cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The ThreadMill architecture for stream-oriented human communication analysis applications

This work introduces a new component software architecture - ThreadMill - whose main purpose is to facilitate the development of applications in domains where high volumes of streamed data need to be efficiently analyzed. It focuses particularly on applications that target the analysis of human communication e.g. in speech and gesture recognition. Applications in this domain usually employ costly signal processing techniques, but offer in many cases ample opportunities for concurrent execution in many different phases. ThreadMill's abstractions facilitate the development of applications that take advantage of this potential concurrency by hiding the complexity of parallel and distributed programming. As a result, ThreadMill applications can be made to run unchanged on a wide variety of execution environments, ranging from a single-processor machine to a cluster of multi-processor nodes. The architecture is illustrated by an implementation of a tracker for hands and face of American Sign Language signers that uses a parallel and concurrent version of the Joint Likelihood Filter method.
Electrocorticographic (ECoG) correlates of human arm movements

Invasive and non-invasive brain–computer interface (BCI) studies have long focused on the motor cortex for kinematic control of artificial devices. Most of these studies have used single-neuron recordings or electroencephalography (EEG). Electrocorticography (ECoG) is a relatively new recording modality in BCI research that has primarily been built on successes in EEG recordings. We built on prior experiments related to single-neuron recording and quantitatively compare the extent to which different brain regions reflect kinematic tuning parameters of hand speed, direction, and velocity in both a reaching and tracing task in humans. Hand and arm movement experiments using ECoG have shown positive results before, but the tasks were not designed to tease out which kinematics are encoded. In non-human primates, the relationships among these kinematics have been more carefully documented, and we sought to begin elucidating that relationship in humans using ECoG. The largest modulation in ECoG activity for direction, speed, and velocity representation was found in the primary motor cortex. We also found consistent cosine tuning across both tasks, to hand direction and velocity in the high gamma band (70–160 Hz). Thus, the results of this study clarify the neural substrates involved in encoding aspects of motor preparation and execution and confirm the important role of the motor cortex in BCI applications.
Interim results of the SLATS concentrator experiment on LIPS-II (space vehicle power plants)

An analysis of four months of data from SLATS concentrator experiments on LIPS-III is presented. The array panel includes three mirrors, each focusing on two different linear solar cell strings. Small changes in current, voltage, and temperature have been observed in all six experiments. The use of unglassed solar cells on four of the six strings does not seem to affect these performance trends, confirming that the surrounding mirror and cell assembly components can be used as cell shielding. Analysis of current output during off-pointed periods allows a determination of concentrator pointing tolerances. Results show the ability of the design to withstand launch and deployment forces and maintain the accuracy needed for optical efficiency. >
Galactic Depolarization of the 21-Centimeter-Wavelength Radiation of Extragalactic Sources

The dependence of the degree of linear polarization of the radiation from 213 extragalactic sources on galactic coordinates was investigated at 21-centimeter wavelength. In addition to the previously known latitude effect, the depolarization of the radiation during transit through our galaxy is also a function of galactic longitude. One possible explanation is that galactic depolarization is a simple function of the distance traveled by the radiation through an extended galactic halo.
Effect of Sonochemical, Regenerative Sol Gel and Microwave Assisted Synthesis Techniques on the Formation of Dense Electrolytes and Porus Electrodes for All Perovskite IT-SOFCs

The influence of preparation techniques on the microstructure, grain-size and consequently on the electrical transport properties of the ABO3 structured materials used as electrode and electrolytes in all perovskite IT-SOFC were investigated. Nano-crystalline powders of La1-x Mx Ga1-y Ny O3±δ (M = Sr,; x = −0.10 to 0.15; N = Mg; y = −0.10 to 0.15) (LSGM) as electrolyte, porous La0.8 Sr0.2 Co0.8 Fe0.2 O3±δ (LSCF) or LaNi1-x Fex O3±δ (x = 0–0.5) (LNF) as cathode, La0.8 Sr0.2 Cr0.7 Mn0.3 O3±δ (LSCM) as anode and LaCrO3 or substituted LaCrO 3 as interconnect were synthesized by various wet chemical methods. The wet chemical methods like metal-carboxylate gel decomposition, hydroxide co-precipitation, sonochemical and regenerative sol-gel process followed by microwave sintering of the powders have been used. Microwave sintering parameters were optimized by varying sintering time, and temperature to achieve higher density of LSGM pellets. The phase pure systems were obtained at sintering duration of 30 min at 1200 °C. The XRD, HR-TEM, and SEM measurements revealed the average grain size of these perovskites was ∼ 22 nm range. The electrical conductivities of the compositions were measured by ac (5Hz–13MHz) and dc techniques. The conductivity of the sintered pellets was found to be ∼0.01–0.21 S/cm at 550–1000°C range for electrolyte and 1.5–100 S/cm at 25–1000°C for electrodes respectively. The effect of sonochemical, and regenerative sol-gel methods in processing large quantities of nano-crystalline perovskites with multi-element substitutions at A- and B-sites to achieve physico-chemical compatibility for fabricating zero emission all perovskite IT-SOFCs are reported in this paper.© 2006 ASME
Illegal Migration in Taiwan: A Preliminary Overview:

