cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Proposed Model for Effective Verification of Natural Language Generation Systems.

Introduction Natural language processing (NLP) research is carried out in areas such as speech recognition, natural language understanding (NLU), natural language generation (NLG), speech synthesis, information retrieval, information extraction, and inference (Jurafsky & Martin 2000). NLP components are being incorporated into a variety of systems, and NLP methods are being used in new application areas. There is increasing interest in dialogue systems and language generation systems (e.g. the ELVIS system for voice access to email and voicemail (Walker 2000), the embodied conversational agent REA (Cassell, Stone, & Yan 2000; Cassell 2000), as well as (Litman & Pan 1999; McKeown et al. 1997)), text analysis systems (Klavans & Wacholder 1997), summarization systems (McKeown & Klavans 1997), information extraction systems (Declerk, Klein, & Neumann 1998), and text-to-speech systems (Sproat 1997). In practice these activities require building systems that model human activities in various language processing tasks. Therefore, we can view language processing systems as intelligent systems. These uses, furthermore, increase the need for thorough testing of NLP systems and individual NLP components that are embedded in larger systems. Language processing researchers have not generally carried out the sorts of verification and validation activities that are typically attempted in the intelligent systems research area. The research presented here is part of a larger project that is considering how verification and validation can be carried out for language processing systems in different application areas. In specific, research is needed to achieve the following: • develop a clear definition of what is encompassed by the verification task for language processing software, building on foundations in both the intelligent systems and software engineering/software testing areas. • develop techniques and tools for carrying out verification of language processing software, as appropriate for various application areas within language processing (such as generation, understanding, dialogue). • develop a theory of how to apply the results of verification of language processing software to the task of validating
Regulation of Cytochrome P450 2B10 (CYP2B10) Expression in Liver by Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-β/δ Modulation of SP1 Promoter Occupancy

Alcoholic liver disease is a pathological condition caused by overconsumption of alcohol. Because of the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease, there remains a need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its etiology and to develop new treatments. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-β/δ (PPARβ/δ) modulates ethanol-induced hepatic effects, the present study examined alterations in gene expression that may contribute to this disease. Chronic ethanol treatment causes increased hepatic CYP2B10 expression inPparβ/δ+/+ mice but not in Pparβ/δ−/− mice. Nuclear and cytosolic localization of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), a transcription factor known to regulate Cyp2b10 expression, was not different between genotypes. PPARγ co-activator 1α, a co-activator of both CAR and PPARβ/δ, was up-regulated in Pparβ/δ+/+ liver following ethanol exposure, but not in Pparβ/δ−/− liver. Functional mapping of the Cyp2b10 promoter and ChIP assays revealed that PPARβ/δ-dependent modulation of SP1 promoter occupancy up-regulated Cyp2b10 expression in response to ethanol. These results suggest that PPARβ/δ regulates Cyp2b10 expression indirectly by modulating SP1 and PPARγ co-activator 1α expression and/or activity independent of CAR activity. Ligand activation of PPARβ/δ attenuates ethanol-induced Cyp2b10 expression in Pparβ/δ+/+ liver but not in Pparβ/δ−/− liver. Strikingly, Cyp2b10 suppression by ligand activation of PPARβ/δ following ethanol treatment occurred in hepatocytes and was mediated by paracrine signaling from Kupffer cells. Combined, results from the present study demonstrate a novel regulatory role of PPARβ/δ in modulating CYP2B10 that may contribute to the etiology of alcoholic liver disease.
3D Shape Measurements with High-Speed Fringe Projection and Temporal Phase Unwrapping

The abilities to increase precision of surgical procedures by tracking real-time motions, accurately measuring the mechanical properties of complex 3D geometries, and tracking deformations of components over time, among many other applications, depend on the availability of robust, high-speed, full-field-of-view, 3D shape measurement systems. In this paper, we present advances in our development of a high-speed 3D shape measurement system based on fringe projection. The system consists of a high-speed projector, with speeds up to 20,000 frames per second, that is integrated with a CCD camera to provide full-field-of-view information. By using high-speed projection of sinusoidal fringe patterns with varying spatial densities together with temporal phase unwrapping algorithms that we are developing, we are able to compute and display unwrapped phase maps at video rates, which enable the capability to perform absolute shape measurements of components. We present representative results obtained with our system as we have applied it to art conservation and to biomedical imaging. Results validate system capabilities as a high-speed method of dynamically gathering, analyzing, and displaying shape information.
Time-Dependent Effect of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Grade on Disease Free Survival (DSF) of Relapsed/Refractory Patients Treated with High-Dose Chemotherapy (HDC) Plus Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (AHSCT).

