cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancing wireless performance using reflectors

Signal decay is the fundamental problem of wireless communications, especially in an indoor environment where line-of-sight (LOS) paths for signal propagation are often blocked and various indoor objects exacerbate signal fading. There are three reasons for signal decay: long transmission distance, signal penetration, and reflection. In this paper, we propose OptRe which optimally places metallic reflectors — providing a highly reflective surface that can reflect impinging signals almost 100% — in indoor environments to reduce the reflection loss and enhance wireless transmissions. It enhances both WiFi signal and low-power IoT devices without changing their configurations or network protocols. To enable OptRe, we first develop an empirical signal propagation model that can accurately estimate the signal strength and adapt itself to the reflectors' location. Using micro-benchmarks, our empirical signal propagation model is shown to be more accurate than the other existing path loss models. We also optimally place reflectors to maximize the worst-case signal coverage within the target indoor areas. Our extensive experimental evaluation results have shown OptRe to enhance signal strength for different types of wireless signals by almost 2x.
Transferring Specialized Content Knowledge to Elementary Classrooms: Preservice Teachers' Learning to Teach the Associative Property.

This study explores how preservice teachers (PSTs) transfer the intended specialized content knowledge (SCK) to elementary classrooms. Focusing on the case of the associative property of multiplica...
Challenges to Deploying Library Services in the Cloud: Data Issues Influencing IT, People, Costs, and Policy Challenges

This poster analyzes challenges to planning, deploying, and maintaining different types of library services in the cloud. We apply grounded theory principles to analyze 75 articles authored by library administrators, librarians with IT expertise, IT professionals, cybersecurity experts, and business consultants engaged in planning, deploying, and maintaining library services in the cloud. Data analysis reveals that a majority of the past literature reports challenges to implementing Software as a Service (SaaS) in libraries. The seven key areas critical to the successful implementation of SaaS in libraries are related to: (1) data, (2) authentication and privacy of patrons, (3) skills and knowledge of library staff and organizational culture, (4) IT infrastructure, (5) features of services, (6) fixed and operational costs associated with data and technology, and (7) policies and contracts. Data issues like access, storage, ownership, curation, security, confidentiality, loss, migration, and redundancy seem to have the most influence on SaaS deployment in libraries.
Antibodies and Immunoassays for Detection of Bacterial Pathogens

Antibody, also known as immunoglobulin, is normally made in the body in defense of foreign antigen or invading pathogen. Highly specific biorecognition property of antibody with antigen has made antibody as one of the most indispensable molecules for broad application, not only in the diagnosis or detection but also in prevention or curing of diseases. Animals are routinely used for production of both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies; however, recombinant and phage display technologies are being adopted to improve antibody specificity and to cut cost for antibody production. Available genome sequence of pathogens is also allowing researchers to find and select suitable target antigens for production of antibody with improved specificity. In recent years, however, demand for antibody is even greater as novel biosensor or nanotechnology-based methods continue to utilize antibody for analyte capture and interrogation. Conventional immunoassay methods such as lateral flow and enzyme-linked immunoassays, though lack sensitivity, are available commercially and are widely used. While biosensor-based methods such as time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay, chemiluminescence assay, electrochemical immunoassay, surface plasmon resonance sensor, fiber optic sensor, and microfluidic biochip have, in some cases, demonstrated improved sensitivity, they require further optimization with real-world samples. Furthermore, environmental stress and the growth media are known to affect the physiological state of microorganism and antigen expression, often rendering unsatisfactory signal response from immunoassays. Thus, one must understand the microorganisms’ response to these factors before designing an immunoassay to avoid false results. With the advent of microfluidics and nanotechnology, the adaptation of lab-on-chip concept in immunoassays will soon be a reality for near real-time detection of pathogens from food or clinical specimens.
ANEL: robust mobile network programming using a declarative language

The dynamics of mobile networks make it difficult for mobile apps to deliver a seamless user experience. In particular, intermittent connections and weak signals pose challenges for app developers. While recent network libraries have simplified network programming, much expert knowledge is still required. However, most mobile app developers are relative novices and tend to assume a reliable network connection, paying little attention to handling network errors in programming until users complain and leave bad reviews. We argue that the difficulty of avoiding such software defects can be mitigated through an annotation language that allows developers to declaratively state desired and actual properties of the application, largely without reference to fault-tolerant concepts, much less implementation. A pre-compiler can process these annotations, replacing calls to standard networking libraries with customized calls to a specialized library that enhances the reliability. This paper presents ANEL, a declarative language and middleware for Android that en-ables non-experts. We demonstrate the expressiveness and practicability of ANEL annotation through case studies and usability studies on real-world networked mobile apps. We also show that the ANEL middleware introduces negligible runtime performance overhead.
Outcomes Following Single-Stage Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Severe Thoracic Kyphosis