Since 1986, there have been indications that Taiwan (the Republic of China) has been experiencing an increase in illegal migration. Despite a lack of data describing the number, origins, and demographic characteristics of the illegal migrants, an open policy debate has been carried out by economic and social planners, entrepreneurs, and labor leaders. Interviews with representatives of these 3 groups suggest that, contrary to expectations, planners favor the legalization of foreign workers; individual entrepreneurs also consider legalization a wise option. Labor leaders, as expected, are opposed to the use of imported labor. In January 1990, the Executive Yuan (Assembly) adopted regulations permitting limited use of foreign labor. The increase in illegal migrants and the decision to regularize their status suggests the need to review carefully the implications of all planning initiatives as far in advance as possible, and preferably when development plans are being initially implemented.
Characteristic modes for dielectric and magnetic bodies

A theory of characteristic modes for material bodies, both with and without losses, is developed. For loss-free bodies, the modes consist of a set of real characteristic sources which diagonalize the generalized network matrix for the body, and a set of characteristic fields which diagonalize the scattering matrix. Most of the properties of these modes remain the same as those of the corresponding modes for perfectly conducting bodies. For lossy bodies, the corresponding modes have complex characteristic sources. However, in the lossy case there also exists a set of real characteristic sources which diagonalize the generalized network matrix, but their fields do not diagonalize the scattering matrix.
Ethanol and oxidative mechanisms in the brain.

There is strong evidence showing that chronic and excessive ethanol consumption may enhance oxidative damage to neurons and result in cell death. Although not yet well understood, ethanol may enhance ROS production in brain through a number of pathways including increased generation of hydroxyethyl radicals, induction of CYP2E1, alteration of the cytokine signaling pathways for induction of iNOS and sPLA2, and production of prostanoids through the PLA2/COX pathways. Since many neurodegenerative diseases are also associated with oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms in the brain, it would be important to find out whether chronic and excessive ethanol consumption may exacerbate the progression of these diseases. There is evidence that the polyphenolic antioxidants, especially those extracted from grape skin and seed, may protect the brain from neuronal damage due to chronic ethanol administration. Among the polyphenols from grapes, resveratrol seems to have unique antioxidant properties. The possible use of this compound as a therapeutic agent to ameliorate neurodegenerative processes should be further explored.
Influence of End-Effector Velocities on Robotic Manipulator Dynamic Performance: An Analytical Approach

This article explores the effect that end-effector velocities have on a nonredundant robotic manipulator’s ability to accelerate its end-effector as well as to apply forces/moments to the environment at the end-effector. The velocity effects considered here are the Coriolis and Centrifugal forces, and the reduction of actuator torque with rotor velocity, as described by the speed-torque curve. Analysis of these effects is accomplished using optimization techniques, where the problem formulation consists of a cost function and constraints which are all purely quadratic forms, yielding a nonconvex problem. An analytical solution, based on the dialytic elimination technique, is developed which guarantees that the globally optimal solution can be found. The PUMA 560 manipulator is used as an example to illustrate this methodology.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
FoxP3 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase immunoreactivity in sentinel nodes from melanoma patients.

Abstract Objective 1) Assess FoxP3/indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase immunoreactivity in head and neck melanoma sentinel lymph nodes and 2) correlate FoxP3/indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase with sentinel lymph node metastasis and clinical recurrence. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Patients with sentinel lymph node biopsy for head and neck melanoma between 2004 and 2011 were identified. FoxP3/indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase prevalence and intensity were determined from the nodes. Poor outcome was defined as local, regional or distant recurrence. The overall immunoreactivity score was correlated with clinical recurrence and sentinel lymph node metastasis using the chi-square test for trend. Results Fifty-six sentinel lymph nodes were reviewed, with 47 negative and 9 positive for melanoma. Patients with poor outcomes had a statistically significant trend for higher immunoreactivity scores ( p = 0.03). Positive nodes compared to negative nodes also had a statistically significant trend for higher immunoreactivity scores ( p = 0.03). Among the negative nodes, there was a statistically significant trend for a poor outcome with higher immunoreactivity scores ( p = 0.02). Conclusion FoxP3/indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase immunoreactivity correlates with sentinel lymph node positivity and poor outcome. Even in negative nodes, higher immunoreactivity correlated with poor outcome. Therefore higher immunoreactivity may portend a worse prognosis even without metastasis in the sentinel lymph node. This could identify a subset of patients that may benefit from future trials and treatment for melanoma through Treg and IDO suppression.
Conserved walker A Ser residues in the catalytic sites of P-glycoprotein are critical for catalysis and involved primarily at the transition state step.