HDC and AHSCT is an effective treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory NHL. The outcome of this treatment depends on the histological grade (indolent versus aggressive) with a well documented time dependent difference in temporal relapse pattern. We developed statistical models to describe the time dependent outcome after AHSCT based on histologic grade and other variables. During January 1993 to December 2003, 114 relapsed or refractory NHL patients were treated at single institution using high-dose BCNU 600 mg/m2, etoposide 2400 mg/m2, and cisplatin 200 mg/m2 IV over 5 days and AHSCT. Median age was 53.5 (range: 25–70) years, 78 patients had aggressive NHL and 36 indolent NHL. Immediately before transplant, 75 patients received involved-field radiotherapy (IFR) to sites of prior bulky (> 5 cm) disease. Twenty-seven patients had mobilized stem cell transplant (13 with in vivo purging and 14 with ex-vivo purging). At a median follow up of 33 (range: 3 to 118) months, the estimated 5 year Kaplan-Meier probabilities of overall survival (OS) and DSF were 61% and 51%, respectively. DFS was similar up to about 1.2 years between indolent and aggressive NHL (Figure 1). DFS of the group who had purged stem cells was improved marginally over non-purged group. Cox proportional hazards model was used to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between grades that might affect DFS. The proportionality assumption of Cox model was tested by adding a time-dependent covariate for each variable. This showed that the proportionality did not hold for lymphoma grade, indicating the relationship between the grade and DFS differed over time. The results of piece-wise Cox model after controlling age, IFR, purging status indicate there was no difference of DFS between the grade groups up to 1.2 years (optimal cut-off point) post-transplantation (p = 0.748). However, the relative risk for experiencing relapse after 1.2 year in patients with indolent compared with patients with aggressive NHL was 4.22 (p = 0.006) with 95% confidence interval (1.5, 11.9). Our results statistically prove the previously described biological differences in outcomes of patients with indolent and aggressive NHL following HDC. The time-dependent effect of lymphoma grade on DFS indicates the need for early (within first year) incorporation of novel therapeutic approaches, such as post-transplant immunotherapy, tandem high-dose therapy and, allogeneic transplant to generate graft-versus-lymphoma effect, in management of patients with indolent NHL undergoing autologous transplantation.
Modelling urban expansion in the transitional Greater Mekong Region

Urban expansion in emerging urban areas has drawn plenty of attention. The Greater Mekong Region (GMR) has experienced dramatic urbanisation and urban land expansion in recent decades. Based on bui...
Hardware Acceleration of Database Analytics

Advances in hardware strongly influence the database system design. The flattening speed of CPU cores makes manycore accelerators a vital alternative to explore for processing the ever-increasing amounts of data. Accelerators typically employ more and simpler cores with reduced instruction control overhead. For example, in GPUs, multiple execution units share the same instruction sequencing logic. As a result, GPU processors do not face the power constraints limiting the parallelism of CPUs. Use of GPUs yields significant speed-ups for database processing [1], [2]. The increased availability of GPUs in the cloud opens new acceleration possibilities. To harness the power of GPUs, we adapt and redesign data analytics operators to exploit better their special memory and threading model. Due to the increasing memory capacities and also the users' need for fast interaction with data, as in the case of visual analytics, we focus on in-memory data processing. We identify two key applications for hardware acceleration because of their impact on end-to-end system performance: a) Substring matching and b) Lossless data compression. Our techniques cover data preprocessing and algorithmic operator optimization taking the GPU control flow into consideration. We also discuss to what extent we can adapt our techniques for CPUs with SIMD extensions.
Topology optimization of pressure dependent elastoplastic energy absorbing structures with material damage constraints

Abstract In this study, a density-based topology optimization framework for the design of energy absorbing structures with pressure-dependent yield behavior is presented. The plastic work is maximized while the accumulation of damage is managed through the use of macroscopic fracture constraints. Pressure-sensitive yield behavior is captured by the Drucker-Prager plasticity model and an adjoint method is presented to calculate the path-dependent sensitivities of the objective and constraint functions dependent on this model. Several numerical examples are used to demonstrate the effect of varying the pressure sensitivity of the yield function and the underlying physics is reflected in the final topologies. It is also demonstrated through numerical examples that the use of damage limiting constraints leads to optimal topologies with less damage localization for the same amount of plastic work.
A bidirectional lens-free digital-bits-in/-out 0.57mm 2 Terahertz nano-radio in CMOS with 49.3mW peak power consumption supporting 50cm Internet-of-Things communication

