cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meet Malexa, Alexa’s malicious twin: Malware-induced misperception through intelligent voice assistants

Abstract This paper reports the findings of a study where users ( N = 220 ) interacted with Malexa, Alexa’s malicious twin. Malexa is an intelligent voice assistant with a simple and seemingly harmless third-party skill that delivers news briefings to users. The twist, however, is that Malexa covertly rewords these briefings to intentionally introduce misperception about the reported events. This covert rewording is referred to as a Malware-Induced Misperception (MIM) attack. It differs from squatting or invocation hijacking attacks in that it is focused on manipulating the “content” delivered through a third-party skill instead of the skill’s “invocation logic.” Malexa, in the study, reworded regulatory briefings to make a government response sound more accidental or lenient than the original news delivered by Alexa. The results show that users who interacted with Malexa perceived that the government was less friendly to working people and more in favor of big businesses. The results also show that Malexa is capable of inducing misperceptions regardless of the user’s political ideology, gender identity, age or frequency of interaction with intelligent voice assistants. We propose a system-level solution for countering Malexa and discuss the implications of using Malexa as a covert “influencer” in people’s living environments.
Validation of VANET message dissemination algorithms otherwise vulnerable to broadcast storms in urban contexts

Abstract Warning messages in vehicular ad‐hoc networks have strict delay requirements (ie, hard real‐time deadlines) since they are meant to prevent accidents. However, reliable dissemination metho...
Signal response is context-dependent in Polistes dominula

Theory suggests honest status signals mediate agonistic interactions between unfamiliar individuals, but may be less important during interactions between familiar individuals. Few studies have tested receiver responses to status signals in multiple contexts. Polistes dominula have facial spots that signal agonistic ability by communicating fighting abilities to unknown rivals. We test receiver response to experimentally altered facial spots during on-nest interactions in two experiments (1) between nest-founding queens prior to worker emergence and (2) between workers on queenright nests. We found no difference in aggression towards experimental and control wasps, indicating that P. dominula do not use facial markings during interactions with familiar wasps on nests. Instead, facial patterns are primarily during agonistic interactions with unfamiliar rivals. Therefore, social context plays a key role in signal response.
Building low level causation out of high level causation

I argue that high level causal relationships are often more fundamental than low level causal relationships. My argument is based on some general principles governing when one causal relationship will metaphysically ground another—a phenomenon I term derivative causation. These principles are in turn based partly on our intuitive judgments concerning derivative causation in a series of representative examples, and partly on some powerful theoretical considerations in their favour. I show how these principles entail that low level causation can derive from high level causation, and in particular that neural causation can derive from mental causation. I then draw out several important consequences of this result. Most immediate among these are the implications the result has for aspirations to reduce high level causation to its low level counterpart. But the result also bears on the possibility of downward causation, the relationship between counterfactuals and causation, and the idea—familiar from both the literature on the exclusion problem and the literature on proportionality constraints on causation—that causal relationships at different levels compete for their existence.
Estimating target strength of estuarine pelagic fish assemblages using fisheries survey data.

In fisheries acoustics, the target strength (TS; dB re m2) is used to compute biological metrics such as fish biomass and density. The TS is challenging to characterize because of its stochastic relationship with fish physiology, orientation, depth, species assemblage, and size distributions. These challenges were addressed by using acoustic and physical samples of fish from trawls in the Penobscot River Estuary, Maine. The pelagic species assemblage was dominated by clupeids and osmerids. The TS was measured from individual fish using single target detection and echo tracking algorithms. An expectation–maximization algorithm was applied to identify the components of the TS and total length (TL; cm) distributions for the mixed species assemblages. Regressions were used to estimate the parameters of TS = α log10(TL) + β. The parameters, α = 31.2 [standard error (SE) 0.87] and β = –79.6 (SE 0.93), were similar to published studies from these species, but our slope and intercept were higher than those in studies from freshwater and lower than those from marine systems. These results suggest that acoustic surveys in estuaries with mixed species assemblages should carefully consider alternatives to “standard” TS-fish length equations. These results will provide necessary parameters to allow for interpretation of acoustic survey data from systems with a similar composition of pelagic species.
Culture' Effects on Job Satisfaction and Performance in a Bicultural Context

Abstract This study looks at culture' influence on employee job satisfaction and performance as it pertains to competitiveness. The researcher investigated whether INDSALES (a job satisfaction scale) is compatible with a Hispanic salesperson sample, focusing on automobile sales situations. The methodology relied heavily on field research and on an experimental design that applied different employee/manager combinations. Two hypotheses were proposed and subsequently tested. Results demonstrate that Hispanics and Anglo-Americans view job satisfaction somewhat differently. The study also found that there are significant differences in the levels of job satisfaction between mono-cultural and bicultural relationships. Managerial implications for better competitiveness are incorporated. Future research could investigate a different geographical region with Hispanic and Anglo automobile salespersons or other nations where different cultures work together
An Analysis of the Mandatory Hiring of Females

