cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of calibration methods for Kinect-style cameras

Kinect-style (or Depth) cameras use both an RGB and a depth sensor that acquire color and per-pixel depth data (depth-map), respectively. Due to their affordable price and rich data they provide, depth cameras are being extensively used on research in assistive environments. Most of the robotic and computer-vision systems that use these Kinect-style cameras require an accurate knowledge of the camera-calibration parameters. Traditional calibration methods, e.g., those that use a checker-board pattern, cannot be straight-forwardly used to calibrate the Kinect-style cameras since the depth sensor can not distinguish patterns. Several calibration methods have emerged that try to calibrate depth cameras. In this paper, we present a comparative study of some of the most important Kinect-sytle calibration algorithms. Our work includes an implementation of these methods along with a comparison of their performance in both simulation and real-world experiments.
Predator-driven fragmentation of fiddler crab droves into selfish miniherds of biased composition

Abstract An explanation for animal groups is the selfish herd, characterized by aggregation as each member tries to shield itself from a predator by moving into a tight gap between other members. We test the hypotheses that: (1) droves, the large feeding groups of fiddler crabs, are selfish herds; (2) the miniherds that form when droves fragment on approach of a large predator are selfish herds; (3) selfish herds form when refugia are unlikely to be reached before an approaching predator arrives; and (4) the composition of selfish miniherds is biased toward individuals most vulnerable to predation. The study was conducted in South Carolina (USA) by videotaping the movements of sand fiddler crabs Uca pugilator when approached by a human predator. In both droves and miniherds, interindividual distance decreases with predator approach, consistent with behavior in a selfish herd. However, two other expectations for selfish herds—herd cohesion and sacrificing distance from the predator in order to get closer to other herders—are only met in miniherds. Crabs farther from refugia are more likely to form and remain in miniherds, indicating that selfish herding is only favored when refugia cannot be quickly reached. The composition of the smallest miniherds, consisting of 2–18 crabs, is biased toward females and small males. These individuals may be more vulnerable to predation because they lack the enlarged claw of large males that deters some predators. The small miniherds are relatively homogeneous with respect to the size and sex of their members, which may enhance cohesion and effectiveness as selfish herds. Miniherds will be effective selfish groups when predator attack has a significant vertical component and when the strike distance is large relative to both the size of the prey and the distance between group members. Droves are not selfish herds but permit crabs to flee feeding grounds as members of selfish miniherds.
Neuroendocrine regulation of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone: A review

Abstract Since the pioneering studies of Everett, Sawyer and Markee (1) it has been generally accepted that the central nervous system (CNS) regulates the secretion of the pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). However, great gaps still exist in our understanding of the neural mechanisms that regulate the secretion of these hormones. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader with a concise overview of this topic. Gaps, inconsistencies and future directions of this area of research are also presented.
Applications of Multidimensional Scaling in Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology has used multidimensional scaling (and related procedures) in a wide variety of ways. This paper examines some straightforward ap plications, and also some applications where the ex planation of the cognitive process is derived rather di rectly from the solution obtained through multidimen sional scaling. Other applications examined include cognitive development, and the use of MDS to assess change as a function of context. Also examined is how an ideal representation is selected, whether, for example, a space or a tree is more appropriate. Fi nally, some inherent limitations of the method for cognitive psychologists are outlined, and some pitfalls and potential misapplications are identified.
Obstetric factors in Asperger syndrome: comparison with high-functioning autism

Asperger syndrome (AS) is a pervasive developmental disorder v/idely regarded as a mild variant of autism. To investigate if AS is associated with a history of fewer obstetric insults compared to autism, we examined the developmental history and obstetric records of 10 males with AS (mean full scale IQ 95.3), and compared them with 10 autistic males with a full scale IQ of 70 or above
An investigation of the magnetic transverse waves on an electron beam

An electron beam in the presence of an axial magnetic field supports four transverse waves; two cyclotron waves, and two synchronous waves. A general coupling theory is developed from an electronic equation and a circuit equation to describe how these waves can be coupled to traveling-wave circuits. The polarization and power flow characteristics of the waves are derived. The theory is applied to. the bifilar helix, a circuit which can couple selectively to each of the four modes. A bifilar helix traveling-wave tube was used to investigate experimentally the four beam modes and provide a quantitative check of the coupling theory.
Cancer prevention studies: Past, present, and future directions

