cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamics of chemical equilibrium—IV. Dynamic response of near-equilibrium systems

Abstract The near-equilibrium dynamic behavior of a homogeneous batch chemical reactor in which only one reaction occurs has been studied. A variety of perturbing functions and constraints are considered. The thermodynamic and kinetic expressions describing the system have been linearized and then solved by Laplace transform techniques. For periodic disturbances, the phase lag can be explicitly identified in terms of a rate constant, a heat capacity, and the enthalpy of reaction. One numerical application indicates that the linearized equations can be useful even for protracted time intervals providing the forcing function is sufficiently small.
Is weight loss a modifier of the cholesterol-heart disease relationship in older persons? Data from the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study.

Abstract The relationship between cholesterol and 14-year incidence of coronary heart disease was compared for men and women of two age groups, 25 to 64 years and 65 to 74 years. While cholesterol levels of 6.2 mmol/L or higher were associated with a risk of coronary heart disease in the younger group, this was not true for either men or women aged 65 to 74. Further analyses for older persons showed that weight loss modified the cholesterol-heart disease relationship. Those with stable weight showed a positive relationship between cholesterol and coronary heart disease, similar to the younger age group (relative risk [RR] = 1.8 [95% confidence interval: 1.1, 2.9] for men; RR = 1. 6 [.7, 3.4] for women). Among those with a weight loss of 10% or more, the relationship of cholesterol to heart disease was inverse (RR = .8 [.5, 1.2] for men; RR = .6 [.3, 1.0] for women). These data suggest that the relationship of cholesterol to coronary disease in healthier older persons may be similar to that in younger persons, and that health status should be considered in analyses of cholesterol risk in old age.
Si pillar structured thermal neutron detectors: fabrication challenges and performance expectations

Solid-state thermal neutron detectors are desired to replace 3He tube tube-based technology for the detection of special nuclear materials. 3He tubes have some issues with stability, sensitivity to microphonics and very recently, a shortage of 3He. There are numerous solid-state approaches being investigated that utilize various architectures and material combinations. Our approach is based on the combination of high-aspect-ratio silicon PIN pillars, which are 2 μm wide with a 2 μm separation, arranged in a square matrix, and surrounded by 10B, the neutron converter material. To date, our highest efficiency is ~ 20 % for a pillar height of 26 μm. An efficiency of greater than 50 % is predicted for our device, while maintaining high gamma rejection and low power operation once adequate device scaling is carried out. Estimated required pillar height to meet this goal is ~ 50 μm. The fabrication challenges related to 10B deposition and etching as well as planarization of the three-dimensional structure is discussed.
In-situ monitoring of temperature and alloy composition of Hg 1−x Cd x Te using FTIR spectroscopic techniques

Optical real-time in-situ sensors play a very important role in the processing of semiconductor devices because of their noncontact remote nature and excellent compatibility with UHV systems. In this work, we report on progress in developing an in-situ temperature sensor for HgCdTe structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Based on the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, this sensor is capable of continuous real-time monitoring of the surface temperature, thickness and alloy composition of HgCdTe epilayers. The accuracy and sensitivity of this FTIR technique were studied in all temperature ranges of interest. Also compared are two different methods of temperature determination obtained from the normalized spectral radiance. The influence of stray radiation and of sample holder rotation on the measurement accuracy have been studied. Reflectivity spectra for HgCdTe/CdZnTe(211) and HgCdTe/CdTe(211)/Si(211) structures have been analyzed in real time in order to determine the layer thickness and alloy composition for growing layers. Also discussed is a multilayer-structure optical model developed to solve the problem of composition determination at early stages of growth. The application of this model for fitting the transmission spectra is demonstrated.
Urinary mutagen levels in smokers

Urinary mutagen levels were measured over an 8-week period in a group of 13 smokers. Individual urinary mutagen levels were observed to be relatively constant and while there was a general correlation between mutagen excretion levels and cigarette consumption, individuals' excretion levels could not be predicted on the basis of either the numbers of cigarettes smoked or the tar content of the cigarettes.
Hydrogen ion velocity distributions in the ionosphere

