cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between acoustic measures and speech naturalness ratings in Parkinson’s disease: A within-speaker approach

This study investigated the acoustic basis of across-utterance, within-speaker variation in speech naturalness for four speakers with dysarthria secondary to Parkinson's disease (PD). Speakers read sentences and produced spontaneous speech. Acoustic measures of fundamental frequency, phrase-final syllable lengthening, intensity and speech rate were obtained. A group of listeners judged speech naturalness using a nine-point Likert scale. Relationships between judgements of speech naturalness and acoustic measures were determined for individual speakers with PD. Relationships among acoustic measures also were quantified. Despite variability between speakers, measures of mean F0, intensity range, articulation rate, average syllable duration, duration of final syllables, vocalic nucleus length of final unstressed syllables and pitch accent of final syllables emerged as possible acoustic variables contributing to within-speaker variations in speech naturalness. Results suggest that acoustic measures correlate with speech naturalness, but in dysarthric speech they depend on the speaker due to the within-speaker variation in speech impairment.
Approximate variational solution of the thomas‐fermi‐amaldi equation for singly charged negative ions

In the present work, approximate analytical solutions of the Thomas-Fermi-Amaldi (TFA) equation are obtained for the singly charged negative ions F−, Cl−, Br−, and I− by making use of an equivalent variational principle. This approach is made possible by the fact that the TFA model for these ions can be expressed by a differential equation of the same form as the one which describes the Thomas-Fermi model for neutral atoms. (Formally, the two differential equations differ only in the definition of the independent variable.) This situation permits one to use the same variational principle in connection with the TFA equation for singly charged negative ions as that used in obtaining an approximate analytical solution of the TF equation for neutral atoms. The approximate solutions obtained for F−, CI−, Br−, and I− have been tested by calculating the diamagnetic susceptibilities of these ions and comparing them (1) with experimental values, (2) with values obtained by Jensen using a variational principle based on the density functional formalism, and (3) with values obtained by the author using a perturbation technique for relating the electron densities in the negative ions to those in neutral atoms.
Maximization of layout printability/manufacturability by extreme layout regularity

In the past, complying with design rules was sufficient to ensure acceptable yields for a design. However, for sub 100nm designs, this approach tends to create patterns which cannot be reliably printed for a given optical setup, thus leading to hot-spots and systematic yield failures. The recent challenges faced by both the design and process communities call for a paradigm shift whereby circuits are constructed from a small set of lithography friendly patterns which have previously been extensively characterized and ensured to print reliably. In this paper, we describe the use of a regular design fabric for defining the underlying silicon geometries of the circuit. While the direct application of this methodology to the current ASIC design flow would result in unnecessary area and performance overhead, we overcome these penalties via a unique design flow that ensures shape-level regularity by reducing the number of required logic functions as much as possible as part of the top-down design flow. It will be shown that with a small set of Boolean functions and careful selection of lithography friendly patterns, we not only mitigate but essentially eliminate such penalties. Additionally, we discuss the benefits of using extremely regular designs constructed from a limited set of lithography friendly patterns not only to improve manufacturability but also to relax the pessimistic constraints defined by design rules. Specifically we introduce the basis for the use of "pushed-rules" for logic design as is commonly done for SRAM designs. This in turn facilitates a common OPC methodology for logic and SRAM. Moreover, by taking advantage of this newfound manufacturability and predictability of regular circuits, we will show that the performance of logic built upon regular fabrics can surpass that of seemingly more arbitrarily constructed logic.
Preliminary characterization of a laboratory-constructed, easily disassembled concentric pneumatic nebulizer for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A low-cost concentric nebulizer that can be disassembled and reassembled is described. This device uses commercially available fused silica tubing as an inner capillary and a borosilicate glass serological pipet as an outer capillary. The device is readily constructed in <15 min with commercially available components; no specialized skills such as machining, injection molding, or glassworking are required. The easily disassembled concentric nebulizer has been compared to a commercially available glass concentric nebulizer using ICP-MS; similar characteristics for M+ and MO+ intensities versus nebulizer Ar flow rate were observed. The commercially available glass concentric nebulizer was found to produce higher peak M+ signals amounting to 29–58 and 23–29 relative percent difference at liquid introduction rates of 0.27 and 1.08 ml min−1, respectively; this difference may arise from differences in the inner capillary wall thickness. The easily disassembled nebulizer yielded satisfactory 238U∶235U measurements with precision limited to ≈0.3% RSD.
On the length of feedback shift registers

A result relating the length of a feedback shift register to the lengths of the cycles in its state transition graph is presented. Specifically, it is shown that, if a state of a feedback shift register is in one cycle of length c1, and another cycle of length c2, then the length of this shift register must be less than c1+c2 − g.c.d. (c1, c2). This result is then shown to be relevant to the problem of realizing sequential machines with feedback shift registers.
Effect of computer graphics enhancements on spatial performance using perspective displays

