCs, and comprehensively analyzed their clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and genomic characteristics using 341–468 gene next-generation sequencing and other molecular platforms. Results The relationship of SD-TSTs with NSCC was supported by (1) the presence of NSCC components juxtaposed with sarcomatoid areas in five cases, (2) focal expression of NSCC lineage markers TTF1 or p40 in four additional cases, (3) smoking history in all except one patient (mean = 51 pack-years), accompanied by genomic smoking signature, and (4) high tumor mutation burden (mean = 14.2 mutations per megabase) and mutations characteristic of NSCC in a subset. Compared with SD-NSCCs, SD-TSTs exhibited considerably larger primary tumor size (p Conclusions SD-TSTs represent primarily smoking-associated undifferentiated/de-differentiated carcinomas rather than primary thoracic sarcomas. Despite their histogenetic relationship with NSCC, these tumors have unique clinicopathologic characteristics, supporting their recognition as a distinct entity. Further studies are warranted to determine therapeutic approaches to this novel class of exceptionally aggressive thoracic tumors.
An Interleaved Boost and Dual Active Bridge-Based Single-Stage Three-Port DC–DC–AC Converter With Sine PWM Modulation

In this article, a new three-port converter is proposed that interfaces two dc voltage sources of different magnitudes and an output ac port in a single stage. The proposed converter is primarily based on the dual active bridge topology where the secondary bridge is composed of four quadrant bidirectional switches, which allows it to be directly connected to an ac port. The primary bridge can also be used as an interleaved bidirectional boost converter by connecting two inductors across the transformer primary, which forms an additional input DC port. The power flow between the dc ports to the ac port is based on dual phase-shift modulation where a phase shift is introduced between the two legs of the primary bridge switches and another phase shift between the primary and secondary bridges. This enables the standard sine pulsewidth modulation to be used for synthesizing ac output. For the power flow mode between the two dc ports alone, a parallel boost modulation is proposed that improves the system efficiency by removing any circulating current introduced by traditional interleaving. The proposed converter achieves fully soft switched three-port power conversion with a reduced number of active devices compared to the existing topologies. The modulation scheme is also much simpler and requires no optimization or complex control. A PowerSim-based simulation program is used for validating the proposed converter. A 200-W prototype is built to experimentally verify the theoretical analysis of the proposed converter.
The Power of Parent Education: Transition Planning for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities

Due to the underrepresentation of Asian students with disabilities in the USA, only a dearth of studies have focused on this population, and none have focused on training Asian families to be engaged in transition planning. There is a need to note that the number of Asian students with disabilities continues to grow in several disability categories, such as autism. To address this research gap, this chapter discusses how a train-the-parent trainer program prepares Chinese immigrant families to be engaged in the transition planning process and empowers them to be leaders and advocates, so they can offer support to other Chinese families of students with disabilities in the community. Although a train-the-trainer model has been used frequently in other areas of special education and is found to be very effective, this is the first program that focuses on training a parent population and those whose primary language is not English.
Post-Fukushima discourse in the US press: Quantified knowledge, the technical object, and a panicked public:

Many thought that the 11 March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan might be the end of the "global nuclear renaissance." In Europe, mass media after Fukushima increasingly presented negative framing of nuclear energy and highlighted declining support for the nuclear industry. In the United States, however, nuclear production and public support for the industry remained steady. This article analyzes US media documents to understand the construction of public discourse on nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. Through a content analysis of US newspapers, it demonstrates that post-Fukushima media framed the crisis in a way that privileged expert knowledge and opinion, while delegitimizing non-expert engagement with nuclear energy issues. A comparison between national newspapers and newspapers located in two regions with controversial nuclear plants and active anti-nuclear citizens' movements additionally demonstrates the power and reach of the identified framework across the spectrum of views on nuclear power.
Reconstitution of human kinetochore in mitotic cell extracts reveals permitted and restricted assembly steps

