cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vowel descriptions beyond the first and second formant frequencies

Conclusions about variation and change of vowels based on the first (F1) and second (F2) formant frequencies may be challenged by at least two major drawbacks intrinsic to this simple 2-D representation. First, F1 and F2 measured at one or two representative points can capture only limited amount of vowel dynamics. The numeric values of F1 and F2 are also prone to errors due to aperiodicity in speech signal. In this study, we explore alternative ways for more informative and robust vowel representation. We examine both LPC and MFCC based features using two encoding methods. Frequency domain features are first estimated at each time step for the entire vowel duration. The resulting t feature vectors are then passed sequentially through either a set of t independent autoencoders or a recurrent neural network (RNN), both with k hidden units. In case of the autoencoders, each k-by-t vowel matrix is further projected to a lower dimensional space using PCA. In case of the RNN, the k-dimensional hidden vectors are used for cross-condition comparisons. Compared to the simple F1-F2 measurement, our methods are able to capture further nuanced within-category variations across dialect varieties in TIMIT. Results from LPC and MFCC based representations are also compared.Conclusions about variation and change of vowels based on the first (F1) and second (F2) formant frequencies may be challenged by at least two major drawbacks intrinsic to this simple 2-D representation. First, F1 and F2 measured at one or two representative points can capture only limited amount of vowel dynamics. The numeric values of F1 and F2 are also prone to errors due to aperiodicity in speech signal. In this study, we explore alternative ways for more informative and robust vowel representation. We examine both LPC and MFCC based features using two encoding methods. Frequency domain features are first estimated at each time step for the entire vowel duration. The resulting t feature vectors are then passed sequentially through either a set of t independent autoencoders or a recurrent neural network (RNN), both with k hidden units. In case of the autoencoders, each k-by-t vowel matrix is further projected to a lower dimensional space using PCA. In case of the RNN, the k-dimensional hidden vectors a...
Trends in Surgical Indications for Major Lower Limb Amputation in the USA from 2000 to 2016

Objective Major lower limb amputation is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA. Little is known about the prevalence of the various indications for amputation, or if these indications have changed over time. The purpose of this study was to assess the indications for major amputation over a 17 year period and to determine whether surgical indications have shifted over this time period. Methods A retrospective, population based analysis of patients undergoing major amputation between 2000 and 2016 was performed using the National Inpatient Sample. Surgical indications for major amputation were classified as chronic ischaemia, acute limb ischaemia (ALI), infection, oncological, trauma, other, or any combination of these indications. Prevalence rates of surgical indications were calculated using logistic regression. Prevalence differences across years were assessed using likelihood ratio tests to determine statistical significance. Results Of 1 002 119 weighted hospitalisations for patients undergoing major amputation during the study period, the majority had chronic ischaemia (72%) or infection (15%) as the primary indication for amputation. Patients were predominantly male (60%) and diabetic (61%). Renal insufficiency was the only measured comorbidity that changed significantly over time (from 6% to 39%), although changes in coding procedures are partially responsible for the increase. From 2000 to 2016, the proportion of amputations done for chronic ischaemia alone decreased from 60% to 40% (p Conclusion Surgical indications for major amputation have changed between 2000 and 2016. Infection related amputations increased significantly during the study period. Further evaluation and modification of treatment protocols for limb infection are crucial to decreasing infection related major limb amputation.
The prognostic significance of CDKN2A homozygous deletion in IDH-mutant lower-grade glioma and glioblastoma: a systematic review of the contemporary literature

The most recent cIMPACT-NOW update highlighted the homozygous deletion of the Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) gene as a clinically important molecular alteration in IDH-mutant glioma. Correspondingly, we systematically reviewed the contemporary literature to affirm the contemporary stance of the literature on the prognostic significance of this alteration in this setting based on the current World Health Organization (WHO) Grade classification. A systematic search of seven electronic databases from inception to February 2020 was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Articles were screened against pre-specified criteria to include lower-grade glioma (LGG, WHO Grade II/III) and glioblastoma (GBM, WHO Grade IV) separately. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from Kaplan–Meier and multivariable analyses were outcomes of interest. Nine institutional studies describing 2193 IDH-mutant gliomas satisfied criteria for evaluation, with 1756 (80%) LGG and 437 (20%) GBM. When reported, the proportion of CDKN2A homozygous deleted gliomas ranged from 9 to 43%, with a median incidence of 22%. For LGG, Kaplan–Meier analyses demonstrated shorter PFS in the presence of CDKN2A homozygous deletion in three studies (median values, 31 versus 91 months), and shorter OS in five studies (median values, 61 versus 154 months). For GBM, Kaplan–Meier analyses demonstrated shorter PFS in the presence of CDKN2A homozygous deletion in two studies (median values, 16 versus 30 months), and shorter OS in four studies (median values, 38 versus 86 months). By multivariable analyses, CDKN2A homozygous deletion was a predictor of significantly shorter PFS and OS in both LGG and GBM across all included studies. The CDKN2A homozygous deletion is an important prognostic factor for survival outcomes of IDH-mutant glioma patients across multiple histologic WHO grades with specific molecular features likely dependent on IDH-mutant status. Greater understanding of how identifying this deletion can assist in the stratification of management for these tumors to optimize clinical course is required.
Interpersonal Consequences Predicting Adolescent Substance Use: Examining the Role of Temptation Coping, Motivation, and Impulsivity.

