cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximizing connected coverage via controlled actor relocation in wireless sensor and actor networks

Wireless sensor and actor networks (WSANs) have recently emerged with the idea of combining wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). In addition to resource constrained sensors, resource rich and mobile actor nodes are employed in WSANs. These actors can collect data from the sensors and perform appropriate actions as a result of processing such data. To perform the actions at all parts of the region in a timely manner, the actors should be deployed in such a way that they might be able to communicate with each other and cover the whole monitored area. This requires that the actors should be placed carefully prior to network operation in order to maximize the coverage and maintain the inter-actor connectivity. In this paper, we propose a distributed actor deployment algorithm that strives to maximize the coverage of actors without violating the connectivity requirement. The approach applies repelling forces between neighboring actors and from the sensors that sit on the boundaries in order to spread them in the region. The spreading of the nodes is done using a tree of actors which can provide more freedom for the movement of the nodes but at the same time maintain the required connectivity among the nodes. We present two techniques for creation of such an actor tree which are based on local pruning of the actor links and spanning tree of the inter-actor network. The performance of our approach is validated both analytically and experimentally.
Adolescent friendships and peer acceptance: Implications for social skills training

Abstract This paper critically reviews two literatures related to adolescent social skills: That evaluating the relationship between adolescent peer interactions and peer acceptance, and that examining the characteristics of teenage same-sex friendships. Although studies in each area are limited by almost exclusive reliance on verbal report, they consistently point to numerous positive and negative behaviors that social skills training outcome studies have virtually ignored. Social skills assessment and training programs could expand their focus by assessing and training skills involving cooperating, sharing and helping, displaying loyalty, initiating activities, and developing intimacy. Furthermore, negative responses associated with peer rejection should receive more explicit attention. Finally, friendship initiation and maintenance, as well as demonstrated acquisition of specific skills, should become key criteria for determining successful social skills intervention.
Disseminated breast cancer: evaluation of hormonal therapy utilizing stilbestrol and medrogestone (AY-62022) singly and in combination.

To test the hypothesis that a combination of an estrogen and a progestational agent increases the regression rate in metastatic breast cancer, 57 postmenopausal women were evaluated in a double-blind randomized study, utilizing an estrogen alone, a progestin alone, and a combination of the two agents. Regression rates were 40% for stilbestrol alone, 22% for medrogestone alone, and 37% for the combination. Adding a potent progestational agent to an estrogen in this study failed to increase therapeutic benefit. Thus the hypothesis was rejected. Cardiovascular complications, including congestive heart failure, were common and seemed to result from the estrogenic compound; these were readily managed by salt restriction, diuretics, and, if necessary, digitalis.
Feasibility and Safety of Outpatient Medical Thoracoscopy at a Large Tertiary Medical Center: A Collaborative Medical-Surgical Initiative

BACKGROUND Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is performed by relatively few pulmonologists in the United States. Recognizing that an outpatient minimally invasive procedure such as MT could provide a suitable alternative to hospitalization and surgery in patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions, we initiated the Mayo Clinic outpatient MT program and herein report preliminary data on safety, feasibility, and outcomes. METHODS All consecutive patients referred for outpatient MT from October 2011 to August 2013 were included in this study. Demographic, radiographic, procedural, and histologic data were recorded prospectively and subsequently analyzed. RESULTS Outpatient MT was performed on 51 patients, with the most common indication being an undiagnosed lymphocytic exudative effusion in 86.3% of the cohort. Endoscopic findings included diffuse parietal pleural inflammation in 26 patients (51%), parietal pleural studding in 19 patients (37.3%), a normal examination in three patients (5.9%), diffuse parietal pleural thickening in two patients (3.9%), and a diaphragmatic defect in one patient (2%). Pleural malignancy was the most common histologic diagnosis in 24 patients (47.1%) and composed predominantly of mesothelioma in 14 (27.5%). Nonspecific pleuritis was the second most frequent diagnosis in 23 patients (45.1%). There were very few complications, with no significant cases of hemodynamic or respiratory compromise and no deaths. CONCLUSIONS Outpatient MT can be integrated successfully into a busy tertiary referral medical center through the combined efforts of interventional pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons. Outpatient MT may provide patients with a more convenient alternative to an inpatient surgical approach in the diagnosis of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions while maintaining a high diagnostic yield and excellent safety.
Covalently Cross-Linked Watson-Crick Base Pair Models.