Abstract Two studies were performed to investigate the effect of providing computer graphics enhancements to a perspective display on the observer's ability to estimate the azimuth and elevation separating two computer-generated images. The enhancements included the ability to rotate the perspective scene, the use of Lambertian shading, and the use of Lambertian shading with computer-generated shadows. The results indicated that the computer graphics enhancements of shadows and Lambertian shading did not aid subjects in judgments of azimuth or elevation. However, the ability to rotate the scene significantly improved judgments of elevation. Furthermore, this effect was most pronounced for larger elevation separations between images. The results also showed that the geometric field of view used to design the perspective display influenced the magnitude of azimuth errors. Implications of the results for the design of spatial displays are discussed.
Succinylcholine-induced increases in CSF pressure are not affected by PaCO2 or mean arterial pressure in dogs.

The effects of PaCO2 and mean arterial pressure (MAP) on succinylcholine-induced changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure were examined in 31 dogs anesthetized with halothane (0.7% end-expired) and nitrous oxide (66% inspired) in oxygen. Group 1 (n = 9) received succinylcholine (1.5 mg/kg i.v.) without control of PaCO2 or MAP. Group 2 (n = 12) received succinylcholine with CO2 maintained at control, and no regulation of MAP. Group 3 (n = 10) received succinylcholine without regulation of PaCO2 and maintenance of MAP at control values with trimethaphan. Succinylcholine produced an increase in CSF pressure of 1.7 +/- 1.7-3.9 +/- 3.6 cm H2O (mean +/- SD). There were no differences in CSF pressure increase between groups. The increase in CSF pressure was compared to the variation in the uncontrolled physiological parameter (i.e., CSF pressure was compared to PaCO2 and MAP in group 1, MAP in group 2, and PaCO2 in group 3). The CSF pressure increase over time did not strictly parallel changes in PaCO2 and/or MAP, and the magnitude of increase of CSF pressure did not correlate significantly with PaCO2 and/or MAP. It is concluded that, in anesthetized dogs, succinylcholine produces relatively small increases in CSF pressure whether or not PaCO2 or MAP is controlled. These results do not support the hypothesis that a succinylcholine-induced increase in CSF pressure is due chiefly to an increase in PaCO2 and/or MAP and can be abolished by preventing those changes.
Actin-plasma membrane associations in mouse eggs and oocytes

Using rhodamine-phalloidin stained preparations and extracted specimens labeled with heavy meromyosin or run on polyacrylamide gels, actin-plasma membrane associations in mouse mature eggs at the second metaphase of meiosis and oocytes at meiotic prophase have been examined. Cortices of extracted oocytes possessed numerous actin filaments that emanated from the plasma membrane delimiting regions between microvilli and from microvillar apices. The membrane anchorage sites of actin filaments were marked by an electron dense material on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. The free ends of filaments emanating from the plasma membrane of oocytes intermeshed to form a dense, cortical layer. With meiotic maturation, changes in the organization of cortical actin were first noted approximately 3 hr after the chromosomes had become localized at the oocyte's periphery. Fewer and shorter actin filaments, which did not form a well-defined layer as in oocytes, were connected with electron-dense material to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane of extracted egg cortices in regions other than that associated with the meiotic spindle. Cortical actin adjacent to the meiotic spindle, however, was organized into a dense, cresentic aggregation in which clusters of filaments emanated from electron-dense regions associated with both the inner and outer leaflets of the plasma membrane. These observations indicate that mouse oocyte maturation not only involves changes in the distribution of cortical actin but also local alterations in the association of actin with the plasma membrane.
A combinatorial proof of the Mehler formula

Abstract A combinatorial proof of the Mehler formula on Hermite polynomials is given that is based upon the techniques of the partitional complex.
Estimates of net capital stock for agricultural and industrial sectors for Japan, Korea and Taiwan

In this paper, we estimate the net capital stock of the agricultural and industrial sectors for Japan, Korea and Taiwan in their national currencies. Based on the availability of the investment data, the net capital stocks for Japan for the two sectors are estimated from 1905 to 1940 (prewar), and from 1953 to 1979 (postwar). No investment series, broken down by sector, are available after 1979. For Korea and Taiwan the agricultural and industrial net capital stocks are obtained from 1955 to 1992.
Circulating and tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells predict survival in human pleural mesothelioma

