cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating redundancies in reconfigurable antennas designed for MIMO systems

In this paper we investigate a new approach in optimizing the number of switches in reconfigurable antennas designed for MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) applications. Reducing the number of switches in reconfigurable antenna structures can lead to cost effective designs and reduce losses. Here a new optimization technique based on graph theory is introduced. A specific example is presented and analyzed to prove the validity of the new approach.
Linking multidimensional item calibrations

Invariance of trait scales across changing samples of items and examinees is a central tenet of item re sponse theory (IRT). However, scales defined by most IRT models are truly invariant with resp...
Far infrared absorption, vibrational spectra and structure of tetrafluoro-1,3-dithietane

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra of tetrafluoro-1,3-dithietane have been recorded and a complete vibrational analysis carried out. It is concluded from the lack of coincident frequencies that the molecule has a center of symmetry and belongs to the point group D2h. The observed frequencies are assigned to the eighteen normal vibrations of this point group. The puckering vibration of the four-membered ring, observed at 60 cm−1, appears to be harmonic or nearly so.
Enhancing pedicle screw fixation in the lumbar spine using allograft bone plug interference fixation

Study Design:A within-subjects controlled laboratory study.Objective:To examine a biological alternative to cement augmentation for pedicle screw fixation comparing bilateral axial pullout tests of augmented and nonaugmented (controls) pedicle screws.Summary of Background Data:Fixation in the osteop
Nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium fertilization affects growth and leaf elemental content of ‘dormanred’ raspberry

Abstract ’Dormanred’ raspberry (Rubus species) plants grown in sand culture were subjected to varying concentrations of N, Ca, and Mg over a two‐year period. Increasing nitrogen fertilization resulted in linear reductions of leaf Ca, K, Zn, Fe, and Mn but did not affect leaf Mg. Leaf Ca and K increased linearly with Ca fertilization, but applied Ca had an antagonistic influence on leaf Mg. Magnesium fertilization had a positive influence on leaf Mg but negatively affected leaf K, Ca, and Mn. Plant growth was negatively correlated with leaf Ca and leaf K, but had a positive correlation with leaf Mg and Mn. Nitrogen fertilization increased plant growth up to the mid‐level of applied N, but additional N reduced plant growth.
Soil and Atmosphere Influences on the Spectra of Partial Canopies

Abstract An atmospheric radiant transfer model was used to compare ground-measured radiances over partially vegetated canopies with their simulated responses at the top of a clear (100 km meteorological range) and a turbid (10 km) atmosphere. Radiance measurements in the first four bands of the Thematic Mapper were taken over incomplete cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L. ) and Lehmann lovegrass ( Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees) canopies with different soil backgrounds separately inserted underneath. Atmospheric influences on the spectra of partial canopies were found to be significantly dependent on the “brightness” of the underlying soil. The change in canopy red and near-infrared radiance between the ground and the top of the atmosphere was such that an increase, decrease, or no change could be observed, depending on the magnitude of the canopy substrate contribution. Both increasing soil “brightness” and atmospheric turbidity lowered the ratio (RVI) and normalized difference vegetation index values (NDVI). Consequently, atmospheric-induced RVI and NDVI degradation were greatest over canopies with darker soils and were not detectable over canopies with light-colored soils. In contrast, soil and atmospheric effects on the perpendicular vegetation index were independent with atmosphere degradation being similar across all soil backgrounds. Soil influences on vegetation indices from partial canopies were found to be of similar magnitude to those attributed to the atmosphere for the range of soil and atmosphere conditions examined here.
Augmented Cognition and Training in the Laboratory: DVTE System Validation

As the modern workplace becomes more complex, the training community needs to develop new strategies to continute to create a competent workforce. The emerging field of augmented cognition may be able to contribute greatly to increasing training capability through the use of neurophysiological measures that support real-time performance and can be used to satisfy some of the requirements of an automated intelligent tutoring system. The first step to building this system is to design and validate a testbed that can be used with future efforts to target effective mitigation strategies with learning efficiency. In this study, participants watched a computerized instructional presentation and then engaged in a practice CFF scenario in the simulator. When finished, each participant was assigned to either a low or high task load test scenario. In both, the goal was to destroy five enemy tanks. Some participants were also asked to simultaneously execute a secondary radar monitoring task. Both the National Aerona...
Chromatophoromas and Related Hyperplastic Lesions in Pacific Rockfish (Sebastes spp.)

