cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How far should I watch? Quantifying the effect of various observational capabilities on long-range situational awareness in multi-robot teams

In our previous work, we showed that individual robots within a multi-robot team can gain long-distance situational awareness from passive observations of a single nearby neighbor without any explicit robot-to-robot communication. However, that prior work was developed only in simulation, and performance was not measured for real robot teams in physical space with realistic hardware limitations. Toward this end, we studied the performance of these methods in real robot scenarios with methods using more sophisticated techniques in machine learning to mitigate practical implementation problems. In this study, we further extend that work by characterizing the effects of changing history length and sensor range. Rather than finding that increasing history length and sensor range always yield better estimation performance, we find that the optimal history length and sensor range varies depending on the distance between the estimating robot and the robot being estimated. For estimation problems where the estimation target is nearby, longer histories actually degrade performance, and so sensor ranges could be increased instead. Conversely, for farther targets, history length is as valuable or more valuable than sensor range. Thus, just as optimal shutter speed varies with light availability and speed of the subject, passive situational awareness in multi-robot teams is best achieved with different strategies depending on proximity to locations of interest. All studies use the teams of Thymio II physical, two-wheeled robots in laboratory environments 1.1Data and models used are available at https://github.com/PavlicLab/ACSOS2020_ReTLo_Extension.git
Synaptopodin is required for stress fiber and contractomere assembly at the epithelial junction

The apical junction of epithelial cells can generate force to control cell geometry and perform contractile processes while maintaining barrier function and cell-cell adhesion. Yet, the structural basis of force generation at the apical junction is not completely understood. Here, we describe 2 actomyosin structures at the apical junction containing synaptopodin, myosin IIB, and alpha-actinin-4. We showed that synaptopodin is required for the assembly of E-cadherin-associated apical stress fibers and a novel macromolecular structure, which we named contractomere. Knockdown of synaptopodin abolished both apical stress fiber and contractomere formation. Moreover, depletion of synaptopodin abolished basal stress fibers, converting myosin IIA sarcomere-like arrangement into a meshwork-type actomyosin organization. We propose a new model of junction dynamics that is dependent on contractomere movement to control epithelial cell boundary and geometry. Our findings reveal 2 novel actomyosin structures at the epithelial junction and underscore synaptopodin in the assembly of stress fibers and contractomeres.
Redistribution for Realists

Inequality is a defining issue of our time. Nevertheless, the longstanding economic orthodoxy for addressing inequality is that we should redistribute solely through tax and transfer policies because those are the most efficient means for doing so. While the orthodoxy holds in theory, it fails in practice because of the public’s psychology about redistribution. New evidence shows that individuals silo their policy views: many are reluctant to redistribute through taxes and transfers but are willing to do so in other policy domains, like provision of necessities such as transportation, food, and housing. The orthodoxy thus restricts redistribution efforts to a policy domain where the public resists redistribution while neglecting the many policy domains where the public embraces redistributive policies. The current orthodoxy may be more efficient, but it is also a prescription for widespread inequality. We need to flip the old economic orthodoxy on its head by spreading our redistribution efforts across many policy domains, but doing so modestly in each domain. This “thousand points of equity” approach has the virtue of redistributing where it can be achieved, by allowing policymakers to seek modest and attainable redistribution in many domains rather than pushing for massive redistribution in a single domain where it is difficult to attain. This approach would allow us to make substantial inroads on inequality while doing the most good at the least cost. The approach does so by retaining the traditional economic goal of efficiency, but combining it with data-driven behavioral insights about what redistribution is politically realistic. The Article illustrates how the approach would apply to areas across the law, including regulatory cost-benefit analysis, labor law, tax law, social insurance, tort law, and housing law.
The Consensus Rule: A New Approach to Scientific Evidence

Founded on good intentions but unrealistic expectations, the dominant Daubert framework for handling expert and scientific evidence should be scrapped. Daubert asks judges and jurors to make substantively expert determinations, a task they are epistemically incompetent to perform as laypersons. As an alternative, this Article proposes a new framework for handling expert evidence. It draws from the social and philosophical literature on expertise, and begins with a basic question: how can laypersons make intelligent decisions about expert topics? From there, it builds its evidentiary approach, which ultimately results in an inference rule focus on expert communities. Specifically, when dealing factual issues involving expertise, the legal system should not ask factfinders the actual substantive questions, but instead should reframe its questions to be deferential to the relevant expert community. To satisfy the requirement of proving causation in a toxic tort case, the question should not be: Does drug A causes disease X? The more appropriate question is: Does the scientific community believe that drug A causes disease X? This deferential approach solves the epistemic competency problem, repairs many of the unintended structural distortions created by Daubert, and ultimately reflects a better understanding of science. The Article also responds to possible legitimacy, policy, and implementation concerns raised by its deferential approach.
New evidence on market response to public announcements in the presence of microstructure noise