Structural characteristics of Watson-Crick hydrogen-bonded base pairs are displayed by methylene-bridged base pairs of type A. The shown superposition of the X-ray structure obtained for the base pair A (Rib1 =Et; Rib2 =Me) over that of a C-G base pair illustrates that A occupies an area similar to that occupied by a traditional Watson-Crick hydrogen-bonded base pair. Temperature-dependent 1 H NMR studies indicate that the energy barrier for rotation along its CH2 bridge is about 10 kcal mol-1 , and that it exists predominantly in one conformer at -70°C.
Initiating organisational transformation through Appreciative Intelligence

This paper demonstrates that organisational transformation can happen when key stakeholders engage in Appreciative Intelligence ® -based conversations that are focused on what is possible instead of what has gone wrong. The author had an opportunity to engage with an international non-profit organisation that was initially thought to be in state of decline. Appreciative inquiry, an organisation development intervention that builds on a strengths-based approach helped the organisation renew its core values and engage in transformative conversations. The paper identifies several such conversations for change that emerge out of reframing and explicates their relevance to similar organisations.
Folded monopole antenna for handheld devices

This article presents a new multiband antenna for handheld devices. The antenna consists of three branches of folded monopoles, and it is designed to operate at most application bands used currently, such as GSM 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS2100, and WLAN 5GHz. The simulated and measured results validate the proposed design. The proposed antenna has better performances than other embedded antenna designs of the same maximum dimension. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 421–425, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24930
A Comparison of Different Measures of Acculturation with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Latinos with Hypertension

The effect of acculturation with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is poorly understood. We assessed the association of three acculturation measures (English language, US country of birth and a combination of the two) with CVD risk factors and co-morbid medical and behavioral conditions in a registry of 6,793 Latinos with hypertension. Greater acculturation was associated with higher adherence to medication (P < 0.05) and a higher prevalence of behavioral conditions (P < 0.01) but not with differences in prevalence of CVD risk factors, greater levels of CVD risk factor control or outcomes. Our study demonstrates that our proxies for acculturation were associated with behavioral risk factors, but not with the level of control of biomedical CVD risk factors. While more work is needed to develop proxies that can predict risk factor control and CVD outcomes, our simple measures can facilitate regular assessment of the cultural component of behavioral risk.
Chronic alcohol ingestion increases mortality and organ injury in a murine model of septic peritonitis.

Background: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit with alcohol use disorders have increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine how chronic alcohol ingestion alters the host response to sepsis in mice. Methods: Mice were randomized to receive either alcohol or water for 12 weeks and then subjected to cecal ligation and puncture. Mice were sacrificed 24 hours post-operatively or followed seven days for survival. Results: Septic alcohol-fed mice had a significantly higher mortality than septic water-fed mice (74% vs. 41%, p=0.01). This was associated with worsened gut integrity in alcohol-fed mice with elevated intestinal epithelial apoptosis, decreased crypt proliferation and shortened villus length. Further, alcohol-fed mice had higher intestinal permeability with decreased ZO-1 and occludin protein expression in the intestinal tight junction. The frequency of splenic and bone marrow CD4+ T cells was similar between groups; however, splenic CD4+ T cells in septic alcohol-fed mice had a marked increase in both TNF and IFN-c production following ex vivo stimulation. Neither the frequency nor function of CD8+ T cells differed between alcoholfed and water-fed septic mice. NK cells were decreased in both the spleen and bone marrow of alcohol-fed septic mice. Pulmonary myeloperoxidase levels and BAL levels of G-CSF and TFG-b were higher in alcohol-fed mice. Pancreatic metabolomics demonstrated increased acetate, adenosine, xanthine, acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate and betaine in alcohol-fed mice and decreased cytidine, uracil, fumarate, creatine phosphate, creatine, and choline. Serum and peritoneal cytokines were generally similar between alcohol-fed and water-fed mice, and there were no differences in bacteremia, lung wet to dry weight, or pulmonary, liver or splenic histology. Conclusions: When subjected to the same septic insult, mice with chronic alcohol ingestion have increased mortality. Alterations in intestinal integrity, the host immune response, and pancreatic metabolomics may help explain this differential response.
Tungsten Monocarbide as Potential Replacement of Platinum for Methanol Electrooxidation

Polycrystalline tungsten monocarbide (WC) surfaces are synthesized and evaluated as a potential replacement of platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts. A combined approach utilizing ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and electrochemical techniques demonstrates that WC possesses the following prerequisites for alternative electrocatalysts: high activity toward methanol decomposition, improved resistance to poisoning by CO, and promising electrochemical stability.
E/B - V/ extinction values for 24 planetary nebulae derived from IUE data