Abstract Pacific rockfish were sampled from Cordell Bank, off central California, from 1985 to 1990. Hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions, involving dermal chromatophores, were observed in five species; yellowtail rockfish ( Sebastes flavidus ), bocaccio ( S. paucispinis ), olive rockfish ( S. serranoides ), widow rockfish ( S. entomelas ), and chilipepper rockfish ( S. goodei ). Yearly prevalences were highest, but static, in S. pancipinis , while prevalences in S. flavidus have risen steadily. The majority of lesions were black, but white, red, orange, yellow, and mixed color variants were also seen. Lesions were found in skin, fins, lips, gingiva, longue, urogenital papilla, and in the conjunctira and cornea of the eye. Flat lesions were consistent with either melanophore (black), erythrophore (red), or xanthophore (yellow) hyperplasia. Neoplastic lesions included melanophoromas, amelanotic melanophoromas, xanthophoromas, erythrophoromas, and mixed chromatophoromas. Electron microscopy did not reveal the presence of viruses and the etiology of the lesions has not been determined.
Statistical properties of thermodynamic quantities for cyclodextrin complex formation

Abstract Literature values of Δ G ° (change in Gibbs free energy), Δ H ° (change in enthalpy), and T Δ S ° (temperature times change in entropy) for 1:1 complex formation by α‐, β‐, and γ‐cyclodextrins constitute normally distributed populations with the following statistical parameters (all energy quantities in kcal mol −1 ; n is the number of data points; μ is the population mean; σ is the standard deviation): for α‐cyclodextrin, n = 512, μ Δ G = −2.85, σ Δ G = 1.23, μ Δ H = −4.77, σ Δ H = 2.98, μ T Δ S = −1.96, and σ T Δ S = 2.72; for β‐cyclodextrin, n = 415, μ Δ G = −3.67, σ Δ G = 1.37, μ Δ H = −4.24, σ Δ H = 2.89, μ Δ S = −0.56, and σ T Δ S = 2.63; for γ‐cyclodextrin, n = 42, μ Δ G = −3.71, σ Δ G = 1.19, μ Δ H = −3.10, σ Δ H = 3.39, μ T Δ S = +0.69, and σ T Δ S = 3.29. The temperature is 298.15 K. The mean Δ G ° values correspond to binding constants of 123, 490, and 525 M −1 for α‐, β‐, and γ‐cyclodextrins, respectively. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 89: 1389–1394, 2000
Gas turbine recuperator renaissance

Abstract In recent years it is true to say that for industrial gas turbines, recuperators have not found acceptance, and even the large increases in fuel prices in the 1970s failed to stimulate their utilization to a noticeable degree. For defense applications, however, where minimizing the total volume and weight of the engine and fuel inventory, together with having a low specific fuel consumption characteristic at part power (e.g. battle tank and marine propulsion) are paramount, recuperated engines are being used in ever increasing numbers. With earlier impediments now overcome (i.e. structural integrity, reliability, cost, etc.), technology spin-offs from defense programs should result in a renewed interest in recuperated engines for a wide spectrum of applications, and this is the major theme of the paper. The author would like to dedicate this paper to Prof. A. L. London of Stanford University on the occasion of his 75th birthday, and to give recognition of his significant technical contributions over many years, towards the realization of recuperators for many gas turbine applications.
Reaction of iron(II) with 1,2-cyclohexanedionedioxime in acid solution

Abstract Information about a decomposition of 1,2-cyclohexanedionedioxime in 0.1N acid has been presented. A spectrophotometric study of the reaction of Fe(II) with 1,2-cyclohexanedionedioxime in dilute, acetate buffered solutions containing no ammonia or amine has been reported. The ratio of 1,2-cyclohexanedionedioxime to Fe(II) was found to be 2:1 by JOB's method. The solid compound formed when an excess of 1,2-cyclohexanedionedioxime is added to more concentrated Fe(II) solutions has been studied. Analysis of the vacuum-dried solid is in agreement with the theoretical composition of the compound Fe(DH) 2 .2H 2 0.
Decomposition of dissolved organic matter from the continental margin

