cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pedestrian detection by multispectral fusion

Security systems increasingly rely on the use of Automated Video Surveillance (AVS) technology. In particular the use of digital video renders itself to internet and local communications, remote monitoring, and to computer processing. AVS systems can perform many tedious and repetitive tasks currently performed by trained security personnel. AVS technology has already made some significant steps towards automating some basic security functions such as: motion detection, object tracking and event-based video recording. However, there are still many problems associated with just these automated functions, which need to be addressed further. Some examples of these problems are: the high "false alarm rate" and the "loss of track" under total or partial occlusion, when used under a wide range of operational parameters (day, night, sunshine, cloudy, foggy, range, viewing angle, clutter, etc.). Current surveillance systems work well only under a narrow range of operational parameters. Therefore, they need be hardened against a wide range of operational conditions. In this paper, we present a Multi-spectral fusion approach to perform accurate pedestrian segmentation under varying operational parameters. Our fusion method combines the "best" detection results from the visible images and the "best" from the thermal images. Commonly, the motion detection results in the visible images are easily affected by noise and shadows. The objects in the thermal image are relatively stable, but they may be missing some parts of the objects, because they thermally blend with the background. Our method makes use of the "best" object components and de-emphasize the "not best".
Identification and Characterization of Galectin-9, a Novel β-Galactoside-binding Mammalian Lectin

A 36-kDa β-galactoside mammalian lectin protein, designated as galectin-9, was isolated from mouse embryonic kidney by using a degenerate primer polymerase chain reaction and cloning strategy. Its deduced amino acid sequence had the characteristic conserved sequence motif of galectins. Endogenous galectin-9, extracted from liver and thymus, as well as recombinant galectin-9 exhibited specific binding activity for the lactosyl group. It had two distinct N- and C-terminal carbohydrate-binding domains connected by a link peptide, with no homology to any other protein. Galectin-9 had an alternate splicing isoform, exclusively expressed in the small intestine with a 31-amino acid insertion between the N-terminal domain and link peptide. Sequence homology analysis revealed that the C-terminal carbohydrate-binding domain of mouse galectin-9 had extensive similarity to that of monomeric rat galectin-5. The presence of galectin-5 in the mouse could not be demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction or by Northern or Southern blot genomic DNA analyses. Sequence comparison of rat galectin-5 and rat galectin-9 cDNA did not reveal identical nucleotide sequences in the overlapping C-terminal carbohydrate-binding domain, indicating that galectin-9 is not an alternative splicing isoform of galectin-5. However, galectin-9 had a sequence identical with that of its intestinal isoform in the overlapping regions in both species. Southern blot genomic DNA analyses, using the galectin-9 specific probe derived from the N-terminal carbohydrate-binding domain, indicated the presence of a novel gene encoding galectin-9 in both mice and rats. In contrast to galectin-5, which is mainly expressed in erythrocytes, galectin-9 was found to be widely distributed, i.e. in liver, small intestine, thymus > kidney, spleen, lung, cardiac and skeletal muscle > reticulocyte, brain. Collectively, these data indicate that galectin-9 is a new member of the galectin gene family and has a unique intestinal isoform.
Voices About Choices: The Role of Female Networks in Affirming Life Choices in the Academy

This essay addresses the topic of women's professional development in the academy, noting the critical roles fulfilled by support networks. Research and personal narratives explore the diverse choices women make, the resistance they sometimes face, and the need to find validation for those choices. Recognizing the importance of women's achievement of tenure and publication, the authors also challenge the notion that those traditional measures of academic success are the only, or the best, way to assess women's professional development.
Nonlinear L1 approximation of smooth functions

In this paper we shall consider certain aspects of nonlinear approximation of smooth functions in the L, norm on an interval [a, b] of the real line. In particular it will be shown that under certain circumstances (which would include many practical situations) second derivative techniques are applicable. This leads to checkable sufficient conditions for a local best approximation and makes applicable certain numerical techniques such as Newton’s method. We also consider the unicity problem and extend certain results in [l, 21 given for L, spaces with p > 2 to the setting of this paper. The approximation problem we consider is as follows. An open set S of Euclidean N-space EN is given and a map A(*): S + C]a, b] such that the map x + A”(x, ., .) is continuous on S where A”(x, -, .) is the second FrCchet derivative of the map A at the point X. Moreover we will assume that
The effects of cytochalasin b on the microfilaments of baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells

Attempts were made to test the motile functions of bundles of microfilaments found in baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells, by using cytochalasin B (CB). It was found that individual cells respond differently to the drug. These differential effects are quite obvious in both light and electron microscope preparations. Some cells contain normal bundles of microfilaments even after 24 hr in CB, and other cells form muscle-like configurations which also contain arrays of microfilaments. These varied effects suggest the existence of several types of microfilaments in BHK-21 cells, and make the interpretation of the motile role of microfilaments difficult to evaluate at the present time.
Implementation of optical and optoelectronic circuits.