Introduction Thoracic kyphosis can result in neurologic deficits, pain, and cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Vertebral column resection (VCR) is a powerful technique that can be employed for large curves and fixed deformities. This study reports the outcomes of posterior VCR for adult spinal deformity with severe thoracic kyphosis. Methods A retrospective review of all patients with adult spinal deformity who underwent posterior VCR for severe thoracic kyphosis (defined as segmental kyphosis greater than 80°) was performed. Patients with kyphosis secondary to trauma, tumor, or infection were excluded. Perioperative, radiographic, and minimum 2-year outcomes were assessed. Results Nineteen patients were included. Mean age was 57.1 years and 31.6% were male. Mean preoperative sagittal vertical axis was 57.7 mm and thoracic kyphosis was 92.2°. Among 19 patients, 24 VCR were performed. Mean blood loss was 2188 mL. Perioperative complication rate was 36.8% and mortality rate was 5.3%. Mean postoperative sagittal vertical axis was 42.3 mm and thoracic kyphosis was 58.1°. Incidence of junctional failure at 2-year follow-up was 14.8%: 1 proximal and 2 distal. All patients with junctional disease required reoperation. At mean 35.7-month follow-up, 61.1% of patients reported a significant reduction of back pain and 50.0% were able to reduce their dose of opioid medications. Conclusions Single-stage posterior VCR is a powerful technique for the correction of severe thoracic kyphosis. Perioperative morbidity can be high, but a majority of patients fare well at follow-up. Junctional disease occurs both proximal and distal; surgeons should continue to implement strategies to minimize distal junctional disease.
Identification of Critical Pipes for Proactive Resource-Constrained Seismic Rehabilitation of Water Pipe Networks

AbstractUtility managers in charge of water pipe networks that are exposed to high seismicity make difficult decisions regarding the allocation of a limited rehabilitation budget to be most effecti...
The Erasure of Hasidic Yiddish from Twentieth Century Yiddish Linguistics

Unlike other Yiddish dialects that were diminished to the point of virtual obsolescence in the decades following World War II , Hasidic Yiddish remains the dominant language for several hundred thousand Hasidic Jews across the globe. And yet, a survey of the research on Yiddish linguistics published during the second half of the 20th century does not reflect this reality. In this article, I review how the ideological underpinnings of Yiddish linguistics created and perpetuated a disciplinary preoccupation with a hypothetical standard at the expense of theoretically informative empirical studies of an evolving Yiddish dialect. Specifically, I show how linguistic chauvinism, a series of calamitous events, and historical anti-religiosity complicated by new resentments, led to the erasure of Hasidic dialects from Yiddish scholarship. Finally, I highlight significant contributions that recent empirical studies of Hasidic Yiddish are making to the field of linguistics.
Synthesis of Nitrogen and Sulfur Codoped Nanoporous Carbons from Algae: Role in CO2 Separation

Nitrogen and sulfur codoped and completely renewable carbons were synthesized from two types of algae, Spirulina Platensis and Chlorella Vulgaris, without any additional nitrogen fixation reaction....
DANGEROUS DROPS: A CASE OF HOMEOPATHIC DIGITALIS

Many patients take non-prescription substances which are considered benign. It is essential to ask about non-FDA regulated substances when obtaining a patient history and to be familiar with their side effects. A 79 year old man presented to the emergency room after four episodes of syncope with
Early interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in survivors of life-threatening medical events: A systematic review.

Abstract Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) induced by life-threatening medical events has been associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes, but it is unclear whether early interventions to prevent the onset of PTSD after these events are efficacious. We conducted a systematic review to address this need. We searched six biomedical electronic databases from database inception to October 2018. Eligible studies used randomized designs, evaluated interventions initiated within 3 months of potentially traumatic medical events, included adult participants, and did not have high risk of bias. The 21 included studies (N = 4,486) assessed a heterogeneous set of interventions after critical illness (9), cancer diagnosis (8), heart disease (2), and cardiopulmonary surgery (2). Fourteen psychological, 2 pharmacological, and 5 other-type interventions were assessed. Four of the psychological interventions emphasizing cognitive behavioral therapy or meaning-making, 1 other-type palliative care intervention, and 1 pharmacological-only intervention (hydrocortisone administration) were efficacious at reducing PTSD symptoms relative to control. One early, in-hospital counseling intervention was less efficacious at lowering PTSD symptoms than an active control. Clinical and methodological heterogeneity prevented quantitative pooling of data. While several promising interventions were identified, strong evidence of efficacy for any specific early PTSD intervention after medical events is currently lacking.
Conclusion. Reflections, 2019

Jews in Tunisia and Morocco and Arabs in Israel are religious minorities in non-secular states. This minority group status defined the circumstances of the three communities in the early and mid-1970s, when the research on which the chapters in this volume are based was carried out. Reengaging with these research reports in late 2018 and the first half of 2019, as he brought them together for publication in the present volume, the author reflected on the present-day circumstances of the three minorities and on the salience and significance of the analytical categories, regional trends, and normative orientations that guided his research more than four decades earlier. This concluding chapter presents these reflections. These include the author’s observations about the utility and staying power of religious minority in a non-secular state as a minority group type, about whether the place of Islam and Judaism in political affairs continues to bring a rejection of secularism by states in the Middle East and North Africa, about whether and in what way the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict has impacted the circumstances of Jews in Tunisia and Morocco and Arabs in Israel, and, finally, about what all this means for the present-day circumstances and significance of the three minorities.
"Sometimes you wonder, is this really true?": Clinician assessment of patients' subjective experience of pain.