Abstract Market responses to public news announcements are commonly measured by their impact on price returns variance, which allows inference on the value of information and the length of the price discovery process. Recently published articles based on high-frequency data fail to disentangle efficient market price variance from microstructure noise, which produces biased estimates of announcements’ market impacts. By using a Markov Chain framework, we address the shortcomings of previous research and assess the market response to key public information releases affecting agricultural markets. We compare two mechanisms to release public information that have been used in these markets: the trading halt and the real-time. We show how the value of microstructure noise can be used to improve public policy decisions. We find that the real-time release of information brings faster efficient price discovery at the cost of large microstructure frictions. Increases in the cost of noise are not compensated by the improvements in the speed of efficient price discovery. Overall, our findings are highly relevant to public policy and have implications for market design.
German Passives and English Benefactives: The Need for Non-canonical Accusative Case

In both English benefactive constructions (John baked Mary a cake) and German kriegen/bekommen-passives (Er kriegte einen Stift geschenkt ‘He got a pen gifted’), the theme argument is accusative-marked but has no way of getting structural accusative case. In English benefactive constructions, this is because the beneficiary argument intervenes between the voice head and the theme, and in German kriegen/bekommen-passives, it is because there is no active voice head. This paper proposes that, in both languages, the applicative head introducing the beneficiary/recipient (more generally, the affectee argument), comes with an extra case feature that can license case on the theme argument. In English, this non-canonical accusative case feature comes with the regular applicative head introducing the beneficiary argument. In contrast, in German, it comes with a defective applicative head which introduces the recipient but is unable to assign to it the inherent dative case that normally comes with the Affectee theta-role. The paper offers a unified analysis of English and German double object constructions and also of German werden (‘be’) and kriegen/bekommen (‘get’)-passives.
Modeling and Learning Constraints for Creative Tool Use.

Improvisation is a hallmark of human creativity and serves a functional purpose in completing everyday tasks with novel resources. This is particularly exhibited in tool-using tasks: when the expected tool for a task is unavailable, humans often are able to replace the expected tool with an atypical one. As robots become more commonplace in human society, we will also expect them to become more skilled at using tools in order to accommodate unexpected variations of tool-using tasks. In order for robots to creatively adapt their use of tools to task variations in a manner similar to humans, they must identify tools that fulfill a set of task constraints that are essential to completing the task successfully yet are initially unknown to the robot. In this paper, we present a high-level process for tool improvisation (tool identification, evaluation, and adaptation), highlight the importance of tooltips in considering tool-task pairings, and describe a method of learning by correction in which the robot learns the constraints from feedback from a human teacher. We demonstrate the efficacy of the learning by correction method for both within-task and across-task transfer on a physical robot.
Plants as Sources of Energy

This chapter is concerned with biotechnological applications involving the use of plants as sources of energy. Plants contain stored carbon captured from light-catalyzed carbon dioxide fixation via photosynthesis. This stored carbon from plants is available in oil and coal deposits that can be used as energy sources known as petrofuels. Living plants or plant residues can be used to generate biofuels such as methane from methane generators, wood fuel from wood chips, and alcohol from plant-based starch or cellulose in fermentation reactions. Topics that illustrate these applications include plant-based biofuels for engines – biodiesel and bioethanol; energy from woodchips (woodchip combustion, gazogen, or wood gasification); and methane (CH4) or natural gas – methane gas production from landfills, methane gas produced in biodigesters using plant materials as substrate. We discuss the pros and cons of these applications with plant-derived fuels as well as the different types of value-added crops, including algae, that are currently being used to produce biofuels.
A remark on a theorem of J. Tits

Let G be a rank two Chevalley group and Γ be the corresponding Moufang polygon. J. Tits proved that G is the universal completion of the amalgam formed by three subgroups of G: the stabilizer P1 of a point a of Γ, the stabilizer P2 of a line ` incident with a, and the stabilizer N of an apartment A passing through a and `. We prove a slightly stronger result, in which the exact structure of N is not required. Our result can be used in conjunction with the “weak BN-pair” theorem of Delgado and Stellmacher in order to identify subgroups of finite groups generated by minimal parabolics.
Effects of Type I and II Interferons on Cultured Human Breast Cells: Interaction with Estrogen Receptors and with Tamoxifen

The combined effects of tamoxifen, a competitive inhibitor of estrogen, and type I or II interferons on the proliferation of several human breast cancer cell lines in vitro were examined. Additive antiproliferative effects were observed with interferons and tamoxifen, in two estrogen receptor positive cell lines, MCF-7 and T-47D. In MCF-7 cells neither beta ser interferon, gamma interferon, nor alpha 6 interferon were able to significantly alter estrogen receptor levels. Antigrowth activities of beta ser interferon and gamma interferon in an estrogen receptor negative cell line, HS578T, were equivalent to those in estrogen receptor-positive cell lines. Consistent with the antiproliferative effects of interferons, high affinity beta ser interferon receptors and interferon inducible 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthetase were present in both MCF-7 and HS578T cell lines. Thus steroid hormone receptor status did not influence the antiproliferative effects of interferons on breast carcinoma cells in vitro.
Culture-Based Interpretation of Vacation Consumption

