cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Priming defense genes and metabolites in hybrid poplar by the green leaf volatile cis-3-hexenyl acetate

* Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), in addition to attracting natural enemies of herbivores, can serve a signaling function within plants to induce or prime defenses. However, it is largely unknown, particularly in woody plants, which volatile compounds within HIPV blends can act as signaling molecules. * Leaves of hybrid poplar saplings were exposed in vivo to naturally wound-emitted concentrations of the green leaf volatile (GLV) cis-3-hexenyl acetate (z3HAC) and then subsequently fed upon by gypsy moth larvae. Volatiles were collected throughout the experiments, and leaf tissue was collected to measure phytohormone concentrations and expression of defense-related genes. * Relative to controls, z3HAC-exposed leaves had higher concentrations of jasmonic acid and linolenic acid following gypsy moth feeding. Furthermore, z3HAC primed transcripts of genes that mediate oxylipin signaling and direct defenses, as determined by both qRT-PCR and microarray analysis using the AspenDB 7 K expressed sequence tags (EST) microarray containing c. 5400 unique gene models. Moreover, z3HAC primed the release of terpene volatiles. * The widespread priming response suggests an adaptive benefit to detecting z3HAC as a wound signal. Thus, woody plants can detect and use z3HAC as a signal to prime defenses before actually experiencing damage. GLVs may therefore have important ecological functions in arboreal ecosystems.
Molecular Hydrogen Formation from Proximal Glycol Pairs on TiO2(110)

Understanding hydrogen formation on TiO2 surfaces is of great importance, as it could provide fundamental insight into water splitting for hydrogen production using solar energy. In this work, hydrogen formation from glycols having different numbers of methyl end-groups has been studied using temperature-programmed desorption on reduced, hydroxylated, and oxidized rutile TiO2(110) surfaces. The results from OD-labeled glycols demonstrate that gas-phase molecular hydrogen originates exclusively from glycol hydroxyl groups. The yield is controlled by a combination of glycol coverage, steric hindrance, TiO2(110) order, and the amount of subsurface charge. Combined, these results show that proximal pairs of hydroxyl-aligned glycol molecules and subsurface charge are required to maximize the yield of this redox reaction. These findings highlight the importance of geometric and electronic effects in hydrogen formation from adsorbates on TiO2(110).
Laparoscopic vesicoureteroplasty in children: Initial case reports

To determine the feasibility of performing laparoscopic vesicou-reteroplasty in children. Methods. Two pediatric patients, a two-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, underwent laparoscopic vesicoureteroplasty for vesicoureteral reflux. Operating time was two hours fifteen minutes and three hours fifteen minutes, respectively. Results. The reflux was successfully corrected without morbidity, and they required only short hospitalization (23 hours) and exhibited decreased peri- and post-operative pain as well as improved cosmesis. Conclusions. These cases represent the first implementation of this technique in humans. We stress that this is a preliminary report and suggest that this technique deserves further study.
Relations between exemplar-similarity and likelihood models of classification

Abstract The similarity choice model of identification ( Luce, 1963 ; Shepard, 1957 ) and the context model of categorization ( Medin & Schaffer, 1978 ; Nosofsky, 1986 ) are shown to be closely related to a variety of likelihood-based models. In particular, it is shown that: (1) for category distributions defined over independent dimensions, general versions of the context model and Estes' (1986) similarity-likelihood model are formally identical; (2) the context model and similarity choice model can be given interpretations as exemplar-based likelihood models; (3) an independent feature addition-deletion model is a special case of the similarity choice model; and (4) a perception/likelihood-based decision model of identification generates predictions that are characterizable by the similarity choice model.
Percutaneous angioscopy during coronary angioplasty using a steerable microangioscope

The feasibility of using a flexible, steerable angioscope to perform coronary angioscopy before and after percutaneous coronary angioplasty was tested. The microangioscope fits through an 8F coronary angioplasty guiding catheter and contains a multifiber viewing bundle incorporated into the body of a 4.3F balloon catheter with a central lumen for distal flushing and guide-wire passage. Angioscopy was performed without complications 45 times in 24 patients, including 6 patients with stable and 18 with unstable angina. Circumferential visualization of the target lesion was successful in 20 (83%) of the 24 patients and improved with operator experience. Excellent visualization of the target lesion was achieved in 16 (94%) of the last 17 patients. Plaque, thrombus and dissection were among the abnormal findings in the 20 patients (4 with stable, 16 with unstable angina) in whom circumferential viewing of the target lesion was achieved. In four patients with restenosis after angioplasty, the lesion morphology was distinctly different from that of lesions in arteries without prior angioplasty. In patients with stable angina, no thrombus or dissection was seen by angiography or angioscopy before angioplasty. In patients with unstable angina, thrombus was detected more frequently by angioscopy than by angiography before angioplasty (8 versus 2 of 16) and after (15 versus 2 of 16) angioplasty. Intimal dissection was also seen much more frequently by angioscopy than by angiography before angioplasty (7 versus 0 of 16) and after angioplasty (16 versus 7 of 16). It is concluded that high resolution percutaneous coronary angioscopy can be performed safely in conjunction with balloon angioplasty. Further investigation is needed before this diagnostic tool can be applied clinically.
Bilateral vagotomy differentially alters the magnitude of hypoglossal and phrenic long-term facilitation in anesthetized mechanically ventilated rats