Excellent agreement was found for E(B - V) values for nine planetary nebulae observed in common by IUE and ANS, derived from a strong 2200A absorption feature. E(B - V) values for seven additional objects with moderately strong 2200A absorption were determined. A third group of eight planetary nebulae for which the 2200A absorption feature is marginal or absent had E(B - V) extinctions determined from the observed He II I(1640A)/I(4686A) ratio. A comparison with optical and radio data is included.
Diagnosis and management of acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Nuclear cardiology offers techniques for assessing cardiac perfusion and function that provide useful information for diagnosing and managing acute myocardial infarction (MI). In particular, myocardial perfusion imaging provides important data on infarct size and myocardial viability that can help determine the best treatment strategies for patients with acute MI. First-pass or blood pool radionuclide angiographic assessment of ventricular ejection fraction remains an important prognostic indicator in acute MI, regardless of whether thrombolytic therapy is used. Comparative studies of radiotracer techniques and coronary angiography show that myocardial perfusion and ejection fraction can predict the risk of future cardiac events reliably in patients with acute MI, whereas the anatomic data provided by coronary angiography (e.g., degree of stenosis and presence of multivessel disease) have little prognostic value. Managed-care organizations could reduce costs and improve patient outcomes by relying moreon nuclear cardiology and less on angiography in the management of patients with acute MI.
An Autotuning Digital Controller for DC–DC Power Converters Based on Online Frequency-Response Measurement

This paper describes a hardware-description-language-coded autotuning algorithm for digital PID-controlled DC-DC power converters based on online frequency-response measurement. The algorithm determines the PID controller parameters required to maximize the closed-loop bandwidth of the feedback control system while maintaining user-specified stability margins and integral-based no-limit-cycling criteria, as well as ensuring single-crossover-frequency operation and sufficiently high loop gain magnitude at low frequencies. Experimental results are provided for five different pulsewidth-modulated DC-DC converters, including a well-damped synchronous buck, a lightly damped synchronous buck with and without a poorly damped input filter, a boost operating in continuous-conduction mode, and a boost operating in discontinuous-conduction mode.
Opportunistic interference management

Interference is a central feature of the wireless channel. However, in many cases, the interferer's activity can be bursty and it is overly pessimistic to assume that interference is always present. In this paper, we use a degraded message set formulation of the two-user interference channel to study the statistical gains that can be harnessed from bursty interference. We consider a linear deterministic model of the Gaussian interference channel and characterize the degraded message set capacity region.
Microwave Transistors, Bipolar and Field Effect -Today and Tommorrow

The state-of-the-art low noise and high power microwave transistors of both bipolar and field effect types are reviewed. The analyses are made to determine the future potentials of bipolar and field effect transistors in microwave applications. It appears that the bipolar transistor is approaching old age both as low noise and high power devices, but field effect transistors show increasing promise in both applications. The trend for monolithic integration of maturing bipolar devices is also discussed
Leucine degradation in sheep.

1. In vitro leucine catabolism in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, kidney and liver homogenates was studied in sheep.2. In Expt 1, Suffolk × Targhee ram lambs were slaughtered at 1, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 168, 196, 224 and 365 d of age. In Expt 2, 5-month-old crossbred wethers were fed on 80, 120 or 180 g crude protein (nitrogen × 6·25) /kg diets for 4 weeks or fed on 120 g crude protein/kg for 4 weeks and then fasted for 48 or 96 h before slaughter. Leucine catabolism was assayed in tissue homogenates for Expts 1 and 2.3. Leucine deamination (per unit protein) was highest in skeletal muscle at day 1 and then declined; liver exhibited an activity pattern akin to muscle while kidney activity tended to rise over the duration of the study. Adipose tissue in vitro leucine deamination was higher at all ages studied and 9- to 50-fold higher than all other tissues at 365 d. Leucine decarboxylation (per unit protein) was highest at day 1 in muscle and declined to low levels (P < 0·01) after 28 d; liver and kidney decarboxylation activities were higher than muscle at all ages with kidney showing the highest activity. Whilst adipose had high initial activity it declined significantly (P < 0·01) by day 28 and remained low.4. Dietary protein intake had no effect on leucine deamination in any tissue. Leucine decarboxylation tended to increase with protein intake for all tissues except kidney. Length of fast (96 h) resulted in a variable decline in leucine deamination; leucine decarboxylation was significantly lower in kidney, liver and adipose tissue after a 96 h fast.5. When these in vitro enzyme activity results are related to questions concerning the role of skeletal muscle in leucine catabolism in sheep, the present findings indicate that in grown sheep, skeletal muscle has a small to moderate role in total body leucine deamination but plays a very minor role in leucine decarboxylation. Adipose tissue appears to be a major site of leucine deamination in grown sheep. These results are not in agreement with the idea that during fasting leucine becomes an important energy substrate and is oxidized in skeletal muscle as has been shown in rodents.
Fully parallel hardware/software codesign for multi-dimensional DSP applications

