cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid character displacement of different call parameters in closely related treefrogs (Hyla cinerea and H. gratiosa)

When the range of similar species begins to overlap, niche separation may develop to maintain species boundaries. Reproductive traits are often subject to these adjustments, particularly when there is selection against hybrids. Shifts in range overlap can result in call interference, increased hybridization, and reduced mating success. Previous research has shown that these conditions can drive reproductive character displacement (RCD). Consistent with RCD, green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) call at higher frequencies and perch higher in syntopy with their sister species (barking tree frogs, Hyla gratiosa), relative to allotopy. However, the time needed for these changes to occur and the corresponding effects on H. gratiosa remain unclear. We investigated if RCD is detectable in populations of these two species after 8 years or less of syntopy. We found an elevated high-frequency peak in calls of syntopic H. cinerea, while an increase in call duration was detected in syntopic H. gratiosa. Our results suggest that RCD can occur rapidly, in a manner consistent with the plasticity-first model, and that traits improving signal detection may be the first to respond to the pressures of syntopy and selection against hybrids. Related species are expected to change their mating signals when breeding together to avoid mating with the wrong species. Green tree frogs change their mating calls when they breed in the same ponds as barking tree frogs, but it remains unclear how fast these changes can take place, or if there are any changes in barking tree frogs. We analyzed calls and perch locations within areas of recent (<8 years) range overlap in ponds where these species breed together and ponds where only one breeds. We found that when the two frogs co-occur, green tree frogs call at higher frequencies and barking tree frogs increase their calling duration. These changes were in the same direction, but diminished relative to ponds where they have lived together for long periods. Our results demonstrate that behavioral changes to avoid hybridization can occur in as few as 8 years.
Link performance modeling of wireless sensor network deployment for mission-critical applications (underground deployment)

Reliable communication of information from the incident scene to nearest responder (point-to-point communication) is vital to mission-critical operations. Sensor nodes such as mobile robots are deployed into some unfriendly environments to sense the environments and send information to the responders. However, the heterogeneous environments limit navigation and reliable transfer of critical data to the responders. This study proposes a communication model that supports operation of static sensor nodes and maneuvering of mobile sensor nodes in mission-critical tasks. It also shows semiempirical energy per bit to noise spectral density, empirical radio propagation models and parameters for some “harsh environments – underground-to-underground communications.” These values and models are obtained from combination of experimental approach and analytical approach of additive white Gaussian noise channel. They are used to ensure a reliable communication of wireless sensor nodes deployed in the environments for the purpose of mission-critical services. Also, the values and models are validated in a theoretical and semianalytical simulation scenarios. Result shows that both techniques are nearly identical. The semi-empirical approach, the proposed models, and values, can be used for efficient planning and future deployments of wireless sensor networks for mission-critical services.
Long-term housing subsidies and SSI/SSDI income: Creating health-promoting contexts for families experiencing housing instability with disabilities.

Abstract Background Though disability and housing instability are discussed separately in public health literature, few studies address families at their intersection. As a result, little is known about families who experience both homelessness and disability, how many receive disability benefits like SSI and SSDI, or the influence of those benefits on health-promoting outcomes like housing stability and self-sufficiency. Moreover, no previous research compares the ability of different housing and service interventions to increase disability benefit access. Objective We examine relationships between disabilities and SSI/SSDI income reported when families enter emergency shelters and later health-promoting outcomes (housing stability and self-sufficiency) and how housing interventions affect SSI/SSDI receipt. Methods Families in the (name removed) Study ( N = 1857) were interviewed in emergency shelters, randomly offered of one of three housing interventions or usual care (i.e., no immediate referral to any intervention beyond shelter), and re-interviewed 20 months later. Results A third of families reported a disability at shelter entry. SSI/SSDI coverage of these families increased nearly 10% points over 20 months but never exceeded 40%. Disabilities predicted greater housing instability, food insecurity, and economic stress and less work and income. Among families reporting disabilities, SSI/SSDI receipt predicted fewer returns to emergency shelter, and more income despite less work. Offers of long-term housing subsidies increased SSI/SSDI receipt. Conclusions Many families experiencing homelessness have disabilities; those receiving SSI/SSDI benefits have better housing and income outcomes. Providing families experiencing homelessness with long-term housing subsidies and SSI/SSDI could improve public health.
Expert Judgment Based Nuclear Threat Assessment for Vessels Arriving in the US

We demonstrate the use of extended pairwise comparisons for estimating the relative likelihood that a vessel approaching US waters contains a nuclear threat. We demonstrate an expert judgment based method consisting of a designed set of extended pairwise comparisons and parameter estimation for a predictive probability model using log-linear regression. Results are based on a proof-of-concept questionnaire completed by eight experts in port security. The model and parameter estimates obtained are used to demonstrate the type of predictions that can be obtained.
France-Algérie: 50 ans d’histoires secrètes, tome 1 (1962–1992)