Abstract Acute intermittent hypoxia elicits long-term increases in respiratory motor output (long-term facilitation, LTF). Most investigators study LTF in mechanically ventilated, bilaterally vagotomized, and anesthetized animals. Vagotomy blocks inhibitory lung-volume feedback that could diminish the magnitude of LTF. However, the effects of vagotomy on LTF may not be so straight forward. In cats, vagotomy increases LTF of upper airway muscles but may decrease LTF of accessory pump muscles. The effects of vagotomy on LTF in rats are unknown. We hypothesized that the magnitude of hypoglossal and phrenic LTF would be differentially regulated by vagal afferent feedback in anesthetized and mechanically ventilated rats. Hypoglossal and phrenic motor outputs were recorded from vagotomized and vagally intact anesthetized mechanically ventilated adult Sprague–Dawley rats before, during, and up to 60-min after intermittent hypoxia. Ventilator frequency (ƒ), pump volume, and peak tracheal pressure were not different between groups. The effects of vagotomy on the magnitude of LTF depended on the motoneuron population in question. The magnitude of hypoglossal LTF increased after vagotomy (vagi intact, −5 ± 10%; vagotomy, 66 ± 11% above baseline; p p
Identification with Academics and Academic Success among Community College Students

Identification with academics has been theoretically and empirically linked to various measures of student academic performance. A questionnaire designed to assess the extent to which self esteem is connected with and dependent upon academic outcomes was administered to 169 freshmen enrolled in a community college. The author followed the sample for two years to track the students' GPAs, academic standing, and graduation status. Students' identification with academics was related to their academic standing and GPA at a community college after one semester and at a two-year follow-up. The results suggest that counselors could use an identification with academics scale to identify those incoming students most at risk for negative academic outcomes.
Altered auditory brainstem evoked responses in the ferret model for Reye's syndrome

Summary The effects of influenza B, aspirin and hyperammonemia on the functional integrity of the cochlea were examined using the ferret model for Reye's syndrome. Auditory brainstem evoked responses (ABR) were recorded from treated ferrets and compared to those recorded from controls. Delayed latencies of all waves, as well as increased I–IV Interwave latencies were observed in recordings from treated ferrets. Importantly, the latencies of Wave I, nerve generator potential from the eighth nerve, and Wave IV, response potential from the brainstem nuclei, increased on Days 3 and 5 of the study. However, recorded ABR from treated ferrets on Day 10 showed that while the latencies of Wave IV were approximate to those of controls, Wave I remained delayed. These results suggest that systemic effects of influenza B, aspirin and hyperammonemia may lead acutely to both peripheral and central auditory dysfunction, and that the functional integrity of the central auditory system may recover more quickly than that of the peripheral system. Furthermore, these results suggest that such effects may lead to acute transient hearing impairment in patients with Reye's syndrome.
FFTW: an adaptive software architecture for the FFT

FFT literature has been mostly concerned with minimizing the number of floating-point operations performed by an algorithm. Unfortunately, on present-day microprocessors this measure is far less important than it used to be, and interactions with the processor pipeline and the memory hierarchy have a larger impact on performance. Consequently, one must know the details of a computer architecture in order to design a fast algorithm. In this paper, we propose an adaptive FFT program that tunes the computation automatically for any particular hardware. We compared our program, called FFTW, with over 40 implementations of the FFT on 7 machines. Our tests show that FFTW's self-optimizing approach usually yields significantly better performance than all other publicly available software. FFTW also compares favorably with machine-specific, vendor-optimized libraries.
The history and development of numerical analysis in Scotland: a personal perspective

An account is given of the history and development of numerical analysis in Scotland. This covers, in particular, activity in Edinburgh in the rst half of the 20th century, the collaboration between Edinburgh and St Andrews in the 1960s, and the role played by Dundee from the 1970s. I will give some reminiscences from my own time at both Edinburgh and Dundee.
On Customized Goods, Standard Goods, and Competition

In this study, we examine firms' incentive to offer customized products in addition to their standard products in a competitive environment. We offer several key insights. First, we delineate market conditions in which firms will (will not) offer customized products in addition to their standard products. Surprisingly, we find that when firms offer customized products they are able to not only expand demand, but can also increase the prices of their standard products relative to when they do not. Second, we find that when a firm offers customized products it is a dominant strategy for it to also offer its standard product. This result highlights the role of standard products and the importance of retaining them when firms offer customized products. Third, we identify market conditions under which ex ante symmetric firms will adopt symmetric or asymmetric customization strategies. Fourth, we highlight how the degree of customization offered in equilibrium is affected by market parameters. We find that the degree of customization is lower when both firms offer customized products relative to the case when only one firm offers customized products. Finally, we show that customizing products under competition does not lead to a prisoner's dilemma.
Teaching and Working with Robots as a Collaboration

