cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of manganese with triethanolamine and o-tolidine by conventional and long-path photometry

Abstract A very sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of manganese is reported. To the sample is added triethanolamine (TEA) and sodium hydroxide to give a pH above 11; after atmospheric oxidation of manganese(II) to the green manganese(III)—TEA complex, sodium pyrophosphate is added and the solution is acidified. Manganese(III) thus forms a complex with pyrophosphate. Then o -tolidine is added and is oxidized in a 2e step to the intensely yellow quinonediimine, while manganese(III) is reduced to manganese(II). The absorbance is measured at 440 nm. The calibration curve is linear up to 1.6 μg Mn ml -1 in the final solution; the limit of determination is 0.2 μg Mn ml -1 . For the 20-cm path cell, the respective data are 45 ng Mn ml -1 and 2 ng Mn ml -1 . The only severe interferences are strong oxidants like dichromate or cerium(IV), which are readily reduced with sulfurous acid. Vanadium in amounts up to 2–3 times that of manganese can be dealt with by an appropriate blank solution; larger amounts of vanadium must be removed e.g. by a cupferron extraction.
Decision processing in memory: Factors influencing the storage and retrieval of linguistic and form identification

As a test of the notion that the meaning of a sentence is stored in a schematic fashion, Bransford and Franks (1971) presented the results of recognition experiments indicating that new sentences containing all of the information conveyed by simpler sentences are more likely to be misidentified as having been seen earlier than sentences containing only part of the earlier information. The present experiment, employing a signal detection framework, found this effect to be due not only to schematic organization, but to the retention of the “form ” of the originally presented sentences as well. The form of new sentences conveying only part of the earlier information was better remembered (and less frequently confused) than new, complex sentences. The implications of this finding for a schematic view of memory are discussed.
The business community and the environment: An important partnership

C omplacency has never been a friend to American business. This country's long and exciting economic rise is the sto W of how imagination and hard work turn daunting challenges into profitable opportunities. Our ability to harness technology, absorb new ideas, and learn from mistakes has made the U.S. economy the world's most dynamic and most emulated. Today American business faces its most difficult task and its greatest opportunity. As we move toward the next century, we are becoming acutely aware that what is needed to stem the tide of environmental decline is a clear vision of the problem and the energy and determination to overcome it. These are the same tools that have been wielded by American business for more than a century, and they have never before been so vitally needed.
Outcome of Renal Transplant Recipients in the ICU

Objective To determine the outcome of renal transplant recipients in an intensive care unit (ICU). Design Prospective, cohort study. Setting Surgical ICU in a tertiary care hospital. Patients Consecutive adult renal transplant recipients admitted to an ICU. Measurements and main results Demographic data, underlying diseases, indications for admission to the ICU, number of prior kidney transplantations, duration of immunosuppression, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU and hospital, and ICU and hospital mortality were recorded. Seventy-one patients were included in the study. Twenty-seven patients were admitted to the surgical ICU immediately after renal transplantation surgery for postoperative monitoring (group 1). One patient died in this group. The remaining 44 patients were renal transplant recipients admitted to the surgical ICU with various complications (group 2). The mean posttransplant time in group 2 was 23±30 months. Seven patients died in group 2. The overall ICU mortality in this study was 11% and hospital mortality was 14%. The hospital mortality for postoperative patients (3.7% in group 1) was below the rate predicted based on the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score (15%). APACHE II score, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay were significantly higher among nonsurvivors. The ICU mortality among renal transplant recipients was higher than that of other patients (6%) admitted to the surgical ICU during the study period. Conclusion The ICU mortality of renal transplant recipients was twice that of general surgical ICU patients. The hospital mortality rate for recipients admitted immediately postoperatively to the ICU (group 1) was less than predicted by APACHE II.
Estimating Indices of Abundance and Escapement of Pacific Salmon for Data-Limited Situations

Abstract We demonstrate the process of synchronously combining multiple sources of available fishery information to estimate total abundance in data-limited situations. The application is specific to semelparous populations, such as Pacific salmon, where only data for spawners and recruits are necessary to describe the dynamics of these populations. We apply this technique to summer chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta of the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers of Alaska. Since 1997, low numbers of returning chum salmon to these rivers have resulted in low harvests, with significant negative economic and social impacts to rural residents of the region. The existing programs for assessing salmon stock in these river basins are inadequate for conventional estimates of total run abundance and the modeling of stock dynamics necessary to derive a quantitative assessment of the returns. Our approach was to utilize the pattern extraction qualities of principal components analysis (PCA) to estimate the underlying trend in escape...
Millimeter wave spectrum of thioformaldehyde