Decomposition of dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (DOC, DON, DOP) was measured for surface and bottom waters of the middle Atlantic bight (MAB) and deep slope water adjacent to the MAB on two occasions in March and August 1996. We used standard bottle incubation techniques to measure the decrease in dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations over a 180-day interval. Generally DOM concentrations in the MAB were elevated (125mM DOC, 10.2mM DON and 0.30mM DOP) relative to the surface ocean and deep slope water (46.7mM DOC, 2.76mM DON, 0.03mM DOP). On average the C:N:P ratio of shelf DOM (431:36:1) was substantially higher than the Redfield ratio, but not nearly as high for that of deep slope water (2700:215:1). Decomposition time course data were fit to a three-pool (very labile, labile, and recalcitrant pools) multi-G model using a Marquardt fitting routine. The threepool model was superior to a simple exponential decay model assuming a single pool of DOM. We observed no significant changes in concentration of DOM in deep-water samples, attesting to the old age of this material, its recalcitrant nature, and the cleanliness of our technique for measuring decomposition. There were major differences in the relative amount of very labile, labile and recalcitrant fractions of shelf-water DOC, DON and DOP as a result of preferential remineralization of P over N and N over C. Averaged over stations, the decomposable portion of the bulk DOC, DON and DOP pools increased from 30% to 40% to 81% for C, N and P. There was a wide range in decay coefficients for the very labile and labile DOM pools: average decay coefficient for the very labile pool was 0.219 d � 1 , and 0.018 d � 1 for the labile pool. Average half-lives calculated from the decay coefficients were 4, 12 and 8 days for the very labile DOC, DON and DOP pools, and 54, 113 and 90 days for the labile DOC, DON and DOP pools. On the basis of pool turnover times relative to shelf-water residence time (B100 days) we conclude that autochthonous algal production is the source of the very labile DOM pools. Its rate of production is sufficient to sustain estimated rates of bacteria C demand in continental margins. Our results for the MAB indicate that while substantial amounts of DOM are remineralized in the same time frame as shelf-water residence time, there is substantial DOM remaining that is depleted in N and P relative to C. Strong concentration gradients in DOM occur between shelf and ocean waters and between surface and deeper waters. Coupled with appropriate vertical and horizontal advective and eddy diffusive transports, DOM export from the MAB and other shelf systems may be a significant component of ocean C dynamics. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Phase transformation to β‐poly(vinylidene fluoride) by milling

Cryogenic mechanical milling successfully converted α-phase poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) powder into β-phase PVDF, as measured by wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The presence of β-phase PVDF became more pronounced with increased milling times over the limited time range evaluated. This was the first recorded instance of β-phase powders forming from the a phase through milling. These β-phase powders maintained their crystal structure during compression molding at 70 °C.
Testing the Identifiable Victim Effect With Both Animal and Human Victims in Anti-Littering Messages

ABSTRACTThe identifiable victim effect is when people are more willing to help identified individuals than those who are unidentified, or statistical, victims. It has primarily been tested in experiments with humans as the victims. A lack of research exists testing whether animal victims could elicit the same level of help, or reactions, as human victims. This study tests the identifiable victim effect with both human and animal stimulus messages focused on the consequences of littering. A total of 198 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to view one of three messages (i.e., an identifiable human victim message, identifiable animal victim message, or a nonvictim control message). While the animal message elicited greater distress and empathy than the human message, the three messages did not differ on behavioral intention outcomes. This study fills a gap in the identifiable victim literature, and it provides insight about responses to risk messages aimed at increasing a prosocial behavior.
Cave sedimentation, genesis, and erosional history in the Cheat River Canyon, West Virginia

A model of cave sedimentation and genesis is used to gain greater resolution and accuracy in the calculation of an incision rate for Cheat River, West Virginia. Maze caves along the river and their primary sediments were created and deposited beneath base level. Single conduit caves are largely unrelated to base level and their sediments are derived from overlying strata. A magnetostratigraphic record is reported for cave sediments within the canyon. The magnetostratigraphy of each sample is plotted versus elevation relative to base level and depositional environment (vadose or phreatic). The resulting chart accurately depicts the range of error associated with using cave sediments as indicators of previous base-level positions. This technique can be applied within any future studies using cave sediments for deriving incision rates of rivers. The calculated incision rate of Cheat River within the study area is between 56.0 and 63.2 mm/k.y.
Computational Developmental Neuroscience: Capturing Developmental Trajectories From Genes to Cognition

Over the course of development, the central nervous system grows into a complex set of structures that ultimately controls our experiences and interactions with the world. To understand brain development, researchers must disentangle the contributions of genes, neural activity, synaptic plasticity, and intrinsic noise in guiding the growth of axons between brain regions. Here, we examine how computer simulations can shed light on neural development, making headway towards systems that self-organize into fully autonomous models of the brain. We argue that these simulations should focus on the ?open-ended? nature of development, rather than a set of deterministic outcomes.
Compressive Behavior of Concrete Confined by Carbon Fiber Composite Jackets

This paper describes axial compression test results of 27 concrete cylinders confined by carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite jackets. The experimental parameters include plain concrete compressive strength and the thickness of the composite jacket. It is found that the carbon fiber composite jacketing can significantly increase the compressive strength and ductility of concrete. The test results indicate that concrete strength and confinement modulus, defined as the ratio of transverse confinement stress and transverse strain, are the most influential factors affecting the stress-strain behavior of confined concrete. The failure of the confined concrete was dominated by the rupture of the jacket at an average strain much smaller than the ultimate strain obtained from tension tests of flat coupons. In order to describe the main mechanical features of the confined concrete, a simple bilinear stress-strain model is suggested based on the theory of elasticity and minimum number of empirical equations de...
Impact of the biological control agent Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera : Ephydridae) on the submersed aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae).