Abstract The detailed velocity dependence of the hydrogen ion distribution function has been obtained through numerical solutions to the steady state Boltzmann equation for conditions of ionospheric interest. The processes of electron-H + , H + -O + , and charge exchange collisions between atomic oxygen and hydrogen ions and atoms have been included in the collision model. The results indicate that the H + velocity distribution is somewhat distorted from the Maxwellian and leads to a H + kinetic temperature up to 350°K hotter than that of the ambient O + gas. The general trend of the H + distribution function shows there are fewer particles in the low velocity regions and an enhancement in the tail of the distribution as compared with a Maxwellian distribution having the same kinetic temperature. The application of these results to ionospheric measurements is discussed.
Identification and development of fucosylated glycoproteins as biomarkers of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Changes in N-linked glycosylation are known to occur during the development of cancer. For example, we have previously reported changes in N-linked glycosylation that occur with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and, through the use of glycoproteomics, identified many of those proteins containing altered glycan structures. To advance these studies and further explore the glycoproteome, we performed N-linked glycan analysis from serum samples depleted of the major acute phase proteins, followed by targeted lectin extraction of those proteins containing changes in glycosylation. Using this method, changes in glycosylation, specifically increased amounts of core and outer arm fucosylation, were observed in the depleted samples. The identities of those proteins containing core and outer arm fucose were identified in the serum of patients with HCC. The usefulness of some of these proteins in the diagnosis of HCC was determined through the analysis of over 300 patient samples using a high-throug...
Biological control of Aphis pomi (Hom.: Aphididae) of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Dip.: Cecidomyiidae): a predator-prey model

Predation ofAphis pomi DeGeer [Hom.: Aphididae] byAphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) [Dipt.: Cecidomyiidae] was simulated in Michigan apple orchards using a computer and output validated against field data collected from sleeve cages enclosing aphid infested apple terminals. Lower and upper temperature thresholds for development were 2.9 and 35°C for nymphs ofA. pomi with a mean immature developmental period of 162.3 heat units. Median survivorship of adultA. pomi was 364.3 heat units with an average fecundity of 60.7 offspring per female.A. aphidimyza egg and larval lower threshold and developmental periods were 10.5 and 25.5, 8.1°C and 65.5 heat units, respectively. Larval functional response showed Type II behavior with a y-asymptote of 45 aphids killed per predator. Multiple generation model runs performed under different initial predator: prey densities indicated that current critical predator: prey ratios used in the field for control decisions may underestimate predator efficacy.
Complex dynamics in recursive economizing models

By the term "complex dynamics" I shall mean (1) system trajectories that evolve through different qualitative modes of behavior such as growth, oscillation, or decay, (2) irregular, unstable (nonperiodic or chaotic) fluctuations and (3) endogenous phase switching, in which the equations governing change in system states switch from time to time according to rules or functions inherent in the system. In this paper we show how complex dynamics arise in a broad class of discrete time economic processes that can be represented by recursive programs.
Multilayer coating and tests of a 10X extreme ultraviolet lithographic camera

A new set of mirrors for the SANDIA I OX microstepper has been fabricated. The optics have been tested by optical profilometry, atomic force microscopy, EUV reflectometry and EUV scattering. These measurements allow one to predict the performance of the camera. Mo/Si multilayer coatings with the required thickness profile were produced by DC magnetron sputtering using shadow masks in front of the rotating substrates. The failure errors of the new mirrors (0.6 nm) are considerably smaller than those obtained previously, while mid-spatial frequency roughness still needs improvement. This roughness reduces mostly the throughput of the system; i. e. most of the scattered light occurs outside the field of the camera and there is only a small reduction of contrast or resolution.
DNA-mediated transformation of mammalian cells in culture. Increased transforming efficiency following sonication.

A series of 100 experiments was completed to determine if DNA is capable of transforming the genotype of a murine lymphoma (P388) in cell culture. The test system was concerned with the transformation of cells from 8-azaguanine (AZG) sensitivity to resistance. By the use of this marker, it was determined that transformation by DNA did occur, and that the efficiency of transformation was greatly increased by sonication of the DNA. A statistical analysis of 100 experiments demonstrated that the increase in the number of resistant cells after treatment with sonicated resistant DNA (R-DNA) was statistically significant (χ2 > 4.25, 0.05 > p > 0.02) in 66% of the experiments. DNA from sensitive parental cells and DNA from other sources produced no effect while DNase and UV treatment abrogated effective transformation by either sonicated or nonsonicated R-DNA. RNase was without effect. Sucrose gradient analysis of sonicated and nonsonicated R-DNA demonstrated that the peaks which correspond to the highest specific transforming activity are not altered by sonication and do not coincide with the OD260 peaks, in spite of the fact that sonication shifted the peak of maximum OD260 to a slower sedimenting region of the gradient. The major portion, however, of the transforming material did shift after sonication to the slower sedimenting region of the gradient and did coincide with the OD260 peak. The hereditary stability of the transformed cells was established by cloning a representative number of transformants, growing them in the absence of AZG for an extended period and then testing their ability to grow in graded concentrations of AZG. In addition, DNA extracted from transformants successfully transformed sensitive cells.
Perception of voice characteristics of adult schizophrenics.