Drawing on typologies of consumption values, this study identifies and interprets the cultural divergence reflected in vacation experience. Through analysis of reviews by tourists from China and the United States, three salient themes of vacation experience emerged: scenery, food, and social interaction. Although all three aspects were addressed by both Chinese and American tourists, a closer look revealed that they had been assessed from quite different perspectives. The divergence in values is found to be instigated by unique cultural dispositions, which in turn links to tourist behavioral characteristics. Findings from the current research would help destinations in providing services to Chinese tourists.
1064 nm long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Background and Objective Standard surgical and destructive treatments for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can result in significant morbidity and scarring, stimulating the investigation of alternative non-surgical options. The objective of this study was to determine the safety, clinical, and histological efficacy of pulsed, high-fluence 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser therapy for the treatment of BCC on the trunk and extremities. Study Design/Materials and Methods This was a prospective, non-randomized, open-label clinical trial. Ten subjects with a biopsy-proven BCC less than 1.5 cm in diameter on the trunk or extremities received one treatment with a 10 milliseconds pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. Standard excision was performed 1 month after laser treatment to confirm histologic clearance. Results The laser treatment was quick and well tolerated. There was complete histologic clearance after one treatment in 92% of the BCC tumors, overall. At higher fluences, there was 100% histologic clearance after one treatment. No significant adverse events were seen, including scarring. Conclusions The 1064 nm long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser may offer a safe alternative for treating BCC off the face. A larger study is highly warranted to confirm these preliminary results. Lasers Surg. Med. 47:106–110, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Degradation effect of cell loss on speech quality over ATM networks

As recommended, broadband ISDN is expected to carry all the telecommunications services provided in the future, including real time services such as telephony, videoconferencing, and videotelephony. An ATM based network will introduce some impairments not experienced in synchronous networks, such as cell delay variation (jitter) and cell loss. For these real-time services, if a cell is corrupted or lost, retransmission is not possible and so degradation of the signal may occur. In this paper, we study the impact of cell loss on speech quality over ATM networks. Moreover, we compare the results between two different cell loss's replacement techniques: stuffing silent samples and inserting the previous information in the lost cell. Study shows that the second replacement techniques produces better result when compared with the first one. The study also shows that up to 10% of speech cells can be lost over ATM networks while keeping the speech quality over MOS (Mean Opinion Score) of 3.2 for some speech coders. Understanding of the impact of cell loss on speech quality over ATM networks is important for the proper design of network algorithms such as routing, flow control, and management techniques.
The road to digital: building unique Afghanistan collections

Purpose – This paper seeks to discuss a grant‐funded digitization project for unique Afghanistan gray literature. It aims to address the digitization tasks, workflow, challenges, and solutions. Persistent identifiers, file‐naming conventions, page‐naming rules, and a digitization management system are discussed in detail since they were critical to the success of the project.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the unique requirements of the project, and analyzes difficult issues related to the separation of pre‐digitization and post‐digitization in two remote locations. The approach includes persistent identifiers, file‐naming rules, page‐naming conventions and a digitization management system. After one and a half years of operation, the approach has been effective and efficient.Findings – The paper analyzes the unique challenges for a long‐distance collaboration on digitization. Pre‐digitization and digital imaging were carried out in Kabul, Afghanistan, with all the physical materials loc...
Genome-wide analysis of transcription factor E2F1 mutant proteins reveals that N- and C-terminal protein interaction domains do not participate in targeting E2F1 to the human genome.

Previous studies of E2F family members have suggested that protein-protein interactions may be the mechanism by which E2F proteins are recruited to specific genomic regions. We have addressed this hypothesis on a genome-wide scale using ChIP-seq analysis of MCF7 cell lines that express tagged wild type and mutant E2F1 proteins. First, we performed ChIP-seq for tagged WT E2F1. Then, we analyzed E2F1 proteins that lacked the N-terminal SP1 and cyclin A binding domains, the C-terminal transactivation and pocket protein binding domains, and the internal marked box domain. Surprisingly, we found that the ChIP-seq patterns of the mutant proteins were identical to that of WT E2F1. However, mutation of the DNA binding domain abrogated all E2F1 binding to the genome. These results suggested that the interaction between the E2F1 DNA binding domain and a consensus motif may be the primary determinant of E2F1 recruitment. To address this possibility, we analyzed the in vivo binding sites for the in vitro-derived consensus E2F1 motif (TTTSSCGC) and also performed de novo motif analysis. We found that only 12% of the ChIP-seq peaks contained the TTTSSCGC motif. De novo motif analysis indicated that most of the in vivo sites lacked the 5′ half of the in vitro-derived consensus, having instead the in vivo consensus of CGCGC. In summary, our findings do not provide support for the model that protein-protein interactions are involved in recruiting E2F1 to the genome, but rather suggest that recognition of a motif found at most human promoters is the critical determinant.
Laparoscopic excision of sacrocolpopexy mesh.