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) tumor cells produce copious amounts of myeloid cell-stimulating factors. The current study examined the prognostic significance of circulating monocytes and tumor-infiltrating macrophages on overall survival in patients with MPM. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 667 patients with MPM who underwent cytoreductive surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts between 1989 and 2009. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the impact of preoperative circulating monocytes on overall survival. Immunohistochemical staining for CD68 was performed on a tissue microarray of MPM tumors from 52 patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery. The phenotype of circulating monocytes and tumor-infiltrating macrophages in 7 additional patients was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The median survival for all patients was 13.4 months, and 35% of patients had tumors of nonepithelial histology. For patients with nonepithelial compared with epithelial tumors, survival was significantly worse (9.3 months vs 16.6 months; P < .0001), the number of monocytes was significantly higher (580 ± 20 cells/μL vs 520 ± 10 cells/μL; P = .002), and higher monocyte counts were associated with higher tumor stage. Increasing monocyte counts were correlated with poor survival for all patients with MPM. Within MPM tumors, macrophages comprised 27% ± 9% of the tumor area and demonstrated an immunosuppressive phenotype with high expression of CD163, CD206, and interleukin-4 receptor α. The degree of macrophage infiltration was found to be negatively correlated with survival in patients with nonepithelial (P = .008) but not those with epithelial (P = .7) MPM, independent of disease stage. CONCLUSIONS: Higher numbers of circulating monocytes are associated with poor survival in all patients with MPM and higher densities of tumor-infiltrating macrophages are associated with poor survival in patients with nonepithelial MPM. Both may enable a novel target for immunotherapy. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Effect of sample volume on the compressive force-deformation curves of corn flakes tested in bulk

Two national brands of corn flakes were compressed in cells of various dimensions (height 38−76 mm and diameter 50−91 mm) using a Universal Testing Machine. The stress-strain ( vs. ∈) relationships could be described by a four parameter model originally developed for cellular materials, i.e., (∈)=k 1 ∈ n1 +k 2 ∈ n2 where the k's and n's are constants (n 1 1). The scatter around the fitted relationships was normalized and its jaggedness determined in terms of an apparent fractal dimension and the mean magnitude of the power spectrum after filtering. The magnitude of both depended on the cell diameter and height indicating that the observed degree of jaggedness is influenced simultaneously by «averaging» and «cushioning» effects
When U.S. venture capital ventures abroad

Older, more experienced and smaller U.S. venture capital firms are most probable to sacrifice proximate distance for new opportunities in foreign, and mostly mature, portfolio companies. These companies are treated differently than the domestic ones, as U.S. venture capital firms collaborate with and delegate monitoring to foreign partners, rather than stage or syndicate. Successful outcomes mostly occur in more mature, non-hi-tech, portfolio companies that receive more financing per round. Our results are robust to the investee country's openness and industry classification, stage of the investment and possible sample selection problems.
Immunochemical identification of gelsolin in maize pollen

Gelsolin is a representative of a type of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) universally found in eukaryotes. It plays role in nucleation, capping and severing of actin filamentsin vitro. In our experiment, gelsolin was purified from pig plasma and the polyclonal antibodies against it were prepared. The crude extracts of maize pollen were immunodetected by Western-blotting with polyclonal antibody and monoclonal antibody respectively. The immunodetection results show that gelsolin exists in maize pollen and its molecular weight is about 91 ku, similar to that of gelsolin found in animal tissues.
Methyl isothiocyanate volatilization from fields treated with metam-sodium

Emission of methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) from fields treated with metam-sodium (sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate) is a potential environmental and human safety hazard. Concentrations of MITC at three heights above four arable fields were measured following the application of metam- sodium at a rate of 480 litre ha ˇ1 (166 kg AI ha ˇ1 ). Two of these fields were treated by injection into a center-pivot irrigation system (chemigation), while in the other two fields the fumigant was applied through injection directly into the soil. Generally, higher MITC air concentrations were observed above chemigated than above injected fields. Maximum MITC air concentrations were 11.2 and 7.4 mg m ˇ3 recorded 10cm above ground 6-8 h following application and the minimum concentrations were 0.7 and 0.2 m gm ˇ 3 observed at 200 cm 30-35h after application above chemigated and injected fields, respectively. The estimated MITC respiratory exposure a worker might encounter during the re-entry period ranged between 1.37 and 0.03 mg day ˇ1 in chemigated fields and between 0.35 and 0.02mg day ˇ1 in the injected fields. These results suggest that application of the fumigant through injection reduced MITC volatilization losses in comparison with the chemigation method, thus posing a relatively lower risk of exposure to MITC emissions. # 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
Depth measurement in fully enclosed microchannels using laser interferometry

A cost-effective characterization technique for the measurement of depth in fully enclosed, optically transparent microchannels is described. The technique is suitable for depth measurement in xurographic microchannels, which are increasingly being used in microfluidic and bioengineering applications. The principle of interference is utilized in a basic laboratory setup that does not require calibration. The limitation on specimen size typically imposed due to the short working distances in commercial interferometers is eliminated. The interferometric technique is capable of characterizing glass microchannels with dimensions of the order of 100??m. The measurement relative uncertainty is approximately 0.3%. The method provides a means to characterize microchannel height (or depth) in use when adhesives used in assembly, or pressure differences due to external clamping or high internal pressures, distort the microchannel dimensions from their as-fabricated values.
Decomposition by Series Direction Images: Image Reconstruction and Enhancement

