cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the number of queries necessary to identify a permutation

Abstract Let p and q be two permutations over {1, 2,…, n}. We denote by m(p, q) the number of integers i, 1 ≤ i ≤ n, such that p(i) = q(i). For each fixed permutation p, a query is a permutation q of the same size and the answer a(q) to this query is m(p, q). We investigate the problem of finding the minimum number of queries required to identify an unknown permutation p. A polynomial-time algorithm that identifies a permutation of size n by O(n · log2n) queries is presented. The lower bound of this problem is also considered. It is proved that the problem of determining the size of the search space created by a given set of queries and answers is #P-complete. Since this counting problem is essential for the analysis of the lower bound, a complete analysis of the lower bound appears infeasible. We conjecture, based on some preliminary analysis, that the lower bound is Ω(n · log 2 n) .
Describing charmonium correlation functions in Euclidean time

We present a detailed investigation of the quark mass-dependence of charmonium correlators in Euclidean-time obtained using potential model as well as the comparison with results on isotropic lattice calculations.
DIG: A Dynamic Invariant Generator for Polynomial and Array Invariants

This article describes and evaluates DIG, a dynamic invariant generator that infers invariants from observed program traces, focusing on numerical and array variables. For numerical invariants, DIG supports both nonlinear equalities and inequalities of arbitrary degree defined over numerical program variables. For array invariants, DIG generates nested relations among multidimensional array variables. These properties are nontrivial and challenging for current static and dynamic invariant analysis methods. The key difference between DIG and existing dynamic methods is its generative technique, which infers invariants directly from traces, instead of using traces to filter out predefined templates. To generate accurate invariants, DIG employs ideas and tools from the mathematical and formal methods domains, including equation solving, polyhedra construction, and theorem proving; for example, DIG represents and reasons about polynomial invariants using geometric shapes. Experimental results on 27 mathematical algorithms and an implementation of AES encryption provide evidence that DIG is effective at generating invariants for these programs.
Incremental Learning for Text Document Classification

This paper presents our research in incremental learning for text document classification. Incremental learning is important in text document classification since many applications have huge amount of training data, and training documents become available through time. We propose an incremental learning framework, ILTC(Incremental Learning of Text Classification) that involves the learning of features of text classes followed by an incremental Perceptron learning process. ILTC has the capabilities of incremental learning of new feature dimensions as well as new document classes. We applied the ILTC to a classification system of diagnostic text documents. The experiment results demonstrate that ILTC was able to incrementally learn new knowledge from newly available training data without either referring to the older training data or forgetting the already learnt knowledge.
Increased protein turnover in obese women

Some previous studies have indicated that rates of proteolysis and protein synthesis are greater in obese than in lean subjects, whereas others have not supported this finding. In the present study, we have measured postabsorptive protein turnover in a large group (n = 24) of obese women to establish more conclusively whether obese women have higher rates of protein turnover than lean women (n = 12), and to determine whether obese subjects with the greatest abdominal fat accumulation or those with the most severe insulin resistance (as determined by oral glucose tolerance testing) have the highest rates of protein turnover. Leucine appearance rate (Ra) was used as an index of whole-body proteolysis, and the fraction of Ra not oxidized was used as an index of whole-body protein synthesis. Leu Ra, oxidation, and incorporation into protein after an overnight fast were approximately 25% greater in obese than in lean women, and were approximately 10% to 15% greater after dividing by lean body mass (LBM) or adjusting for LBM by analysis of covariance. Among obese women, the degree of obesity (over the range of 30% to 47% fat) was not a significant determinant of protein turnover, nor were degree of insulin resistance, visceral fat accumulation (determined by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), or subcutaneous abdominal fat accumulation (also determined by MRI). However, the women with the highest rates of protein turnover also had higher waist to hip circumference ratios (WHR). We conclude that even moderate obesity is associated with increased protein turnover, and that this effect is not completely explained by the higher LBM in obese subjects.
Effect of peer nominations of teacher-student support at individual and classroom levels on social and academic outcomes.

Abstract This longitudinal study examined the prospective relations between 713 elementary students' individual peer teacher support reputation (PTSR) and a measure of the classroom-wide dispersion of peer nominations of teacher support (Centralization of Teacher Support) on students' peer relatedness (i.e., peer acceptance and peer academic reputation) and academic motivation (i.e., academic self-efficacy and teacher-rated behavioral engagement). PTSR was measured as the proportion of classmates who nominated a given student on a descriptor of teacher–student support. Centralization of Teacher Support was assessed using social network analysis to identify the degree to which peer nominations of teacher support in a classroom centered on a few students. PTSR predicted changes in all student outcomes, above academic achievement and relevant covariates. Centralization of Teacher Support predicted changes in students' peer academic reputation, net the effect of PTSR and covariates. Students' academic achievement moderated effects of PTSR and Centralization of Teacher Support on some outcomes. Findings highlight the importance of peers' perceptions of teacher support and of the structure of those perceptions for children's social and academic outcomes. Implications for practice are discussed.
Dynamic spectrum sensing-scheduling in agile networks with compressed belief information

