cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of image watermark retrieval based on genetic algorithms

A watermark hidden in an image is retrieved differently from the original watermark due to the frequently used rounding approach. The simple rounding will cause numerous errors in the embedded watermark especially when it is large. A novel technique based on genetic algorithms (GAs) is presented in this paper to correct the rounding errors. The fundamental is to adopt a fitness function for choosing the best chromosome which determines the conversion rule of real numbers into integers during the cosine transformation. Experimental results show that the dramatic improvement in reducing the errors is successful when GAs are used in decision making. Furthermore, we develop an initial chromosome by comparing the difference between the original image and the rounded watermarked image to speed up the process. In additional to correct fragile-watermarking rounding errors, our algorithm can also be applied in robust watermarking to achieve higher watermarked image quality.
Acceleration at the termination shock: Anisotropies and spectra

Low-energy termination shock particle populations observed by the Voyagers upstream of the shock exhibited strong field-aligned beaming with anisotropies of the order of unity. The Parker transport equation is valid only for nearly isotropic phase space distributions and is inapplicable to these highly beamed populations. The usual approach is to revert to the more general focused transport equation retaining pitch-angle information. We developed a complimentary technique employing a three-moment expansion of the Skilling equation using Legendre polynomials. We investigate the effects of adiabatic focusing and reflection on the diffusive acceleration process at oblique shock waves. It is shown that low-energy particle intensities are discontinuous and sharply peaked at the shock, consistent with the observations. Particle spectra are not only harder than the power laws predicted from diffusive transport theory, but also exhibit spectral gaps near the low-energy acceleration threshold due to more efficient acceleration by scattering and mirroring. Our model also predicts upstream anisotropies as high as 100% for highly oblique shocks whereas downstream distributions are nearly isotropic.
A variables double sampling plan

For some time it has been the standard practice in ordering most electronic components to specify a nominal value and a plus and minus tolerance. When these components are used in conjunction with others in electronic equipment, advantage is often taken by design engineers of the fact that the tolerances do not necessarily add up directly. For instance, if we have a circuit using three 1000-ohm plus-or-minus-10 per cent resistors in series, our total value of resistance might turn out to be as high as 3300 dims or as low as 2700 ohms. This of course could only happen when the three resistors were each at the high or each at the low end of the tolerance range.
AMELOBLASTIC FIBROSARCOMA IN A BULL

This report describes a malignant odontogenic neoplasm in a 7-year-old bull. The mass, involving the right mandible, was locally invasive and destructive. Histologically, it consisted of islands and cords of benign odontogenic epithelium, entrapped in a population of malignant mesenchymal cells. These morphological features are characteristic of ameloblastic fibrosarcoma in man, an odontogenic tumour not previously described in animals.
Tgfβ Signal Inhibition Cooperates in the Induction of iPSCs and Replaces Sox2 and cMyc

Ectopic expression of Oct4, Sox2, cMyc, and Klf4 confers a pluripotent state upon several differentiated cell types, generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) [1-8]. iPSC derivation is highly inefficient, and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This low efficiency suggests the existence of additional cooperative factors whose identification is critical for understanding reprogramming. In addition, the therapeutic use of iPSCs relies on the development of efficient nongenetic means of factor delivery, and although a handful of replacement molecules have been identified, their use yields a further reduction to the already low reprogramming efficiency [9-11]. Thus, the identification of compounds that enhance rather than solely replace the function of the reprogramming factors will be of great use. Here, we demonstrate that inhibition of Tgfbbeta signaling cooperates in the reprogramming of murine fibroblasts by enabling faster, more efficient induction of iPSCs, whereas activation of Tgfbeta signaling blocks reprogramming. In addition to exhibiting a strong cooperative effect, the Tgfbeta receptor inhibitor bypasses the requirement for exogenous cMyc or Sox2, highlighting its dual role as a cooperative and replacement factor. The identification of a highly characterized pathway operating in iPSC induction will open new avenues for mechanistic dissection of the reprogramming process.
The molecular Aharonov—Bohm effect in bound states

Abstract The molecular Aharonov—Bohm (MAB) effect is an effective vector potential term which must be inserted into the nuclear Born—Oppenheimer hamiltonian whenever two electronic potential energy surfaces experience a conical intersection. The effect can be important whenever the nuclear wavefunction is appreciable everywhere along a closed path around the intersection; it need not be appreciable at the intersection itself. In the present article, the effect is investigated in detail for bound states of triatomic molecules such as Li 3 . The general theory, including the treatment of permutations of identical nuclei, is discussed in some detail, and a crude model calculation is carried out based on the potential surface for Li 3 obtained by Gerber and Schumacher. Although the model is too over-simplified for the actual numerical results to have significance, it does show that the MAB effect is quite appreciable. In this paper, the effect of electronic spin is ignored; its treatment is taken up in the paper following.
Exact Two-spinon Dynamic Structure Factor of the One-dimensional s=1/2 Heisenberg-Ising Antiferromagnet