Abstract Study Objective To demonstrate surgical maneuvers to facilitate laparoscopic excision of sacrocolpopexy mesh and prevent potential complications. Design Step-by-step illustration of various surgical techniques using a video compiled from 3 laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy mesh excision procedures performed at Magee–Womens Hospital for various indications (Canadian Task Force classification xx-xx). Setting Mesh complications such as infection and erosion are frequently managed conservatively but often necessitate mesh excision for symptom relief. Laparoscopic excision of sacrocolpopexy mesh procedures is typically challenging, even in the hands of experienced surgeons. Synthetic mesh, being a foreign body, activates an inflammatory process that leads to surrounding tissue fibrosis and scar tissue formation that can distort the pelvic anatomy, thereby putting vital organs at risk of injury. Such organs include the bladder, rectum, and vagina caudally; the left common iliac vein and middle sacral vessels cephalad; and the ureters at the level of the vaginal cuff angles. Intervention Laparoscopic excision of sacrocolpopexy mesh. Conclusion When planning laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy mesh excision, complications can be prevented with use of proper surgical technique. It is important to identify vital structures because they may be displaced due to tissue fibrosis. When developing various surgical planes, surgeons should first operate in areas that are free of adhesions. This will enhance exposure when dissecting the mesh in proximity of scarred tissue and vital organs. Use of vaginal and rectal probes helps to delineate the vesicovaginal and rectovaginal spaces to prevent bladder and bowel injury.
Silvicultural treatments for sapling mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa) to optimize timber production and minimize seedling encroachment

Abstract To maximize lumber production and minimize weed problems with Prosopis glandulosa , silvicultural treatment methods were evaluated nine years after initiation. A randomized complete block design was used with four replicates and six treatments. Plots were shredder-harvested leaving sixteen 2-m squares on 10-m spacing that included a final rotation crop tree. In three of the treatments the crop trees were pruned to a single stem. To prevent re-establishment of mesquite in the interstitial areas, plots were spot sprayed with herbicides, disked, or disked and seeded with rye grass in 1986. Herbicide treatments and disking continued yearly through 1989. In 1991, disk treatments were repeated. After both 2.5 and 9 yrs, significant treatment differences were found for growth of basal diameter, growth of basal area, and growth of dry weight. The greatest crop tree growth occurred in treatments that were pruned with interstitial competition suppressed. Mortality was greatest in the dense treatments, while re-establishment of mesquite was greatest in the more open treatments. The greatest basal diameter growth of 1.21 cm year −1 in the disked and pruned treatments is comparable to other fine hardwoods in temperate and dry tropical forests.
FRUIT CHOICE AND SEED DISPERSAL OF INVASIVE VS. NONINVASIVE CARPOBROTUS (AIZOACEAE) IN COASTAL CALIFORNIA

Natural hybridization between previously allopatric plant species can produce highly successful lineages. However, the ecological processes controlling the spread of hybrid genotypes have rarely been studied in the field. We compared fruit characteristics, fruit preference, and seed dispersal by native frugivores among the non-indigenous succulent Carpobrotus edulis, the putative native congener C. chilensis, and the hybrids resulting from introgressive hybridization. In this system, the non-native C. edulis and hybrids are known to be very successful invaders of California coastal plant communities. Carpobrotus edulis and hybrids produced more fruits per clone than C. chilensis, primarily as a consequence of larger clone size. Clone size and energy content of fruits were good predictors of fruit removal. Marked fruits of C. edulis and hybrids were removed faster than those of the other morphotypes, and C. edulis fruits were preferred over those of C. chilensis in a fruit transplant experiment. However, total fruit removal by the end of the growing season was very high for all morphotypes. Scats from black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), the most common frugivores in our sites, contained more seeds from C. edulis and hybrid morphotypes than from C. chilensis, and more than would be expected based on relative fruit abundance. Germination of seeds from C. edulis and hybrids was enhanced after gut passage, whereas germination of C. chilensis decreased after gut passage, compared to seed germination from intact fruits. The results suggest that patterns of fruit preference by native frugivores and seed survival after gut passage facilitate the successful spread of an aggressive introduced species and hybrids in contrast to the less aggressive, apparently native congener.
Cortical excitability varies upon ictal onset patterns in neocortical epilepsy: a cortico-cortical evoked potential study.