In this paper we look at the effects of the Fanchon Blake consent decree on the role of women in the Los Angeles Police Department. We begin by showing how the political environment, the attitudes of the Chief, the administrative structure of the department, the budgetary environment, and the culture of the department all worked against the full acceptance of women in the department. We argue that without the decree the role of women would have continued to be minor, and that even with it the environmental variables have led to implementation of the letter rather than the spirit of the decree. We present data to show that this is indeed what happened. Finally we look at how much of the progress made by women can be attributed to the decree, and conclude that the decree was a major force for progress.
The Effects of Phosphorus-Containing Engine Oil Additives on Exhaust Oxidation Catalyst Degradation

Catalyst deterioration caused by phosphorus-containing engine oil additives was investigated using a variety of engine oil blends in a steady-state engine-dynamometer test. The reductions in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide conversion in the 200-hour test were related to two parameters: (1) the quantity of phosphorus in the oil added to the engine, and (2) the amount of phosphorus on the catalyst at the end of the test. Catalyst degradation relative to the first parameter differed from that relative to the second because the two parameters were not directly related. Specifically, catalyst conversion efficiency decreased nonlinearly with the amount of oil-derived phosphorus added to the engine, but linearly with the amount of oil-derived phosphorus found on the catalyst. A higher percentage of phosphorus added to the engine was found on the catalyst with oils containing tricresylphosphate (TCP) than with oils containing zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDP). For a fixed amount of phosphorus on the catalyst, however, oils containing ZDP were more harmful to catalyst performance than oils containing TCP. For most oils containing ZDP, phosphorus was observed to accumulate in sump oil during engine operation. As a result, less phosphorus than that added to the engine was responsible for the decrease in catalyst conversionmore » efficiencies observed with these oils.« less
Part I. DNA flow cytometry as a prognostic indicator in head and neck cancer

The prognostic significance of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) flow cytometry has been investigated for many solid tumors, but few data have been accumulated for squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. To our knowledge, we report the largest number of patients (69) with head and neck primary carcinomas to be studied by DNA flow cytometry. In the first part of this study, we reviewed 109 consecutive patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal primary carcinomas which were treated at North Carolina Memorial Hospital during the period of 1981 to 1984. The final analysis comprised 139 DNA histograms (mean coefficient of variation: 8.02) on paraffin-embedded specimens from 48 patients. Of the 48 patients with primary carcinomas, 24 had glottic, 18 had supraglottic, and 6 had carcinomas from the piriform sinus. Patients had follow-up for a minimum of 12 months, with a mean follow-up period of 23 months. Twenty-three of the 48 primary carcinomas (48%) were clearly aneuploid, and the remaining 52% were tetraploi...
Roles of flavor and reward intensities in acquisition and generalization of food preferences: do strong plant signals always deter herbivory?

Plants possess a variety of flavor intensities and nutritional qualities that influence diet selection by herbivores. Some studies suggest that herbivores prefer less intense flavors, either in nutritious or toxic foods. However, if flavor preferences are learned, and if they are influenced by flavor-postingestive feedback interactions, then herbivores should form preferences for either weak or strong flavors when they are followed by greater nutrient rewards. We conditioned two groups of lambs with intraruminal infusions of 30 g of starch while they consumed onion-flavored straw at concentrations of 0.5% (group 1) or 4% (group 2). On alternate days, lambs received infusions of 150 g of starch while they consumed onion-flavored straw at concentrations of either 4% (group 1) or 0.5% (group 2). When offered a choice of straw in both flavor concentrations, lambs preferred the concentration—high or low—associated with the higher dose of starch during conditioning (P 0.05). Lambs with no experience of onion or starch (inexperienced lambs) preferred 0.5% onion-flavored straw to 4% onion-flavored straw (P < 0.001), and 1 and 2% onion-flavored straw to 0.5% and 5% onion-flavored straw (P < 0.05). Thus, strong flavors were initially avoided (inexperienced lambs), but they came to be preferred after their association with higher doses of starch (group 1). Collectively, our results suggest that herbivores acquire and generalize preferences for flavor intensities as a function of their previous experience with the quantitative relationship between flavor intensity and nutrient reward. This ability is critical for survival because flavors, nutrients, and toxins all vary in concentrations in different plant species and parts, as well as temporally within a species.
Security and efficiency trade-offs for cloud computing and storage