The author of this ‘tell-all’ book is a political scientist who holds a doctorate from Sciences Po Paris and hails from a prominent Algerian nationalist family. Marketed under the heading ‘Everythi...
Fast distributed multi-agent plan execution with dynamic task assignment and scheduling

An essential quality of a good partner is her responsiveness to other team members. Recent work in dynamic plan execution exhibits elements of this quality through the ability to adapt to the temporal uncertainties of others agents and the environment. However, a good teammate also has the ability to adapt on-the-fly through task assignment. We generalize the framework of dynamic execution to perform plan execution with dynamic task assignment as well as scheduling. This paper introduces Chaski, a multi-agent executive for scheduling temporal plans with online task assignment. Chaski enables an agent to dynamically update its plan in response to disturbances in task assignment and the schedule of other agents. The agent then uses the updated plan to choose, schedule and execute actions that are guaranteed to be temporally consistent and logically valid within the multi-agent plan. Chaski is made efficient through an incremental algorithm that compactly encodes all scheduling policies for all possible task assignments. We apply Chaski to perform multi-manipulator coordination using two Barrett Arms within the authors' hardware testbed. We empirically demonstrate up to one order of magnitude improvements in execution latency and solution compactness compared to prior art.
Feature tracking derived longitudinal and circumferential myocardial strain abnormalities in clinical myocarditis

Background Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is frequently used to assess myocardial involvement to confirm diagnosis of myocarditis. CMR techniques employ T2weighted, early and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), with two positive sequences widely considered diagnostic for myocardial inflammation. However, these techniques are qualitative and subjective, thus prone to interpretation error. Feature tracking (FT) allows quantitative segmental myocardial strain analysis using traditional cine CMR images. Our hypothesis was that left ventricular (LV) segmental strain would be a more sensitive indicator for myocardial involvement in patients with clinical myocarditis. Regional strain was compared to presence of LGE as a measure of myocardial involvement.
Grazers, Past and Present

This paper presents a review of the herbivorous fauna that prevailed in, and influenced, the California grassland during its formation, during its existence in prehistory, and during the changes it has undergone since arrival of the Europeans. Accordingly, I have adopted a chronological format in reviewing the available information.
Incorporating Informational Counseling in Treatment for Individuals With Hearing Loss and Their Families

Speech, language, and hearing professionals provide informational counseling for individuals with hearing loss to facilitate success in a variety of settings. The focus and content of the informati...
Imagine Pokémon in the “Real” world: a Deleuzian approach to Pokémon GO and augmented reality

Discussions of the augmented reality (AR) game Pokemon GO often reinforce the demarcation between virtual game spaces and “real world” physical spaces. De Souza e Silva and Sutko’s (2011. Theorizin...
Personalized Prediction of Asthma Severity and Asthma Attack for a Personalized Treatment Regimen

Control of asthma is critical for disease management and quality of life. Asthma treatment depends on the patient demographic information (e.g., age), and disease severity, which is determined by: (1) how symptoms affect a patient’s daily life, (2) measured lung function, and (3) estimated risk of having an asthma attack. In this paper, we will present the Tensorflow Text Classification (TC) method to classify a patient’s asthma severity level. We will also propose a Qlearning method to train an agent through trials and errors to improve the prediction accuracy and create a personalized treatment regimen for asthma patients.
Design, Fabrication, and Cold Testing of a Ka-Band kW-Class High-Bandwidth Dielectric-Loaded Traveling-Wave Tube

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and initial testing of a Ka-band dielectric-loaded traveling-wave tube (TWT) with very high bandwidth. Applications for high-power mm-wave sources span radar (including imaging), biology, medicine, communications, national security, and other areas. Specifically, to achieve long-range, cm-scale imaging using synthetic aperture radar techniques, a radio-frequency (RF) source with an average power level of 1 kW and a bandwidth of 10 GHz will be required. We developed a novel Ka-band TWT architecture that approaches these requirements. To achieve a very wide bandwidth, we proposed to use a dielectric-lined waveguide slow-wave structure. A dielectric constant of larger than 13 is needed for the resonance with a 20-keV electron beam. In our design, we have used $\varepsilon = 20$ magnesium–calcium–titanate (MCT) ceramics. The two halves of the dielectric are shaped to ensure that the TM11-like mode has a flat electric field profile along the beam slot to accommodate transport of a 5-A sheet electron beam. The gain for the structure peaks at 33.25 GHz and is predicted to be 2.3 dB/cm with a total gain of 30 dB. The structure was fabricated and cold tested. Although the results of the cold test were inconclusive, we discuss possible reasons for discrepancies between simulations and measurements and propose simplifications to the tube’s geometry for future studies.
Type I Interferons Rule with an Iron Fist.

