cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revealing the causes and temporal distribution of tree mortality in Central Amazonia

Abstract Tree mortality is a critical process in forest ecosystems, as it influences floristic composition, structure, dynamics, carbon storage, and forest nutrient cycling. However, the mechanisms behind tree death in tropical regions are still poorly characterized. This lack of information is mainly because tree mortality data come from long-interval inventories and studies that measured tree death seasonally are scarce. Here we offer novel insights into the power of fine temporal scale observations and we use a natural history approach to understand the processes and mechanism of tree mortality. We monitored tree mortality every month during one year, in 10 ha of terra-firme forest. To determine the pathways of mortality, we considered the state of the tree at the start of the investigation and the pre and post-mortem characteristics. From November 2010 to October 2011, 67 out of 5808 trees died. Despite the 2010 drought, mortality was highly correlated with monthly rainfall (r = 0.85). In total, six pathways of mortality were assessed. Storms were the main cause of mortality, killing 45% of all dead trees, followed by Biotic/abiotic factors accounting for 30% of tree mortality. The high mortality registered in the rainy season was mostly (78%) due to healthy trees dying uprooted or snapped. Finally, we would benefit from studies that assess mortality on a monthly basis and in combination with quantitative long-term data, we can substantially improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind tree death in the tropics.
An Eye with a Heartbeat: Carotid Cavernous Fistula-a Case Report.

Abstract Background A carotid cavernous fistula is a rare type of arteriovenous (AV) fistula due to an abnormal communication between the cavernous sinus and the carotid arterial system. Normal venous return to the cavernous sinus is impeded as high-pressure arterial blood enters the cavernous sinus. The classical triad of symptoms is characterized by pulsating exophthalmos, ocular bruit, and conjunctival chemosis. However, it is important to note that some patients do not exhibit this triad of symptoms. Case Report A 49-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a chief complaint of “there is a heartbeat in my eye.” Pertinent history included an episode of trauma 2 months prior to his onset of unilateral vision loss. Computed tomography scan of the head obtained in the ED upon his initial injury was unrevealing. Despite no identifiable pathology, his pain had gradually worsened since ED discharge. On this occasion, an ocular bruit was appreciated over the affected eye, prompting further diagnostic testing. The patient was admitted for urgent cerebral angiography and definitive endovascular neurosurgical intervention to preserve his eyesight. We discuss the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and diagnostic modalities important to the management of this rare and potentially devastating cause of vision loss. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? A carotid cavernous fistula is a rare and easily misdiagnosed cause of unilateral ocular pain in the ED. Further, it emphasizes the importance of a detailed clinical history and physical examination to make this diagnosis and save eyesight.
The Role of Credit Ratings in Bank Capital

This paper examines two specific aspects of the Basel Committee’s proposed reforms to the 8% risk-based capital ratio. We argue that relying on “traditional” agency ratings could produce cyclically lagging rather than leading capital requirements, resulting in an enhanced rather than reduced degree of instability in the banking and financial system, the so-called “procyclicality” problem. Despite this possible shortcoming, we believe that sensible risk based weighting of capital requirements is a step in the right direction. The various standardized risk based bucketing proposals of June 1999 and January 2001, which are tied to external agency ratings, or possibly to internal bank ratings, however, lack a sufficient degree of granularity. In particular, we argue that in Basel’s first proposal of June, 1999, lumping A and BBB (investment grade corporate borrowers) together with BB and B (below investment grade borrowers) severely misprices risk within that bucket and calls, at a minimum, for that bucket to be split into two. After the revisions in early 2001, we acknowledge the improved risk bucket guidelines, but still conclude that several of the new rating categories carry underweighted capital requirements and that banks may continue to be motivated to skew their portfolios toward lower rated loans. We examine the default loss experience on corporate bonds for the period 1981–1999 and propose a revised weighting system which more closely resembles the actual loss experience on credit assets. Later tests include the heightened default experience in 2000.
Hierarchical Aspects of Plant Development

A universally accepted concept in biology is that organisms have a hierarchical organization such as the cells-tissues-organs-organism series with other levels both above and below this sequence. While this idea is simple to illustrate there is considerable difficulty in providing a definition of each level and distinctions between adjacent levels. When is a group of cells just a group of cells and when is it a tissue, and what makes a group of tissues an organ and how are organs related to constitute an organism? Generally it is thought that there must be some intergrating feature(s) by which a collection of cells, tissues and organs, respectively, become tissues, organs and organism but the identification of the intergration features and their specific roles has not been easy.
Optimizing Power @ Design Time – Circuit-Level Techniques

