cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combinatorial systems I. Cylindrical problems

The reduction of one combinatorial decision problem PI to another P2 can be achieved by constructing an effective map r : Pa --~ P2 such that each problem p in /'1 is reducible to the corresponding problem r in P2 (el. [4]). Judicious choice of ~b can sometimes ensure that p ~,~ r If, in addition, all the problems in P2, are cylinders [2] then p 41 r so that the reduction of P1 to P2 is best possible. This is because any cylinder has maximum one-one degree within its many-one degree--two cylinders which are many-one equivalent are actually one-one equivalent. The primary aim of this paper is, therefore, to identify some combinatorial problems which are always cylinders. Our investigation is effected by considering those functions on the natural numbers whose values are finite sets of natural numbers--system functions--which possess certain formal properties in common with those arising naturally from G6del numbering of many kinds of combinatorial system. This approach also enables us to construct system functions with noncylindrical problems--a matter reserved for a later paper. Many aspects of combinatorial systems (partial propositional calculi, Markov algorithms semi-Thue systems, etc.) are comprehended in Tarski's definition of deductive systems [5]. Accordingly we first expound a general method of recognizing cylindrical combinatorial problems of deductive systems and then apply it to system functions. For an explanation of the concepts of recursive-function theory as used in this paper the reader is referred to [2]; the notion of a cylinder, which is central to our discussion, and its elementary properties are presented on p. 89. The idea of using system functions in the theory of combinatorial systems is due to W. E. Singletary. The points in the ensuing development at which I am indebted to him are too numerous to mention.
3. Prophylaxe der postoperativen Harnwegsinfektionen bei vaginaler Hysterektomie mit Plastik

Die postoperativen Komplikationen nach vaginaler Hysterektomie mit Plastik an der Frauenklinik Winterthur von 1982 bis 1986 werden anhand von drei Kollektiven mit verschiedener Prophylaxe untersucht. Der Nachteil einer Kurzzeitprophylaxe gegenuber der Langzeitprophylaxe im Bezug auf Harnwegsinfektionen wird festgestellt. Die maximale Reduktion der Harnwegsinfekte durch routinemasige Verwendung einer suprapubischen Blasendrainage wird dargelegt. Die Schlusfolgerung besteht in der Empfehlung einer Einmal-Prophylaxe mit 1 g Kefzol intravenos bei Narkoseeinleitung und routinemasiger suprapubischer Blasendrainage bis zur Normalisierung der Miktion.
Identification of Inputs to Olivocochlear Neurons Using Transneuronal Labeling with Pseudorabies Virus (PRV)

Olivocochlear (OC) neurons respond to sound and provide descending input that controls processing in the cochlea. The identities of neurons in the pathways providing inputs to OC neurons are incompletely understood. To explore these pathways, the retrograde transneuronal tracer pseudorabies virus (Bartha strain, expressing green fluorescent protein) was used to label OC neurons and their inputs in guinea pigs. Labeling of OC neurons began 1 day after injection into the cochlea. On day 2 (and for longer survival times), transneuronal labeling spread to the cochlear nucleus, inferior colliculus, and other brainstem areas. There was a correlation between the numbers of these transneuronally labeled neurons and the number of labeled medial (M) OC neurons, suggesting that the spread of labeling proceeds mainly via synapses on MOC neurons. In the cochlear nucleus, the transneuronally labeled neurons were multipolar cells including the subtype known as planar cells. In the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus, transneuronally labeled neurons were of two principal types: neurons with disc-shaped dendritic fields and neurons with dendrites in a stellate pattern. Transneuronal labeling was also observed in pyramidal cells in the auditory cortex and in centers not typically associated with the auditory pathway such as the pontine reticular formation, subcoerulean nucleus, and the pontine dorsal raphe. These data provide information on the identity of neurons providing input to OC neurons, which are located in auditory as well as non-auditory centers.
Betweenness centrality: algorithms and implementations

Betweenness centrality is an important metric in the study of social networks, and several algorithms for computing this metric exist in the literature. This paper makes three contributions. First, we show that the problem of computing betweenness centrality can be formulated abstractly in terms of a small set of operators that update the graph. Second, we show that existing parallel algorithms for computing betweenness centrality can be viewed as implementations of different schedules for these operators, permitting all these algorithms to be formulated in a single framework. Third, we derive a new asynchronous parallel algorithm for betweenness centrality that (i) works seamlessly for both weighted and unweighted graphs, (ii) can be applied to large graphs, and (iii) is able to extract large amounts of parallelism. We implemented this algorithm and compared it against a number of publicly available implementations of previous algorithms on two different multicore architectures. Our results show that the new algorithm is the best performing one in most cases, particularly for large graphs and large thread counts, and is always competitive against other algorithms.
SPARC, an upstream regulator of connective tissue growth factor in response to transforming growth factor β stimulation