Background: Adolescent substance use is highly prevalent and problematic; it has been reported as one of the most pertinent leading health concerns in the United States. The current longitudinal st...
Fermentation Dynamics and Benzylic Derivative Production in Ischnoderma resinosum Isolates.

Fermentation dynamics and benzylic derivative production were evaluated in the fermentation broth of six different Ischnoderma resinosum (P. Karst) isolates over a period of 30 days to understand their potential applications in bioreactor optimization for natural flavor compound production. d-Glucose and d-fructose levels decreased from 20.4 ± 0.4 to 7.1 ± 1.4 g/L and 1.0 ± 0.1 to <0.1 g/L, respectively, in all fermentations. Isolate I2 produced the highest concentration of ethanol (546. 4 ± 0.4 mg/L). l-Lactic acid production varied between 4.3 ± 0.6 and 3.7 ± 0.2 mg/L, whereas acetic acid concentrations decreased from 81.0 ± 3.3 to <40.0 mg/L. pH decreased from 4.9 ± 0.0 to 3.6 ± 0.4 at the end of 30 days in all fermentations. Isolate I3 was the highest producer of benzaldehyde (BA) (12.0 ± 0.2 mg/kg) and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (4-MBA) (239.6 ± 3.9 mg/kg), while isolate I4 was the highest producer of 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (3,4-DMBA) (27.8 ± 0.2 mg/18 kg). Identification of isolate I3 as a high BA and 4-MBA producer and isolate I4 as a high 3,4-DMBA producer suggested differential benzylic derivative production among I. resinosum isolates. This study lays the foundation for future investigations evaluating additional I. resinosum isolates for benzylic derivative production as well as studies aimed at bioreactor optimization with potential commercial application.
Productive faculty resources activated by curricular materials: An example of epistemological beliefs in University Modeling Instruction

University modeling instruction is analyzed to show that curricula have implicit epistemologies, and the alignment of these epistemologies with instructors' epistemological beliefs impacts implementation.
Transplantation of Unirradiated Bone Marrow Cells after Total-Body Irradiation Prevents the Development of Thymic Lymphoma in Mice through Niche Competition

Mouse models of radiation-induced thymic lymphoma are commonly used to study the biological effects of total-body irradiation (TBI) on the formation of hematologic malignancies. It is well documented that radiation-induced thymic lymphoma can be inhibited by protecting the bone marrow (BM) from irradiation; however, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. Here, we aimed to address this question by performing transplantation of BM cells from genetically engineered mice that have defects in tumor immunosurveillance or occupying different thymic niches. We found that BM cells from mice that have impaired tumor immunosurveillance, by deleting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interferon gamma (IFNγ) or perforin-1 (PRF1), remained sufficient to suppress the formation of radiation-induced thymic lymphoma. On the other hand, BM cells from Rag2–/–; γc–/– mice and Rag2–/– mice, which have defects in occupying thymic niches beyond double negative (DN2) and DN3, respectively, failed to inhibit radiation-induced lymphomagenesis in the thymus. Taken together, based on our findings, we propose a model where unirradiated BM cells suppress radiation-induced lymphomagenesis in the thymus by competing with tumor-initiating cells for thymic niches beyond the DN3 stage.
Accelerating the Convergence of Multiphase Flow Simulations when Employing Non-Uniform Structured Grids

Non-uniform grids inevitably arise in multiphase flow simulation scenarios due to the need to resolve near-wall phenomena and/or large L/D ratios associated with the reactor configuration. This in conjunction with large density ratios of the constituent phases can retard the convergence of the pressure-correction equation that results from applying operator-splitting methods to the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Various pre-conditioning strategies to this ill-conditioned pressure-correction matrix are explored in this study for a class of bubbling bed simulations encompassing: different particle densities, bed-heights and dimensions (2D/3D). The right-side Block Jacobi preconditioning option resulted in a 20 - 35% decrease in CPU time that correlated well with a decrease in the number of iterations to reach a specified tolerance.
Reducing Queuing Impact in Irregular Data Streaming Applications