The exact two-spinon part of the dynamic spin structure factor ${S}_{\mathrm{xx}}(Q,\ensuremath{\omega})$ for the one-dimensional $s=1/2,$ $\mathrm{XXZ}$ model at $T=0$ in the antiferromagnetically ordered phase is calculated using recent advances in the algebraic analysis based on (infinite-dimensional) quantum group symmetries of this model and the related vertex models. The two-spinon excitations form a two-parameter continuum consisting of two partly overlapping sheets in $(Q,\ensuremath{\omega})$ space. The spectral threshold has a smooth maximum at the Brillouin zone boundary $(Q=\ensuremath{\pi}/2)$ and a smooth minimum with a gap at the zone center $(Q=0).$ The two-spinon density of states has square-root divergences at the lower and upper continuum boundaries. For the two-spinon transition rates, the two regimes $0l~Ql{Q}_{\ensuremath{\kappa}}$ (near the zone center) and ${Q}_{\ensuremath{\kappa}}lQl~\ensuremath{\pi}/2$ (near the zone boundary) must be distinguished, where ${Q}_{\ensuremath{\kappa}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ in the Heisenberg limit and ${Q}_{\ensuremath{\kappa}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}/2$ in the Ising limit. In the regime ${Q}_{\ensuremath{\kappa}}lQl~\ensuremath{\pi}/2,$ the two-spinon transition rates relevant for ${S}_{\mathrm{xx}}(Q,\ensuremath{\omega})$ are finite at the lower boundary of each sheet, decrease monotonically with increasing \ensuremath{\omega}, and approach zero linearly at the upper boundary. The resulting two-spinon part of ${S}_{\mathrm{xx}}(Q,\ensuremath{\omega})$ is then square-root divergent at the spectral threshold and vanishes in a square-root cusp at the upper boundary. In the regime $0l{Q}_{\ensuremath{\kappa}}l~\ensuremath{\pi}/2,$ in contrast, the two-spinon transition rates have a smooth maximum inside the continuum and vanish linearly at either boundary. In the associated two-spinon line shapes of ${S}_{\mathrm{xx}}(Q,\ensuremath{\omega}),$ the linear cusps at the continuum boundaries are replaced by square-root cusps. Existing perturbation studies have been unable to capture the physics of the regime ${Q}_{\ensuremath{\kappa}}lQl~\ensuremath{\pi}/2.$ However, their line-shape predictions for the regime $0l~Ql{Q}_{\ensuremath{\kappa}}$ are in good agreement with the exact results if the anisotropy is very strong. For weak anisotropies, the exact line shapes are more asymmetric.
Suppression of spontaneous emission in a 1-D photonic bandgap structure: experimental demonstration

Summary form only given. Recently, photonic bandgap structures (PBGS) and their optical properties have attracted great interest. Spontaneous emission from an atom or molecule in a PBGS may be manipulated both in spatial and temporal characteristics. This is accomplished by manipulating or altering the local environment (vacuum field) seen by the atom or molecule. PBGS accomplish this by reducing or enhancing (to varying degree) the vacuum field as seen by the atom in a spatial and frequency-dependant manner. We show a schematic of the experimental setup and the Er-doped fiber Bragg grating used.
Lesbians still face job discrimination.

Abstract This article examines continued discrimination against lesbians in the workplace. A number of cases from various jurisdictions in the United States are highlighted. The paper studies two common forms of discrimination: denial of employment benefits to same sex partners, and sexual harassment. On the first front, the case law suggests that health insurance coverage for one's partner is becoming the norm. On the question of sexual harassment in the workplace, the case law did not provide protection for lesbians. Finally, U.S. employment policies related to sexual orientation are contrasted with those in Israel, which provides much greater protection from discrimination. doi:10.1080/10894160802174235
In-memory storage and search system for event management in network security

The performance of network security applications greatly depends on the amount of network-related events that can be kept in memory. Storing a larger number of events in memory can facilitate tasks like correlation analysis in intrusion detection, locating traces of intrusions, and real-time packet analysis. In this paper, we present a patent provisioned storage and search system that can be used for efficient and flexible insertion, search, and management of network security events in memory. It was motivated by the ternary tree data structure and has been adapted to meet the needs of security-related applications. We have performed simulations to show that it outperforms traditional hash methods in terms of memory storage and search efficiency.
The synthesis of polycyclic benz-fused pyrroles†

Pyrrolo[1,2-f]phenanthridine (2), benzo[f]pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline (3), 5,6,7,8,9,10,11-hexahydrobenzo[g]pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline (5), and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline (6) dicarboxylic acid diesters were prepared in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and the hydrofluoroborate salt of the appropriate Reissert compound. Several of the different methods to prepare Reissert compounds are compared and the carbon-13 nmr spectra for the Reissert compounds are reported. Carbon-13 nmr was used to assign the structures of isomers 10 and 11; the latter compounds arose from a prior reaction in which the cyclization of β-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl)ethylamine N-formate which gave a mixture of hexahydroisoquinolines, 8a and 9a. Pyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinoline (12) and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline dicarboxylic acid diesters were made in munchnone cycloaddition reactions. The latter compound was made from tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid which was readily prepared from isoquinaldic acid by catalytic reduction. The dehydrogenation of several of the partially saturated compounds is also discussed.
Real-time occlusion culling for models with large occluders