Objective To differentiate the effects of inhibition of specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) of SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) and siRNA of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in cultured human fibroblasts, and to identify potential interrelationships between SPARC and CTGF. Methods Fibroblasts from skin biopsy specimens of 2 normal individuals were transfected with siRNA of SPARC and siRNA of CTGF. The fibroblasts were stimulated with or without transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and examined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction to determine the transcription levels of several extracellular matrix genes. Results After exogenous TGFβ1 stimulation, both SPARC siRNA and CTGF siRNA showed a protective role against overexpression of collagen genes. Following TGFβ1 stimulation, SPARC siRNA–transfected fibroblasts showed a greater reduction in expression of the collagen genes compared with CTGF siRNA–transfected fibroblasts, as well as a significantly decreased expression of CTGF (P < 0.05). Using linear structure equations to quantitatively model a genetic network based on expression levels of each gene, a positive regulatory role of SPARC on CTGF, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL11A1, and TIMP3 was observed. However, the regulatory role of CTGF on SPARC appeared to be negative and very small, while the positive regulatory effects of CTGF on COL1A2, COL3A1, COL11A1, and TIMP3 were less than those of SPARC. Conclusion The results of this quantitative comparison support the hypothesis that in these cultured fibroblasts, the regulatory effects of SPARC on some major extracellular matrix structural components are greater than those of CTGF. In addition, SPARC appears to regulate CTGF in a predominantly positive manner, while CTGF may act as a negative feedback control on SPARC following TGFβ stimulation.
The development of the rat model of retinopathy of prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding disease affecting premature infants. ROP is characterized by pathological ocular angiogenesis or retinal neovascularization (NV). Models of ROP have yielded much of what is currently known about physiological and pathological blood vessel growth in the retina. The rat provides a particularly attractive and cost effective model of ROP. The rat model of ROP consistently produces a robust pattern of NV, similar to that seen in humans. This model has been used to study gross aspects of angiogenesis. More recently, it has been used to identify and therapeutically target specific genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the angiogenic cascade. As angiogenesis occurs as a complication of many diseases, knowledge gained from these studies has the potential to impact nonocular angiogenic conditions. This article provides historical perspective on the development and use of the rat model of ROP. Key findings generated through the use of this model are also summarized.
The oral health status, treatment needs, and dental utilization patterns of Native American elders.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral health status, treatment needs, and dental care utilization patterns of a Native American population aged 65-74 years. A random sample of 688 individuals was chosen and approached regarding participation in the study. Data were gathered through an interviewer-administered questionnaire and an oral examination. A total of 204 individuals completed all aspects of the study. Only one participant had all 28 natural teeth, while 58.3 percent were totally endentulous. Of the 85 dentate participants, almost 53 percent required at least one extraction. The average number of required extractions in the dentate subjects was three. Although 94 percent of the sample stated they had a usual source of dental care, 40.7 percent had not visited a dentist within the last five years. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the factors associated with total number of teeth present among the dentate participants. Years of education and time since last dental visit were the two significant predictors (P less than .05) of number of teeth present. The higher the level of education, the greater the number of teeth in later life. The number of teeth present was inversely related to years since dental treatment. Compared to the results of the National Survey of Oral Health in US Employed Adults and Seniors, this Native American sample had a higher prevalence of endentulism and utilized dental services less often than a comparable age group in the US population as a whole.
High-laser-induced-damage threshold polarizer coatings for 1054 nm

Polarizer coatings developed for the OMEGA laser are performing well without sustaining any significant damage. Similar polarizers developed for the National Ignition Facility have exceptionally high damage thresholds when tested with a 1-ns pulse at 1054 nm. Polarizers for OMEGA were originally developed using Ta2O5/SiO2 multilayers. All final polarizers before the frequency conversion cell were made using this method. A new coating was developed for a polarizing beamsplitter with more stringent optical and laser-damage requirements. The new coating used a HfO2/SIO2 system with the hafnia formed by reactive evaporation from a hafnium metal melt. The new process provided better film control, lower defect counts, better stress control, and higher damage thresholds. Beamsplitter coatings made from both processes were installed in the OMEGA laser. After 1.5 years of operation the Ta2O5/SiO2 beamsplitters are developing signs of damage on OMEGA while the HfO2/SiO2 coatings show no damage. The HfO2/SiO2 process was also used to develop polarizer coatings for the NIF. Damage- threshold results from 1-on-1 testing will be presented for both types of polarizers. Experimental results show that the coating damage threshold is not strongly dependent on deposition parameters, allowing use of these parameters to control film stress. The damage thresholds are higher for s- polarized incident light, and different damage morphologies for the two polarizations have been observed. A base layer of scandium oxide that allows the coating to be safely stripped does not affect the polarizer damage threshold.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
From the Written to the Enacted Curricula: The Intermediary Role of Middle School Mathematics Teachers in Shaping Students' Opportunity to Learn