Throughput-oriented streaming applications on massive data sets are a prime candidate for parallelization on wide-SIMD platforms, especially when inputs are independent of one another. Many such applications are represented as a pipeline of compute nodes connected by directed edges. Here, we study applications with irregular data flow, i.e., those where the number of outputs produced per input to a node is data-dependent and unknown a priori. Moreover, we target these applications to architectures (GPUs) where different nodes of the pipeline execute cooperatively on a single wide-SIMD processor. To promote greater SIMD parallelism, irregular application pipelines can utilize queues to gather and compact multiple data items between nodes. However, the decision to introduce a queue between two nodes must trade off benefits to occupancy against costs associated with queue reading, writing, and management. Moreover, once queues are introduced to an application, their relative sizes impact the frequency with which the application switches between nodes, incurring scheduling and context-switching overhead. This work examines two optimization problems associated with queues. First, we consider which pairs of successive nodes in a pipeline should have queues between them to maximize overall application throughput. Second, given a fixed total budget for queue space, we consider how to choose the relative sizes of inter-node queues to minimize the frequency of switching between nodes. We formulate a dynamic programming approach to the first problem and give an empirically useful approximation to the second that allows for an analytical solution. Finally, we validate our theoretical results using real-world irregular streaming computations.
Weather, Values, Capacity and Concern: Toward a Social-Cognitive Model of Specialty Crop Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change Risk:

As specialty crop production has become increasingly important to U.S. agriculture, public and private stakeholders have called for research and outreach efforts centered on risks posed by climate ...
Finding Structure Within a Data Set: Data Reduction and Clustering

This chapter covers unsupervised learning techniques that attempt to extract structure out of data without being told information about a dependent variable. The idea is that we have a set of data and we want to know if there are patterns that arise in the data. The first method we discuss, the singular value decomposition (SVD), treats the data as a matrix and looks for a structure in that matrix. We apply the SVD to a set of time series data from simulation of high-energy density physics experiments and use the results in a supervised learning problem. We also cover K-means clustering, where clusters in the data set are found using distance measures in the independent variables, and t-SNE, where high-dimensional data are mapped into a low-dimensional (2 or 3 dimensions) data set to visualize the clusters. We close this chapter by applying supervised learning methods to hyper-spectral imaging of plant leaves.
Atiomiic Scale Interface Structure of In0.2Ga0.8As/GaAs Strained Layers Studied by Crosssectional Scanning Tunneijng Microscopy

A molecular beam epitaxy-grown In0.2Ga0.8As/GaAs strained layer structure has been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy in cross-section on the (110) cleavage plane perpendicular to [001] the growth direction. Individual Indium atoms were differentially imaged in the group III sublattice, allowing a direct observation of the interface roughness due to the indium compositional fluctuation. In the In0.2Ga0.8As layers, Indium atoms are found in clusters preferentially along the growth direction with each cluster containing 2-3 indium atoms. Indium segregation induced asymmetrical interface broadening is studied on an atomic scale. The interface of In0.2Ga0.8As grown on GaAs is sharp within 2-4 atomic layers. The interface of GaAs grown on In0.2Ga0.8As is found to be broadened to about 5-10 atomic layers. The atomic scale fluctuation due to indium distribution is about 20 A along the interface in this case. We conclude that clustering and segregation are the main reason for the In0.2Ga0.8As/GaAs interface roughness.
To Feed or Not to Feed? A Case Report and Ethical Analysis of Withholding Food and Drink in a Patient With Advanced Dementia

It is well established that competent patients have the right to refuse artificial nutrition and hydration. There is less clarity regarding withholding nutrition in patients who lack decision-making capacity but who are still physically able to eat and drink. This case highlights the ethical dilemma of withholding food and drink in a patient with advanced dementia.
The pseudospectral approximation applied to the shallow water equations on a sphere

Abstract An algorithm for the application of the pseudospectral method to the nuermerical integration of the shallow water equations has been developed and tested on the case of steady‐geostrophic flow over the pole. The results show the method produces errors of less than 1 part in 1012 for resolutions as high ?λ = ?o = π/32.
The bicycle seat stool in the treatment of vaginal agenesis and stenosis: A preliminary report

A new pressure technique for treatment of vaginal agenesis and stenosis, with the use of the bicycle seat stool, specifically designed Lucite dilators, and the patient model, is described. Experience with this method in 24 patients over a 5-year period produced coital function in 10 of 12 patients with vaginal agencies and 10 of 14 patients and various types of stenosis. Favorable experience with this technique, as compared to a previous 5-year period, in which the majority of vaginal agenesis was managed by the Abbe-McIndoe operation, has led to reversal of primary therapy of vaginal agenesis and stenosis from a surgical to a nonsurgical approach.
DnaC traps DnaB as an open ring and remodels the domain that binds primase