This paper is concerned with the design of optical and optoelectronic circuits. In particular new designs for an exclusive-or circuit, set–reset trigger flip-flop, and a programmable logic array (PLA) are proposed. The PLA utilizes optical properties and performs computation on binary images using optical parallel logic devices, lenses, etc. This work is then extended to the design of erasable programmable logic devices.
Separation and characterization of post-labeled DNA adducts of stereoisomers of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide by immobilized boronate chromatography and HPLC analysis

The carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is enzymatically activated in cells to an ultimate carcinogenic metabolite, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10- epoxide (BaPDE), which reacts with DNA to form covalent adducts involved in the initiation of cancer. Previously, a post-labeling procedure that uses adenosine-5'-O-(3'-[35S]-thiotriphosphate) was developed to facilitate adduct analysis by HPLC. The much greater carcinogenic potency of (+)-anti-BaPDE makes it essential to be able to separate and identify the adducts formed by all four BaPDE enantiomers in DNA of cells exposed to BaP. Reversed-phase HPLC (RPHPLC) resolved the major (+)-anti-BaPDE-N2-deoxyguanosine [(+)-anti-BaPDE-N2-dG] adduct from the (+)-syn-BaPDE-N2-dG adduct. However, anti-BaPDE-N2-dG adducts formed by (+)- and (-)-anti-BaPDE were not resolved. By using ion-pair RPHPLC (IP-RPHPLC) with tetrabutylammonium phosphate, the [35S]post-labeled (-)-anti-BaPDE-N2-dG adduct eluted 3 min prior to the [35S]labeled (+)-anti-BaPDE-N2-dG adduct. In contrast, the major syn-BaPDE-N2-dG adducts were resolved better by RPHPLC than by IP-RPHPLC. The difference in conditions required for optimal separation of anti- and syn-BaPDE-DNA adducts necessitated the development of an immobilized boronate chromatography technique for the separation of anti- from syn-BaPDE-DNA adducts prior to analytical HPLC analysis. At 4 degrees C and with elution buffers containing high salt concentrations, the [35S]post-labeled anti-BaPDE-DNA adducts were selectively retained by a boronate column whereas the [35S]labeled syn-BaPDE-DNA adducts were not. Analysis of the multiple BaP-DNA adducts formed in BaP-treated hamster embryo cells by these techniques gave results comparable to those obtained by other methods. The major BaP-DNA adducts were anti-BaPDE-N2-dG, 14% from (-)- and 86% from (+)-anti-BaPDE. The ability of these techniques to detect low levels of PAH-DNA adducts because of the high specific radioactivity of 35S and to separate the DNA adducts formed by stereoisomeric PAH diol epoxides adducts by boronate by stereoisomeric PAH diol epoxides adducts by boronate chromatography and HPLC will facilitate studies of the role of individual PAH-DNA adducts in the induction of biological effects such as toxicity and carcinogenesis.
Characterization of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in cholesteryl ester storage disease

Cholesteryl ester storage disease, caused by the loss of lysosomal acid ester hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.13), has been previously associated with hyperlipidemia and premature atherosclerosis. We identified a 23-month-old female with cholesteryl ester storage disease and characterized the plasma lipids and lipoproteins in the proband and her family. These studies illustrate several important points about this disease. First, a high index of suspicion is required to diagnose this disease since the major physical manifestation of the disorder, mild hepatomegaly, is subtle. Second, the Type II hyperlipoproteinemia in the proband is paralleled by a reduction in the concentration of high density lipoproteins. Third, analysis of the plasma lipids and lipoproteins in family members revealed both Type II and Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia with an inheritance pattern similar to that of familial combined hyperlipoproteinemia. Fourth, the parents and brother of this patient had 50% normal fibroblast acid ester hydrolase activity. These results raise the possibility that deficiency of the lysosomal acid ester hydrolase may be linked to familial combined hyperlipoproteinemia and that this enzyme deficiency may be more common than previously appreciated.
Molecular characterization of glass fiber surface coatings for thermosetting polymer matrix/glass fiber composites

Model multi-component glass fiber sizings, with formulations based upon current patent disclosures, were prepared to model the full coating packages used in commercial glass fiber manufacture. The sizings consisted of silane coupling agent, film former, and emulsifying surfactant in water and were applied to glass fibers prepared directly from molten glass. Fibers were analyzed before and after acetone extraction. The analyses of the extract solutions, with the fiber analysis, were used to determine the quantity and quality of the physically and chemically adsorbed layers. It was found that all three species remain on the fiber after extraction and that both coupling agent and surfactant concentrations in the coatings are higher than in the applied sizing. The impact of these species on the polymer composite/glass fiber interphase is discussed.
Increased risk of lymphoid and nonlymphoid malignancies in patients with lymphomatoid papulosis