Cloud computing provides centralized data storage and online computing. For centralized data storage, to address both security and availability issue, distributed storage is an appealing option in that it can ensure file security without requiring data encryption. Instead of storing a file and its replications on multiple servers, we can break the file into components and store the components on multiple servers. In this paper, we develop the minimum storage regeneration (MSR) point based distributed storage schemes that can achieve optimal storage efficiency and storage capacity. Moreover, our scheme can detect and correct malicious nodes with much higher error correction efficiency. For online computing, we investigate outsourcing of general computational problems and propose efficient Cost-Aware Secure Outsourcing (CASO) schemes for problem transformation and outsourcing so that the cloud is unable to learn any key information from the transformed problem. We also propose a verification scheme to ensure that the end-users will always receive a valid solution from the cloud. Our extensive complexity and security analysis show that our proposed Cost- Aware Secure Outsourcing (CASO) scheme is both practical and effective.
Extended VHDL for the rapid prototyping of systems with synthesizable and nonsynthesizable subsystems

System design is typically done in VHDL to facilitate top-down design and to enable the mapping of a design to many implementations. Reusability of subsystems to date has largely been performed with libraries of synthesizable VHDL subsystems. This paper presents recommended extensions to VHDL to allow the VHDL designer to interact with nonsynthesizable subsystems while still designing in VHDL. The extended VHDL code is passed through a precompiler that outputs two standard VHDL files: a simulatable VHDL model of the system, and a synthesizable model of the design where subsystems are replaced by signals to the external hardware. >
Crowding in Visual Working Memory Reveals Its Spatial Resolution and the Nature of Its Representations

Spatial resolution fundamentally limits any image representation. Although this limit has been extensively investigated for perceptual representations by assessing how neighboring flankers degrade the perception of a peripheral target with visual crowding, the corresponding limit for representations held in visual working memory (VWM) is unknown. In the present study, we evoked crowding in VWM and directly compared resolution in VWM and perception. Remarkably, the spatial resolution of VWM proved to be no worse than that of perception. However, mixture modeling of errors caused by crowding revealed the qualitatively distinct nature of these representations. Perceptual crowding errors arose from both increased imprecision in target representations and substitution of flankers for targets. By contrast, VWM crowding errors arose exclusively from substitutions, which suggests that VWM transforms analog perceptual representations into discrete items. Thus, although perception and VWM share a common resolution limit, exceeding this limit reveals distinct mechanisms for perceiving images and holding them in mind.
The mechanism for the methionine mediated reduction of anthramycin yields in Streptomyces refuineus fermentations

The addition of L-methionine to cultures ofStreptomyces refuineus producing anthramycin, results in an apparent decrease in the antibiotic titer. It has been shown that this effect is not due to the inhibition of tyrosinase, an enzyme implicated in anthramycin biosynthesis. The inhibitory effect also appears unlikely to be due to a regulatory role played by methionine in a non-precursor fashion. Experiments with radiolabeled anthramycin have revealed that the reduced yields of the antibiotic are due to the interaction of anthramycin with generated reactive metabolites produced in the methionine-supplemented cultures.
Separation strations for o-phthalaldehydemercaptoethanol derivatives ofamino acids for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Twenty-three o-phthalaldehyde-mercaptoethanol derivatives of primary amino acids in serum were separated with Waters C18 5-microns Radial-Pak Resolve columns, using aqueous phosphate-methanol mobile phase with acetate and tetrahydrofuran as modifiers. Resolution is critical in this system for glutamine/histidine, citrulline/glycine/threonine/3-methylhistidine, and tryptophan/methionine derivatives, and is affected by small changes in column properties or mobile phase. However, pre-run adjustments in gradient scheme and/or mobile phase composition can usually be used to obtain chromatograms in which all derivatives can be quantitated. For this purpose, and for general method development, we have written two very fast, interactive programs for the Zenith Z-100 Microsoft BASIC compiler: RTGRAPH, for retention, separation, and resolution plots; and LCSIM for simulations of multisegment binary gradient elution. These programs are shown here to be useful and accurate in most aspects required for developing strategies for this method.
Facial nerve monitoring in parotid surgery: The standard of care? ☆ ☆☆ ★

Recent reports have suggested that the incidence of permanent facial nerve paralysis or paresis after surgery for benign parotid tumors is between 3% and 5%. The intraoperative use of nerve-integrity monitors has been advocated to reduce the incidence of facial nerve paralysis. The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative facial nerve function after monitored and unmonitored parotid surgical procedures. The charts of 69 consecutive patients with parotid lesions who underwent surgery from 1987 to 1996 were retrospectively surveyed. Sixteen high-risk patients were excluded from the study. The study group consisted of 53 patients (33 unmonitored and 20 monitored) who underwent lateral parotidectomy for mobile tumors of the superficial lobe of the parotid gland. No patient demonstrated permanent facial paralysis. In 9 patients (17%), transient nerve paralysis developed: 5 (15%) of the 33 patients who underwent lateral parotidectomy without the use of a nerve-integrity monitor and 4 (20%) of the 20 patients who underwent lateral parotidectomy with the use of a nerve-integrity monitor. Nerve-integrity monitoring is optional for mobile parotid tumors of the superficial lobe.
Abstract 269: DACH1 (Dachshund homolog 1) attenuates forkhead signaling through recruiting transcription elongation regulator 1 (TCERG1)