Helicase loading at a DNA replication origin often requires the dynamic interactions between the DNA helicase and an accessory protein. In E. coli, the DNA helicase is DnaB and DnaC is its loading partner. We used the method of hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to address the importance of DnaB-DnaC complex formation as a prerequisite for helicase loading. Our results show that the DnaB ring opens and closes, and that specific amino acids near the N-terminus of DnaC interact with a site in DnaB's C-terminal domain to trap it as an open ring. This event correlates with conformational changes of the RecA fold of DnaB that is involved in nucleotide binding, and of the AAA+ domain of DnaC. DnaC also causes an alteration of the helical hairpins in the N-terminal domain of DnaB, presumably occluding this region from interacting with primase. Hence, DnaC controls the access of DnaB by primase.
Experimental test of the birdsong error-correction model

Adult zebra finches require auditory feedback to maintain their songs. It has been proposed that the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN) mediates song plasticity based on auditory feedback. In this model, neurons in LMAN, tuned to the spectral and temporal properties of the bird's own song (BOS), are thought to compute the difference between the auditory feedback from the bird's vocalizations and an internal song template. This error-correction signal is then used to initiate changes in the motor system that make future vocalizations a better match to the song template. This model was tested by recording from single LMAN neurons while manipulating the auditory feedback heard by singing birds. In contrast to the model predictions, LMAN spike patterns are insensitive to manipulations of auditory feedback. These results suggest that BOS tuning in LMAN is not used for error detection and constrain the nature of any error signal from LMAN to the motor system. Finally, LMAN neurons produce spikes locked precisely to the bird's song, independent of the auditory feedback heard by the bird. This finding suggests that a large portion of the input to this nucleus is from the motor control signals that generate the song rather than from auditory feedback.
Acyl-CoAs from coenzyme ribozymes

We describe in vitro selection of two novel ribozymes that mediate coenzyme reactions. The first is a trans-capping ribozyme that attaches coenzyme A (CoA) at the 5' end of any RNA with the proper short terminal sequence, including RNAs with randomized internal sequences. From such a trans-capped CoA-RNA pool, we derive ribozymes that attack biotinyl-AMP using the SH group of CoA. These ribozymes, selected to acylate CoA with the valeryl side chain of biotin, also produce the crucial metabolic intermediates acetyl-CoA and butyryl-CoA with substantial velocities. Thus, we argue that RNAs might have used the chemical functionality offered by coenzymes to support an RNA world metabolism. In particular, we can combine our results with those of other labs to argue that simple chemistry and RNA catalysis suffice to proceed from simple chemicals to catalysis with acyl-CoAs. The trans-capping method can be generalized for production of varied coenzyme ribozymes using a single catalytic RNA subunit. Finally, the long-suggested RNA origin for CoA itself appears to be chemically feasible.
Public services for basic needs in Malaysia

Abstract This paper reports on results with respect to meeting basic needs from a larger study of the distribution of public expenditure in Malaysia. Both the paper and the larger study heavily rely on a household survey providing data on consumption of public services. The analysis shows that the poorest categories of Malaysians, namely the Malays, rural dwellers, and those living in the North, are the least well served by public utilities. But they are well represented in use of public medical care and primary education. What also emerges is that many of the poor are unable to avail themselves of certain services because their incomes are too low. If more of the poor are to have their children educated to higher levels, the out-of-pocket costs that constitute such a heavy burden for them probably will somehow have to be subsidized. If the poor are universally to have pure water and electricity it appears that fundamental changes will have to be made in policies for pricing the consumption of these services to reduce their rates to the poor.
Synthesis, structure, and electronic calculations of group VII substituted pyridazines

A series of 5,6-fused ring cyclopentadienyl tricarbonyl manganese and rhenium complexes, [M(CO)3{η 5-1,2-C5H3(1,4-(R)2N2C2}] (2a–3d) were isolated by employing an off-metal ring closure route. Reacting thallium cyclopentadienide (Cp) salts (1a–d) with [MBr(CO)5] (M = Mn, Re) provided pyridazyl complexes (2a–3d) in high yield (75–99 %). Spectroscopic characterization (NMR, IR, MS) confirmed the identity of the desired organometallic pyridazines. The off-metal synthetic pathway employed did improve upon the isolation of these complexes as compared to previously reported routes. The molecular and electronic structure of complexes 2a–3d and their optimal energy structures have been characterized with quantum chemistry calculations. Vibrational frequencies calculated were compared to their experimental counterparts. The excited state calculations predict that the dominant low-energy transition involves a ligand-to-metal charge transfer.
Dopamine supports sentence comprehension in Parkinson's Disease.