In this paper, a cross-layer framework for joint distributed spectrum sensing, estimation and scheduling in agile wireless networks is presented. A network of secondary users (SUs) opportunistically accesses portions of the spectrum left unused by a network of licensed primary users (PUs). A central controller (CC) schedules the spectrum bands detected as idle for access by the SUs, based on compressed measurements acquired by the SUs and local feedback information from the PUs. The sparsity in the spectrum occupancy dynamics is exploited: leveraging the spectrum occupancy estimate in the previous slot, the CC needs to estimate only a residual uncertainty vector via sparse recovery techniques, thus few measurements suffice. The sensing probability of the SUs and the spectrum scheduling are adapted over time by the CC, based on the current spectrum occupancy estimate, and jointly optimized so as to maximize the SU throughput, under constraints on the PU throughput degradation and the sensing-transmission cost incurred by the SUs. The high dimensionality of the POMDP formulation is reduced by resorting to a compact state space representation via minimization of the Kullback-Leibler divergence. Simulation results demonstrate improvements up to 70% in the SU throughput over a scheme where sensing is done only locally at the CC, at a fraction of the sensing cost with respect to a scheme where sensing is done in each slot by the SUs.
Climate Variability and Human Migration in the Netherlands, 1865–1937

Human migration is frequently cited as a potential social outcome of climate change and variability, and these effects are often assumed to be stronger in the past when economies were less developed and markets more localized. Yet, few studies have used historical data to test the relationship between climate and migration directly. In addition, the results of recent studies that link demographic and climate data are not consistent with conventional narratives of displacement responses. Using longitudinal individual-level demographic data from the Historical Sample of the Netherlands and climate data that cover the same period, we examine the effects of climate variability on migration using event history models. Only internal moves in the later period and for certain social groups are associated with negative climate conditions, and the strength and direction of the observed effects change over time. International moves decrease with extreme rainfall, suggesting that the complex relationships between climate and migration that have been observed for contemporary populations extend into the nineteenth century.
Using insitu satellite data to describe global scale variations in space weather

Quite frequently visible and uv imagery of the ionosphere and upper atmosphere is used to describe the global scale characteristics of ion density and composition. This invaluable data can be obtained from satellites at very high altitude, providing a complete global picture at modest scale sizes, or from low Earth orbit, where a more restricted view with higher spatial resolution is possible. Here we describe how in-situ data obtained from low Earth orbit can be visualized in a manner similar to optical emission data. With this approach global scale variations of key parameters like plasma temperature and ion velocity can be added to those of composition and density to reveal the evolution of the system in response to external drivers. During times of high magnetic activity the links between key parameters over large temporal and spatial scales can be easily visualized and cuts through the images reveal details that can be used in more quantitative descriptions.
Integrating nephelometer measurements for the airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass concentrations

Abstract This work describes the application of integrating nephelometer measurements for the determination of airborne fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) mass concentrations. In response to over 150 complaints (spanning a period of 20 years) from local citizens of irritant fogs and pungent odors, the North Carolina Division of Air Quality conducted a monitoring program, in collaboration with the Washington Regional Air Quality Office and PCS Phosphate, Inc., to characterize air quality in the Pamlico River airshed of eastern North Carolina. The continuous monitoring from 1 May through 31 October 2000 at four sites, involved collection of air samples and subsequent quantification for reactive acidic and basic gases, aerosols and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) using a 7-day Annular Denuder System (ADS). Additionally, the airborne concentration of the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) was concurrently (to the ADS) monitored using a tapered element oscillating micro-balance (TEOM). Relevant meteorological data were obtained from conventional sensors installed at each sampling site. An integrating nephelometer was used for the regional visibility measurements. An integrating nephelometer was used to measure light scattering (a surrogate for visibility) continuously for 24-h per day over a 6-month period at the four sites. A linear relationship has been found for the nephelometer (Beta scat ) measurements and mass data (PM 2.5 ) obtained both from the TEOM and ADS. The calculated correlation coefficient results between nephelometer and ADS and nephelometer and TEOM are satisfactory and close to one. This indicates that in this region, the nephelometer measurements have the potential to be a surrogate for the determination of regional airborne fine particle (PM 2.5 ) mass concentrations. The ratios for each of the four sampling sites using 24-h averages of nephelometer data and PM 2.5 concentrations from the ADS units and the TEOM gave an average ratio of 0.32±0.02. This value implies that the physical properties of the fine particulate (PM 2.5 ) mass at each of the four sites were similar. The precision of nephelometer measurements (as Beta scat ) has been demonstrated by collocating three nepehlometers for continuous 24-h measurements for 10 days at one of the four sampling sites. Percent difference among the three instruments ranged from 0.42% to 4.41% and the inter-correlation produced R 2 values of 0.9833, 0.9874 and 0.9943, respectively. This study results demonstrates that the integrating nephelometer is a simple, inexpensive and a sensitive instrument that can be used in field studies. Furthermore, data on both light scattering (for visibility) and fine particulate (PM 2.5 ) mass concentrations can be obtained reliably and importantly in a time effective manner for a rapid assessment of fine particle (PM 2.5 ) air pollution.
Farmers' perceptions towards forests: A case study from Haiti