Dejan Markovic Borivoje Nikolic Slide 4.1 With the sources of power dissipation in modern integrated circuits well understood, we can start to explore the various sorts of power reduction techniques. As is made clear in the beginning of the chapter, power or energy minimization can be performed at many stages in the design process and may address different targets such as dynamic or static power. This chapter focuses on techniques for power reduction at design time and at circuit level. Practical questions often expressed by designers are addressed: whether gate sizing or choice of supply voltage yields larger returns in terms of power–delay; howmany supplies are needed; what the preferred ratio of discrete supplies to thresholds is; etc. As was made clear at the end of the previous chapter, all optimizations should be seen in the broader light of an energy–delay trade-off. To help guide this process, we introduce a unified sensitivity-based optimization framework. The availability of such a framework makes it possible to compare in an unbiased way the impact of various parameters such as gate size and supply and threshold voltages on a given design topology. The results serve as the foundation for optimization at the higher levels of abstraction, which is the focus of later chapters.
The Relationship between Students’ Characteristics and Their Impressions of Online Courses

This study explored relationship between students’ conscientiousness and motivation, their impressions of the online environment, and their learning. Also examined were relationships between their ...
Continuous Health Monitoring With Resonant-Microphone-Array-Based Wearable Stethoscope

This paper reports the implementation and evaluation of an array-based recognition system for the detection of wheezing in breathing. We describe the design and fabrication of a resonant microphone array for pre-filtered acoustic signal acquisition, and outline a novel signal classification algorithm that benefits from its properties. The use of a resonant-transducer array at the input simplifies several of the required digital processing steps necessary for performing spectral filtering and wheezing recognition. The recognizer system is evaluated and compared against a traditional approach, and the experimental results show that recognition processing time (and power consumption) can be reduced 11 times, specifically from 5.11 to 0.46 s. Classification experiments also indicate a robustness in recognition accuracy to low-frequency-dominated background noises such as those emitted by the heart. The findings suggest that this technique has wide-ranging applicability to low-power and self-powered wireless sensing and detection systems.
Online Unsupervised Kernel Affine Projection Algorithms

In recent years, the application of unsupervised learning techniques has become of growing importance in a number of fields, e.g., feature selection, clustering etc. While an array of fast supervised learning algorithms have been developed over the years, the number of fast unsupervised learning algorithms is lacking. In this paper, we present a fast unsupervised kernel affine projection algorithm using a least-squares one-class support vector machine framework and coherence sparsification criterion. A kernel NLMS type algorithm is then developed as a special case. To validate the efficacy of the proposed algorithms, we then perform simulations to detect outliers in datasets.
An exploration of the use of fluoropolymers in photofiltration

Advanced lithography techniques relying on innovations in scanner, track, and material technologies have been a consistent driver of Moore’s Law. As these innovations transition from laboratories to factories, all members of the lithography value chain must adapt. Filtration technology has relied upon a subset of carefully matched materials to filter lithographic materials. The introduction of new materials for emerging lithography techniques creates the opportunity to seek alternatives to ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UPE), Nylon, and polypropylene. Fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), have been used widely in the fab to filter chemistries that require instant surface wettability and high flow rates. These requirements now align more closely with today’s leading-edge lithography materials. After a review of the motivation behind choosing new filtration materials in the lithography sector, this paper will identify the critical material attributes, specific design considerations, and the importance of membrane surface technologies, beginning in the photoresist manufacturing process. Data presented will include laboratory studies of fluoropolymer membranes in common solvents, on-wafer defect data, and bulk filtration manufacturing data, all showing the match between fluoropolymer filters and photolithography materials.
MEASURING PERSPECTIVE OF FRACTION KNOWLEDGE: INTEGRATING HISTORICAL AND NEUROCOGNITIVE FINDINGS

In this theoretical investigation, we describe the origins and cognitive difficulties involved in the common conception of fractional numbers, where a fraction corresponds to some parts of an equally partitioned whole. As an alternative, we present a new notion of fraction knowledge, called the perspective of measure-proportionality. It is informed both by the historical-cultural analysis of the emergence of fractions in social practice and by neuroscientific evidence of the propensity of human beings to perceive from childhood nonsymbolic proportionality between pairs of quantities. We suggest that this natural neurocognitive propensity of individuals may be an instructional link to develop students’ robust knowledge about fractional numbers.
Drinking Water and Sanitation