Abstract Objective : To determine the role of dopamine in the executive resource component of sentence comprehension. Methods : We studied sentence–picture matching in 20 right-handed, non-demented, native English speakers with mild Parkinson's disease (PD) when ‘on' and ‘off' their levodopa, taking into account disease duration to control for endogenous dopamine metabolism. We also administered a verbal working memory measure that does not involve specific grammatical manipulations. Results : PD patients ‘off' levodopa demonstrated a significant discrepancy in their comprehension of grammatically complex sentences compared to grammatically simpler sentences that was not evident when PD patients were ‘on' levodopa. An error analysis demonstrated that impaired comprehension of grammatically complex sentences when ‘off' levodopa was associated with poorer performance on foils requiring working memory resources. Performance on an independent measure of verbal working memory correlated only with comprehension of grammatically complex sentences during levodopa supplementation, but working memory according to this measure did not differ during ‘on' and ‘off' states. Conclusion : Dopamine supports the executive resources contributing to sentence comprehension in PD.
Chemistry and anti-HIV activity of 2'-β-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine

Abstract The 2′-β-fluoro analogue of 2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine has been prepared by two synthetic routes. This compound and two analogues have anti-HIV activity in at least two of three host cell systems used (ATH8, CEM, PBL). These compounds, as well as their ddGuo parents, have been characterized with regard to their acid-stabilities, octanol-water partition coefficients, and enzyme substrate properties for adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase. F-ddGuo analogues are less potent but more stable than their non-fluorinated parent compounds.
Population variation and phylogeny in the endangered Chamaesyce skottsbergii (Euphorbiaceae) based on RAPD and ITS analyses

Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. skottsbergii is federally listed as an endangered taxon, and is found in small and isolated populations restricted to calcareous soils in dry shrubland habitats on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Molokai. Concern over the genetic relationship among these disjunct populations arose as a result of threats to the habitat of the Oahu population. The populations were examined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA cistron. Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. vaccinioides, a closely related variety found in several small populations on Molokai, was used for baseline comparison of the genetic divergence among populations. RAPD analysis demonstrated that variation within and among populations is the highest for any Hawaiian species examined. Polymorphism was greater than 95% within populations and was 99.4% at the species level. Similarly, measures of genetic similarity indicate that differentiation among these populations is higher than is known for some species. Both RAPD and ITS sequence analysis indicate that populations of C. skottsbergii var. skottsbergii on Oahu and Molokai are genetically distinct, and the extent of this genetic differentiation supports the recognition of these populations as distinct varieties. The Molokai population is in fact much more closely related to var. vaccinioides than to var. skottsbergii on Oahu, and thus should be recognized by the previously used variety name, C. skottsbergii var. audens. Further conservation measures for each of the varieties are addressed.
Ocular histopathologic changes in a case of a-beta-lipoproteinemia (Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome).

The histopathologic changes in the eyes of a patient with a-beta-lipoproteinemia (Bassen-Kornzweig Syndrome) are described for the first time and are fully compatible with those of advanced retinitis pigmentosa.
Anorectal Motility Abnormalities in Children with Encopresis and Chronic Constipation

Objective To evaluate the response to rectal distension in children with chronic constipation and children with chronic constipation and encopresis. Study design We studied 27 children, aged 3 to 16 years, with chronic constipation; 12 had encopresis. Anorectal motility was measured with a solid state catheter. When the catheter was located in the internal sphincter, the balloon was inflated to 60 mL with air. Results There were no differences in age, sex distribution, and duration of constipation in the two groups. Comparing groups, anorectal manometry showed no differences in the resting sphincter pressure, recovery pressure, the lowest relaxation pressure, and percent relaxation. However, time to maximum relaxation, time to recovery to baseline pressure, and duration of relaxation were significantly higher in patients with constipation and encopresis, compared with patients who had constipation alone. Conclusions There may be an imbalance in neuromuscular control of defecation in constipated patients with encopresis that results in incontinence as a consequence of the increased time to recovery and duration of relaxation of the internal anal sphincter.
Further avoidance studies with goldfish: Brightness discrimination and transposition

In two experiments using the shuttlebox apparatus and negative (shock) reinforcement, goldfish learned to discriminate between same color signals differing only in brightness and to choose the brightness level paired with shock-omission to avoid shock. Experiment 1 compared two signal presentation procedures, one presenting only one signal at a time but allowing for successive alternation of signals within a trial (SUC) and the other presenting both signals simultaneously (SIM). SIM performance was superior to SUC in acquisition and showed more positive transfer with signal color changed (CC), more negative transfer with brightness-level—shock pairing reversed (R), and, although attenuated, more negative transfer with both signal color changed and shock pairing reversed (CC + R). Further, SIM relearning following reversal was faster than SUC. In Experiment 2, using the SIM procedure, eight transfer groups were tested for transposition with one of their original acquisition signals replaced in transfer by a signal bearing either the same or the opposite brightness relationship to the retained signal. Four transfer groups showed positive and four showed negative transfer effects, but all eight groups showed transfer performances consistent with a transpositional expectation. The present two experiments alone do not elucidate the mechanisms accounting for either the SIM superiority over SUC in Experiment 1 or the transposition effect in Experiment 2. These experiments show only that the transposition phenomenon can be supported by negative reinforcement procedures, which has not been demonstrated before. Now that techniques exist for producing negatively reinforced transposition, work investigating the underlying mechanisms and comparing them with the mechanisms of positively reinforced transposition can begin.
Frequency domain (1kHz-40GHz) characterisation of thin films for multichip module packaging technology