Summary The study reported here uses multiple methods fordocumenting teachers’ use of district-adopted text-books. It goes beyond relying solely on teacher’s recallof what was taught (Porter, 2002) and provides multiplelenses to better reveal the extent and nature of textbookuse by middle school mathematics teachers. The ex-amination of the written curriculum confirms that theattention given to major strands, including Number andOperation differ significantly between NSF-funded andpublisher-generated textbooks. Furthermore, a relativeEmphasis Index was created to help identify math-ematical strands (e.g., Number and Operation) thatteachers attended to more than would have beenexpected given the emphasis in their textbooks, as wellas other mathematical strands (e.g., Data and Probabil-ity) given less attention. An examination of the order oftopics confirms that teachers were not necessarilybound by the placement of the topic in a textbook (i.e.,the first or last chapter), but tended purposely to chooselessons to teach or omit regardless of their placement inthe textbook.These data suggest that the district-adopted text-book strongly influences both
Evaluation of the patient with diabetes mellitus and suspected coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. In fact, patients with diabetes have the same risk of myocardial infarction as do nondiabetic subjects with a history of infarction. For this reason, diabetes has been designated by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) as a CAD equivalent. For women, data indicate a substantially elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) even before a clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes has been made. Identifying patients with diabetes who have CAD and who will benefit from medical and/or invasive intervention to prevent cardiovascular events is a challenge in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The decision to evaluate patients with diabetes who are asymptomatic for CAD presents the greatest challenge; investigation will reveal 10% to 15% of these patients to have CAD. Current diagnostic tools include exercise tolerance testing, stress echocardiography, stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), and cardiac catheterization. Few guidelines are available to aid in the choice of testing modalities for a given patient. Although cardiac catheterization is useful, it is generally reserved for patients in whom invasive intervention is suitable. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends exercise tolerance testing alone in symptomatic patients with ≥2 CAD risk factors or an abnormal resting electrocardiogram (ECG). However, that recommendation is not based on data; it is the consensus of an expert panel. Stress echocardiography is a useful, noninvasive procedure; however, there is limited experience with this technology in the diabetic population. Recently accumulated data support both diagnostic and prognostic roles for stress MPI, particularly with ECG-gated single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging. In symptomatic patients with diabetes, the presence and extent of abnormal stress MPI findings have been found to be highly accurate independent predictors of subsequent cardiac events: 18% to 26% of asymptomatic patients with diabetes have perfusion defects consistent with CAD. However, CVD risk factors are not predictive of abnormal MPI findings even though duration of diabetes and abnormal ECGs are. The results of future studies may be helpful in guiding the selection of asymptomatic patients to undergo myocardial perfusion and function studies. In conclusion, MPI provides clinicians with an important diagnostic tool, because it offers perfusion as well as functional information for diagnosis and risk stratification in patients with diabetes. These capabilities facilitate decision making regarding the appropriateness of medical therapy or surgical intervention in these individuals.
Effect of sublethal concentrations of copper on the critical thermal maxima (CTMax) of the fantail (Etheostoma flabellare) and johnny (E. nigrum) darters

Abstract Static 96-h copper LC 50 values determined for fantail ( Etheostoma flabellare ) and johnny ( E. nigrum ) darters were used to determine ranges of copper concentrations for sublethal tests. LC 50 values ranged from 330–392 μg · L −1 for fantail darters and 483–602 μg · L −1 for johnny darters. The CTMax method was used to determine the upper temperature tolerance of both species after a 96-h sublethal copper exposure. Copper exposure (concentrations above no-effect levels) for as little as three days significantly decreased the CTMax values for each species. A gradual increase in CTMax values was observed daily when fantail and johnny darters were removed from dosing water and placed into control water.
The Optimization of InP/ZnS core/shell Nanocrystals and TiO2 Nanotubes for Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