In spite of extensive research on vitamins and diet, a consistent beneficial role of vitamin supplements, together with diet modification in human cancer prevention, has not been demonstrated. Published results of human intervention trials with vitamin supplements have been contradictory. This review critically, but briefly, evaluates (a) current concepts of human carcinogenesis, (b) effects of vitamins on biochemical parameters that are pertinent to cancer prevention, and (c) whether past or current protocols for intervention trials among high-risk populations adopt specific scientific rationales that are based on laboratory and human epidemiology studies. In addition, we propose a novel experimental design for intervention trials among high-risk human populations that is based on sound scientific principles derived from laboratory and human epidemiologic data on vitamins, diet, lifestyle, and cancer prevention. Such trials would answer a fundamental public health issue of today: Does supplementation with multiple vitamins, together with diet and lifestyle modifications, reduce the risk of cancer?
The evolution of Batesian mimicry within the North American Asidini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The asidine darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Asidini) are a diverse tribe of flightless tenebrionids found in many arid and sub-arid habitats around the world. The 263 currently described North American species are contained in ten genera, all of which are restricted to the western half of the continent. The Asidini, like all members of the subfamily Pimeliinae, lack defensive glands. Instead, several phenotypic traits occur within the tribe that may help limit predation. These include the contrasting defensive strategies of crypsis, through either background matching or pattern disruption, and Batesian mimicry of the chemically defended genus Eleodes. Dorsal elytral morphology was assessed between 53 North American asidine species and 13 common Eleodes model species using multiple methodologies to assess similarities between species in the two groups that might indicate mimetic relationships. A phylogeny of the North American asidines is used to map the occurrence of differing defensive strategies within the tribe. Crypsis is reconstructed as the ancestral state, with two origins for Batesian mimicry and multiple reversals. The combination of strongly to weakly cryptic species and varying levels of mimetic fidelity to Eleodes model species make the asidines a promising lineage upon which to further explore the evolution of defensive phenotypes.
Application specific spectral response with CMOS compatible photodiodes

Several methods are presented for realizing photodiodes with independent spectral responses in a standard CMOS integrated circuit process. Only the masks, materials, and fabrication steps inherent to this standard process were used. The spectral responses of the photodiodes were controlled by (1) using the SiO/sub 2/ and polycrystalline Si as thin-film optical filters, (2) using photodiodes with different junction depths, and (3) controlling the density of the interfacial trapping centers by choosing which oxide forms the Si/SiO/sub 2/ interface. Also presented is an example method for constructing photo-spectrometers using these spectrally-independent photodiodes. This method forms weighted sums of the photodiodes' outputs to extract spectrographic information.
MR Imaging Findings of Paget's Disease of the Spine

Paget's disease (PD) is a common bone disorder of the aging population where the spine is the second most common involved location after the pelvis. Though imaging findings are well described on CT and radiographs, recognition on MRI can be challenging. We reviewed 16 cases with radiologic or histologic confirmation of uncomplicated PD of the spine. In most cases, MRI showed a mixed pattern of increased/ decreased T1 signal (fine trabecular or coarse) of the vertebral bodies. There was also associated band-like decreased T1 and T2 signal of the endplates. This correlates with the mixed osteolytic and blastic phase of the disease, the most common phase in the spine. Subtle or conspicuous "picture-frame" appearance may also be identified. Present in most cases, but frequently overlooked manifestation on MRI, was the expansion of the vertebral body and/or posterior elements/ spinous process. We identified a subtle diffuse decreased T1 and T2 bone marrow signal, not corresponding to sclerosis on CT or radiographs, in two cases. We proposed this, as an earliest sign on MRI, likely representing early fibro-vascular bone marrow transformation and to our knowledge not previously described. Less commonly, sclerotic PD was also found which is perhaps the most difficult to evaluate given its broad differential. Most cases of PD of the spine were overlooked or confused with other entities by the radiologists. Interpretation of MR images of the spine in the absence of prior imaging is not uncommon. Thus, recognition of MRI manifestations is important to allow appropriate management, to avoid misinterpretations and in most cases to avoid biopsy.
Studies on low rare earth Nd-Fe-B compositions

Investigations have been carried out to evaluate the optimum Nd-Fe-B composition to have H/sub ci/ of at least 4 kOe. The optimum composition for the best magnetic properties is as follows: TRE 18 wt.%, B 1 wt.% and balance Fe. The magnetic properties are B/sub r/, 10.1 kG, H/sub ci/ 4.3 kOe and BH/sub max/ 12.5 MGOe. All the additives (Ga, Nb, Mo, V, Cr) with or without cobalt addition did not improve the magnetic properties. The bonded magnets made using this material had B/sub r/ value slightly higher than the standard MQP-B powder. The low coercivity of these materials limit their operating temperature to 80/spl deg/C. This material having Nd/sub 2/Fe/sub 14/B//spl prop/-Fe shows improved saturation behavior compared to those having Nd/sub 2/Fe/sub 14/B/Fe/sub 3/B and Nd/sub 2/Fe/sub 14/B structures. It would then be a good candidate for applications where magnetization is difficult.
The Common Priors Assumption A Comment on “Bargaining and the Nature of War”