Abstract A series of studies evaluating the impact, dynamics, and distribution of the established biological control agent Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae) on Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) was conducted. The studies included establishment of fly damage thresholds with artificial infestations of flies in tanks, intensive monthly field monitoring of fly densities and damage at one site, and seasonal monitoring of fly densities in six regions in Florida. The results of tank studies indicated that fly damage approached an asymptote in the top 20 cm of the hydrilla canopy when infested with 4000 larvae/m 2 . Above this level only a slight increase in hydrilla damage occurred as fly densities increased. Fly damage was concentrated in the top 20 cm (84.5%) and in the meristems (14.1%) of the hydrilla canopy. Hydrilla biomass was reduced with higher fly densities in the top 20 cm stratum when the plants were grown at the low fertilizer treatment. Field collections made in south Florida indicated that the hydrilla nitrogen content (fresh mass) was a major limiting factor that influenced fly densities. In the more northern regions of our studies, central and northern Florida, cold winter weather limited the seasonal distribution of the host plant and associated flies. In response to increased seasonal temperatures, fly densities increased each spring and summer. Consequently, field densities of flies and the associated damage to hydrilla populations never reached more than 15 adults/m 2 and 15% of the whorls damaged, respectively, about one-fifth the level estimated from cage studies that severely impact plant biomass.
Major Complications Associated with Transcatheter Atrial Septal Occluder Implantation: A Review of the Medical Literature and the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database

Objective. To summarize major complications and outcome for patients receiving percutaneous closure of atrial septal communications. Design. The Medline database and the United States Food and Drug Administration manufacturer and user facility device experience databases (MAUDE) were searched for reports related to complications with atrial septal occluding devices. The medical literature documenting complication rates for these devices were reviewed and summarized. The MAUDE database complication reports were compared with those reported in the medical literature using national implant estimates. Outcome. The MAUDE database correlated in the type of complications most frequently encountered with each device. However, based on estimated total implant numbers, there is a higher incidence of major complications, including death. AGA devices had a 0.3% erosion/perforation rate with a higher morbidity and mortality (29%) than previously reported. NMT devices had a lower incidence of erosion/perforation rate of 0.05%. Embolization rates for the NMT devices were also lower than published European studies, possibly reflecting the US restriction of the device for closure of patent foramen ovale. Thrombus was more frequently encountered on the NMT device. Both AGA and NMT devices have been shown to be safe and effective alternatives to cardiac surgery. The MAUDE database correlated, with a very low overall complication rate, but showed a higher estimated major complication rate than the medical literature. These data demonstrate the difficulty in quantifying rare complications in the premarketing analysis and the obligation providers have to report and evaluate complications through vigilant postmarketing surveillance.
A modification to the group delay and simulated annealing technique for characterization of peripheral nerve fiber size distributions for non-deterministic sampled data

The ability to determine the characteristics of peripheral nerve fiber size distributions would provide additional information to clinicians for the diagnosis of specific pathologies of the peripheral nervous system. Investigation of these conditions, using electro-diagnostic techniques, is advantageous in the sense that such techniques tend to be minimally invasive yet provide valuable diagnostic information. One of the principal electro-diagnostic tools available to the clinician is the nerve conduction velocity test. While the peripheral nerve conduction velocity test can provide useful information to the clinician regarding the viability of the nerve under study, it is a single parameter test that yields no detailed information about the characteristics of the functioning nerve fibers within the nerve trunk. In previous work, the efficacy of the group delay and simulated annealing approach was demonstrated in the context of a simulation study where deterministic functions were used to represent the single fiber evoked potentials. In this study we present a modification to the approach discussed previously that is applicable to non-deterministic functions of sampled data.
Using theoretical descriptors in quantitative structure-activity relationships : comparison with the molecular transform

A variety of techniques and methodologies are currently being used in quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR). A major difficulty with past relationships has been the use of a parameter sets which cannot be applied uniformly to a wide range of properties and data sets. The development of the Linear Solvation Energy Relationship by Kamlet and Taft, and our development of the Theoretical Linear Solvation Energy Relationship (TLSER) have attempted to overcome this principal difficulty by employing a standard parameter set for every correlation. Another methodology that has also proven successful in this regard is the use of topological indices to correlate a variety of properties. This paper compares the TLSER with one such index, the molecular transform. In addition, we show the high correlative capability of the TLSER methodology with the minimum blocking concentration for a set of 36 local anesthetics.
Wiener‐Hopf methods for unstable, nonminimum phase processes. Part II. Application to a Stirred Tank Reactor