BACKGROUND Pain is a subjective experience that must be translated by clinicians into an objective assessment to guide intervention. OBJECTIVE To understand how patients' subjective experience of pain is translated by primary care clinicians into an objective clinical assessment of pain to effectively guide intervention. METHODS We conducted nine multidisciplinary focus groups with a combined total of 60 Veteran affair (VA) primary care providers and staff from two large VA medical centers in California and Oregon. We used content analysis methods to identify key themes pertaining to clinical assessment of a subjective experience. RESULTS We present four emergent themes. Theme 1: Pain is a highly individualized and subjective experience not adequately captured by a simple numeric scale; Theme 2: Conflict commonly exists between the patient's reported experience of pain and the clinician's observations and expectations of pain; Theme 3: Providers attempt to recalibrate the patient's reported experience to reflect their own understanding of pain; and Theme 4: Providers perceive that some patients may overreport their pain because they do not know how to standardize their subjective experience. CONCLUSIONS A persistent challenge to pain assessment and management is how clinicians reconcile a patient's subjective self-reported experience with their own clinical assessment and personal biases. Future work should explore these themes from the patient perspective.
The Opportunity Cost of Holding a “Naive” Portfolio

The paper explores the effect of “naive” portfolio strategies on investors’ welfare. A “naive” portfolio as a sub-optimal investment strategy produces sub-optimal asset allocations that result in investors’ welfare losses. To measure those losses I compare sub-optimal portfolios with optimal portfolios using the proportionate opportunity cost with various CRRA utility functions. A vector autoregression is used to generate the joint distribution of asset returns. I show that the opportunity cost of investing in “naive” portfolios does not exceed 16.7% while investing in the optimal number of asset and does not exceed 20.4% while investing in a sub-optimal number of assets.
Chemical Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation of a Pentasaccharide Bearing Multiple Rare Sugars as a Potential Anti-pertussis Vaccine.

The 60-year high Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) infection rate in the world suggests the urgent need for new anti-pertussis vaccines. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of B. pertussis is an attractive antigen for vaccine development. With the presence of multiple rare sugars and unusual glycosyl linkages, B. pertussis LPS is a highly challenging synthetic target. In this work, aided by molecular dynamics simulation and modeling, the pertussis LPS like pentasaccharide was chemically synthesized for the first time. The pentasaccharide was conjugated with a powerful carrier, bacteriophage Qβ as a vaccine candidate. Immunization of mice with the conjugate induced robust anti-glycan IgG responses with IgG titers reaching several million enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) units. The antibodies generated were long lasting and boostable, and could recognize multiple clinical strains of B. pertussis, highlighting the potential of Qβ-glycan as a new anti-pertussis vaccine.
Comparison of ExoMol simulated spectra for H2O to high-temperature low-pressure gas cell measurements at 1723K in the 7321–7598 cm−1 range