In a recent article in the JCR, Smith and Stam (2004) call into question the usefulness and applicability of what is know as the common priors assumption in the modeling of countries’ strategic behavior in international relations. While we acknowledge that it is possible to incorporate non-common priors in models of politics in a mathematically consistent fashion, we do not agree with the article’s claims regarding the limitations of the common priors approach, which motivate the authors’ rejection of it.
Ultrafast optical tuning of a superprism effect in nonlinear photonic crystals

A comprehensive analysis of an optically tunable superprism effect in a two-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal is presented. We demonstrate that, under certain circumstances, if one modifies the band structure of the crystal through the Kerr effect induced by a pump beam, the refraction angle of the transmitted signal beam can be tuned over tens of degrees. Two complementary geometries are considered, namely, air holes in a dielectric background and dielectric rods surrounded by air, and in both cases the TE and TM polarizations are studied. We also show that, because of the slow light effect, in both cases the optical power required to tune the refracted angle is dramatically reduced if the frequency of the pump beam is close to a photonic bandgap edge.
The identity of substance and attribute in Spinoza's metaphysics

I argue for a strict identity interpretation of Spinoza's metaphysics. This interpretation is contrasted with two of leading interpretations of Spinoza on the relation between attribute and substance. In particular, the interpretations of Jonathan Bennett and Edwin Curley. I show that there are difficulties with both of these interpretations. In response I claim that the relation between attribute and substance in Spinoza is one of identity. Each attribute of a substance is in fact the essence of that substance. I argue that the essence of substance, for Spinoza, is identical to that substance. To explain why Spinoza claims that there is more than one attribute I appeal to Descartes' theory of distinctions. Attributes are only conceptually distinct from every other attributes as well as the one substance, thus each attribute refers to the same thing.
A Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer model for prairie grassland

Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) models provide the lower boundary forcing of atmospheric models (AMs). SVAT models are highly parameterized abstractions of energy, moisture, and momentum exchanges between the land and atmosphere. The quality of the SVAT model in capturing those exchanges greatly influences the effectiveness of the AM. The authors have developed a thermal model that includes moisture transfer in unsaturated soils. In this paper, they compare the predictions of the new model with those of their older annual model in which moisture was assumed to be fixed. They find that inclusion of moisture fluxes modifies the day-night temperature difference by as much as 11.0 K over a typical diurnal cycle in winter because of the dominant influence of moisture on soil properties.
Microwave imaging via space-time beamforming: experimental investigation of tumor detection in multilayer breast phantoms

Microwave imaging via space-time (MIST) beamforming has been proposed recently for detecting small malignant breast tumors. In this paper, we extend the previously presented two-dimensional space-time beamformer design to three-dimensional (3-D), and demonstrate its efficacy using experimental data obtained with a multilayer breast phantom. The breast phantom consists of a homogeneous normal breast tissue simulant covered by a thin layer of skin simulant. A small synthetic malignant tumor is embedded in the breast phantom. We have developed several tumor simulants that yield the range of dielectric contrasts between normal and malignant tissue that are expected in clinical scenarios. A microwave sensor comprised of a synthetic planar array of compact ultrawide-band (UWB) antennas is immersed in a coupling medium above the breast tissue phantom. At each position in the array, the antenna transmits a synthetically generated pulse (1-11 GHz) into the phantom. The received backscatter signals are processed by a data-adaptive algorithm that removes the artifact caused by antenna reverberation and backscatter from the skin-breast interface, followed by 3-D space-time beamforming to image backscattered energy as a function of location. Our investigation includes a numerical (finite difference time domain) and experimental study of the UWB antenna performance in the immersion medium, as well as a study of the influence of malignant-to-normal breast tissue dielectric contrast on dynamic range requirements and tumor detectability. This paper represents the first experimental demonstration of 3-D MIST beamforming in multilayer breast phantoms with malignant-to-normal dielectric contrasts down to 1.5 : 1 for a 4-mm synthetic tumor.
Reflections on Affirmative Action Goals in Psychology Admissions

Four goals of affirmative action in higher education are described as they relate to psychology admissions Broadly conceived, these goals are compensating for past injustice, correcting present inequity, promoting intellectual diversity, and enhancing the presence of role models It is argued that the four goals differ in their underlying assumptions about the purposes of affirmative action and that these differences can result in disparate admission decisions Data from three experiments on decision making in graduate psychology admissions are presented to illustrate the analysis In these studies, academic psychologists rated the admissibility of hypothetical graduate student applicants who varied on a number of characteristics (e g, ethnicity, social class, interest in minority research) pertinent to affirmative action A consistent pattern of ethnic group differences in admissibility ratings was documented, illustrating that compensation for past injustice can be interpreted as a salient affirmative actio...
The Development and Neural Bases of Face Recognition