Few topics carry as great importance to public health as do water and sanitation. Currently, it is estimated that 1.1 billion people lack access to adequate water and 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation worldwide. While improvements in water supply and sanitation are part of an international agenda to reduce poverty, the necessary political commitment at the national and local levels is still lacking. Throughout the last decade very little gain in coverage was achieved. The gross numbers of people who lack water and sanitation services have remained essentially the same. Conventional approaches, such as education about hygiene and sanitation, or installation of sanitation facilities, have proven unsuccessful. It is clear that people will not practice adequate hygiene, or install and use sanitation facilities unless they want to do so. It follows that any effective strategy must take into account the need to create demand for services. A multidisciplinary approach is particularly important as poverty, with its associated unsanitary living conditions and lack of access to water, proper nutrition, health care and education, is the overwhelming determinant of infection and malnutrition. The results of such efforts will better help us to achieve the goals identified in the Millennium Development Goals, and consequently serve the billions of people who currently live without improved water or sanitation.
Can Patients Trust Online Health Information? A Meta-narrative Systematic Review Addressing the Quality of Health Information on the Internet

The Internet has become a leading source of health information accessed by patients and the general public. It is crucial that this information is reliable and accurate. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the overall quality of online health information targeting patients and the general public. The systematic review is based on a pre-established protocol and is reported according to the PRISMA statement. Eleven databases and Internet searches were performed for relevant studies. Descriptive statistics were used to synthesize data. The NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Out of 3393 references, we included 153 cross-sectional studies evaluating 11,785 websites using 14 quality assessment tools. The quality level varied across scales. Using DISCERN, none of the websites received a category of excellent in quality, 37–79% were rated as good, and the rest were rated as poor quality. Only 18% of websites were HON Code certified. Quality varied by affiliation (governmental was higher than academic, which was higher than other media sources) and by health specialty (likely higher in internal medicine and anesthesiology). This comprehensive systematic review demonstrated suboptimal quality of online health information. Therefore, the Internet at the present time does not provide reliable health information for laypersons. The quality of online health information requires significant improvement which should be a mandate for policymakers and private and public organizations.
The Formative Politics of Outreach Scholarship

In recent years, a movement aimed at renewing the civic mission of American higher education has emerged. What are the implications of this aim for the nature and practice of outreach scholarship? Grounded in an analysis of our contemporary civic crisis that emphasizes the importance of the formativeproject of civic education, this paper calls for a view of outreach scholarship as “public scholarship.” Such a scholarship has deep historical roots in state and land-grant universities. Its renewal in our time will require outreach scholars to infuse public service and outreach work with a civic rather than a market spirit, explicitly incorporating deliberation on questions of civic purpose, while also providing opportunities for serious, substantial contributions and participation from a wide variety of people.
International Committee for Nanjing Safety Zone and Westerners in Nanjing

The outbreak of war in Shanghai in August 1937 generated 800,000 refugees from the war zone in the following months. French priest Robert Emile Jacquinot de Besange established a neutral safety zone in Nantao to shelter those who had fled from their war afflicted homes. After the fall of Shanghai, the Japanese moved westward swiftly in chase of the battered Chinese troops. While the Japanese arrival at Nanjing was expected, the idea of establishing a similar safety zone was conceived in Nanjing on November 16, 1937, hoping to shelter civilians when the war reached Nanjing. A tentative international committee was formed the next day and efforts were made to obtain approval from American, British and German ambassadors. The International Committee for Nanjing Safety Zone was formally founded on November 22, 1937 with German businessman John Rabe elected as its chairman. Altogether 15 Westerners comprised the committee, though Paul Hector Munro-Faure, Philip Robert Shields, Johannes Morch Hansen, G. Shultze-Pantin, Ivor E. L. Mackay, James Vance Pickering and D. J. Lean withdrew from Nanjing by their respective companies in early December 1937, and were not able to obtain permission to return to the city until June 1938:
Social and Economic Equity and Family Cohesion as Potential Protective Factors from Depression Among Adolescents Living with HIV in Uganda

Adolescents living with HIV in Uganda are impacted by poverty and face a number of health and social challenges including access to medication, health complications, and social stigma. These stressors have been linked to depression, which can lead to lower HIV treatment adherence. This study seeks to determine how social and economic equity, family cohesion, and social supports may be related to depression among adolescents living with HIV. We used baseline data from the Suubi + Adherence study, a 5-year longitudinal randomized controlled trial among adolescents living with HIV in southwestern Uganda (n = 675; ages 10–16 years). Hierarchical logistic regression models were conducted separately among in-school adolescents and out-of-school adolescents to assess the hypothesized associations between economic and social equity, social support, and depression. About half of the participants meet the criteria for depression. Adolescents with depression were found to have fewer economic and social supports. Our findings indicate that social and economic equity [odds ratio (OR) = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74, 0.99], family cohesion (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.91–0.96), and social support from friends (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.91–0.998) are associated with depression for in-school HIV infected adolescents and could be protective factors. The results of this study suggest that social and economic equity may play a protective role against depression and other poor mental health outcomes. Potential interventions for adolescents living with HIV should consider these social and familial factors as they may be protective of depression in this population.
The stellar variability noise floor for transiting exoplanet photometry with PLATO