Abstract Sensors based on absorption spectroscopy rely on accurate simulations to obtain quantitative data. The simulations, in turn, depend on accurate line lists. To test the quality of the ExoMol line list, a comparison of a simulation based on the line list to a measured H2O absorption spectrum recorded in a heated static cell was performed. The spectrum spanned the 7326 – 7598 cm−1 range and was measured at a temperature of 1723 K. A root mean square (RMS) error of 0.00049 [-] was calculated for the ExoMol comparison, roughly six times better than the same comparison based on the BT2 database. A detailed comparison was performed on approximately 675 of the strongest peaks in the measured spectrum. The comparison identified approximately 9% of the simulated features containing residual errors >10% of the measured absorption. Of these absorption features, 18 were categorized as missing or additional features in the simulation while 29 were identified as having a mismatch in strength or position between simulation and measurement. Based on the results, it is believed that remaining errors in the ExoMol line list will not significantly compromise absorption thermometry techniques which incorporate a broad spectral range in typical combustion applications.
Journey of the Right Heart Following Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Introduction Right heart function impacts outcomes in left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) but a comprehensive exploration of changes in right heart function over time and its effects on outcomes has not been fully elucidated. We sought to characterize changes in right heart function according to hemodynamic, imaging, and laboratory data at multiple time points and evaluate how pre-implant function compares to postoperative function in predicting heart failure (HF) outcomes. We hypothesized that postoperative (pre-discharge) right ventricular (RV) systolic function would be more predictive of HF readmissions compared to preoperative RV function. Methods In this single-center study, we included consecutive patients (n=298) who received primary LVADs between May 2008 and December 2018. Invasive hemodynamics, echocardiography (ECHO), and laboratory data were collected preoperatively, postoperatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months following LVAD implantation. Post-implant readmission data were also collected up to 12 months post hospital discharge. Results Compared to pre-implant values, significant and persistent improvements in right atrial pressure (RAP), pulmonary artery (PA) pressures, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and RAP/PCWP occurred at 3, 6, and 12 months post-implant respectively (figure 1a). On the other hand, PA pulsatility index (PAPi) fluctuated over time and RV stroke work index (RVSWI) decreased over time (figure 1a). In addition, the proportion of patients with moderate-severe/severe RV dilation, tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and RV systolic function reduction eventually decreased on average by 12 months post-implant (figure 1b). Significant improvements in BNP and bilirubin levels occurred (figure 1c). Finally, we found that postoperative (pre-discharge) RV systolic function by ECHO was significantly predictive of readmissions due to HF (p=.03) whereas preoperative RV systolic function was not (p=0.81). Conclusions Right heart function metrics generally improve and persist at various time points post-implant compared to preoperative values. However, normalization of right heart function is rarely achieved, highlighting the need to redefine “normal” in LVAD patients. Additionally, the superior predictive value of postoperative RV function on HF readmissions underscores the importance of re-assessing right heart function post-implant for improved risk stratification.
Bimonthly viral monitoring for late-onset cytomegalovirus infection in kidney transplant recipients.

Kidney transplant recipients with high-risk cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus (seropositive donor to seronegative recipient) are at risk for late-onset CMV after cessation of antiviral prophylaxis. We report findings from a strategy of bimonthly (every 2 weeks) CMV screening for late-onset CMV. This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of 70 high-risk CMV kidney transplant recipients transplanted between June 2016 and September 2018. Patients were monitored at 6-12 months post-transplantation for late-onset CMV using bimonthly CMV nucleic acid testing (NAT). Adherence to screening and its correlation with CMV-related hospitalizations were assessed. Failure to prevent CMV-related hospitalization was classified into three categories (non-adherence to CMV testing, rapid CMV progression, and health system failure). Twenty-one (30%) patients developed CMV DNAemia, of whom 10 (14%) required hospitalization. Reasons for CMV-related hospitalization despite screening were (i) screening non-adherence (50%), (ii) rapid progression (40%), and (iii) health system failure (10%). Adherence to screening was associated with lower viral counts at diagnosis (r = -.44, p = .049) and a trend towards lower risk of CMV-related hospitalization (OR: 0.97 per 1% increase in adherence; 95% CI: 0.94-1.00; p = .06). Bimonthly monitoring for late-onset CMV allows for early CMV detection and may lower CMV-related hospitalization.
Pricing Barrier Options with DeepBSDEs

This paper presents a novel and direct approach to price boundary and final-value problems, corresponding to barrier options, using forward deep learning to solve forward-backward stochastic differential equations (FBSDEs). Barrier instruments are instruments that expire or transform into another instrument if a barrier condition is satisfied before maturity; otherwise they perform like the instrument without the barrier condition. In the PDE formulation, this corresponds to adding boundary conditions to the final value problem. The deep BSDE methods developed so far have not addressed barrier/boundary conditions directly. We extend the forward deep BSDE to the barrier condition case by adding nodes to the computational graph to explicitly monitor the barrier conditions for each realization of the dynamics as well as nodes that preserve the time, state variables, and trading strategy value at barrier breach or at maturity otherwise. Given these additional nodes in the computational graph, the forward loss function quantifies the replication of the barrier or final payoff according to a chosen risk measure such as squared sum of differences. The proposed method can handle any barrier condition in the FBSDE set-up and any Dirichlet boundary conditions in the PDE set-up, both in low and high dimensions.
Towards Causal Models for Adversary Distractions.

Automated adversary emulation is becoming an indispensable tool of network security operators in testing and evaluating their cyber defenses. At the same time, it has exposed how quickly adversaries can propagate through the network. While research has greatly progressed on quality decoy generation to fool human adversaries, we may need different strategies to slow computer agents. In this paper, we show that decoy generation can slow an automated agent's decision process, but that the degree to which it is inhibited is greatly dependent on the types of objects used. This points to the need to explicitly evaluate decoy generation and placement strategies against fast moving, automated adversaries.
Sandbar Agricultural Technology and Innovations in Chars

This chapter describes climate-adaptive and innovative agricultural technique called “sandbar cropping” that helps the poor farmers displaced by recurrent river erosion in producing food crops like pumpkin on transitional riverbeds or chars. The sandbar cropping project was initiated by Practical Action to organize and assist erosion displaced families without land to access the newly deposited charlands during the winter season. This experimental project has demonstrated that production of pumpkins and other high-value crops in small compost pits dug into the sand is both possible and profitable. The project has mobilized a total of 22,131 farmers (more than 65% of them women) over the last 15 years and has produced 158,000 MT of pumpkins worth 37.8 m USD by adopting the innovation and low-cost reservior irrigation techniques in chars. This innovative agricultural technique has great prospects for char regions in the country.
Holy Hell: Memories of Satanic Priest Abuse