Abstract P-glycoprotein mutants S430A/T and S1073A/T, affecting conserved Walker A Ser residues, were characterized to elucidate molecular roles of the Ser and functioning of the two P-glycoprotein catalytic sites. Results showed the Ser-OH is critical for MgATPase activity and formation of the normal transition state, although not for initial MgATP binding. Mutation to Ala in either catalytic site abolished MgATPase and transition state formation in both sites, whereas Thr mutants had similar MgATPase to wild-type. Trapping of 1 mol of MgADP/mol of P-glycoprotein by vanadate, shown here with pure protein, yielded full inhibition of ATPase. Thus, congruent with previous work, both sites must be intact and must interact for catalysis. Equivalent mutations (Ala or Thr) in the two catalytic sites had identical effects on a wide range of activities, emphasizing that the two catalytic sites function symmetrically. The role of the Ser-OH is to coordinate Mg2+ in MgATP, but only at the stage of the transition state are its effects tangible. Initial substrate binding is apparently to an “open” catalytic site conformation, where the Ser-OH is dispensable. This changes to a “closed” conformation required to attain the transition state, in which the Ser-OH is a critical ligand. Formation of the latter conformation requires both sites; both sites may provide direct ligands to the transition state.
Molecular-dynamics determination of electronic and vibrational spectra, and equilibrium structures of small Si clusters.

We have used a new, approximate method for computing total energies and forces in covalent systems and investigated the electronic and vibrational spectra and equilibrium structures of small Si clusters (${\mathrm{Si}}_{\mathit{n}}$ with n=2--7). The method uses an electronic-structure tight-binding formalism based on density-functional theory within the pseudopotential scheme. Slightly excited pseudo-atomic-orbitals are used to find the tight-binding Hamiltonian matrix in real space. Unlike other simplified tight-binding schemes, no parameters or fits to data are introduced. Forces are determined from the total-energy functional, so that molecular-dynamics simulations can be performed. The molecular-dynamics simulations yield the ground-state structure, and the vibrational spectrum. Excellent overall agreement is found with experiment and other first-principles calculations for Si clusters. The technique is immediately transferable to bulk systems and surfaces.
A spin-polarized scheme for obtaining quasi-particle energies within the density functional theory

We discuss an efficient scheme for obtaining spin-polarized quasi-particle excitation energies within the general framework of the density functional theory (DFT). Our approach is to correct the DFT eigenvalues via the electrostatic energy of a majority or minority spin electron resulting from its interaction with the associated exchange and correlation holes by using appropriate spin-resolved pair correlation functions. A version of the method for treating systems with localized orbitals, including the case of partially filled metallic bands, is considered. Illustrative results on Cu are presented.
Conditioned fear inhibits c-fos mRNA expression in the central extended amygdala.

Abstract We have shown previously that unconditioned stressors inhibit neurons of the lateral/capsular division of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEAl/c) and oval division of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTov), which form part of the central extended amygdala. The current study investigated whether conditioned fear inhibits c-fos mRNA expression in these regions. Male rats were trained either to associate a visual stimulus (light) with footshock or were exposed to the light alone. After training, animals were replaced in the apparatus, and 2 h later injected remotely, via a catheter, with amphetamine (2 mg/kg i.p.), to induce c-fos mRNA and allow inhibition of expression to be measured. The rats were then presented with 15 visual stimuli over a 30 minute period. As expected, fear conditioned animals that were not injected with amphetamine, had extremely low levels of c-fos mRNA in the central extended amygdala. In contrast, animals that were trained with the light alone (no fear conditioning) and were injected with amphetamine had high levels of c-fos mRNA in the CEAl/c and BSTov. Animals that underwent fear conditioning, and were re-exposed to the conditioned stimulus after amphetamine injection had significantly reduced levels of c-fos mRNA in both the BSTov and CEAl/c, compared to the non-conditioned animals. These data suggest that conditioned fear can inhibit neurons of the central extended amygdala. Because these neurons are GABAergic, and project to the medial CEA (an amygdaloid output region), this may be a novel mechanism whereby conditioned fear potentiates amygdaloid output.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the triangular fibrocartilage complex

Magnetic resonance lmaging of seven fresh human cadaveric specimens was used to evaluate the integrity of the triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist. A variety of imaging parameters were systematically investigated, including T 1 -weighted images with and without contrast, long repetition times, short echo time images, and T 2 -weighted sequences. A variety of imaging planes were also evaluated. Wrist arthrography, dissection, and frozen coronal sections were done to substantiate our interpretations of the magnetic resonance images. T 2 -weighted images in the coronal plane proved to be of the greatest diagnostic value because the synovial fluid of the joint spaces serves as an excellent endogenous contrast agent. Long repetition time, short echo time sequences could be simultaneously obtained with T 2 -weighted sequences with the use of a multiecho pulse sequence to provide an excellent diagnostic package in the future. On the basis of our investigation, the triangular fibrocartilage complex can be consistently and accurately evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. As magnetic resonance imaging technology improves, wrist probes and suitable magnets should become available that will make the evaluation of triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities with magnetic resonance imaging clinically useful.
Final Measurements of the Velocity of Light