Pathogens rely on nutrient assimilation, particularly essential metal incorporation, to successfully survive in the host. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Riedelberger et al. (2020) convincingly demonstrate that type I interferons (IFNs-I) promote dysregulation of iron homeostasis in macrophages upon infection with Candida glabrata and exacerbate infection.
Talking complicity, breathing coloniality: Interrogating settler-centric pedagogy of teaching about white settler colonialism

Teaching students to think about white settlers’ and racialized non-black people’s complicity in settler colonial violence can still be an instance of settler-centric pedagogy underlined by the tro...
Modification of diode characteristics by electron back-scatter from high-atomic-number anodes

In high-power vacuum diodes with high-atomic-number anodes, back-scattered electrons alter the vacuum space charge and resulting electron and ion currents. Here, electron multiple back-scattering is studied through equilibrium solutions of the Poisson Equation for I-dimensional, bipolar diodes in order to predict their early-time behavior. Before ion turn-on, back-scattered electrons from high-Z anodes suppress the diode current by about 10%. After ion turn-on in the same diodes, electron back-scatter leads to substantial enhancements of both the electron and ion currents above the Child-Langmuir values. Current enhancements with ion flow from low-Z anodes are small.
Manipulation of Internal Performance Measures: Evidence from SFAS No. 131 Disclosures

Existing evidence indicates a propensity by managers to report GAAP net income to external parties that meets or beats performance thresholds. An unanswered question is whether managers also beat thresholds with internal performance measures. Due to the implementation of SFAS No. 131, researchers can now access internal measures that are most prominently reviewed by top decision makers. Adopting the methodology used by Burgstahler and Dichev (1997) to detect earnings management, I examine the sum of a company's segment performance measures and find that companies avoid reporting losses for these consolidated internal performance measures. Additional tests rule out several alternative explanations.
Postmortem Biochemical Changes in Canine Vitreous Humor

Time and temperature effects on postmortem vitreous humor from 60 adult mongrel dogs were studied. After death the dogs were held at 4, 20, or 37 degrees C for intervals of 3, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h. Antemortem and postmortem vitreous was analyzed for sodium, chloride, potassium, urea nitrogen, glucose, and creatinine. Potassium levels rose with increases in temperature and time. Sodium, chloride, and urea nitrogen values were stable at 4 degrees C for 48 h; they were less stable at higher temperatures. Glucose dropped to less than half within 3 h at all temperatures. Creatinine values were inconsistent. In that postmortem glucose and sodium levels remained below antemortem levels, diagnosis of hyperglycemia and hypernatremia should be possible. Consequently, a diagnosis of hypoglycemia could not be supported; the diagnosis of hyponatremia could be made in the early postmortem period.
Rural Professional Isolation: An Integrative Review

Background: Chronic nursing shortages have plagued rural communities for many years. It is therefore important to highlight the specific challenges confronting rural areas in regards to recruiting and retaining nurses. One challenging factor associated with recruitment and retention of rural nurses is professional isolation. Purpose: This paper reports the findings of an integrative review conducted to analyze and critique recent empirical and theoretical literature on the concept of rural professional isolation. The author explores the ways in which professional isolation has been considered in the multidisciplinary health and nursing literature. Methods: A cross-search of three nursing and social science databases located 26 papers, the majority published between 2000 and 2010. In addition, several classic articles dating back to 1989 were included. The articles focused on various aspects of professional isolation in nursing, medical, and allied health literature. Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative review method guided the analysis. A narrative description of findings and synthesis of data was performed. Results: Professional isolation appeared in the literature in numerous contexts. As it relates to rural nursing, the concept has often been cited, but remains poorly described. Conclusion: Professional isolation may be geographic (a distance from), social (a lack of contact with), or ideological (out casted from). However, most of the literature reviewed relates to the geographic or the social aspects of the concept. Electronic communication and information technology hold great potential for reducing professional isolation of nurses who practice in rural areas. Keywords: Integrative Review, Professional Isolation, Rural Nursing
Multi-agent Infrastructure, Agent Discovery, Middle Agents for Web Services and Interoperation

This chapter has two parts. In Part I, we present an overview of issues in modeling Multi Agent Systems (MAS), discuss what features and components are required for a MAS infrastructure, and present a model of a generic infrastructure. In addition, we present RETSINA as an example of an implemented MAS infrastructure. In Part II, we present issues in agent and service discovery and interoperation through a set of domain independent active and intelligent registries, called middle agents.
The Shape Theorem for Route-lengths in Connected Spatial Networks on Random Points

For a connected network on Poisson points in the plane, consider the route-length $D(r,\theta) $ between a point near the origin and a point near polar coordinates $(r,\theta)$, and suppose $E D(r,\theta) = O(r)$ as $r \to \infty$. By analogy with the shape theorem for first-passage percolation, for a translation-invariant and ergodic network one expects $r^{-1} D(r, \theta)$ to converge as $r \to \infty$ to a constant $\rho(\theta)$. It turns out there are some subtleties in making a precise formulation and a proof. We give one formulation and proof via a variant of the subadditive ergodic theorem wherein random variables are sometimes infinite.
Across-frequency processing of modulation phase differences in hearing-impaired listeners