The year is 1973, and I am the unwilling centerpiece in a yearlong orgy of anti-Christian rituals that take place in the basement of my church, St. Catharines of Siena in Reading, Pennsylvania. The masked priests cavort ghoulishly and call me dreadful names, “Spawn of Satan! Prince of Darkness! Anti-Christ! Maggot! Shit-eater!” I can’t think clearly. Partly due to terror, but also because the priests have roofied me. I am overwhelmed by the shock, the horror, the sheer impossibility of this waking nightmare. The anti-Easter ritual is so abominable that it couldn't be real...could it?
Hazards and Management of Wire Bristle ingestions: A Systematic Review.

Objective Inadvertently ingested grill brush bristles can lodge in various locations and lead to a variety of injuries. They can also be difficult to identify and remove. Our primary objective was to perform a systematic review of cases reported in the literature, with analysis of trends in clinical presentation and success of diagnostic modalities and treatment approaches. Data sources Cases of reported grill brush bristle ingestion reported in PubMed, PubMed Central, and Google Scholar databases through April 30, 2021. Review methods Databases were searched for the following terms: ("ingestion" OR "injury" OR "barbeque" OR "BBQ" OR "grill" OR "foreign body" OR "brush" AND "wire" OR "bristle"). Data were collected on patient demographics, clinical presentation, and treatment course. Statistical analysis was performed on characteristics with low risk of confounding. Results An overall 57 studies involving 91 patients were included. Grill brush bristles presented most commonly in the upper aerodigestive tract (48/91), followed by the abdomen (26/91) and deep neck (17/91). Computed tomography was the most accurate imaging modality for initial diagnosis, identifying 92.8% of bristles. Less invasive or adjunctive techniques such as endoscopy, intraoperative imaging, or minimally invasive surgery may be useful particularly for bristles located in the head and neck given the low rate of success of transoral surgery (66.7%). Conclusion Although this review of retained bristle may be biased toward complex cases, retained grill brush bristles represent an underrecognized and difficult-to-manage hazard. When cases are suspected, clinicians should obtain computed tomography imaging based on presentation and tailor management appropriately.
The Effect of Reflective Garden Walking on Adults With Increased Levels of Psychological Stress

Purpose: The purpose of this evaluation was to determine the benefits of a reflective garden walking program on adults with increased levels of psychological stress. Outcomes measured included leve...
Modeling of NOx Emissions Using a Super-Extended Zel’dovich Mechanism

A kinetic model for NOx production has been developed to predict NOx emissions. The reaction scheme is a modified super-extended Zel’dovich mechanism (SEZM), which includes 43 reactions and 20 species instead of just the three reactions typically used in the extended Zel’dovich mechanism. The NOx emissions predicted by both mechanisms are compared using two separate models. First, a theoretical investigation of the two mechanisms is made for an SI engine using prescribed temperature and pressure histories. Then each of the two mechanisms is combined with a phenomenological combustion model for a single-cylinder Caterpillar 3400 series diesel engine to calculate the NOx emissions. The predictions from both mechanisms are compared with experimental results. It is shown that the SEZM can predict NOx emissions more accurately than the extended Zel’dovich mechanism. Results show that the SEZM increases the predicted NOx by about 25 percent. The difference between the two models is more pronounced for lean combustion, in which NO2 and NH play an important role in the NOx formation. In addition, the effects of several parameters on diesel engine NOx production are investigated. The super-extended Zel’dovich mechanism for NOx formation is expected to be more appropriate for lean combustion, such as in diesel or natural gas engines and other engines that typically operate at lean conditions.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Peptide Nucleic Acids

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) can be conveniently delivered into cells in complex with DNA and cationic lipid. This advance enables researchers to test the hypothesis that PNAs offer advantages for recognition of DNA or RNA targets within cells. In this review, I describe the intracellular delivery of PNAs as DNA-PNA-cationic lipid complexes and discuss recognition of three classes of nucleic acid target: duplex DNA, single-stranded mRNA, and the ribonucleoprotein telomerase. These targets differ dramatically in their potential for base-paired structure, offering distinct challenges for hybridization by PNAs. It is apparent that PNAs can exert sequence-specific effects within cells, and their full potential has only begun to be explored.
Adolescent Gender Differences in Suicide-Related Behaviors