Real-Time Occlusion Culling for Models with Large Occluders SATYAN COORG SETH TELLER Computer Graphics Group MIT Laboratory for Computer Science Efficiently identifying polygons that are visible from a dynamic synthetic viewpoint is an important problem in computer graphics. Typically, visibility determination is performed using the z-buffer algorithm. As this algorithm must examine every triangle in the input scene, z-buffering can consume a significant fraction of graphics processing, especially on architectures that have a low performance or software z-buffer. One way to avoid needlessly processing invisible portions of the scene is to use an occlusion culling algorithm to discard invisible polygons early in the graphics pipeline. In this paper, we exploit the presence of large occluders in urban and architectural models to design a real-time occlusion culling algorithm. Our algorithm has the following features: it is conservative, i.e., it overestimates the set of visible polygons; it exploits spatial coherence by using a hierarchical data structure; and it exploits temporal coherence by reusing visibility information computed for previous viewpoints. The new algorithm significantly accelerates rendering of several complex test models. CR
Factor and principal component analyses as alternatives to index selection.

Selections from factor and principal component analyses were compared with those from the Smith-Hazel index when selecting for several switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) traits. The objective of this study was to examine several alternatives to index selection. Such procedures would potentially eliminate problems of selection associated with Smith-Hazel indices, including errors in genetic parameter estimates and difficulty in assigning relative economic weights to traits. Selection was performed on 1,280 plants that were evaluated over 2 years at 1 location, in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. The plants were evaluated for forage yield and several forage quality traits. The comparisons of index selection with principal factor analysis, maximum-likelihood factor analysis and principal component analysis were made for three sets of traits (five traits per set) to estimate repeatability for the comparisons. Multivariate analyses were performed on both simple and genotypic correlation matrices. Comparisons were made by computing Spearman's rank correlations between selection index plant scores and scores computed from multivariate analysis and by determining the number of plants selected in common for the selection methods. Among the three multivariate analysis methods evaluated in this study, principal component analysis had the highest correlation with index selection. The high correlation for principal component analysis of simple correlation matrices indicates the potential for using this statistical method for selection purposes. This would permit the breeder to reduce field costs (e.g., time, labor, equipment) required to obtain the genetic parameter estimates necessary to construct selection indices.
Potential dependence of the capacitance of ionizable bilayers

Abstract The effect of the applied potential across a biomimetic model membrane, Δ φ , on the extent of dissociation of surface bound ionizable groups has been examined theoretically using a formalism that shares common features with that recently introduced by White and coworkers (Langmuir 9 (1993) 1) to account for the occurrence of peaks in the cyclic voltammetry of self-assembled monolayers rigidly attached to an electrode surface, bearing the same type of ionizable groups facing the electrolyte. Numerical solutions of the governing coupled, highly non-linear system of equations yielded for reasonable membrane parameters, and under conditions of physiological relevance, linear changes in the extent of ionization as a function of Δ φ , about Δ φ =0, of ca. 0.07 units/V. Also considered in this work was a more general situation in which the contributions to the total interfacial capacity, C T , due to the diffuse double layers, C S j , and to the fixed charges C j ( f j ) on each of the sides of the membrane-like assembly denoted by ‘j’, were comparable in magnitude to the potential independent capacity of the intervening hydrophobic layer, i.e. low-electrolyte concentration. In such case, plots of C T versus Δ φ displayed a global minimum at Δ φ =0 and two local maxima at values of Δ φ slightly negative and positive to the maxima observed in the corresponding C j ( f j ) versus Δ φ plots. Implications of the results obtained to excitable bilayer membranes are briefly discussed.
Elektronenstrahlschweißen an Atmosphäre – von der Entwicklung bis zum industriellen Einsatz