Two experiments tested the influence of hearing impairment (HI) on representing across-frequency temporal coherence. In one experiment, HI listeners demonstrated similar abilities to normal-hearing listeners in detecting across-frequency differences in modulation phase. In another, spectral-shape discrimination was detrimentally affected by modulation phase disparities imposed on spectral components. Spectral-shape discrimination by HI listeners was less influenced by the disparities, suggesting that hearing loss alters the representation of envelope phase. Results suggest that multiple approaches may be necessary to determine alterations associated with hearing loss—detection tasks may not be sufficient to elucidate distortions to temporal envelope associated with hearing loss.
Building a job lanscape from directional transition data

The analysis of career paths suffers from a lack of exploratory tools and dynamic models, due in part to the inherent high dimensionality of the problem. Paths may be understood as directed traversals through a graph whose nodes consist of "job types," which we define as industry and occupation pairs. We want to develop tools to understand and detect high-level features of both the labor market and the workers moving through it — career dynamics. To do this, we map the discrete space of jobs into a d-dimensional continuous space; proximity between jobs will mean that they are "close" to each other in a non-negligible subset of career paths. This embedding allows one to visualize the job landscape. Moreover, we can map individual or groups of career paths to this space, extract features of their collective structure, and construct statistical tests comparing groups by means of this mapping.
On the Usefulness of Theory: Applying Family Therapy and Family Science to the Relational Developmental Systems Metamodel

Keywords: Agency as fulcrum for application; application; collaboration; family science; family therapy; practice; resilience versus plasticity; theory development process; usefulness of theory
Multifocal Epithelioid Hemangioma with Reactive Bone Formation

A healthy 16-year-old male patient presented with several weeks of right ankle pain on weight-bearing, worsened with sporting activities, and relieved with rest. Radiographs demonstrated multiple well-marginated lytic lesions in the right distal tibia, and talar head and neck, with a further small intracortical lesion in the mid-to-distal anterior tibia. MRI showed multiple rounded low T1 and high T2 signal intensity lesions within the distal tibia and talus, with marked associated bone marrow edema. The radiologic diagnoses included multifocal hemangioendothelioma, multifocal hemangioma, angiosarcoma, atypical infection, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, or osteoblastomatosis. Histology showed sheets of epithelioid cells lining vascular structures in a hobnailed “tombstone-like” arrangement, with additional areas containing trabeculae of osteoid and woven bone, with prominent osteoblastic rimming. The differential diagnosis at this point was either multifocal epithelioid hemangioma of bone or osteoblastomatosis. Immunohistochemistry showed strong expression of the vascular marker CD31, supporting a vascular neoplasm. The final diagnosis was multifocal epithelioid hemangioma with prominent reactive bone formation, an extremely unusual tumor with only one other similar case of multifocal disease reported in the literature. The patient was treated with curettage, cryosurgery, and bioceramic replacement and is currently doing well.
Bioreactor engineering for recombinant protein production in plant cell suspension cultures

Abstract A review of over 15 years of research, development and commercialization of plant cell suspension culture as a bioproduction platform is presented. Plant cell suspension culture production of recombinant products offers a number of advantages over traditional microbial and/or mammalian host systems such as their intrinsic safety, cost-effective bioprocessing, and the capacity for protein post-translational modifications. Recently significant progress has been made in understanding the bottlenecks in recombinant protein expression using plant cells, including advances in plant genetic engineering for efficient transgene expression and minimizing proteolytic degradation or loss of functionality of the product in cell culture medium. In this review article, the aspects of bioreactor design engineering to enable plant cell growth and production of valuable recombinant proteins is discussed, including unique characteristics and requirements of suspended plant cells, properties of recombinant proteins in a heterologous plant expression environment, bioreactor types, design criteria, and optimization strategies that have been successfully used, and examples of industrial applications.
Micromachined 2D array piezoelectrically actuated flextensional transducers: new designs

In this article, we present micromachined 2D array flextensional transducers that can be used to generate sound in air or water. Individual array elements consist of a thin piezoelectric ring and a thin, fully supported, circular membrane. We manufacture the transducer in 2D arrays using planar silicon micromachining combined with reactive ion etching of bulk silicon to provide back access holes. Such an array could be combined with an on-board driving and an addressing circuitry.
Preliminary evidence of abnormal white matter related to the fusiform gyrus in Williams syndrome: a diffusion tensor imaging tractography study

Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition caused by a hemizygous microdeletion on chromosome 7q11.23. WS is characterized by a distinctive social phenotype composed of increased drive toward social engagement and attention toward faces. In addition, individuals with WS exhibit abnormal structure and function of brain regions important for the processing of faces such as the fusiform gyrus. This study was designed to investigate if white matter tracts related to the fusiform gyrus in WS exhibit abnormal structural integrity as compared to typically developing (TD; age matched) and developmentally delayed (DD; intelligence quotient matched) controls. Using diffusion tensor imaging data collected from 40 (20 WS, 10 TD and 10 DD) participants, white matter fibers were reconstructed that project through the fusiform gyrus and two control regions (caudate and the genu of the corpus callosum). Macro-structural integrity was assessed by calculating the total volume of reconstructed fibers and micro-structural integrity was assessed by calculating fractional anisotropy (FA) and fiber density index (FDi) of reconstructed fibers. WS participants, as compared to controls, exhibited an increase in the volume of reconstructed fibers and an increase in FA and FDi for fibers projecting through the fusiform gyrus. No between-group differences were observed in the fibers that project through the control regions. Although preliminary, these results provide further evidence that the brain anatomy important for processing faces is abnormal in WS.
Beirut/Berlin: Choices in Planning for the Suture of Two Divided Cities

This paper focuses on the place of three issues (continuity, unity and centrality) within the massive projects that have been proposed and initiated for the centers of the two long- divided cities of Beirut and Berlin. The issues are relevant to modern large-scale rebuilding and to other cases where a historic urban core undergoes a dramatic change in circumstance which enables a radical transformation. The paper highlights the place of choice-making and the way choices relate to and defy structures at hand when the city planning process encounters extreme situations. This raises questions on the links between structure and agency in urban settings.
Sequential N-FINDR algorithms

Abstract N-finder algorithm (N-FINDR) is probably one of most popular and widely used algorithms used for endmember extraction. Three major obstacles need to be overcome in its practical implementation. One is that the number of endmembers must be known a priori. A second one is the use of random initial endmembers to initialize N-FINDR, which results in inconsistent final results of extracted endm embers. A third one is its very expensive computational cost caused by an exhaustive search. While the first two issues can be resolved by a recently developed concept, virtual dimensionality (VD) and custom-designed initialization algorithms respectively, the third issue seems to remain challenging. This paper addresses the latter issue by re-designing N-FINDR which can generate one endmember at a time sequentially in a successive fashion to ease computational complexity. Such resulting algorithm is called SeQuential N-FINDR (SQ N-FINDR) as opposed to the orig inal N-FINDR referred to as SiMultaneous N-FINDR (SM N-FINDR) which generates all endmembers simultaneously at once. Two variants of SQ N-FINDR can be further derived to reduce computational complexity. Interestingly, e xperimental results show that SQ N-FINDR can perform as well as SM-N-FINDR if initial endmem bers are appropriately selected. Key words: Endmember extraction. Mixed pixels. Subpixel targets. Target Embeddedness (TE). Target Implantation (TI).
The cadherins fat and dachsous regulate dorsal/ventral signaling in the Drosophila eye.

Abstract The Drosophila eye is a polarized epithelium in which ommatidia of opposing chirality fall on opposite sides of the eye's midline, the equator [1–3]. The equator is established in at least two steps: photoreceptors R3 and R4 adopt their fates, and then ommatidia rotate clockwise or counterclockwise in accordance with the identity of these photoreceptors. We report the role of two cadherins, Fat (Ft) and Dachsous (Ds), in conveying the polarizing signal from the D/V midline in the Drosophila eye. In eyes lacking Ft, the midline is abolished. In ft and ds mutant clones, wild-type tissue rescues genetically mutant tissue at the clonal borders, giving rise to ectopic equators. These ectopic equators distort a mosaic analysis of these genes and led to the possible misinterpretation that ft and ds are required to specify the R3 and R4 cell fates, respectively [4]. Our interpretation of these data supports a significantly different model in which ft and ds are not necessarily required for fate determination. Rather, they are involved in long-range signaling during the formation of the equator, as defined by the presence of an organized arrangement of dorsal and ventral chiral ommatidial forms.
Height and excess of Pythagorean triples

(2005). Height and Excess of Pythagorean Triples. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 78, No. 1, pp. 26-44.
Diameters and albedos of three subkilometer near-earth objects derived from spitzer observations

Near-Earth objects (NEOs) are fragments of remnant primitive bodies that date from the era of solar system formation. At present, the physical properties and origins of NEOs are poorly understood. We have measured thermal emission from three NEOs—(6037) 1988 EG, 1993 GD, and 2005 GL—with Spitzer's IRAC instrument at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 μm (the last object was detected only at 5.8 and 8.0 μm). The diameters of these three objects are 400, 180, and 160 m, respectively, with uncertainties of around 20% (including both observational and systematic errors). For all three the geometric albedos are around 0.30, in agreement with previous results that most NEOs are S-class asteroids. For the two objects detected at 3.6 and 4.5 μm, diameters and albedos based only on those data agree with the values based on modeling the data in all four bands. This agreement, and the high sensitivity of IRAC, shows the promise of the Spitzer Warm Mission for determining the physical parameters for a large number of NEOs.
SYNC-NET: distributed time synchronization in clustered sensor networks