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The Drosophila Dachshund (Dac) gene, cloned as a dominant inhibitor of the hyperactive growth factor mutant, ellipse, encodes a key component of the Retinal Determination Gene Network (RDGN) that governs cell fate. DACH1 (Dachshund homolog 1) regulates gene expression either indirectly as a co-integrator or through direct DNA binding. CAST identified a DACH1 DNA-binding sequence which resembles the FOX (Forkhead Box containing protein) binding site. Genome-wide in-silico promoter analysis of DACH1 binding sites identified gene clusters populating cellular pathways associated with the cell cycle and growth factor signaling. ChIP-Seq mapped DACH1 binding sites to corresponding gene clusters predicted in silico and identified as weight matrix resembling the CAST-defined sequence. DACH1 antagonized FOXM1 target gene expression, promoter occupancy in the context of local chromatin, and contact-independent growth. Further studies were conducted to understand, at a higher level of resolution, the mechanisms governing DACH1-mediated transcriptional repression via DNA-sequence specific binding. DACH1 repressed, while FOX proteins enhanced, both DRE and FOXA responsive element-driven gene expression. Reduced DACH1 expression using a shRNA approach enhanced FOX protein activity. As DACH1 antagonized FOX target gene expression and attenuated FOX signaling, we sought to identify limiting co-integrator proteins governing DACH1 signaling. Proteomic analysis identified transcription elongation regulator 1 (TCERG1) as the transcriptional co-regulator of DACH1 activity. The FF2 domain of TCERG1 was required for DACH1 binding, and the deletion of FF2 abolished DACH1 trans-repression function. The carboxyl terminus of DACH1 was necessary and sufficient for TCERG1 binding. Thus, DACH1 represses gene transcription through direct DNA binding to the promoter region of target genes by recruiting the transcriptional co-regulator, TCERG1. Attenuation of FOX function by the cell fate determination pathway has broad implications given the diverse role of FOX proteins in cellular biology and tumorigenesis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 269. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-269
Corporate real estate's impact on the takeover market

This article explores the issues and problems associated with corporate real estate ownership as viewed through the takeover market. The perception held by managers is that corporate real estate assets are unique, specialized assets. This perception conflicts with financial theory which states that the market values all corporate assets based only on their expected future cash flows. Thus corporate real estate assets are priced according to their cash flows and are like other corporate assets. This study tests the hypothesis that corporate real estate is a specialized asset by examining the impact real estate assets have on the takeover market. The study uses a logit regression model in order to attempt to predict which firms become takeover targets. If corporate real estate in general is a specialized asset, then real estate is expected to be an important variable in predicting takeover targets. Although the logit model has little predictive accuracy, results from the prediction model suggest that corporate real estate plays a significant part in determining the likelihood of a firm's becoming a takeover target. The greater the real estate holdings, the greater the likelihood of a firm's becoming a takeover target.
Anomalous Discrete Symmetries in Three Dimensions and Group Cohomology

We study ’t Hooft anomalies for a global discrete internal symmetry G . We construct examples of bosonic field theories in three dimensions with a nonvanishing ’t Hooft anomaly for a discrete global symmetry. We also construct field theories in three dimensions with a global discrete internal symmetry G_1×G_2 such that gauging G_1 necessarily breaks G_2 and vice versa. This is analogous to the Adler-Bell-Jackiw axial anomaly in four dimensions and parity anomaly in three dimensions.
Development of Structure-Property Relationships for Concrete

Theoretical models are developed for the prediction of the mechanical properties of mature concrete based on the morphology and interactions of its constituents. The models account for the morphology and interactions of cement hydration products, the capillary pores and microcracks. Concrete is modeled as a three-phase material composed of cement mortar, coarse aggregates and ITZ. The modulus of elasticity of concrete is determined using the Hashin's bound model for three-phase composites. Modeling of fracture toughness indicates that the frictional pull-out of coarse aggregates makes major contributions to the fracture energy of concrete. A tensile strength model is developed for concrete based on linear elastic fracture mechanics theories. The predicted theoretical models are in reasonable agreement with empirical models reflecting the experimental performance of concrete.
BEAMTOOL: Interactive beam analysis for today's student and tomorrow's engineer

BeamTool is a qualitatively powerful beam-analysis tool with significant educational value. The theory behind BeamTool, ideal for automation, is traditionally mentioned in textbooks but is not usually the approach taught in class because of the amount of work involved. In BeamTool, this classical beam theory is coupled via a graphical user interface to a symbolic solver. Each problem is solvable both symbolically and numerically, the former with the amount of detail that one finds in the classic design reference Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain, and the latter with interactively requested shear, moment, slope, displacement, and stress plots. BeamTool is written in Microsoft Visual C++ and runs on Windows. The symbolic solutions are afforded by Maple, which has to be installed on the user's PC. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 13: 293–305, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20054
The SAM Model for Wear Inhibitor Performance of Dithiophosphates on Iron Oxide