Bedingt durch die zunehmende Standardisierung in vielen Bereichen der industriellen Fertigung, die Ressourcenschonung und dadurch der Zwang zum Leichtbau sowie die rasche Entwicklung auf dem Werkstoffsektor, werden an die Fugetechniken immer komplexere Aufgaben herangetragen. Dies betrifft sowohl das Fugeverfahren selbst, das den zu verbindenden Grundwerkstoffen in metallurgischer Hinsicht gerecht werden muss, als auch seine Wirtschaftlichkeit. In diesem Zusammenhang kommt dem Elektronenstrahlschweisen an Atmosphare - NV-EBW - als Verbindungstechnik eine immer grosere Bedeutung und steigendes Interesse seitens der Industrie zu. Das NV-EBW verbindet die vielen bekannten Vorteile des Elektronenstrahlschweisens im Vakuum mit der Moglichkeit unter normalem Umgebungsdruck zu arbeiten. Mit einem Anlagenwirkungsgrad von uber 50 % und den sehr hohen erreichbaren Schweisgeschwindigkeiten von bis zu 60 m/min bei Aluminiumwerkstoffen ist der Elektronenstrahl an Atmosphare ein effizientes und wirtschaftliches Werkzeug in der Schweistechnik. Im ISF wird seit Jahren unter der Leitung von Professor U. Dilthey an der NV-EBW Technologie in engem Kontakt mit industriellen Partnern geforscht. Dabei wurden wesentliche Beitrage zur Entwicklung eines rotationssymmetrischen Druckstufensys­tems sowie zur Erprobung und Optimierungen des Verfahrens hinsichtlich der jeweiligen Schweisaufgaben geleistet.
Comparison of the rotavirus gene 6 from different species by sequence analysis and localization of subgroup-specific epitopes using site-directed mutagenesis.

The nucleotide sequence of gene 6 encoding the rotavirus major capsid protein VP6 of EDIM strain (EW) was determined and compared to that of 20 previously reported strains with known subgroup specificities. Multiple alignments of amino acid sequences exhibited a high level of sequence conservation (87 to 99.2%). Site-specific mutagenesis experiments were undertaken to localize regions involved in subgroup specificity. Amino acid positions 305, 315, and a region 296-299 (or 301 for equine strain H-2) were identified as contributing to subgroup epitopes. A single amino acid mutation at position 305 or 315 was sufficient to change the subgroup specificity of EW VP6 protein from non I/II to subgroup I- or subgroup II-like, respectively. Mutation at these sites may be another important mechanism for subgroup variation, along with gene reassortment.
An Experiment on Anonymity and Multi-User Virtual Environments: Manipulating Identity to Increase Learning from Online Collaborative Discussion

Little prior research has empirically examined anonymity in learning. In this study, we manipulated learner identity by experimentally assigning learners to participate in online discussion either anonymously or using their actual name, crossed with learning medium (OpenSim/Second Life vs. real-time chat), with the goal of determining if anonymous discussion in multi-user virtual environments (MUVE) provides unique value to learning (a 2x2 between-subjects design). Results from a quantitative hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed both main effects: participants who were anonymous scored lower (d = -0.46) and participants discussing in a MUVE scored lower (d = -0.47) on the learning measure without interactive effect, suggesting that anonymizing participants during content-related discussion may reduce learning under certain circumstances. The authors suggest instructors encourage learners to represent themselves authentically in any VEs to maximize learning and also discourage instructors from adopting MUVEs if their only reason to do so is to host synchronous discussion.
IV. Metabolism of inositides and the activation of platelets

Abstract Platelet activation is associated with the active metabolism of inositide lipids. Phosphodiesteratic cleavage of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate is a consequence of receptor-coupled mechanisms. Degredation of phosphatidylinostiol-4,5-biphosphate is Ca 2+ -insensitive while that of phosphatidylinositol requires Ca 2+ . The phosphodiesteratic breakdown of these inositides induces the formation of 1,2-diacylglycerol which is rapidly phosphorylated to phosphatidic acid. These biochemical changes might be related to fundamental mechanisms of amplication involved in the process of platelet activation. Phosphatidic acid constitutes an ubiquitous marker for the action of a wide variety of platelet stimuli.
Constancy of motor axon conduction time during growth in rats.

Axon conduction distance, conduction velocity, and conduction time were measured for individual triceps surae motoneurons in Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230–630 g (i.e., age range 6–16 weeks). Both conduction distance (nerve length) and velocity were closely correlated with weight (r=0.95 and r=0.82, respectively). In contrast, conduction time did not change as weight increased nearly threefold. This striking constancy is probably due to a corresponding increase in axon diameter. It could contribute to maintenance of stable motor performance during rapid growth.
Managing exposure of direct foreign investment to political risk: The case of food businesses in China

Abstract Direct foreign investment (DFI) allows a multinational corporation (MNC) to generate and appropriate extra-normal profits from its unique assets in a foreign market. China has become increasingly attractive for foreign investment over the past 20 years. This entails political risk, but MNCs can reduce the risk by relying heavily on MNC-specific assets, often in the form of tacit knowledge. A joint venture with a local partner creates an incentive for a local stakeholder to shield the DFI from political risks and allows the partner to contribute location-specific assets to the venture, further reducing the MNC's risk.
Effects of purified dietary fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium rosenbergii☆