The synthesis of InP/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals and TiO2 nanotubes and the optimization study to couple them together were explored for quantum dot sensitized solar cells. InP/ZnS nanocrystals have advantages of tunable optical properties and intrinsic nontoxicity. Highly luminescent InP/ZnS nanocrystals were produced by precursor-based colloidal synthesis for a photosensitizer. In order to improve on air stability, ZnS shell was grown on InP core. The emission peak was observed at 550 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image shows that the nanocrystals highly crystalline and monodisperse. TiO2 nanotube is main inorganic material which is capable of harvesting light as well as being a prominent anode electrode in solar cells. The nanotubular form of TiO2 enhances charge transfer and reduces interfacial charge recombination. Free-standing TiO2 nanotubes were produced by anodization using ammonium fluoride. The free-standing nanotubes were formed under the condition that chemical dissolution speed which depends on fluoride concentration was faster than the speed of Ti oxidation. Electrophoretic deposition was carried out to couple the InP/ZnS nanocrystals with the TiO2 nanotubes. Under an optimized applied voltage condition, the current during the electrophoretic deposition decreased continuously with time. The amount of the deposited nanocrystals was estimated by calculation and the deposited nanocrystals on the TiO2 nanotubes were observed in the TEM.
Growth and textural ageing in long bones of the American alligator Alligator mississippiensis (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae)

Growth series of femora, tibiae, and humeri of the American alligator Alligator mississippiensis were examined to assess the relationship between bone surface textures and relative skeletal maturity. Element texture types were compared with both size-based and size-independent maturity estimates. Selected elements were thin sectioned to observe the histological structures underlying various surface textures. Results suggest little to no relationship between bone textures and skeletal maturity in Alligator. Controlling for additional factors suspected to affect textural variation – sexual dimorphism, seasonally interrupted growth, wild vs. captive habitat, and geographical range – provides little resolution. Indeterminate growth is almost certainly a factor; however, this alone cannot explain all observed variability. Histological analyses reveal that highly porous surface textures are often associated with zones composed of fibrolamellar bone; smoother textures are generally underlain by lamellar zones or annuli. Textures of intermediate porosity may be associated with more than one histological pattern. Until the factors affecting bone texture changes in modern crocodylians are better understood, it is recommended that the textural ageing method be applied with caution to studies of fossil archosaurs with crocodylian-like or unknown growth regimes. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 150, 1–39.
Precise Relic WIMP Abundance and its Impact on Searches for Dark Matter Annihilation

If dark matter (DM) is a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) that is a thermal relic of the early Universe, then its total self-annihilation cross section is revealed by its present-day mass density. This result for a generic WIMP is usually stated as $⟨\ensuremath{\sigma}v⟩\ensuremath{\approx}3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}26}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, with unspecified uncertainty, and taken to be independent of WIMP mass. Recent searches for annihilation products of DM annihilation have just reached the sensitivity to exclude this canonical cross section for 100% branching ratio to certain final states and small WIMP masses. The ultimate goal is to probe all kinematically allowed final states as a function of mass and, if all states are adequately excluded, set a lower limit to the WIMP mass. Probing the low-mass region is further motivated due to recent hints for a light WIMP in direct and indirect searches. We revisit the thermal relic abundance calculation for a generic WIMP and show that the required cross section can be calculated precisely. It varies significantly with mass at masses below 10 GeV, reaching a maximum of $5.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}26}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at $m\ensuremath{\approx}0.3\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$, and is $2.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}26}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ with feeble mass dependence for masses above 10 GeV. These results, which differ significantly from the canonical value and have not been taken into account in searches for annihilation products from generic WIMPs, have a noticeable impact on the interpretation of present limits from Fermi-LAT and $\mathrm{WMAP}+\mathrm{ACT}$.
The effect of Arizona language policies on Arizona Indigenous students

This article discusses the effect of Arizona’s language policies on school districts serving Native American students. Although these policies were designed to restrict the access of Spanish-speaking immigrant and citizen students to bilingual education programs, their reach has extended into schools and school districts serving Native Americans. Arizona’s coercive and contradictory language and education policies for English language learners thus provide an instructive example of the phenomenon of unintended consequences. Nonetheless, that such policies may be unintentional make them no less egregious. The authors argue that Arizona’s language policies, together with the difficult reporting mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, have compromised tribal efforts to revitalize endangered Indigenous languages and abrogated their federally recognized, though frequently ignored, rights to self-determination and sovereignty. The article discusses these and other inconsistencies between federal and state-supported policies that both create and foreclose educational opportunities and spaces for Indigenous communities.
Butterfly responses to prairie restoration through fire and grazing