Integrated conservation and development projects in the recent years view local people's support for protected areas management as an important element of biodiversity conservation. Increased knowledge about the interaction between conservation of natural resources and the development needs of local people is an essential part of understanding sustainable protected areas management in Haiti. This paper investigates farmers' perceptions on the impact of the Foret des Pins Reserve on the economic, social, and environmental status of local people using factor analysis and linear structural models. Data from 243 farmers inside the Reserve are used in the empirical analysis. The results suggest that farmers most value economic and environmental objectives, such as tourism and tree planting activities, in promoting forestry programs inside the Reserve. Respondents who believe that their farming activities would benefit from forestry programs through soil protection tended to be more positive.
Allocation of Overhead Costs in Lodging Properties

The purpose of this study was to determine if hotels are fully allocating overhead costs to operated departments such as rooms. It also examined the reasons why hotels allocate overhead, what their...
Actin's prokaryotic homologs.

Actin is one of the most abundant and conserved eukaryotic proteins. Remarkably, two prokaryotic homologs of actin, MreB and ParM, have only recently been identified. MreB and ParM polymerize into filaments and play important roles in the control of bacterial cell shape and plasmid segregation, respectively. Whereas the eukaryotic actins display a remarkable degree of conservation (e.g. no amino acid changes in muscle actin from chickens to humans), the two bacterial proteins have as much sequence similarity to each other (∼11% sequence identity) as they do to actin. It is possible that the interesting properties of eukaryotic F-actin may account for the unusual degree of conservation among the actins, whereas the bacterial proteins have had fewer constraints over the course of evolution.
Variability in mortality after caesarean delivery, appendectomy, and groin hernia repair in low-income and middle-income countries: implications for expanding surgical services

Abstract Background While surgical interventions occur at lower rates in resource-poor settings, rates of complication and death after surgery are substantial but have not been well quantified. A deeper understanding of outcomes is a crucial step to ensure that quality accompanies increased global access to surgical care. We aimed to assess mortality following surgery to assess the risks of such interventions in these environments. Methods We collected the most recent demographic, health, and economic data from WHO for 114 countries classified as low-income or lower-middle-income according to the World Bank in 2005. We searched OVID, MedLine, PubMed, and SCOPUS to identify studies in these countries reporting all-cause mortality after three commonly performed operations: caesarean delivery, appendectomy, and groin hernia repair. Reports from governmental and other agencies were also identified. We modelled surgical mortality rates for countries without reported data with the lasso technique that performs continuous variable subset selection to avoid model overfitting. We validated our model against known case fatality rates for caesarean delivery. We aggregated mortality results by subregion to account for variability in data availability. We then created collective surgical case fatality rates by WHO region. Findings We identified 42 countries with mortality data for at least one of the three procedures. Median reported mortality rates were 7·7 per 1000 operations for caesarean delivery (IQR 3–14), 4·0 per 1000 operations for appendectomy (IQR 0–17), and 4·7 per 1000 operations for hernia groin (IQR 0–13); all recorded deaths occurred during the same admission to hospital as the operation. Based on our model, case fatality rate estimates by subregion ranged from 0·7 (central Europe) to 13·9 (central sub-Saharan Africa) per 1000 caesarean deliveries, 5·6 (central Asia) to 6·4 (central sub-Saharan Africa) per 1000 appendectomies, and 3·5 (tropical Latin America) to 33·9 (central sub-Saharan Africa) per 1000 hernia repairs. Interpretation All-cause postoperative mortality rates are exceedingly variable within resource-constrained environments, and substantially higher than those in middle-income and high-income settings. Efforts to expand surgical access and provision of services must include a strong commitment to improve the safety and quality of care. Funding None.
QUANTA: quality of service architecture for native TCP/IP over ATM networks