Abstract Post-larval freshwater shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) were reared for 14 weeks on a commercial shrimp feed, a fat-free casein diet and casein diets containing 1% purified 16:0 (palmitate), 18:2n−6 (linoleate), 18:3n−3 (linolenate) or a 15:1 mixture of 18:2n−6 18:3n−3 as the only source of dietary lipid. Gas chromatographic analysis of tissue lipid extracts from hepatopancreas, cephalothorax and abdominal tissues revealed 23 identifiable fatty acids. Sixteen- and 18-carbon fatty acids predominated in all tissues, regardless of dietary lipid composition or length of treatment. Major tissue fatty acids were 16:0, 18:0 (stearate), 18:1n−9 (oleate), 16:1n−7 (palmitoleate), 20:5n−3 (eicosapentaenoate), 20:4n−6 (arachidonate) and 22:6n−3 (docosahexaenoate). Even-numbered saturated fatty acids (14:0, 16:0, 18:0, 20:0) as well as n−7 and n−9 monounsaturates and their derivatives were synthesized from dietary carbon sources. Saturates and monounsaturates composed 30–50% of tissue fatty acids, regardless of diet composition. Long-chain polyunsaturates were concentrated in abdominal tissue and were retained in muscle during periods of lipid mobilization. Freshwater shrimp converted 18:2n−6 to 20:2n−6 (eicosadienoate) and desaturated 20:2n−6 to 20:3n−6 (eicosatrienoate). No evidence was found that M. rosenbergii was capable of synthesizing 18:2n−6 or 18:3n−3. However, elongation and desaturation of 18:2n−6 (to 20:2n−6, 20:3n−6, 20:4n−6) and 18:3n−3 (to 20:5n−3, 22:6n−3) apparently did occur. Growth was depressed in freshwater shrimp fed 18:3n−3 as the only source of dietary lipid. Linoleate did not depress growth when fed under the same conditions. Tissue n−6:n−3 ratios were affected by dietary levels of n−6 and n−3 fatty acids. N−6:n−3 ratios were less variable in abdominal tissue than in hepatopancreas, reflecting the relatively stable fatty acid composition of muscle.
Two-Part Texture Mappings

Most published techniques for mapping two-dimensional texture patterns onto three-dimensional curved surfaces assume that either the texture pattern has been predistorted to compensate for the distortion of the mapping or the curved surfaces are represented parametrically. We address the problem of mapping undistorted planar textures onto arbitrarily represented surfaces. Our mapping technique is done in two parts. First the texture pattern is embedded in 3-space on an intermediate surface. Then the pattern is projected onto the target surface in a way that depends only on the geometry of the target object (not on its parameterization). Both steps have relatively low distortion, so the original texture need not be predistorted. We also discuss interactive techniques that make two-part mapping practical.
Some examples of permutations modelling area preserving monotone twist maps

Abstract We present several simple examples of permutations of a lattice which model area preserving monotone twist maps of the annulus. The behavior of these examples is considerably different from what the analogies with behavior of their smooth counterparts would predict.
Improving emergency management: A total quality management approach

We address the problem of managing emergencies in complex environments and examine the concepts of total quality management (TQM) as a means of increasing organisational capacity to reduce and/or respond to threatening events. The TQM approach initiates and integrates improvement in three fundamental areas of organisational design and operation: technical, organisational, and cultural. We apply this approach to the interactive environment of hazardous materials management and present an “action plan” for introducing TQM into community planning for risk reduction and response, focusing on the technical, organisational, and cultural components of the process. We present evidence of increased performance in reducing hazardous materials risk from field reports of communities that have adopted TQM practices. Finally, we conclude that TQM serves as a generative means of revitalising, renewing, and enabling community engagement in hazardous materials management.
Appendiceal Intussusception Masquerading as an Ileocolic Intussusception

Appendiceal intussusception is rare occurring with an incidence of 0.1%. It is most commonly encountered in middle-aged females due to endometrial involvement of the appendix. One-quarter of cases occur in the pediatric population where it is usually due to appendiceal inflammation. Classification of appendiceal intussusception (type I–V) is based on the level of appendiceal invagination. Appendectomy is the treatment of choice unless there is a concern for a neoplasm in which case a more extensive resection may be necessary. We report a 47-year-old with an appendiceal intussusception.
A comparison between brand-specific and traditional alcohol surveillance methods to assess underage drinkers' reported alcohol use

BACKGROUND: Adolescent alcohol consumption remains common and is associated with many negative health outcomes. Unfortunately, common alcohol surveillance methods often underestimate consumption. Improved alcohol use measures are needed to characterize the landscape of youth drinking. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare a standard quantity-frequency measure of youth alcohol consumption to a novel brand-specific measure. METHODS: We recruited a sample of 1031 respondents across the United States to complete an online survey. Analyses included 833 male and female underage drinkers ages 13-20. Respondents reported on how many of the past 30 days they consumed alcohol, and the number of drinks consumed on an average drinking day. Using our brand-specific measure, respondents identified which brands they consumed, how many days they consumed each brand, and how many drinks per brand they usually had. RESULTS: Youth reported consuming significantly more alcohol (on average, 11 drinks more per month) when responding to the brand-specific versus the standard measure (p CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the field of alcohol and adolescent research first by investigating a potentially more accurate alcohol surveillance method, and secondly by promoting the assessment of alcohol use among adolescents vulnerable to risky alcohol use. Finally, our survey addresses the potential impact of alcohol marketing on youth and their subsequent alcohol brand preferences and consumption. Language: en
PYK2 is an adhesion kinase in macrophages, localized in podosomes and activated by beta(2)-integrin ligation.