A CMOS digital-bits-in/-out Terahertz (THz) nano-radio with 0.57mm2 chip area is presented in this paper. The THz operation and bidirectional transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) architecture lead to radio ultra-miniaturization for Internet-of-Things (IoT) and field-deployable sensor applications. The bidirectional THz radio is configured as a harmonic oscillator in the TX mode or as a super-harmonic super-regenerative RX in the RX mode. The TX harmonic oscillator is directly modulated by On-Off Keying (OOK) data for bits-to-THz transmitting, while an on-chip time-to-digital converter (TDC) with 25ps timing resolution measures RX oscillation start-up time for direct THz-to-bits receiving. The radio peak DC power is optimized based on link distance and data rate. It supports maximum 4.4Mb/s OOK over 50cm at 49.3mW peak DC power and 1Mb/s OOK over 17cm at 18.7mW peak DC power without using any Silicon lens.
Efficient upper limb joint displacement modeling using EMG signal for driving an assistive SCARA

Within the scope of wearable robotics, human to machine interfacing is a critical element of the development of an accurate, reliable, and apt device. Wearable robotics span through a varied field of rehabilitation robotics, exoskeletons designed for industrial, military and personal use, and recently, even for handicap offset. Within any of these varied uses, a key design step is defining a viable, consistent source of user intent. Without a clear vision of what the user wishes to accomplish, the robotic aid cannot behave in a way that is of any benefit to the user in question. The use of electromyography (EMG) is widely regarded as a viable means of correlating signals obtained from the body to physiological locomotion. The non-invasive nature of surface EMG serves as a comfortable method of extracting accurate musculoskeletal functions for this purpose. We purpose to accurately determine user intent through the processing and feature extraction of biological signal sources. The current work will focus on the development and methodology used to correlate joint angles with EMG signals for a planar model used in a developing neurological rehabilitation robot based on a Denso HS-4555 Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA).
THE INEVITABILITY OF VARIABILITY IN PESTICIDE RESIDUE ANALYSIS

Abstract – All scientific measurements are inherently variable. In analytical chemistry, usually the lower the concentration sought, the greater the variability. There are four major sources of variability in the analytical sequence: sampling, method, analyst, and misinterpretation of the results of the analysis. In general, the major source of variability in pesticide residue analysis is from sampling, which may contribute a relative error, in terms of coefficient of variation, of 20% or more. Sampling error can be reduced only by collecting and analyzing more and larger samples. Many of the commonly used pesticide residue analytical methods used at tolerance levels are equivalent in reliability; thus a choice among them must be based upon such qualitative factors as applicability to a wide range of pesticides and commodities, speed and cost, and availability of reagents and equipment. The coefficient of variation due to methods (from interlaboratory collaborative study data) is about 15%, which when combined statistically with the sampling error, can produce a total “normal” error in pesticide residue analysis of about 25%. Control of the analyst variability, which is included in the sampling and method estimates, requires the use of a continuous program of quality assurance. Errors from the misinterpretation of the results of analysis are controllable by intelligent laboratory administration.
Ramp-flat basement structures of the Zagros Mountains inferred from co-seismic slip and afterslip of the 2017 Mw7.3 Darbandikhan, Iran/Iraq earthquake

Abstract The November 2017 Mw7.3 Darbandikhan earthquake in the northern Zagros Mountains of Iran/Iraq was the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake to date in this mountain belt. Despite extensive research in this region, the nature of active faults in the Arabian basement beneath the Zagros Mountains is largely unresolved. Additionally, there is active debate regarding the interaction of thin- and thick-skin shortening of the Zagros, and whether these processes are accommodated seismogenically. Here, we use interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) of co- and post-seismic surface displacements to document the source of the Darbandikhan earthquake and the first 120 days of afterslip following the earthquake. We apply a fault inversion approach that finds permissible geometries, locations, and slip depths as a means to image subsurface structure with remote sensing geodesy. We find that the Darbandikhan earthquake ruptured the shallowly dipping (14°–19°) Mountain Front Fault within the Arabian crystalline basement (∼12–22 km deep). We additionally find that afterslip propagated up-dip of the earthquake onto the nearly horizontal (dip = 1°–5°) basal decollement of the Zagros Mountains, indicating that the earthquake and its initial afterslip activated a ramp-flat structure. We also inverted co-seismic InSAR displacements of the January 11, 2018 Mandali earthquake sequence that occurred ∼80 km south of the Darbandikhan earthquake and find that these moderate magnitude events (Mw5.0–5.5) ruptured the lower Phanerozoic cover of the Zagros. Together, the Darbandikhan and Mandali sequences demonstrate that the Zagros Mountains actively shorten via both thin- and thick-skin styles, and that these modes of shortening are accommodated in part by earthquakes. Moreover, the Darbandikhan earthquake and afterslip highlight the presence of seismically active low-angle thrust faults beneath the Zagros that were not previously recognized, highlighting sources for potential future large earthquakes. We compare these results to the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal earthquake to argue that frictional characteristics of decollement govern spatial relationships between seismic and aseismic slip in ramp-flat geometries.
Properties and Synthesis of Passive Networks