BACKGROUND Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a rare skin disease with malignant potential. The long term outcomes of patients with this disease have not been adequately assessed. METHODS Fifty-seven patients with biopsy-proven LyP and 67 controls matched for age, gender, and race were followed prospectively from 1988 to 1996. Reported malignancies were confirmed by surgical pathology and/or autopsy reports. A search through the National Death Index through December 1995 was conducted to identify all deaths, and death certificates were procured. Expected numbers of malignancies based on SEER data were calculated for both the patient and the control groups. RESULTS Six LyP patients (10.5%) and 1 control (1.5%) reported nonlymphoid malignancies (P = 0.047). Two patients and no controls developed lymphoid malignancies (mycosis fungoides and CD30+ cutaneous lymphoma). The expected numbers of nonlymphoid and lymphoid malignancies in the LyP patient group, based on the SEER data, were 1.93 and 0.15, respectively, yielding a relative risk (with 95% confidence interval) of 3.11 (1.26–6.47) for nonlymphoid malignancies and 13.33 (2.24–44.05) for malignant lymphomas in the LyP patients. There was no significant difference between the observed and expected numbers of malignancies in the control group. Four LyP patients died during the follow-up, three due to malignancies; and one control died of a gunshot wound to the head (suicide). The difference in overall survival between the LyP patients and the controls was not statistically significant (P = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS Patients with LyP appear to have an increased risk of both lymphoid and nonlymphoid malignancies. The increased risk of nonlymphoid as well as lymphoid malignancies may suggest a basic underlying genetic defect leading to the development of malignancy in LyP patients. Cancer 1999;86:1240–5. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
On an SSOR matrix relationship and its consequences

A matrix relationship connecting the Jacobi and the Symmetric Successive Overrelaxation (SSOR) matrices associated with a k-cyclic consistently ordered matrix A is presented. Next the equivalence of the SSOR method and a certain monoparametric k-step one for the solution of the linear algebraic system Ax = b is established. The aforementioned equivalence can be exploited to derive regions of convergence, optimum parameters involved, etc. of the two iterative methods above. This is done by studying the simplest of the two methods that is the monoparametric k-step one. To show how the idea works the case k = 2 is very briefly discussed.
Collaborative Production of Proposals in Group Decision Making

This study suggests that argument as a language game in group interaction can be analyzed, using a discourse-analytic approach, to inform small group scholars about the relationship between influence and decision outcomes. To accomplish its purpose, the study analyzes a decision-making episode in an organizational group and focuses upon one specific speech act, the proposal. As a speech act, the proposal is central to the decision-making quality of the group in that it entails the structural expansion necessary for consensus-seeking discussion. The article shows how the development of the proposal in group interaction can satisfy the requirements for effective group decisions as outlined by Hirokawa (1988).
Formylated bile acids: Improved synthesis, properties, and partial deformylation

Pure performylated bile acids are obtained in quantitative yield by a new formylation procedure. The procedure involves heating the bile acids in 90% formic acid containing catalytic amount of perchloric acid and then adding acetic anhydride slowly until effervescence occurs. Pure performylated bile acids are then isolated simply by diluting the reaction mixture with water. Contrary to what was believed by past investigations, the formyl groups on these compounds are quite stable to various reaction conditions. The stability and ready availability of these compounds make them more suitable candidates than their counterpart--bile acid acetates for use as starting material in various synthetic schemes, such as C-24 labeled bile acids, etc. The partial deformylation of these formates can be effected by using methanolic ammonia, sodium methoxide in methanol, or sodium hydroxide in aqueous acetone. The resultiing 3-hydroxy formyl bile acids are obtained in high yield and are the best starting materials for the synthesis of bile acids with specific modification at 3-hydroxyl group, such as the synthesis of bile acid 3-monosulfates and 3-monoglucuronides.
Special Factor Adjustment Model Using Fuzzy-Neural Network in Traffic Prediction

The second part of the framework of a traffic prediction model proposed in a previous paper is presented. The model first eliminates the noise caused by random travel conditions by using a wavelet denoising method, the topic of the earlier paper. The model then quantitatively calculates the influence of special factors by using a fuzzy-neural network.
Eastside Landmark: A History of the East Los Angeles Community Union, 1968-1993

Introduction: TELACU's significance in Mexican-American History 1. National precursors and local founders 2. The Chicano movement on the Eastside 3. Nueva Maravilla and East LA self-government 4. The master plan and TELACU industrial park 5. Regional, national, and international networks 6. Politics on the Eastside 7. TELACU under investigation 8. Resurgence of TELACU and the Eastside Conclusion: TELACU's larger significance Notes Works cited Index.
What do pediatricians in training know about the correct use of inhalers and spacer devices