Improvements in the apparatus formerly used include the use of an eleven-stage electron multiplier tube, the control of the transmitter frequency by the laboratory standard, the substitution of a 1000-watt water-cooled mercury arc for the light source, a new type of Kerr cell, changes in the mirror supports and base line measurements, and the use of an automatic recorder. The apparatus has been completely rebuilt and converted to a.c. operation. The optical system has been changed to permit simpler measurements of the path difference, and electrical circuits have been devised to smooth out the fluctuations due to voltage variations and other causes.Group velocity is discussed as a correction factor in this and previous measurements. The correction is shown to amount to as much as 7 km/sec. in some cases. Electron transit time is shown to be a limiting factor for this method of measuring the velocity of light. The final result of 2895 observations is given as 299,776±14 km/sec. This includes a group velocity correction and should not be compared with previous results without taking this into consideration. The conclusion is reached that the velocity of light is a constant as nearly as we can measure it at present.
Evaluation of new algorithms for the interactive measurement of surface area and volume

The maximum unit normal component (MUNC) method used for surface area measurement and the divergence theorem algorithm (DTA) used for volume measurement were evaluated. The accuracy and precision of these methods were investigated at varying signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs), sampling, spatial averaging, and orientation. The accuracy of the MUNC measured surface area, as indicated by the mean error, was 2.0% for seven spherical samples, with SNRs ranging from 5:1 to 39:1. The precision, as indicated by the percent coefficient of variation (% CV) for these samples, was less than 3.0%. Likewise, the accuracy and precision of the DTA measured volume for these samples were both less than 1.0%. MUNC surface area measurement from 23 samples of a computed tomography(CT)image of a wooden sphere (51.44‐mm diameter) with x,y voxel size ranging from 1 to 10 mm and z voxel size ranging from 2 to 14 mm yielded an accuracy of 1.3% and a precision of 2.2%. The DTA volume measurements from 18 samples of the wooden sphere with x,yvowel size ranging from 1 to 8 mm and z size ranging from 2 to 14 mm provided an accuracy of 1.2% and a precision of 1.8%. Measurement of surface area for a cylindrical rod scanned by CT in five different orientations, ranging from along each axis to between all three axes, yielded an accuracy of 3.7% and a precision of 2.0%. The volume of the cylindrical rod measured by the DTA method for these orientations produced an accuracy of 4.0% and a precision of 3.7%. The volume measured by DTA compared well with the volume measured by a modified voxel counting method. The MUNC surface area method was superior to counting surface voxels. The accuracy and precision for five interactive surface area and volume measurements, using paired cut planes to select subsets of a computer‐generated sphere with radius 25 pixels, were both less than 1.0%.
Organizational understructure and leadership: A longitudinal investigation of the managerial role-making process

Abstract The results of this longitudinal investigation of the processes by which a formal organization is almost entirely transfused with new reporting relationships reveal the operation of organizational understructures. These understructures appear to differentiate not only the lowly organizational unit but also they appear to differentiate elaborate hierarchies of vertical relationships. These understructures apparently mediate the downward flow of resources and responsibilities. The outcropping of these understructures are analyzed, and the results are discussed.
Progress in sociology: A reply to Cole's reply

A reply to the former editor argues the priority of standardized empirical definitions in scientific studies of causation, proposes a small set of definitions to be standardized in sociology, and cites exemplars of such standardization in other fields.
Great Salt Lake halophilic microorganisms as models for astrobiology: evidence for desiccation tolerance and ultraviolet irradiation resistance

Great Salt Lake (GSL) is home to halophiles, salt-tolerant Bacteria and Archaea, which live at 2-5M NaCl. In addition to salt tolerance, GSL halophiles exhibit resistance to both ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and desiccation. First, to understand desiccation resistance, we sought to determine the diversity of GSL halophiles capable of surviving desiccation in either recently formed GSL halite crystals or GSL Artemia (brine shrimp) cysts. From these desiccated environments, surviving microorganisms were cultured and isolated, and genomic DNA was extracted from the individual species for identification by 16S rRNA gene homology. From the surface-sterilized cysts we also extracted DNA of the whole microbial population for non-cultivation techniques. We amplified the archaeal or bacterial 16S rRNA gene from all genomic DNA, cloned the cyst population amplicons, and sequenced. These sequences were compared to gene databases for determination of closest matched species. Interestingly, the isolates from the crystal dissolution are distinct from those previously isolated from GSL brine. The cyst population results reveal species not found in crystals or brine, and may indicate microorganisms that live as endosymbionts of this hypersaline arthropod. Second, we explored UV resistance in a GSL haloarchaea species, "H. salsolis." This strain resists UV irradiation an order of magnitude better than control species, all of which have intact repair systems. To test the hypothesis that halophiles have a photoprotection system, which prevents DNA damage from occurring, we designed an immunoassay to detect thymine dimers following UV irradiation. "H. salsolis" showed remarkable resistance to dimer formation. Evidence for both UV and desiccation resistance in these salt-tolerant GSL halophiles makes them well-suited as models for Astrobiological studies in pursuit of questions about life beyond earth.
LOCALIZATION OF THE MYOMODULIN-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN THE LEECH CNS