Parallel plate capacitors for the broadband dielectric characterisation of both high (amorphous BaTiO3 and amorphous TaOx) and low (parylene) dielectric constant thin films were fabricated at low temperature (< 200 °C). The dielectric constant and loss tangent were dermined through the measurement of C, G and the S parameters of the capacitors. These thin film dielectrics exhibit no dispersion in the frequency range 1 kHz – 40 GHz.
Sources of structure in sensemaking

A critical aspect of sensemaking is finding appropriate representations for information important to a task. As background for the design of future systems to help people in finding such representations, this paper reports a study of where people currently get aspects of structure for their representations Results show that representation construction and information seeking are closely coupled, as people get aspects of structure top down deducing from their previous knowledge, bottom up inducing from facts they find, and by borrowing from previous sensemaking efforts of others. The findings suggest important revisions of previous sensemaking theories and new opportunities for system design.
Comparison of auditory P300 habituation from active and passive conditions

The P3(00) event-related brain potential (ERP) was elicited using auditory stimuli and tasks in which the subject discriminated between standard and target tones or with passive task conditions in which the subject did not respond to either the standard or target stimuli. All stimulus presentations consisted of a series of ten-tone sequences in which the first six tones were always the standard and one of the last four tones was the target. The passive tasks were presented twice to assess for habituation effects. P3 amplitude was largest for the oddball task compared to the passive tasks, and repetition of the passive paradigm demonstrated a decrease in amplitude between conditions. P3 amplitude did not decrease across trials within any of the separate response conditions. P3 latency was shorter for the active discrimination relative to the passive tasks. The results suggest that the P3 component can be obtained reliably with passive procedures and does not habituate within a trial block. However, repeated blocks of passive stimulus presentations will cause the P3 ERP to diminish in size.
Nonequilibrium dynamics of mixing, oscillations, and equilibration : A model study

The nonequilibrium dynamics of mixing, oscillations, and equilibration is studied in a field theory of flavored neutral mesons that effectively models two flavors of mixed neutrinos, in interaction with other mesons that represent a thermal bath of hadrons or quarks and charged leptons. This model describes the general features of neutrino mixing and relaxation via charged currents in a medium. The reduced density matrix and the nonequilibrium effective action that describes the propagation of neutrinos is obtained by integrating out the bath degrees of freedom. We obtain the dispersion relations, mixing angles and relaxation rates of neutrino quasiparticles. The dispersion relations and mixing angles are of the same form as those of neutrinos in the medium, and the relaxation rates are given by ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{1}(k)={\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{ee}(k){cos﻿}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{m}(k)+{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu}}(k){sin﻿}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{m}(k)$; ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{2}(k)={\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu}}(k){cos﻿}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{m}(k)+{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{ee}(k){sin﻿}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{m}(k)$ where ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\alpha}}(k)$ are the relaxation rates of the flavor fields in absence of mixing, and ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{m}(k)$ is the mixing angle in the medium. A Weisskopf-Wigner approximation that describes the asymptotic time evolution in terms of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is derived. At long time $\ensuremath{\gg}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{1,2}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ neutrinos equilibrate with the bath. The equilibrium density matrix is nearly diagonal in the basis of eigenstates of an effective Hamiltonian that includes self-energy corrections in the medium. The equilibration of ``sterile neutrinos'' via active-sterile mixing is discussed.
Embedded Human Control of Robots Using Myoelectric Interfaces

Myoelectric controlled interfaces have become a research interest for use in advanced prostheses, exoskeletons, and robot teleoperation. Current research focuses on improving a user's initial performance, either by training a decoding function for a specific user or implementing “intuitive” mapping functions as decoders. However, both approaches are limiting, with the former being subject specific, and the latter task specific. This paper proposes a paradigm shift on myoelectric interfaces by embedding the human as controller of the system to be operated. Using abstract mapping functions between myoelectric activity and control actions for a task, this study shows that human subjects are able to control an artificial system with increasing efficiency by just learning how to control it. The method efficacy is tested by using two different control tasks and four different abstract mappings relating upper limb muscle activity to control actions for those tasks. The results show that all subjects were able to learn the mappings and improve their performance over time. More interestingly, a chronological evaluation across trials reveals that the learning curves transfer across subsequent trials having the same mapping, independent of the tasks to be executed. This implies that new muscle synergies are developed and refined relative to the mapping used by the control task, suggesting that maximal performance may be achieved by learning a constant, arbitrary mapping function rather than dynamic subject- or task-specific functions. Moreover, the results indicate that the method may extend to the neural control of any device or robot, without limitations for anthropomorphism or human-related counterparts.
Codependency in male and female helping professionals