In this paper, we focus on the effective representation of the image, which is called the paired representation and reduces the image to the set of independent 1-D signals and splits the 2-D DFT into a minimal number of 1-D DFTs. The paired transform is a frequency and time representation of the image. Splitting-signals carry the spectral information in disjoint subsets of frequencies, which allows for enhancing the image by processing splitting-signals separately and changing the resolution of periodic structures composing the image. We present a new effective formula for the inverse 2-D paired transform, which can be used for solving the algebraic system of equations with measurement data for image reconstruction without using the Fourier transform technique. The image is reconstructed directly from the splitting-signals which can be calculated from projection data. The same inverse formula can be used for image enhancement, such as the known method of α-rooting. A new concept of direction images is introduced, that define the decomposition of the image by directions.
The pleiotropic gene theory of senescence: Supportive evidence from human genetic disease

Abstract Senescence is a universal but poorly understood phenomenon among metazoans. One theoretically convincing but unproven evolutionary theory of senescence is the pleitropic gene theory of Williams (1957). This paper develops the hypothesis that some human genetic diseases exemplify the type of phenotypic effects predicted by this theory. The evidence supporting this contention is reviewed and ways of testing this hypothesis are suggested. Other human genetic diseases could be examined in the same manner. Confirmation of this theory would have significant implications for the study of aging.
Evaluation Research: Bridge Between Social Work Administrator, Practitioner and Researcher

Questions of service effectiveness, and helpfulness are challenging social work clinicians, administrators and researchers. Evaluative research, has been utilized to meet this challenge. However, too infrequently the administrator, clinician and re searcher utilize it in separate rather than interlocking pathways. Presented are practi cal suggestions to increase mutual understanding and collaborative evaluative efforts.
Prediction of recession rates for pyrolytic graphite

Introduction A THIN coating of pyrolytic graphite can protect the structure of advanced performance ramjet combustors from oxidation by hot combustion gases for two reasons. First, the dense, nonporous pyrolytic graphite offers fewer sites for attack by oxygen than does ordinary, more porous graphite. Second, by the nature of the deposition process of pyrolytic graphite, it is primarily the relatively nonreactive basal plane that is exposed to attack. However, pyrolytic graphite is subject to oxidation, and recession rates must be used in calculating the proper coating thickness. Excess thickness increases the time and cost of the coating process and results in vehicle performance penalties. Ramjets typically operate at temperatures near 2000 K and at pressures from 1 to 10 atm. Their exhaust contains 5-15% oxygen. For these conditions, the oxidation of pyrolytic graphite is reaction rate controlled; oxygen diffuses to the surface more rapidly than it can react at the surface. Previous studies of graphite ablation have primarily considered only molecular oxygen. However, it has been observed that at high temperatures atomic oxygen reacts with pyrolytic graphite 5080 times as fast as molecular oxygen. The surface reaction rate, which is kinetically controlled, proceeds fry
On the NMR analysis of pKa values in the unfolded state of proteins by extrapolation to zero denaturant.

Detailed knowledge of the pH-dependence in both folded and unfolded states of proteins is essential to understand the role of electrostatics in protein stability. The increasing number of natively disordered proteins constitutes an excellent source for the NMR analysis of pKa values in the unfolded state of proteins. However, the tendency of many natively disordered proteins to aggregate via intermolecular hydrophobic clusters limits their NMR analysis over a wide pH range. To assess whether the pKa values in natively disordered polypeptides can be extrapolated from NMR measurements in the presence of denaturants, the natively disordered backbone of the C-terminal fragment 75 to 105 of Human Thioredoxin was studied. First, assignments using triple resonance experiments were performed to confirm lack of secondary structure. Then the pH-dependence of the amides and carboxylate side chains of Glu residues (Glu88, Glu95, Glu98, and Glu103) in the pH range from 2.0 to 7.0 was monitored using 2D 1 H 15 N HSQC and 3D C(CO)NH experiments, and the behavior of their amides and corresponding carboxyl groups was compared to confirm the absence of nonlocal interactions. Lastly, the effect of increasing dimethyl urea concentration on the pKa values of these Glu residues was monitored. The results indicate that: (i) the dispersion in the pKa of carboxyl groups and the pH midpoints of amides in Glu residues is about 0.5 pH units and 0.6 pH units, respectively; (ii) the backbone amides of the Glu residues exhibit pH midpoints which are within 0.2 pH units from those of their carboxylates; (iii) the addition of denaturant produces upshifts in the pKa values of Glu residues that are nearly independent of their position in the sequence; and (iv) these upshifts show a nonlinear behavior in denaturant concentration, complicating the extrapolation to zero denaturant. Nevertheless, the relative ordering of the pKa values of Glu residues is preserved over the whole range of denaturant concentrations indicating that measurements at high denaturant concentration (e.g. 4 M dimethyl urea) can yield a qualitatively correct ranking of the pKa of these residues in natively disordered proteins whose pH-dependence cannot be monitored directly by NMR. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Virtual elimination of MF and UF fouling by adsorptive pre-coat filtration