The distribution of myomodulinlike immunoreactivity in the leech CNS was determined using an antiserum raised against Aplysia myomodulin. Segmental ganglia contained approximately 60 immunoreactive neurons. In addition, numerous fibers containing immunoreactive varicosities were found throughout the neuropil. Using a combination of Lucifer Yellow injections and immunocytochemistry, we identified neurons including the anterior Pagodas (AP), annulus erector (AE), motor neurons, Leydig, longitudinal muscle motoneurons (L), S cells, and coupling interneurons, all of which are active during the touch-elicited shortening reflex. FMRF-amide-like immunoreactivity in three of these cells (L, AP, and AE) was previously demonstrated. Specific staining for myomodulin was abolished by preadsorption of the antiserum with synthetic myomodulin, but not with FMRF-amide. These results suggest a potential role for myomodulin in both intrinsic and extrinsic modulation of the leech touch-elicited shortening reflex. Further, it is possible that several neurons mediating this reflex contain multiple neuromodulatory peptides.
THE ROLE OF PEAT FUEL IN IRELAND'S CHANGING ENERGY BALANCE

(1976). THE ROLE OF PEAT FUEL IN IRELAND'S CHANGING ENERGY BALANCE. Irish Geography: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 104-108.
Bureaucratic protocols for secure two-party sorting, selection, and permuting

In this paper, we introduce a framework for secure two-party (S2P) computations, which we call bureaucratic computing, and we demonstrate its efficiency by designing practical S2P computations for sorting, selection, and random permutation. In a nutshell, the main idea behind bureaucratic computing is to design data-oblivious algorithms that push all knowledge and influence of input values down to small black-box circuits, which are simulated using Yao's garbled paradigm. The practical benefit of this approach is that it maintains the zero-knowledge features of secure two-party computations while avoiding the significant computational overheads that come from trying to apply Yao's garbled paradigm to anything other than simple two-input functions.
Effects of Conditioning, Aging, and Copolymer Content on the Diffusion of Propane and Pentane in Amorphous Glassy Perfluorodioxole by Pulse Field Gradient NMR

The diffusion of pentane and propane in TFE/PDD copolymer was studied using pulse field gradient NMR as a function of time after sample preparation. Pentane and propane display tortuous diffusion behavior in TFE/PDD copolymer (65% PDD) which means the apparent diffusion constant of these molecules slows as a function of the time, milliseconds to seconds, over which diffusion is observed in the pulse field gradient NMR experiment. High-permeability polymers are known to have changes in permeability as a result of aging and conditioning. These changes occur over a period of hours, days, and weeks so the determination of apparent diffusion constants was repeated on the same sample over this time scale. Pentane or propane was added to a freshly cast film of the copolymer and then sealed in an NMR tube. The first measurement of apparent diffusion constants was made within 24 h and then repeated a few weeks later and then a year later. Diffusion became more rapid after a few weeks which was ascribed to conditio...
Fine Structure of Digital Vascular Lesions in Raynaud's Phenomenon and Disease:

The ultrastructural changes in the vessels of the fingertips of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon or disease, with or without scleroderma, are described for the first time. Fingertip specimens were taken by punch biopsy. The light microscopic changes, including segmental vasculitis, fibrinoid degeneration of capillaries, and involuntary regression of glomus bodies explain the reduced digital blood flow associated with Raynaud's disease and phenomenon. The moment-to-moment digital blood flow, recorded rheoplethysmographically, was low when the patient was in a comfortable environment and was increased in a hot environment. This result substantiates the therapeutic importance of reflex vasodilatation. These findings correlate well with the ultrastructural changes in capillaries, including multiple cytoplasmic folds in endothelial cells, abundant intracytoplasmic filaments, and unusual incorporation of collagen fibrils in the basement membrane. These changes must influence nutritional and thermoregulatory function of the digital blood vessels.
Low-energy laser-assisted electron-helium collisions

Laser-assisted electron-helium scattering is studied by perturbation theory for electron energies \ensuremath{\leqslant}2.6 eV and ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ laser intensities \ensuremath{\leqslant}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{6}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. A model potential is adopted that gives a good description of the field-free elastic scattering. Results are presented for one- and two-photon processes. It is found that absorption cross sections are larger than those for emission. The dependences on electron energy at zero energy for absorption and at the n\ensuremath{\omega} thresholds for emission are analyzed. The elastic scattering within the laser pulse is discussed and related to a general sum rule involving the n-photon process probabilities.
Models for measure preserving transformations