Pyk2 is a member of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family, highly expressed in the central nervous system and haemopoietic cells. Although Pyk2 is homologous to FAK, its role in signaling pathways was shown to be distinct from that of FAK. We show here that Pyk2 is highly expressed in peritoneal IC-21 macrophage and is tyrosine phosphorylated in response to cell attachment to fibronectin and fibrinogen. Upon IC-21 cell adhesion, Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation is inhibited by blocking antibodies to the integrin subunits alpha(M) and beta(2). Furthermore, Pyk2 is rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated in response to ligation of beta(2) integrins by antibodies. In migrating macrophages, Pyk2 localizes to perinuclear regions and to podosomes, where it is clustered with tyrosine phosphorylated proteins. Furthermore, in the podosomal ring structure, which surrounds the central actin core, Pyk2 co-localizes with vinculin, talin, and paxillin. In the podosomes, Pyk2 also co-localizes with the integrin alpha(M)beta(2). Lastly, reduction of Pyk2 expression in macrophages leads to inhibition of cell migration. We propose that Pyk2 is functionally linked to the formation of podosomes where it mediates the integrin-cytoskeleton interface and regulates cell spreading and migration.
A target cueing and tracking system (TCATS) for smart video processing

The general-purpose Target Cueing and Tracking System (TCATS) was developed to be independent of the application and the user interface. TCATS has successfully demonstrated a high detection capability and the ability to ignore exterior environmental conditions, such as cloud shadows moving through the scene, snow, blowing dust, rain, and moderate camera motion. TCATS can handle many targets and retain the identity of each object from one frame to the next. Special ruggedized hardware has been developed to reduce the size, cost, and power consumption, and to increase the processing rate, reliability, and environmental operating capability of the TCATS. TCATS is undetectable to an outside intruder. The nature of TCATS would make it difficult for an intruder to defeat, even if the intruder were aware of its existence. Field evaluations are underway for exterior fixed site security applications. A description is given of the TCATS algorithms, custom developed hardware, and preliminary field test results. >
Understanding the connectivity of heap objects

Modern garbage collectors partition the set of heap objects to achieve the best performance. For example, generational garbage collectors partition objects by age and focus their efforts on the youngest objects. Partitioning by age works well for many programs because younger objects usually have short lifetimes and thus garbage collection of young objects is often able to free up many objects. However, generational garbage collectors are typically much less efficient for longer-lived objects, and thus prior work has proposed many enhancements to generational collection.Our work explores whether the connectivity of objects can yield useful partitions or improve existing partitioning schemes. We look at both direct (e.g., object A points to object B) and transitive (e.g., object A is reachable from object B) connectivity. Our results indicate that connectivity correlates strongly with object lifetimes and deathtimes and is therefore likely to be useful for partitioning objects.
Potential Role of Famciclovir for Prevention of Herpetic Whitlow in the Health Care Setting

Oral famciclovir was initiated in a health care worker immediately after an accidental percutaneous injury involving a needle freshly removed from a patient's herpes labialis vesicles. In follow-up, the health care worker remained seronegative for herpes simplex I and II antibodies (IgG and IgM) and did not develop herpetic whitlow, supporting the potential role of famciclovir in the prevention of herpetic whitlow in a health care setting.
Augmented reality cues and elderly driver hazard perception.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of augmented reality (AR) cues in improving driving safety among elderly drivers who are at increased crash risk because of cognitive impairments. BACKGROUND: Cognitively challenging driving environments pose a particular crash risk for elderly drivers. AR cuing is a promising technology to mitigate risk by directing driver attention to roadway hazards. We investigate whether AR cues improve or interfere with hazard perception in elderly drivers with age-related cognitive decline. METHOD: A total of 20 elderly (M = 73 years, SD = 5) licensed drivers with a range of cognitive abilities measured by a speed-of-processing (SOP) composite participated in a 1-hr drive in an interactive, fixed-base driving simulator. Each participant drove through six straight, 6-mile-long, rural roadway scenarios following a lead vehicle. AR cues directed attention to potential roadside hazards in three of the scenarios, and the other three were uncued (baseline) drives. Effects of AR cuing were evaluated with respect to (a) detection of hazardous target objects, (b) interference with detecting nonhazardous secondary objects, and (c) impairment in maintaining safe distance behind a lead vehicle. RESULTS: AR cuing improved the detection of hazardous target objects of low visibility. AR cues did not interfere with detection of nonhazardous secondary objects and did not impair ability to maintain safe distance behind a lead vehicle (close following). SOP capacity did not moderate those effects. CONCLUSION: AR cues show promise for improving elderly driver safety by increasing hazard detection likelihood without interfering with other driving tasks, such as maintaining safe headway. Language: en
Combined Feed-forward/Feedback Control of Wind Turbines to Reduce Blade Flap Bending Moments y