Zinc dithiophosphate (DTP) molecules have long been used as wear inhibitor oil additives for automotive engines. In order to obtain an atomistic understanding of the mechanism by which these molecules inhibit wear, we examined the geometries, energetics, and vibrations of an oxidized iron surface [(001) surface of α-Fe2O3] using the MSX force field (FF) based on ab initio quantum chemistry (QC) calculations. The DTP molecules studied include (RO)2PS2 with R = methyl, isobutyl, isopropyl, and phenyl. The α-Fe2O3 surface is described using the generalized valence bond (GVB) model of bonding. The geometries, binding energies, and vibrational frequencies from ab initio calculations on simple clusters are used with the biased Hessian method to develop the MSX FF suitable for describing the binding of DTP molecules to the surfaces. We find that the cohesive energies for the self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of the DTP molecules on the Fe2O3 surface correlate with the antiwear performance observed in experimental ...
Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diarrhea

The microbiology laboratory, in conjunction with the medical staff, must determine a reasonable approach to the evaluation of diarrheal stools since the cost to rule out all potential pathogens is prohibitive and control of the use of laboratory services is now a major focus in all institutions. All stool cultures should be examined for Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella, the most common causes of inflammatory bacterial diarrhea in the United States. Special media for other pathogens should be added only if there is high regional endemicity or significant clinical suspicion. If a child has bloody diarrhea, a search for E coli O157:H7 is indicated. For patients with a history of raw seafood ingestion or foreign travel, the laboratory should be asked to screen specimens for Vibrio and Plesiomonas species. The report from the laboratory should specifically state what enteropathogens have been excluded, for example, "No Salmonella, Shigella, or Campylobacter isolated." A report of "negative" or "no enteric pathogens" is not very useful. Diagnosis of viral and parasitic enteritis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea require a variety of additional tests. Clinicians are encouraged to discuss these issues with the pathologist or microbiologist at their local laboratory and be familiar with community microbiology practice, particularly which organisms require a special request for the laboratory to attempt identification.
Bartholin's gland carcinomas: Five cases

Abstract A review of the world's literature on Bartholin's gland carcinoma and five personal cases are presented. The spread of this tumor and its relationship to therapy is discussed in detail. The question of this tumor's relationship to other genital tract tumors in the same patient is raised.
Very large residual dipolar couplings from deuterated ubiquitin.

Main-chain 1HN–15N residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) ranging from approximately −200 to 200 Hz have been measured for ubiquitin under strong alignment conditions in Pf1 phage. This represents a ten-fold increase in the degree of alignment over the typical weakly aligned samples. The measurements are made possible by extensive proton-dilution of the sample, achieved by deuteration of the protein with partial back-substitution of labile protons from 25 % H2O / 75 % D2O buffer. The spectral quality is further improved by application of deuterium decoupling. Since standard experiments using fixed-delay INEPT elements cannot accommodate a broad range of couplings, the measurements were conducted using J-resolved and J-modulated versions of the HSQC and TROSY sequences. Due to unusually large variations in dipolar couplings, the trosy (sharp) and anti-trosy (broad) signals are often found to be interchanged in the TROSY spectra. To distinguish between the two, we have relied on their respective 15N linewidths. This strategy ultimately allowed us to determine the signs of RDCs. The fitting of the measured RDC values to the crystallographic coordinates of ubiquitin yields the quality factor Q = 0.16, which confirms the perturbation-free character of the Pf1 alignment. Our results demonstrate that RDC data can be successfully acquired not only in dilute liquid crystals, but also in more concentrated ones. As a general rule, the increase in liquid crystal concentration improves the stability of alignment media and makes them more tolerant to variations in sample conditions. The technical ability to measure RDCs under moderately strong alignment conditions may open the door for development of alternative alignment media, including new types of media that mimic biologically relevant systems.
A POSITION PAPER ON THE TREATMENT OF HOSPITAL ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA (HAP): DO WE NEED GUIDELINES?

Pneumonia is one of the more frequent infections acquired by patients in the hospital. It generally carries a high mortality, in intensive care units, or at least added morbidity, an increase in the duration of hospital stay and hence important additional costs. Many aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of hospital acquired pneumonia are controversial but there is a general belief that inappropriate empiric treatment or late appropriate treatment results in a higher mortality rate.
From the lattice world to the real world

Abstract Using the linear σ model, we study the approach to chiral symmetry as the pseudoscalar meson mass ( M ) is varied from ∼ 500 MeV down to the physical value ∼ M π . We show that, even at a tree graph level, the model implies a highly non-trivial M dependence of the decay constant ( F M ), the constituent quark mass ( m q ) and the scalar (σ) mass ( M σ ).
Surface ozone at College, Alaska