Evidence from fields as diverse as cognitive, evolutionary, and developmental psychology, as well as cognitive neuroscience, has increasingly pointed to the ‘special’ nature of face recognition. A critical examination of the literature supports the view that faces begin to be seen as a separate class of objects within the first 6 months of life. Not surprisingly, the neural systems that underlie face recognition also come on line during this period of time. Less clear, however, are the mechanisms whereby these events occur. It seems likely that face recognition reflects an experience-expectant process, whereby exposure to faces during a sensitive period of development likely leads to perceptual and cortical specialization. However, it is unknown what the role of experience is in maintaining this ability, and how long this sensitive period lasts. After reviewing three related models that attempt to account for the way the ability to recognize faces develops, a number of suggestions are offered for testing the hypothesis that face recognition depends on experience for acquisition, and for evaluating the role of experience in maintaining this ability. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aqueous high‐temperature chemistry of carbo‐ and heterocycles: Part 24. First demonstration of specific C‐C bond scission of the pyridine ring. Reactions of piperidine, pyridine and some of their methyl derivatives in aqueous formic acid

In its reactions with the title compounds, formic acid variously acts as a formylating, methylating, and reducing agent. Both pyridine and piperidine are converted in significant amounts into 1-methyl-, 1-ethyl-, 1-propyl- and 1-pentyl-piperidines. Of the N-alkyl groups, isotopic labeling shows that only N-methyl derives from the formic acid, while the N-ethyl and N-propyl arise from heterocyclic ring C-C bond scission by retro-vinylogous-bis-aza-Aldol reactions. Detailed analysis of the products for pyridine, piperidine, and their 4-methyl derivatives, reacted separately and mixed, supports mechanisms in which a piperidine adds 1,2 to a pyridinium cation, or to a di- or tetra-hydropyridine, to initiate reaction sequences leading to the product slates found.
Initial communications with the parents of emotionally disturbed university students.

Abstract Communicating with the parents of emotionally disturbed university students is a relatively infrequent but consistent and significant activity of students' therapists. Therapist, parent, and student attitudes about such communications are discussed. Examples are given of crisis and noncrisis situations leading to parent-therapist communications and suggestions are made for the management of each situation outlined. In all such encounters, the therapist's guiding objective is to forge with the parents an alliance designed to promote the growth and development of the student.
Solation of Elastic Tissue Microfibrils Derived From Cultured Cells of Calf Ligamentum Nuchae

Cells cultured from calf ligamentum nuchae produce extracellular microfibrils identical to those of intact elastic tissue as determined by ultrastructural appearance, degradative enzyme susceptibilities and amino acid composition. A method to isolate large amounts of the microfibrillar component using fluorescein mercuric acetate is described. The cultures do not appear to synthesize the amorphous component, elastin, in that radioactive desmosine and isodesmo-sine were not detected after incubating cultures with labeled lysine nor was elastin seen ultrastructurally.
Wicked Problems and Applied Economics

The term "wicked problems" is found in many disciplines, including public administra tion, policy science, health education, ecology, forestry, and business administration, but the term is relatively unknown in applied eco nomics. Applied economics needs to become better acquainted with wicked problems; they are pervasive, and they present challenges if applied economics is to retain its relevance in today's world. This paper explores these challenges but is necessarily exploratory, as widespread recognition of the complexity of wicked problems is leading to new kinds of research, but these research approaches are still evolving. My basic thesis is that normal science assumptions and approaches are in adequate for addressing the complexities of wicked problems in a policy context, but that science, including social science, remains cru cial for the development of alternative poli cies. This exploration, therefore, is about both the characteristics of postnormal science nec essary to inform alternative policies designed to address wicked problems as well as their implications for policy contributions from ap plied economics. Because many wicked prob lems involve sustainability issues, I will focus mainly on sustainability problems.
A high-performance, modular design paradigm for teletraffic simulation with CSIM

The simulator designed by the author provides a new design paradigm for simulating large-scale telecommunications systems. It is based on C and CSIM and has the features of dynamic memory allocation, modular design, interruptability, user-interface, verification and displaying run-time statistics. At present, it can be used to simulate CDRs or traffic matrix inputs; fixed hierarchical routing, or spray routing; internal dynamic overflow controls for switch cpu congestion control; dynamic cross-connection by features for both switches and trunks. >
Domestic violence: the role of the orthopaedic surgeon in identification and treatment.