In above rated conditions, wind turbines are often subjected to undesirable high structural loading. We investigate two feedback control techniques in combination with a feedforward control method for reducing blade ap bending loads in above rated wind conditions. The feedback controls studied include both disturbance accommodating/tracking and integral augmented/repetitive types that incorporate models of persistent disturbances at DC (step changes in wind) and at the once per revolution frequency. Each method is combined with a feed-forward method utilizing the wind speed as measured at the blade tips and also based on the blade tip average wind speed. Performance is assessed by simulating the combined feed-forward/feedback systems on a three bladed turbine model with the National Renewable Energy Lab’s FAST wind turbine code. It is found that feedforward of blade tip average wind speed measurements can provide signicant reduction of blade root loads and improved speed regulation in time varying wind that is uniform across the rotor plane. However, the improvements are not as great in non-uniform and turbulent conditions in which case the blade tip average wind speed measurements provide incomplete information for conditions that can be unique at each blade. We use an extension of the linearized turbine model to design feed-forward compensation that uses individual measurements of the wind at each blade tip. Results suggest that using blade local measurements provides substantially greater reduction in blade loads, but assessing the full potential of using this more detailed information requires more accurate modeling of the way perturbations local to each blade couple into the turbine.
Culturing the Pleebland: The Idea of the "Public" In Genetic Art

This essay explores the relationship between genetic art — art incorporating material from genetic research — and the construction of a public sphere of debate about genetic research. First considering an exhibit titled Paradise Now that toured in 2000, the author then turns to Eduardo Kac's GFP Bunny project and finally to the work of Steve Kurtz, an artist who has been trying since 2004 to untangle himself from an FBI investigation associated with his work on transgenic organisms and biotoxins. While the Paradise Now exhibit and Katz's work show the fault lines between the didactic aspirations of much genetic artwork and the reality of its reception; Kurtz's case has revealed a perhaps more troubling disjunction — between the artist's notion of the "public" as participant and spectator and the US government's notion of the "public" as a group of citizens that need to be protected from the hazards of experimental art.
Influence of street reference data on geocoding quality

Repeatability of street geocoding was characterized in terms of completeness and positional accuracy by using different street network datasets to geocode the same address input file. Match rates were highest for local street centrelines followed by StreetMap USA 2005 and TIGER 2000 data. Positional accuracy was highest for local street centrelines, while StreetMap USA 2005 and TIGER 2000 were nearly identical. Rural addresses were geocoded less accurately than urban addresses. Multi-family residential and commercial, institutional or industrial addresses were geocoded less accurately than urban single family residential addresses. The enhancement of TIGER 2000 data by commercial firms resulted in higher match rates but not in improved positional accuracy. The study has also highlighted the unique nature of multi-family and non-residential addresses in terms of the quality of their street geocoded locations. When such addresses are of specific interest alternatives to traditional street geocoding may need...
The Deep Homology of the Autopod: Insights from Hox Gene Regulation

The evolution of tetrapod limbs from fish fins was a significant functional and morphological shift, but how significant was it in terms of the underlying genetic mechanisms? The fossil record provides insight into the morphological changes. However, to understand the underlying mechanisms, we must peer into the gene regulatory networks of living vertebrates. Analysis of HoxA/D expression in a basal actinopterygian, the North American paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, reveals patterns of expression long considered to be a unique developmental signature of the autopod (hands/feet, digits) and shown in tetrapods to be controlled by a "digit enhancer" regulatory landscape. These data, along with recent interspecific transgenic experiments, expression results from chondrichthyans, and data from fossils support the notion that the autopod shares a deep homology with the distal endoskeleton of the fin (distal radials) of other gnathostomes.
A kinetic study of the lactic acid fermentation. Batch process at controlled pH

Kinetic data are needed to develop basic understanding of fermentation processes and to permit rational design of continuous fermentation processes. The kinetics of the fermentation of glucose to lactic acid have been studied at six constant pH levels between 4·5 and 6·0 by measuring the instantaneous rates of bacterial growth and of lactic acid formation throughout each fermentation. It was found that the instantaneous rate of acid formation dP/dt, could be related to the instantaneous rate of bacterial growth dN/dt, and to the bacterial density N, throughout a fermentation at a given pH, by the expression where the constants α and β are determined by the pH of the fermentation.
Supercode heuristics for tree search decoding