The purpose of this study is to determine and compare the prevalence of codependency in a group of 77 female and a group of 72 male helping professionals. Relatively low rates of codependency were observed in this sample, and the five-factor structure of the Codependency Assessment Tool (CODAT) was replicated. Males showed slightly higher codependency than females on the total CODAT and on the Hiding Self and Family of Origin Issues subscales. The CODAT was shown to be relevant to both males and females. Further research is needed to determine if a general population of male and female subjects would yield similar results.
Phase transition in a four-dimensional random walk with application to medical statistics

A random walk in a piecewise homogeneous medium can exhibit a variety of asymptotic behaviors. In particular, it may lodge strictly in one region or divide in probability among several. This will depend upon the parameters describing (a) the walk, (b) the interregion boundary, and (c) the initial location of the walk. We analyze from this point of view a special four-dimensional walk on an integer lattice with two homogeneous regions separated by a hyperplane of codimension 1. The walk represents a continuing sequence of clinical trials of two drugs of unknown success probabilities and the two regions represent the Bayes-derived criterion as to which drug to try next. The demarcation in the parameter space of success probabilities and initial coordinates between one- and two-region asymptotics is mapped out analytically in several special cases and supporting numerical evidence given in the general case.
Ontology integration within a service‐oriented architecture for expert system applications using sensor networks

: This paper describes the development of an architecture for the discovery of sensor services leveraging ontology-based semantics in the search query. A prototype has been implemented based upon the architecture and can be used to support the development of expert system applications in which sensors of certain types, operational capabilities or physical properties are required to support applications within a network-centric environment. In the prototype, sensor services are listed in a registry that references a machine-interpretable ontology. The registry conforms to the Universal Discovery and Description Interface (UDDI) specification, but it is augmented with semantic matching via an ontology to increase the likelihood that relevant sensor services are discovered when needed by expert system applications.
Solid State Phase Transformations in LiAlH4 During High-Energy Ball-Milling

Mechanochemical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH4 revealed good stability of this complex aluminohydride during high-energy ball-milling in a helium atmosphere for up to 35 h. The decomposition of lithium aluminohydride into Li3AlH6, Al and H2 is observed during prolonged mechanochemical treatment for up to 110 h and is most likely associated with the catalytic effect of a vial material, iron, which is introduced into the hydride as a contaminant during mechanical treatment.
Quantitating direct chlorine transfer from enzyme to substrate in chloroperoxidase-catalyzed reactions.

Substrate competition methods that were previously used to quantitate the involvement of free Cl2 in the chloride-dependent peroxidatic reactions catalyzed by chloroperoxidase (CPO) (Libby, R. D., Shedd, A. L., Phipps, K. A., Beachy, T. M., and Gerstberger, S. M., (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1769-1775) are extended to CPO-catalyzed halogenation reactions. Relative substrate specificities of halogen acceptor substrates (RHs) antipyrine (ap), NADH, 2-chlorodimedone (2cd), and barbituric acid (ba) are compared with previously studied peroxidatic substrates catechol (cat) and 2,4,6-trimethylphenol (tmp) in their reactions with the CPO-H2O2-Cl system versus the hypochlorite-Cl system. Studies were carried out at pH 2.75 over a chloride concentration range of 1-100 mM and at pH 4.80 over a chloride concentration range of 100-400 mM. Competition studies involved successive pairwise comparisons of substrates of increasing enzyme specificity. The orders of specificities, ba > 2cd > ap > cat > tmp at pH 2.75 and ba > 2cd > NADH > ap > cat > tmp at pH 4.80, are the same for both the CPO-H2O2-Cl and hypochlorite-Cl systems. However, the magnitudes of the specificities are different between the two systems. In all comparisons except ap versus cat, the specificity of the CPO-H2O2-Cl system toward the preferred substrate is higher than that of the hypochlorite-Cl system. Quantitative comparisons between specificities of CPO-H2O2-Cl and hypochlorite-Cl systems indicate that at least 98% of the CPO-catalyzed halogenation reactions of ba, 2cd, NADH, and ap occur by mechanisms in which the substrate reacts directly with the enzyme. Thus, less than 2% of any of the CPO reactions could possibly involve a free oxidized halogen intermediate. All data are consistent with a mechanism in which RH binds to the CPO chlorinating intermediate (EOCl), and the chlorine atom is transferred directly from EOCl to RH. Further, the results indicate that any halogenation substrate with a higher CPO specificity than ap must also undergo direct chlorine transfer from the enzyme. These results underscore the critical need for quantitative kinetic evidence in establishing the extent of involvement of any potential reaction intermediate. Finally, this work calls into question the long held assumption of the obligatory involvement of hypochlorite as an intermediate in myeloperoxidase reactions. It supports the recent kinetic evidence presented by Marquet and Dunford for direct chlorine transfer in myeloperoxidase-catalyzed chlorination of tuarine (Marquet, L. A., and Dunford, H. B. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 7950-7956).
Simultaneous fabrication of hybrid arrays of nanowires and micro/nanoparticles by dewetting on micropillars