In this chapter, we have described certain passive network properties. Emphasis has been placed on the lossless networks, because most passive filters use this class of networks. We have also described certain synthesis techniques of passive networks. These topics form the basic foundation of the filter-realization procedures in the next two chapters.
Some Recent Advances in Gas Transport Theory

ABSTRACT Thermal diffusion effect, caused by a temperature gradient in a mixed gas, is exceptionally pronounced in two special cases, dusty gases, and ionized gases in which a small fraction of the ions carry multiple charges. Recent theoretical progress is described. As regards dusty gases, the recent work concerns also the mobility of the dust, and the drag on the dust particles when the gas is mixed and when there is relative diffusion in the mixture. The collisions of the gas molecules with the dust may be elastic or not. The dust particles are treated as giant molecules. This conception has also led to a valuable new treatment of gaseous diffusion through porous media. A magnetic field reduces thermal conduction transverse to the field, in an ionized gas. Any neutral particles in the gas then contribute disproportionately to thermal conduction, because they are uninfluenced by the field. This has a bearing on solar prominences and on the earth's outermost atmosphere.
A Comparison of the Socio-communicative Behavior in Chimpanzees and Bonobos

Studying the similarities and differences in socio-communicative behavior between chimpanzees and bonobos is critical to increasing our understanding of the evolution of human sociality and communication. Both species rely heavily on the use of vocalizations during communicative interactions, although the form and function of these signals may vary between the two ape species. For example, bonobo vocalizations seem to be structurally more complex than those produced by chimpanzees, and calls seem to be directed to individuals not in immediate physical proximity. Both species, however, make use of communicative signals from different modalities concurrently, particularly vocalizations and manual gestures. However, this multimodal communication is more commonly observed in chimpanzees when compared to bonobos, who more frequently use vocalizations exclusively, without signals from additional modalities. In addition, there are a number of marked differences in social characteristics between the two species. Though both species exhibit fission–fusion behavior, chimpanzees do so more often, potentially as a result of their habitat profile and foraging strategies. Differences also exist in terms of dominance and aggression. Chimpanzees live in largely patriarchal societies with strong male–male bonds, whereas bonobos tend to be matriarchal with strong female–female bonds. These differences in communicative and social characteristics are thought to be linked to the ecology of the respective habitats of the two apes and their strategies for resource exploitation. In all likelihood, similarities in feeding ecology played a crucial role in selecting for the advanced cognitive abilities of both species—e.g., producing meaningful communicative signals, regulating competition and group cohesion, and making and utilizing tools to aid in foraging. Similarly, differences in their respective habitats may have led to selection for characteristics resulting in the behavioral differences observed today between the two species. Therefore, a clearer understanding of the similarities and differences between the two species most closely related to humans will provide valuable information into our own evolution by elucidating those characteristics shared among humans and our ape ancestors and those derived in the hominin lineage.
From research to clinic: A sensor reduction method for high-density EEG neurofeedback systems.

Abstract Objective To accurately deliver a source-estimated neurofeedback (NF) signal developed on a 128-sensors EEG system on a reduced 32-sensors EEG system. Methods A linearly constrained minimum variance beamformer algorithm was used to select the 64 sensors which contributed most highly to the source signal. Monte Carlo-based sampling was then used to randomly generate a large set of reduced 32-sensors montages from the 64 beamformer-selected sensors. The reduced montages were then tested for their ability to reproduce the 128-sensors NF. The high-performing montages were then pooled and analyzed by a k-means clustering machine learning algorithm to produce an optimized reduced 32-sensors montage. Results Nearly 4500 high-performing montages were discovered from the Monte Carlo sampling. After statistically analyzing this pool of high performing montages, a set of refined 32-sensors montages was generated that could reproduce the 128-sensors NF with greater than 80% accuracy for 72% of the test population. Conclusion Our Monte Carlo reduction method was used to create reliable reduced-sensors montages which could be used to deliver accurate NF in clinical settings. Significance A translational pathway is now available by which high-density EEG-based NF measures can be delivered using clinically accessible low-density EEG systems.
More than violence: UndocuQueers' narratives of disidentification and world-making in Seattle, Washington, USA.

In this article, I re-present the lives of undocumented people away from violence to argue that undocumented queer Latinx migrants, or UndocuQueers, engage in disidentification processes to transfo...
Depressive symptoms in caregivers immediately after stroke.