The design of multi-dimensional systems using hardware/software codesign allows a significant improvement in the development cycle. This paper presents a technique that enables a design to have arbitrarily high throughput by using multi-dimensional retiming techniques while adjusting the composition of hardware and multiple software elements in order to satisfy the area requirements. A multi-dimensional graph representing the problem is transformed and scheduled such that all nodes are executed in a fully parallel way. The techniques presented are applicable to any problem which can be represented as a multi-dimensional data flow graph. Results are shown which illustrate the efficiency of the system as well as the savings achieved.
DRAIN: distributed recovery architecture for inaccessible nodes in multi-core chips

As transistor dimensions continue to scale deep into the nanometer regime, silicon reliability is becoming a chief concern. At the same time, transistor counts are scaling up, enabling the design of highly integrated chips with many cores and a complex interconnect fabric, often a network on chip (NoC). Particularly problematic is the case when the accumulation of permanent hardware faults leads to disconnected cores in the system. In order to maintain correct system operation, it is necessary to salvage the data from these isolated nodes. In this work, we introduce a recovery mechanism targeting precisely this issue: DRAIN (Distributed Recovery Architecture for Inaccessible Nodes) provides system-level recovery from permanent failures. When an error disconnects a node from the network, DRAIN uses emergency links to transfer architectural state and cached data from disconnected nodes to nearby connected caches. DRAIN incurs zero performance penalty during normal operation, and is compatible with any cache coherence protocol, interconnect topology or routing protocol. Experimental results show that DRAIN is able to provide complete state recovery within several milliseconds, on average, for a 1GHz 64-node CMP at an area overhead of only a few thousand gates.
Effect of hydrogen and syngas addition on the ignition of iso-octane/air mixtures

Abstract There is worldwide interest in using renewable fuels within the existing infrastructure. Hydrogen and syngas have shown significant potential as renewable fuels, which can be produced from a variety of biomass sources, and used in various transportation and power generation systems, especially as blends with hydrocarbon fuels. In the present study, a reduced mechanism containing 38 species and 74 reactions is developed to examine the ignition behavior of iso-octane/H2 and iso-octane/syngas blends at engine relevant conditions. The mechanism is extensively validated using the shock tube and RCM ignition data, as well as three detailed mechanisms, for iso-octane/air, H2/air and syngas/air mixtures. Simulations are performed to characterize the effects of H2 and syngas on the ignition of iso-octane/air mixtures using the closed homogenous reactor model in CHEMKIN software. The effect of H2 (or syngas) is found to be small for blends containing less than 50% H2 (or syngas) by volume. However, for H2 mole fractions above 50%, it increases and decreases the ignition delay at low (T 1000 K), respectively. For H2 fractions above 80%, the ignition is influenced more strongly by H2 chemistry rather than by i-C8H18 chemistry, and does not exhibit the NTC behavior. Nevertheless, the addition of a relatively small amount of i-C8H18 (a low cetane number fuel) can significantly enhance the ignitability of H2-air mixtures at NTC temperatures, which are relevant for HCCI and PCCI dual fuel engines. The CO addition seems to have a negligible effect on the ignition of i-C8H18/H2/air mixtures, indicating that the ignition of i-C8H18/syngas blends is essentially determined by i-C8H18 and H2 oxidation chemistries. The sensitivity and reaction path analysis indicates that i-C8H18 oxidation is initiated with the production of alkyl radical by H abstraction through reaction: i-C8H18 + O2 = C8H17 + HO2. Subsequently, the ignition chemistry in the NTC region is characterized by a competition between two paths represented by reactions R2 (C8H17 + O2 = C8H17O2) and R8 (C8H17 + O2 = C8H16 + HO2), with the R8 path dominating, and increasing the ignition delay. As the amount of H2 in the blend becomes significant, it opens up another path for the consumption of OH through reaction R36 (H2 + OH = H2O + H), which slows down the ignition process. However, for T > 1100 K, the presence of H2 decreases ignition delay primarily due to reactions R31 (O2 + H = OH + O) and R35 (H2O2 + M = OH + OH + M).
Fibroepithelial polyp of the renal pelvis: Nephron-sparing surgery after false-positive biopsy for transitional cell carcinoma

Benign fibroepithelial polyps of the renal pelvis are extremely rare, with only 23 cases previously reported. The diagnosis is usually made following nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy for an assumed malignancy. This case involves a 66-year-old woman referred with presumed biopsy-proven transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. Radiographic findings were suggestive of a benign lesion. Pyelotomy and frozen section confirmed these suspicions. The polyp was excised and the kidney spared. The diagnosis and management of fibroepithelial polyps are discussed and the literature reviewed.
Deviation of second-order focal curves in common plane-symmetric spectrometer mounts

In common plane-symmetric grating spectrometer designs, the primary tangential and sagittal foci are not coincident except at a few discrete wavelengths. A quantity is defined to represent this deviation in focal curves. Expressions for this quantity are derived for common spectrometer mounts, and cases in which it may be minimized are discussed.
Cushion size, surface roughness, and the control of water balance and carbon flux in the cushion moss Leucobryum glaucum (Leucobryaceae)