Utilizing data as well as factor analysis and multiple regression the previously published study, “Risk Factors Related to Suicidal Behavior Among Male and Female Adolescents” [(1996), Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Vol. 25, pp. 149–160], this follow-up study examined gender differences in risk factors that increase the probability of self-reported suicidal behavior among seventh through twelfth grade students (N = 3461) in a northern Midwest school district. The logistic regression results revealed gender differences in that the demonstration of more aggressive behaviors increased the likelihood of males reporting suicidal behavior.
SparkleVision: Seeing the world through random specular microfacets

In this paper, we study the problem of reproducing the light from a single image of an object covered with random specular microfacets on the surface. We show that such reflectors can be interpreted as a randomized mapping from the lighting to the image. Such specular objects have very different optical properties from both diffuse surfaces and smooth specular objects like metals, so we design a special imaging system to robustly and effectively photograph them. We present simple yet reliable algorithms to calibrate the proposed system and do the inference. We conduct experiments to verify the correctness of our model assumptions and prove the effectiveness of our pipeline.
Adolescent self-compassion: Associations with narcissism, self-esteem, aggression, and internalizing symptoms in at-risk males

Abstract Self-compassion is an attitude toward oneself that involves perceiving one’s experiences as an opportunity for self-awareness and improvement, as well as limited self-judgment after failure. Self-compassion has not been extensively studied in adolescence, a time when self-perception and self-appraisals regarding success and failure take on notable importance. This study considered the connection between self-compassion, narcissism, self-esteem, aggression, and internalizing problems in a sample of 251 male adolescents, ages 16–18, attending a residential program. Self-compassion was negatively correlated with aggression and vulnerable narcissism and positively correlated with self-esteem. In general, self-compassion did not exhibit the hypothesized protective effect on the relation between narcissism and aggression. Findings indicate that, as expected, self-compassion is indicative of a relatively secure, positive sense of self in adolescents.
AN IMPROVED MODEL FOR THE INTERFACIAL BEHAVIOR OF CAUSTIC/CRUDE OIL SYSTEMS

The effects of crude oil acid number and brine concentration on the interfacial behavior of caustic/crude oil systems were investigated. The effect of increased brine concentration was generally to increase the minimum interfacial tension (IFT) while low IFT values were retained for longer periods of time. Varying the crude oil acid number caused the shape of the IFT versus time curve to change, while the minimum IFT remained constant. These combined results imply that Lagmuir and not Henry soption (adsorption/desorption) kinetics were operative A phenomenological surface phase model for the IFT behavior of caustic/crude oil systems is proposed which incorporates Langmuir kinetics. The model takes into account interfacial activities of the acidic components in the crude and the detailed chemistry of the oil phase, the water phase, and the interface. To allow for realistic comparison of model results with interfacial tensiometer data, drastic interfacial volume changes which accompany the transient interfa...
Carbon dioxide jet spray cleaning: mechanisms and risks

Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas/solid jet sprays have been proposed for replacing ozone depleting cleaning solvents and for on-orbit cleaning of satellite-borne sensors. We have performed experiments to ascertain the mechanisms of molecular contaminant film removal with commercial CO2 gas/solid jet spray devices. Infrared measurements of germanium plates coated with various contaminant films were made before, during, and after cleaning with a CO2 jet spray. The inferred cleaning times and overall cleaning efficiencies combined with the known solubilities of the contaminants in liquid CO2 suggest that multiple cleaning mechanisms occur: physical removal of the film and solvation of the contaminant into the CO2 particle. These mechanisms explain the selectivity in cleaning efficiencies of the CO2 jet spray for different contaminants. We have also measured the electrostatic charging induced by the jet spray on ungrounded substrates, which in some cases, charge up to several kilowatts. The charging results from the difference in work functions of the CO2 and substrate. The work function is an intrinsic material property, therefore, the extent of charging can be reduced, but not eliminated. Environmental factors that affect the charging and the resultant limitations placed on the use of this device are discussed.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Use of an anion exchange resin in treatment of two siblings with familial hypercholesterolemia

Cholestyramine, an insoluble anion exchange resin which absorbs bile acids in theintestine, was given orally to two siblings with familial hypercholesterolemia. A 3 week course of 9 Gm. of the drug each day failed to alter the plasma cholesterol concentration. However, after a 3 week course of 15 Gm. daily of the drug, there was a lowering of plasma cholesterol levels by 12 to 44 per cent of control values. No toxic effects were noted. This drug appears to warrant further trial in individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia.
Photoreduction of cytochrome b559 in a Photosystem-II subchloroplast particle☆