We propose a quality of service (QoS) architecture, QUANTA, for an end system protocol suite. We use TCP(UDP)/IP over ATM as a testbed to develop the architecture. We measure the application level QoS in terms of throughput, delay, round trip time, and loss to identify the base line performance an application can expect from such an environment. From the no-load condition we measure the behavior of these protocols at various data rates and user submitted data block sizes. We demonstrate the tradeoffs involved in obtaining high throughput, low delays, low round trip time, and zero losses at different data rates. We use host load condition experiments to understand the interaction between the CPU intensive jobs and the communication intensive jobs. We use network load condition experiments to observe interaction between multiple streams of the above two protocol suites, and its effect on the application QoS. Given these observations we define the missing components in the current protocol architectures to provide tighter control on the QoS guarantees. Components we define in QUANTA include a two level application to network QoS translator protocol tuning components, local feedback component, class based scheduling etc.
Recurrent demyelination in chronic central nervous system infection produced by Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus

Abstract A morphologic study of demyelination produced by Theiler's encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection in C3H/He mice was performed. Demyelination in this strain of mouse was less intense and had a milder gliomesodermal response than that observed in SJL mice. As early as 80 days after infection numerous remyelinated axons were present in C3H/He mice, and later, extensive remyelination was observed and was mainly by Schwann cells. About one-third of remyelinated plaques showed recurrent demyelinating activity at 200 days. The best evidence of recurrent demyelination was the loss of myelin by axons which had been previously remyelinated by Schwann cells. In addition, acute areas of demyelination were also seen in spinal cords which contained chronic or quiescent plaques. The demonstration of recurrent demyelination in TMEV infection is important for it increases the relevance of this model to multiple sclerosis (MS). In addition TMEV infection of C3H/He mice appears to be an excellent model for further studies of Schwann cell remyelination and recurrent demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS).
Differential effects on lever choice and response rate produced by d-amphetamine

Six rats were trained to discriminate between 1.0 mg/kg of d-amphetamine and saline using a two-lever choice procedure. The threshold for amphetamine discriminability was then determined by gradually lowering the drug dose. Following a dose of 0.25 mg/kg of d-amphetamine, rats responded about equally often on the saline and the drug levers, but their overall response rates remained elevated well above saline rates.
Effect of elevated temperatures on a fiber composite used to strengthen concrete columns

Externally applied composite reinforcement can be used to provide additional strength or ductility to concrete members as part of a seismic retrofit or repair to a structure, but the composite reinforcement may be exposed to elevated temperatures. In this study, concrete cylinders were wrapped with a composite reinforcing system, exposed to a range of elevated temperatures and allowed to cool. Subsequent compression testing of the cooled cylinders indicated there was no statistically significant loss of strength until the treatment temperature was more than 30°C above the glass transition temperature of the epoxy. Additionally, the predominant mode of failure of the composite system changed from hoop split to seam debonding at the same temperature. This study also examined the role of a fire-protective coating that forestalled the onset of the transition of failure modes by almost 30°C.
Integrin signaling in epithelial cells

Although most cells of adult mammals express multiple different integrins, particular types of cells have a characteristic repertoire of integrin expression. Benign and malignant epithelial cells use specific integrins to allow the epithelial microenvironment to modulate a wide variety of cell functions, including cell survival, proliferation, morphogenesis, differentiation, motility, invasion and metastasis. An important concept emerging from the data on integrin signal transduction is that integrin signaling impinges on pathways downstream of other receptors, creating elaborate intracellular signaling networks. This review highlights signal transduction functions of epithelial integrins, with particular emphasis on signaling pathways underlying some of the most important functions of epithelium.
Scenario-based assessment of learning experiences

Learning assessment continues to challenge instructors in higher education. Particularly challenging is finding assessment methods that provide insights into both how well a particular learning activity performs, and what can be done to enhance its effectiveness. This paper presents a method for assessing the learning that derives from course-related experiences, both in and out of the classroom. The method uses students' self-reported learning scenarios as the focal unit of analysis. Students are asked to write two scenarios each semester. One scenario describes a valuable learning experience, and the other a situation where they felt a course-related learning activity was not effective. Results from use of the method suggest it may be a generally effective tool for both assessment and design/re-design of learning activity. Effectiveness of the method is supported by evidence from an object-oriented design and programming course over four semesters.
The Virtual and the Real: The Case of the Mysterious Documents from Naples

In 1996 Laura Laurencich Minelli, an archeologist at the University of Bologna announced the existence of a privately held series of documents and artifacts, known as the Naples documents,1 which claimed to undermine historical consensus about the Inca Empire, the Spanish Conquest of the Andes, and the well-known historical sources. Most of the Naples documents were purportedly written by an enigmatic mestizo Jesuit, Blas Valera, whose works defending Inca culture and language had long been thought lost. These documents have created a series of acrimonious scholarly controversies over the authenticity of the Naples documents. The burden of proving the authenticity of the Naples documents, however, must lie with Laurencich Minelli and their other advocates, and to date, they have not done so.
Volume increase of wheat kernels accompanying absorption of liquid water