Assembly of a functional kinetochore is critical for accurate chromosome segregation. Hierarchical recruitment of soluble components during kinetochore assembly is a highly regulated mitotic event, but the underlying steps are not well understood. In yeast and Xenopus egg extracts, soluble kinetochore components can spontaneously assemble into microtubule-binding subcomplexes. Although the molecular interactions among specific kinetochore components are evolutionary conserved in eukaryotes, it remains unclear which de novo assembly steps are permitted in extracts of mitotic human cells. By analyzing the recruitment of GFP-fused kinetochore proteins from human mitotic cell extracts to inner kinetochore components immobilized on microbeads, we reconstructed the interaction between CENP-C and CENP-A−containing nucleosomes. However, subsequent phospho-dependent binding of the Mis12 complex was less efficient, whereas binding of the Ndc80 complex was inhibited. Consistently, the microtubule-binding activity of native kinetochore components, as well as those assembled using a combination of native and recombinant human proteins, was weaker than that of recombinant Ndc80 complex alone. Such inhibitory mechanisms that prevent interactions between different kinetochore components are likely to guard against spurious formation of kinetochores in the cytosol of mitotic human cells, and imply existence of specific regulatory mechanisms that permit these interactions at the assembling kinetochore.
Salt, water, and vasopressin in polycystic kidney disease.

Excessive salt intake and vasopressin may promote cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline in chronic kidney disease. Kramers et al. confirmed the effects of salt in a large autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease cohort. Copeptin mediated 72% and 25% of the salt effects on GFR decline and kidney growth. Kidney growth did not significantly contribute to the copeptin-mediated salt effect on GFR. Differences in kidney growth and GFR decline trajectories and factors other than cyst growth contributing to GFR decline may explain the divergent effects.
Cortical surface thickness, subcortical volumes and disability between races in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract Background The interplay between cortical surface thickness (CTh), subcortical volumes (SCV) and disability in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is still not clear. Objective To examine the relationship between CTh, SCV, and disability and investigate differences in CTh, SCV and disability between African Americans (AA) and Caucasian Americans (CA). Methods Sixty-five RRMS (33AA, 32 CA) participants underwent Expanded Disability Status Scale and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) assessments, including timed 25-foot walk (T25FW), nine-hole peg test (9HPT) on dominant (D) and non-dominant hand (ND) and paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT-3). Symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) was also administered. All participants underwent 3T brain MRI. CTh was measured in the Frontal (FA), Parietal (PA), Temporal (TA), Occipital (OA), Cingulate (CA), and Global (GA) cortical surface areas (CSA). SCV measurements included Thalamus (TV), Caudate (CV), Putamen (PV), Pallidum (PaV), Hippocampus (HV), Amygdala (AV), Accumbens (AcV), Brain Stem (BSV), and Deep Gray Matter Total Volume (DGMTV). A general linear model with multivariate analysis (MANOVA) was used to determine the differences between the two cohorts (SPSS vs 25). Spearman rank correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between CTh and MSFC. Results AA have significantly decreased FA, PA, TA, GA CTh compared to CA (p = 0.004, p = 0.018, p = 0.013, p = 0.015, respectively). SCV measurements were not significantly different. Only in CA, the MSFC measures correlate significantly with regional CSA CTh. In both races and in the entire group, T25FW correlates with TV, PV, AV, AcV and DGMTV (p Conclusions Differences in CSA CTh reinforce the different disease pathobiology between AA and CA. Regional CTh may represent a useful biomarker related to multi-domain disability only in CA, while in AA DGM injury might be a more important contributor to disability. Longitudinal, large-scale studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
Use of an Lpp-OmpA fusion vehicle for bacterial surface display.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the application of lipoprotein (Lpp)–OmpA fusion vehicle to study the surface of bacteria. The Lpp–OmpA vector is designed for use in the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli ; the rationale for its dibrid form stems from the architecture of the E. coli envelope and the properties of the major Lpp and OmpA proteins. The envelope of gram-negative cells consists of (i) a cytoplasmic membrane, (ii) the periplasm, in which the peptidoglycan cell wall is located, and (iii) the outer membrane (OM), a unique structure composed of proteins embedded in an asymmetric lipid bilayer containing phospholipid in the inner leaflet and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer leaflet. In the Lpp-OmpA vector, the Lpp domain serves to target and anchor the tribrid to the OM and the OmpA domain is required for the surface expression of the passenger. The relevant properties of these two proteins follow immediately. The Lpp protein of E. coli is an OM protein and is, therefore, synthesized with a signal sequence and exported, numerically the most abundant protein of E. coli, present as a trimer, and is positioned in the OM such that most of the protein is located in the periplasm. A fusion protein consisting of the Lpp signal sequence and the first nine amino acids of mature Lpp linked to the normally soluble, periplasmic protein TEM β -lactamase (Bla) was localized to the OM. This ability of the Lpp amino terminus to target passenger proteins to the OM is utilized in the Lpp–OmpA construct.
Sodium cotransport in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Vascular smooth muscle cells possess a number of Na cotransport systems. Three of these cotransport systems, Na/Ca exchange, Na/H exchange and Na-K-Cl cotransport, have been the subject of an increasi
Expanding Opportunity Structures: Parental Investments in Education, Migration, and Extrinsic Risk Reduction among Indo-Fijians