One of the main science motivations for the ESA PLAnetary Transit and Oscillations (PLATO) mission is to measure exoplanet transit radii with 3% precision. In addition to flares and starspots, stellar oscillations and granulation will enforce fundamental noise floors for transiting exoplanet radius measurements. We simulate light curves of Earth-sized exoplanets transiting continuum intensity images of the Sun taken by the HMI instrument aboard SDO to investigate the uncertainties introduced on the exoplanet radius measurements by stellar granulation and oscillations. After modeling the solar variability with a Gaussian process, we find that the amplitude of solar oscillations and granulation is of order 100 ppm -- similar to the depth of an Earth transit -- and introduces a fractional uncertainty on the depth of transit of 0.73% assuming four transits are observed over the mission duration. However, when we translate the depth measurement into a radius measurement of the planet, we find a much larger radius uncertainty of 3.6%. This is due to a degeneracy between the transit radius ratio, the limb-darkening, and the impact parameter caused by the inability to constrain the transit impact parameter in the presence of stellar variability. We find that surface brightness inhomogeneity due to photospheric granulation contributes a lower limit of only 2 ppm to the photometry in-transit. The radius uncertainty due to granulation and oscillations, combined with the degeneracy with the transit impact parameter, accounts for a significant fraction of the error budget of the PLATO mission, before detector or observational noise is introduced to the light curve. If it is possible to constrain the impact parameter or to obtain follow-up observations at longer wavelengths where limb-darkening is less significant, this may enable higher precision radius measurements.
Climate Change and Public Health Interventions

Climate change poses significant risks to human health. As a result, public health researchers and practitioners require evidence-based interventions to aid in protecting those who will be impacted by climate change–related exposures. These interventions must not only interrupt the processes resulting in adverse health impacts but also produce knowledge that elucidates the complex mechanisms underlying climate change and health. This chapter aims to frame and operationalize how climate and health interventions can interrupt and characterize these mechanisms while providing urgently needed evidence for more protective health adaptation. We do this by: (1) placing climate and health interventions in the public health and climate adaptation contexts; (2) identifying and broadening the view of those who implement climate and health interventions; (3) describing existing climate and health interventions across numerous spatial and temporal scales; and (4) exploring ways to leverage recent advances in evaluation methods to generate evidence for climate and health interventions. By better defining the field of climate and health interventions, we intend to motivate and mobilize practitioners and researchers in this nascent, but ever-important field.
The Controversy of Lateral Aberrant Thyroid and the use of BRAF Immunostain

A 29-year-old women presents with primary intrathyroidal papillary thyroid carcinoma (BRAF VE1 positive) with morphologically recognizable metastases to cervical lymph nodes (BRAF VE1 positive) as well as a focus of bland-appearing thyroid follicles within the capsule of a level II lymph node (BRAF VE1 negative). There exist various theories regarding the possible developmental origins of "benign" intranodal thyroid tissue in the lateral neck. While the true nature of the bland follicles may not be definitively resolved in this case, these findings are suggestive that they do not represent metastasis from the main papillary thyroid carcinoma. Additional insight into this unusual phenomenon may be gathered by more specific clonal analysis of these microscopic foci.
Neutrophil Myeloperoxidase Derived Chlorolipid Production During Bacteria Exposure

Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cells recruited to the sites of infection and inflammation. During neutrophil activation, myeloperoxidase (MPO) is released and converts hydrogen peroxide to hypochlorous acid (HOCl). HOCl reacts with plasmalogen phospholipids to liberate 2-chlorofatty aldehyde (2-ClFALD), which is metabolized to 2-chlorofatty acid (2-ClFA). 2-ClFA and 2-ClFALD are linked with inflammatory diseases and induce endothelial dysfunction, neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) and neutrophil chemotaxis. Here we examine the neutrophil-derived chlorolipid production in the presence of pathogenic E. coli strain CFT073 and non-pathogenic E. coli strain JM109. Neutrophils cocultured with CFT073 E. coli strain and JM109 E. coli strain resulted in 2-ClFALD production. 2-ClFA was elevated only in CFT073 coculture. NETosis is more prevalent in CFT073 cocultures with neutrophils compared to JM109 cocultures. 2-ClFA and 2-ClFALD were both shown to have significant bactericidal activity, which is more severe in JM109 E. coli. 2-ClFALD metabolic capacity was 1000-fold greater in neutrophils compared to either strain of E. coli. MPO inhibition reduced chlorolipid production as well as bacterial killing capacity. These findings indicate the chlorolipid profile is different in response to these two different strains of E. coli bacteria.
Partisanship as a Social Identity or a Running Tally?: Comparing Western and Postcommunist Experiences