New applications for autonomous robots bring them into the human environment where they are to serve as helpful assistants to untrained users in the home or office, or work as capable members of human-robot teams for security, military, and space efforts. These applications require robots to be able to quickly learn how to perform new tasks from natural human instruction, and to perform tasks collaboratively with human teammates. Using joint intention theory as our theoretical framework, our approach integrates learning and collaboration through a goal based task structure. Specifically, we use collaborative discourse with accompanying gestures and social cues to teach a humanoid robot a structurally complex task. Having learned the representation for the task, the robot then performs it shoulder-to-shoulder with a human partner, using social communication acts to dynamically mesh its plans with those of its partner, according to the relative capabilities of the human and the robot.
Preservation of laminated shale in ancient clinoforms; comparison to modern subaqueous deltas

In Phanerozoic fine-grained marine sedimentary deposits, preservation of physical lamination is commonly presumed to record anoxic benthic conditions. Lamination may also be preserved, however, in oxygen-rich settings where sediment influx is rapid and, as a consequence, high levels of turbidity and fluid substrates inhibit colonization by benthic organisms. Differentiation between these two situations is critical for accurate paleoenvironmental interpretations. The recognition of clinoforms, which are common in ancient fine-grained successions, is a key step in making this distinction. In the Tropic Shale and correlative Tununk Member of the Mancos Shale of southern Utah, clinoforms are preserved in two superposed depositional sequences, the fourth and fifth sequences in the succession. The geometry of the clinoforms indicates that foreset deposits accumulated relatively rapidly and bottomset deposits more slowly. In sequence 4, patterns of preservation of lamination in clinoforms resemble those in modern subaqueous deltas. These ancient clinoforms evidently prograded into oxygenated waters, and preservation of lamination was primarily controlled by the rate of sediment accumulation. In sequence 5, however, the oxygen level apparently controlled the preservation of lamination.
Adaptive difference of Gaussians to improve subsurface object detection using GPR imagery

We present an adaptive difference of Gaussians (ADOG) method to improve landmine detection from ground penetrating radar (GPR) imagery. GPR is widely used for a variety of subsurface sensing problems including landmine detection and localization. In most all applications, specular reflection from the air-ground interface is the most significant source of interference often eclipsing the returns from the buried object. From an image processing viewpoint, the specular reflection constitutes a sharp edge and the landmine reflected signals are more smooth and of low spatial frequency. As an edge-preserving method, the ADOG keeps the specular reflection intact and removes the object reflected signals. Then by subtracting the ADOG output from the original image, we eliminate the specular reflection and obtain an image with enhanced object reflected signals. Using the difference image, we can obtain better result in detecting buried objects. Results from applying our algorithm on a landmine detection application are used to demonstrate the performance of the method.
Effects of X-Irradiation and Urethane Treatment on Chicken Bone Marrow Enzymes.

SummaryMature hens were given a single whole body X-irradiation of 300 roentgens. This treatment markedly reduced the bone marrow endogenous respiration, choline oxidase, and succinoxidase. The intraperitoneal injection of urethane also reduced marrow choline oxidase, and reduced succinoxidase but to a lesser degree. Both X-irradiation and urethane treatment rendered the chickens leucopenic.
Power network analysis for ESD robustness in a 90nm ASIC design system

ALSIM-ESD is a design automation tool to analyze power networks for good ESD performance in a high-volume, highly automated ASIC design system. The tool calculates the voltage drop produced in the power network by an ESD discharge and checks that it remains below circuit failure voltages. Automatic fix-up operations are provided to correct excessive resistance in the ESD discharge path.
Mitochondrial phylogeography of a Beringian relict: the endemic freshwater genus of blackfish Dallia (Esociformes)

Mitochondrial genetic variability among populations of the blackfish genus Dallia (Esociformes) across Beringia was examined. Levels of divergence and patterns of geographic distribution of mitochondrial DNA lineages were characterized using phylogenetic inference, median-joining haplotype networks, Bayesian skyline plots, mismatch analysis and spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA) to infer genealogical relationships and to assess patterns of phylogeography among extant mitochondrial lineages in populations of species of Dallia. The observed variation includes extensive standing mitochondrial genetic diversity and patterns of distinct spatial segregation corresponding to historical and contemporary barriers with minimal or no mixing of mitochondrial haplotypes between geographic areas. Mitochondrial diversity is highest in the common delta formed by the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers where they meet the Bering Sea. Other regions sampled in this study host comparatively low levels of mitochondrial diversity. The observed levels of mitochondrial diversity and the spatial distribution of that diversity are consistent with persistence of mitochondrial lineages in multiple refugia through the last glacial maximum.
Locally Uniform Comparison Image Descriptor