Domestic violence is a major public health problem in the United States. As many as 35% of women visiting hospital emergency departments for trauma care are there because of injuries caused by intimate partner violence. The practicing orthopaedic surgeon may come in contact with these women in the emergency department as well as in the office setting. The ability to identify victims of abuse requires a sensitive approach and a specific set of skills. Once the victim has been identified, appropriate referral to local agencies is critical to help ensure the victimOs safety. The issues surrounding identification, documentation, inquiry about safety, and activation of community services need to be incorporated into the core curriculum of resident training programs and the continuing education of the practicing orthopaedic surgeon. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2000;8:91-96
A Framework for Adapting Sales Management Functions to a Global Market

In today's global economy, sales managers are responsible for managing the sales force of a joint venture company, a distributor, an agent or their own sales force in another country. These management functions include a number of tasks: setting objectives, developing plans for meeting objectives, motivating the sales force, evaluating performance of the sales force, developing training programs, and managing sales force activities (Dalrymple and Cron 1992). To perform these functions effectively, the sales managers must possess a set of skills including the ability to communicate, manage time, motivate, train, direct, plan, and delegate (Futrell 1991, Wotruba and Simpson 1989).
Community ecology of the 'other' parasitoids.

The study of parasitoid communities is an active and dynamic field. Most studies, however, are focused primarily on parasitic wasps, despite the thousands of other insect parasitoids distributed across many lineages. Although questions in parasitoid community ecology are much the same for different groups, answers to these questions may not be due to differing biological traits. The ecology of non-hymenopteran (‘NH’) parasitoid communities is poorly known, but recent work indicates that habitat and host traits have strong impacts on the size and composition of these parasitoid assemblages. Recent food-web analyses indicate that host ranges vary widely within and among taxa and associations are shaped by host ecology and defenses. Evidence is also accumulating for strong ‘bottom-up’ and ‘top-down’ multi-trophic interactions between NH-parasitoids and nonadjacent trophic levels, as well as trait-mediated indirect effects on communities. Recent technical and conceptual advances in characterizing and comparing food webs, consideration of phylogenetic history, and increasing anthropogenic impacts provide many new and stimulating areas of research on parasitoid communities.
Post-bureaucratic leadership

Accepted theory and conventional wisdom concerning leadership have a lot in common. Both seem to be saying that the success of a leader depends on the leader, the led, and the unique situation. This formulation—abstract and majestically useless—is the best that can be gleaned from over 100 years of research on "leadership". There are many issues involved in the distribution of power: psychological, practical, and moral. One of the most challenging tasks for the new leadership is creating an environment that would increase tolerance for ambiguity. It will also be challenging to create an environment where one can make a virtue out of contingency, rather than one that induces hesitancy and its reckless counterpart, expedience. The "social territory" encompasses the complex and dynamic interaction of individuals, roles, groups, organizational and cultural systems. Organizations are legal, political, technical, and economic systems. The author here focuses on the social system. The most appropriate metaphor to characterize adaptive leadership is an "agricultural" model.
All-carbon, neutral analogue of ExBox4+: A DFT study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon binding.

To assess the role that electrostatic interactions play in the binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons within ExBox4+ 1, we report ωB97X-D/6-311G(d,p) computations of the binding of five small linear acenes with the hydrocarbon neutral analogue 5 in both the gas phase and acetonitrile solution. The terphenyl units of 5 are less bowed outward than are the ExBIPY units of 5, due to the lack of charge repulsion. This manifests in a much smaller ring strain energy in 5 than 1. The acenes bind to both 1 and 5 with increasing affinity as the size of the guest increases. The affinity of the PAHs to 1 is greater than the affinity to 5, though the difference in the binding enthapies to 1 and 5 is relatively small, ranging from 2.4 to 9.8 kcal mol–1. Electrostatics account for only 10–20% of the total binding energy.
Four Square Leagues: Pueblo Indian Land in New Mexico . By Malcolm Ebright, Rick Hendricks, and Richard W. Hughes.

Four Square Leagues: Pueblo Indian Land in New Mexico . By Malcolm Ebright, Rick Hendricks, and Richard W. Hughes. (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2014. xii + 452 pp. Illustrations, maps, glossary, appendices, notes, bibliography, index. $65.00.) With longtime practicing water rights attorney Richard W. Hughes, noted scholars of New Mexico Malcolm Ebright and Rick Hendricks have written what can only be described as an exhaustingly researched book that examines the history of Pueblo land tenure in light of Spanish and later Mexican and American dominion. Inspired by Emlen Hall’s call some years ago to tackle the Pueblo square league, the authors bring their own substantial archival and courtroom experience to bear on the topic. With access to documents unavailable to scholars until very recently—specifically, primary source materials from Santa Ana Pueblo—as well as a careful reading of known sources, Ebright, Hendricks, … brescia{at}email.arizona.edu
Reactive Control Strategy of DFIG Wind Farm Based on Reactive Sensitivity of Collection System

In view of reactive control problems such as unqualified voltage of point of common coupling(PCC) and high network-loss of power collection system in DFIG-based wind farms, this paper proposed a new reactive control strategy using reactive sensitivity of power collection system. Firstly, network-loss/reactive sensitivity and voltage/reactive sensitivity of wind farm power collection system were presented, based on analysis of reactive demand of wind farm. Ensuring maximum active power output as well, the proposed strategy suggests two goals about reactive control of wind farm, that is, to improve PCC voltage level using reactive sensitivity and to reduce network-loss using network-loss sensitivity. Simulation results of actual wind farm verified effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Colon cancer testing and screening.