Large and well-defined arrays of both nanowires and micro/nanoparticles or only micro/nanoparticles are fabricated from aqueous solutions through a one-step dewetting process on an array of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillars.
Creativity, Heritability, Familiarity: Which Word Does Not Belong?

(1993). Creativity, Heritability, Familiarity: Which Word Does Not Belong? Psychological Inquiry: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 235-237.
Fast and Convenient Divergent Synthesis of Aliphatic Ester Dendrimers by Anhydride Coupling

A novel divergent approach was developed for the synthesis of dendritic aliphatic polyester structures using an acetal-protected anhydride derivative of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid as the acylating agent. This divergent synthesis is remarkable, because unlike all others, it only requires a small excess of reagent to achieve quantitative growth, and it requires no means of purification other than a simple solvent extraction or precipitation. A monodisperse sixth generation dendrimer with molecular weight of 30 711 Dalton and 192 masked hydroxyl groups was prepared in high yield and purity using 1,1,1-tris(hydroxyphenyl)ethane as the core molecule. Linear and star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives of narrow polydispersity were also used as core molecules in the divergent synthesis of dendritic-linear copolymer hybrids up to the fourth generation without requiring any chromatographic purification.
Red shift in the photoluminescence of indium gallium arsenide nitride induced by annealing in nitrogen trifluoride

Abstract The effect of annealing a 75nm-thick layer of indium gallium arsenide nitride (InGaAsN) in 1.0×10−6 Torr of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) has been studied by photoluminescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and hydrogen adsorption infrared spectroscopy. A red shift of 25 nm in the peak was observed following heating in NF3 at 530 °C. The compressive strain of the InGaAsN was reduced under annealing in NF3 ambient, while it increased under annealing in AsH3 ambient. It is concluded that N atoms diffuse into the alloy during the NF3 exposure at 530 °C and increase the nitrogen concentration from about 1.2–1.7%.
Human Olfactory Bulb: Aging of Glomeruli and Mitral Cells and a Search for the Accessory Olfactory Bulba

The aims of this study on the human olfactory bulb were two. First morphometry of the bulbs revealed marked declines during aging in the numbers of mitral cells and glomeruli, the bulb's principal integrative and relay elements. Numbers of glomeruli and mitral cells in each bulb of the young adult human were found to be approximately 8,000 and 40,000, respectively; these numbers declined steadily with age at an approximate rate of 10% per decade, so that in the ninth and tenth decades less than 30% of these elements remain in place. Such a marked decline with aging is suggested to underlie in part the decline in olfactory abilities (odor detection and identification) of humans with aging. In a separate study a systematic search for presence of an accessory olfactory bulb in the adult and aging bulbs was undertaken. No positive evidence for such an organized formation was found in the various regions of the adult bulbs of different age groups. The implications of these negative findings for the recent theories on human vomeronasal function and pheromonal perception are discussed.
Cluster multiple-scattering theory for medium-energy electron diffraction.

A theory of medium-energy (100--5000-eV) electron diffraction (MEED) is developed from a multiple-scattering, curved-wave theory of photoelectron diffraction. It may be called ``near-field expansion in clusters.'' Only selected important scattering events are included and these are computed in times proportional to electron wave number by using a generalized scattering-factor method (conventional low-energy electron-diffraction methods require computations proportional to at least the fourth power of the wave number, while the ``chain'' method for MEED scales as at least the square of the wave number). This removes the most serious barrier to a multiple-scattering analysis for surface-structure determination. A direct summation over atoms and scattering paths is used, avoiding any assumptions of periodicity in the surface structure. The theory allows a clearer understanding of the relationship between diffraction intensities and surface structure than heretofore possible.
Stress control of deep rift intrusion at Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii

Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii, deforms by a combination of shallow dike intrusions in the rift zones and earthquakes along the base of the volcano, but it is not known how the spreading is accommodated in the lower part of the volcanic edifice. We present evidence from interferometric synthetic aperture radar data for secular inflation of a dike-like magma body at intermediate depth in the southwest rift zone during 2002 to 2005. Magma accumulation occurred in a section of the rift zone that was unclamped by previous dikes and earthquakes, suggesting that stress transfer plays an important role in controlling subsurface magma accumulation.