Abstract The rotational spectrum of H 2 12 C 32 S has been investigated in the millimeter region from 100 to 250 GHz. Twenty-five new R -branch transitions have been measured and combined with earlier data in a centrifugal distortion analysis of the spectrum. A set of rotational parameters are presented representing the best fit of all available data on the molecule. These rotational parameters allow reliable predictions for all transitions of H 2 12 C 32 S up to J = 30 and v
Architecture of fault-tolerant computers: an historical perspective

The author surveys the approaches and techniques used to improve system reliability. Over the past 40 years computing systems have experienced over three orders of magnitude improvement in average time to failure and over six orders of magnitude improvement in work accomplished between outages. A three-dimensional design space for comparing fault-tolerant systems is proposed and populated by over two dozen actual systems. A detailed description is provided for a dozen systems evenly distributed throughout the design space. The author concludes by observing trends in the design space and projecting future developments. >
Transferring S3-S4 Motif from Kv Channels to the CNG Channel

Cyclic nucleotide-gate (CNG) channels belong, functionally, to the family of ligand-gated ion channels. They are activated by the binding of cyclic nucleotides, such as cGMP, cIMP or cAMP to an intracellular binding domain within the carboxyl terminal. Structurally, however, CNG channels are grouped with ion channels containing six transmembrane segments, such as voltage-dependent potassium channels. These proteins probably derive from a common evolutionary ancestor, but the properties of the channels are quite different. Whereas the membrane potential controls the activity of voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels, CNG channels have little or no inherent voltage dependence, particularly at saturating concentrations of agonist. Even though CNG channels contain an S4 positively-charged segment similar to the S4 voltage sensor in KV channels, little is known about its relevance in CNG channels. In this work, we transferred the voltage-sensor S3-S4 motif from Kv2.1 and KvAP to bCNGA1 and analyzed the function of these chimeras expressed in Xenopus oocytes using excised patch clamp. Our results suggest that the S3-S4 motif of CNG channel can be swapped by the homologous region of Kv channels and, although these chimeras are modulated by voltage, activation remains cGMP-dependent.
Greedy distributed optimization of unsplittable multicommodity flows

We consider solutions for distributed unsplittable multicommodity flow problems, which are solved by multiple agents operating in a cooperative but uncoordinated manner. A requirement here is that each commodity routes its entire demand along a single path at any point in time. Assuming that the minimum capacity of any edge is at least polylogarithmic factor larger than the maximum demand of any commodity, we present a greedy distributed randomized algorithm, which with high probability, achieves 1+e approximation, in O(H · logO(1)) m · (1/e)0(1)) iterations where H ≤ n is an upper bound on the number edges allowed on any flow-path. No prior results exist for our distributed model.Our algorithm is based on simulating the splittable multicommodity flow solution of [1] and picking a path for routing the entire flow according to the probability distribution given by the splittable flow. We use Chernoff bounds to show that the real edge-congestions are sufficiently close to the edge-congestions in the simulation for the analysis of [1] to hold.
An Efficient Audio-Video Synchronization Methodology

In a multimedia information system, different types of digital media (such as video, audio, etc.) are stored, transmitted, and presented. During presentation time, the synchronization between audio and video data has to be preserved in order to offer the best perceptual quality. However, the timestamp-based synchronization methodology in MPEG/System layer suffers data packet loss during transmission, and the resulted absence of synchronization will be unacceptable for users. In order to address this issue, an information hiding based synchronization methodology has been proposed. In this methodology, audio data is embedded within the corresponding video frames by means of high bitrate information hiding techniques. At the receiver, the embedded audio data is extracted and played with the host video frames to achieve the synchronization. With this approach, significant advantages have been obtained: (1) the communication channel for audio data transmission is avoided; (2) the synchronization between audio and video data is robust to packet loss.
Restoration of the Earth: An Environmental Marketing "Reality"

Much writing in the past decade has called for the introduction of "reality" into marketing course work. This article suggests that the importance of the environment is a critical reality for marketing education in the 1990s and supports that position with documentation of student concern about the environment.
The identity and nuclear uptake of a cytosolic binding protein for 3-methylcholanthrene

Abstract The ability of 3-methylcholanthrene to interact noncovalently with rat liver cytosolic proteins was studied using Sephadex G200 chromatography. A specific 3-methylcholanthrene binding fraction from Sephadex G200 chromatography, termed peak B, when incubated with rat liver nuclei was able to translocate 3-methylcholanthrene into the nucleus. This translocation occurred faster and was quantitatively greater than the binding of 3-methylcholanthrene in buffer to nuclei. In addition, the nuclear uptake of peak B was increased by prewarming, suggesting that a heat-sensitive activation step may occur prior to the translocation process. However, no evidence was found on sucrose gradients for any conformational change in the protein fraction studied here. The translocation to the nucleus was temperature and time dependent. An examination of the characteristics of this 3-methylcholanthrene binding protein using Sephacryl S200 column chromatography showed a small number of high-affinity, saturable, binding sites to be present. These had an apparent dissociation constant, Kd, of 2.8 n m and a binding capacity of 770 fmol/mg of cytosolic protein. The selectivity of this protein was examined by competition studies and, in general, polycyclic hydrocarbons competed for the binding site, except for anthracene and phenanthrene. Of the inducers studied, 5,6-benzoflavone was a strong competitor. No competition was found with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, 2,6-ditertbutyl-p-cresol, β-retinyl acetate, or a number of steroids, except for 17β-estradiol which exhibited moderate binding. Peak B had a sedimentation coefficient of 4.2 S when analyzed on a linear sucrose gradient. Chromatography of peak B on a calibrated Sephacryl S200 column gave a molecular weight corresponding to 44,600 ± 4000.
The low-latitude circulation of Mars