Parental investment strategies are contingent on parental capacities and ecology. Parental embodied capital may be important in aspiration construction and investments in children’s human capital, which is especially important in urban environments where skills are directly tied to wage income. For Indo-Fijians, rural ecology strongly limits opportunities. Here this limitation is conceptualized as extrinsic risk and immune to reduction through enhanced parental investment. Urban migration is interpreted as a risk reduction strategy, given an expanded urban opportunity structure (lower extrinsic risk). Qualitative and quantitative data from 678 Indo-Fijian children suggest that, contingent on parental capacities, parents migrate in response to their perceptions of decreased opportunities that manifest as high levels of extrinsic risk in rural environments. Parental investment in quality and quantity corresponds to parental perceptions of extrinsic risk, which in turn correspond to migration status, indicating that parental strategies do respond to perceived limits on investment payoffs.
The Myth of Scotland as Nowhere in Particular

In a number of recent films, Scotland has served as the setting for dramas that could have taken place anywhere. This has occurred in two related ways: First, there are films such as Doomsday (2008), Perfect Sense (2011), and Under the Skin (2013). These films involve storylines that, while they do take place in Scotland, do not require the country as a setting. Second, there are films such as Prometheus (2012), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Cloud Atlas (2012), and World War Z (2013). These films, while being filmed (at least partly) in Scotland, have plots that do not involve Scotland. Scottish locations, in this second group of movies, act as stand-ins for locations in other cities, or even other worlds. This phenomenon, in which the uniqueness of Scottish locations is deemphasized so that they may act as mere backdrops for the primary action in films, is a relatively new one. It is in sharp contrast to another, more traditional tendency in movie making in which Scottish locations are foregrounded to dramatize myths and stereotypes uniquely Scottish; such as Kailyard, Tartantry or Clydesideism. In this paper I pursue an analysis, drawing on the work of Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre, that characterizes this trend as part of a new Scottish myth in the making: the myth of Scotland as nowhere in particular. The myth of Scotland as nowhere in particular takes the countryside and cities of Scotland as raw material for the telling of stories having transcultural interest. In this, Scotland becomes a space or clearing with no particular defining characteristics of its own to distract from the dramas themselves. This allows for the unfolding of narratives that, while they use Scotland as a setting, have little if anything to do with Scotland, and thus appeal to anyone, anywhere.
Applying spatial diversity to mitigate partial band interference in undersea networks

Many acoustic channels suffer from interference which is neither narrowband nor impulsive. This relatively long duration partial band interference can be particularly detrimental to system performance. We survey recent work in interference mitigation and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) as background motivation to develop a spatial diversity receiver for use in underwater networks. The network consists of multiple distributed cabled hydrophones that receive data transmitted over a time-varying multipath channel in the presence of partial band interference produced by interfering active sonar signals as well as marine mammal vocalizations. In operational networks, many “dropped” messages are lost due to partial band interference which corrupts different portions of the received signal depending on the relative position of the interferers, information source and receivers due to the slow speed of propagation.
Dependence of radar backscattering on northern forest structure observed from AIRSAR and SIR-C/XSAR

Radar backscattering coefficients from Canadian boreal forest stands were extracted and compared with respect to their unique structures. Co-polarization returns are sensitive to the structure and should be considered in image interpretation and algorithm development for forest physical retrieval.
An Efficient Algorithm for Minimizing a Sum of p -Norms