This paper provides a comparative analysis of how Western and postcommunist voters differ in their partisanship formation patterns by focusing on the two widely-accepted partisanship formation models – the social identity model and the running tally model. In terms of the social identity model, a set of multilevel logit models relying on three modules of the CSES survey data reveal that Western partisanship has been strongly based on social cleavages whereas postcommunist partisanship only shows weak effects of social variables. As for the running tally model, surprisingly, a series of multilevel structural equation models taking into account a reciprocal relationship between party evaluation and partisanship find the model irrelevant to both groups of partisans. This paper takes advances the literature by attempting to identify causal mechanisms that give rise to the regional differences found in the social identity model. I discover that two characteristics of party systems – party supply instability and the effective number of parties – in addition to unemployment rates are closely related to such varying partisanship formation patterns between the two democracies.
Body Interventional MRI for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologists: Current Practice and Future Prospects.

Various devices and pulse sequences are used to perform body interventional MRI, and there are numerous safety considerations related to the emerging applications of this modality.
Legal Careers in Medicine

Health law and public health law are two legal fields where a medical background is beneficial. There are many exciting practice settings for a lawyer interested in healthcare: nonprofit organizations, law firms, government, and industry. Law can be a powerful tool in addressing social determinants of health and health rights.
Does difficulty functioning in the surrogate role equate to vulnerability in critical illness research? Use of path analysis to examine the relationship between difficulty providing substituted judgment and receptivity to critical illness research participation

Abstract Purpose Individuals who struggle to provide substitute judgment for the critically ill often find it challenging to engage in decision making for therapeutic interventions. Although essential to the conduct of research, how these individuals respond to requests for clinical trial participation is poorly understood. Methods Survey data collected to examine surrogate attitudes toward research provided the conceptual framework to explore influences on decision making. Path analysis was used to derive the final model (nonlatent, fully recursive, 1 indicator/variable). Results Surrogates with list-wise complete records (406) were analyzed. The following variables were not retained in the final model: education, income, religiosity, decision-making experience, discussion of patient's wishes, number of individuals assisting with decision making, trust in care providers, difficulty making decisions, and responsibility for decision making. Being white and having experience making treatment decisions for the patient during the current intensive care unit encounter affected the likelihood the surrogate would permit participation in research positively (parameter estimates, 0.281 and 0.06, respectively). No variable reflecting difficulty functioning in the surrogate role was associated with permitting research participation. Conclusions We were unable to demonstrate a relationship between perceived difficulty in decision making in the surrogate role and receptivity to clinical trial participation.
Dynamical Phenomena in Pulsating Star Atmospheres

Progress in numerical modeling of the structure and behavior of the dynamical atmospheres of pulsating stars, especially the cool long-period variables, will be reviewed. Compared to an atmosphere in static equilibrium, the dynamic atmosphere typically is greatly extended, with a very different density and temperature distribution. The atmospheric chemistry is affected. The star’s spectrum is affected. Shock waves are always present. Dust may form, in some cases in large amount. Outflowing winds typically develop, with mass loss rates which can be very large. Partial transmission of acoustic waves into the atmosphere can effectively drain substantial amounts of energy from the interior oscillations. These effects involve nonlinear, time-dependent processes which often are not in equilibrium and which interact in complex ways. Modeling these dynamical phenomena satisfactorily is thus not easy, but it must be done, for the atmosphere of a pulsating star does play an important part in determining the behavior of the star.
Unraveling the Riddle of ProCys tRNA Synthetase

Protein synthesis depends on the ability of the 20 aminoacyl tRNA synthetases to add the correct amino acid to the transfer RNA (tRNA) containing the corresponding anticodon. Although in most organisms it transpires that there is one synthetase for each amino acid, some archaea are a puzzle because they do not appear to have a synthetase for cysteine even though their proteins contain this amino acid. In a Perspective, [Yarus][1] explains new findings ([ Stathopoulos et al .][2]) showing that the synthetase that adds proline to the proline-specific tRNA can also add cysteine to the cysteine-specific tRNA. He suggests several possible arrangements of the active sites of the dual synthetase that might raise new evolutionary questions. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/287/5452/440 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/287/5452/479
The Development of the Right of Assembly - A Current Socio-Legal Investigation