A steady-state two-layer atmospheric model is used in an attempt to simulate the circulation of the equatorial regions of Mars, with consideration of both thermal and mechanical orographic effects. A steady-state solution is sought with the aim of producing mean seasonal circulations upon which tides can be superimposed, and the relative importance of orographic forcing at low latitudes is evaluated. It is assumed that the atmospheres over a topographic feature and over flat terrain possess the same radiative and convective properties, simple dissipation laws are introduced which represent a surface drag effect, and six first-order difference equations are obtained and then reduced to two linear complex second-order coupled difference equations. Analysis of the response of the equinoctial basic wind field to a Gaussian orographic feature situated at the equator and zero deg longitude reveals a number of similarities and differences between the Martian and terrestrial responses. Most of the similarities are explained in terms of the dynamics of a rotating atmosphere, while the major differences are at least partially explained by the different optical properties, lower boundaries, and smaller mass of the Martian atmosphere.
Differential variational inequalities

This paper introduces and studies the class of differential variational inequalities (DVIs) in a finite-dimensional Euclidean space. The DVI provides a powerful modeling paradigm for many applied problems in which dynamics, inequalities, and discontinuities are present; examples of such problems include constrained time-dependent physical systems with unilateral constraints, differential Nash games, and hybrid engineering systems with variable structures. The DVI unifies several mathematical problem classes that include ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with smooth and discontinuous right-hand sides, differential algebraic equations (DAEs), dynamic complementarity systems, and evolutionary variational inequalities. Conditions are presented under which the DVI can be converted, either locally or globally, to an equivalent ODE with a Lipschitz continuous right-hand function. For DVIs that cannot be so converted, we consider their numerical resolution via an Euler time-stepping procedure, which involves the solution of a sequence of finite-dimensional variational inequalities. Borrowing results from differential inclusions (DIs) with upper semicontinuous, closed and convex valued multifunctions, we establish the convergence of such a procedure for solving initial-value DVIs. We also present a class of DVIs for which the theory of DIs is not directly applicable, and yet similar convergence can be established. Finally, we extend the method to a boundary-value DVI and provide conditions for the convergence of the method. The results in this paper pertain exclusively to systems with “index” not exceeding two and which have absolutely continuous solutions.
Assessing the Role of Skeletons in Early Paleozoic Carbonate Production: Insights from Cambro-Ordovician Strata, Western Newfoundland

The trend in the abundance of skeletal organisms does not exhibit a monotonic rise beginning with the Cambrian Explosion, but rather has oscillated through major biodiversification events and mass extinctions. With the appearance of several skeletonized clades in the early Cambrian, organisms began exerting some control on carbonate production, but it is not until later in the Paleozoic that those organisms account for a significant proportion of total carbonate production. Here, it is proposed that changing abundances of skeletal organisms can be quantified by examining their relative contributions to sedimentary rock fabrics. This method provides a quantitative way to determine changes in skeletal contribution to carbonates through time, for example, to track the expansion of skeletal organisms from the Cambrian through the Ordovician radiation. Analysis of carbonates from Cambro-Ordovician strata of western Newfoundland demonstrates that the skeletal contribution to Cambrian carbonates is low compared to their Middle Ordovician counterparts. The point count data reported here thus reveal that important ecological changes, such as the increase in carbonate skeletal abundance through the Early Paleozoic, can be gleaned by this approach.
EVALUATION OF CROSS-ATTRACTION BETWEEN SYMPATRIC CHORISTONEURA OCCIDENTALIS AND C. RETINIANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) POPULATIONS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL OREGON

Etude de la specificite de la pheromone chez des femelles de C.o. et de C.r. provenant de plusieurs sites, de colonies de laboratoire et de croisements interspecifiques, par determination du nombre de mâles attires en plusieurs sites de l'Oregon
Early pathogenesis of Listeria monocytogenes infection in the mouse spleen