Time synchronization is essential for several ad-hoc network protocols and applications, such as TDMA scheduling and data aggregation. In this paper, we propose a time synchronization framework for clustered, multi-hop sensor networks. We assume that relative node synchronization is sufficient, that is, consensus on one time value is not required. Our goal is to divide the network into connected synchronization regions (nodes within two-hops) and perform inter-regional synchronization in O(LLSync) × Niter time, where O(LLSync) denotes the complexity of the underlying low-level synchronization technique (used for single-hop synchronization), and Niter denotes the number of iterations where the low-level synchronization protocol is invoked. Thus, our main objective is rapid convergence. We propose novel fully distributed protocols, SYNC-IN and SYNC-NET, for regional and network synchronization, respectively, and prove that Niter is O(1) for all protocols. Our framework does not require any special node capabilities (e.g., being global positioning systems (GPS)-enabled), or the presence of reference nodes in the network. Our framework is also independent of the particular clustering, inter-cluster routing, and low-level synchronization protocols. We formulate a density model for analyzing inter-regional synchronization, and evaluate our protocols via extensive simulations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pressure Ulcers: Interdisciplinary Approach Across the Continuum

At our center, a skin care program in the managed care arena was developed to fit the needs of the spinalcord-injured (SCI) patient across the continuum of care. The aim of the program was to prevent and treat skin complications through an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental, and multifocused approach. Using a continuous quality improvement (CQI) method for program development, under the MAXIM (monitor, analyze, experiment, implement, monitor) performance improvement process, a center-wide skin team was developed to evaluate and improve the management of SCI patients as they progress along the continuum. The team is comprised of the inpatient SCI rehabilitation skin team, the outpatient wound clinic, the inpatient medical-surgical skin team, and research/telemedicine. This holistic approach toward the SCI patient across the continuum has provided for better outcomes, better utilization of resources, and a more unified approach to care, despite the complications resulting from decreased length of stays, i...
Low-temperature dynamic freezing and the fragility of ordering in Tb 2Sn2O7

We have probed the low-temperature magnetic behavior of the ordered spin-ice material Tb${}_{2}$Sn${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$ through ac magnetic susceptibility measurements of both the pure material and samples with small percentages of Ti substituted on the Sn sublattice. We observe a clear signature for the previously reported ordering transition at ${T}_{C}$ = 850 mK, as well as evidence for dynamic freezing at temperatures well below ${T}_{C}$, confirming the persistence of significant magnetic fluctuations deep in the spin-ordered regime. The long-range-ordering transition was completely suppressed with as little as 5% Ti for Sn substitution, and 10% Ti substitution resulted in a spin-glass-like spin freezing transition near 250 mK. The results demonstrate that the long-range magnetic ordering is surprisingly fragile in this system.
Arrhythmogenic channelopathy syndromes presenting as refractory epilepsy

Abstract Background Children and young adults with potentially lethal cardiac channelopathies often present to medical care with a history of syncope or seizures due to episodic ventricular arrhythmias and associated cerebral hypoperfusion. Methods Two important types of genetic arrhythmia syndromes—long QT syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia—are discussed using relevant case examples. The pathophysiology and distinguishing clinical features of these conditions are reviewed. Results The patients in each case were ultimately diagnosed with a cardiac channelopathy as the cause for their syncope and refractory seizures. With appropriate medical management, no further events have occurred to date. Conclusions Cardiac channelopathies can be misdiagnosed as refractory epilepsy when in fact these events represent convulsive syncopes. Knowledge of and suspicion for these arrhythmogenic conditions may expedite diagnosis and improve outcomes.
Adaptive free-form deformation for interpatient medical image registration

A number of methods have been proposed recently to solve nonrigid registration problems. One of these involves optimizing a Mutual Information (MI) based objective function over a regularly spaced grid of basis functions. This approach has produced good results but its computational complexity is inversely proportional to the compliance of the transformation. Transformations able to register two high resolution images on a very local scale need a large number of degrees of freedom. Finding an optimum in such a search space is lengthy and prone to convergence to local maxima. In this paper, we propose a modification to this class of algorithms that reduces their computational complexity and improves their convergence properties. The approach we propose adapts the compliance of the transformation locally. Registration is achieved iteratively, from a coarse to a fine scale. At each level, the gradient of the cost function with respect to the coefficients of a set of compactly supported radial basis functions spread over a regular grid is used to estimate a local adaptation of the grid. Optimization is then conducted over the estimated irregular grid one region at a time. Results show the advantage of the approach we propose over a method without local grid adaptation.
Ellipsoidal geometry in asteroid thermal models: The standard radiometric model