We explored the size dependence of water balance and carbon flux in the cushion moss Leucobryum glaucum (Leucobryaceae). Conductance to water vapor (g a ) was modeled empirically using 4-24 cm diameter cushions (N = 14) evaluated across wind speeds from 0.7 to 4.3 m/s in a wind tunnel. Model parameters included wind speed (u), kinematic viscosity (v), cushion diameter (L d ), and surface roughness (L r ). The model g a = -9.62(u/v) 1 . 2 1 . L d -0.35. L r - i n -1 (where L r - i n represents a dimensionless form of L r ; R 2 = 0.88) indicates negative relationships between g a and both L d and L r . These predictions were evaluated during a 5-d field experiment where water loss and net carbon exchange (estimated by ΔF/F m ') were monitored. In the field (N = 18, 4-34 cm diameter cushions), L r , but not L d , controlled rates of evaporation due to additional turbulence that reduced size dependence of cushions along the forest floor. However, the duration of positive net carbon gain varied from 1.4 to 4.4 d and was significantly longer in larger diameter cushions. Thus, under field conditions, size-dependent changes in surface-area-to-volume relationships influence the duration of net carbon gain more than differences in water flux and lead to a strong size dependence of water balance and carbon flux.
Weakly isotropic quadratic forms under field extensions

For a field F of characteristic not 2, let \({\widehat{F}}\) denote the maximal dimension of anisotropic, weakly isotropic, non-degenerate quadratic forms over F. In this paper, we investigate the behavior of this invariant under field extensions.
Decomposition of soil organic matter from boreal black spruce forest: environmental and chemical controls

Black spruce forests are a dominant covertype in the boreal forest region, and they inhabit landscapes that span a wide range of hydrologic and thermal conditions. These forests often have large stores of soil organic carbon. Recent increases in temperature at northern latitudes may be stimulating decomposition rates of this soil carbon. It is unclear, however, how changes in environmental conditions influence decomposition in these systems, and if substrate controls of decomposition vary with hydrologic and thermal regime. We addressed these issues by investigating the effects of temperature, moisture, and organic matter chemical characteristics on decomposition of fibric soil horizons from three black spruce forest sites. The sites varied in drainage and permafrost, and included a “Well Drained” site where permafrost was absent, and “Moderately well Drained” and “Poorly Drained” sites where permafrost was present at about 0.5 m depth. Samples collected from each site were incubated at five different moisture contents (2, 25, 50, 75, and 100% saturation) and two different temperatures (10°C and 20°C) in a full factorial design for two months. Organic matter chemistry was analyzed using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry prior to incubation, and after incubation on soils held at 20°C, 50% saturation. Mean cumulative mineralization, normalized to initial carbon content, ranged from 0.2% to 4.7%, and was dependent on temperature, moisture, and site. The effect of temperature on mineralization was significantly influenced by moisture content, as mineralization was greatest at 20°C and 50–75% saturation. While the relative effects of temperature and moisture were similar for all soils, mineralization rates were significantly greater for samples from the “Well Drained” site compared to the other sites. Variations in the relative abundances of polysaccharide-derivatives and compounds of undetermined source (such as toluene, phenol, 4-methyl phenol, and several unidentifiable compounds) could account for approximately 44% of the variation in mineralization across all sites under ideal temperature and moisture conditions. Based on our results, changes in temperature and moisture likely have similar, additive effects on in situ soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition across a wide range of black spruce forest systems, while variations in SOM chemistry can lead to significant differences in decomposition rates within and among forest sites.
Co-located 3D graphic and haptic display using electromagnetic levitation

This paper presents a novel system in which 3D graphics and high-fidelity haptic feedback can be generated seamlessly at the same physical location, without usingmirrors or any other hardware other than a tool handle and the user's hand in the line of sight of the user. A thin flat screen is placed directly above an array of coils so that electromagnetic forces and torques can be generated through the display to act upon magnets inside the tool handle held by the user.
Implementing Inclusion at the Middle School Level: Lessons from a Negative Example

This article summarizes lessons learned from a formative evaluation of one attempt to implement inclusion of students with mild to moderate mental impairment (MMMI) in general classes in a suburban middle school. We compared the process and outcomes of this attempt with intentions of key players, results of school-change research, and considerations of treatment integrity and social validity. Results of a statistical analysis of peer attitudes were used as additional outcome data. Although full inclusion was not successfully implemented during the year of evaluation, several lessons were learned, which can be applied to other attempts to implement inclusion at the middle school level.
Mesopredator spatial and temporal responses to large predators and human development in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California