The purposes of this investigation were to determine the relationship between weight and volume increases which take place when wheat kernels are immersed in water, to develop an equation for the volume increase, and to test experimentally its validity. It was shown that the volume increase was practically equal to the weight increase divided by the fluid density. In view of this, the following equation was obtained by analogy to the diffusion equation derived by Becker.1 where 1 − V is the relative volume increase, and Dv is the coefficient of volume increase. The average coefficients of volume increase are given by the Arrhenius relation as: The results obtained in this investigation provide useful information for designing the steeping vessels.
Spectroscopic Detection of Cervical Pre-Cancer through Radial Basis Function Networks

The mortality related to cervical cancer can be substantially reduced through early detection and treatment. However, current detection techniques, such as Pap smear and colposcopy, fail to achieve a concurrently high sensitivity and specificity. In vivo fluorescence spectroscopy is a technique which quickly, noninvasively and quantitatively probes the biochemical and morphological changes that occur in pre-cancerous tissue. RBF ensemble algorithms based on such spectra provide automated, and near realtime implementation of pre-cancer detection in the hands of nonexperts. The results are more reliable, direct and accurate than those achieved by either human experts or multivariate statistical algorithms.
Pharmacogenomics steps toward personalized medicine

The goal of personalized medicine is to maximize the likelihood of therapeutic efficacy and to minimize the risk of drug toxicity for an individual patient. One of the major contributors to this concept is pharmacogenomics. Marked interindividual genetic variation contributes significantly to both susceptibility to diseases, and response to drugs. Even though pharmacogenomics is not a new science, the translation of pharmacogenomics into clinical practice (i.e., personalized medicine) has not taken place at the same pace as science is delivering new results. It is felt that a large number of recent pharmacogenomic findings allow bold steps to be taken toward personalized medicine. This review collates a variety of examples that have great potential for immediate and effective introduction into clinical practice. In addition, other exploratory examples with a particular focus on drug safety and targeted cancer therapy are summarized.
Comparison between Voxel-based Morphometry and Volumetric Analysis in Schizophrenia

This study compares the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and region-of-interest (ROI)-based volumetric analysis in schizophrenia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 50 unmedicated schizophrenia patients and 82 healthy controls were examined. ROI- based volumetric analysis was performed by tracing caudates on anterior commissure and posterior commissure (ACPC)-positioned MRI. The comparison of 20 subjects in the lower and upper 25% for traced caudate size and the comparison between patients and controls revealed significantly reduced gray matter concentration in the caudate through VBM. Caudate volume (absolute and relative) revealed that patients with schizophrenia had smaller caudate nuclei than controls. The ROC results demonstrated that the performance of VBM (area under the curve (AUC): 61%) was similar to that of ROI-based volumetric analysis (AUC: 61% for relative ROI volume) and their correlation was 0.51 (p<0.05). These results suggest that to be an alternative to ROI-based volumetry in schizophrenia, cautious interpretation of VBM may be needed.
Systems and synthetic biology approaches to alter plant cell walls and reduce biomass recalcitrance

Fine-tuning plant cell wall properties to render plant biomass more amenable to biofuel conversion is a colossal challenge. A deep knowledge of the biosynthesis and regulation of plant cell wall and a high-precision genome engineering toolset are the two essential pillars of efforts to alter plant cell walls and reduce biomass recalcitrance. The past decade has seen a meteoric rise in use of transcriptomics and high-resolution imaging methods resulting in fresh insights into composition, structure, formation and deconstruction of plant cell walls. Subsequent gene manipulation approaches, however, commonly include ubiquitous mis-expression of a single candidate gene in a host that carries an intact copy of the native gene. The challenges posed by pleiotropic and unintended changes resulting from such an approach are moving the field towards synthetic biology approaches. Synthetic biology builds on a systems biology knowledge base and leverages high-precision tools for high-throughput assembly of multigene constructs and pathways, precision genome editing and site-specific gene stacking, silencing and/or removal. Here, we summarize the recent breakthroughs in biosynthesis and remodelling of major secondary cell wall components, assess the impediments in obtaining a systems-level understanding and explore the potential opportunities in leveraging synthetic biology approaches to reduce biomass recalcitrance.
Evaluation of warfarin dose requirements in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.