We study the problem of minimizing a sum of p-norms where p is a fixed real number in the interval $[1, \infty]$. Several practical algorithms have been proposed to solve this problem. However, none of them has a known polynomial time complexity. In this paper, we transform the problem into standard conic form. Unlike those in most convex optimization problems, the cone for the p-norm problem is not self-dual unless p=2. Nevertheless, we are able to construct two logarithmically homogeneous self-concordant barrier functions for this problem. The barrier parameter of the first barrier function does not depend on p. The barrier parameter of the second barrier function increases with p. Using both barrier functions, we present a primal-dual potential reduction algorithm to compute an $\epsilon$-optimal solution in polynomial time that is independent of p. Computational experiences with a Matlab implementation are also reported.
Effects of simultaneous 13C1H and 13C11B decoupling on the carbon‐13 n.m.r. spectra of some organoboron compounds

13C FT n.m.r. spectra were obtained from borates of methyl α-D-glucopyranoside, triethylboron, sodium tetraphenylboron and 1-butaneboronic acid employing a simultaneous 1H and 11B decoupling network. The effectiveness of the system was evident using the three latter organoboron compounds. Since no diminution in line broadening of signals occurred in the spectrum of the sugar borate, the absence of 13CO11B coupling was indicated. This finding was confirmed by comparing the effects of varying the temperatures of sugar borates and triethylboron on their conventional 13C n.m.r. spectra.
Combustion efficiency, radiation, co and soot yield from a variety of gaseous, liquid, and solid fueled buoyant diffusion flames

The following compilation of data describes combustion conditions for the free burning of propane, heptane, 3 crude oils, wood and polyurethane cribs in fuel package sizes less than a meter, having heat release rates up to 1/2 MW. Measurements include heat release rate from O2 depletion calorimetry, mass loss rate, incident radiative flux to nearby targets, flame and liquid interface temperatures and overall major gaseous species yield including soot. The information contained herein provides a data base for buoyant diffusion flame modelling regarding radiation and elementary chemical characterization. There appears to be a one-to-one correspondence between a fuels radiative behavior and its soot and CO yield. Urethanes and crude oil have significantly higher values for all these parameters as compared to propane, heptane and wood. No correlation was found between these measurements and time-averaged thermocouple readings of temperature.
Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law. By Antony Anghie

Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law. By Antony Anghie. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Pp. 378. f 110.00 cloth. Reviewed by Leslye Obiora, University of Arizona Anghie posits imperial interests as the crucible for the improvisation of the norms, structures, and processes that constitute the international rule of law. Identifying the seminal works of Francisco de Vitoria as a watershed that engendered juridical techniques and institutions manifestly appropriated as license to live by plunder, he copiously depicts the chameleonic persistence of Vitorian epochs belied by rituals of innovation in the international legal framework. Exploring the politics that inform the complex of rules refereeing what entities are sovereign and ascribing relevant powers (p. 16), Anghie analyzes the doctrine of sovereignty not merely as a fetish albeit impotent to fetter imperialism, but precisely as a simple expedient contrived to entrench colonial exploitations. Addressing the intimate connection between the doctrine and the question of culture, the author critiques the construction of sovereignty as the intrinsic preserve of a racialized elite simultaneously vested with the prerogative to arbitrate the ripeness (or lack thereof) of competing entities for induction. In a similar vein, Anghie invokes an array of vivid arguments to demonstrate the contemporary significance of the self-sustaining exclusions that inaugurated the jurisprudential resources of international law as a strategy of European imperialism. Illuminating the ideological and material constraints that predetermine dominations and the dependencies that thwart the substantive self-determination of third world states, he illustrates the incoherence of the axiom of sovereign equality and its corollaries as models of universal applicability. Underscoring a constellation of fictions that reinforce the disparate integration of the third world into the global order, the author chronicles a genius of creativity that legitimizes and perpetuates imperialism as a pervasive constant. Dissecting iterations of the colonial encounter as fossils with discernible imprints of historical shifts in the global political economy that incubate perenniai inequities, Anghie draws on the Mandate System to exemplify the genesis of egregious extremities that precipitated the Rwandan carnage (p. 191). The instructiveness of Anghie's insight into the profound influence of the global political economy on localized violence falters in light of the explanatory force he imputes to ethnicity and racial determinism in lieu of rigorous attention to the objective conditions underlying conflict over resources (p. 206). The work would have been further enriched had the author turned his piercing gaze to explore, animate, and engage the third world's agency in its own predicament. An undertone of the work suggests an unquestioning embrace of the passivity of the third world that is rather curious. …
High pressure–low temperature processing of beef: Effects on survival of internalized E. coli O157:H7 and quality characteristics