The development of land for modern agriculture has resulted in losses of native prairie habitat. The small, isolated patches of prairie habitat that remain are threatened by fire suppression, overgrazing, and invasion by non-native species. We evaluated the effects of three restoration practices (grazing only, burning only, and burning and grazing) on the vegetation characteristics and butterfly communities of remnant prairies. Total butterfly abundance was highest on prairies that were managed with burning and grazing and lowest on those that were only burned. Butterfly species richness did not differ among any of the restoration practices. Butterfly species diversity was highest on sites that were only burned. Responses of individual butterfly species to restoration practices were highly variable. In the best predictive regression model, total butterfly abundance was negatively associated with the percent cover of bare ground and positively associated with the percent cover of forbs. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that sites with burned only and grazed only practices could be separated based on their butterfly community composition. Butterfly communities in each of the three restoration practices are equally species rich but different practices yield compositionally different butterfly communities. Because of this variation in butterfly species responses to different restoration practices, there is no single practice that will benefit all species or even all species within habitat-specialist or habitat-generalist habitat guilds.
Responsive Teaching Through Conversation

Conversations are the heart of responsive teaching. By talking with struggling learners, teachers can find out about their interests in order to design effective, personalized instruction; build relationships; work through complexities in teaching and learning; and celebrate successes.
The Practical Implementation of Voltage Contrast as a Diagnostic Tool

The various modes of voltage contrast, their basic theory of operation, and the techniques and equipment necessary for their practical implementation in a small multipurpose scanning electron microscope (SEM) are described in detail. The voltage contrast modes considered include: static, dynamic, quasistatic, clock stretching, synchronous, stroboscopic, and full quantitative. Details of SEM mounts and signal interconnection schemes both internal and external are presented. Techniques for mounting dual inline packages and ceramic chip carriers (C3) have proven particularly useful and are easily adaptable to most SEM types. The selection of the proper operating parameters necessary to achieve successful voltage contrast operation and micrographs is presented in detail. For example, investigations of dynamic range, voltage sensitivity, and the little described floating ground levels were performed in the case of static voltage contrast. Similarly, the effects of changing frequency and device ground level were explored for the synchronous voltage contrast modes. Experimental devices ranged from simple transistors where the bias and signal flows could easily be understood to more complex integrated circuit chips with their multiplicity of current paths and dynamic signal patterns. The extension of the theory, fixturing and operation to even more complex devices such as LSI and VLSI circuits is discussed.
Pediatric asthma case management: A review of evidence and an experimental study design

Asthma is a complex disease that involves physiological, environmental, and psychosocial factors. This paper reviews childhood asthma case management by social service professionals, lay health workers, and nurses, and it presents a new randomized controlled study using nurse case management in a local community coalition. Evidence suggests the common factor for success involves case managers spending time contacting and patiently and persistently working with the family, thus building a trusting relationship. Although case management time is an expense for a health care payer, provider, and the child and family, the positive outcomes achieved can demonstrate the benefit of these interventions to all parties involved. The described experimental study assesses the cost and effectiveness of home-based nurse case management by a community coalition for children visiting an emergency department for asthma care.
Single-cell forward link power allocation using pricing in wireless networks

We consider forward link power allocation for voice users in a code-division multiple-access wireless network. Admission control policies are investigated, which base a new call admission decision not only upon available capacity, but also upon the required forward link transmit power and upon the user's willingness to pay. We assume that each voice user has a utility function that describes the user's willingness to pay as a function of forward link signal-to-interference plus noise ratio. The network objective is to maximize either total utility summed over all users or total revenue generated from all users. Properties of the optimal power and code allocations are presented. Our key results show how these optimal allocations can be achieved using pricing. The analysis is complemented with a numerical study, which shows how the optimal prices and corresponding utility or revenue vary with load.
“Communities of Blood”: The Natural History of Kinship in Nineteenth-Century America

Lewis H. Morgan's Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family (1871) is credited with inventing the anthropological study of “kinship” from a comparative perspective (Trautmann 1987). Since Emile Durkheim's critique of 1898, Morgan is also said to have reduced kinship to biology in keeping with Anglo-American cultural assumptions about “blood relations” given in nature. Yet, on closer inspection, Morgan's “consanguinity” proves to be fraught with contradictions. Debates about the degenerative effects of mixing bloods in marriage—consanguinity with affinity—encompassed not only miscegenation but also “consanguineous marriages,” such as Morgan's own marriage to his first cousin (his mother's brother's daughter) in 1851.
Relative Contributions of Mean-State Shifts and ENSO-Driven Variability to Precipitation Changes in a Warming Climate