Histological observations suggested that in the spleen, blood-borne Listeria monocytogenes bacteria were preferentially ingested by two morphologically distinct mononuclear phagocyte populations present in the marginal zone of the white pulp. The morphologies of these phagocytes corresponded to those of marginal zone macrophages or marginal zone dendritic cells. Moreover, during the first day of infection, the same phagocytes containing listeria apparently translocated from the marginal zone into the white pulp where they established secondary infectious foci. This event was associated with a large influx of neutrophil polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) into infected white pulp, and with the disappearance of lymphocytes from this compartment. White pulp lymphocytopenia also occurred in the spleens of listeria-infected mice selectively depleted of neutrophil PMNLs, indicating that these phagocytes were not responsible for displacing or destroying lymphocytes. The implications of these findings for explaining the virulence and immunogenicity of L. monocytogenes are discussed.
Septins: molecular partitioning and the generation of cellular asymmetry

During division, certain cellular contents can be distributed unequally; daughter cells with different fates have different needs. Septins are proteins that participate in the establishment and maintenance of asymmetry during cell morphogenesis, thereby contributing to the unequal partitioning of cellular contents during division. The septins themselves provide a paradigm for studying how elaborate multi-component structures are assembled, dynamically modified, and segregated through each cell division cycle and during development. Here we review our current understanding of the supramolecular organization of septins, the function of septins in cellular compartmentalization, and the mechanisms that control assembly, dynamics, and inheritance of higher-order septin structures, with particular emphasis on recent findings made in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
Local Complement-Targeted Intervention in Periodontitis: Proof-of-Concept Using a C5a Receptor (CD88) Antagonist

When excessively activated or deregulated, complement becomes a major link between infection and inflammatory pathology including periodontitis. This oral inflammatory disease is associated with a dysbiotic microbiota, leads to the destruction of bone and other tooth-supporting structures, and exerts an adverse impact on systemic health. We have previously shown that mice deficient either in complement C5a receptor (C5aR; CD88) or TLR2 are highly and similarly resistant to periodontitis, suggesting that a cross-talk between the two receptors may be involved in the disease process. In this paper, we show that C5aR and TLR2 indeed synergize for maximal inflammatory responses in the periodontal tissue and uncover a novel pharmacological target to abrogate periodontitis. Using two different mouse models of periodontitis, we show that local treatments with a C5aR antagonist inhibited periodontal inflammation through downregulation of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 and further protected against bone loss, regardless of the presence of TLR2. These findings not only reveal a crucial cooperation between C5aR and TLR2 in periodontal inflammation but also provide proof-of-concept for local targeting of C5aR as a powerful candidate for the treatment of human periodontitis.
Molecular genetics of peroxidase deficiency.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) belongs to a family of related proteins which also includes eosinophil, thyroid, and lactoperoxidase. The MPO gene is a 14-kb gene located on the long arm of chromosome 17. Thus far four mutations (R569W, Y173C, M251T and a 14-base deletion in exon 9) have been identified in patients with MPO deficiency. As in other genetically determined diseases, many more mutations will eventually be revealed that cause this disease. Present evidence shows that most patients are compound heterozygotes, i.e., they have inherited different mutations on their paternal and maternal MPO alleles. Understanding why some patients with this genetic deficiency develop clinical symptoms while others do not requires mutation analyses of a large number of patients. This includes the analysis of genotype-phenotype relationships. Genotyping has also been started in patients with EPO-deficiency.
DNA perseverance of microorganisms exposed to silica: an experimental study

The persistence of DNA from microorganisms exposed to various concentrations of SiO2 (ranging from 0 to 3000 p.p.m.) was monitored over time. The impact of silica mineralization or silicification on the longevity of 16S rRNA and 16 s rDNA genes from whole cells of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli K12 was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and cells were visualized using optical microscopy. For B. subtilis, DNA longevity decreased in experiments with higher levels of SiO2 (1000 and 3000 p.p.m.), in comparison to zero or low (100 p.p.m.) levels. For B. subtilis, cell viability was greatest in the absence of silica, and markedly decreased in the presence of any concentration of silica. Survival of Escherichia coli cells, on the other hand, was not sensitive to silica in the solution. All cells died at similar rates over the 180 days they were monitored, decreasing to about 1% survival. DNA longevity for E. coli did appear to be enhanced to some degree by the presence of 1000 p.p.m. silica, but higher or lower concentrations showed no increased longevity in comparison to the no-silica control. Overall, findings of this study do not support the hypothesis that siliceous environments provide enhanced protection and preservation of DNA over time. However, results of this study do provide guidelines on the persistence of DNA that might be expected in modern silica-rich environments, which may be an important factor for proper characterization of present-day microbial communities.
Mice deficient in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase exhibit hyperhomocysteinemia and decreased methylation capacity, with neuropathology and aortic lipid deposition