Abstract Laboratory testing has the potential to favorably affect the outcome of patients with neoplasia by applications in screening, risk identification, surveillance, diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of tumor response or resistance to therapies, and prediction of toxic effects from therapies. Molecular testing directed at colorectal neoplasia is currently in use for diagnosis and characterization of rare, highly penetrant inherited syndromes due to germline mutation of the APC suppressor gene or DNA nucleotide mismatch repair genes. Routine application of molecular assays of colorectal tumors as prognostic and predictive markers is likely to occur in the near future, but major advances in technology are needed to begin to move molecular testing into screening of the general population and surveillance of subjects at increased risk. It seems certain that molecular methods will become increasingly important in improving the outcome of patients with colorectal neoplasia and in contributing to continued de...
Heart rate control in awake dog after selective SA-nodal parasympathectomy.

Selective surgical sinoatrial (SA)-nodal parasympathectomy (PSX) was used to distinguish the role of the cardiac autonomic nerves in heart rate (HR) control in awake dogs (n = 8) during rest and be...
Cosmetics in the Postsurgical Patient

Careful cosmetic selection is important in the postsurgical patient to ensure optimal conditions for wound healing while allowing the patient to present an attractive appearance. Camouflaging cosmetics may also be important for both short-term and long-term rehabilitation in some patients.
Status Update: Modeling Energy Balance in NIF Hohlraums

We have developed a standardized methodology to model hohlraum drive in NIF experiments. We compare simulation results to experiments by 1) comparing hohlraum xray fluxes and 2) comparing capsule metrics, such as bang times. Long-pulse, high gas-fill hohlraums require a 20-28% reduction in simulated drive and inclusion of ~15% backscatter to match experiment through (1) and (2). Short-pulse, low fill or near-vacuum hohlraums require a 10% reduction in simulated drive to match experiment through (2); no reduction through (1). Ongoing work focuses on physical model modifications to improve these matches.
Native State Volume Fluctuations in Proteins as a Mechanism for Dynamic Allostery

Allostery enables tight regulation of protein function in the cellular environment. Although existing models of allostery are firmly rooted in the current structure–function paradigm, the mechanistic basis for allostery in the absence of structural change remains unclear. In this study, we show that a typical globular protein is able to undergo significant changes in volume under native conditions while exhibiting no additional changes in protein structure. These native state volume fluctuations were found to correlate with changes in internal motions that were previously recognized as a source of allosteric entropy. This finding offers a novel mechanistic basis for allostery in the absence of canonical structural change. The unexpected observation that function can be derived from expanded, low density protein states has broad implications for our understanding of allostery and suggests that the general concept of the native state be expanded to allow for more variable physical dimensions with looser pac...
Entrenched obesity in childhood: findings from a national cohort study.

Abstract Purpose Given the high levels of obesity among U.S. children, we examine whether obesity in childhood is a passing phenomenon or remains entrenched into adolescence. Methods Data are from the prospective nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–1999 (analytic sample = 6600). Anthropometrics were measured six times during 1998–2007. Overweight and obesity were defined using CDC cut-points. Entrenched obesity was defined as obesity between ages 5–9 coupled with persistent obesity at ages 11 and 14. Results Almost 30% of children experienced obesity at some point between ages 5.6 and 14.1 years; 63% of children who ever had obesity between ages 5.6 and 9.1 and 72% of those who had obesity at kindergarten entry experienced entrenched obesity. Children with severe obesity in kindergarten or who had obesity at more than 1 year during early elementary were very likely to experience obesity through age 14, regardless of their sex, race, or socioeconomic backgrounds. Conclusions Prevention should focus on early childhood, as obesity at school entry is not often a passing phenomenon. Even one timepoint of obesity measured during the early elementary school years may be an indicator of risk for long-term obesity.
Beyond Institutions: Beliefs and Leadership

Beliefs shape the choices of institutions. Beliefs are generally stable, but shocks that cause sufficiently unexpected economic and political outcomes make beliefs malleable. Within these windows of opportunity, leadership can play a role in shaping a new belief among the dominant organizations that in turn generates new institutions and over time a possible transition to a new developmental trajectory.
Regional Cults and Ethnic Boundaries in “Southern Hopewell”