Most patients with asthma in the United States are cared for by nonspecialist physicians. Because inhaled medications are the mainstay of asthma therapy and their successful use requires both practical skills and theoretic knowledge, we wondered how much nonspecialist physicians know about the use of metered-dose inhalers and spacer devices. Fifty pediatricians in training were interviewed individually. Practical knowledge was assessed by asking each to demonstrate correct use of a placebo inhaler and a spacer device (Inspirease [Key Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Miami, Fla.] and Aerochamber with mask [Monaghan Medical Corp., Plattsburgh, N.Y.]). Of the seven recommended steps for use of metered-dose inhalers, the residents demonstrated an average of 3.8 steps correctly. The most common errors included not shaking the metered-dose inhaler before use (18% of residents correct) and insufficient breath holding (28% correct). In testing spacer use, the most common errors included not shaking the canister (16% correct) and incorrect number of activations and inhalations (12% correct). Many residents were not familiar with correct assembly of the spacer (48% correct). Theoretic knowledge of metered-dose inhaler and spacer use was evaluated by a written questionnaire. The most common deficiencies in theoretic knowledge related to the purpose of slow inspiration and breath holding. Most of the participants had been treating children with asthma and had prescribed metered-dose inhalers (45 of 50, 90%) and spacer devices (76%) in the past.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Coverage‐adjusted entropy estimation

Data on 'neural coding' have frequently been analyzed using information-theoretic measures. These formulations involve the fundamental and generally difficult statistical problem of estimating entropy. We review briefly several methods that have been advanced to estimate entropy and highlight a method, the coverage-adjusted entropy estimator (CAE), due to Chao and Shen that appeared recently in the environmental statistics literature. This method begins with the elementary Horvitz-Thompson estimator, developed for sampling from a finite population, and adjusts for the potential new species that have not yet been observed in the sample-these become the new patterns or 'words' in a spike train that have not yet been observed. The adjustment is due to I. J. Good, and is called the Good-Turing coverage estimate. We provide a new empirical regularization derivation of the coverage-adjusted probability estimator, which shrinks the maximum likelihood estimate. We prove that the CAE is consistent and first-order optimal, with rate O(P)(1/log n), in the class of distributions with finite entropy variance and that, within the class of distributions with finite qth moment of the log-likelihood, the Good-Turing coverage estimate and the total probability of unobserved words converge at rate O(P)(1/(log n)(q)). We then provide a simulation study of the estimator with standard distributions and examples from neuronal data, where observations are dependent. The results show that, with a minor modification, the CAE performs much better than the MLE and is better than the best upper bound estimator, due to Paninski, when the number of possible words m is unknown or infinite.
The legacy of harvest and fire on ecosystem carbon storage in a north temperate forest

Forest harvesting and wildfire were widespread in the upper Great Lakes region of North America during the early 20th century. We examined how long this legacy of disturbance constrains forest carbon (C) storage rates by quantifying C pools and fluxes after harvest and fire in a mixed deciduous forest chronosequence in northern lower Michigan, USA. Study plots ranged in age from 6 to 68 years and were created following experimental clear-cut harvesting and fire disturbance. Annual C storage was estimated biometrically from measurements of wood, leaf, fine root, and woody debris mass, mass losses to herbivory, soil C content, and soil respiration. Maximum annual C storage in stands that were disturbed by harvest and fire twice was 26% less than a reference stand receiving the same disturbance only once. The mechanism for this reduction in annual C storage was a long-lasting decrease in site quality that endured over the 62-year timeframe examined. However, during regrowth the harvested and burned forest rapidly became a net C sink, storing 0.53MgCha � 1 yr � 1 after 6 years. Maximum net ecosystem production (1.35MgCha � 1 yr � 1 ) and annual C increment (0.95MgCha � 1 yr � 1 ) were recorded in the 24and 50-year-old stands, respectively. Net primary production averaged 5.19MgCha � 1 yr � 1 in experimental stands, increasing by o10% from 6 to 50 years. Soil heterotrophic respiration was more variable across stand ages, ranging from 3.85MgCha � 1 yr � 1 in the 6-year-old stand to 4.56MgCha � 1 yr � 1 in the 68-year-old stand. These results suggest
SN 2008iy: an unusual Type IIn Supernova with an enduring 400‐d rise time

We present spectroscopic and photometric observations of the Type IIn supernova (SN) 2008iy. SN 2008iy showed an unprecedentedly long rise time of ~400 d, making it the first known SN to take significantly longer than 100 d to reach peak optical luminosity. The peak absolute magnitude of SN 2008iy was M r ≈ -19.1 mag, and the total radiated energy over the first ~700 d was ~2 x 10 50 erg. Spectroscopically, SN 2008iy is very similar to the Type IIn SN 1988Z at late times and, like SN 1988Z, it is a luminous X-ray source (both SNe had an X-ray luminosity L X > 10 41 erg s -1 ). SN 2008iy has a growing near-infrared excess at late times similar to several other SNe IIn. The Hα emission-line profile of SN 2008iy shows a narrow P Cygni absorption component, implying a pre-SN wind speed of ~100 km s -1 . We argue that the luminosity of SN 2008iy is powered via the interaction of the SN ejecta with a dense, clumpy circumstellar medium. The ~400-d rise time can be understood if the number density of clumps increases with distance over a radius ~1.7 x 10 16 cm from the progenitor. This scenario is possible if the progenitor experienced an episodic phase of enhanced mass loss < 1 century prior to explosion or if the progenitor wind speed increased during the decades before core collapse. We favour the former scenario, which is reminiscent of the eruptive mass-loss episodes observed for luminous blue variable (LBV) stars. The progenitor wind speed and increased mass-loss rates serve as further evidence that at least some, and perhaps all, Type IIn SNe experience LBV-like eruptions shortly before core collapse. We also discuss the host galaxy of SN 2008iy, a subluminous dwarf galaxy, and offer a few reasons why the recent suggestion that unusual, luminous SNe preferentially occur in dwarf galaxies may be the result of observational biases.
Document image binarization via one-pass local classification