The Wiener-Hopf procedure for synthesis of optimum constrained linear feedback regulators has been extended in part I to all linear time-invariant lumped parameter systems. The solution is here applied to the control of the output concentration of an exothermic, stirred tank reactor operating close to an unstable steady state, by constrained manipulation of a cooling water flow rate, in the presence of a randomly fluctuating inlet concentration. When the spectral density of disturbance is given (for example, white noise through a first-order time delay, or a series of randomly alternating steps), the optimum controller has three modes: proportional, derivative, and integral with minor feedback. The responses of the nonlinear reactor and the linearized reactor control systems to a series of alternating deterministic step inputs and Gaussian distributed inputs are simulated, and a sensitivity study of the linearized system with respect to variations in process, controller, and disturbance parameters is made in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the method.
Optimum Windowing for Multicarrier CDMA Systems with MMSE Receivers

The windows for achieving good multiple-access performance of multicarrier code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) systems employing minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) receivers are studied. The optimization objective, mean-squared error (MSE) minimization, is examined in the time domain. In a simplified two-user system, the optimization problem is shown to be equivalent to the problem of selecting the chip waveform in an asynchronous DS-CDMA system employing a matched filter. The rectangular window is shown to be optimum, while regarded as an inferior window in OFDM systems due to high spectral sidelobes and slow spectral rolloff.
On the Positive Mass, Penrose, an ZAS Inequalities in General Dimension

After a detailed introduction including new examples, we give an exposition focusing on the Riemannian cases of the positive mass, Penrose, and ZAS inequalities of general relativity, in general dimension.
Intravenous GPIIb/IIIa Inhibitor for Secondary Prevention of Shunt Thrombosis in a Pediatric Patient

Thrombosis occurs after aortopulmonary shunting in children despite the use of heparin and oral antiplatelet agents. We describe the use of an intravenous antiplatelet agent for secondary prevention of shunt thrombosis without adverse events. Platelet mapping was used to monitor the effects and demonstrated the rapid onset of platelet inhibition.
Filtering and Refinement: A Two-Stage Approach for Efficient and Effective Anomaly Detection

Anomaly detection is an important data mining task. Most existing methods treat anomalies as inconsistencies and spend the majority amount of time on modeling normal instances. A recently proposed, sampling-based approach may substantially boost the efficiency in anomaly detection but may also lead to weaker accuracy and robustness. In this study, we propose a two-stage approach to find anomalies in complex datasets with high accuracy as well as low time complexity and space cost. Instead of analyzing normal instances, our algorithm first employs an efficient deterministic space partition algorithm to eliminate obvious normal instances and generates a small set of anomaly candidates with a single scan of the dataset. It then checks each candidate with density-based multiple criteria to determine the final results. This two-stage framework also detects anomalies of different notions. Our experiments show that this new approach finds anomalies successfully in different conditions and ensures a good balance of efficiency, accuracy, and robustness.
Interior tomography in x-ray differential phase contrast CT imaging

Differential phase contrast computed tomography (DPC-CT) is an x-ray imaging method that uses the wave properties of imaging photons as the contrast mechanism. It has been demonstrated that DPC images can be obtained using a conventional x-ray tube and a Talbot–Lau-type interferometer. Due to the limited size of the gratings, current data acquisition systems only offer a limited field of view, and thus are prone to data truncation. As a result, the reconstructed DPC-CT image may suffer from image artifacts and increased inaccuracy in the reconstructed image values. In this paper, we demonstrate that a small region of interest (ROI) within a large object can be accurately and stably reconstructed using fully truncated projection datasets provided that a priori information on electron density is known for a small region inside the ROI. The method reconstructs an image iteratively to satisfy a group of physical conditions by using a projection onto convex set (POCS) approach. In this work, this POCS algorithm is validated using both numerical simulations and physical phantom experimental data. In both cases, the root mean square error is reduced by an order of magnitude with respect to the truncated analytic reconstructions. Truncation artifacts observed in the latter reconstructions are eliminated using the POCS algorithm.
A Robust GM-Estimator for the Automated Detection of External Defects on Barked Hardwood Logs and Stems

The ability to detect defects on hardwood trees and logs holds great promise for the hardwood forest products industry. At every stage of wood processing, there is a potential for improving value and recovery with knowledge of the location, size, shape, and type of log defects. This paper deals with a new method that processes hardwood laser-scanned surface data for defect detection. The detection method is based on robust circle fitting applied to scanned cross-section data sets recorded along the log length. It can be observed that these data sets have missing data and include large outliers induced by loose bark that dangles from the log trunk. Because of that and because of the nonlinearity of the circle model, which presents both additive and nonadditive errors, we initiated a new robust generalized M-estimator, for which the residuals are standardized via scale estimates calculated by means of projection statistics and incorporated in the Huber objective function, yielding a bounded influence method. Our projection statistics are based on the 2-D radial vectors instead of the row vectors of the Jacobian matrix as advocated in the literature dealing with linear regression. These radial distances allow us to develop algorithms aimed at pinpointing large surface rises and depressions from the contour image levels, and thereby, locating severe external defects having at least a height of 0.5 in and a diameter of 5 in.
Optimal all-to-all broadcasting schemes in distributed systems