The major consequences of ellipsoidal geometry in an othewise standard radiometric model for asteroids are explored. It is shown that for small deviations from spherical shape a spherical model of the same projected area gives a reasonable aproximation to the thermal flux from an ellipsoidal body. It is suggested that large departures from spherical shape require that some correction be made for geometry. Systematic differences in the radii of asteroids derived radiometrically at 10 and 20 microns may result partly from nonspherical geometry. It is also suggested that extrapolations of the rotational variation of thermal flux from a nonspherical body based solely on the change in cross-sectional area are in error.
Should Indirect Purchasers Have Standing to Sue under the Antitrust Laws? An Economic Analysis of the Rule of Illinois Brick

Many producers do not sell directly to their ultimate consumers. The producer of a consumer good may, for example, sell it to a wholesaler who will resell it to a retailer who in turn will resell it to the ultimate consumer, and even if there is no wholesale stage of distribution, the ultimate consumer will ordinarily be the direct purchaser from a retailer and only an "indirect purchaser" from the producer. The product may be used as an input into a final consumer good-for example, the flour sold to a baker who makes it into bread that is sold to the consumer. The product may not even appear physically in the final good-for example, the oven used by the baker in making the bread. In these cases as well, the ultimate consumer is only an indirect purchaser of the flour or the oven, the cost of which will be reflected in the price of the bread. In Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois,' the Sureme Court held that indirect purchasers do not have standing to sue for violations of the antitrust laws under section 4 of the Clayton Act,2 which authorizes private treble-damage suits by individuals or firms injured in their business or property by a violation of those laws. To understand this decision, one must go back to Hanover Shoe Co. v. United Shoe Machinery Corp.,3 a suit by a shoe manufacturer against a manufacturer of shoe machinery who had earlier been found to have monopolized the shoe machinery industry in violation of section 2 of the Sherman Act.4 The defendant argued that it should be allowed to show that its customer had not in fact been injured by the antitrust violation because the customer had passed on the costs of the viola-
Embolization of Intracranial Aneurysms With Hydrogel-Coated Coils Versus Inert Platinum Coils Effects on Packing Density, Coil Length and Quantity, Procedure Performance, Cost, Length of Hospital Stay, and Durability of Therapy

Background and Purpose— The durability of aneurysm coil embolization is thought to depend on packing density. The expansile property of hydrogel coating on coils increases volumetric packing per coil length. We describe our experience using hydrogel-coated coils (HydroCoils) compared with inert platinum coils in intracranial aneurysm embolization. Methods— Fifty aneurysms embolized primarily using HydroCoils from 2003 to 2004 were compared with 57 volume- and shape-matched aneurysms treated with standard platinum coils from 2000 to 2003. Outcome measures included volumetric percentage occlusion (VPO), length and number of coils used, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, contrast volume, coil cost, length of hospital stay, and durability of therapy. Results— Seventeen/26/5 small/medium/large aneurysms treated with HydroCoils were matched with 29/24/4 small/medium/large aneurysms treated with inert platinum. HydroCoil embolization yielded significantly greater VPO (84.8% versus 29.8%; P<0.001), decreased avera...
Potential of Botulinum toxin A to treat upper extremity spasticity in children with cerebral palsy

AbstractBotulinum toxin type A has been used extensively to treat spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Although the effectiveness of the toxin in the lower limbs is well established, its effectiveness in upper limbs has not been proved yet. Many studies published so far report conflicting results in terms of spasticity, function, activity and participation improvement. The scope of this review is to present the evidence from published studies, focusing on the effectiveness and the safety of botulinum toxin A.
Adaptive biometric authentication using nonlinear mappings on quality measures and verification scores

Three methods to improve the performance of biometric matchers based on vectors of quality measures associated with biometric samples are described. The first two methods select samples and matching scores based on predicted values of Quality of Sample (QS) index (defined here as d-prime) and Confidence in matching Scores (CS), respectively. The third method treats quality measures as weak but useful features for discrimination between genuine and imposter matching scores. The unifying theme for the three methods consists of a nonlinear mapping between quality measures and the predicted values of QS, CS, and combined quality measures and matching scores, respectively. The proposed methodology is generic and is suitable for any biometric modality. The experimental results reported show significant performance improvements for all the three methods when applied to iris biometrics.
Skrjabinoclava kinsellai n. sp. (Nematoda: Acuarioidea) from the rice rat Oryzomys palustris in Florida

Skrjabinoclava kinsellai n. sp. from the stomach of Oryzomys palustris in Florida is most similar to S. thapari Teixeira de Freitas, 1953, but can be distinguished mainly by the structure of the terminal end of the left spicule which curves ventrally to form a shoe-like structure. Also the tail in both sexes ends in a nipple-like elevation not noted in the types of S. thapari.
Fast-fading, an additional mistaken axiom of wireless-network research