Abstract Fouling by natural organic matter (NOM) is a major obstacle when water from natural sources is treated using low-pressure membranes. Prior research by our group has demonstrated that pre-deposition of a thin layer of heated aluminum oxide particles (HAOPs) on pristine microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes can remove substantial amounts of NOM from the feed before the water reaches the membrane and thereby reduces the membrane fouling rate. The work reported here demonstrates that the pre-deposited layer can be readily washed off the membrane, and a new layer deposited, with very little evidence of irreversible fouling due to residual NOM or HAOPs left on the membrane. Furthermore, in direct comparisons of systems receiving equal doses of Al (i.e., mg Al per liter of water treated), the system in which the HAOPs were pre-deposited removed more NOM and mitigated fouling more effectively than systems where either alum or HAOPs were added to the bulk feed, even though the system with pre-deposition was backwashed only one-tenth as frequently as the other systems. The benefits of passing the feed through pre-deposited HAOPs are even greater if that step is separated from and upstream of the membrane filtration step. When this operating mode is used and the upstream unit with HAOPs is backwashed at a frequency of ~1/d, downstream microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes can be operated at aggressive fluxes for long periods (two weeks or more in our experiments) without any hydraulic or chemical cleaning whatsoever. The process is effective not only with high quality source water, but also with water that is high in TOC and/or turbidity.
Interpreting “Null” Results

A common misconception in statistics is that a lack of statistical significance (P .05) onstitutes proof of no effect. In fact, this conclusion does not follow. Just as large samples ay yield small P values even when effects are trivial, important effects may miss statistical ignificance if the sample size is small, the outcome is rare, or the variability is high. This rticle reviews false-negative results and statistical power, the meaning of null results, and ow one should approach “proving a negative.”
Evaluation of Revision Effect on Criterion Validity of Multiple-Component Measuring Instruments

A method for point and interval estimation of change in criterion validity of multiple-component measuring instruments as a result of revision is outlined. The procedure is developed within the framework of covariance structure modeling, which complements earlier methods for testing change in composite reliability due to addition or deletion of components from tentative scales. The approach aids the process of constructing instruments with high validity in behavioral research that is illustrated with a pair of numerical examples.
Effects of methyl parathion in ducks and duck broods

Nesting ducks (mallards, blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal and wood ducks) were trapped, equipped with radio transmitters and released on two agricultural fields, both of which were bordered by waterways. One field was aerially treated with methyl parathion at the rate of 1.4 kg active ingredient (a.i.)/ha and the second field was an untreated control. Ducks were located with the aid of radiotelemetry after pesticide application and their activity monitored daily in both fields. Brood abandonment by hens and nesting hen mortality occurred only on the methyl-parathion-treated field postspray. Brain cholinesterase levels were significantly depressed in two of three nesting hens. Fifty-eight percent of the 37 ducklings present in the control field on the day of spray survived to day 22 postspray. Sixteen percent of the 24 ducklings present in the treated field on the day of spray survived to day 22. The average daily rate of duckling loss was also greater in the treated field than in the control field. Nest abandonment rates could not be correlated with methyl parathion application.
A CORRELATION APPROACH TO CERTAIN PROBLEMS OF POPULATION-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONS'

A B S T R A C T A model which visualizes a species as a set of biotype subsets is useful when considering the degree of fitness and homogeneity of populations in their environment. Under founder principle concepts we expect that the number of such subsets tends to decrease as local populations encounter new selective forces in environments and habitats other than those occupied by predecessor populations. Relations between biotypes,- considered from the point of view of "variation associated with character correlation" or correlated response and polygene systems, imply that the magnitude of product-moment correlations between characters can be used as a general measure of selective stress impinging upon populations. Magnitude is defined as the per cent of the total possible pairs of characters whose correlation coefficients are significantly different from zero. The direction of magnitude expected under the founder principle is from low in an umdisturbed or ancestral situation to high in an alien one. This hypothesis is demonstrated in the genus Froelichia (AMARANTHACEAE). A CONSIDERABLE portion of biologic literature is devoted to evolutionary dynamics. The basic conceptual model postulates that populations survive or become extinct, change or remain unchanted, become partitioned or amalgamated, -multiply or decrease, etc., largely because of gene-environment interaction. The model is so encompassing that component phenomena have been diversely studied for over 100 years. A subsidiary model visualizes a species x as
Cognitive and functional factors in the evolution of grammar