Broadcasting, which refers to a process of information dissemination in a distributed system whereby a message originating from a certain node is sent to all other nodes in the system, is a very important issue in distributed computing. All-to-all broadcasting means the process by which every node broadcasts its certain piece of information to all other nodes. The authors develop optimal all-to-all broadcasting schemes for a distributed system of an arbitrary number of nodes to complete the broadcasting with not only the minimal number of communication steps but also the minimal number of messages. They develop the optimal all-to-all broadcasting scheme for the case of k-port communication, meaning that each node can send out k messages in one communication step where k is a positive integer depending on the system. It is shown that the proposed scheme not only requires the minimal number of communication steps but also incurs the minimal number of messages. >
THE VALUE O F NONMARKET HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTION: OPPORTUNITY COST VERSUS MARKET COST ESTIMATES

This paper discusses the problem of valuing the time spent on household production and presents estimates of that production for the United States in 1960 and 1970. The estimates are derived by using both opportunity cost and market cost valuations of household time. A comparative analysis of these estimates concludes first that opportunity cost estimates exceeded market cost estimates by 1.0 to 3.0 percent of the GNP. Second, the ratio of household production to the GNP, although declining slightly between 1960 and 1970, may in the long run tend to be relatively stable. These conclusions do not support the popular views that over time household production will decline in relative magnitude, or that the opportunity cost method of valuing household time, relative to the market cost method, is significantly upward biased.
Pseudorandom phase masks for superresolution imaging from subpixel shifting

We present a method for overcoming the pixel-limited resolution of digital imagers. Our method combines optical point-spread function engineering with subpixel image shifting. We place an optimized pseudorandom phase mask in the aperture stop of a conventional imager and demonstrate the improved performance that can be achieved by combining multiple subpixel shifted images. Simulation results show that the pseudorandom phase-enhanced lens (PRPEL) imager achieves as much as 50% resolution improvement over a conventional multiframe imager. The PRPEL imager also enhances reconstruction root-mean-squared error by as much as 20%. We present experimental results that validate the predicted PRPEL imager performance.
Workplace prejudice and discrimination toward individuals with mental illnesses

Prejudice and discrimination represent a major barrier to the recovery and community integration of individuals with serious mental illnesses. Yet, little is known about the diverse ways prejudicial practices are enacted at the workplace beyond blatant discrimination. This paper presents findings about the manifestations of prejudice and discrimination at the workplace. Data were gathered from a national sample of individuals with serious mental illnesses who reported perceiving negative attitudes at work as part of their participation in a larger study on sustained employment (n = 234) and from a subsequent study on workplace psychiatric prejudice and discrimination (n = 202). Qualitative analyses of data collected through two different surveys informed the development of a comprehensive taxonomy that identified a range of prejudicial and discriminatory practices that fell within two contextual domains: work performance and collegial interactions. The specific categories within each of these domains represented a continuum of more subtle to more blatant expressions of psychiatric prejudice and discrimination that influenced workers with mental illnesses through different impact pathways. Study findings informed the development of a broader conceptual framework for understanding and combating psychiatric prejudice and discrimination in employment settings and improving the workplace inclusion and employment outcomes of individuals with serious mental illnesses.
Nonlinear calibration of a laser stripe profiler

The calibration of a laser stripe profiler consisting of a laser stripe projector, camera, and linear motion table is considered. A nonlinear system model is used, which accommodates radial distortion in the camera lens. The way in which stripe data is extracted from the camera images leads to a natural formulation of the calibration problem as a nonlinear least squares problem. This can then be solved using standard techniques. The use of this nonlinear model reduces the error in the generated 3-D data by over an order of magnitude.
An Evaluation of the Influence of Primary Care Team Functioning on the Health of Medicare Beneficiaries

In service industries other than health care, unit employees who report a favorable service climate—characterized by commitment to a team concept and intrateam interactions that are supportive, collegial, and collaborative—have high levels of consumer satisfaction and work unit productivity. The authors evaluated whether similar primary care team (PCT) functioning influenced the short-term future health (SF-36) of elderly Medicare beneficiaries (N = 991) in a group model managed care organization (MCO). PCT functioning was assessed by surveys of practitioners and support staff on the MCO’s 14 primary care practices and included measures of perceived task delegation, role collaboration, patient orientation, and team ownership. On average, patient physical and emotional health declined over 2 years. Medicare beneficiaries empanelled to relatively high functioning PCTs had significantly better physical and emotional health at 2 years following baseline assessment than those empanelled to relatively low funct...
Design of embedded systems: formal models, validation, and synthesis

This paper addresses the design of reactive real-time embedded systems. Such systems are often heterogeneous in implementation technologies and design styles, for example by combining hardware application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) with embedded software. The concurrent design process for such embedded systems involves solving the specification, validation, and synthesis problems. We review the variety of approaches to these problems that have been taken.
Monotone Comparative Statics for Directed Search Models

This note shows how to use monotone methods to derive stronger comparative static results for directed search models. In the context of labor markets, a standard result can be overturned by endogenizing the matching technology. In the context of monetary theory, both the seller-to-buyer ratio and the level of output decrease in the nominal interest rate regardless of the choice of matching function. These results strengthen the predictions of previous research.
The genetic structure of sporophytic and gametophytic populations of the moss, Funaria hygrometrica hedw.