AbstractEl Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is an important driver of regional hydroclimate variability through far-reaching teleconnections. This study uses simulations performed with coupled general circulation models (CGCMs) to investigate how regional precipitation in the twenty-first century may be affected by changes in both ENSO-driven precipitation variability and slowly evolving mean rainfall. First, a dominant, time-invariant pattern of canonical ENSO variability (cENSO) is identified in observed SST data. Next, the fidelity with which 33 state-of-the-art CGCMs represent the spatial structure and temporal variability of this pattern (as well as its associated precipitation responses) is evaluated in simulations of twentieth-century climate change. Possible changes in both the temporal variability of this pattern and its associated precipitation teleconnections are investigated in twenty-first-century climate projections. Models with better representation of the observed structure of the cENSO pa...
An Efficient Density-based Approach for Data Mining Tasks

We propose a locally adaptive technique to address the problem of setting the bandwidth parameters for kernel density estimation. Our technique is efficient and can be performed in only two dataset passes. We also show how to apply our technique to efficiently solve range query approximation, classification and clustering problems for very large datasets. We validate the efficiency and accuracy of our technique by presenting experimental results on a variety of both synthetic and real datasets.
Esophageal contour changes during cryoablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: We have observed contour changes of the barium-filled esophagus during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with cryo-energy delivered in direct proximity to the esophagus. Objective: To evaluate the frequency, location, and severity of esophageal contour changes during cryo-energy application close to the esophagus. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cine-fluoroscopic images acquired during hybrid cryo-radiofrequency AF ablation in 100 consecutive patients with cryo-energy delivered only in direct proximity to the esophagus. Results: Esophageal contour changes were observed in 28 (32%) of 89 patients (and 74 [6.2%] of 1,191 of all cryo applications). They were more frequent in the left common pulmonary vein (PV) (50%) and less so in the right common PV and the upper PVs (4–5%). The distance of the ablation catheter from the endoesophageal contour prior to cryo-energy applications associated with contour changes was 1.8 ± 1.5 mm, which increased to 4.1 ± 1.6 mm at the time of peak contour change (P < 0.001). The esophageal contour deformation was 2.3 ± 0.9 mm. There were no apparent complications related to cryo-energy application for 3–4 minutes, even if associated with contour changes. Conclusion: Esophageal contour changes were observed in >6% of cryo applications in direct proximity to the esophagus (32% of patients) and were most frequent in the posterior aspect of the left common and right lower PV ostium when cryo-energy was delivered at a distance of ≤5 mm from the esophageal contrast silhouette. No overt esophageal injury occurred. However, the safety of cryo-energy application in direct proximity to the esophagus remains to be further confirmed.
Linear Relation Between Fault Location and the Damping Coefficient in Faulted Signals

With the application of Prony analysis on the fault signals, this letter obtains a linear relationship between the fault location and the inverse of damping coefficient of the fundamental frequency component in the Prony model. This linear relation naturally implies a simple algorithm to detect the fault location when a fault occurs on a transmission line. The fault signals are simulated in virtual test bed (VTB). Single-phase and three-phase faults with symmetrical and asymmetrical types at different locations on transmission lines are simulated. The fault-phase voltage and current data are recorded and analyzed by applying the Prony analysis.
Acute psychoses associated with the use of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

Although adverse drug reactions are a wellrecognized cause of mental status changes in the elderly, antimicrobials are rarely implicated. Three patients with serious organic brain disease developed paranoid psychosis after therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ciprofloxacin was begun. One of the patients was accidently rechallenged and again developed a psychotic reaction. The acute psychoses did not improve with moderate doses of major tranquilizers but resolved completely with drug discontinuation.
Enhanced percutaneous absorption via iontophoresis. I: Evaluation of an in vitro system and transport of model compounds

Abstract In vitro methodology was developed to investigate the iontophoretic transport of select ionic and non-ionic compounds across hairless mouse skin. Using sodium benzoate and a constant current of 0.1 mA, it was observed that alterations in the diffusion cell configuration and/or return electrode placement relative to the membrane had little effect on the transport of benzoate ions, thus permitting the use of a simple experimental design. Increases in applied current (from 0.0 to 0.2 mA) produced a linear increase in observed benzoate flux. The steady-state flux was also slightly increased (apparently linearly) with greater donor concentrations, but was reduced when competitive ions (NaCl) were added to the donor chamber. Employing a direct current of 0.1 mA and identical solutions, the iontophoretic flux enhancement ratios (flux with current/flux without current) were calculated for benzoate (22.61) and the phenethylamine cation (43.32, using reversed electrode polarity). The flux of a non-ionic compound (benzyl alcohol) was not significantly altered during the application of a 0.1 mA direct current. Upon termination of the current in benzoate iontophoresis experiments (0.1 mA × 3 h), subsequent fluxes were observed to be quite inconsistent. Many yielded values fairly close to the average control (no current exposure) flux for the benzoate ion. However, several of the residual fluxes were nearly 10-fold higher than the control, suggesting compromised skin barrier integrity of a variable nature. This occasional alteration in membrane transport resistance was not, however, observed in experiments performed with benzyl alcohol. It is speculated that the diffusional path followed specifically by ionized species undergoes sporadic current-related changes, and that the flux of the uncharged benzyl alcohol is not affected by alterations in this path. These results suggest that iontophoresis may be a convenient means by which to achieve constant and readily controllable transdermal delivery, locally or to the systemic circulation, for ionized drug species (including peptides). Transport rates may be optimized by adjustment of donor ionic composition and utilization of current densities and patterns deemed physiologically appropriate.
SU(2) lattice gauge theory at nonzero chemical potential and temperature