The purpose of this paper is to raise the question of the relative roles of cognitive and functional factors in the evolution of grammar. The conclusion is that they have both played important roles, although unbalanced ones. Human language originated with the linking of conceptual structures and the vocal output system. In other words, cognitive factors were the first to shape grammar. But with the passage of time, the needs of communication came to play an ever-more important role in grammar. Human language today hence reflects the influence of both types of factors.
Designing feedback-based contrast enhancement for in vivo imaging.

Objective: Nonlinear feedback interactions induced by the spins themselves have recently been introduced as novel MRI contrast enhancement mechanisms sensitive to small differences in MR parameters. Developing feedback-based contrast enhancement into a useful tool for in vivo imaging requires improved techniques that are robust to inhomogeneity and sensitive to subtle anatomical/physiological variations. Materials and methods: Three different imaging methods combining the radiation damping feedback field with the distant dipolar field, applied radio-frequency (RF) fields, and local dipole fields, respectively, were designed and tested through numerical simulations on simple phantoms. These methods were demonstrated experimentally on live guppy fish, developing frog embryos, and blood in in vitro tissue samples by microimaging at 14.1 T. Results: The developed feedback-based methods yielded images that identified distinct morphological features with superior contrast compared with conventional MR images and those acquired under radiation damping only. Positive contrast due to evolution under radiation damping and local dipole fields was also observed in SPIOs and blood. Conclusion: Approaches to enhancing feedback-based contrast were successfully designed and demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. The newly devised methods were less sensitive to field inhomogeneity and prolonged evolution under the feedback fields, allowing for better visualization of contrast in vivo.
The gradient-based cache partitioning algorithm

This paper addresses the problem of partitioning a cache between multiple concurrent threads and in the presence of hardware prefetching. Cache replacement designed to preserve temporal locality (e.g., LRU) will allocate cache resources proportional to the miss-rate of each competing thread irrespective of whether the cache space will be utilized [Qureshi and Patt 2006]. This is clearly suboptimal as applications vary dramatically in their use of recently accessed data. We address this problem by partitioning a shared cache such that a global goodness metric is optimized. This paper introduces the Gradient-based Cache Partitioning Algorithm (GPA), whose variants optimize either hitrate, total instructions per cycle (IPC) or a weighted IPC metric designed to enforce Quality of Service (QoS) [Iyer 2004]. In the context of QoS, GPA enables us to obtain the maximum throughput of low-priority threads, while ensuring high performance on high-priority threads. The GPA mechanism is robust, low-cost, integrates easily with existing cache designs and improves the throughput of an in-order 8-core system sharing an 8MB L3 cache by ∼14p.
A slow, continuous beam of cold benzonitrile.

A cold, continuous, high flux beam of benzonitrile has been created via buffer gas cooling. The beam has a typical forward velocity of 67 ± 5 m s−1, a velocity spread of ±30 m s−1 and a typical flux of 1015 molecules s−1, measured via microwave spectroscopy. This beam represents the slowest demonstrated forward velocity for any cold beam of medium sized (>5 atoms) polyatomic molecules produced to date, demonstrating a new source for high resolution spectroscopy. The expected resolution of a spectrometer based on such beams exceeds current instrument-limited resolution by almost an order of magnitude. This source also provides an attractive starting point for further spatial manipulation of such molecules, including eventual trapping.
Precambrian Folding in the Idaho Springs-Central City Area, Front Range, Colorado

Metasedimentary gneisses in the Idaho Springs-Central City area of the Front Range have been deformed twice in Precambrian time. The older and major deformation was plastic folding; it was accompanied by intrusion of a series of plutons and sheets, recrystallization of the meta-sedimentary rocks, and metamorphism of the earlier members of the igneous series. It produced a major fold system consisting mainly of open, but disharmonic asymmetric and upright anticlines and synclines whose axes trend sinuously north-northeast and are spaced 1-2 miles apart. Over most of the area the fold axes are nearly horizontal or plunge at low angles, but in the southern part the axes plunge steeply northeastward. Small folds and a well-developed mineral alignment characteristically parallel the major fold axes ( B o ); small-scale folds, boudinage and sparse mineral alignment are present in the A o direction. The younger deformation was dominantly cataclastic and restricted chiefly to a 2-mile-wide zone in the southeast part of the area. Within this zone small folds were developed locally in the relatively incompetent rock masses, and intense granulation was developed locally in the more competent units. Cataclastic products are pervasively distributed, however, through all the rocks in the zone. The younger folds are mainly terrace, monoclinal, and chevron types; the largest has a breadth of about 400 feet. These folds trend N. 55° E., are remarkably straight, and plunge at various angles, largely depending upon their position on the older, larger folds. They consistently are strongly asymmetric and show their northwest limbs raised structurally. Associated with these folds are two lineations, one (B y ) parallel to the fold axes and one (A y ) oriented at about 80° to the fold axes. The younger deformation is a manifestation of extensive Precambrian shearing defined by a zone of intense cataclasis that extends both northeast and southwest of this region.
Solution Structure of Switch Arc, a Mutant with 310 Helices Replacing a Wild-type β-Ribbon