Binarization algorithms are used to create a binary representation of a raster document image, typically with the intent of identifying text and separating it from background content. In this paper, we propose a binarization algorithm via one-pass local classification. The algorithm first generates the initial binarization results by local thresholding, then corrects the results by a one-pass local classification strategy, followed by the process of component inversion. The experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm achieves a somewhat lower binarization error rate than the state-of-the-art algorithm COS [1], while requiring significantly less computation.
Privacy and confidentiality in healthcare delivery information system

The issue of confidentiality and invasion of privacy has become increasingly prominent as the use of computing and communication technologies becomes widespread. The importance of individual privacy has long been recognized in a democratic society. Laws and regulations, such as privacy and freedom of information acts, have been introduced to assure and safeguard individual rights. However, the meaning and actual requirements of information and data security for protecting these rights has not been clearly understood. Information security concerns in health care delivery information systems are particularly sensitive. This plenary address is intended to stimulate discussions at the conference on identifying and representing information security requirements and semantics for the development of security policies and enforcement techniques for healthcare delivery information system.
On-Chip Slot-Ring and High-Gain Horn Antennas for Millimeter-Wave Wafer-Scale Silicon Systems

This paper presents on-chip slot-ring and horn antennas for wafer-scale silicon systems. A high efficiency is achieved using a 100-μm quartz superstrate on top of the silicon chip, and a low-loss microstrip transformer using the silicon back-end metallization. A finite ground plane is also used to reduce the power coupled to the TEM mode. The slot-ring and 1-λ02 horn achieve a measured gain of 0-2 and 6-8 dBi at 90-96 GHz, respectively, and a radiation efficiency of ~50%. The horns achieve a high antenna gain without occupying a large area on the silicon wafer, thus resulting in a low-cost system. The designs are compatible with either single- or two-antenna transceivers, or with wafer-scale imaging systems and power-combining arrays.
Realization of a high-assurance multiplexer using FPGA-based single-chip cryptography

A High Assurance Multiplexer can be used to combine all channels of a MSLS system into a single stream that accommodates all of the channels to be transported at each end of the multiplexed link. The multiplexer/demultiplexer is termed “High Assurance” because it guarantees the integrity of the channel separation process such that, even under multiple failure conditions, the design assures that data from one channel is not inadvertently mixed with or sent to another channel.
FT-IR Diagnostics of Tungsten-Halogen Lamps: Role of Halogen Concentration, Phosphorus, Wall Material, and Burning Environment

A 24 factorial design matrix experiment is conducted to measure the effects of four different parameters on the HBr and CO levels in tungsten-halogen lamps as a function of burn time. The two gas species are measured at room temperature with the use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The four parameters varied are (1) initial halogen concentration (as CH3Br); (2) presence or lack of phosphorus; (3) bulb wall material; and (4) burning environment. The effects of these parameters on lamp efficacy and life are also analyzed. In addition, separate oven results show that a small amount of HBr is initially adsorbed onto the bulb surfaces. Also, results are given for separate CO measurements over a wider range of initial CH3Br fill for bulbs with and without phosphorus.
The History of Urology in Cleveland, Ohio

Introduction Urology in Cleveland, as in the rest of the country, has evolved greatly over the past century. The recent passing of Resnick and Novick warrants a review of Cleveland's rich urological history. Materials and Methods We reviewed historical and scientific literature and interviewed Cleveland urologists. Results Lower joined his cousin Crile as professor at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) before they cofounded the Cleveland Clinic (CC) in 1921. Goldblatt at CWRU discovered renovascular hypertension, leading Poutasse at CC to develop renovascular arteriography and bypass surgery. Kolff brought his greatest invention, dialysis, to the United States when he joined CC. Straffon put CC's renal transplant program on the map through his success with deceased donor transplants. Persky, renowned at radical prostatectomies, chaired urology at CWRU for nearly 30 years and trained 6 future university department chairpersons. Resnick succeeded him and became one of the eminent figures in urology; an authority on numerous subjects, president of the American Urological Association and American Board of Urology (ABU) and Editor of the Journal of Urology . Novick, who became chairman at CC in 1985, was the consummate renal surgeon; he was adept at renal revascularization and transplantation, but his greatest surgical innovation was the partial nephrectomy. He likewise held many positions, including president of the ABU. Conclusions Cleveland has been a driving force in the evolution of urology in the last century. Resnick and Novick led a golden age of urology for several decades until their recent untimely passings.
Identifying Phonological Coding Problems in Disabled Readers: Naming, Counting, or Span Measures?.