SU(2) lattice gauge theory with four flavors of quarks is simulated at nonzero chemical potential {mu} and temperature T and the results are compared to the predictions of Effective Lagrangians. Simulations on 16{sup 4} lattices indicate that at zero T the theory experiences a second order phase transition to a diquark condensate state which is well described by mean field theory. Nonzero T and {mu} are studied on 12{sup 3} x 6 lattices. For low T, increasing {mu} takes the system through a line of second order phase transitions to a diquark condensed phase. Increasing T at high {mu}, the system passes through a line of first order transitions from the diquark phase to the quark-gluon plasma phase.
The circadian gene Period2 plays an important role in tumor suppression and DNA damage response in vivo.

Abstract The Period2 gene plays a key role in controlling circadian rhythm in mice. We report here that mice deficient in the mPer2 gene are cancer prone. After γ radiation, these mice show a marked increase in tumor development and reduced apoptosis in thymocytes. The core circadian genes are induced by γ radiation in wild-type mice but not in mPer2 mutant mice. Temporal expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation and tumor suppression, such as Cyclin D1, Cyclin A, Mdm-2 , and Gadd45α, is deregulated in mPer2 mutant mice. In particular, the transcription of c- myc is controlled directly by circadian regulators and is deregulated in the mPer2 mutant. Our studies suggest that the mPer2 gene functions in tumor suppression by regulating DNA damage-responsive pathways.
Distributed Target Detection in Sensor Networks Using Scan Statistics

We introduce a sequential procedure to detect a target with distributed sensors in a two dimensional region. The detection is carried out in a mobile fusion center which successively counts the number of binary decisions reported by local sensors lying inside its moving field of view. This is a two-dimensional scan statistic-an emerging tool from the statistics field that has been applied to a variety of anomaly detection problems such as of epidemics or computer intrusion, but that seems to be unfamiliar to the signal processing community. We show that an optimal size of the field of view exists. We compare the sequential two-dimensional scan statistic test and two other tests. Results for system level detection are presented.
The attention habit: how reward learning shapes attentional selection

There is growing consensus that reward plays an important role in the control of attention. Until recently, reward was thought to influence attention indirectly by modulating task-specific motivation and its effects on voluntary control over selection. Such an account was consistent with the goal-directed (endogenous) versus stimulus-driven (exogenous) framework that had long dominated the field of attention research. Now, a different perspective is emerging. Demonstrations that previously reward-associated stimuli can automatically capture attention even when physically inconspicuous and task-irrelevant challenge previously held assumptions about attentional control. The idea that attentional selection can be value driven, reflecting a distinct and previously unrecognized control mechanism, has gained traction. Since these early demonstrations, the influence of reward learning on attention has rapidly become an area of intense investigation, sparking many new insights. The result is an emerging picture of how the reward system of the brain automatically biases information processing. Here, I review the progress that has been made in this area, synthesizing a wealth of recent evidence to provide an integrated, up-to-date account of value-driven attention and some of its broader implications.
Seasonal expression of a dehydrin gene in sibling deciduous and evergreen genotypes of peach (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch)