Abstract Adjacent N11L and L12N mutations in the antiparallel β-ribbon of Arc repressor result in dramatic changes in local structure in which each β-strand is replaced by a right-handed helix. The full solution structure of this “switch” Arc mutant shows that irregular 310 helices compose the new secondary structure. This structural metamorphosis conserves the number of main-chain and side-chain to main-chain hydrogen bonds and the number of fully buried core residues. Apart from a slight widening of the interhelical angle between α-helices A and B and changes in side-chain conformation of a few core residues in Arc, no large-scale structural adjustments in the remainder of the protein are necessary to accommodate the ribbon-to-helix change. Nevertheless, some changes in hydrogen-exchange rates are observed, even in regions that have very similar structures in the two proteins. The surface of switch Arc is packed poorly compared to wild-type, leading to ∼1000 A2 of additional solvent-accessible surface area, and the N termini of the 310 helices make unfavorable head-to-head electrostatic interactions. These structural features account for the positive m value and salt dependence of the ribbon-to-helix transition in Arc-N11L, a variant that can adopt either the mutant or wild-type structures. The tertiary fold is capped in different ways in switch and wild-type Arc, showing how stepwise evolutionary transformations can arise through small changes in amino acid sequence.
A Survey of 3D Solid Reconstruction from 2D Projection Line Drawings

The reconstruction of a 3D object from its 2D projection(s) and its corresponding problem of 3D object recognition are two of the important research areas in the field of computer vision and artificial intelligence. Reconstruction involves determining the geometric and topological relationship of an object's atomic parts whereas recognition involves identifying an object by some form of template matching. Nagendra and Gujar1 gave a survey of several papers on reconstruction of 3D object from its 2D views. In this paper we present a taxonomy of 3D object reconstruction from 2D projection line drawings. We base the classification on the number of 2D views of the 3D solid object, the degree of user interaction necessary for correct reconstruction, and the internal representation used in the reconstruction process. We discuss the basic issues associated with this problem, review the relevant literature and present topics for future research.
Wear and Microhardness of Glass-Ionomer Cements

Pin-and-disc wear and Knoop Hardness measurements were made on three commercial glass-ionomer cements having slightly different compositions. The specific objective was to determine whether these cements have potential for use in posterior teeth, and, if not, what modifications in composition and structure would be appropriate to enhance their performance. The specimens were pre-conditioned in air, water, or lactic acid at 37°C for one week prior to being wear-tested. Although differences among the samples were noted, some common trends were observed. From changes in hardness, before and after storage, two opposing trends were observed. One trend involved continued cross-linking and possible dehydration, resulting in a substantial increase in hardness. The other trend involved softening from penetrant liquid absorption and a concomitant decrease in hardness. The wear resistances compared favorably with those for resin-based composites except for the lactic-acid-stored specimens, for which changes in micro...
Osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease care in systemic lupus erythematosus according to new quality indicators.

Objectives Quality indicators (QIs) for the assessment of care of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been proposed. We evaluated care according to these proposed QIs for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with SLE in our rheumatology practice. Methods We selected 200 patients with SLE according to American College of Rheumatology Criteria and ≥2 visits to our practice in 2007 to 2008. We performed a structured medical record review and collected demographics, SLE and past medical history, medications, laboratories and data concerning osteoporosis, and CVD management. We employed univariable analyses and multivariable regression analyses to test for factors associated with care meeting the proposed QIs. Results Ninety-four percent of patients were female and 64% were white. Mean age was 46.3 years and mean lupus duration was 15.3 years. Twenty-nine percent were taking ≥7.5 mg prednisone per day for ≥3 months. The proportions of patients for whom care met the proposed QIs were as follows: 59% for bone mineral density testing, 62% for calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and 86% for antiresorptive or anabolic osteoporosis medications. Only 3% had 5 cardiac risk factors assessed within the year and 26% had 4 cardiac risk factors assessed annually. Smoking, fasting lipid panels, and diabetes mellitus were rarely assessed annually. Having a primary care physician within our health care network increased care meeting QIs. Conclusions Care according to newly proposed QIs for osteoporosis and CVD was suboptimal in our academic center. To standardize and improve care of patients with SLE, we suggest specific changes to the proposed QIs.
The effect of resistance training on muscle strength and physical function in older, postmenopausal breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction Older breast cancer survivors (BCS) report more falls and functional limitations than women with no cancer history. Exercise training could reduce risk factors for future falls and disability.
A successful conversion or double refusal: A study of the process of refusal conversion in telephone survey research