Abstract Many recent results about the classification problem for ergodic measure preserving transformations involve global considerations about spaces of measure preserving transformations. This paper surveys recent joint work with Dan Rudolph and Benjamin Weiss in determining when various spaces of measure preserving transformations are equivalent in the sense of conjugacy preserving Borel isomorphism and in having the same generic dynamical properties.
Comparison of Three Techniques to Estimate Juvenile Coho Salmon Populations in Small Streams

Abstract Mark-recapture, removal, and snorkel population estimates were compared with a known number of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch stocked in 18 pools in the same stream during the summer. The effects of fish density, pool size, and habitat complexity on the percentage of the actual population estimated by the three methods were examined. Mark–recapture estimates were also compared with known numbers of juvenile coho salmon stocked in six pools in the same stream during the winter, and snorkel counts were compared with mark–recapture estimates obtained in other Oregon coastal streams during the summer and winter. After all pool sizes and fish densities were combined, during the summer 85% of the actual number of fish present were accounted for by mark–recapture, 67% by removal, and 40% by snorkel counts. Summer pool surface area explained 44% of the variation in the accuracy of mark–recapture estimates. Pool surface area and the percentage of the pool volume taken up by rootwads explained 7...
Methods of consolidation in current accounting textbooks

Abstract This paper describes my attempts to deal with a problem that is perhaps a common one—the problem of teaching consolidations as something other than a matter of choice. To suggest that the problem is common follows from two observations. First, very few neophytes enter the professorate with the intention to teach consolidations. Second, department heads often have to persuade someone to teach the course. Those so persuaded, like myself, face a rather bewildering and complex curriculum. In this paper, I offer some heuristic guidance perhaps useful to others, guidance that is the product of 6 years of trying to overcome the difficulties of teaching out of one's primary area of interest. Apart from the technical complexity of the course, consolidations pose a quite practical, pedagogical problem. While the end sought in the consolidation process is clear—the production of consolidated financial statements—there are a variety of means available to achieve that end. To varying degrees, the means to the end is recording method dependent; i.e., the consolidation process will vary with the way the parent company accounts for its long-term majority-owned investment during the accounting cycle. For expediency, teachers are likely to promote one of these recording methods. Yet the student is likely to encounter other recording methods either in practice or on professional examinations. While this paper does not purport to have the definitive answer to this dilemma, this paper does provide some thoughts which may be helpful in coping with the existence of alternative recording methods.
Enhanced positive secondary ion emission from substituted polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon/sulfuric acid solutions

Secondary ion mass spectra of singly substituted aromatic hydrocarbon/H2SO4 solutions showed intense aromatic molecular ion and protonated aromatic molecule peaks characteristic of dissolved aromatic compounds from a number of aromatic compound classes, including acids, aldehydes, ketones, nitriles and nitrogen heterocycles. The presence of simultaneously abundant peaks for molecular ions and protonated molecules in secondary ion mass spectra of each aromatic compound/sulfuric acid solution is consistent with known or expected gas-phase proton transfer chemistry. The ratio of intensities, M+˙:[M + H]+, appears to be determined by sulfuric acid solution chemistry of the compound. Spectra obtained from 1–2 μl samples were relatively free from chemical noise and persisted for up to 20 min. Detection limits for some substituted aromatic compounds are estimated to be 10−12.
Cardiac surgery in Jehovah's Witness patients: ten-year experience.

Background Cardiac surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses poses unique challenges. We have developed a comprehensive multimodality program for these patients and have obtained excellent results. Methods Ninety-one Jehovah's Witness patients underwent cardiac surgery between 2000 and 2010. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative considerations in the conduct of bloodless surgery in the Jehovah's Witness population are discussed. Mortality for isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery and isolated aortic valve replacement was compared with predicted mortality from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk models. Perioperative outcomes were stratified by urgent and elective status of operations. Results Mean age was 65 ± 12.4 years. Comorbid conditions included hypertension (84.6%), diabetes mellitus (48.4%), previous myocardial infarction (23.1%), chronic lung disease (38.5%), peripheral vascular disease (20.9%), and renal failure (11%). In-hospital mortality was 5.5% (n = 5). Mortality for isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery and isolated aortic valve replacement was 2.2% (observed to expected ratio=1.05, 95% confidence interval: 0 to 3.02) and 5.6% (observed to expected=1.46, 95% confidence interval: 0 to 3.76), respectively. Other complications included reoperation (all = 8.8%, cardiac=2.2%), sepsis (2.2%), sternal wound infection (1.1%), transient ischemic attack (1.1%), renal failure requiring dialysis (1.1%), and prolonged ventilation (18.7%). Major complication rates were not significantly different between the elective group and the urgent group. Conclusions Bloodless cardiac surgery in Jehovah's Witness patients can be performed with excellent outcomes in both elective and urgent situations. Mortality rates for isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery and isolated aortic valve replacement are within the expected 95% confidence intervals of STS predicted mortality.
IMPACT OF GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION ON POVERTY IN MADAGASCAR