This Article analyzes the historical evolution of the freedom or right of assembly - with emphasis on its development in England and then in America during the 20th century. This socio-legal study has significance in the 21st century because efforts to seek a balance between individual freedom and social control is of ongoing concern in contemporary society. Stated otherwise, the protection of the public peace must be reconciled carefully with the conflicting interests of allowing free expression of ideas in public places. Today, a reconciliation of these two interests, made reasonably and without arbitrary discrimination, is the norm which the courts must follow in validating the right of assembly.
A Design Notation and Toolset for High-Performance Embedded Systems Development

In traditional design methodologies, the system designer typically develops the application in a sequential paradigm almost to completion before addressing issues of parallelism and mapping to a heterogeneous architecture. As the architectural complexity of these applications increase, however, this process becomes too costly since implementation must be started anew after the design. The quality of the design also often suffers as a result. This is especially true for embedded applications, where the complexity lies within the system software and hardware architecture. We present a new methodology and toolset aimed at improving the system development process for high-performance embedded applications. The toolset provides a unified design representation from early design specification to integration—allowing for parallelism and synchronization specification in domain specific styles, and automating many process steps such as partitioning/mapping, simulation, glue-code generation, and performance analysis.
Democratic Opposition to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

This article uses roll-call voting and constituency data to provide an improved understanding of how and why the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 divided the Democratic Party. The evidence suggests, first, that the predominance of southerners among Democrats who opposed the FLSA resulted in part from the widespread disfranchisement of low-wage workers in the South and, second, that Democratic opposition to the FLSA in the House of Representatives reflected a weakening of the coalition that had passed so much legislation during the earlier years of the New Deal.
SIMD architectures and algorithms for image processing and computer vision

The authors present a critical survey of parallel architectures and algorithms for image processing. The emphasis is on single-instruction-stream, multiple-data-stream (SIMD) computers with nonshared memory. A number of parallel architectures are discussed and compared. They fall into three categories: mesh-connected computers, pyramid computers, and hypercube and related computers. A set of seven image processing and computer vision tasks is selected, and algorithms for performing these seven tasks on each of the three categories of computers are given. All of the algorithms are evaluated using asymptotic (big-Oh) analysis. An analysis of parallel algorithms for several-pixel level, intermediate level, and high-level image processing tasks is presented. The effects of architectural decisions on algorithms design are examined in detail. >
Modification of surface properties of a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based elastomer, RTV11, upon exposure to seawater.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was combined with surface analytical techniques to investigate the rarely addressed issue of the effect of seawater on the surface properties of a selected fouling-release coating, silicon elastomer RTV11 (trademark of General Electric). The exposure of the RTV11 surface to seawater resulted in a modification of its morphology and mechanical properties, as confirmed by AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface modification was dependent on sample preparation and curing process, namely, curing agent concentration and relative humidity during curing. The RTV11 surface remained largely unaltered for samples cured under 100% relative humidity. SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies confirmed that the modified surface of RTV11 had the same elemental composition as the unexposed surface of the elastomer and showed excess Ca. However, the modified surface deformed plastically under load and was stiffer than the original surface. No major change was found on surfa...
Non-existence of Continuous Convex Functions on Certain Riemannian Manifolds

The present note is written in response to a question of Wu. In [51 Wu proved that every complete non-compact convex hypersurface in euclidean space has infinite volume. He then asked whether this is true for all complete non-compact non-negatively curved manifold or not. The structure theorem of Cheeger and Gromoll, I-2], says that such a manifold has a continuous convex exhaustion. On the other hand, a theorem of Bishop and O'Neill, [1], says that there is no non-trivial smooth convex function on a complete manifold with finite volume. However, as was remarked by Greene and Wu [3], the passage from continuity to smoothness is highly non-trivial. The main theorem here is that there is no non-trivial continuous convex function on a complete manifold with finite volume. I would like to thank Professor Wu for his constant interest in this problem. Recently he informed us that he and Greene also proved that a complete non-compact manifold with non-negative curvature has infinite volume.
Promoting youth voice in Indian country

Abstract In social work, our focus is often on “helping” youth. However, our practice experience is filled with examples of how “helping” can silence youth voice, albeit with the best intentions. The value, power, and importance of youth voice cannot be understated. The lack of inclusion of the voices of those children we work with is troubling and may very well be a contributing factor to the lack of success of many programs aimed at improving the lives of the youth we work with. To illustrate the importance of youth voice I will use my experience in Alaska Native Communities to set the stage for examining place, power, and possibility in social work practice with youth. Further, through examination of a community based participatory research project funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, joined by colleagues from the Institute for Educational Research and Service (IERS) and the National Native Children's Trauma Center (NNCTC), I will describe how research can also promote and potentially silence youth voice in Indian Country. My colleagues and I offer a description of the research process, design, preliminary results, and a critical examination of how our process both promotes and silences the voice of youth in Indian Country.
Comparison of anterior transposition and recession of the inferior oblique muscle in unilateral superior oblique paresis.