Abstract This study investigated factors that affect the outcome of refusal conversion efforts in telephone surveys. We used data collected from three types of forms filled out by telephone interviewers: a Refusal Report Form was filled out when the respondent/household member refused to do the survey at the initial contact, and a Refusal Conversion Report Form or a Double Refusal Report Form was filled out during the refusal conversion phase. These forms included information such as the degree of interaction between interviewer and respondent/household member, reasons for refusal, information about the survey revealed during the introduction, and demographics. Results from logistic regressions suggested that the degree of interviewer–respondent/household member interaction during the second call attempt significantly influenced the outcome of refusal conversions. Results also suggested that revealing information about the legitimacy of the survey did not affect the outcome, and that there might even be a “boomerang effect” if interviewers rush to reveal such information. While respondent/household member's age did not affect the outcome, women appeared to be more difficult to be converted than men, especially when the degree of interviewer–respondent/household member interaction is low. Implication of these results and direction for future research directions are also discussed.
Proposed Use of the Radio-Frequency Quadrupole Structure to Funnel High-Current Ion Beams

In this paper, we describe a new approach to funneling beams that are initially accelerated in two radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerators. Instead of discrete optical elements, we propose to funnel within an RFQ structure, so that during the funneling process the beam is always confined by periodic transverse focusing. Beams with high space charge experience irreversible emittance growth when they emerge from a periodic focusing system. To alleviate this problem, in the proposed funneling system it should be possible to maintain the same focusing periodicity as that of the accelerators preceding the funnel. Also, instead of conventional deflection systems, we propose to use the properties of a modified RFQ structure to deflect two parallel beams toward each other and to merge them into a single final beam. 1 ref., 3 figs.
Laboratory and pilot testing of electrocoagulation for removing scale-forming species from industrial process waters

This study investigated the performance of electrocoagulation using iron and aluminum electrodes for removing silica, calcium and magnesium from cooling tower blowdown and reverse osmosis reject waters. Experiments were conducted at both the bench and pilot scales to determine the levels of target species removal as a function of the coagulant dose. At the bench scale, aluminum removed the target compounds from both cooling tower blowdown and reverse osmosis reject more efficiently than iron. A 2 mM aluminum dose removed 80 % of the silica and 20 to 40 % of the calcium and magnesium. The same iron dose removed only 60 % of the silica and 10 to 20 % of the calcium and magnesium. When operated with iron electrodes, pilot unit performance was comparable to that of the bench unit, which suggests that such systems can be scaled-up on the basis of coagulant dose. However, when operated with aluminum electrodes the pilot unit underperformed the bench unit due to fouling of the electrode surfaces after a few hours of operation. This result was completely unexpected based on the short-term experiments performed using the bench unit.
Grounding globalization: the prospects and perils of linking economic processes of globalization to environmental outcomes

: This article advances the argument that economic geography has prioritized the understanding of processes over the evaluation of outcomes. Contemporary research on globalization—like earlier studies of industrial restructuring, deindustrialization, and “localities”—tends to address outcomes only in so far as they shed light on underlying processes. Yet the earlier generation of research also produced a number of instructive methodological and epistemological critiques that now frame current attempts to understand the socioenvironmental effects of globalization. Three of these challenges are outlined in the context of research on the environmental effects of foreign direct investment: linking processes with outcomes; bridging across scales; and demonstrating the “difference that difference makes.” The article contrasts the limited engagement by economic geographers with globalization's environmental effects with a growing body of work outside geography. Preliminary links between this well-developed, external literature and proximate bodies of geographic scholarship are put forth to demonstrate how hybrid approaches may best be able to capture the ways in which processes of economic globalization drive environmental outcomes. The article concludes with a worked example of ongoing research into the environmental impacts of foreign direct investment to illustrate how such an approach may engage globalization “on the ground.”
Iterative detection of a CFSK system

The MAP consensus decoder using iterative detection for a collision frequency-shift-keyed (CFSK) system is investigated in this paper. This consensus decoder decodes each user's message in a joint and iterative manner. For a specific user, interference from other users is canceled by the iteration process. The metric of the CFSK channel will introduce high complexity to the MAP algorithm when the system is highly loaded. The K-most probable combinations (KMPC) approach and two-most probable combinations (TMPC) approach are applied to simplify the metric. Analysis shows that the TMPC method keeps fairness for all the users, even though some users put high weights on the probabilities of part of the frequencies.