Poverty in Madagascar has increased between 1962 and 1980 both in the rural and urban areas based on a comparison of some poverty measures, but decreased based on others. However, it remains predominantly a rural phenomenon. Distributional inequality is the major determinant of the variation in rural poverty, while the changes in urban poverty are due to the lack of economic growth. Thus, the urban bias introduced in government policies in the mid-1970s was not justifiable on strictly poverty-reduction grounds. A reduction of sectoral disparities would have led to a significant reduction of aggregate poverty.
Multivariate spatial modeling of conditional dependence in microscale soil elemental composition data

Abstract The mobility and environmental impacts of toxic trace elements are regulated by their reactions with soils, which are complex heterogeneous mixtures of minerals and organic matter. We describe an experiment that maps the composition of elements on an individual soil sand grain using X-ray fluorescence microprobe analyses, after the grain is treated with arsenic solutions, resulting in multivariate spatial lattice maps of elemental abundance. To understand the behavior of arsenic in soils, it is important to disentangle the complex multivariate relationships among the elements in the sample. The abundance of most elements, including arsenic, correlates strongly with that of iron; but conditional on the amount of iron, some elements mitigate or potentiate the accumulation of arsenic. This problem motivates our work to define conditional correlation in spatial lattice models and give general conditions under which two components are conditionally uncorrelated given the rest. We describe how to enforce that two components are conditionally uncorrelated given a third in parametric models, which provides a basis for likelihood ratio tests for conditional correlation between arsenic and chromium given iron. We show how to apply our results to big datasets using the Whittle likelihood, and we demonstrate through simulation that tapering improves Whittle likelihood parameter estimates governing cross covariance.
The effect of heat treatment on the mechanical properties and Young's modulus of Beta III titanium alloy

Abstract A wide variety of mechanical properties can be produced in Beta III titanium alloy by thermomechanical processing. Measurements of the mechanical properties, including Young's modulus, have been made after various aging times and temperature. The results are discussed with regard to previous microstructural observations.
Femtosecond laser damage in diamond and its modeling

Using our previously reported model of femtosecond laser ionization in bulk solid dielectrics, density of point defects in a focal volume of arbitrary solid dielectric is predicted as a function of laser intensity I las . This dependence shows a nonlinear increase with an exponent 3 S (where S is the minimum number of laser photons to excite a carrier in a dielectric material over its bandgap) below a certain threshold intensity I break and with an exponent S above the threshold. Assuming that these point defects coalesce within the focal volume and the volume of the resulting spherical void is proportional to the total number of point defects generated (the point defect density times the focal volume), theoretical curves of void diameter vs. I las are obtained, exhibiting non-linear increase with the exponents S for I las I break and S /3 for I las > I break , respectively. Comparison of these theoretical predictions with experimental data on femtosecond laser microstructuring of diamond demonstrates their good agreement and gives a new insight into damage mechanisms of bulk solid dielectrics irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses.
Evaluation of vibration generated by closed-cycle refrigeration system using optical methods

A simple optical method for studying vibration has been developed and applied to the investigation of a commercial closed cycle refrigeration (CCR) system. This method utilizes an amplitude modulation of a laser beam by the knife-edge attached to the cold finger of the CCR system. The sensitivity of the proposed optical technique is determined by the diameter of the focused laser beam and a displacement of 1 micrometers is readily detectable. For the system CRYO Model 396-022 based on CTI CRYODYNE Model 22 refrigerator, experimental studies were conducted for different cold finger temperatures, cold head orientations, and mechanical holders. The total amplitude of the displacement was on the order of 50 micrometers for a cold head fixed into rigid mechanical holder placed on the optical table and 30 micrometers for the same holder placed on a special stand decoupled from the optical table. Three main frequency components at 3 Hz, 60 Hz, and 120 Hz have been observed.
Refiguring Rhetorical Education: Women Teaching African American, Native American, and Chicano/a Students, 1865–1911

Jessica Enoch, Refiguring Rhetorical Education: Women Teaching African American, Native American, and Chicano/a Students, 1865–1911 (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2008), xii + 225...
Assessing spatial fluctuations, temporal variability, and measurement error in estimated levels of disinfection by-products in tap water: implications for exposure assessment