A Photosystem-II reaction-center particle derived from spinach chloroplasts by Triton treatment contains only one kind of cytochrome, namely, cytochrome b559, in the amount of slightly more than 2 per 100 total chlorophyll molecules. Cytochrome b559 is present in the oxidized form, has a standard redox potential of 58 mV, and undergoes photoreduction. Photoreduction of cytochrome b559 and its re-oxidation in the dark can take place in the Photosystem-II particle without the addition of any exogenous electron donors such as diphenylcarbazide. The same reaction can even be better observed under anaerobic condition when oxidative photobleaching of bulk chlorophyll is prevented. Whereas the photoreduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol catalyzed by the Photosystem-II particle and supported by diphenylcarbazide is completely inhibited by 2 · 10−5 M 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylura (DCMU) or carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, the photoreduction of cytochrome b559 is inhibited only 40 and 20%, respectively. The quantum efficiency of cytochrome b559 photoreducation is near unity. An Arrhenius plot yields an activation energy of 7.5 kcal/mole. The cytochrome reaction ceases when the reaction mixture becomes frozen. No photooxidation of cytochrome b559 at 77°K has been observed even when it was pre-reduced chemically. Observations made thus far support the notion that cytochrome b559 is reduced by a reducing component formed in the electron-transport chain and re-oxidized by an oxidizing component formed on the oxidizing side of Photosystem-II. Thus, the light-induced redox reactions of cytochrome b559 form a small cycle around Photosystem-II. The nature for the lack of inhibition of cytochrome b559 photoreduction by DCMU is not yet clear.
Performance and results with the NIRSPEC echelle spectrograph on the Keck II Telescope

This paper describes the performance of NIRSPEC, the cryogenic cross-dispersed IR echelle spectrograph for the Keck II telescope on Mauna Kea. NIRSPEC employs a 1024 by 1024 InSb array, diamond-machined metal optics and closed- cycle refrigeration on achieve high throughput and low backgrounds. The instrument operates directly at the f/15 Nasmyth focus, but can also be used in conjunction with the Keck adaptive optics system. First Light was obtained on April 25, 1999. As expected, the performance is detector- limited at short wavelengths and background-limited at longer wavelengths. All of the design goals have been met and result illustrating the optical performance and sensitivity are reported.
Treatment for spasmodic dysphonia: limitations of current approaches

Purpose of review—Although botulinum toxin injection is the gold standard for treatment of spasmodic dysphonia, surgical approaches aimed at providing long-term symptom control have been advancing over recent years. Recent findings—When surgical approaches provide greater long-term benefits to symptom control, they also increase the initial period of side effects of breathiness and swallowing difficulties. However, recent analyses of quality-of-life questionnaires in patients undergoing regular injections of botulinum toxin demonstrate that a large proportion of patients have limited relief for relatively short periods due to early breathiness and loss-of-benefit before reinjection. Summary—Most medical and surgical approaches to the treatment of spasmodic dysphonia have been aimed at denervation of the laryngeal muscles to block symptom expression in the voice, and have both adverse effects as well as treatment benefits. Research is needed to identify the central neuropathophysiology responsible for the laryngeal muscle spasms in order target treatment towards the central neurological abnormality responsible for producing symptoms.
ATP hydrolysis by a CFTR domain: pharmacology and effects of G551D mutation.

Abstract Residues 417–830 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) were expressed as a glutathione- S -transferase fusion protein. This fusion protein, NBD1/R/GST, contains the regulatory and first nucleotide binding domains of CFTR. NBD1/R/GST hydrolyzed ATP with a K M (60 μM) and V max (330 nmol/min/mg) that differed from those reported for CFTR and for a peptide containing CFTR residues 433–589. The ATPase inhibitor profile of NBD1/R/GST indicates that CFTR resembles P-glycoprotein with respect to the NBD1 ATPase catalytic mechanism. ATP hydrolysis by NBD1/R/GST was unaffected by genistein, glybenclamide, and other agents known to affect CFTR's chloride channel function, suggesting that these agents do not act by directly influencing the ATPase function of NBD1. The disease-causing mutation, G551D, reduced ATP hydrolysis by NBD1/R/GST by increasing the K M for ATP fourfold. This suggests that when G551D occurs in patients with cystic fibrosis, it affects CFTR function by reducing the affinity of NBD1 for ATP.
Two-photon-resonant four-wave-mixing spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen in flames

Abstract We report a new diagnostic technique based on resonant foru-wave-mixing spectroscopy of the two-photon 1s→2s transition in atomic hydrogen. Observations including Doppler-free spectral lineshapes and saturation behavior are related to models for the nonlinear optical processes. Two-photon wave-mixing measurements of atomic hydrogen concentration in laboratory flames at pressures of 30–760 Torr to be less susceptible to errors from collisional quenching than similar measurements made using laser-induced fluorescene.
Organic solvent vapor sensing using porous photopolymer photonic bandgap structures