Abstract Objective To better understand pathological neuronal excitation in epilepsy by comparing cortico-cortical evoked potential (CCEP) responses in regions with different ictal onset patterns: focal paroxysmal fast (PF) and repetitive spiking (RS). Methods Fourteen patients undergoing invasive monitoring (six patients with PF and eight with RS) were studied with CCEPs. A repetitive 1Hz bipolar electrical stimulus was applied to both the ictal onset region (iCCEP) and to a control region (nCCEP) and CCEPs were recorded from the surrounding electrodes. The two groups were compared by subtracting the amplitude of nCCEP from that of iCCEP (CCEP ictal−control ) at each stimulus intensity, and then normalizing the amplitudes of iCCEP at maximum stimulus intensity by dividing by nCCEP (CCEP ictal/control ). Results The CCEP response to stimulation in the ictal onset region was significantly larger than to control stimulation for both ictal patterns (paroxysmal fast: P =0.02, repetitive spiking: P ictal−control : P ictal/control : P =0.04). Conclusions Pro-epileptic excitability is more accentuated in regions showing an ictal repetitive spiking pattern than a paroxysmal fast pattern. Significance These findings confirm in a new way that cortical excitability varies depending on the ictal onset pattern.
Detection of Weakly Precipitating Winter Clouds by a NOAA 404-MHz Wind Profiler

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated that the 404-MHz wind profilers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration WPDN (Wind Profiler Demonstration Network) can detect precipitation under most circumstances. Their ability to detect nonprecipitating and weakly precipitating clouds, however, has remained the subject of debate. To address this question, a 35-GHz Ka-band cloud-sensing radar was operated side by side, with a WPDN profiler in Colorado during the winter of 1993. The short wavelength (0.87 cm), finescale resolution, and excellent sensitivity of the Ka-band system to small hydrometeors make it very well suited for detailed measurements of clouds and weak precipitation. Comparisons of data from the two instruments show that in addition to detecting precipitation, the profiler did indeed detect nonprecipitating ice clouds under some circumstances that can be approximately delineated by profiler reflectivity and vertical velocity thresholds. These thresholds are a function of height fo...
Promoting prospective self-control through abstraction ☆

Abstract When people anticipate that future temptations may undermine valued goals, they use a number of prospective self-control strategies (or “precommitment devices”) to increase the likelihood of future self-control success. Little is known, however, about the conditions under which people are more or less likely to use them. Drawing from construal level theory (e.g., Trope & Liberman, 2003), we argue that people are more likely to engage in prospective self-control when they construe events more abstractly (at higher-level construals). Results from two experiments demonstrated that higher-level construals promote use of two well-documented prospective strategies: choice bracketing and self-imposing punishment. Higher-level construals thus appear to enhance people's efforts to protect their valued goals from anticipated temptations.
Design and analysis of MEM‐micromirrors for vertical‐cavity surface‐emitting lasers

In this paper, we present aspects of designing and optimizing MEM-micromirrors used in tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). We also present four mirror models and their simulation results using CoventorWare software. According to our consideration of the aspects presented, the best model with optimal dimension has been chosen. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 410–413, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10934
Hot-electron transport in GaAs-AlGaAs heterojunctions.

Hot-electron transport in a GaAs-AlGaAs heterojunction is studied by the use of a non-Boltzmann balance-equation approach recently developed. The occupation of the lowest and next lowest subbands and the Coulomb interactions between intrasubband and intersubband electrons are taken into account. We include the scattering by remote charged impurities, acoustic phonons (via deformation potential and piezoelectric coupling), and polar optical phonons in the force and energy balance equations to give the carrier mobility as a function of drift velocity and/or electric field. Theoretical results are in reasonably good agreement with experiments.
Examiner Standardization for Caries Studies

Examiners in clinical control programs customarily undergo an intensive period of training to standardize their interpretation of diagnostic criteria. Data are presented summarizing examiner error rates in calibration examinations and reversal rates in a field study.
Adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on polymeric capillary tubing

Abstract Polymeric capillary tubing has been used to concentrate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) initially present in spiked water samples at the part per million level. An aqueous sample containing PAH is pumped through uncoated capillary tubing and PAH are adsorbed on the inner surface of the tubing. The PAH are then desorbed using a small quantity of organic solvent. Ethyl vinyl acetate and polyethylene capillary tubing materials, the effect of temperature on adsorption and the nature of the organic solvent for desorption were studied.
Deletion of Type IIα Regulatory Subunit Delocalizes Protein Kinase A in Mouse Sperm without Affecting Motility or Fertilization

Cyclic AMP stimulates sperm motility in a variety of mammalian species, but the molecular details of the intracellular signaling pathway responsible for this effect are unclear. The type IIα isoform of protein kinase A (PKA) is induced late in spermatogenesis and is thought to localize PKA to the flagellar apparatus where it binds cAMP and stimulates motility. A targeted disruption of the type IIα regulatory subunit (RIIα) gene allowed us to examine the role of PKA localization in sperm motility and fertility. In wild type sperm, PKA is found primarily in the detergent-resistant particulate fraction and localizes to the mitochondrial-containing midpiece and the principal piece. In mutant sperm, there is a compensatory increase in RIα protein and a dramatic relocalization of PKA such that the majority of the holoenzyme now appears in the soluble fraction and colocalizes with the cytoplasmic droplet. Unexpectedly the RIIα mutant mice are fertile and have no significant changes in sperm motility. Our results demonstrate that the highly localized pattern of PKA seen in mature sperm is not essential for motility or fertilization.
Improving temporal coherence to enhance gain and improve detection performance