A cDNA library was created from cold-acclimated bark tissue of peach and selectively probed using an antibody directed against the lysine-rich consensus region of dehydrin proteins. Several clones were thus obtained which had a high degree of sequence similarity to other dehydrin genes. Northern analysis, using clone 5a, indicated that a 1.8 kb transcript was seasonally expressed in sibling deciduous and evergreen genotypes of peach, and also inducible by water deficit in cv. Rio Oso Gem. The evergreen and deciduous genotypes differ significantly in both their ability to cold-acclimate and in the seasonal expression of the dehydrin transcript and protein. In both genotypes, the transcript was maximally expressed during winter and undetectable in May-July. The evergreen genotype (less cold-tolerant), however, displayed transcript accumulation which lagged behind and declined sooner than in the deciduous genotype. Protein expression was similar to transcript expression, however, protein expression in the evergreen genotype lagged considerably behind transcript accumulation in the fall. This indicates that several levels of regulation of dehydrin proteins may exist during cold acclimation. A genomic clone (G10a) was isolated which contained the full-length dehydrin gene, designated ppdhn1. The peach dehydrin gene encodes 472 amino acids with a predicted size of 50 020 Da. The encoded protein (PCA60) contains nine of the lysine-rich repeats characteristic of dehydrins and two DEYGNP motifs at the amino acid terminus. A genomic blot, probed with clone 5a under stringent conditions, indicated that one or two highly homologous genes are present in peach, whereas an additional member was detected under low-stringency conditions. It is suggested that several members of the dehydrin gene family may exist in peach that vary in their relation to ppdhn1.
Sol-Gel Processing of Net Shape Silica Optics

The objective of this chapter is to summarize the advantages in sol-gel processing of net silica optics. The advantages discussed include: homogeneity, purity, coefficient of thennal expansion, optical transmission, as-cast shapes and surface features, and the unique properties of porous silica matrices used for doping applications and laser-enhanced densification.
Validation of the direct and inferential mediation (DIME) model of reading comprehension in grades 7 through 12

Abstract This study evaluated the direct and inferential mediation (DIME) model of reading comprehension (Cromley & Azevedo, 2007) in a large ( n = 1196) and diverse (grades 7–12) sample. Multi-indicator latent variables were used to measure six primary constructs: knowledge, vocabulary, word reading, strategies, inference, and reading comprehension. Results corroborated prior research when similar methods were used, but departed from prior findings when measurement error and shared method variance between the predictors and the reading comprehension outcomes (method bias) were controlled. Results generalized across middle and high school, and component skills of reading accounted for virtually all of the systematic variance in reading comprehension. Importantly, controlling method bias diminished the importance of knowledge and vocabulary, and increased the importance of inferencing. Mediated effects of knowledge and vocabulary through inference making were also found. The present study provided a stronger and more generalizable formulation of the DIME model than prior research, and highlighted limitations of using reading-based measures of predictors in component skills models of reading comprehension.
Plato and the Mass Media

Book X of the Republic contains a scathing attack on poetry which is still, by turns, both incomprehensible and disturbing.1 Plato’s banishment of the poets from his model city has always been a cause of interpretative difficulties and philosophical embarrassments, even for some of his greatest admirers. But I am now beginning to believe that the difficulties are not real and that the embarrassments are only apparent, and my purpose in what follows is to offer an outline — I cannot do more than that on this occasion — of my reasons for thinking so. I am convinced that close attention to the philosophical assumptions which underlie Plato’s criticisms reveals that his attack on poetry is better understood as a specific social and historical gesture than as an attack on poetry, and especially on art, as such. But, placed within their original context, Plato’s criticisms, perhaps paradoxically, become immediately relevant to a serious contemporary debate.
A MELUS Interview: Victor R. Daly

Readers of The Crisis in the early 1930's saw a recurring advertisement for Victor Daly's Not Only War,1 "At Last! The Negro Novel of the World War."2 In addition to Not Only War, which remains a principal Afro-American fictionalization of Great War experience, Daly published three fine short stories, all in The Crisis, during the first half of the 1930's.3 From his very first published story, "Private Walker Goes Patrolling," and on through his last fictional piece, "Still Five More," Daly's work is noteworthy for its consistently imaginative and innovative development of his primary theme, the Afro-American war experience.4 In addition to his fiction, Daly has published a number of important articles on civil rights issues beginning with his 1920 essay on "The Housing Crisis in New York City."5 Upon entering government service with the United States Department of Labor during the first Roosevelt administration, Daly put aside fiction, and, after such an auspicious beginning, virtually disappeared from the literary scene. Yet of course Daly's important contributions remain for us. Although Not Only War has continued to attract critical attention from time to time,6 full appreciation of the significance of Daly has been hampered by a severe lack of information about the author himself. In the course of work on a larger project I became determined to make a breakthrough on the seeming information barrier surrounding Victor Daly. Working from a lead supplied by Dr. Doris M. Hull of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, I discovered Daly to be still living in Washington, D.C., and generously willing to respond to an interview. After several initial telephone conversations, Mr. Daly and I decided that it would be best if I prepared some written questions for his responses in writing. My edited version of the interview7 which follows provides the first significant published source of information on Daly's life,8 his beginnings as an author, and his views on writing.