Aims: To assess spatial fluctuations, temporal variability, and errors due to sampling and analysis in levels of disinfection by-products in routine monitoring tap water samples and in water samples collected in households within the same distribution system for an exposure assessment study. Methods: Mixed effects models were applied to quantify seasonal effects and the degree to which trihalomethane (THM) levels vary among households or locations relative to variation over time within seasons for any given location. In a separate analysis, the proportion of total variation due to measurement error arising from sampling and analysis was also quantified. Results: THM levels were higher in the summer relative to other seasons. Differences in the relative magnitude of the intra- and inter-household components of variation were observed between the two sets of THM measurements, with a greater proportion of the variation due to differences within seasons for the routine monitoring data and a greater proportion of the variation due to differences across locations for the exposure assessment study data. Such differences likely arose due to differences in the strategies used to select sites for sampling and in the time periods over which the data were collected. With the exception of bromodichloromethane, measurement errors due to sampling and analysis contributed a small proportion of the total variation in THM levels. Conclusions: The utility of routine monitoring data in assigning exposure in epidemiological studies is limited because such data may not represent the magnitude of spatial variability in levels of disinfection by-products across the distribution system. Measurement error contributes a relatively small proportion to the total variation in THM levels, which suggests that gathering a greater number of samples over time with fewer replicates collected at each sampling location is more efficient and would likely yield improved estimates of household exposure.
Turning Over Patient Turnover: An Ethnographic Study of Admissions, Discharges, and Transfers

The impact on nursing work of patient turnover (admissions, discharges, and transfers) became evident in an ethnographic study of turbulence. The patient turnover data were generated from extensive observations, 21 formal interviews, and a year of admission and discharge records on one medical and one surgical unit. Timing of turnover events on the two units differed, but on both units admissions typically interrupted workflow more than did discharges, clustered admissions were more disruptive than staggered admissions, and patient turnover during change of shift was more disruptive than during medication administration. Understanding the complexity of patient turnover will elucidate the work involved and improve the evidence base for nurse staffing, a key determinant of quality and safety of care.
Les activités d’espionnage électronique et de contrôle d’Internet à l’ère de l’infonuagique : le cas de la Chine

Meme si environ quarante gouvernements controlent leur environnement virtuel, peu ont reussi a le faire aussi bien que la Chine. Au cours des dernieres annees, cette realite est devenue preoccupante en raison de la diffusion et du developpement rapide de l’infonuagique, lequel est decrit comme « le » mecanisme d’espionnage par excellence. Dans cet article, nous proposons un cadre qui permet de definir des contextes clairs et des mecanismes associes aux mesures de controle des regimes autoritaires. Nous developpons le concept de champ institutionnel forme autour du controle d’Internet dans les regimes autoritaires. Le fait de considerer le cybercontrole comme un champ institutionnel nous permet de nous pencher sur l’evolution des institutions cognitives, normatives et regulatrices. Nous proposons un modele qui explique la facon dont un champ institutionnel evolue.
Rapid Release of Plasmid DNA from Surfaces Coated with Polyelectrolyte Multilayers Promoted by the Application of Electrochemical Potentials

We report an approach to the rapid release of DNA based on the application of electrochemical potentials to surfaces coated with polyelectrolyte-based thin films. We fabricated multilayered polyelectrolyte films (or “polyelectrolyte multilayers”, PEMs) using plasmid DNA and a model hydrolytically degradable cationic poly(β-amino ester) (polymer 1) on stainless steel substrates using a layer-by-layer approach. The application of continuous reduction potentials in the range of −1.1 to −0.7 V (vs a Ag/AgCl electrode) to film-coated electrodes in PBS at 37 °C resulted in the complete release of DNA over a period of 1–2 min. Film-coated electrodes incubated under identical conditions in the absence of applied potentials required 1–2 days for complete release. Control over the magnitude of the applied potential provided control over the rate at which DNA was released. The results of these and additional physical characterization experiments are consistent with a mechanism of film disruption that is promoted by ...
NOTES ON THE INDEPENDENCE NUMBER IN THE CARTESIAN PRODUCT OF GRAPHS

Every connected graph G with radius r(G) and independence number (G) obeys (G) r(G). Recently the graphs for which equality holds have been classied. Here we investigate the members of this class that are Cartesian products. We show that for non-trivial graphs G and H, (G2H) = r(G2H) if and only if one factor is a complete graph on two vertices, and the other is a nontrivial complete graph. We also prove a new (polynomial computable) lower bound (G2H) 2r(G)r(H) for the independence number and we classify graphs for which equality holds. The second part of the paper concerns independence irreducibility.
Reconstructing Directed Signed Gene Regulatory Network From Microarray Data

Great efforts have been made to develop both algorithms that reconstruct gene regulatory networks and systems that simulate gene networks and expression data, for the purpose of benchmarking network reconstruction algorithms. An interesting observation is that although many simulation systems chose to use Hill kinetics to generate data, none of the reconstruction algorithms were developed based on the Hill kinetics. One possible explanation is that, in Hill kinetics, activation and inhibition interactions take different mathematical forms, which brings additional combinatorial complexity into the reconstruction problem. We propose a new model that qualitatively behaves similar to the Hill kinetics, but has the same mathematical form for both activation and inhibition. We developed an algorithm to reconstruct gene networks based on this new model. Simulation results suggested a novel biological hypothesis that in gene knockout experiments, repressing protein synthesis to a certain extent may lead to better expression data and higher network reconstruction accuracy.