Indirect oxidation of sodium arsenite is used as an agent for the determination of daily average values of the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere near the surface. Such values obtained at College, Alaska, for the first three months of 1950 are given. These show large variations from day to day, the maxima often rising to many times the minima. Except for a few unusually high values which are apparently associated with special conditions in the Arctic atmosphere, the concentrations increase with increasing altitude of the Sun. As as rule, they are less uniform and higher than those reported from stations in lower latitudes.
Statistical Analysis of the Weighted Shift and Add Image Reconstruction Technique

The Weighted Shift-and-Add algorithm (WSA) is an image reconstruction technique whereby diffraction limited images of astronomical objects are obtained from speckle interferometric data. This paper attempts to put the understanding of WSA on a firm mathematical basis by a statistical analysis of the algorithm. The approach follows that of the Hunt, Fright, and Bates study carried out for the Simple Shift-and-Add algorithm. The expected WSA profile is found to be linearly dependent on the square modulus complex coherence function of a speckle pattern. The last section of this paper contains a discussion of how the statistical analysis compares to the results obtained with our new Weighted Shift-and-Add procedures using cross-correlation (WSA/XC) and deconvolution (WSA/WD).
Lipid composition of human submandibular gland secretion from light and heavy calculus formers.

Abstract Saliva of heavy calculus formers was found to contain about 50 per cent more lipids than that of light calculus formers and exhibited elevated level of glyceroglucolipids, cholesterol esters and free fatty acids. The level of cholesterol and triglycerides was higher in the light calculus formers.
ACL–PCL and intercondylar notch impingement: magnetic resonance imaging of native and double-bundle ACL-reconstructed knees

Purpose The purpose of this study was to: (1) define the relationship between the ACL and PCL in normal knees; (2) determine whether ACL‐PCL impingement occurs in native knees; and (3) determine whether there is a difference in impingement between double-bundle reconstructed and native knees. Methods Eight subjects were identified (age 20‐50; 6 females, 2 males). All were at least 1-year status postanatomic double-bundle ACL reconstruction (allograft; AM = 8 mm; PL = 7 mm) and had no history of injury or surgery to the contralateral knee. MRIs of both knees were performed with the knee at 0 and 30 of flexion. The images were evaluated by a non-treating surgeon and two musculoskeletal radiologists. Coronal and sagittal angles of AM and PL bundles, Liu’s PCL index and the distance between ACL and PCL on modified axial oblique images were recorded. Impingement was graded (1) no contact; (2) contact without deformation; or (3) contact and distortion of PCL contour. Results Seventy-five percent (6) of the native ACL’s showed no contact with the roof of the intercondylar notch or PCL, compared to 25 % (2) of the double-bundle reconstructed ACLs. One double-bundle reconstructed ACL showed intercondylar notch roof and ACL‐PCL impingement (12.5 %). Significant differences were found between the native ACL and the double-bundle reconstructed ACL for the coronal angle of the AM (79 vs. 72, p = 0.002) and PL bundle (75 vs. 58, p = 0.001). No differences in ROM or stability were noted at any followup interval between groups based on MRI impingement grade. Conclusion ACL‐PCL contact occurred in 25 % of native knees. Contact between the ACL graft and PCL occurred in 75 % of double-bundle reconstructed knees. ACL‐PCL impingement, both contact and distortion of the PCL, occurred in one knee after double-bundle reconstruction. This study offers perspective on what can be considered normal contact between the ACL and PCL and how impingement after ACL reconstruction can be detected on MRI. Level of evidence Cohort Study, Level III.
High-Speed Simultaneous in vivo Multiphoton Microscopy and Fluorescence Lifetime Microscopy

We present full-frame (256x500 pixel) simultaneous multiphoton and fluorescence lifetime microscopy, in vivo. Parallel excitation and collection on a single element detector allows for a two orders of magnitude increase in pixel rate over serial scanning and deep imaging in scattering medium.
The Use of Mouse Models to Investigate Shear Bond Strength in Amelogenesis Imperfecta

Patients with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) have defective enamel; therefore, bonded restorations of patients with AI have variable success rates. To distinguish which cases of AI may have good clinical outcomes with bonded materials, we evaluated etching characteristics and bond strength of enamel in mouse models, comparing wild-type (WT) with those having mutations in amelogenin (Amelx) and matrix metalloproteinase-20 (Mmp20), which mimic 2 forms of human AI. Etched enamel surfaces were compared for roughness by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Bonding was compared through shear bond strength (SBS) studies with 2 different systems (etch-and-rinse and self-etch). Etched enamel surfaces of incisors from Amelx knock-out (AmelxKO) mice appeared randomly organized and non-uniform compared with WT. Etching of Mmp20KO surfaces left little enamel, and the etching pattern was indistinguishable from unetched surfaces. SBS results were significantly different when AmelxKO and Mmp20KO enamel surfaces were compared. A significant increase in SBS was measured for all samples when the self-etch system was compared with the etch-and-rinse system. We have developed a novel system for testing shear bond strength of mouse incisors with AI variants, and analysis of these data may have important clinical implications for the treatment of patients with AI.
Human leptin levels are pulsatile and inversely related to pituitary-adrenal function.