Keypoint matching between pairs of images using popular descriptors like SIFT or a faster variant called SURF is at the heart of many computer vision algorithms including recognition, mosaicing, and structure from motion. However, SIFT and SURF do not perform well for real-time or mobile applications. As an alternative very fast binary descriptors like BRIEF and related methods use pairwise comparisons of pixel intensities in an image patch. We present an analysis of BRIEF and related approaches revealing that they are hashing schemes on the ordinal correlation metric Kendall's tau. Here, we introduce Locally Uniform Comparison Image Descriptor (LUCID), a simple description method based on linear time permutation distances between the ordering of RGB values of two image patches. LUCID is computable in linear time with respect to the number of pixels and does not require floating point computation.
Macromolecular Transport by the Middle Ear and Its Lymphatic System

The macromolecular transport in the middle ear mucosa of the guinea pig was investigated by means of light and electron microscopy using tracer substances such as Evans blue, India ink, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). HRP particles were readily taken up by the middle ear mucosa and Eustachian tube. They were absorbed by all cell types, including ciliated, secretory and nonsecretory cells. The particles were first taken up by the pinocytotic vesicles and then transported into the intercellular spaces by reverse pinocytosis. These particles were transported toward the connective tissue through the basilar membrane. Some of the tracer particles were engulfed by the tissue histiocytes, but most of the particles entered into lymphatic and blood capillaries. By Evans blue instillation of the bulla, the retroauricular and junctional lymph nodes were positively identified as those draining the middle ear and the Eustachian tube. When HRP was used, the tracer particles were detected in the ipsilateral retroauricular and junctional lymph nodes as early as 5 minutes following the tympanic instillation. HRP in these lymph nodes were mainly found in the specific granules of the macrophages.
"Staying Private": Gaining Congressional Support for Unpublicized Presidential Preferences on Roll Call Votes

Presidents are known to have strong incentives to publicize their positions on legislation before the Congress. This paper examines the obverse of that proposition: that under appropriate circumstances, presidents have strong incentives not to publicize their positions. Data from the Kennedy and Johnson presidencies uncover 36 instances of unpublicized presidential preferences. The paper rejects apolitical explanations for their existence, and then presents four political reasons why presidents might avoid publicly expressing their views. Tests of inferences about congressional voting behavior based on those reasons are formulated, and the findings conform to the expectations. On the basis of those findings, I argue for additional research that examines various facets of the process by which presidents influence the Congress.
Estimation of Bacterial Cell Numbers in Humic Acid-Rich Salt Marsh Sediments with Probes Directed to 16S Ribosomal DNA

The feasibility of using probes directed towards ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs) as a quantitative approach to estimating cell numbers was examined and applied to study the structure of a bacterial community in humic acid-rich salt marsh sediments. Hybridizations were performed with membrane-bound nucleic acids by using seven group-specific DNA oligonucleotide probes complementary to 16S rRNA coding regions. These included a general eubacterial probe and probes encompassing most members of the gram-negative, mesophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). DNA was extracted from sediment samples, and contaminating materials were removed by a series of steps. Efficiency of DNA extraction was 48% based on the recovery of tritiated plasmid DNA added to samples prior to extraction. Reproducibility of the extraction procedure was demonstrated by hybridizations to replicate samples. Numbers of target cells in samples were estimated by comparing the amount of hybridization to extracted DNA obtained with each probe to that obtained with a standard curve of genomic DNA for reference strains included on the same membrane. In June, numbers of SRB detected with an SRB-specific probe ranged from 6.0 × 107 to 2.5 × 109 (average, 1.1 × 109 ± 5.2 × 108) cells g of sediment−1. In September, numbers of SRB detected ranged from 5.4 × 108 to 7.3 × 109 (average, 2.5 × 109 ± 1.5 × 109) cells g of sediment−1. The capability of using rDNA probes to estimate cell numbers by hybridization to DNA extracted from complex matrices permits initiation of detailed studies on community composition and changes in communities based on cell numbers in formerly intractable environments.
Effects of Lowhead Dams on Freshwater Mussels in the Neosho River, Kansas

Freshwater mussels are declining rapidly in many parts of their range throughout North America, primarily as a result of anthropogenic alterations of their habitat, including damming of rivers. To assess the effects of lowhead dams on freshwater mussel assemblages in the Neosho River, Kansas, we sampled mussels by groping along transects and searching haphazardly along a 100-m stretch at eight sites of four site types (i.e., upstream reference, upstream treatment, downstream treatment, and downstream reference) centered around two lowhead dams. We collected from four to 11 species of mussels at each site, and a total of 13 species. Analysis of variance indicated a significant difference in mean species richness and evenness, but not abundance, among site types, consistent with the hypothesis that lowhead dams affect freshwater mussel assemblage composition in the Neosho River.
State-Granted Practice Authority: Do Nurse Practitioners Vote with Their Feet?