This article focuses on assessment and diagnosis of phonological coding problems in young children. Phonological coding is defined as the representation of information about the sound structure of verbal stimuli in memory. Phonological coding deficits are tightly linked to difficulties in acquiring early word-reading skills. The task most widely used to assess phonological coding difficulties in disabled readers has been memory span for items like digits, words, or letters. However, naming-rate or simple articulation-rate tasks may provide more sensitive measures of coding difficulties. We propose that the best measure of phonological coding difficulties may be a combination of tasks currently being developed.
Energetics, structure, and rovibrational spectroscopic properties of the sulfurous anions SNO(-) and OSN(.).

The SNO− and OSN− anions are shown in this work to be very stable negatively charged species in line with other recent work [T. Trabelsi et al., J. Chem. Phys. 143, 164301 (2015)]. Utilizing established quartic force field techniques, the structural and rovibrational data for these anions are produced. The SNO− anion is less linear and has weaker bonds than the corresponding neutral radical giving much smaller rotational constants. OSN− is largely unchanged in these regards with inclusion of the additional electron. The S–N bond is actually stronger, and the rotational constants of OSN− versus OSN are similar. The vibrational frequencies of SNO− are red-shifted from the radical while those in OSN− are mixed. OSN− has mixing of the stretching modes while the S–N and N–S stretches of SNO− are largely independent of one another. The ω3 stretches are much brighter in these anions than they are in the radicals, but the ω1 stretches are still the brightest.
From the Nature of Meaning to a Phenomenological Refiguring of Nature

I argue that reconciling nature with human experience requires a new ontology in which nature is refigured as being in and of itself meaningful, thus reconfiguring traditional dualisms and the ‘hard problem of consciousness’. But this refiguring of nature entails a method in which nature itself can exhibit its conceptual reconfiguration—otherwise we get caught in various conceptual and methodological problems that surreptitiously reduplicate the problem we are seeking to resolve. I first introduce phenomenology as a methodology fit to this task, then show how life manifests a field in which nature in and of itself exhibits meaningfulness, such that this field can serve as a starting point for this phenomenological project. Finally, I take immunogenesis as an example in which living phenomena can guide insights into the ontology in virtue of which meaning arises in nature.
Optimal use of budget reserves to minimize technical and management failure risks during complex project development

Project managers are recognizing that adequate resource reserves are a critical success factor in a project development environment that is complex and uncertain. Yet, justifying the need for project reserves is still a challenge, as is the optimal allocation of any available resources to minimize development uncertainties. This paper presents a multiperiod decision model designed to support the management of reserves considering the risks of failures including technical, managerial, i.e., exceeding budget and schedule, or strategic, i.e., meeting budget, schedule, and technical specifications but not achieving the full strategic value of the project. In this paper, we examine the tradeoffs among these risks and their implications for resource allocation during a project's development phase. This decision support model is referred to as Dynamic Advanced Probabilistic Risk Analysis Model. It provides decision makers with a quantitative tool to allocate reserves (beyond the bare-bone minimum project costs) among project reserves, technical reinforcements of the engineered system, and product enhancements, with the advantage of flexibility over time. The model yields first, coarse estimates of the value of deferring some commitments about the product's design until critical uncertainties are resolved and second, an estimate of the optimal amount to be invested in testing and reviews. We show that the greater the uncertainties at the onset of the development phase, the greater the value of this information.
Session 13: Emerging technologies - nanotechnologies for medicine and biology

This special session showcases the emerging use of microfabrication and nanofabrication technologies in the life sciences. These technologies are poised to revolutionize biology and medicine through spectacular progress in drug delivery, tissue engineering, molecular/cellular diagnostics, drug discovery, and the development of artificial organs. This session features invited presentations from leading researchers in the field to provide a glimpse of the impressive developments that are taking place in this field. The first three papers illustrate examples of components development and system integration technologies for implantable medical microsystems, such as a retinal prosthetis, cochlear implants and brain implanted neurosensor arrays. Among others, these papers illustrate the use of MEMS and NENS technologies to enable new microelectrode arrays as well as new flexible chip embedding technology for implantable system integration. The following two papers present novel techniques for drug delivery that exploit advances in MEMS technology and Si nanowire engineering. A MEMS-based microcavity device allows controlled and fast drug release. Si nanowires are used to enhance the adhesion properties of drug delivery platforms which in this way can release drugs continuously despite harsh biological conditions.
Food availability and physiological state of sea urchin larvae ( Strongylocentrotus purpuratus )