Changes in the patterns of vocal-fold vibration produce changes in the speech signal and recognizable changes in voice characteristics. Voice characteristics have been significantly related to specific personality types. Emotional disorders, such as schizophrenia, eshibic certain personality traits as one of their principal features ( 2 ) . Abnormalities in the language patterns of schizophrenics have been extensively investigated, while deviations of voice have received less attention. Although voice disturbances are not as apparent, they are significant (1 ) . Todt and Howell (4) reported schizophrenics as having distinguishable voice chacacteristics, but others have not (3, 5). The disparate findings and the semantic ambiguities associated with some of the terms used to describe voice characteristics led to the present study. Five institutionalized female patients, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic (M.,. = 32.8 yr.) and five normal female university graduate smdents (M.,. = 28.0 yr.) were compared using the voice characteristics of quality, pitch, volume, intonation, and rate. Following one practice session, tape recordings were made of each subject as she read a 160-word passage. Recordings were then independently and randomly presented to six graduate students in speech pathology. They judged each of the recordings, for the five voice characteristics, using a seven-point semantic differential scale.
Proximate personhood as a standard for making difficult treatment decisions: imperiled newborns as a case study.

... The standard of personhood is gaining increased attention and prominence. The essential claim is that only individuals with capacities for significant cerebral functioning possess a morally unique claim to existence. Persons are defined as individuals who are self-aware and capable of self-direction (Engelhardt), able to enter meaningful relationships (McCormick), capable of minimal independent existence (Shelp), and in possession of a minimal 20-40 I.Q. (Joseph Fletcher). These are "high standard" personhood positions (those holding higher-brain related criteria). It is a commonplace with most such positions that newborns -- all newborns -- are not, strictly speaking, persons. That is, newborns are not self-aware, intentionally choosing individuals.... The thesis of this essay is that a developing individual's right to life increases as he or she approaches the threshold of personal life. That is, the more a newborn approximates -- or is proximate to -- undisputed personhood (e.g. the status of readers of this essay), the greater his or her claim to life. The two pivotal criteria for determining personhood are the potentiality for and development toward becoming an undisputed personal being. I am presupposing, for purposes of argument, that the handicapped infant would not be an excessive familial burden or an inordinate financial load for society, one an ancient and the other a modern criterion. That condition granted, this essay contends that if an imperiled newborn is reasonably projected to reach at least minimal personal capacity, treatment should be given.
Efficient fault—tolerant routings in networks

Abstract We analyze the problem of constructing a network with a given number of nodes which has a fixed routing and which is highly fault tolerant. A construction is presented which forms a “product route graph” from two or more constituent “route graphs.” The analysis involves the surviving route graph , which consists of all nonfaulty nodes in the network with two nodes being connected by a directed edge iff the route from the first to the second is still intact after a set of component failures. The diameter of the surviving route graph is a measure of the worst-case performance degradation caused by the faults. The number of faults tolerated, the diameter, and the degree of the product graph are related in a simple way to the corresponding parameters of the constituent graphs. In addition, there is a “padding theorem” which allows one to add nodes to a graph and to extend a previous routing.
Averaging analysis of a sinusoidal disturbance rejection algorithm for unknown plants

The paper discusses the dynamic behavior of an adaptive algorithm for the rejection of a sinusoidal disturbance acting on an unknown system. Averaging theory is used to approximate the nonlinear time-varying closed-loop system by a nonlinear time-invariant system. Then, it is shown that the four-dimensional averaged system has a two-dimensional equilibrium surface, which can be divided into stable and unstable subsets. Trajectories generally converge to a stable point of the equilibrium surface, implying that the disturbance is asymptotically cancelled even if the true parameters of the system may not be exactly determined. Simulations demonstrate the results of the analysis.
Increased neurite development and plasminogen activator expression by exposure of human neuroblastoma cells to a plasminogen-deficient growth medium

Growth of human neuroblastoma strain SK-N-SH in a plasminogen-deficient medium results in about a 40% increase in the number of differentiated cells (cells with a neurite-like process at least 50 micrometers in length) and about a five-fold increase in the amount of plasminogen activator liberated per cell. Plasminogen deficiency has no effect on the growth rate of SK-N-SH cells. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that plasminogen activator is involved in neuroblast development.
The Use of Tamoxifen to Improve Height Potential in Short Pubertal Boys

A retrospective chart review of 7 pubertal boys who were treated with tamoxifen was conducted to determine the effects of this therapy on skeletal maturation and predicted adult height. Tamoxifen significantly decreased the rate of skeletal maturation and increased the predicted adult height without negative effects on sexual maturation. Additional evaluation of this therapy is now required to determine if the increase in predicted adult height results in a clinically significant increase in final adult height.
Magnetostatic modes of gyrotropic cylinder and bar