Abstract Human-driven declines of apex predators can trigger widespread impacts throughout ecological communities. Reduced apex predator occupancy or activity can release mesopredators from intraguild competition, with unknown repercussions on the ecological community. As exurban development continues to expand worldwide, it is important to document how mesopredators are impacted by the combined influences of apex predators and humans. We used motion-detecting camera traps to examine spatial and temporal patterns of meso- and apex predator occupancy and activity in a fragmented landscape in California. We hypothesized that both spatial and temporal partitioning among the carnivore guild would be affected by varied levels of human influence. We found that higher residential development reduced puma occupancy but was not related to the occupancy of mesopredators. Bobcats, grey foxes, and Virginia opossums were detected more often at sites occupied by pumas, whereas coyotes and raccoons were detected less often. The detection probabilities of smaller mesopredators were related to coyotes, a dominant mesopredator, but the magnitude and direction of these correlations differed depending upon puma occupancy. We also found that species altered their activities temporally in locations with higher human use, with pumas, bobcats and coyotes reducing diurnal activities and increasing nocturnal ones. These activity shifts were reflected in reduced temporal partitioning between intraguild competitors, with unknown effects on species interactions and repercussions to the prey community. Our results suggest that human development and activity alters predator community structure through both direct and indirect pathways. Therefore effective carnivore conservation requires an understanding of how mesopredators respond to varying levels of apex predator and anthropogenic influences.
Use of pade aproximation for e-z to approximate an integral of a Bessel function

In a number of my previous works, I have emphasized a global approach to the approximation of functions. Numerical values of a function are but a facet of the overall problem. We desire approximations to evaluate functions and their zeros, to simplify transforms and their inverses, and to facilitate the direct solution of various functional Equations, In this paper, we illustrate our ideas by using Pade approximations for the exponential function to evaluate integral involving the Bessel function I0(z)
Semantic Aware Video Transcription Using Random Forest Classifiers

This paper focuses on transcription generation in the form of subject, verb, object (SVO) triplets for videos in the wild, given off-the-shelf visual concept detectors. This problem is challenging due to the availability of sentence only annotations, the unreliability of concept detectors, and the lack of training samples for many words. Facing these challenges, we propose a Semantic Aware Transcription (SAT) framework based on Random Forest classifiers. It takes concept detection results as input, and outputs a distribution of English words. SAT uses video, sentence pairs for training. It hierarchically learns node splits by grouping semantically similar words, measured by a continuous skip-gram language model. This not only addresses the sparsity of training samples per word, but also yields semantically reasonable errors during transcription. SAT provides a systematic way to measure the relatedness of a concept detector to real words, which helps us understand the relationship between current visual detectors and words in a semantic space. Experiments on a large video dataset with 1,970 clips and 85,550 sentences are used to demonstrate our idea.
Afterwards: Four Concerns

This is the afterwards from a symposium entitled: "The Theology of the Practice of Law" conduct at Mercer Law School in February, 2002. I offer it here because some might be interested in the "first concern" which is about the relationship between the practice of law and the practice of theology as practices. I argue here that the way in which we have been taught to think of practices, as enclaves against meaninglessness each with its own language and each, then, a potential threat to other practices, doesn't account for what I call the "theological difference." Relying on Milbank and others, I argue that the relationship of theology to other practices is not that of another external practice crossing disciplinary lines but, instead, theology is internal to the practice of law as it is to all practices.
Spray Deposit on Oil-Sensitive Cards and Spruce Bud worm Mortality

The adequacy of spray coverage on many aerial control projects is determined by sampling the spray deposit at ground level with dyed oil-sensitive cards. It has been assumed that the deposit in gallons per acre on these cards can also be used to predict spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), mortality. A study was conducted, using data from three spray projects, to determine if budworm mortality can be predicted in this way. It was found that no meaningful prediction can be made regardless of whether deposit is expressed in estimated gallons per acre or mean number of spray drops per unit area of card surface.
Development and application of adaptive dynamic grid for wake-vortex/ground interaction

An adaptive dynamic grid method for wake-vortex/ground interaction problems is developed and its effects on the solution accuracy have been investigated. The unsteady full NavierStokes equations are solved by using three different grids. The first grid is a single zone and fixed size grid. The second grid is also a single zone grid but its fine core region is split into two parts whenever the separation distance of the vortices exceeds a certain length. The third grid uses a multi-zone technique by means of two embedded grids placed at vortex cores to alleviate excess numerical dissipation. These grids are applied to the same initial-condition case with a linear crosswind shear and a prescribed temperature distribution due to the engine exhaust plume. The results are compared with the measurements taken at Idaho Falls in 1990. It has been conclusively demonstrated that an adaptive dynamic grid combined with a multi-zone approach is necessary to obtain accurate results.
Pretreatment with lidoflazine, a calcium-channel blocker. Useful adjunct to heterogeneous cold potassium cardioplegia.