Background: Caregivers of stroke survivors often suffer depressive symptoms that interfere with their own health. Early recognition may lead to attenuation of symptoms and better health and well-be...
Hypertrophy of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes supported by positive feedback between Ca2+ and diacylglycerol signals.

Human embryonic stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes develop pronounced hypertrophy in response to angiotensin-2, endothelin-1, and a selected mix of three fatty acids. All three of these responses are accompanied by increases in both basal cytoplasmic Ca2+ and diacylglycerol, quantified with the Ca2+ sensor Fluo-4 and a FRET-based diacylglycerol sensor expressed in these cardiomyocytes. The heart glycoside, ouabain (30 nM), and a recently developed inhibitor of diacylglycerol lipases, DO34 (1 μM), cause similar hypertrophy responses, and both responses are accompanied by equivalent increases of basal Ca2+ and diacylglycerol. These results together suggest that basal Ca2+ and diacylglycerol form a positive feedback signaling loop that promotes execution of cardiac growth programs in these human myocytes. Given that basal Ca2+ in myocytes depends strongly on the Na+ gradient, we also tested whether nanomolar ouabain concentrations might stimulate Na+/K+ pumps, as described by others, and thereby prevent hypertrophy. However, stimulatory effects of nanomolar ouabain (1.5 nM) were not verified on Na+/K+ pump currents in stem cell–derived myocytes, nor did nanomolar ouabain block hypertrophy induced by endothelin-1. Thus, low-dose ouabain is not a “protective” intervention under the conditions of these experiments in this human myocyte model. To summarize, the major aim of this study has been to characterize the progression of hypertrophy in human embryonic stem cell–derived cardiac myocytes in dependence on diacylglycerol and Na+ gradient changes, developing a case that positive feedback coupling between these mechanisms plays an important role in the initiation of hypertrophy programs.
A Sharper Local Lemma with Improved Applications

We give a new family of Lovasz Local Lemmas (LLL), with applications. Shearer has given the most general condition under which the LLL holds, but the original condition of Lovasz is simpler and more practical. Do we have to make a choice between practical and optimal? In this article we present a continuum of LLLs between the original and Shearer’s conditions. One of these, which we call Clique LLL (CLLL), particularly stands out, and is natural in those settings, where the event space is defined with discrete independent random variables (a la Moser and Tardos ). Using this version we get improved bounds in applications for Acyclic Edge Coloring and Non-repetitive Vertex Coloring.
Predicting Escherichia coli loads in cascading dams with machine learning: An integration of hydrometeorology, animal density and grazing pattern

Accurate prediction of Escherichia coli contamination in surface waters is challenging due to considerable uncertainty in the physical, chemical and biological variables that control E. coli occurrence and sources in surface waters. This study proposes a novel approach by integrating hydro-climatic variables as well as animal density and grazing pattern in the feature selection modeling phase to increase E. coli prediction accuracy for two cascading dams at the US Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), Nebraska. Predictive models were developed using regression techniques and an artificial neural network (ANN). Two adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) structures including subtractive clustering and fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering were also used to develop models for predicting E. coli. The performances of the predictive models were evaluated and compared using root mean squared log error (RMSLE). Cross-validation and model performance results indicated that although the majority of models predicted E. coli accurately, ANFIS models resulted in fewer errors compared to the other models. The ANFIS models have the potential to be used to predict E. coli concentration for intervention plans and monitoring programs for cascading dams, and to implement effective best management practices for grazing and irrigation during the growing season.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Cancer Screening Interventions Targeting Appalachian Populations: A Systematic Review.

Purpose Appalachian residents have higher cancer prevalence and invasive cancer incidence in almost all cancer types relative to non-Appalachian residents. Public health interventions have been carried out to increase preventive cancer screening participation. However, no studies have evaluated the effectiveness of existing interventions targeting cancer screening uptake in this high-risk population. The main objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing uptake and/or continuing participation in screened cancers (breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate) in Appalachia. Methods We conducted a systematic review of electronic databases and gray literature using a combination of MeSH and free-text search terms related to breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer; mass screening; health promotion; and Appalachia. We identified 3,014 articles of which 15 articles were included. We assessed methodological quality using validated tools and analyzed findings using narrative synthesis. Findings Fifteen studies reported uptake and/or continued participation in screening interventions; these focused on cervical (n = 7), colorectal (n = 5), breast (n = 2), and lung (n = 1) cancers in Appalachia. Interventions included diverse components: mass media campaigns, community outreach events, community health workers, interpersonal counseling, and educational materials. We found that multi-strategy interventions had higher screening uptake relative to interventions employing 1 intervention strategy. Studies that targeted noncompliant populations and leveraged existing community-based organization partnerships had a substantial increase in screening participation versus others. Conclusions There is an urgent need for further research and implementation of effective cancer prevention and screening interventions to reduce disparities in cancer morbidity and mortality in Appalachian populations.
Certified personal trainers' beliefs about providing personal training for adults with intellectual disability in a community fitness facility.