Temporal coherence is an important property of many acoustic signals. This paper discusses two fluctuation-based signal processors that improve the temporal coherence of phase and amplitude. Then they exploit the improved coherences to achieve substantial gains, such as, elimination of all noise to achieve exceptionally large "noise-free" automatic detections of temporally coherent signals. Both processors are discussed. One exploits phase fluctuations and the other one exploits amplitude fluctuations. The exploited parameters and signal processors are defined. Results are presented for automatic signal detection of a heavy treaded / tracked vehicle, a helicopter, a fast-boat in shallow coastal water, and a submerged source in the ocean.
Part I. High level ab initio approximations of the atomization energies of Cn (n=2–6) neutral carbon clusters

The ability of newly implemented methods such as CBS-QB3 and G3B3 to calculate atomization energies of small clusters has not been investigated very much in the literature. Although, these methods are limited in their convergence capabilities for larger polyatomic molecules it will be shown that for small carbon clusters (Cn, where n<6) reasonable results can be obtained. The applications of these methodologies are numerous and show promise for studies of small molecular species as fast, convergent, and highly accurate methods for calculation of atomization energies.
Epidemiologic studies of mandibular dysfunction: a critical review.

w hen epidemiologic methods identify a large percentage of the population as “sick” with some disease or disorder, concern may arise about a possible “epidemic.” In the case of mandibular dysfunction, recent epidemiologic studies suggest that as many as three fourths of the population may, to some degree, be affected by this disorder. If these studies are accepted as presented, the dental profession is obliged to attempt identification of the large number of affected individuals and then to either advise or treat them appropriately. There are serious doubts, however, about whether the findings of these studies should be accepted without first raising critical questions regarding their validity. Two major issues must be considered: (1) Have conventional epidemiologic methods been correctly applied to the study of mandibular dysfunction? (2) Have proper inferences been drawn from the findings? The concerns of population medicine, or epidemiology, are different from those of the clinical disciplines. In population medicine, groups replace individuals as the focus of study. The study of the distribution and dynamics of diseases in human populations can provide clinicians and researchers with answers to important questions, such as: (1) Can we identify those persons most likely to become ill? (2) What common features of susceptibility or exposure do these people share? (3) What is the natural history of the disease if not treated? In addition, epidemiologic studies may elucidate the causal relationships of a particular disease, which then establishes the basis for programs of prevention and control. Epidemiology has contributed dramati-
Synthesis and accumulation of an extremely stable high-energy phosphate compound by muscle, heart, and brain of animals fed the creatine analog, 1-carboxyethyl-2-iminoimidazolidine (homocyclocreatine).

A new creatine analog, l-carboxyethyl-2-iminoimidazolidine (homocyclocreatine), has been synthesized and compared with other synthetic analogs of creatine as a substrate for creatine kinase under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Reactivity with rabbit muscle creatine kinase at 2 mm and pH 7.0 occurred in the order: creatine > cyclocreatine (1-carboxymethyl-2-iminoimidazolidine) >N-ethylguanidinoacetate >N-propylguanidinoacetate > guanidinoacetate >N-methyl-3-guanidinopropionate > 3-guanidinopropionate > homocyclocreatine. Homocyclocreatine was 10,000-fold less active than creatine. In the reverse direction at 0.2 mm and pH 7.0: creatine-P >N-ethylguanidinoacetate-P > cyclocreatine-P ⪢ homocyclocreatine-P. Homocyclocreatine-P was 200,000-fold less active than creatine-P. The phosphoryl group transfer potential of homocyclocreatine-P was estimated to be 2 kcal/mol lower than that of creatine-P. Chicks fed 5% homocyclocreatine for 16 days synthesized and accumulated homocyclocreatine-P in breast muscle (32 μmol/g wet wt), leg muscle (24 μmol/g), heart (7 μmol/g), intestine (8.5 μmol/g), and brain (2.4 μmol/g). During ischemia homocyclocreatine-P was utilized by muscle much more slowly for the regeneration of ATP than was creatine-P or cyclocreatine-P. Our results suggest that in tissues of homocyclocreatine-fed animals subjected to a sudden large increase in work load or to ischemia, the residual creatine-P system would rapidly equilibrate with the adenylate system at the new lower cytosolic phosphorylation potential, whereas in the same cytosol the (homocyclocreatine-P)/(homocyclocreatine) ratio would exhibit a hysteresis or memory effect and reflect for a considerable period of time the earlier higher (ATP)/(free ADP) ratio rather than the actual lower (ATP)/(free ADP) ratio.
Distributed target tracking using self localizing smart camera networks