Significant research efforts have been focused on the development of effective means for the optical detection of organic molecules using porous one-dimensional photonic bandgap (PBG) structures. To date, efforts have been focused on porous silicon microstructures, which are typically created using a controlled electrochemical etching process in a hydrofluoric acid solution. Generally, these sensors rely on changes in the optical resonance that occurs when the porous structure is filled by the analyte of interest and allows for simple and effective optical detection schemes. Here, we present a simple method for the production of polymer Bragg reflection gratings containing periodic porous layers, and we demonstrate optical detection of organic solvent vapors using these structures. To create the structures, a pre-polymer syrup containing a monomer, a photoinitiator, a co-initiator, liquid crystals (LC), and a non-reactive solvent (acetone or toluene) is sandwiched between two pieces of glass, and the periodic structure is then formed by applying an optical interference pattern generated using a simple one-beam laser setup. More importantly, we demonstrate that acetone vapor penetrates the porous structure and induces a change in the effective refractive index of these gratings that result in a shift in the reflection wavelength. This shift is pronounced, and can easily be observed by eye, or detected by optical means. We also demonstrate that this shift depends on the particular type of chemical vapor and vapor concentration, and the detection is reversible and repeatable. Finally, the addition of aminosilane to the pre-polymer syrup is shown to improve the stability of the resulting gratings, suggesting that this photopolymer fabrication technique could be used to create structures suitable for biological applications in aqueous environments.
Prediction of risk for hemodynamic compromise during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

The availability of circulatory support devices has increased the importance of accurately identifying patients at risk for hemodynamic compromise during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Accordingly, prospective evaluation of 3 criteria to predict hemodynamic compromise (defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure > or = 20 to or = 4, the sensitivity of this criterion in group A patients was 81% and the specificity was 74%. The scoring system was then prospectively applied to 61 consecutive patients (group B) undergoing PTCA. In using a risk score > or = 4 to define high risk, this scoring system had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 92%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Assessment of Aerosol Extinction to Backscatter Ratio Measurements Made at 694.3 nm in Tucson, Arizona

The aerosol extinction-to-backscatter ratio, S a, is a key parameter in interpreting scattering measurements made with lidar. Whereas solution techniques for solving the lidar equation generally assume some constraining relation for S a (i.e., such as S a is constant with range), few measurements of S a have been made to establish the statistics and properties of this parameter. Measurements of S a, for a wavelength 694.3 mm, obtained from slant-path lidar observations made in Tucson, Arizona, from May 1979 to June 1982 yielded values of S a between ∼ 5 and 100 with the majority concentrated between ∼ 10 and 45. The weighted mean (weighted by inverse variances of S a) of all S a values and the arithmetic mean of the main grouping of S a values (10 < S a < 45) both equaled approximately 25. Interpretation of the S a measurements in terms of various size distributions and refractive index values representative of atmospheric aerosols indicated the following: 1) S a values in the 10 to 20 range are indicativ...
Results on the edge-connectivity of graphs

It is shown that if G is a graph of order p >= 2 such that deg u + deg v >= p - 1 for all pairs u, v of nonadjacent vertices, then the edge-connectivity of G equals the minimum degree of G. Furthermore, if deg u + deg v >= p for all pairs u, v of nonadjacent vertices, then either p is even and G is isomorphic to K"p"2 x K"2 or every minimum cutset of edges of G consists of the collection of edges incident with a vertex of least degree.
Global Strategic Alliances and Organizational Learning

As the tide of globalization rides high and global competition intensifies, more and more firms are resorting to strategic alliances as a means to increase competitive‐ness. Despite apparent advantages that a strategic alliance may bring, it does not compensate for weaknesses in corporate culture which, as shown in this article, could only be done through organizational learning. Such learning cannot be acquired through purchase or by contract, it has to be gained by effort.
Rhesus monkey cerebrospinal fluid amine metabolite changes following treatment with the reversible monoamine oxidase type-A inhibitor cimoxatone.

The effects of cimoxatone, a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type A (MAO-A), on the deaminated metabolites of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin were examined in continuously collected rhesus monkey cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cimoxatone, 0.5–8 mg/kg given PO, produced dose-proportionate reductions of 24-h mean CSF 3-methoxy, 4-hydroxy phenylglycol (MHPG) concentrations of 21%–52%. Homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations also decreased 27%–55%, while CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) decreases were somewhat smaller (7%–32% from baseline). All three metabolite concentrations reached a nadir approximately 6–10 h after drug administration, and required over 40 h to gradually return towards baseline following drug discontinuation. HVA concentration reductions in particular persisted during the entire 24-h period following treatment and were the slowest to return to baseline values. CSF concentrations of cimoxatone and its MAO-inhibiting O-demethyl metabolite showed a parallel time course peaking 6–10 h after treatment and persisting for up to 24 h in the case of cimoxatone and over 48 h for its metabolite. Single simultaneous time point determinations revealed 10-to 20-fold lower concentrations of cimoxatone and its metabolite in CSF compared to plasma 2 h after treatment. MAO-B activity in platelet-rich plasma was not inhibited by 8 mg/kg cimoxatone, indicating that this drug maintains MAO-A selectivity in vivo. As cimoxatone's preferential effects on catecholamine metabolites were similar to those previously observed with the irreversible MAO-A inhibiting antidepressant, clorgyline, our results are consistent with limited clinical trials data suggesting that cimoxatone may also prove to be an effective antidepressant.