tudy Objectives The effect of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on warfarin has gained attention because of an increased risk of thromboembolism and an increased risk of bleeding associated with warfarin treatment in these patients. Data suggest that patients with reduced kidney function require lower warfarin doses; however, relatively few patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were included in previous studies. The goal of this study was to evaluate warfarin dosing requirements and time to reach therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) in patients with CKD stages 3–5 and ESRD compared with patients with normal kidney function (NKF). Methods A historical cohort was identified to evaluate warfarin response in 210 hospitalized adults with varying degrees of kidney function initiated or maintained on warfarin for 4 or more consecutive days including 49 patients with NKF (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] higher than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2), 44 with CKD stage 3, 27 with CKD stage 4/5, and 90 with ESRD. The average daily dose (ADD), time to achieve a therapeutic INR, and adverse effects were compared. Measurements and Main Results The ADD to maintain a therapeutic INR was 5.6 ± 1.7 mg in the NKF group, 4.3 ± 1.6 mg in CKD stage 3, 4.6 ± 1.9 mg in CKD stage 4/5, and 4.8 ± 1.9 mg in ESRD. The ADD was lower in CKD/ESRD patients compared with NKF patients (p=0.001), especially among whites. The time to reach a therapeutic INR in patients newly initiated on warfarin was significantly lower in the CKD/ESRD group when compared with the NKF group (p=0.02). No differences in bleeding episodes were observed during hospitalization or within 30 days of discharge in patients with CKD stage 3 or higher compared with patients with NKF. Conclusions Our findings suggest that CKD and ESRD patients require ~20% lower warfarin doses to maintain a therapeutic INR and may require less time to achieve a therapeutic INR compared with patients with NKF.
Single Intrauterine Demise in Twin Gestation

A prospective management protocol for twin gestations with single intrauterine fetal demise (SIUFD) is described and compared with a previous study from our institution. 402 twin gestations were delivered at our institution between January 1987 and December 1991; 20 had SIUFD. Management protocol consisted of weekly fetal surveillance, biweekly growth assessment, and weekly coagulation profiles. No elective preterm deliveries were performed. The incidence of SIUFD was 5.0% in the study population. The incidence of preterm delivery was 80%. One case of periventricular leukoencephaloma-lacia was diagnosed by ultrasound 24 hr after demise of the co-twin. Two cases of transient maternal coagulopathy occurred.The incidence of preterm delivery was higher than in the previous study. Because sonographic evidence of neurologic injury in a surviving co-twin may be seen within 24 hr of the death of its co-twin, these injuries in the survivor may occur several days before the demise. The rates of maternal coagulopath...
Constructing motivation through choice, interest, and interestingness

Psychological research and theory have traditionally suggested that opportunities for choosing will lead to motivation and performance benefits. However, evidence on choice effects has not been ubiquitously positive, and recent investigations have revealed factors that diminish or reverse the effects of choosing. This investigation sought to extend this line of inquiry by examining whether interest factors may influence preferences for choosing and the effects of choice on motivation and performance. In Study 1, participants read a series of scenarios and reported a greater preference for choosing aspects of a task when the task was more, compared to less, personally interesting. Similarly, Study 2 revealed that choosing aspects of a trivia game enhanced post-task interest for the game only for individuals high in initial individual interest for trivia games in general. In contrast, Study 3 revealed that choosing enhanced post-task interest, perceived competence, value, and relative liking for a reading comprehension task when the reading passage was boring. When the passage was interesting, choosing resulted in less adaptive motivation outcomes. Going further, exploratory analyses revealed a 3-way interaction, suggesting that choosing enhanced willingness to engage in the task again only for those high in initial individual interest for reading and when the particular version of the task was boring. Interactions between choice and interest were not revealed for task performance in either Study 2 or Study 3. Rather, performance was higher among individuals who chose compared to individuals who did not. Implications of these findings are discussed.
A noncontact method for determining junction temperature of phosphor-converted white LEDs

The goal of this study was to develop a non-contact method for determining the junction temperature of phosphor-converted white LEDs as a first step toward determining the useful life of systems using white LEDs. System manufacturers generally quote the same life values for their lighting systems that the LED manufacturers estimate for a single LED. However, the life of an LED system can be much different compared with the life of an LED tested under ideal conditions because system packaging can affect system life. Heat at the pn-junction is one of the key factors that affect the degradation rate, and thus the useful life, of GaN-based white LEDs. The non-contact method described in this manuscript, combined with LED degradation rates, can be used to predict white-LED system life without affecting the integrity of the lighting system or submitting it to long-term life tests that are time-consuming. Different types of LED packages would have different degradation mechanisms. Therefore, as a first step this study considered only the 5mm epoxy encapsulated GaN+YAG Cerium phosphor white LED. The method investigated here explored whether the spectral power distribution (SPD) of the white LED could provide the necessary information to estimate LED junction temperature. Based on past studies that have shown that heat affects the radiant energy emitted by the InGaN blue LED and the YAG Cerium phosphor differently, the authors hypothesized that the ratio of the total radiant energy (W) to the radiant energy within the blue emission (B) would be proportional to the junction temperature. Experiments conducted in this study verified this hypothesis and showed that the junction temperature can be measured non-invasively through spectral measurements.
Region-based image clustering and retrieval using multiple instance learning