Abstract Purpose: Both anterior transposition and graded recession have been shown to be effective procedures in weakening the inferior oblique muscle. Anterior transposition may work in part by converting the inferior oblique muscle from an elevator to a depressor of the globe. In theory, this would be useful in treating the inferior oblique overaction associated with superior oblique paresis. We compared inferior oblique recession and anterior transposition for the surgical correction of Knapp's class III unilateral superior oblique paresis. Methods: Four patients underwent 14 mm recession, and five underwent anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle for the hypertropia in superior oblique paresis. Prism cover test measurements were made in all cardinal fields of gaze and were compared before and after operation between the two groups. Results: The mean preoperative hyperdeviation in the primary position was 12 prism diopters in the recession group and 15 prism diopters in the anterior transposition group. The mean postoperative hyperdeviation was 1 prism diopter in the recession group and 3 prism diopters in the anterior transposition group. Postoperative results in the inferior oblique field of action demonstrated a mean 3 prism diopter hypertropia in the recession group and a 2 prism diopter hypotropia in the anterior transposition group. Conclusions: Anterior transposition and graded recession gave similar results in correcting the primary position hyperdeviation in Knapp's class III superior oblique paresis. Both procedures also markedly improved the hyperdeviation in the field of action of the inferior oblique muscle and superior oblique muscle. However, anterior transposition was more likely to result in postoperative hypodeviation in upgaze.
A Microscopic Examination Of Void Formation In Superplastic Materials

SUMMARY There are two distinct groups of superplastic materials, depending on whether the final fracture surface has a large cross-sectional area at optimum ductility or the specimen gradually pulls down to a very fine point. Experiments on a commercial superplastic copper alloy and the Zn-22% Al eutectoid indicate that the formation of internal voids is important in materials of both groups. In addition, the results show that the size and shape of the internal voids is dependent both on the material and the testing conditions.
Stochastic Variational Approach to Few-Body Problems in Condensed Matter Physics

The stochastic variational method is a powerful approach to solve few-body problems. The application of the stochastic variational approach to few-body problems in condensed matter physics is presented. The examples include calculation of energy spectra of atoms in magnetic field, confined atoms and trapped Fermi gases.
POINTING SYSTEM DESIGN FOR LOW-DISTURBANCE PERFORMANCE

In recent years, several concepts have been generated for dynamically isolating payload platforms from the spacecraft basebody and vice versa. While a pointing system design which does not affect its base platform dynamically is desirable for many secondary or multiple mission applications, there are associated penalties and constraints which the designer must consider when selecting such a system. In this paper, various approaches for reducing reaction forces and torques inherent in the operation of gimballed payloads are examined in terms of weight, power, and performance. As a basis for system comparison, a generic pointing mission is defined to provide typical reactionless gimbal system requirements. Since current multibody simulations do not include interbody gear effects, an extension for the direct-path method of multibody dynamic analysis is developed to simulate gear reactionless drives.
Environmental influences on physical activity in rural Midwestern adults: a qualitative approach.

Qualitative research can be used to examine multiple factors associated with physical activity and help practitioners identify language used by the rural adult population when discussing this behavior. Three focus groups were conducted among 19 residents of multiple towns in a rural Midwestern county to examine the language and influences on rural physical activity. Focus group members were asked to define physical activity, exercise, community, and neighborhood. They were asked about the activities they engaged in and facilitators and barriers to those activities. A guidebook was developed to capture major themes and common patterns that emerged in the responses to the topics discussed. The data were reviewed for repeated statements and points that were agreed on by multiple participants. Important factors associated with physical activity include the importance of social support and modeling physical activity behavior. Also, the influence of pets and children was important for engaging these adults in physical activity. The focus group members engaged in walking and bicycling in their neighborhood streets and community trails, and desired to see community buildings be open to the public for exercise. This study revealed contextual issues and culturally relevant language for practitioners to use in tailoring physical activity measurement tools or designing interventions for a rural adult population. Social support (specifically, seeing others being active and using pets as motivators for being active) and policy attitudes may be targeted for interventions to increase physical activity in rural adults.
Scaling study of edge plasma parameters using a multi-device database

Abstract A database consisting of edge equilibrium, turbulence and transport related plasma parameters has been compiled. Scaling laws for edge density, electron temperature, and radial particle flux are derived in an initial study using a subset of data obtained from tokamaks Phaedrus-T, Tokamak de Varennes, TEXT and TEXT-U. A comparison of edge particle transport in divertor and limiter plasmas shows that the magnetic topology of a separatrix or a divertor improves particle confinement. The particle diffusion coefficient varies radially in a manner opposite to that of Bohm diffusion.
Photosensitized isomerization of norbornadiene for solar energy storage and supression of side reaction.