Abstract Background Numerous barriers limit the participation of adults with intellectual disability (ID) in community fitness facilities (CFFs). Lack of disability-related certification requirements for personal trainers (PTs) highlights the need to revise certification standards and develop training modules that prepare PTs to provide individualized training for individuals with ID. Therefore, insight from PTs is needed. Objective The Reasoned Action Approach was used to explore PTs’ salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about providing personal training for a hypothetical adult with ID in a CFF. Methods A convenience sample of 32 certified PTs (a 37% response rate) currently employed at three YMCAs in the United States completed two online questionnaires, both assessed for content validity. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis. Results Of the 334 total responses, 45% reflected behavioral, 17% normative, and 38% control beliefs. The overarching behavioral theme was that this experience would help PTs provide more individualized training for their clients. The frequently reported approving referents were “employer,” “family,” and “everyone around me.” Two disapproving referents were elicited. Participants reported 12 facilitating (e.g., availability of adapted equipment/tools) and 11 inhibiting (e.g., lack of time, training, private space) factors of providing personal training for adults with ID in a CFF. Conclusions While PTs generally reported positive advantages and social influence of providing personal training for adults with ID, they were also aware of many factors that probably would inhibit their training of adults with ID in CFFs. The elicited beliefs have value when designing professional development curricula for PTs.
Extracting Structure from Optical Flow Using the Fast Error Search Technique

In this paper, we present a globally optimal and computationally efficient technique for estimating the focus of expansion (FOE) of an optical flow field, using fast partial search. For each candidate location on a discrete sampling of the image area, we generate a linear system of equations for determining the remaining unknowns, viz. rotation and inverse depth. We compute the least squares error of the system without actually solving the equations, to generate an error surface that describes the goodness of fit across the hypotheses. Using Fourier techniques, we prove that given an N × N flow field, the FOE, and subsequently rotation and structure, can be estimated in {\cal O}(N^2 log N) operations. Since the resulting system is linear, bounded perturbations in the data lead to bounded errors. We support the theoretical development and proof of our technique with experiments on synthetic and real data. Through a series of experiments on synthetic data, we prove the correctness, robustness and operating envelope of our algorithm. We demonstrate the utility of our technique by applying it for detecting obstacles from a monocular sequence of images.
Incorporative Statutes and the Borrowed Treaty Rule

This Article examines how courts should interpret statutes that, by their terms, incorporate treaty provisions into the domestic law of the United States. The Article looks to a number of sources - including the structure of these "incorporative" statutes, common law canons of construction, separation of powers principles, and the case law of the United States Supreme Court - to develop an interpretive framework for reading such statutes. Under the proposed framework, courts should presume that a statute that incorporates language or concepts from a treaty should generally be read to conform to the treaty, regardless of whether the statute is ambiguous. This presumption may be rebutted only by compelling evidence that Congress intended a different result. The Article labels this approach "the borrowed treaty rule."The Article then goes on to distinguish the borrowed treaty rule from the Charming Betsy canon of interpretation, which provides that courts should, whenever possible, construe domestic statutes so as not to violate international law. A number of legal scholars have argued that U.S. courts should, per the Charming Betsy canon, construe all ambiguous statutes (not just statutes that are incorporative) to conform to international law. Such an approach is misguided, the Article suggests, because none of the rationales underlying the borrowed treaty rule support using that same approach to interpret statutes that are not incorporative. It is necessary, therefore, to distinguish between the borrowed treaty rule and the Charming Betsy canon. The former rule should be used to ensure that incorporative statutes are read to conform to international law. The latter canon, however, should be used merely to ensure that ambiguous statutes that are not incorporative do not conflict with it.
Expression of annexin A2 in GABAergic interneurons in the normal rat brain.