This paper describes a novel decentralized target tracking scheme for distributed smart cameras. This approach is built on top of a distributed localization protocol which allows the smart camera nodes to automatically identify neighboring sensors with overlapping fields of regard and establish a communication graph which reflects how the nodes will interact to fuse measurements in the network. The new protocol distributes the detection and tracking problems evenly throughout the network accounting for sensor handoffs in a seamless manner. The approach also distributes knowledge about the state of tracked objects amongst the nodes in the network. This information can then be harvested through distributed queries which allow network participants to subscribe to different kinds of events that they may be interested in. The proposed scheme has been used to track targets in real time using a collection of custom designed smart camera nodes. Results from these experiments are presented.
Pedagogical Recommendations for Internationalizing the Undergraduate Business Curriculum

In higher education, it is taken for granted that internationalization of the curriculum is necessary, but there is little evidence that this objective has been realized. The purpose of this paper is to apply a strategic planning approach to achieve internationalization of the undergraduate business curriculum. Besides achieving curricular objectives, this approach develops new student recruitment possibilities and other revenue-creating opportunities—a vital concern as colleges increasingly face resource constraints. The end result is that the institution emerges with an enhanced image and achieves a leadership position through its unique development of international understanding.
Stereotactic radiosurgery for pituitary metastases.

Abstract Background We evaluated the role of Gamma Knife SRS in the multidisciplinary management of metastatic cancer to the pituitary gland. Methods We retrospectively reviewed records of 18 consecutive pituitary metastasis patients who underwent Gamma Knife SRS during a 21-year experience. The median patient age was 57.6 years (range, 27.0-81.1 years). There were 5 patients who had initial surgical resection of their pituitary metastasis, 5 who had fractionated radiation, and 7 who had CT before SRS. The median radiosurgery target volume was 3.5 mL (range, 0.2-18.0 mL), and the median marginal dose was 13.0 Gy (range, 9-18 Gy). Results The overall survival after SRS at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, was 66%, 36%, and 18%. The median survival after SRS was 5.2 months. The progression-free survival after SRS was 100% and 66.7% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The only factor associated with an improved overall survival was younger age at presentation. Diabetes insipidus improved in 3 (42.9%) of 7 patients. Neurological symptoms or signs improved in 4 (50.0%) of 8 patients. Three (16.7%) patients developed new neurological deficits due to tumor progression despite SRS. Conclusion Development of a pituitary metastasis is an ominous finding in the context of systemic cancer. Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective palliative approach for most patients with pituitary metastasis.
Isolation of mycobacteria from clinical samples collected in the United States from 2004 to 2011

Background Mycobacteria other than M. bovis may interfere with current bovine tuberculosis diagnostic tests resulting in false positive test results. As the prevalence of M. bovis decreases in the United States, interference from other mycobacteria play an increasingly important role in preventing the eradication of M. bovis. To identify mycobacteria other than M. bovis that may be interfering with current diagnostic tests, a retrospective study was performed to identify mycobacteria isolated from clinical tissues at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories between 1 January 2004 and 9 October 2011.
Measurements of the Electrical Niose Produced in the Carrier Band by a DC Converter

As part of a program to develop better tools for predicting noise levels from DC converters, a series of measurements were made of the noise levels produced by the Arrowhead converter of the Square Butte project. In this paper both measurement techniques and measurement results are presented. Voltages were measured on both the ac and the dc systems and on both the line and valve sides of the smoothing reactor and converter transformers. Valve side measurements were made possible by a divider that uses a bushing as the high voltage element. Operation of a noise meter is discussed and a circuit shown that allows quasi-peak levels to be measured with an instrument that normally does not provide a quasi-peak function. Quasi-peak levels are shown to be 7-12 dB higher than average levels. Effects of meter bandwidth are discussed. Internal resonances in the smoothing reactor are shown to be the cause of pronounced peaks and valleys noted on line side measurements. The data suggests that a simple 1/f curve of appropriate magnitude may be a sufficient model of the frequency dependent noise produced by the valves.
Facial effects of fetal alcohol exposure: Assessment by photographs and morphometric analysis

This study was designed to assess the limits of alcohol-related facial dysmorphogenesis. Standard full face and lateral facial photographs were obtained on 21 7-year-old children who had been exposed gestationally to known, heavy quantities of ethanol. Only two of these children had been previously considered to have definite fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Similar photographs of 21 other 7-year-old children with negligible gestational ethanol exposure were obtained for control purposes. Copies of the 42 photographs were given to each of seven expert clinicians who were asked to select any child with an FAS-related facial appearance. Six of seven judges were accurate in identifying children with high levels of alcohol exposure as having a fetal alcohol-affected face. A set of homologous points on the photographs were then digitized and analyzed by newly developed morphometric methods to determine the facial shape characteristics that distinguish the selected photographs of highly exposed children. The analysis confirmed that the judges specifically identified children with facial changes consistent with those previously published as defining the face of the FAS: short palpebral fissures, a relatively long and flat midface, and a retrusive mandible. This methodology may be useful in more accurately delineating the facial phenotype in other conditions diagnosed primarily on the basis of subjective clinical criteria.
Radiative Lifetimes of uv Multiplets in Boron, Carbon, and Nitrogen

Radiative lifetimes of strongest vacuum UV MULTIPLETS of B I, B II, C I, C II, N I and N II measured by phase shift method
Adapting to a changing health care environment.