Etude de l'influence de differents photosensibilisants (cetones et quinones) et de la longueur d'onde sur le rendement quantique en quadricyclane et sur l'efficacite de la conversion d'energie. La formation d'un polymere est vue. Pour supprimer l'apparition de ce sous-produit, on ajoute une substance phenolique dans le norbornadiene
15,18,21,24-triacontatetraenoic and 15,18,21,24,27-triacontapentaenoic acids: New C30 fatty acids from the marine spongeCliona celata

The marine sponseCliona celata contains 3.5% 30∶4ω6 and 7.0% 30∶5w3 in its total fatty acids. These C30 polyunsaturated structures are unknown in other living organisms. Both acids occur mainly as phosphatidylserine esters.
Distribution of biogenic amines and related enzymes in the rat pituitary gland.

— Biogenic amines and related enzymes were quantitatively measured in the pituitary gland of the rat. The sensitivity of the assays used allows the determinations to be performed in single pituitary lobes. Relatively high values of histamine and serotonin were found in all three lobes, with higher amounts in the posterior and intermediate lobes. Highest catecholamine concentrations were detected in the posterior lobe, and only very low amounts of dopamine were measured in the anterior lobe. Throughout the gland, norepinephrine concentrations were low, about one-tenth that of dopamine. Tryptamine could not be detected. High levels of A and B monoamine oxidase were found in all three pituitary lobes. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was measured in the posterior and intermediate lobes, but was not detected in the anterior lobe. Tryptophan hydroxylase was present in all three pituitary lobes. A relatively low catechol-O-methyltransferase activity was found in the anterior lobe, and none was detected in the intermediate and posterior lobe. Choline acetyltransferase, dopamine-β-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase activities could not be detected.
AlbuBNP, a recombinant B-type natriuretic peptide and human serum albumin fusion hormone, as a long-term therapy of congestive heart failure.

Purpose. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been in clinical use for the treatment of decompensated congestive heart failure. However, BNP has a very short half-life in circulation, which limits its application to acute CHF and requires continuous i.v. infusion. To provide superior pharmacological benefits of BNP to other stages of chronic congestive heart failure and to eliminate problems associated with drug delivery via continuous i.v. infusion, we have designed and evaluated AlbuBNP, a long-acting form of BNP by recombinant fusion to human serum albumin for use in chronic congestive heart failure, post-acute follow-up, and postmyocardial infarction.
Exon skipping caused by an intronic insertion of a young Alu Yb9 element leads to severe hemophilia A

Short interspersed elements, such as Alu elements, have propagated to more than one million copies in the human genome. They affect the genome in several ways, caused by retrotransposition, recombination between elements, gene conversion, and alterations in gene expression. These events, including novel insertions into active genes, have been associated with a number of human disorders. Hemophilia A is an X-linked severe bleeding disorder and is caused by mutations in the Factor VIII gene. The spectrum of mutations includes point mutations, rearrangements, insertions, and deletions. Recently, an Alu retrotransposition event in a coding exon has been reported in a family with a severe form of hemophilia A. This was the first report of an Alu insertion in the Factor VIII gene. Here, we report a second Alu insertion event that lies in an intron of the same gene that causes exon skipping and the complete disruption of gene expression.
“Roof of the Earth” Offers clues about how our planet was shaped

The Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding mountains—the Himalaya on the south, the Kun Lun on the north, and the Pamir and Karakoram on the west—comprise the largest, loftiest, and youngest highland on the Earth (Figure 1). All of the world's peaks higher than 7000 m (with the lone exception of Anchomuma in the Bolivian Andes) as well as the largest concentration of alpine glaciers are found in this vast region that geographers have dubbed “the Roof of the World.” The Himalaya-Tibet region is virtually the “water tower” of Asia: it supplies freshwater for more than one-fifth of the world's population, and it accounts for a quarter of the global sedimentation budget. Since 1985, a series of international workshops have been held to discuss the latest geoscientific research in the Himalaya-Karakoram-Tibet region. The eleventh workshop was held in Flagstaff, Ariz., from April 29 to May 1, 1996. It was the first to be held in North America. Nearly 120 people from 12 different countries attended.