Leptin communicates nutritional status to regulatory centers in the brain1,2. Because peripheral leptin influences the activity of the highly pulsatile adrenal and gonadal axes3,4, we sought to determine whether leptin levels in the blood are pulsatile. We measured circulating leptin levels every 7 minutes for 24 hours, in six healthy men, and found that total circulating leptin levels exhibited a pattern indicative of pulsatile release, with 32.0 ± 1.5 pulses every 24 hours and a pulse duration of 32.8 ± 1.6 minutes. We also show an inverse relation between rapid fluctuations in plasma levels of leptin and those of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol that could not be accounted for on the basis of glucocorticoid suppression of leptin. As leptin levels are pulsatile, we propose that a key function of the CNS is regulated by a peripheral pulsatile signal. In a separate pilot study we compared leptin pulsatility in 414 plasma samples collected every 7 minutes for 24 hours from one obese woman and one normal-weight woman. We found that high leptin levels in the obese subject were due solely to increased leptin pulse height; all concentration-independent pulsatility parameters were almost identical in the two women. Leptin pulsatility therefore can be preserved in the obese.
Combining MSC/NASTRAN, sensitivity methods, and virtual reality to facilitate interactive design

Abstract This paper will present results of a research project which investigated incorporating finite element analysis results into a virtual environment. Three programs developed in the course of this research are described. MSC/NASTRAN is used to perform the analysis and WorldToolKit and GL are used to develop the virtual environment. Virtual reality peripherals including a head-mounted display and a BOOM are used with a 3D mouse as interface devices. Sensitivity methods are incorporated into the programs to allow the designer to change design variables and immediately view the effects without performing a re-analysis.
Origin of basaltic magmas in the Mojave Desert area, California

The basaltic lavas erupted throughout the Mojave Desert are basanites (SiO2 5%, and K2O>1.5%), alkali-olivine basalts (SiO2=46–48%; ne=0–5%; and K2O=1.0–1.5%), and low-alumina, sub-alkaline basalts (SiO2=48–51%; ne=0; K2O<1.0%). One volcano, Pisgah Crater, erupted five times, with lava from each successive phase containing more silica and less potash than the one proceeding it. This compositional trend is the reverse of that expected from differentiation of a single alkalic magma, and therefore, may represent a succession of magmas tapped from a zone of continuing partial melting in the mantle. These lava compositions suggest that first melting was under high water pressure and was followed by relatively dry partial melting of gamet-orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene-olivine assemblages. The successive increase in silica and alkali decrease also requires that the partial melting zone move to shallower levels. All lavas sampled in the Mojave Desert area have compositions that can best be explained by the extraction of magma from such a rising melting zone, analogous to the mantle diapirs suggested by Green and Ringwood.
Modeling and Control of an Infinitely Variable Speed Converter With Application to Wind Turbines

Traditional transmission in wind turbine applications has a constant output-to-input speed ratio, which needs a power converter to regulate the current frequency that can be fed into the grid. Different types of continuously variable transmission (CVT) have been developed for vehicle and wind turbine applications, which can generate constant-frequency current without using a power converter in a wind turbine. An infinitely variable speed converter (IVSC) is a specific type of CVT that can achieve a zero speed ratio and transmit a large torque at a low speed ratio. An IVSC with drivers that convert an eccentric motion of cams to a concentric motion of the output shaft through one-way bearings is introduced, and an active control system with a combined feedback and feed forward control that can automatically adjust the eccentricity of the outer cams to control the speed ratio of the transmission is developed. The kinematic model of the IVSC is derived and fitted by a polynomial function to serve as the feed forward function in the control law. The feedback control is used to reduce the system error. A dynamic model of the IVSC is derived to investigate the effect of the dynamic load on the input and output speeds. Static and dynamic tests were conducted to validate the kinematic model of the IVSC. The variation of the average output speed per revolution of the output shaft is 0.56% with respect to the desired output speed in the simulation and 0.91% in the experiments.© 2012 ASME
Miracles in formal theories of action

Abstract Most work on reasoning about action is based on the implicit assumption that there are no events happening in the world concurrently with the actions that are being carried out. We discuss the possibility of relaxing this assumption and treating it as a default principle—if it is inconsistent with the given facts, then we will admit the possibility of unknown events, “miracles,” that, along with the given actions, contribute to the properties of the new situation. The formalism proposed by one of the authors in the paper, Formal Theories of Action, does not treat “miracles” properly. We discuss a modification of that approach which corrects this problem.
In vivo metabolism of tert-butyl hydroperoxide to methyl radicals. EPR spin-trapping and DNA methylation studies.