Expression of the Ca2+-dependent phospholipids binding protein annexin A2 (ANX2) in the brain is thought to be largely associated with brain pathological conditions such as tumor, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. The recent findings that ANX2 heterotetramer is involved in learning and neuronal activities necessitates a systematic investigation of the physiological expression of ANX2 in the brain. With combination of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, ANX2 mRNA and protein were specifically detected in a group of GABAergic interneurons throughout the brain. Although ANX2 was absent from the interior of pyramidal neurons, it was found on the membrane and seemly the extracellular space of those neurons, where they closely co-localized with glutamate decarboxylase terminals. In cultured developing neurons, ANX2 was present at high concentrations in the growth cones co-distributing with several growth-associated proteins such as growth associated protein 43 (GAP43), turned on after division/Ulip/CRMP (TUC-4), tubulin, and tissue-plasminogen activator. It then became predominantly distributed on the membrane and mostly in axonal branches as neurons grew and extended synaptic networks. ANX2 was also secreted from cultured neurons, in a membrane-bound form that was Ca2+-dependent, which was significantly increased by neuronal depolarization. These results may have implications in the function and regulatory mechanism of ANX2 in the normal brain.
Plume‐ridge interaction, lithospheric stresses, and the origin of near‐ridge volcanic lineaments

[1] In many hot spot–ridge systems, formation of off-axis volcanic chains or lineaments occurs between the hot spot centers and nearby mid-ocean ridges. In some cases, such as Galapagos, Kerguelen, and possibly the Mid-Pac Mountains and Tristan, these lineaments appear to meet in a focus zone near the hot spot and fan outward in the direction of the ridge axis. The origins of these lineaments are not well known and do not easily fit into typical conceptual models of ridge or hot spot volcanism. It has been proposed for the Galapagos region that such lineaments are caused by channeling of hot asthenosphere from off-axis mantle plumes toward mid-ocean ridges, where enhanced volcanism initiates island formation (Morgan, 1978). Alternatively, other workers suggest that these lineaments are controlled by patterns of stress in the lithosphere. We examine this latter hypothesis by considering the effects of buoyant uplift and asthenospheric shear on the base of the lithosphere induced by an expanding mantle plume. Using thin plate theory, we calculate the two-dimensional (plan view) pattern of depth-integrated stresses in a plate of varying thickness. Both a straight, continuous ridge and a ridge-transform-ridge system are simulated by a displacement discontinuity, boundary element model. Ridge and transform segments have imposed normal and zero shear tractions, and we test different idealized tectonic or far-field stress conditions. Assuming that volcanism is promoted by lithospheric tension and aligns along lineaments parallel to trajectories of least tensile stress, calculations reproduce the rough fan-shaped pattern of lineaments between the Galapagos Archipelago and the Galapagos Spreading Center. The focus of the fan shape is over the plume center when it interacts with a straight ridge, but the fan focus appears closer to a segmented ridge, offset by a transform fault, if the ridge segments are more tensile than the far-field stress. This condition provides a plausible explanation for the apparent focus at the Galapagos north of the hot spot center. The width of the fan pattern along the ridge axis is predicted to increase as the plume-ridge separation increases and as the far-field stress becomes more tensile parallel to the ridge. The observed width along the Galapagos Spreading Center is consistent with a nearly isotropic remote stress. Models predict the lithospheric tension caused by plumes to promote lineament formation on only young lithosphere. In support of this prediction, a compilation of data from 23 hot spots shows that lineament formation is common near hot spots with plume-ridge separations of <1250 km or on lithosphere of <25 Ma, but not on older lithosphere.
ThermTap: An online power analyzer and thermal simulator for Android devices

This paper introduces ThermTap, which enables system and software developers to monitor the power consumption and temperature of various hardware components in an Android device as a function of running applications and processes. ThermTap comprises of a power analyzer, called PowerTap, and an online thermal simulator, called Therminator 2. With accurate power macro-models, PowerTap collates activity profiles of major components of a portable device from the OS kernel device drivers in an event-driven manner to generate power traces. In turn, Therminator 2 reads these traces and, using a compact thermal model of the device, generates various temperature maps including those for the device components and device skin. Fast thermal simulation techniques enable Therminator 2 to be executed in realtime. With precise per-process and per-application temperature maps that ThermTap produces, it enables software and system developers to find thermal bugs in their software. A case study is presented on identifying a thermal bug in the software running on an Android device.
Analytical Approach to Meeting Reliability and Confidence Requirements of Automotive Steering Systems

Meeting reliability requirements specified by customers, solely by physical testing can result in serious resource implications. Demonstration of a high reliability at a high statistical confidence level requires a large number of test samples and lengthy test cycles. In this paper we intend to present our reliability management methodology that accounts for both physical testing and non-physical testing activities. In particular, we will focus on how three important product dimensions - namely, function, physical structure, and time-in-service requirements - are systematically examined and tied to validation test planning. The ultimate goal here is intelligent information management.
SLC: Split-control Level Converter for dense and stable wide-range voltage conversion