Abstract High pressure–low temperature (HPLT) processing was investigated to achieve Escherichia coli O157:H7 inactivation in non-intact, whole muscle beef while maintaining acceptable quality characteristics. Beef semitendinosus was internally inoculated with a four strain E. coli O157:H7 cocktail and frozen to − 35 °C, then subjected to 551 MPa for 4 min (HPLT). Compared to frozen, untreated control (F), HPLT reduced microbial population by 1.7 log colony forming units (CFU)/g on selective media and 1.4 log on non-selective media. High pressure without freezing (551 MPa/4 min/3 °C) increased pH and lightness while decreasing redness, cook yield, tenderness, and protein solubility. Aside from a 4% decrease in cook yield, HPLT, had no significant effects on quality parameters. It was demonstrated that HPLT treatment reduces internalized E. coli O157:H7 with minimal effect on quality factors, meaning it may have a potential role in reducing the risk associated with non-intact red meat. Industrial relevance In the current work, high pressure (551 MPa, 4 min) was applied to beef semitendinosus while it was at subfreezing temperatures ( E. coli O157:H7 reductions of 1.4–1.7 log colony forming units (CFU)/g, which, while lower than conventional high pressure processing (HPP), may be sufficient to eliminate O157 populations typical of non-intact, whole muscle beef. Various quality factors, including color, purge losses and cooked tenderness, were unaffected by HPLT, while an equivalent HPP process at nonfreezing temperatures (551 MPa, 3 °C) induced color change (loss of redness), increased cook losses and decreased cooked tenderness compared to the control and HPLT beef. Producers of non-intact, whole muscle (blade tenderized or brine injected) meat, especially those that ship and sell frozen products, may look to HPLT processes to improve food safety.
Multiscale intensity homogeneity transformation method and its application to computer-aided detection of pulmonary embolism in computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA)

A 3D multiscale intensity homogeneity transformation (MIHT) method was developed to reduce false positives (FPs) in our previously developed CAD system for pulmonary embolism (PE) detection. In MIHT, the voxel intensity of a PE candidate region was transformed to an intensity homogeneity value (IHV) with respect to the local median intensity. The IHVs were calculated in multiscales (MIHVs) to measure the intensity homogeneity, taking into account vessels of different sizes and different degrees of occlusion. Seven new features including the entropy, gradient, and moments that characterized the intensity distributions of the candidate regions were derived from the MIHVs and combined with the previously designed features that described the shape and intensity of PE candidates for the training of a linear classifier to reduce the FPs. 59 CTPA PE cases were collected from our patient files (UM set) with IRB approval and 69 cases from the PIOPED II data set with access permission. 595 and 800 PEs were identified as reference standard by experienced thoracic radiologists in the UM and PIOPED set, respectively. FROC analysis was used for performance evaluation. Compared with our previous CAD system, at a test sensitivity of 80%, the new method reduced the FP rate from 18.9 to 14.1/scan for the PIOPED set when the classifier was trained with the UM set and from 22.6 to 16.0/scan vice versa. The improvement was statistically significant (p<0.05) by JAFROC analysis. This study demonstrated that the MIHT method is effective in reducing FPs and improving the performance of the CAD system.
Modeling technology innovation: How science, engineering, and industry methods can combine to generate beneficial socioeconomic impacts