Abstract We present a theory of magnetostatic modes which are wavelike in the direction parallel to the axis of an infinitely long, ferromagnetic bar of square cross-section and are localized at the faces and edges of the bar. We write H = −▽ ϑ , where φ is a magnetic scalar potential, and obtain as the equations determining ϑ , Σ μ αβ ∂ 2 σ ∂X α ∂X β =0 for the interior of the bar, and ▽ 2 ϑ = 0 for the exterior, where μ αβ ( ω ) is the magnetic permeability tensor of the bar. We transform to cylindrical coordinates and solve the resulting second order partial differential equations by assuming a solution for ϑ of the form ϑ ( r , θ , z ) = e iqx f ( r , θ ). The use of cylindrical coordinates allows us to project out of our expressions for ϑ the parts which belong to each of the irreducible representations of C 4 , the group of proper rotations which leave the bar invariant. This has the consequence that the boundary conditions need to be applied along only one side of the bar, and are then automatically satisfied along the remaining three sides as well. The boundary conditions that ϑ and the normal component of B be continuous across the bar surfaces are satisfied at a discrete set of points along one side of the bar, and two coupled eigenvalue equations are obtained which are solved simultaneously for the frequencies of the corresponding magnetostatic modes. The convergence of this method is found to be quite good. We also present the dispersion curves for the magnetostatic modes of a gyrotropic right circular cylinder which are localized at the surface of the cylinder.
Interpretation of the electrocardiogram: clinical correlation suggested

Vijayaraghavan et al. have investigated the interpretation of the initial 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, focusing on the patient with potential ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).1 The authors emphasize the importance of accurate ECG interpretation by the acute care physician (i.e. emergency physician, internist, and cardiologist).1 The authors compared the initial interpretation of the initial admission ECG by the treating physician with the interpretation of the same tracing by a physician at the core electrocardiographic laboratory. The ECG interpreters at the site were acute care physicians (emergency physician, internist, and cardiologist); at the core lab, the ECG was interpreted by non-cardiologist physicians using specific definitions of abnormality—in this case, ST segment elevation was defined as >0.1 mV in two contiguous leads. The subgroup of patients used in the study were taken from the Canadian ACS Registry and comprised 1310 patients, of which 1202 had complete data and were used for analysis. The definition of STEMI included ST segment elevation and a positive biomarker. What is unclear is whether a positive biomarker was a single spot test or the more appropriate ‘typical rise and fall’ pattern. Overall concordance between core-lab and site interpretation of the admission ECG was 62%. The calculated kappa value was 0.49, indicating modest agreement. When compared with the agreement group of the study, patients in the discordant subgroup were older with higher rates of diabetes mellitus, angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, coronary artery bypass grafting, and percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients with core-lab-defined ST segment elevation that was not noted by the treating site, who also had a positive biomarker, were significantly less likely to receive aspirin, heparin, and reperfusion therapy when compared with patients with core lab-site ECG interpretation agreement. After adjusting for other validated prognostic factors, site-unrecognized ST … *Corresponding author: Tel: +1 4344651816, Fax: +1 4349242877. Email: wb4z{at}hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu
FS10.5 Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from isothiazolines

Several employees of a construction adhesives-producing plant developed skin problems. Within few weeks, 4 out of 12 workers got itchy eczematous lesions at the face, lower arms and hands. All of them reported on a work-relationship with recoveries during holidays and sick-leaves. This prompted the responsible occupational physician to contact our occupational dermatological clinic for further examination. First, we got an overview of the chemicals and pathways used for the production of the highly specialized plastic products. After working place examination, extended medical histories of the employees were taken. All affected workers were patch tested with the European Standard series, epoxy resins, preservatives and own working materials. After an occlusion time of 48 hours, skin tests were read at day 2 and 4 according to the ICDRG guidelines. Examination of the plant revealed that all affected workers were employed at the blending unit where, in particular dusty, ingredients were mixed. Few months prior to the development of skin problems, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (OIT) preservative had been introduced in the production pathway in partial exchange for chloro/methylisothiazolin-3-one (CIT/MIT). Personal protection measures were rarely provided. All 4 tested workers were found patch test positive to CIT/MIT, 3/3 positive to OIT and 1/3 positive to 1,2-benzisothiazoloin-3-one (BIT) and methyldibromoglutaronitril. Industrial usage of preservatives can result in frequent sensitisation of exposed employees. Adequate protection and prevention advices are required. This study highlights the need for extended (occupational) medical histories and working place examination to identify individual risk factors and to trace potential hazards at the working place.
Speaking of Tradition and Modernity: A Review Essay on Habits of the Heart and Other Recent Works on American Culture