I feel very honored and privileged to assume the chairmanship of the American College of Cardiology Imaging Council (ACC), and would like to congratulate Dr. Neil Weissman on a job superbly done last year! The Cardiovascular Imaging Section of the ACC was formed in 2011 and is one of its largest (
Traumatic brain injury, neuroimaging, and neurodegeneration

Depending on severity, traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces immediate neuropathological effects that in the mildest form may be transient but as severity increases results in neural damage and degeneration. The first phase of neural degeneration is explainable by the primary acute and secondary neuropathological effects initiated by the injury; however, neuroimaging studies demonstrate a prolonged period of pathological changes that progressively occur even during the chronic phase. This review examines how neuroimaging may be used in TBI to understand (1) the dynamic changes that occur in brain development relevant to understanding the effects of TBI and how these relate to developmental stage when the brain is injured, (2) how TBI interferes with age-typical brain development and the effects of aging thereafter, and (3) how TBI results in greater frontotemporolimbic damage, results in cerebral atrophy, and is more disruptive to white matter neural connectivity. Neuroimaging quantification in TBI demonstrates degenerative effects from brain injury over time. An adverse synergistic influence of TBI with aging may predispose the brain injured individual for the development of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders long after surviving the brain injury.
Memory Part 1: Overview

A common layman's conception of memory is the simple storage and retrieval of learned information that often evokes comparison to a filing system. Our everyday experience of memory, however, is in fact a complicated multifactorial process that consists of both conscious and unconscious components,
Insulin Protects Liver Cells from Saturated Fatty Acid-Induced Apoptosis via Inhibition of c-Jun NH2 Terminal Kinase Activity

Hepatocyte apoptosis is increased in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and correlates with disease severity. Long-chain saturated fatty acids, such as palmitate and stearate, induce apoptosis in liver cells. The present study examined insulin-mediated protection against saturated fatty acid-induced apoptosis in the rat hepatoma cell line, H4IIE, and primary rat hepatocytes. Cells were provided a control media (no fatty acids) or the same media containing 250 micromol/liter of albumin-bound oleate or palmitate for 16 h. Insulin concentrations were 0, 1, 10, or 100 nmol/liter (n=4-6/treatment). Palmitate, but not oleate, activated caspase-3 and induced DNA fragmentation in the absence of insulin. Insulin reduced palmitate-mediated activation of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors abolished these effects of insulin. Insulin-mediated inhibition of palmitate-induced apoptosis was not due to an augmentation in the unfolded protein response or increased expression of genes encoding the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 and X-linked mammalian inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Palmitate, but not oleate, increased c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase activity in the absence of insulin. Insulin or SP600125, a chemical inhibitor of c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase, blocked palmitate-mediated activation of c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase and reduced apoptosis. These data suggest that insulin is an important determinant of saturated fatty acid-induced apoptosis in liver cells and may have implications for fatty acid-mediated liver cell injury in insulin-deficient and/or -resistant states.
Human Factors Design Considerations in Automobile Backing Accidents Involving Children

In 2003 there were a minimum of 93 children killed in the U.S. by backing cars. Most of these accidents involved children aged less than 5 years, in residential driveways, with a parent or relative...
Rice starch, amylopectin, and amylose: molecular weight and solubility in dimethyl sulfoxide-based solvents.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), with either 50 mM LiBr, 10% water, or both, was used as solvent for multi-angle laser-light scattering (MALLS) batch mode analysis of rice starch, and amylopectin and amylose weight-average molecular weight (Mw). DMSO/50 mM LiBr was a better solvent for these measurements than was DMSO/10% water, based on this solvent's ability to dissolve starch and to reduce the size of starch aggregates. Starch concentration decreased and amylose:amylopectin ratio increased when starch suspended in DMSO was centrifuged or filtered prior to size-exclusion chromatography (SEC)-MALLS analysis. A higher amylose:amylopectin ratio made starch more soluble, and the higher this ratio, the lower the Mw of eluted amylopectin. For SEC analysis of Mw, fractions of starch amylopectin and amylose dispersed in DMSO-based solvents yielded better results than starch dispersed directly into the solvents, because dispersion of these fractions decreased starch aggregation. When these two starch components were f...