Ten mongrel dogs were studied to determine if pretreatment with lidoflazine would protect the canine myocardium during aortic cross-clamping when circumflex coronary artery occlusion limits the distribution of cold potassium cardioplegia. A canine right heart bypass preparation was used. Regional function was determined with a sonomicrometer. Twenty minutes before aortic cross-clamping, lidoflazine or solvent was administered in a random, blind fashion. A circumflex artery snare prevented the cardioplegic solution from entering the circumflex artery. A 100 minute arrest period with cardioplegic infusion every 20 minutes was followed by 45 minutes of reperfusion before global and regional function were reevaluated. In the group receiving solvent, postarrest function in the circumflex region recovered to only 30% of prearrest values (p
The Straw-tube Tracker for the Mu2e Experiment

Abstract The Mu2e experiment will search for neutrinoless conversion of muons into electrons in the field of an aluminum nucleus. Precise and robust measurement of the outgoing electron momentum is an essential element to the experiment. We describe the design of a low mass tracking system to meet this requirement. We have chosen to use about 20,000 thin-walled Mylar straws held under tension to avoid the need for supports within the active volume. The electronics system enables the time-division technique to measure hit position along the wire. Charge will be measured using ADCs to provide particle identification capability.
An enigmatic trace fossil from the Upper Triassic (Rhaetian) shales of Western Europe

Various trace fossils are known from the Upper Triassic (Rhaetian) shale deposits of western Europe, especially from Great Britain. Here we present a unique specimen, unknown from Rhaetian shales in western Europe thus far to our knowledge. The specimen consists of a string of small knobs collected from the dark-coloured Rhaetian shales from the eastern Netherlands, deposited in a marine, near-coastal environment. The specimen represents the first described trace fossil from these shales. The identity of this specimen appears enigmatic. However, SEM-EDS analysis showed that the string of knobs is pyritised and does not contain phosphorus nor did the sediment directly around the specimen, suggesting a non-coprolitic origin of the specimen. Eggs and larvae are also excluded as possibilities. The specimen closely resembles several trace fossils identified as burrows, which is why we favour this interpretation. The rare presence of trace fossils reinforces the hypothesis that the Dutch Rhaetian shales were deposited under a stresses regime with low oxygen conditions.
Fitting state-space integral projection models to size-structured time series data to estimate unknown parameters.

Integral projection models (IPMs) have a number of advantages over matrix-model approaches for analyzing size-structured population dynamics, because the latter require parameter estimates for each age or stage transition. However, IPMs still require appropriate data. Typically they are parameterized using individual-scale relationships between body size and demographic rates, but these are not always available. We present an alternative approach for estimating demographic parameters from time series of size-structured survey data using a Bayesian state-space IPM (SSIPM). By fitting an IPM in a state-space framework, we estimate unknown parameters and explicitly account for process and measurement error in a dataset to estimate the underlying process model dynamics. We tested our method by fitting SSIPMs to simulated data; the model fit the simulated size distributions well and estimated unknown demographic parameters accurately. We then illustrated our method using nine years of annual surveys of the density and size distribution of two fish species (blue rockfish, Sebastes mystinus, and gopher rockfish, S. carnatus) at seven kelp forest sites in California. The SSIPM produced reasonable fits to the data, and estimated fishing rates for both species that were higher than our Bayesian prior estimates based on coast-wide stock assessment estimates of harvest. That improvement reinforces the value of being able to estimate demographic parameters from local-scale monitoring data. We highlight a number of key decision points in SSIPM development (e.g., open vs. closed demography, number of particles in the state-space filter) so that users can apply the method to their own datasets.
Understanding the Precision in “Precision Medicine”

This issue of The Oncologist introduces a series of articles that consider the often problematic challenge of understanding and applying genomic information to the practice of oncology.
A Coefficient of Determination for Generalized Linear Models

ABSTRACTThe coefficient of determination, a.k.a. R2, is well-defined in linear regression models, and measures the proportion of variation in the dependent variable explained by the predictors included in the model. To extend it for generalized linear models, we use the variance function to define the total variation of the dependent variable, as well as the remaining variation of the dependent variable after modeling the predictive effects of the independent variables. Unlike other definitions that demand complete specification of the likelihood function, our definition of R2 only needs to know the mean and variance functions, so applicable to more general quasi-models. It is consistent with the classical measure of uncertainty using variance, and reduces to the classical definition of the coefficient of determination when linear regression models are considered.
Natural resistance of raw cotton fiber to heat evidenced by the suppressed depolymerization of cellulose

Abstract Mechanically purified raw cotton fiber finds a growing range of applications in support of environmental sustainability, but its unique thermal stability, which is important in processes and utilization, is little known. This study shows that, at low temperatures (
Host Response to Staphylococcus epidermidis Colonization and Infections.