Nurse practitioners have become an increasingly important part of the US medical workforce as they have gained greater practice authority through state-level regulatory changes. This study investigates one labor market impact of this large change in nurse practitioner regulation. Using data from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses and a dataset of state-level nurse practitioner prescribing authority, a multivariate estimation is performed analysing the impact of greater practice authority on the probability of a nurse practitioner moving from a state. The empirical results indicate that nurse practitioners in states that grant expanded practice are less likely to move from the state than nurse practitioners in states that have not granted expanded practice authority. The estimated effect is robust and is statistically and economically meaningful. This finding is in concert with and strengthens the wider literature which finds states that grant expanded practice authority to nurse practitioners tend to have larger nurse practitioner populations.
Rare Earth doped nanoparticles in imaging and PDT

Nanoparticles doped with rare earth ions for biomedical imaging and infrared photodynamic therapy (IRPDT) have been synthesized, characterized, and compared. Specifically, these nanoparticles utilize two primary modalities: near infrared excitation and emission for imaging, and near infrared upconversion for photodynamic therapy. These nanoparticles are optimized for both their infrared emission and upconversion energy transfer to a photoactive agent conjugated to the surface. Finally, these nanoparticles are tested for toxicity, imaged in cells using the near infrared emission pathway, and used for selective killing of cells through the upconversion driven IRPDT.
Enhanced speciation in particle swarm optimization for multi-modal problems

Abstract In this paper, we present a novel multi-modal optimization algorithm for finding multiple local optima in objective function surfaces. We build from Species-based particle swarm optimization (SPSO) by using deterministic sampling to generate new particles during the optimization process, by implementing proximity-based speciation coupled with speciation of isolated particles, and by including “turbulence regions” around already found solutions to prevent unnecessary function evaluations. Instead of using error threshold values, the new algorithm uses the particle’s experience, geometric mean, and “exclusion factor” to detect local optima and stop the algorithm. The performance of each extension is assessed with leave-it-out tests, and the results are discussed. We use the new algorithm called Isolated-Speciation-based particle swarm optimization (ISPSO) and a benchmark algorithm called Niche particle swarm optimization (NichePSO) to solve a six-dimensional rainfall characterization problem for 192 rain gages across the United States. We show why it is important to find multiple local optima for solving this real-world complex problem by discussing its high multi-modality. Solutions found by both algorithms are compared, and we conclude that ISPSO is more reliable than NichePSO at finding optima with a significantly lower objective function value.
Proposed atmospheric correction for the solar-reflective bands of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal emission and Reflection Radiometer

The reflectance-based method of absolute radiometric calibration has been used successfully in the solar reflective portion of the spectrum. This method corrects for atmospheric effects by using a plane-parallel radiative transfer code. This code is intended to be modified for use in the atmospheric correction of data from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) due to be launched on the Earth Observing System's AM1 platform. The radiative transfer code numerically integrates the radiative transfer equation for a plane-parallel, horizontally-homogeneous atmosphere using Gauss-Seidel iteration. This code will be used to generate a look-up table of top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) and surface radiance for several values of surface reflectance using given atmospheric optical depths. The atmospheric correction relies on the fact that surface reflectance and TOA radiance are linearly related for limited ranges of surface reflectance. Then surface reflectance and radiance are determined by linearly interpolating the TOA radiances measured by ASTER from the look-up-table results. Planned tests of this method are presented as well as anticipated accuracies. >
A Framework for the Combination of Forecasts

A framework for the systematic study of the combination of sales and market forecasts is proposed based on the types of forecasts to be combined and the methods used to combine them. A detailed survey of the literature is given in terms of the developed framework and general conclusions about the combination of forecasts area are developed. Some future needs for research are also discussed.
Formal verification of iterative algorithms in microprocessors

Contemporary microprocessors implement many iterative algorithms. For example, the front-end of a microprocessor repeatedly fetches and decodes instructions while updating internal state such as the program counter; floating-point circuits perform divide and square root computations iteratively. Iterative algorithms often have complex implementations because of performance optimizations like result speculation, re-timing and circuit redundancies. Verifying these iterative circuits against high-level specifications requires two steps: reasoning about the algorithm itself and verifying the implementation against the algorithm. In this paper we discuss the verification of four iterative circuits from Intel microprocessor designs. These verifications were performed using Forte, a custom-built verification system; we discuss the Forte features necessary for our approach. Finally, we discuss how we maintained these proofs in the face of evolving design implementations.
The Emptiness of the Lexicon: Reflections on James Pustejovsky's The Generative Lexicon