Multiple Instance Learning (MIL) is a special kind of supervised learning problem that has been studied actively in recent years. We propose an approach based on One-Class Support Vector Machine (SVM) to solve MIL problem in the region-based Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR). This is an area where a huge number of image regions are involved. For the sake of efficiency, we adopt a Genetic Algorithm based clustering method to reduce the search space. Relevance Feedback technique is incorporated to provide progressive guidance to the learning process. Performance is evaluated and the effectiveness of our retrieval algorithm is demonstrated in comparative studies.
Practical aspects in the drawing of an optical fiber

The transport processes in the furnace for the continuous drawing of optical fibers have been studied numerically and analytically. Practical circumstances and operating conditions are considered. A peripheral gas flow configuration has been modeled, along with irises at the ends, as employed in practical furnaces. The neck-down profile of the fiber is not chosen, but has been generated on the basis of a surface force balance. The results obtained are validated by comparisons with earlier experimental results. A detailed analysis has been carried out to determine the relative contributions of different forces during the drawing process. Even though the internal viscous stress is shown to be the major contributor to the draw tension, it is found that under certain operating conditions, the force due to gravity is significant, especially at the beginning of the neck-down region. For a peripheral flow configuration, the effect of flow entrance is found to be very important in determining the necking shape. However, the effect of the iris size on the fiber temperature field is found to be negligible. It is found that for a given furnace temperature and fiber radius, there is an upper limit for draw-down speed at which a fiber can be drawn without rupture. Practical ranges of draw speeds and furnace temperature conditions are identified for the process to be feasible.
Locality in quantum gravity and string theory

Breakdown of local physics in string theory at distances longer than the string scale is investigated. Such nonlocality would be expected to be visible in ultrahigh-energy scattering. The results of various approaches to such scattering are collected and examined. No evidence is found for nonlocality from strings whose length grows linearly with the energy. However, local quantum field theory does apparently fail at scales determined by gravitational physics, particularly strong gravitational dynamics. This amplifies locality bound arguments that such failure of locality is a fundamental aspect of physics. This kind of nonlocality could be a central element of a possible loophole in the argument for information loss in black holes.
Physiologic Studies Provide New Perspectives on Early Speech Development

Abstract Although certain speech development milestones are readily observable, the developmental course of speech motor control is largely unknown. However, recent advances in facial motion tracking systems have been used to investigate articulator movements in children and the findings from these studies are being used to further our understanding of the physiologic basis of typical and disordered speech development. Physiologic work has revealed that the emergence of speech is highly dependent on the lack of flexibility in the early oromotor system. It also has been determined that the progression of speech motor development is non-linear, a finding that has motivated researchers to investigate how variables such as oromotor control, cognition, and linguistic factors affect speech development in the form of catalysts and constraints. Physiologic data are also being used to determine if non-speech oromotor behaviors play a role in the development of speech. This improved understanding of the physiology ...
Efficient and Robust Localization of Multiple Radiation Sources in Complex Environments

We present a robust localization algorithm for multiple radiation sources using a network of sensors under random underlying physical processes and measurement errors. The proposed solution uses a hybrid formulation of particle filter and mean-shift techniques to achieve several important features that address major challenges faced by existing localization algorithms. First, our algorithm is able to maintain a constant number of estimation (source) parameters even as the number of radiation sources K increases. In existing algorithms, the number of estimation parameters is proportional to K and thus the algorithm complexity grows exponentially with K. Second, to decide the number of sources K, existing algorithms either require the information to be known in advance or rely on expensive statistical estimations that do not scale well with K. Instead, our algorithm efficiently learns the number of sources from the estimated source parameters. Third, when obstacles are present, our algorithm can exploit the obstacles to achieve better isolation between the source signatures, thereby increasing the localization accuracy in complex deployment environments. In contrast, incompletely specified obstacles will significantly degrade the accuracy of existing algorithms due to their unpredictable effects on the source signatures. We present extensive simulation results to demonstrate that our algorithm has robust performance in complex deployment environments, and its efficiency is scalable to many radiation sources in these environments.
MultiQ: automated detection of multiple bottleneck capacities along a path

multiQ is a passive capacity measurement tool suitable for large-scale studies of Internet path characteristics. It is the first passive tool that discovers the capacity of multiple congested links along a path from a single flow trace, and the first tool that effectively extracts capacity information from ack-only traces. It uses equally-spaced mode gaps in TCP flows' packet interarrival time distributions to detect multiple bottleneck capacities in their relative order.We validate multiQ in depth using the RON overlay network, which provides more than 400 heterogeneous, well-understood Internet paths. We compare multiQ with two other capacity measurement tools (Nettimer and Pathrate) in the first large-scale wide-area evaluation of capacity measurement techniques, and find that multiQ is highly accurate; for instance, though multiQ is passive, it achieves the same accuracy as Pathrate, which is active.
Extreme daily precipitation events at Spitsbergen, an Arctic Island