The majority of research in the Staphylococcus field has been dedicated to the understanding of Staphylococcus aureus infections. In contrast, there is limited information on infections by coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) and how the host responds to them. S. epidermidis, a member of the coagulase-negative Staphylococci, is an important commensal organism of the human skin and mucous membranes; and there is emerging evidence of its benefit for human health in fighting off harmful microorganisms. However, S. epidermidis can cause opportunistic infections, which include particularly biofilm-associated infections on indwelling medical devices. These often can disseminate into the bloodstream; and in fact, S. epidermidis is the most frequent causes of nosocomial sepsis. The increasing use of medical implants and the dramatic shift in the patient demographic population in recent years have contributed significantly to the rise of S. epidermidis infections. Furthermore, treatment has been complicated by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Today, S. epidermidis are major nosocomial pathogens posing significant medical and economic burdens. In this review, we present the current understanding of mechanisms of host defense against the prototypical CoNS species S. epidermidis as commensals of the skin and mucous membranes, and during biofilm-associated infection and sepsis.
Solubility and trapping of helium in apatite

Abstract A fundamental but unquantified assumption in U-Th/He dating of apatite is that grains do not incorporate extraneous helium by solution or other processes, but large age dispersion seen in some samples suggests that this assumption might be violated. Our laboratory experiments show that helium solubility in apatite is quite low and unlikely to lead to age dispersion in most samples. However, in some samples highly variable and sometimes large helium uptake suggests that apatite grains can trap helium in microvoids that could be derived from fluid inclusions or other microstructures, a conclusion supported by crushing and step-heating experiments. The presence of such microvoids raises the possibility that closure and age systematics could be complicated either by trapping of internally generated radiogenic helium and/or alteration of helium diffusion kinetics by impeding diffusion.
Pumping System Control Using Genetic Optimization and Neural Networks

Abstract The optimal control of water supply pumping systems is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem in which pump operating times are treated as the decision variables and the objective function is formulated in terms of pump operating costs. The proposed methodology uses a disaggregated or dual level approach in which the system state equations are removed from the control formulation and evaluated externally using mathematical simulation while the resulting optimization formulation is solved using a genetic optimization routine. Algorithm performance is greatly improved by replacement of the simulation algorithm with a neural network representation developed from training the network using multiple on-line state predictions obtained from the simulation model. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach, the resulting control algorithm is used to develop control strategies for an actual water distribution system.
Path of Professorship: A Student Leadership Model for Catalyzing Change at MIT

Drawing from the rich pool of talent and resources within our community, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has initiated the annual Path of Professorship workshop: a vital and engaging program aimed at helping women in STEM fields launch their academic careers, navigate the tenure process, and achieve harmony between their personal and professional lives. In a very short time, the program has become self-sustaining and self-perpetuating, with former student attendees and organizers now returning as presenters. The feedback generated through Path of Professorship not only helps to refine the next year’s session, but also has inspired the creation of new professional development workshops at MIT.
Coming to Terms with Imperfection: Comparative Studies and the Search for Grazing Impacts in Seventeenth Century New Mexico

Many of the classic questions in zooarchaeology, from the cause of Pleistocene extinctions to the relationship of anthropogenic faunal resource depression to the transition of agriculture, are regional or continental in scale. While the increasing availability of large datasets makes studies focused on such questions ever more possible, comparative meta-analyses come with hazards. This paper uses data from a project testing evidence for grazing impacts in seventeenth century New Mexican archaeological sites to illustrate both the problems and the potential of comparative zooarchaeology. While challenges associated with mechanical problems, differences in chronological resolution, and site type variability all influence results and limit conclusions, even when these problems are addressed this analysis finds no evidence for a decrease in abundance of native ungulates in early Spanish colonial New Mexican archaeofaunas. This result, in association with other studies, suggests severe grazing impacts were not present in New Mexico until the eighteenth century or later.
Tinkering with Governance: Technopolitics and the Economization of Citizenship

From statistics and mapping to engineering and medicine, technology has long been a tool of governance, shaping how nation states control their own and other regions' populations and natural resources. More recently, a nation's capacity to cultivate citizens as tech innovators and entrepreneurs is considered an indicator of its economic prosperity and global power. We show how this turn towards innovation and entrepreneurship is central to how technological and political elites tinker with new modes of governance and define the relationship between the future of the nation and its citizenry in economic terms. Drawing from long-term multi-sited ethnographic research in the United States, China, and Africa, we present a subset of findings to show how these shifts in governance are being enacted through interconnections between politicians and technologists, and the products, spaces, and educational ideals they fund and create. We argue that making sense of these shifts in governance is essential for current and future CSCW scholarship as they intersect with issues of power within social computing.