Metabolic activation of peroxides and hydroperoxides to free radicals is associated with the tumor promoting activity of these compounds. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) metabolism has been extensively studied as a model of peroxide biotransformation. In vivo studies are limited, and the hemoglobin-thiyl radical was the only species thus far identified in the blood of treated rats. Here we further examine t-BOOH metabolism in vivo with regard to free radical and DNA adduct production. Spin-trapping experiments with phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) led to the detection of EPR signals in the blood, bile, and organic extracts of the liver and stomach of rats treated with t-BOOH. Analysis of these signals demonstrated that t-BOOH metabolism in vivo produces alkyl radicals, detected in the bile and organic extracts of liver and stomach, in addition to the previously identified hemoglobin-thiyl radical. To characterize the produced alkyl radicals, experiments were performed with 13C-labeled t-BOOH and two spi...
Image-guided multi-modality registration and visualization for breast cancer detection

It is crucial that breast cancer be detected in its earlier and more curable stages of development. New imaging modalities are emerging, such as electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), microwave imaging and spectroscopy (MIS), magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), and near-infrared (NIR) imaging. These alternative imaging modalities strive to alleviate limitations of traditional screening and diagnostic tools on dense breast tissue and detection of small abnormalities. The purpose of this study is to combine the results from alternative imaging modalities with T1 and T2-weighted MR Imaging. Two categories of data are presented, pixel data (MRIs) and geometry model with scalar values (MRE and MIS). Three dimensional mesh models (surface/volume meshes) are generated using the automatic mesh generator for biological models developed in the laboratory. A graphic user interface (GUI) for medical image processing powered by Visualization Toolkit (VTK) was developed which supports interactive and automatic image registration, image volume manipulation and geometry rendering. Registration of image/image and image/geometry is a fundamental requirement for multi-spectral data visualization within the same workspace. Various physical properties can be visualized to reveal the correlations between alternative imaging modalities and subsequently for breast tissue classification. A registration strategy was implemented using T1 and T2-weighted MR data as the standard subject. It combined automated image registration (AIR) with interactive registration routines. The final synthetic datasets are rendered in 3D views. This framework was created for multi-modality breast imaging data registration and visualization. The aligned image/geometry data facilitate breast tissue classification.
The law & economics of private prosecutions in industrial revolution England

Can the market provide law enforcement? This paper addresses this question by analyzing an historical case study: the system of private prosecutions that prevailed in England prior to the introduction of the police. I examine why this system came under strain during the Industrial Revolution, and how private clubs emerged to internalize the externalities that caused the private system to generate too little deterrence. The historical evidence suggests that these private order institutions were partially successful in ameliorating the problem of crime in a period when public choice considerations precluded the introduction of a professional police force.
A method of visualization of dispersion of nanoplatelets in nanocomposites

Abstract Air plasma etching followed by scanning electron microscope imaging technique for visualizing the inorganic nanofillers in polymeric composites is a promising technique for quick screening of exfoliation and dispersion of nanofillers in nanocomposites in manufacturing and materials development environments. The method was applied to study montmorillonite (MMT) clay with vinyl ester nanocomposite samples produced using high shear mixing. Results were compared with transmission electron microscope data. The study details the versatility and the use of this technique for visualization of inorganic platelets. The etch rate for MMT/vinyl ester and neat resin initially was 3 and 4 nm/min and increased to about 8 and 10 nm/min, respectively.
Emerging medicinal roles for lysophospholipid signaling

The two lysophospholipids (LPs) lysophosphatidic acid and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) regulate diverse biological processes. Over the past decade, it has become clear that medically relevant LP activities are mediated by specific G protein-coupled receptors, implicating them in the etiology of a growing number of disorders. A new class of LP agonists shows promise for drug therapy: the experimental drug FTY720 is phosphorylated in vivo to produce a potent S1P receptor agonist (FTY720-P) and is currently in Phase III clinical trials for kidney transplantation and Phase II for multiple sclerosis. Recent genetic and pharmacological studies on LP signaling in animal disease models have identified new areas in which interventions in LP signaling might provide novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of human diseases.
Detection of machine tool contouring errors using wavelet transforms and neural networks

The accuracy and precision of computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools directly affect the dimensional accuracy of machined parts. Fast detection of machine tool contouring errors is required to guarantee the accuracy of the manufacturing process and, further, to eliminate errors through error compensation techniques. In this paper, several typical contouring error patterns of CNC machine tools (i.e., cyclic, backlash, scale mismatch, etc.) are presented. Detection of machine tool contouring errors is conducted in two steps using wavelet transforms (WT) and neural networks (NN). In the first step, wavelet transform is applied to contouring error signals to extract error features. In the second step, wavelet coefficients are grouped into proper input units for neural networks; that is, data were compressed by omitting unnecessary details. In this study, cascade-correlation (CC) neural networks are selected to recognize the seven basic patterns of CNC contouring errors. Multiple contouring errors can also be identified quantitatively in the WT-NN approach.