Daily station records and output from the MERRA atmospheric reanalysis for the period 1979 onwards are used to examine extreme daily precipitation events at Ny Alesund and three other sites located on Spitsbergen. Spitsbergen, lying between 77°N and 80°N, is the largest island of the Svalbard Archipelago. The region is frequently influenced by extratropical cyclones associated with the North Atlantic cyclone track and (in winter) regional baroclinicity due to proximity to the sea ice margin. Despite the stronger cyclone activity in winter, extreme precipitation events at Ny Alesund, defined as those in the top 1% of the statistical distribution, can occur year round. On the basis of a composite analysis, extreme events tend to occur when the region is influenced by a trough of low sea level pressure extending from the southwest, southerly winds in the troposphere, positive anomalies in precipitable water, and pronounced upward motion (negative omega) at 500 hPa. This is linked to positive anomalies in 500 hPa heights over the Barents Sea and negative anomalies over Greenland. While individual extreme events do not share all of these characteristics, strong southerly flow and positive anomalies in precipitable water provide a near common thread. Reflecting local topography, extremes at Ny Alesund are typically not well represented at other stations on the island, but there are notable exceptions. Some of the largest precipitation events can be associated with features resembling ‘atmospheric rivers’, seen as narrow corridors of pronounced positive anomalies in precipitable water extending thousands of kilometres south into the subtropical Atlantic. There is no systematic pattern of temporal trends in the frequency or magnitude of extremes.
Intensive chemotherapy and consolidation with high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplant in patients with mantle cell lymphoma

AbstractMantle cell lymphoma (MCL) remains incurable with conventional chemotherapy without consensus on the optimal initial treatment. We examined our single center experience with frontline therapy for patients with MCL in consecutive cases diagnosed 1995-2011. Among 81 patients, median age was 59 (28% were ≥ 65 years of age), 95% had stage III/IV disease and 54% had a low risk MCL International Prognostic Index score. Thirty-five percent (n = 28) received R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) and 65% received R-HCVAD (rituximab, hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone alternating with high-dose methotrexate/cytarabine; n = 53). Forty-one patients were consolidated with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). There were no significant differences in 2-year survival for R-CHOP versus R-HCVAD (p = 0.10) or for ASCT versus observation (p = 0.06). After controlling for clinical factors, R-HCVAD followed by ASCT was associated with supe...
The long-lasting effects of JDTic, a kappa opioid receptor antagonist, on the expression of ethanol-seeking behavior and the relapse drinking of female alcohol-preferring (P) rats.

The current study assessed the effects of the selective kappa opioid antagonist JDTic on alcohol (EtOH) -seeking behavior, EtOH relapse, and maintenance responding for EtOH. Adult alcohol-preferring (P) rats were trained in 2-lever operant chambers to self-administer 15% EtOH (v/v) on a fixed-ratio 5 (FR-5) and water on a FR-1 schedule of reinforcement during 1-hr sessions. After 10 weeks, rats underwent extinction training for seven sessions. Rats were then maintained in their home cages for 3 weeks without EtOH access. All rats received an injection (s.c.) of 0, 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg JDTic (n = 11–14/group) after the first week of the home cage period. Rats were then tested using the Pavlovian Spontaneous Recovery paradigm (PSR; an animal model of alcohol-seeking) for four sessions during which, responses on the EtOH and water levers were recorded but did not produce their respective reinforcer. Following PSR testing rats were returned to their home cages without access to EtOH for one week prior to the start of EtOH relapse testing. To examine EtOH relapse responding, rats were returned to the operant chambers and the EtOH (FR5) and water (FR1) levers were active. Finally, rats were then tested over 17 operant sessions to assess the effects of JDTic on maintenance responding for EtOH. Rats received 0, 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg JDTic (counterbalanced from the initial experiment) 30 minutes prior to the initial maintenance session. JDTic administered 14 and 25 days prior to testing dose-dependently reduced the expression of an EtOH PSR and relapse responding. In contrast, JDTic did not alter EtOH responding under maintenance conditions. Overall, the results of this study indicate that different mechanisms mediate EtOH self-administration under relapse and maintenance conditions and kappa opioid receptors are involved in mediating EtOH-seeking behavior and relapse responding but not on-going EtOH self-administration.