Patterns of phenotypic and genotypic variability in two populations of the moss, Funaria hygrometrica, were investigated using measurements of gametophytic and sporophytic morphology, sporophytic reproductive output, spore germination, gametophytic growth rates and tolerances of copper, cadmium, and low nutrient conditions, and electrophoretically detectable enzyme variation. The two populations differed in all traits measured, but complete monomorphism within popu- lations at 14 enzyme loci suggested that each represented a single clone. Variability in gametophytic growth rates and responses to different experimental media, however, occurred among haploid sib families (families of meiotic progeny derived from the same sporophyte) and among sibs within families within both populations, suggesting high levels of genetic variability. Low mean repro- ductive output and a high level of variability among sporophytes in a mine site population probably reflected heavy metal toxicity. Based on this study, in combination with previous work on F. hygrometrica (Shaw, 1990b), somatic mutation and/or nongenetic effects appear to contribute significantly to phenotypic variability in natural populations.
Diffuse Optical Tomography for Breast Cancer Imaging: Optimal Clinical Design for Sensitivity and Image Accuracy

Diffuse optical tomography can be used to accurately reconstruct images of the human breast, and can provide functional information about hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation. This study examines the influences of source-detector geometry upon image recovery and explicitly evaluates the detectability of objects at varying contrasts, as well as the accuracy with which the optical properties of those objects can be determined. Results from a clinical prototype optical imager will be shown to illustrate typical image quality. Case examples highlight where improvements in image quality can be made.
Abstract 929: Caboxylic acid esters as inhibitors of the MEK1/2 and MEK5 signaling cascades.

The purpose of the current study is to examine how structural variation on methyl anthranilates can differentially affect specific branches of the MAPK signaling cascade. The specific goal is to correlate the role of MEK1/2 versus MEK5 in breast cancer proliferation and migration modeled by the profile of pERK isoforms in treated BT-474 (ER + /PR + /HER2 high ) and MDA-MB-231 (ER − /PR − /HER2 low ) human breast cancer cell lines. The MAPK signaling pathway is a complex interconnected signaling cascade activated by extracellular stimuli, including growth factors, cytokines, and mechanical and chemical stressors, to elicit appropriate cellular responses including cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptotic cell death. The interconnected nature of these pathways permits a single external stimulus to be interpreted in the context of the immediate metabolic demands of the cell. The singularly specific and parallel event is phosphorylation of ERK by its corresponding activating kinase or MEK. In the course of examining small molecules with the design goal of developing selective inhibitors of the MEK5 isoform, we identified a simple substituted methyl anthranilate derivative that unexpectedly and specifically inhibited ERK1/2 activation but had little effect on ERK5 activation. We subsequently explored structural variations and prepared structure assisted new compounds from this initial find. In the BT-474 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, western blot analysis was performed to determine the expression and activation of ERK1/2 and ERK5 following treatment with the novel MEK-specific inhibitors. An MTT assay was used to assess changes in cell proliferation following kinase inhibition, while scratch and invasion assays were performed to assess the effect of the carboxylic acid esters on cell migration and invasion in these cell lines. The data obtained from these studies indicate methyl anthranilate derivatives warrant further investigation as potential inhibitors of tumor proliferation and migration in breast cancer. Citation Format: Jane E. Cavanaugh, Darlene A. Monlish, Suravi Chakrabarty, Si Qin, Patrick T. Flaherty. Caboxylic acid esters as inhibitors of the MEK1/2 and MEK5 signaling cascades. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 929. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-929
Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, and Immunohistochemistry of Human Skin