T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. This variant, with mildenzymatic deficiency, is associated with an increased risk for neural tube defects and pregnancy complicationsand with a decreased risk for colon cancer and leukemia. Although many studies have reported that this variant isalso a risk factor for vascular disease, this area of investigation is still controversial. Severe MTHFR deficiencyresults in homocystinuria, an inborn error of metabolism with neurological and vascular complications. Toinvestigate the in vivopathogenetic mechanisms of MTHFR deficiency, we generated mice with a knockout ofMthfr. Plasma total homocysteine levels in heterozygous and homozygous knockout mice are 1.6- and 10-foldhigher than those in wild-type littermates, respectively. Both heterozygous and homozygous knockouts haveeither significantly decreased S-adenosylmethionine levels or significantly increased S-adenosylhomo-cysteine levels, or both, with global DNA hypomethylation. The heterozygous knockout mice appear normal,whereas the homozygotes are smaller and show developmental retardation with cerebellar pathology. Abnormallipid deposition in the proximal portion of the aorta was observed in older heterozygotes and homozygotes,alluding to an atherogenic effect of hyperhomocysteinemia in these mice.INTRODUCTION
Clostridium carboxidivorans sp. nov., a solvent-producing clostridium isolated from an agricultural settling lagoon, and reclassification of the acetogen Clostridium scatologenes strain SL1 as Clostridium drakei sp. nov.

A novel solvent-producing, anaerobic clostridium, strain P7T, was isolated from sediment from an agricultural settling lagoon after enrichment with CO as the substrate. The metabolism of this Gram-positive, motile, spore-forming rod was primarily acetogenic. Acetate, ethanol, butyrate and butanol were the end-products of metabolism. Strain P7T grew on CO, H2/CO2, glucose, galactose, fructose, xylose, mannose, cellobiose, trehalose, cellulose, starch, pectin, citrate, glycerol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol, butanol, glutamate, aspartate, alanine, histidine, asparagine, serine, betaine, choline and syringate as sole substrates. Growth was not supported by methanol, formate, d-arabinose, fucose, lactose, melibiose, amygdalin, gluconate, lactate, malate, arginine, glutamine or vanillate. Nitrate reduction, production of indole, gelatin hydrolysis and aesculin hydrolysis were not observed. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate showed that it was closely related to Clostridium scatologenes ATCC 25775T (99·7 % sequence similarity) and clostridial strain SL1T (99·8 % sequence similarity). Strain SL1 had been classified as a strain of C. scatologenes. However, DNA–DNA reassociation analysis showed that both strain P7T and strain SL1 represented novel clostridial species. It is proposed that strain P7T (=ATCC BAA-624T=DSM 15243T) be classified as the type strain of Clostridium carboxidivorans sp. nov. and that strain SL1T (=ATCC BAA-623T=DSM 12750T) be reclassified as the type strain of Clostridium drakei sp. nov.
Simultaneous, in situ measurements of OH and HO2 in the stratosphere

Stratospheric OH and HO_2 radical densities have been measured between 36 and 23 km using a balloon-borne, in situ instrument launched from Palestine, TX on August 25, 1989. OH is detected using the laser-induced fluorescence technique (LIF) employing a Cu-vapor-laser pumped dye laser coupled with an enclosed-flow detection chamber. HO_2 is detected nearly simultaneously by adding No to the sample flow to convert ambient HO_2 to OH. Observed OH and HO_2 densities ranged from 8.0 ± 2.8 × 10^6 and 1.4 ± 0.5 × 10^7 molec cm^(−3), respectively, at 36 km, to 1.4± 0.5 × 10^6 and 3.0± 1.0 × 10^6 at 23 km, where the uncertainty is ±1σ. The HO_2 density exhibits a maximum in the 34–30 km of 1.7±0.6 × 10^7. The data were obtained over a solar zenith angle variation of 51° at 36 km to 61° at 23 km. O_3 and H_2O densities also were measured simultaneously with separate instruments.
Scanning Doppler Lidar for Input into Short-Term Wind Power Forecasts

AbstractScanning Doppler lidar is a promising technology for improvements in short-term wind power forecasts since it can scan close to the surface and produce wind profiles at a large distance upstream (15–30 km) if the atmosphere has sufficient aerosol loading and there are no sizable blockages from terrain or large structures. However, successful measurements require a large spatial sampling domain and new estimation algorithms that can perform well in the very weak signal regime. The maximum likelihood (ML) algorithm in the spectral domain and a faster version based on the minimum mean-square-error (MSE) are investigated by numerical simulation and with actual scanning Doppler lidar data from the Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies WindTracer lidar. In addition, the maximum range can be extended by simultaneous estimation of the wind speed and wind direction from a larger azimuth sector scan if the atmosphere is well behaved. Real-time operation is possible using the spectral data from the WindTrace...
Blind code-timing estimation for CDMA systems with bandlimited chip waveforms in time-varying multipath channels