For some centuries now, we have been calling the counterpoint to traditional systems of meaning modernity. Today, as some indeterminate number and kinds of traditions (are said to) have lost or muted their voices to modernity's, we are situated, or lost (it is also said), in postmodernism. Anthropology's mission has to be counted as the most potently modernist of all the human sciences: it translates from many other tongues the ideas and forms that by their very existence assert a challenge to every other community's implicit belief in the authority of its own tradition. To suggest contingency and arbitrariness has been the whole comparative point. No less modernist is the anthropology of the contemporary United States, when it gives voice to what otherwise goes without saying by those from whom little has ever been heard, and when it reads between the lines of those who speak often. Sightreading the contemporary counterpoint between United States' traditions and current thought is a preoccupation of scholars in an "American studies' genre that includes social scientists, historians, and literary scholars. Their interpretations, listened to by scholars and a middle-class public alike, suggest patterns in relationships between history and values, between events and their meanings. In framing matters otherwise remote, opaque, and inchoate, many of these interpretations come to have long tenure as themselves ideologies. Such broad vision and critical works in the American studies genre are doubly interesting therefore: they tell students of cultures what some influential Americans see as being "culture," "structure," and "history," and they manufacture social thought before our very eyes. My concern is with one detail of this interpretive process: the systems of meaning governing American cultural critics' apprehensions of the relationship between tradition and modernity. How do their understandings of the nature of that relationship influence the interpretations they produce? What kind of "opposition" do they posit? In ethnographically reading such works as a distinctive kind of Western cultural discourse built around a tradition/modernity distinction, I want to ask what the semantic and semiotic dimensions of a discourse might reveal beyond or about announced topics and methods.
High-Copy Suppressor Analysis Reveals a Physical Interaction between Sec34p and Sec35p, a Protein Implicated in Vesicle Docking

A temperature-sensitive mutant, sec34-2, is defective in the late stages of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi transport. A high-copy suppressor screen that uses thesec34-2 mutant has resulted in ...
Complement Deficiency and Neutrophil Dysfunction as Risk Factors for Bacterial Infection in Newborns and the Role of Granulocyte Transfusion in Therapy

The similarity in the susceptibility to bacterial infections of newborns and older patients with complement deficiencies, neutropenia, or neutrophil function defects has suggested that neutrophils and/or complement might also be defective in newborns. Although no individual element of the phagocytic host defense system is severely deficient, several partial deficiencies have been identified. These involve important amplification pathways of complement and neutrophil activation and may combine to cause significant decreases in phagocyte activity at sites of infection. Because of decreased specific antibody, initial activation of the classical complement pathway is decreased. Low levels of C3 and factor B decrease amplification by the alternative pathway and result in marked decreases in opsonization and generation of chemotactic activity from C5. There are also quantitative and qualitative neutrophil defects. The recent observations that newborns' neutrophils are relatively deficient in membrane expression of their major adherence protein/C3bi receptor help explain the decreased mobility and phagocytic activity of these cells. Thus, several partial deficiencies combine to cause severe impairments in delivery of neutrophils to sites of infection and contribute to the increased susceptibility of the newborn to infection.
"A Step Away from Complacent Knowing": Reinvigorating Democracy through the Humanities.

“A step away from complacent knowing” argues that the humanities have long been understood as enhancing civic life and human intellectual and moral development. At moments when democratic societies...
A novel video layout strategy for near-video-on-demand servers

Near-video-on-demand (NVOD) provides different a service from true video-on-demand (VOD). Since the NVOD service needs to be much cheaper than the VOD service, it is important to minimize the server's cost. In this paper, we present a novel video layout strategy for NVOD servers that enforce sequential disk access. Thus, the disk bandwidth is optimally utilized. We define a model that analyzes the storage subsystem behavior, buffer requirements and usage. Strategies that match the actual disk bandwidth to the application bandwidth requirements are developed. Using this layout strategy, each disk can deliver 50% more streams than a VOD system can, and memory buffers are reduced by almost half. Since disks and memory account for a significant portion of the total system cost in a video server, using these strategies significantly reduces server costs. An NVOD server prototype was built that supports both "broadcast" and "on-demand" service models. Using this prototype, we have demonstrated that our proposed layout strategies are practical.
OsWRKY IIa Transcription Factors Modulate Rice Innate Immunity

WRKY transcription factors regulate diverse plant processes including responses to biotic stresses. Our previous studies indicate that OsWRKY62, an OsWRKY IIa subfamily member, functions as a negative regulator of the rice defense against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Here, we report that a large inverted repeat construct designed to knock down the expression of the four OsWRKY IIa subfamily members (OsWRKY62, OsWRKY28, OsWRKY71, and OsWRKY76) leads to overexpression of all four genes and disease resistance in some transgenic plants. These phenotypes are stably inherited as reflected by progeny analysis. A pathogenesis-related gene, PR10, is up-regulated in plants overexpressing the OsWRKY IIa genes. These results suggest that OsWRKY IIa proteins interact functionally to modulate plant innate immunity.
Adaptive rate delta modulation for non-synchronous, full duplex, wireless digital communications