Mortuary analysis is a tool for examination of the patterns of differentiation within a community. However, a community does not exist in isolation. “The study of social structure and genetic affinities must build upon an understanding of certain population characteristics, such as the size of the prehistoric community, its age-sex profile, and the number of population aggregates within a given region,” (Buikstra 1976:14). Thus, a more complete reconstruction of the social organization of a past society is possible when the sample breadth is increased to include the broader region in which social interactions occur. The study of social organization for an archaeological complex, therefore, can best be addressed through regional analysis.
Spatially encoded picoliter droplet groups for high-throughput combinatorial analysis

Most current droplet microfluidic devices are limited to processing one single sample or one single assay in a single device due to inconvenient sample loading and unstable droplet generation when switching inputs. In order to maximize the capability of a single droplet device, we have developed a novel nanoliter-picoliter (nL-pL) device capable of handling multiple samples and assays. Our device can generate spatially encoded groups of thousands of picoliter droplets from different in situ assembled nanoliter plugs. The plugs can be uniquely assembled in an automated manner prior to picoliter droplet generation. We demonstrate the ability of our nL-pL device to generate distinct picoliter droplet groups with high stability and uniformity through a specific isolation valve design. This new device may find important applications in rapid bacterial identification, quantification, antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), drug screening as well as single cell screening.
Safety of Food and Beverages: Meat and Meat Products

Meat and meat products are potential vehicles of hazards to human health. Types of hazards that may be present in meat products include chemicals (causing acute or long-term toxicity) and biological agents (pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, and abnormal prions causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies), as well as physical objects (may cause injury). Biological hazards are of most concern. Their occurrence in meat and meat products is unavoidable because contaminants are present in and on the animals and in their environment. Raw meat and not fully heated (canned) or fermented/dried meat products are highly perishable, which makes them prone to quick spoilage and of compromised safety due to microbial presence and growth. The quality and safety of meat and meat products are best maintained by an integrated preventive approach throughout all segments of the meat sector, including producers, processors, distributors, retailers, food service, as well as consumers. Pathogen control efforts should include: good production practices on the farm, slaughtering of animals that are disease free, processing of carcasses under sanitary and hygienic conditions, use of decontamination intervention strategies to reduce microbial levels on carcasses and fresh meat, thermal processing, drying, fermentation, acidification, use of antimicrobials, maintenance of the cold chain during distribution, and proper storage and preparation by food service and consumers.
Plasma Menthol Glucuronide as a Biomarker of Acute Menthol Inhalation.

Objectives Menthol is often added to cigarettes and e-cigarette solutions for its cooling and anti-irritant effects, and may contribute to development of nicotine dependence, particularly in vulnerable populations such as adolescents, and among African Americans. Menthol is rapidly metabolized to menthol glucuronide (MG) with little or no unconjugated menthol measurable in venous blood. Human challenge studies of the effects of inhaled menthol, and of its interactions with nicotine, would benefit from a quantitative measure of acute menthol exposure. Our objective was to determine whether plasma MG concentrations might be a suitable quantitative biomarker of acute menthol exposure following its inhalation. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of plasma MG concentrations obtained during a study of the effects of inhaled menthol on behavioral responses to intravenous nicotine. MG concentrations were followed over time in venous plasma from 48 participants following inhalation of aerosols from e-cigarettes employing solutions containing either of 2 menthol concentrations or placebo. Results Whereas plasma MG concentrations were variable, they showed a dose-dependent increase following menthol inhalation. Conclusions Measurement of plasma MG may be useful to assess inter-individual differences in acute menthol exposure in human challenge studies involving menthol inhalation.
tRNA Modification, Editing, and Import in Mitochondria

In recent years, a number of discoveries have highlighted new facets of tRNA transport and processing in eukaryotic cells. At the center of it, all is the realization that intracellular compartmentalization plays a critical role in tRNA availability and may have great impact in tRNA function. This chapter discusses specific examples of mitochondrial tRNA-processing events, which highlight either the importance of tRNA modifications, the advent of new technologies in analyzing mitochondrial tRNA function, or both. Together the new findings are discussed within the framework of how in vivo transport dynamics may contribute greatly to modification specificity and thus function.
An empirical evaluation of deep learning for ICD-9 code assignment using MIMIC-III clinical notes.