In this paper, we present a blind code-timing estimator for asynchronous DS (direct-sequence) CDMA (code-division multiple-access) systems. that utilize bandlimited chip waveforms. The received signal is first Fourier-transformed to the frequency domain, followed by a frequency deconvolution to remove the effect of the chip waveform. The code-timing is next derived from the output of a narrowband filter with a sweeping center frequency, which is designed to suppress interference of various sources, including, e.g., MUI (multiuser interference), ISI (inter-symbol interference), CCI (co-channel interference), and narrowband interference. The proposed estimator requires only the spreading code of the desired user. It can be used in frequency-flat or frequency-selective, time-invariant or time-varying fading channels. Moreover, the proposed estimator can be readily implemented using standard adaptive schemes, making it appealing not only for acquisition but also for tracking. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme.
Towards Natural Language Understanding of Partial Speech Recognition Results in Dialogue Systems

We investigate natural language understanding of partial speech recognition results to equip a dialogue system with incremental language processing capabilities for more realistic human-computer conversations. We show that relatively high accuracy can be achieved in understanding of spontaneous utterances before utterances are completed.
Computation of flux switching in magnetic circuits

A number of physical and semiempirical flux-switching models that have appeared in the literature are reviewed briefly and classified. A thin ferrite core is switched by essentially a step mmf (with short rise time T r ). Three components of the total \dot{\phi}(t) are distinguished and semiempirical models are proposed for each : 1) an initial elastic \dot{\phi} spike during the rise time of F, \dot{\phi}_{\epsilon} = \epsilon\dot{F} , where e is constant in time; 2) a decaying inelastic \dot{\phi} starting at t \cong T_{r} , \dot{\phi}_{rho i} = \rho_{i}(F - F_{d}^{min}) \exp [-(t - T_{r})(F - F_{d}^{min})/C_{i}] , where ρ i and C i are constants in time and F_{d}^{min} is the static mmf threshold; and 3) the bell-shaped, main inelastic \dot{\phi}, \dot{\phi} = \dot{\phi}_{p}{1 - [(2\phi + \phi_{s} - \phi_{d})/(\phi_{s} + \phi_{d})]^{2}} , where, for given F , \phi_{p} is the peak of \dot{\phi}, \phi_{d} is the φ value on the static \phi(F) curve, and φ s is saturation flux. Expressions involving switching parameters are given for \epsilon, \dot{\phi}_{p} , and φ d . The agreement between these models and \phi(t) of a thin core is satisfactory. The main- \dot{\phi} model is applied in a numerical analysis of three magnetic circuits: an unloaded core, a core loaded by R, L, C , and a diode, and a core-diode shift register. The agreement between computed and experimental results is satisfactory, especially if different parameters are used for computing step- F and ramp- F switching.
An asymptotic analysis of generative, discriminative, and pseudolikelihood estimators

Statistical and computational concerns have motivated parameter estimators based on various forms of likelihood, e.g., joint, conditional, and pseudolikelihood. In this paper, we present a unified framework for studying these estimators, which allows us to compare their relative (statistical) efficiencies. Our asymptotic analysis suggests that modeling more of the data tends to reduce variance, but at the cost of being more sensitive to model misspecification. We present experiments validating our analysis.
Fast accurate simulation of large shared memory multiprocessors

Fast computer simulation is an essential tool in the design of large parallel computers. We discuss the design and performance of our Fast Accurate Simulation Tool, FAST. We start by summarizing the tradeoffs made in the designs of this and other simulators. The key ideas used in this simulator involve execution driven simulation techniques that modify the object code of the application program being studied. This produces an augmented version of the code that is directly executed and performs much of the work of the simulation. We extend the previous work in execution driven simulation by introducing several new uses for code augmentation. The result of these techniques is a simulator that is one to two orders of magnitude faster than previous simulators of comparable accuracy. >
Induction of rules subject to a quality constraint: probabilistic inductive learning

Organizational databases are being used to develop rules or guidelines for action that are incorporated into decision processes. Tree induction algorithms of two types, total branching and subset elimination, used in the generation of rules, are reviewed with respect to their treatment of the issue of quality. Based on this assessment, a hybrid approach, probabilistic inductive learning (PrIL), is presented. It provides a probabilistic measure of goodness for an individual rule, enabling the user to set maximum misclassification levels, or minimum reliability levels, with predetermined confidence that each and every rule will satisfy this criterion. The user is able to quantify the reliability of the decision process, i.e., the invoking of the rules, which is of crucial importance in automated decision processes. PrIL and its associated algorithm are described. An illustrative example based on the claims process at a workers' compensation board is presented. >
A multiple-contact EMG recording array for mapping single muscle unit territories