This paper introduces the concept of a low-cost wireless digital communication system for voice communication based on a technique called adaptive rate delta modulation. This technique uses a tri-level threshold to produce delta-modulated pulses only when the amplitude has changed by a predetermined amount. This technique significantly reduces the average pulse rate required for transmission and lowers the noise generated by delta modulation under zero input conditions. The receiver for such a modulation is reduced to simple pulse detection and a counter to recreate the original signal. The characteristics of delta modulation result in a system that does not require headers, packets or other synchronizing schemes. Multiple users can concurrently use the same channel for "open microphone" communication allowing for simultaneous transmit and receive, and simple voice combining.
A comparison of visual and textual page previews in judging the helpfulness of web pages

We investigated the efficacy of visual and textual web page previews in predicting the helpfulness of web pages related to a specific topic. We ran two studies in the usability lab and collected data through an online survey. Participants (total of 245) were asked to rate the expected helpfulness of a web page based on a preview (four different thumbnail variations: a textual web page summary, a thumbnail/title/URL combination, a title/URL combination). In the lab studies, the same participants also rated the helpfulness of the actual web pages themselves. In the online study, the web page ratings were collected from a separate group of participants. Our results show that thumbnails add information about the relevance of web pages that is not available in the textual summaries of web pages (title, snippet & URL). However, showing only thumbnails, with no textual information, results in poorer performance than showing only textual summaries. The prediction inaccuracy caused by textual vs. visual previews was different: textual previews tended to make users overestimate the helpfulness of web pages, whereas thumbnails made users underestimate the helpfulness of web pages in most cases. In our study, the best performance was obtained by combining sufficiently large thumbnails (at least 200x200 pixels) with page titles and URLs - and it was better to make users focus primarily on the thumbnail by placing the title and URL below the thumbnail. Our studies highlighted four key aspects that affect the performance of previews: the visual/textual mode of the previews, the zoom level and size of the thumbnail, as well as the positioning of key information elements.
Does television viewing predict dietary intake five years later in high school students and young adults

Prior research has found that television viewing is associated with poor diet quality, though little is known about its long-term impact on diet, particularly during adolescence. This study examined the associations between television viewing behavior with dietary intake five years later. Survey data, which included television viewing time and food frequency questionnaires, were analyzed for 564 middle school students (younger cohort) and 1366 high school students (older cohort) who had complete data available at Time 1 (1998–1999) and five years later at Time 2 (mean age at Time 2, 17.2 ± 0.6 and 20.5 ± 0.8 years, respectively). Regression models examined longitudinal associations between Time 1 television viewing behavior and Time 2 dietary intake adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, Time 1 dietary intake, and Time 2 total daily energy intake. Respondents were categorized as limited television users (<2 hours/daily), moderately high television viewers (2–5 hours/daily), and heavy television viewers (≥5 hours/daily). Among the younger cohort, Time 1 heavy television viewers reported lower fruit intake and higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption than the other two groups. Among the older cohort, watching five or more hours of television per day at Time 1, predicted lower intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grain and calcium-rich foods, and higher intakes of trans fat, fried foods, fast food menu items, snack products, and sugar-sweetened beverages (products commonly advertised on television) five years later. Television viewing in middle and high school predicted poorer dietary intake five years later. Adolescents are primary targets of advertising for fast food restaurants, snack foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages, which may influence their food choices. Television viewing, especially during high school, may have long-term effects on eating choices and contribute to poor eating habits in young adulthood.
Econometric estimations of performance improvements in Kansas feedlot cattle

ABSTRACT Technological changes in the cattle industry may have changed feedlot cattle performance. This study extends the analysis of a 2001 report and examines feedlot performance of steers and heifers using monthly Focus on Feedlots newsletter data from January, 1990, to June, 2012. Cattle performance changes were measured through ADG, G:F, BW gain, and total feeding cost models. Tests for structural breaks revealed multiple breaks for ADG, G:F, and BW gain models and a single break in September, 2008, for the feeding costs model. This break occurred 3 yr after the Renewable Fuels Standard implementation, supporting the hypothesis that corn ethanol production significantly affected feedlot costs. Analysis of ADG, G:F, and BW gain models revealed significant, positive annual growth rate in each model. The positive annual growth rate in cattle performance models suggests increasing feeding efficiencies and higher BW gain. This increasing difference between output and input growth (i.e., finish BW − placement BW) suggests that the cattle-feeding industry, in aggregate, has experienced technological change. This conclusion aligns well with literature touting the benefits of cattle feeding technologies (e.g., β-agonists) and with the expansion of beef production amidst a declining national cowherd.
Pre-fetching based on video analysis for interactive region-of-interest streaming of soccer sequences