The purpose of this introductory chapter is to discuss the anatomy, physiology, histology, and immunohistochemistry of the skin. The sections on the epidermis cover the structure of its stratified layers, its cellular contents, and the architecture of dermoepidermal junction. The sections on the dermis contain information on its extracellular matrix structure and dermal fibroblasts that are required for its homeostasis and sections on the microvasculature, muscles, and nerves found in the dermis as well as various appendages including hairs, erector pili, adenexal glands, and nails. The adenexal glands include eccrine, apocrine, and sebaceous glands. The hypodermis deep to the dermis is also briefly examined. In addition, the chapter delves into the causes and effects of skin loss in the United States, thereby stressing the importance of finding a cost-effective, transformative therapy. It discusses the importance of planimetry and morphometrics of reepithelialization and granulation tissue ingrowth as tools to measure the progression of wound healing. Finally, the chapter addresses how immunohistochemistry can be used as a tool to monitor wound healing. It examines the various stains and biomarkers used to quantify processes such as angiogenesis, reestablishment of epidermal maturation, basement membrane integrity, and the establishment of nonepidermal cells in the epidermis. The chapter aggregates information across multiple sources in order to provide the most current portrayal of research in the field of the skin. The intent is to inform the reader on the basics of the integument for the purpose of understanding the mechanisms underlying skin response to tissue-engineered constructs and regenerative medicine.
Ideas and Progress of Super Hybrid Rice Breeding in Upper Reaches of Yangtze River

The study results of panicle and grains distribution,characters of canopy,accumulation and partition of dry matters in the upper reaches of Yangtze River were reported.The ideas and methods for breeding super rice such as'indicalinous type','big panicle + big grain','thick culms wall + V type leaf','the dynamic plant type with drooping in earlier stage and erect in later stage','reasonable division of traits in sterile lines and restore lines' were proposed and the main progress for creating the super rice materials and breeding the excellent cross combinations were also reported.
Plague and Tularemia

Primarily zoonotic infections, plaque and tularemia occasionally affect man as well, causing fever and lymphadenitis. Their similar clinical features, epidemiology, and causative organisms originally prompted their inclusion in the same genus. However, research has revealed some intrinsic differences, resulting in their identification as separate disease entities.
A Success Too Sweet: Who Sheds Tears when Looting Ends?

After a horrific rise in looting at archaeological sites near Jenne-jeno (Mali, West Africa; looting to feed the illicit international traffic in terracotta statuettes) that began in the late 1970s, looting essentially came to a complete halt by, roughly, 1995. That success was due to a concentrated effort of local public education and site monitoring (by the Ministry of Culture’s Jenne Mission Culturelle), to the government’s efforts to interdict objects leaving the country (orchestrated by the National Museum and by the principal heritage protection agency, the Direction National des Arts et de la Culture (DNAC)), as well as due to the effects of the Mali–US bilateral protection accord (initiated in 1993). Since 1995, periodic survey circuits of the several hundred archaeological sites within, roughly, a 40 km radius of Jenne show negligible evidence of renewed looting. This would seem to be the cause for celebration. Yet in sworn testimony before the State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee in 2012, art/antiquities dealers and museum directors argued that the Mali–US bilateral accord had failed. What is at the root of this massive “cognitive dissonance”?
Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity and the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused psychostimulant drug. In addition to being highly addictive, METH is also neurotoxic, particularly at high doses. The neurotoxicity of METH involves several molecular mechanisms, including oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. Our laboratory has shown that binge METH impairs the function of two components of the ubiquitin–proteasome system, the 26S proteasome and E3 ligase parkin, and that overexpression of parkin protects the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway from the toxicity of METH. Subsequently, we investigated the molecular pathways involved in parkin-mediated neuroprotection. This article presents an overview of our findings. The information on the activity of proteasomes and parkin during development of METH neurotoxicity can help to design new therapeutic approaches to treat the neurotoxic effects of METH as well as other amphetamine-like substances.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Clinical Management of Elder Mistreatment

Elder mistreatment is associated with increased risk for morbidity and mortality especially among those with greater levels of vulnerability, cognitive impairment, physical disability, psychological distress, and social isolation (Dong and Simon in CGS J CME 3(1): 25–28, 2013; O’Brien in Mich Med 85(11): 618–620, 1986). Moreover, elder mistreatment predicts increased rates of emergency department use, hospitalizations, readmissions, skilled nursing placement, and hospice utilization. This chapter provides the clinician with useful information on the action steps necessary for detection, assessment, planning, intervention, and follow-up for older adults who may be victims of abuse or neglect. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary team approach. The treatment of elder mistreatment requires clinicians to collaborate with other professionals by working in teams to provide an important strategy for elder mistreatment detection and intervention (Anetzberger in Clin Gerontol 28(1–2): 27–41, 2005). Working in teams will benefit the mistreatment detection and intervention process in three ways: (1) Offer a more holistic perspective to the situation of elder mistreatment than could be offered by a single discipline; (2) Assure that no single discipline has sole responsibility for handling complex and challenging situations; and (3) Forge relationships among professionals that transcend consideration of individual cases and promote a community-wide approach to elder mistreatment prevention and treatment (Anetzberger 2005). This chapter discusses the unique roles for physicians, nurses, and social workers, as well as Adult Protective Services. However, clinicians should also consider the expertise of other professionals in health care, community-based organizations, legal services, etc., as necessary for the unique situation of the older patient and his/her caregiver.