The glycogen-depletion technique has become a well-established method for determining histologically the cross-sectional distribution of a single muscle unit. A major drawback of this method is its low yield of one depleted unit per experiment. Furthermore, this technique is particularly unsuited for determining the longitudinal distribution of single muscle units in long, broad muscles because of the formidable serial sectioning job that would be required. Our alternative, electrophysiological method utilizes a multiple-contact, two-dimensional EMG recording array to map efficiently the cross-sectional and longitudinal distributions of numerous single muscle units in anatomically diverse muscles. Additionally, architectural information on muscle fiber lengths, end-plate locations, motor subunit (MSU) arrangements and muscle conduction velocities can be determined.
Simultaneous Intranasal Procedures to Improve Chronic Obstructive Nasal Breathing in Patients Undergoing Maxillary (Le Fort I) Osteotomy

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of septoplasty and inferior turbinate reduction, carried out through a Le Fort I osteotomy as part of the correction of a dentofacial deformity, designed to improve nasal breathing in patients who reported pre-existing nasal airway obstruction and had documented septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Patients and Methods A validated outcomes instrument, the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire, was used to objectively assess the extent of clinical nasal obstruction both before and after septoplasty and inferior turbinate reduction performed at the time of Le Fort I down-fracture. The study group comprised 43 consecutive patients scheduled for orthognathic surgery (including Le Fort I osteotomy) over a 12-month period who complained of chronic nasal obstruction and were found (by an independent otolaryngology evaluation) to have septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy unresponsive to medical therapy, who met the inclusion criteria, and who agreed to the procedures (septoplasty and turbinate reduction). The data collected included age, gender, health and social history, type of dentofacial deformity, concomitant surgical procedures, and any associated postoperative complications. Results For the 43 study patients, significant improvement in nasal breathing was documented (by NOSE scores) at 3 months (P Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that simultaneous management of the maxillary jaw deformity (Le Fort I osteotomy) and intranasal pathology (septoplasty and reduction of inferior turbinates) were effective for the symptomatic relief of nasal airway obstruction. The complication rate for the intranasal procedures completed simultaneously with a Le Fort I osteotomy was minimal and not dissimilar to the rates reported for each procedure performed as an isolated event.
Severe methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections associated with epidural injections at an outpatient pain clinic.

Background Recent outbreaks in ambulatory care settings have highlighted infection control breaches as risk factors for disease transmission. In May 2009, 3 patients were hospitalized with severe methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections after receiving epidural injections at a West Virginia outpatient pain clinic. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study evaluating clinic patients who received injections during a 3-week period. A case was defined as laboratory-confirmed infection or clinical evidence of infection ≤ 14 days after a patient received an injection. Infection control procedures were assessed. MSSA isolates from patient infections and clinic staff nasal swabs were genotyped by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results Eight (7%) of 110 cohort patients met the case definition; 6 (75%) cases were laboratory confirmed. Eight (12%) of 69 patients who received epidural injections were case patients compared with none of the other 41 patients ( P = .02). During procedures, staff use of face masks and preparation of patient skin were suboptimal; epidural injection syringes were reused to access shared medication vials. MSSA isolates from 2 patients and 1 staff member were indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Conclusion Infection control breaches likely facilitated MSSA transmission to patients receiving epidural injections. Adhering to correct infection control practices in ambulatory care settings is critical to prevent disease transmission.
Molecular Evolution of Transferrin: Evidence for Positive Selection in Salmonids

Transferrins are iron-binding proteins that are involved in iron storage and resistance to bacterial disease. Previous work has shown that nonsynonymous-to-synonymous-site substitution ratios (d(n)/d(s) ratios) between transferrin genes from some salmonid species were significantly greater than 1.0, providing evidence for positive selection at the transferrin gene. The purpose of the current study was to put these earlier results in a broader evolutionary context by examining variation among 25 previously published transferrin sequences from fish, amphibians, and mammals. The results of the study show that evidence for positive selection at transferrin is limited to salmonids-d(n)/d(s) ratios estimated for nonsalmonid lineages were generally less than 1.0. Within the salmonids, approximately 13% of the transferrin codon sites are estimated to be subject to positive selection, with an estimated d(n)/d(s) ratio of approximately 7. The three- dimensional locations of some of the selected sites were inferred by comparing these sites to homologous sites in the bovine lactoferrin crystallographic structure. The selected sites generally fall on the outside of the molecule, within and near areas that are bound by transferrin-binding proteins from human pathogenic bacteria. The physical locations of sites estimated to be subject to positive selection support previous speculation that competition for iron from pathogenic bacteria could be the source of positive selection.
The Fate of Environmentally Relevant Chemical Compounds