We consider a video streaming system in which the user can interactively watch an arbitrary region of a high-spatial-resolution scene. Region-of-interest (RoI) prediction helps pre-fetch select slices of encoded video. The more accurate the RoI prediction the lower is the percentage of missing pixels. We compare different techniques for RoI prediction for streaming soccer sequences. Two techniques proposed in our earlier work are not domain-specific and can be applied to any type of content. Here we propose two techniques geared for soccer sequences that perform semantic video analysis. The goal of the paper is to find out whether domain-specific techniques can predict the client's RoI more accurately. Experiments indicate that for short prediction look-ahead there is little gain whereas for a long prediction look-ahead of 2 seconds the percentage of missing pixels can be reduced from 24% for the best general technique to 18% for the best domain-specific technique. This translates to a PSNR gain of around 1 dB for long prediction look-ahead. The percentage of missing pixels can be reduced further by spending additional bitrate for pre-fetching a margin around the predicted RoI.
An automatic physical design tool for clustered column-stores

Good database design is typically a very difficult and costly process. As database systems get more complex and as the amount of data under management grows, the stakes increase accordingly. Past research produced a number of design tools capable of automatically selecting secondary indexes and materialized views for a known workload. However, a significant bulk of research on automated database design has been done in the context of row-store DBMSes. While this work has produced effective design tools, new specialized database architectures demand a rethinking of automated design algorithms.In this paper, we present results for an automatic design tool that is aimed at column-oriented DBMSes on OLAP workloads. In particular, we have chosen a commercial column store DBMS that supports data sorting. In this setting, the key problem is selecting proper sort orders and compression schemes for the columns as well as appropriate pre-join views. This paper describes our automatic design algorithms as well as the results of some experiments using it on realistic data sets.
A distributed dynamic regional location management scheme for Mobile IP

Mobile IP is a simple and scalable global mobility solution. However, it may cause excessive signaling traffic and long signaling delay. Mobile IP regional registration is proposed to reduce the number of location updates to the home network, and reduce the signaling delay. This paper introduces a novel distributed and dynamic regional location management for Mobile IP where the signaling burden is evenly distributed and the regional network boundary is dynamically adjusted according to the up-to-date mobility and traffic load for each terminal. In our distributed system, each user has its own optimized system configuration, which results in minimal signaling traffic. In order to find the signaling cost function, a new discrete analytical model is developed which captures the mobility and packet arrival pattern of a mobile terminal. This model does not impose any restrictions on the shape and the geographic location of subnets in the Internet. Given the average total location update and packet delivery cost, an iterative algorithm is then used to determine the optimal regional network size. Analytical results show that our distributed dynamic scheme outperforms the IETF Mobile IP regional registration scheme for various scenarios in terms of reducing the overall signaling cost. Using our approach, the system robustness is also enhanced.
QoS support of collaborative virtual environments applications in multiservice wireless networks through pricing

In this paper we discuss the deployment of distributed interactive virtual environment (DIVE) applications over the wireless Internet. Our goal is to understand the behavior of a DIVE application, its interaction with competing traffic streams (video, data, voice, etc.), as well as its network resource requirements for a satisfactory performance in terms of quality of service (QoS). We manage QoS performance by introducing pricing principles for wireless channel resource allocation based on price "auctioning" or "bidding". The network controller advertises the available QoS levels and the mobile users are competing for them by placing bid requests. Based on variability of the wireless channel, the amount of available bandwidth shared between mobile users and the bid requests, the network controller exercises QoS management. The QoS levels assigned to every customer are dynamically changed depending on the network controller optimization criterion (in this paper the network controller revenue). A queuing theory model for QoS level determination based on bidding is presented, showing the ability of the pricing policy to provide the desired QoS for sensitive applications such as DIVE in a competitive environment.
Speech Enhancement With Inventory Style Speech Resynthesis

We present a new method for the enhancement of speech. The method is designed for scenarios in which targeted speaker enrollment as well as system training within the typical noise environment are feasible. The proposed procedure is fundamentally different from most conventional and state-of-the-art denoising approaches. Instead of filtering a distorted signal we are resynthesizing a new “clean” signal based on its likely characteristics. These characteristics are estimated from the distorted signal. A successful implementation of the proposed method is presented. Experiments were performed in a scenario with roughly one hour of clean speech training data. Our results show that the proposed method compares very favorably to other state-of-the-art systems in both objective and subjective speech quality assessments. Potential applications for the proposed method include jet cockpit communication systems and offline methods for the restoration of audio recordings.
Harmonic Analysis of a DFIG for a Wind Energy Conversion System