Viterbi decoding and sequential decoding are the standard approaches to decoding convolutional codes (and linear codes with trellis representations in general). However, when reliable communication at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) is desired, both techniques are impractical: the Viterbi algorithm requires large amounts of memory and numbers of computations to decode powerful codes, while sequential decoding at low SNR requires exploring large portions of the code tree. In this paper we present a novel two-pass decoder which incorporates features of both these techniques but can achieve decoding complexities lower than either of them. The decoder initially performs a backward pass that resembles the add-compare-select stage of the Viterbi decoder or the backward stage of the BCJR decoder. However, it is performed not on the trellis representing the actual code used for transmission, but on a higher rate supercode (a linear code containing all codewords of the original code) with a simpler trellis representation. The supercode state metrics obtained in the backward pass are preserved and subsequently used in the forward pass. The forward pass involves the actual tree search for the most likely transmitted codeword (of the original code), and the supercode state metrics serve as heuristics, speeding up the search process. We demonstrate that such a decoder, with a proper choice of parameters, can be made equivalent to a sequential decoder with the Fano metric, a sequential decoder with an ML metric, or a Viterbi decoder (run backwards). However, the decoder operates most effectively in between these modes, when the computational load is distributed evenly between the backward and forward stages.
Controllability analysis for current profile control in tokamaks

The control of the toroidal current density spatial profile in tokamak plasmas will be absolutely critical in future commercial-grade reactors to enable high fusion gain, noninductive sustainment of the plasma current for steady-state operation, and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instability-free performance. Since the actuators that are available to achieve a predefined desired current profile are constrained by physical limitations, experiments have shown that some target profiles may not be achievable for all arbitrary initial conditions. This clearly defines a controllability problem, where the transport dynamics of the toroidal current density is governed by a parabolic partial differential equation with diffusivity-interior-boundary actuation. We first prove that the system is not completely controllable and later provide an estimate of the unreachable region.
Papa pig just left for pigtown: Children's oral and written picture descriptions under varying instructions

Second‐ through fifth‐grade children were asked to describe pictures under four conditions: orally and in writing for both a present audience and for an absent child who would have to read the written description or listen to the recording and draw it. About half the 150 subjects were speakers of English as a second language. The four descriptions from each child were coded for variables reflecting dimensions expected to be sensitive to the differences in instruction and mode: quantity, specificity, density, main theme, and nar‐rativity. Children of all grades were sensitive to the task demands, though older children produced longer and more specific descriptions. A greater effect of the instruction was found in the oral than in the written descriptions; across grades the best performance occurred in the oral description for an absent audience. The written mode elicited more highly narrative descriptions in general. Home language environment had virtually no effect on quality of picture descriptions in an...
The Annular Taylor Column

A study is made of the time evolution of the flow generated by an annulus (a disk with a hole in it) of inner, outer radii a and b (a ≪ b ), impulsively set into motion and rising at an infinitesimal Rossby number along the axis of rotation of a uniformly rotating, unbounded mass of inviscid, incompressible fluid. The result is that a Taylor column in the form of an annular cylinder of inner, outer radii a and b , does evolve, with all the properties a Taylor column should possess. As a consequence, possibly the first engineering application of the Taylor column is suggested.
Minority Representation, Empowerment, and Participation

According to the minority empowerment thesis, minority representation strengthens representational links, fosters more positive attitudes toward government, and encourages political participation. We examine this theory from a cross-national perspective, making use of surveys that sampled minorities in the United States and New Zealand. Both countries incorporate structures into their electoral systems that make it possible for minority groups to elect representatives of their choice. We find that in both countries descriptive representation matters: it increases knowledge about and contact with representatives in the U.S. and leads to more positive evaluations of governmental responsiveness and increased electoral participation in New Zealand. These findings have broad implications for debates about minority representation.
Abdominal radiography is not necessary in children with intussusception

Children with intussusception require rapid and accurate diagnosis to enable timely intervention for satisfactory outcome. Ultrasonography is the recommended standard diagnostic modality; however, abdominal radiography (AR) is still used as an initial investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of AR in intussusception by determining diagnostic accuracy and analysing correlation of AR findings with outcome. Index cases of intussusception presenting over 15 years (1998–2013) were analysed. Those who had AR performed were allocated into groups with positive or normal findings. Outcome of pneumatic reduction of intussusception (PRI) between these groups was compared. Six hundred and forty-four cases of intussusception treated with PRI were identified, 412 (64 %) had AR performed and 232 (36 %) did not. 303 (74 %) radiographs had positive findings and 109 (26 %) were normal. The success rate of PRI did not differ between AR positive (82 %) and AR normal (84 %). Occult pneumoperitoneum was not detected in any patient by AR in our cohort. AR is not recommended for the diagnosis of intussusception in children, for the prediction of the outcome of PRI or for the detection of occult pneumoperitoneum. AR should always be performed when clinical peritonism is present but is not otherwise necessary in children with suspected or confirmed intussusception.
PROSPECTS FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF TRANSITION METALS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF DIFFUSE INTERSTELLAR CLOUDS: FORMATION OF FeH+ BY RADIATIVE ASSOCIATION*

Abstract Transition metals traditionally have been ignored in chemical models of interstellar clouds. Themochemical considerations indicate that the formation of several important species can be catalyzed by transition metal ions. The importance of such chemistry depends critically upon the rate of conversion of atomic metal ions into molecular species. Potential energy curves and transition moments have been calculated and a simple model employed to determine the rate constant for the appropriate reaction of iron, FeH+ formation by radiative association.