The perplexity of designing an effective underlying communication protocol for Mobile Wireless Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) is quite prevalent. In recent years, many protocols have been designed and evaluated through discrete event simulators. The lack of fidelity in these simulations, however, often yields results that support the incremental addition of control overhead to increase end-to-end performance measures of the protocol. It is argued herein that this additional overhead is largely ineffective when a fast-fading model is incorporated into the simulation. In particular, a comparison of the well established Ad Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) protocol and its simplified version, known as the (AODVjr) protocol, under Ricean and Rayleigh fading models is presented. It is shown that the end-to-end performance of AODV is negligible in comparison to the AODVjr protocol, which possess minimal control overhead, when fast-fading models are incorporated into the simulation environment.
An unusual complication of polyarteritis nodosa with massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage: a case report

Background and Case report Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis that affects medium-sized and occasionally involves small arteries leading to the disruption of the internal and external elastic lamina and contribute to the development of aneurysms. Aneurysms develop at bifurcation of major blood vessels; they are prone to thrombosis, rupture and haemorrhage. Retroperitoneal haemorrhage around kidneys was previously reported in patients with PAN. We report a case of massive retroperitoneal bleeding from inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm rupture in a 70-year-old female with PAN.
Landslide hazard mitigation in North America

Active landslides throughout the states and territories of the United States result in extensive property loss and 25–50 deaths per year. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a long history of detailed examination of landslides since the work of Howe (1909) in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. In the last four decades, landslide inventory maps and landslide hazard maps have depicted landslides of different ages, identified fresh landslide scarps, and indicated the direction of landslide movement for different regions of the states of Colorado, California, and Pennsylvania. Probability-based methods improve landslide hazards assessments. Rainstorms, earthquakes, wildfires, and volcanic eruptions can trigger landslides. Improvements in remote sensing of rainfall make it possible to issue landslide advisories and warnings for vulnerable areas. From 1986 to 1995, the USGS issued hazard warnings based on rainfall in the San Francisco Bay area. USGS workers also identified rainfall thresholds triggering landslides in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Washington, and the Blue Ridge Mountains of central Virginia. Detailed on-site monitoring of landslides near highways in California and Colorado aided transportation officials. The USGS developed a comprehensive, multi-sector, and multi-agency strategy to mitigate landslide hazards nationwide. This study formed the foundation of the National Landslide Hazards Mitigation Strategy. The USGS, in partnership with the U.S. National Weather Service and the State of California, began to develop a real-time warning system for landslides from wildfires in Southern California as a pilot study in 2005.
Effect of vertex corrections on longitudinal transport through multilayered nanostructures: Dynamical mean-field theory approach applied to the inhomogeneous Falicov-Kimball model

Inhomogeneous dynamical mean-field theory is employed to calculate the vertex-corrected electronic charge transport for multilayered devices composed of semi-infinite metallic lead layers coupled through a strongly correlated material barrier region. The barrier region can be tuned from a metal to a Mott insulator through adjusting the interaction strength and the particle filling. We use the Falicov-Kimball model to describe the barrier region because an exact expression for the vertex corrections is known, allowing us to determine their effect on transport. The dc conductivity is calculated and we find the effects of the vertex corrections are relatively small, manifesting themselves in a small reduction in the resistance-area product. This reduction saturates in absolute magnitude as the barrier layer becomes thick, as expected due to the vanishing nature of the vertex corrections in bulk. The vertex corrections have a larger relative effect on the resistance-area product for more metallic and thinner devices.
Oxidant-Induced Apoptosis in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells: Dependence on Extracellular Redox State

PURPOSE. To test whether variation in extracellular cysteine (Cys) redox potential (Eh) over the physiologic range occurring in human plasma affects oxidant-induced apoptosis in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells. METHODS. The hRPE cells were incubated in culture medium with Eh established over the range of 16 mV (most oxidized) to 158 mV (most reduced) by adding different concentrations of Cys and cystine (CySS) with constant total Cys equivalents. Apoptosis was induced with tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBH). RESULTS. The hRPE cells were sensitized to tBH-induced apoptosis in the more oxidized extracellular conditions (Eh 55 mV) compared with the reduced conditions (Eh 89 mV). Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (m), release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase 3 after tBH treatments all increased under the more oxidized conditions. However, the extracellular redox state did not affect expression of Fas or FasL in hRPE cells. CONCLUSIONS. The hRPE cells that are exposed to a more oxidized extracellular redox environment have increased susceptibility to oxidant-induced apoptosis through the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway, which could contribute to an age-related decline in cell populations in the retina and thereby provide a potential mechanism for the degenerative changes that are associated with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005;46:1054 –1061) DOI:10.1167/ iovs.04-0949