This paper develops a framework for analysis of harmonics in a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) caused by nonsinusoidal conditions in rotor and unbalance in stator. Nonsinusoidal rotor voltages are decomposed into harmonic components and their corresponding sequences are identified. Induced harmonics in stator are analyzed and computed, from which the torques produced by these interactions between stator and rotor harmonic components can be found. During unbalanced stator conditions, symmetric component theory is applied to the stator voltage to get positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence components of stator and rotor currents. The steady-state negative-sequence equivalent circuit for a DFIG is derived based on the reference frame theory. Harmonic currents in the rotor are computed based on the sequence circuits. In both scenarios, the harmonic components of the electromagnetic torque are calculated from the interactions of the harmonic components of the stator and rotor currents. Three case studies are considered, namely: 1) nonsinusoidal rotor injection; 2) an isolated unbalanced stator load scenario; and 3) unbalanced grid-connected operation. The analysis is verified with results from numerical simulations in Matlab/Simulink. For illustration, the second case is verified using experiments. The simulation results and experimental results agree well with the results from analysis.
Creep buckling of Plates and Shells

This paper is not meant to be the definitive publication on the creep buckling of plates and shells; it is rather a progress report on work completed in the relatively near past, mostly by the present author and his collaborators. Results obtained by other researchmen will also be discussed, particularly if there has been some interaction between these men and the present author. Omission of reference to the work of any other investigator should not be interpreted to mean that it is considered to be of an inferior quality; lack of such mention may simply indicate that the present author is unfamiliar with the work, or that he had to leave it out for lack of space.
Democratization Over Time

Since Huntington (1991), scholars have sought to explain the waves that characterize the global spread of democracy. I examine how closely various accounts fit available data. Although no conclusive causal story is possible, I suggest an interpretation more consistent with the evidence than others considered. A key factor is leader turnover, which conditions the impact of income on political reform. More developed countries liberalize more than less developed ones soon after a new leader takes office. Once in power for some time, dictators block reform whether their country is rich or poor. Economic crises and military defeat predict liberalization, but for the most part only if they prompt or coincide with leader change. Aggregated to the global level, these effects help produce the pattern of waves. Other factors such as civil war or the outbreak of interstate war do not: in fact, leaders tend to tighten political control when wars begin. Although newly formed states are not consistently more or less democratic than pre-existing ones, they are slower to liberalize early on; the influx of post-colonial states helps explain the reverse wave of the 1960s. Momentum and international diffusion amplify these effects.
Conformationally selective multidimensional chemical shift ranges in proteins from a PACSY database purged using intrinsic quality criteria

We have determined refined multidimensional chemical shift ranges for intra-residue correlations (13C–13C, 15N–13C, etc.) in proteins, which can be used to gain type-assignment and/or secondary-structure information from experimental NMR spectra. The chemical-shift ranges are the result of a statistical analysis of the PACSY database of >3000 proteins with 3D structures (1,200,207 13C chemical shifts and >3 million chemical shifts in total); these data were originally derived from the Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank. Using relatively simple non-parametric statistics to find peak maxima in the distributions of helix, sheet, coil and turn chemical shifts, and without the use of limited “hand-picked” data sets, we show that ~94 % of the 13C NMR data and almost all 15N data are quite accurately referenced and assigned, with smaller standard deviations (0.2 and 0.8 ppm, respectively) than recognized previously. On the other hand, approximately 6 % of the 13C chemical shift data in the PACSY database are shown to be clearly misreferenced, mostly by ca. −2.4 ppm. The removal of the misreferenced data and other outliers by this purging by intrinsic quality criteria (PIQC) allows for reliable identification of secondary maxima in the two-dimensional chemical-shift distributions already pre-separated by secondary structure. We demonstrate that some of these correspond to specific regions in the Ramachandran plot, including left-handed helix dihedral angles, reflect unusual hydrogen bonding, or are due to the influence of a following proline residue. With appropriate smoothing, significantly more tightly defined chemical shift ranges are obtained for each amino acid type in the different secondary structures. These chemical shift ranges, which may be defined at any statistical threshold, can be used for amino-acid type assignment and secondary-structure analysis of chemical shifts from intra-residue cross peaks by inspection or by using a provided command-line Python script (PLUQin), which should be useful in protein structure determination. The refined chemical shift distributions are utilized in a simple quality test (SQAT) that should be applied to new protein NMR data before deposition in a databank, and they could benefit many other chemical-shift based tools.