We consider Pustejovsky's account of the semantic lexicon. We discuss and reject his argument that the complexity of lexical entries is required to account for lexical generativity. Finally, we defend a sort of lexical atomism: though, strictly speaking, we concede that lexical entries are typically complex, still we claim that their complexity does not jeopardize either the thesis that lexical meaning is atomistic or the identification of lexical meaning with denotation.
Softening of Metals With new techniques, four distinct processes in the thermal softening of metal systems may be studied

It should be apparent that while there are many complicating factors in softening processes which tend to render some results inconsistent with others, progress in understanding these processes is being made, and certain unifying concepts have evolved. Realization of the differences in the reaction of metal systems to softening is now well established. Arbitrary division of the softening process into distinct stages has perhaps caused some confusion in the past, but with the use of new techniques, mechanistic details of the entire softening process are now being unfolded.
Towards universal speech recognition

The increasing interest in multilingual applications like speech-to-speech translation systems is accompanied by the need for speech recognition front-ends in many languages that can also handle multiple input languages at the same time. In this paper we describe a universal speech recognition system that fulfills such needs. It is trained by sharing speech and text data across languages and thus reduces the number of parameters and overhead significantly at the cost of only slight accuracy loss. The final recognizer eases the burden of maintaining several monolingual engines, makes dedicated language identification obsolete and allows for code-switching within an utterance. To achieve these goals we developed new methods forconstructing multilingual acoustic models and multilingual n-gram language models.
Carbenoxolone Damages Endothelium and Enhances Vasoconstrictor Action in Aortic Rings

Abstract Carbenoxolone causes hypertension indirectly by inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and consequent elevation of intracellular glucocorticoid levels and enhancement of vasoconstrictor action. We performed the present study to determine whether carbenoxolone also enhances vascular tone directly by mechanisms independent of glucocorticoids and other systemic influences. Exposure of rat aortic rings to 10 to 100 μmol/L carbenoxolone in aerated Krebs-Henseleit buffer for 24 hours resulted in concentration-dependent increases in angiotensin II (Ang II) (100 nmol/L)–stimulated contractions and significant shifting of the phenylephrine cumulative contraction curve to the left but not increases in KCl (120 mmol/L)–stimulated contractions. Maximal enhancement of Ang II contraction was 39%. In contrast, brief (15-minute) exposure to 100 μmol/L carbenoxolone did not alter Ang II contractions. Mechanical denudation of the endothelium obviated enhancement of Ang II contractions by carbenoxolone, suggesting interaction of carbenoxolone with the endothelium. Endothelium-dependent relaxation of precontracted rings to acetylcholine or ATP was reduced by more than 90% by 24-hour pretreatment with 100 μmol/L carbenoxolone but not with 100 μmol/L deoxycorticosterone acetate (a mineralocorticoid) or 100 μmol/L glycyrrhizic acid (a natural 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor). Vascular smooth muscle relaxation with sodium nitroprusside was not inhibited by carbenoxolone. Incubation of cultured endothelial cells with 100 μmol/L carbenoxolone for 24 hours did not inhibit nitric oxide synthase activity, as measured by conversion of [ 3 H]l-arginine to [ 3 H]l-citrulline. Electron micrography demonstrated that endothelial cell ultrastructure but not vascular smooth muscle cell ultrastructure was abnormal after incubation of rings for 24 hours with 100 μmol/L carbenoxolone. These studies suggest that carbenoxolone concentrations higher than 10 μmol/L enhance vasoconstrictor action via selective toxicity to the endothelium and elimination of endothelium-dependent relaxation.
An optimal topology design algorithm for multiple traffic using both dialed up and rented capacities

An optimal multitraffic topology design algorithm is presented. It is used to find the optimal topology with respect to a set of input traffic patterns when the operating budget is fixed. The long-haul trunks are assumed to be rented from a carrier in a continuously rented or dialed-up manner. A numerical example is given. >
Demonstration of Hole Transport and Voltage Equilibration in Self-Assembled π-Conjugated Peptide Nanostructures Using Field-Effect Transistor Architectures

π-Conjugated peptide materials are attractive for bioelectronics due to their unique photophysical characteristics, biofunctional interfaces, and processability under aqueous conditions. In order to be relevant for electrical applications, these types of materials must be able to support the passage of current and the transmission of applied voltages. Presented herein is an investigation of both the current and voltage transmission activities of one-dimensional π-conjugated peptide nanostructures. Observations of the nanostructures as both semiconducting and gate layers in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were made, and the effect of systematic changes in amino acid composition on the semiconducting/conducting functionality of the nanostructures was investigated. These molecular variations directly impacted the hole mobility values observed for the nanomaterial active layers over 3 orders of magnitude (∼0.02 to 5 × 10–5 cm2 V–1 s–1) when the nanostructures had quaterthiophene cores and the assembl...
Profiles of College Drinkers Defined by Alcohol Behaviors at the Week Level: Replication Across Semesters and Prospective Associations With Hazardous Drinking and Dependence-Related Symptoms.