Abstract Background and Objective Code assignment is of paramount importance in many levels in modern hospitals, from ensuring accurate billing process to creating a valid record of patient care history. However, the coding process is tedious and subjective, and it requires medical coders with extensive training. This study aims to evaluate the performance of deep-learning-based systems to automatically map clinical notes to ICD-9 medical codes. Methods The evaluations of this research are focused on end-to-end learning methods without manually defined rules. Traditional machine learning algorithms, as well as state-of-the-art deep learning methods such as Recurrent Neural Networks and Convolution Neural Networks, were applied to the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-III) dataset. An extensive number of experiments was applied to different settings of the tested algorithm. Results Findings showed that the deep learning-based methods outperformed other conventional machine learning methods. From our assessment, the best models could predict the top 10 ICD-9 codes with 0.6957 F1 and 0.8967 accuracy and could estimate the top 10 ICD-9 categories with 0.7233 F1 and 0.8588 accuracy. Our implementation also outperformed existing work under certain evaluation metrics. Conclusion A set of standard metrics was utilized in assessing the performance of ICD-9 code assignment on MIMIC-III dataset. All the developed evaluation tools and resources are available online, which can be used as a baseline for further research.
A Secular for Literary Studies

This essay criticizes two prevailing ways of thinking about the relationship between the secular and the religious—the way of enmity and the way of paradox—and affirms a third, more open-ended appr...
Mousetap, a Novel Technique to Collect Uncontaminated Vitreous or Aqueous and Expand Usefulness of Mouse Models

Vitreous or aqueous humour taps are widely used in patients or large animals with retinal diseases to monitor disease biomarkers, search for novel biomarkers, assess the integrity of the blood-retinal barrier, or perform pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamics studies. Although there are many useful mouse models of retinal diseases, the small size of mouse eyes has precluded vitreous or aqueous taps. Herein we describe a novel technique, mousetap, which allows collection of vitreous or aqueous humour uncontaminated by blood or tissue surrounding the vitreous cavity. Mousetap was used to obtain vitreous samples from several mouse models of retinal vascular diseases and vitreous albumin measured by ELISA was highly reproducible among mice of the same model. The mean vitreous albumin concentration differed widely among control mice and mice of different models and correlated with fluorescein angiographic assessment of vascular leakage severity. Protein arrays showed increases in levels of several vasoactive proteins in the vitreous from mice with oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy compared with age-matched controls; almost all of these proteins are increased in the vitreous of patients with the most common human ischemic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Thus, mousetap facilitates the use of mice for studies previously reserved for large animal models and patients.
Legalizing physician-assisted suicide: some thoughts and concerns

Surveys show that most Americans favor the decriminalization of physician-assisted suicide in certain circumstances. Several states are now considering legislation to bring this about and make the United States the first place in the civilized world where physician aid in dying is sanctioned. In the Netherlands, where physician-assisted suicide is practiced but officially remains illegal, 85% of assisted suicides occur in the elderly, and most involve the help of general practitioners. In the United States, family physicians provide health care to many older adults with chronic or terminal illness whose numbers will increase as the elderly population expands. The legalization of physician-assisted suicide would affect the way American physicians practice medicine in unpredictable ways, yet physicians are participating relatively little in deliberations concerning this issue. The problem of suffering in persons with chronic and terminal illness cannot be ignored. Compassionate, effective, and ethical solutions must be found. As a former family physician and now geriatric psychiatrist, I review the pros and cons of physician-assisted suicide (emphasizing arguments against legalization) and encourage family physicians to debate this matter.
Measurement of Receptor-Ligand Binding: Theory and Practice

The word “receptor” may seem at times to mean something different to almost everyone; this is not particularly surprising, since investigators in a wide variety of separate fields routinely employ the term to refer to something they work with. They may use it to refer to cellular components that specifically bind neurotransmitters; classical hormones; other hormone-like agents, such as paracrines, growth factors, and interferons; plant and bacterial toxins; lectins; antigens; antibodies; transported molecules and ions; second messengers; and ultimately the entire spectrum of drugs and poisons. In short, the concept of a “receptor” is truly protean (some might prefer to call it lipoprotean).
Deep(er) learning

Animals successfully thrive in noisy environments with finite resources. The necessity to function with resource constraints has led evolution to design animal brains (and bodies) to be optimal in their use of computational power while being adaptable to their environmental niche. A key process undergirding this ability to adapt is the process of learning. Although a complete characterization of the neural basis of learning remains ongoing, scientists for nearly a century have used the brain as inspiration to design artificial neural networks capable of learning, a case in point being deep learning. In this viewpoint, we advocate that deep learning can be further enhanced by incorporating and tightly integrating five fundamental principles of neural circuit design and function: optimizing the system to environmental need and making it robust to environmental noise, customizing learning to context, modularizing the system, learning without supervision, and learning using reinforcement strategies. We illustrate how animals integrate these learning principles using the fruit fly olfactory learning circuit, one of nature's best-characterized and highly optimized schemes for learning. Incorporating these principles may not just improve deep learning but also expose common computational constraints. With judicious use, deep learning can become yet another effective tool to understand how and why brains are designed the way they are.