Food availability is highly variable in the ocean. Many species of marine invertebrates have a larval form that depends upon exogenous nutrients for growth, yet there are few biochemical and physiological indices for determining changes in the nutritional status of larvae. In this study, the effects of food availability on biochemical compositions and metabolic processes of larvae of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, were determined. Larvae were cultured under different food concentrations (fed-to-excess and unfed) and a suite of biological processes assayed, ranging from measurements at the level of the whole organism to that of specific molecules. These data were normalized to DNA content (an index of cell number) to allow comparisons of physiological rates in larvae of different sizes. Changes in the following were measured during larval growth: free amino acid pool, protein, lipid classes (cholesterol, free fatty acids, hydrocarbons, phospholipids, triacylglycerol), enzyme activities (Na+, K+-ATPase and citrate synthase), and respiration rates. In growing larvae, the two key components that showed differential cell-specific content relative to unfed larvae were glycine in the free amino acid pool and phospholipids. Additionally, several lipid classes were detectable only in fed larvae (cholesterols, free fatty acids, and hydrocarbons). While triacylglycerols were present in eggs and utilized during pre-feeding development, they were not re-accumulated at detectable levels in feeding larvae. Respiration rates, protein content, and enzyme activities were all similar on a cell-specific basis, showing that these variables did not provide useful indices of differences in physiological state between fed and unfed larvae. In contrast, measurements of the cell-specific content of glycine and certain lipid classes did provide useful indices of physiological state of larvae. Application of these indices could potentially allow for determinations of nutritional state of larvae in the ocean.
Autoimmune Dementia: Clinical Course and Predictors of Immunotherapy Response

OBJECTIVE To define the diagnostic characteristics and predictors of treatment response in patients with suspected autoimmune dementia. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2009, 72 consecutive patients received immunotherapy for suspected autoimmune dementia. Their baseline clinical, radiologic, and serologic characteristics were reviewed and compared between patients who were responsive to immunotherapy and those who were not. Patients were classified as responders if the treating physician had reported improvement after immunotherapy (documented in 80% by the Kokmen Short Test of Mental Status, neuropsychological testing, or both). RESULTS Initial immunotherapeutic regimens included methylprednisolone in 56 patients (78%), prednisone in 12 patients (17%), dexamethasone in 2 patients (3%), intravenous immune globulin in 1 patient (1%), and plasma exchange in 1 patient (1%). Forty-six patients (64%) improved, most in the first week of treatment. Thirty-five percent of these immunotherapy responders were initially diagnosed as having a neurodegenerative or prion disorder. Pretreatment and posttreatment neuropsychological score comparisons revealed improvement in almost all cognitive domains, most notably learning and memory. Radiologic or electroencephalographic improvements were reported in 22 (56%) of 39 patients. Immunotherapy responsiveness was predicted by a subacute onset ( P P P =.007), shorter delay to treatment ( P =.005), seropositivity for a cation channel complex autoantibody ( P =.01; neuronal voltage-gated potassium channel more than calcium channel or neuronal acetylcholine receptor), and elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein (>100 mg/dL) or pleocytosis ( P =.02). Of 26 immunotherapy-responsive patients followed up for more than 1 year, 20 (77%) relapsed after discontinuing immunotherapy. CONCLUSION Identification of clinical and serologic clues to an autoimmune dementia allows early initiation of immunotherapy, and maintenance if needed, thus favoring an optimal outcome.
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, but Names will Make Me Feel Sick: The Psychosocial, Somatic, and Scholastic Consequences of Peer Harassment.

This study examined associations among peer victimization, psychosocial problems, physical symptoms, and school functioning across the 1st year in middle school. An ethnically diverse sample of urban 6th graders (N = 1,526) reported on their perceptions of peer victimization, psychosocial adjustment, and physical symptoms during fall and spring. Objective measures of school functioning (i.e., grade point average and absences) were also collected. In Model 1, peer victimization in the fall was associated with spring psychosocial maladjustment and physical symptoms, which in turn predicted poor spring school functioning. Model 2 suggested that psychosocial difficulties increase the risk of victimization, although physical symptoms did not predict victimization. No sex or ethnic group (African American, Asian, European American, and Latino) differences were found in the model structure or the strength of the path coefficients for either model, suggesting that the process is the same for boys and girls and st...
ACTIVIST POLICY AND MACROECONOMIC INSTABILITY

Abstract This paper investigates the consequences of activist monetary policy in a small, aggregate macroeconomic model which embodies traditional hypotheses of price and output determination. It is shown that deterministic control problems with inflation and full employment as objectives may be solved, but multiple-target stochastic control problems will lead to instability in both the targets and the policy instrument.
Habitat‐associated morphological divergence in two Neotropical fish species