Objective:Types of college drinkers have been identified using traditional measures (e.g., 12-month drinking frequency). We used an alternative multidimensional approach based on daily reports of alcohol behaviors to identify college drinker statuses, each with a unique behavioral profile. The current study aimed to (a) identify drinker statuses at the week level across four semesters, (b) examine the predictive utility of drinker status by testing associations with senior-year hazardous drinking and dependence symptoms, and (c) identify concurrent predictors (gender, drinking motivations, hazardous drinking, any dependence symptoms) of senior-year drinker status. We also compared the week-level drinker statuses with drinker statuses identified using traditional measures.Method:A multi-ethnic sample of U.S. college students completed 14-day bursts of daily web surveys across college (91%–96% completed ≥6 daily reports of the sampled week). Analyses focus on nine alcohol-related behaviors (including estima...
Successful cuing of gender source memory does not improve location source memory

In three experiments we explored cross-dimensional cuing effects in a multidimensional source encoding and retrieval paradigm. We employed a bias-controlled experimental method of source cuing at retrieval (Starns & Hicks, 2013) in an attempt to improve retrieval of location information indirectly by cuing gender information. Encoded words were situated on the left or right side of a computer monitor and associated with either a male or a female face. When multiple faces were used across the set of encoded words, reinstating the correct face at retrieval alongside an incorrect, opposite-gender face cue improved male/female source decisions for test words. However, this powerful test cue did not improve memory for the encoded location of the words, suggesting that within-dimension cuing does not produce cross-dimensional cuing. This null outcome was found when gender decisions were required (Experiments 1A and 2) or not required (Experiment 1B) prior to location decisions. Nor was cross-dimension cuing found when subjects were told to expect a source test of both gender and location information at retrieval (Experiment 2). Our findings reinforce prior work demonstrating that multiple context dimensions can be bound to item information without any direct binding between the contexts.
An Integrated Agent-Based and Production Cost Modeling Framework for Renewable Energy Studies

The agent-based framework for renewable energy studies (ARES) is an integrated approach that adds an agent-based model of industry actors to PLEXOS and combines the strengths of the two to overcome their individual shortcomings. It can examine existing and novel wholesale electricity markets under high penetrations of renewables. ARES is demonstrated by studying how increasing levels of wind will impact the operations and the exercise of market power of generation companies that exploit an economic withholding strategy. The analysis is carried out on a test system that represents the Electric Reliability Council of Texas energy-only market in the year 2020. The results more realistically reproduce the operations of an energy market under different and increasing penetrations of wind, and ARES can be extended to address pressing issues in current and future wholesale electricity markets.
The Impacts of Mid-Level Alcohol Content in Gasoline on SIDI Engine-Out and Tailpipe Emissions

The influences of ethanol and iso-butanol on gasoline engine performance, engine-out and tailpipe emissions were studied using a General Motors (GM) 2.0L turbocharged gasoline spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) engine. U.S. federal certification gasoline (E0), two ethanol-blended fuels (E10 and E20), and 11.7% iso-butanol blended fuels were tested. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to measure non-regulated species including methane, ethylene, acetylene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, isobutylene, 1,3-butadiene, n-pentane, and iso-octane. A Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS) spectrometer was used to measure the particle number (PN) size distribution in the range from 5.6 to 560 nm. The regulated emissions total hydrocarbon (THC), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx ) were also measured. Both engine-out and tailpipe emissions results are presented as functions of alcohol content. In general, the alcohols tested reduced total PN emissions, with iso-butanol demonstrating the greatest reduction. Increasing ethanol content and iso-butanol increased formaldehyde emissions, with iso-butanol exhibiting the highest increase. Iso-butanol increased iso-butylene emission; however, it reduced emissions of 1,3-butadiene. Within the context of this study, the alcohols did not significantly change the other regulated emissions.© 2010 ASME
Conformality, the Exponential Function, and World Map Projections

From the stereographic projection the ancient Greeks used to chart the heavens to modern circle-packing techniques that can chart the inner reaches of the human brain, conformal maps have played a central role in mathematical analysis and applications for over two millennia. It seems a shame, then, that undergraduate mathematics students rarely learn about them, the more so since a basic knowledge of calculus and some facility with trigonometry are enough to make a significant start. In this paper, we use single-variable calculus to establish the conformality of the stereographic projection and the Mercator world map. Along the way, the complex exponential function arises in a natural way that establishes it as a conformal mapping—without using any complex analysis. Furthermore, the exponential function provides a link between the symmetric structures of the two conformal maps. We conclude by indicating how one can construct conformal maps of surfaces of revolution other than the sphere.
Secretion of a chondroitin sulfate-like substance by the chief cells of the dog gastric mucosa.