Government-sponsored science, technology, and innovation (STI) programs support the socioeconomic aspects of public policies, in addition to expanding the knowledge base. For example, beneficial healthcare services and devices are expected to result from investments in research and development (R&D) programs, which assume a causal link to commercial innovation. Such programs are increasingly held accountable for evidence of impact—that is, innovative goods and services resulting from R&D activity. However, the absence of comprehensive models and metrics skews evidence gathering toward bibliometrics about research outputs (published discoveries), with less focus on transfer metrics about development outputs (patented prototypes) and almost none on econometrics related to production outputs (commercial innovations). This disparity is particularly problematic for the expressed intent of such programs, as most measurable socioeconomic benefits result from the last category of outputs. This paper proposes a conceptual framework integrating all three knowledge-generating methods into a logic model, useful for planning, obtaining, and measuring the intended beneficial impacts through the implementation of knowledge in practice. Additionally, the integration of the Context-Input-Process-Product (CIPP) model of evaluation proactively builds relevance into STI policies and programs while sustaining rigor. The resulting logic model framework explicitly traces the progress of knowledge from inputs, following it through the three knowledge-generating processes and their respective knowledge outputs (discovery, invention, innovation), as it generates the intended socio-beneficial impacts. It is a hybrid model for generating technology-based innovations, where best practices in new product development merge with a widely accepted knowledge-translation approach. Given the emphasis on evidence-based practice in the medical and health fields and “bench to bedside” expectations for knowledge transfer, sponsors and grantees alike should find the model useful for planning, implementing, and evaluating innovation processes. High-cost/high-risk industries like healthcare require the market deployment of technology-based innovations to improve domestic society in a global economy. An appropriate balance of relevance and rigor in research, development, and production is crucial to optimize the return on public investment in such programs. The technology-innovation process needs a comprehensive operational model to effectively allocate public funds and thereby deliberately and systematically accomplish socioeconomic benefits.
Continuity of the limit set maps in semidynamical systems

Abstract Given a semiflow on a metric space X (not necessarily locally compact), we relate notions of stability to the continuity of the orbital and limit set maps, K ( x ) and L ( x ), where K and L are considered as maps from X to 2 X .
Correlation of Ischemia-Induced Extracellular and Intracellular Ion Changes to Cell-to-Cell Electrical Uncoupling in Isolated Blood-Perfused Rabbit Hearts

Background The relationships between the metabolic, ionic, and electrical changes of acute ischemia have not been determined precisely because they have been studied under different experimental conditions. We used ion-selective electrodes, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the four-electrode method to perform four series of experiments in the isolated blood-perfused rabbit heart loaded with 5F-BAPTA during 30 to 35 minutes of no-flow ischemia. We sought to determine the relationship between changes in phosphocreatine (PCr), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), intracellular pH (pHi), extracellular potassium ([K+]e), extracellular pH (pHe), and whole-tissue resistance (rt). Methods and Results In the first 8 minutes of ischemia, [K+]e rose from 4.9 to 10.8 mmol/L, PCr fell by 90%, ATP decreased by 25%, and pHi and pHe decreased by 0.5 U, while [Ca2+]i and rt changed only slightly. Between 8 and 23 minutes, [K+]e changed only slightly; pHi, pHe, and ATP continued to fal...
Narrative in Martin Luther King's I've been to the mountaintop

Martin Luther King's I've Been to the Mountaintop oration is examined as a significant instance of the rhetorical use of existing narrative as an inventional and argumentative strategy. The narrative functions both as a redescription of situation and as an example for political action. These functions correspond to formal characteristics of narrative form, and suggest that such narratives simultaneously display elements of both metaphor and illustrative parallel.
An applied analysis of rural water supply planning in Sierra Leone

Abstract The problem of rural water supply in many Less Developed Countries (LDCs) is examined by focussing on the case of Sierra Leone. It is suggested that the problem can be alleviated by using less politicized (more rational) strategies and by adopting techniques that utilize the expertise of social scientists in order to complement engineering studies. A simple location-allocation strategy is outlined in order to implement the rural water supply plan. Instead of expanding water supply one village at a time, water supply regions are created in such a way that certain villages with high demand become nodal points serving a hinterland of villages with lesser demand. In this way, water supply gets to many people at a fast rate and economies of scale are realized for the whole system.
Key Curve Analysis of Crack-Growth-Resistance Curves,

A previously suggested relation among load, displacement, and remaining-ligament for stable crack growth was validated by examining literature data on three-point-bend and compact specimens. The resulting key curves were found to consist of one or more power-law segments, with the major portion of growth generally confined to one of the segments. The J-integral was then expressed in terms of the parameters of the power-law equations. The crack-growth-resistance curves and tearing moduli calculated in this manner agree well with those found using other far-field computational techniques.