We examined intraspecific morphological diversification between river channel and lagoon habitats for two Neotropical fish (Bryconops caudomaculatus, Characidae; Biotodoma wavrini, Cichlidae). We hypothesized that differences between habitats (e.g. flow regime, foraging opportunities) might create selective pressures resulting in morphological divergence between conspecific populations. We collected fish from four channel-lagoon habitat pairs in the Rio Cinaruco, Venezuela, and compared body morphology using geometric morphometrics. There were two aspects of divergence in both species: (1) placement of maximum body depth and (2) orientation of the mouth. For both species, maximum body depth was positioned more anteriorly (i.e. fusiform) in the river channel than in lagoons. Both species exhibited a relatively terminal mouth in lagoons compared to the channel. The mouth of B. caudomaculatus was relatively upturned, whereas the mouth of B. wavrini was relatively subterminal, in channel habitats. Observed morphological patterns are consistent with functional morphological principles suggesting adaptive divergence. We also show that spatial distance between habitats, presumably reflecting rates of population mixing, appears to have constrained diversification. For both species, morphological divergence increased with distance between habitats. Thus morphological divergence between channel and lagoon habitats apparently reflects a balance between diversification driven by natural selection, and homogenization driven by population mixing.
Efficiency of the Wilcoxon Two-Sample Statistic for Randomized Blocks

Abstract A measure is suggested of the efficiency of a randomized block design for the comparison of two treatments by means of a Wilcoxon-type analysis. It is shown how the efficiency can be estimated from data of a randomized block design.
iSAX: disk-aware mining and indexing of massive time series datasets

Current research in indexing and mining time series data has produced many interesting algorithms and representations. However, the algorithms and the size of data considered have generally not been representative of the increasingly massive datasets encountered in science, engineering, and business domains. In this work, we introduce a novel multi-resolution symbolic representation which can be used to index datasets which are several orders of magnitude larger than anything else considered in the literature. To demonstrate the utility of this representation, we constructed a simple tree-based index structure which facilitates fast exact search and orders of magnitude faster, approximate search. For example, with a database of one-hundred million time series, the approximate search can retrieve high quality nearest neighbors in slightly over a second, whereas a sequential scan would take tens of minutes. Our experimental evaluation demonstrates that our representation allows index performance to scale well with increasing dataset sizes. Additionally, we provide analysis concerning parameter sensitivity, approximate search effectiveness, and lower bound comparisons between time series representations in a bit constrained environment. We further show how to exploit the combination of both exact and approximate search as sub-routines in data mining algorithms, allowing for the exact mining of truly massive real world datasets, containing tens of millions of time series.
H-Y Antigen in Testes of XX(BALB) XY (C3H) Chimaeric Male Mouse

Among experimentally produced BALB/C3H aggregation (Blastocyst fusion) chimaeras of the mouse, one fertile XX (BALB)/XY (C3H) male was identified who maintained 50% or more female cells in many parts of his body. Results of H-Y antibody absorption tests revealed an XY to XX transfer of testis-organizing H-Y antigen among testicular Sertoli and Leydig cells, but not among spleen and epidermal cells.
Bringing VALUE to LIFE

The results of the LIFE (Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction) trial were the first demonstration that there are differences in outcomes between antihypertensive medications, beyond the reduction in blood pressure. For the first time, a ‘new’ antihypertensive medication, an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) was shown to be superior over an ‘old’ drug, a beta blocker. However, there are questions remaining after LIFE, such as: was the reduction in stroke specific to ARBs? Why were there no greater reductions in cardiovascular mortality? What is the role of monotherapy versus a combination of ARB and a diuretic? Answers to several of these and other questions are expected from the VALUE (Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation) trial.
The zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata: an avian model for investigating the neurobiological basis of vocal learning.

Songbirds are capable of learning their vocalizations by copying a singing adult. This vocal learning ability requires juveniles to hear and memorize the sound of the adult song, and later to imitate it through a process involving sensorimotor integration. Vocal learning is a trait that songbirds share withhumans,where itforms the basisof spokenlanguage acquisition, withotheravian groups (parrots and hummingbirds), and with a few other mammals (cetaceans, bats). It is however absent in traditional model organisms such as rodents and nonhuman primates. Zebra finches, a songbird species fromAustralia,arepopularpetsandareeasytobreed.Theyalsosingarelativelysimpleandstereotyped song that is amenable to quantitative analysis. Zebra finches have thus emerged as a choice model organism for investigating the neurobiological basis of vocal learning. A number of tools and methodologies have been developed to characterize the bioacoustics properties of their song, analyze the degree of accurate copying during vocal learning, map the brain circuits that control singing and song learning, and investigate the physiology of these circuits. Such studies have led to a large base of knowledge on song production and learning, and their underlying neural substrate. Several molecular resources have recently become available, including brain cDNA/EST databases, microarrays, BAC libraries, a molecular brain atlas, a complete genome assembly, and the ability to perform transgenesis. The recent availability of many other avian genomes provides unique opportunities for comparative analysis in the search for features unique to vocal learning organisms.