SummaryThe correlation of chemical, electrophoretic and histochemical findings herein reported is consistent with the concept that the chondroitin sulfate A- or C-like material found in canine fundic gastric juice is derived from chief peptic cells.Gastroenterology Research Laboratory and Section of Gastroenterology, Departments of Medicine and of Pathology, New York Medical College, New York City
Effects of Slip on the Flow Characteristics of Laminar Flat Plate Boundary-Layer

A uniform stream of viscous fluid flowing past a flat plate with slip at the fluid-plate interface is considered. The aim of this investigation is to examine the effects of slip at the wall on the laminar boundary-layer flow characteristics. For this purpose, an analytical and a computational study were conducted. The analytical study is based on the Blasius similarity solution for laminar boundary-layer flow past a flat plate. In the computational study, the flow over a flat plate is modeled and solved (using FLUENT) by dividing the computational domain into small control volumes and discretizing and solving the governing equations around these control volumes. The slip at the fluid-solid interface is accounted for by the Navier boundary condition (NBC). Three cases are considered, wherein the slip boundary condition is incorporated in three different ways, i.e., by specifying the slip length, or the slip velocity, or by assuming the slip length to be a function of shear rate. The flow characteristics are evaluated for different amounts of slip. The wall shear stress, the skin-friction coefficient, and the drag coefficient decrease by about 38% when the nondimensional slip length is increased from zero (noslip) to 2. The boundary-layer thickness, the displacement thickness, and the momentum thickness also decrease with increase in slip. The reduction in displacement thickness is much greater (about 68%) than the boundary-layer thickness or the momentum thickness. An excellent agreement between the analytical and computational results is noticed.© 2006 ASME
‘Is Grandma Still There?’ A Pastoral and Ethical Reflection on the Soul and Continuing Self-identity in Deeply Forgetful People:

This metaphysical and pastoral reflection focuses on a question that over several decades has been posed to me by many family caregivers for deeply forgetful people (persons with dementia). The question may take different forms: Is my loved one still there underneath all of this confusion? Is my loved one's soul still present? Will she come to rest fully intact in the arms of a Supreme Being? Could she be 'gone' but already somewhere experiencing the fullness of divine love? This reflection provides a pastoral response to this big question that has to do with the need to find meaning in caring for deeply forgetful people.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Trastuzumab Is Safe and Effective in Older Women With Small, Node-Negative, HER2-Positive Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Abstract Introduction The benefit of adjuvant trastuzumab with chemotherapy is well established for women with higher risk human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2 + ) breast cancer. However, its role in older patients with smaller, node-negative tumors is less clear. We conducted a retrospective, sequential cohort study of this population to describe the impact of trastuzumab on breast cancer outcomes and cardiac safety. Patients and Methods Women ≥ 55 years with ≤ 2 cm, node-negative, HER2 + breast cancer were identified and electronic medical records reviewed. A no-trastuzumab cohort of 116 women diagnosed between January 1, 1999 and May 14, 2004 and a trastuzumab cohort of 128 women diagnosed between May 16, 2006 and December 31, 2010 were identified. Overall survival and distant relapse-free survival were estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods. Results The median ages of the trastuzumab and no-trastuzumab cohorts were 62 and 64 years, respectively. More patients in the trastuzumab cohort had grade III ( P = .001), lymphovascular invasion ( P = .001), or estrogen receptor-negative ( P P Conclusion Following adjuvant trastuzumab with chemotherapy, selected older women with small, node-negative, HER2 + breast cancers have excellent disease control. The rate of cardiac events is low.
Integrative Pain Management

Chronic pain is one of the most common conditions seen in the clinic, and it is often one of the most frustrating for both clinicians and patients. This condition stems from common comorbidities, including depression, insomnia, fatigue, and physical deconditioning, which often create barriers to recovery. In addition, chronic pain has had divergent approaches for treatment, including an overemphasis on analgesia and curative treatments while underemphasizing the biopsychosocial needs of those in pain. This article attempts to provide an initial framework for approaching those in pain and initiating patient-centered options to support improvements in pain, function, and self-care.
High-Throughput Computational Screening of Electrical and Phonon Properties of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) are of broadening research interest due to their novel physical, electrical, and thermoelectric properties. Having the chemical formula MX 2, where M is a transition metal and X is a chalcogen, there are many possible combinations to consider for materials-by-design exploration. By identifying novel compositions and utilizing the lower dimensionality, which allows for improved thermoelectric performance (e.g., increased Seebeck coefficients without sacrificing electron concentration), MX 2 materials are promising candidates for thermoelectric applications. However, to develop these materials into wide-scale use, it is crucial to comprehensively understand the compositional affects. This work investigates the structure, electronic, and phonon properties of 18 different MX 2 materials compositions as a benchmark to explore the impact of various elements. There is significant correlation between properties of constituent transition metals (atomic mass and radius) and the structure/properties of the corresponding 2D-TMDs. As the mass of M increases, the n-type power factor and phonon frequency gap increases. Similarly, increases in the radius of M lead to increased layer thickness and Seebeck coefficient S. Our results identify key factors to optimize MX 2 compositions for desired performance.