Over the last few generations, our quality of life has improved with the development of specialized chemical compounds that have led to new products and new sources of pollution. Time is of the essence as we consider the prevalence of these compounds in the natural environment well past their intended lifetimes. The scientific community has gained insights into the reactivity and persistence of organic pollutants, insights that ought to allow society to make better decisions regarding the use and disposal of chemical substances in the future. History illustrates many examples of how using poorly understood substances can result in unintended consequences, reinforcing the need for the Precautionary Principle for decision-making under uncertainty. A case study examining drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale of the eastern United States exemplifies how a new use of multiple chemicals may have such consequences, a situation calling for application of the Precautionary Principle.
Ultra dense network: Challenges, enabling technologies and new trends

5G sets an ambitious goal of increasing the capacity per area of current 4G network by 1000 fold. Due to the high splitting gain of dense small cells, ultra dense network (UDN) is widely considered as a key component in achieving this goal. In this paper, we outline the main challenges that come with dense cell deployment, including interference, mobility, power consumption and backhaul. Technologies designed to tackle these challenges in long term evolution system (LTE) and their deficiencies in UDN context are also analyzed. To combat these challenges more efficiently, a series of technologies are introduced along with some of our initial research results. Moreover, the trends of user-centric and peer-to-peer design in UDN are also elaborated.
Amnion-derived stem cell transplantation: A novel treatment for neurological disorders

In this review, we evaluated the literature reporting the use of amniotic stem cells (ASCs) in regenerative medicine for the treatment of neurological disorders. There is an increasing amount of evidence that indicates the exacerbation of the primary injury by inflammation in neurological disorders characterized by rampant inflammation, thereby increasing damage to the central nervous system (CNS). To address this, we focus on the amnion cells' anti-inflammatory properties, which make their transplantation a promising treatment for these disorders. In addition, we offered insights into new applications of the ASC in the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Enhancement of gustatory nerve fibers to NaCl and formation of ion channels by commercial novobiocin.

Single fibers of the rat chorda tympani nerve were used to study the mechanism of action of the antibiotic novobiocin on salt taste transduction. In the rat, novobiocin selectively enhanced the res...
Computations of anomalous phase change

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how anomalous diffusion behaviors can be manifest in physically realizable phase change systems. Design/methodology/approach – In the presence of heterogeneity the exponent in the diffusion time scale can become anomalous, exhibiting values that differ from the expected value of 1/2. Here the author investigates, through directed numerical simulation, the two-dimensional melting of a phase change material (PCM) contained in a pattern of cavities separated by a non-PCM matrix. Under normal circumstances we would expect that the progress of melting F(t) would exhibit the normal diffusion time exponent, i.e., F∼t1/2. The author’s intention is to investigate what features of the PCM cavity pattern might induce anomalous phase change, where the progress of melting has a time exponent different from n=1/2. Findings – When the PCM cavity pattern has an internal length scale, i.e., when there is a sub-domain pattern which, when reproduced, gives us the full do...
PERFORMANCE OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS ON CLINICAL MEASURES OF DEEP CERVICAL FLEXOR ENDURANCE AND CERVICAL ACTIVE RANGE OF MOTION: IS HISTORY OF CONCUSSION A FACTOR?

Background More than one million adolescent athletes participated in organized high school sanctioned football during the 2014-15 season. These athletes are at risk for sustaining concussion. Although cervical spine active range of motion (AROM) and deep neck flexor endurance may serve a preventative role in concussion, and widespread clinical use of measurements of these variables, reference values are not available for this population. Cost effective, clinically relevant methods for measuring neck endurance are also well established for adolescent athletes. Purpose The purpose of this study was to report reference values for deep cervical flexor endurance and cervical AROM in adolescent football players and examine whether differences in these measures exist in high school football players with and without a history of concussion. Methods Concussion history, cervical AROM, and deep neck flexor endurance were measured in 122 high school football players. Reference values were calculated for AROM and endurance measures; association were examined between various descriptive variables and concussion. Results No statistically significant differences were found between athletes with a history of concussion and those without. A modest inverse correlation was seen between body mass and AROM in the sagittal and transverse planes. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the participants with larger body mass had less cervical AROM in some directions. While cervical AROM and endurance measurements may not be adequate to identify adolescents with a history of previous concussions among high school football players. However, if a concussion is sustained, these measures can offer a baseline to examine whether cervical AROM is affected as compared to healthy adolescents. Level of evidence 2c.
Effect of water chemistry, water treatment and Blaine on magnetite filtering and magnetite agglomeration with bentonite clay

This paper represents a synopsis of five referenced research projects conducted by the author. Included are summaries of problems that occur during agglomeration and filtering due to water chemistry, water treatment and magnetite-particle surface area. High concentrations of divalent-cations in process water, particularly calcium and magnesium, have severe detrimental effects on prefired pellet quality when bentonite clay is the pellet-binding agent. The presence of fluoride, sulfate and calcium in process water can negatively affect filtering. Chemical water treatment can affect agglomeration and filtering either negatively or positively, depending on the ions that are being removed from or added to the process water. Water-treatment mechanisms that ensure improved filtering and improved prefired pellet quality are described.