Ultra-low voltage design makes signal level conversion a critical component in modern low power designs. This paper proposes a static level converter operating in the subthreshold regime, called SLC (Split-control Level Converter). Using a novel circuit structure, SLC effectively eliminates the high leakage and short circuit currents in previous approaches. Designed for 300mV to 2.5V conversion and fabricated in 130nm CMOS, measured results show 2.3×, 9.9×, and 5.9× improvements over conventional DCVS structures in delay, static power, and energy per transition, respectively. Even with the smallest area among wide-range level converters, it also has 5.2× smaller standard deviation in delay and only 5.6% change in FO4 delay with 10% V DDL drop, demonstrating robustness.
Synthesis of Thiol-Reactive, Long-Wavelength Fluorescent Phenoxazine Derivatives for Biosensor Applications

Two environmentally sensitive, long-wavelength fluorescent phenoxazine derivatives, INR and IANR, were synthesized with linkers for conjugation to the thiol group of cysteine in binding proteins. The linkers were designed based on the attachment sites at two different positions on the phenoxazine, which were chosen in order to study the orientation of the dye with respect to the binding protein. Conjugation of the dyes to the S337C maltose binding protein (MBP) mutant provided conjugates of these dyes that are capable of detecting maltose with different sensitivities. The dye INR gave a 3-fold (+200%) change in fluorescence intensity upon maltose binding when conjugated to S337C MBP with a binding constant (Kd) of 435 μM. The fluorescence change for IANR was only 20% and the Kd was 1.4 mM. Conformational analysis of the dyes by molecular modeling suggested that the linker in IANR imparted greater conformational freedom to the dye, resulting in little change in environment between the open and the closed-f...
Feeding Protected and Unprotected Tallow to Lactating Cows

Abstract Lactating Holstein cows were fed a control concentrate diet or concentrate diets supplemented with protected or unprotected soybean oil meal mixed with tallow 60:40 as 25% of the concentrate ration for 18 wk. The supplement provided 10% added tallow and 15% added soybean meal and was substituted for an equal part of basic concentrate diet. Changes in milk yield and milk fat of cows and growth rate of calves fed the three types of milk were of particular interest. Milk yields were increased 8 and 10% above those of controls by feeding the protected and unprotected supplements. Milk fat yields were elevated in protected but not in unprotected tallowfed cows. Elevations were marked in concentration of oleic acid in milk fat of tallow-fed cows. Plasma cholesterol and lipids increased with tallow feeding, about 1.7 times for protected material and 1.5 times for the unprotected. Calves fed milk from the three groups of cows as their only feed for 16 wk showed no differences in gains in body weight or in cholesterol of plasma. Change in the fatty acid composition of fat tissue of calves was marked, with elevations in concentration of oleic acid in calves fed milk of tallow-fed cows. The high dietary fat caused no diminution of intake or other undesired effects.
Precursors of Radicals in Tobacco Smoke and the Role of Particulate Matter in Forming and Stabilizing Radicals

Known constituents of tobacco (cellulose, pectin, lignin, protein, chlorogenic acid, and rutin) were subjected to fractional pyrolysis over the temperature range of 240−510 °C in a specially constructed, high-temperature flow reactor system. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to analyze for free radicals in the initially produced total particulate matter (TPM) and in TPM that was allowed to age with exposure to air and light. The TPM formed during pyrolysis of cellulose, pectin, and rutin did not contain any radicals, whereas radicals in the TPM of protein, lignin, and chlorogenic acid increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The nature of the EPR spectra of the initially formed radicals (primary radicals) depended on the chemical structure of the constituent and temperature of pyrolysis. New types of free radicals were observed after exposure of the TPM to light and air (secondary radicals), but the nature of the EPR spectra was remarkably similar for all constituents. On...
Comparisons of the low resolution structure of several small RNA-containing viruses.

Abstract A comparison is made of the structure of five small RNA-containing viruses and their accompanying particles. The data obtained by a small-angle X-ray scattering at low resolution indicate that the radial distributions of electron density are quite similar for particles with similar percentage of RNA. Evidence is also presented indicating that the RNA probably penetrates the wall of the protein shell of most if not all of the virus particles.
Unexpected H2O-Induced Ar−X Activation with Trifluoromethylpalladium(II) Aryls†

A series of new complexes [(L−L)Pd(Ar)(CF3)] (L−L = dppe, dppp, tmeda; Ar = Ph, p-Tol, C6D5) have been synthesized and fully characterized in solution and in the solid state. Remarkable Ph−X activation (X = I, Cl) by [(dppe)Pd(Ph)(CF3)] (1) has been found to come about to cleanly produce biphenyl and [(dppe)Pd(Ph)(X)]. This reaction does not take place under rigorously anhydrous conditions but in the presence of traces of water it readily occurs, exhibiting an induction period and being zero order in PhI. As shown by mechanistic studies, the role of water is to promote reduction of small quantities of the Pd(II) complex to Pd(0) which activates the Ph−X bond. Subsequent transmetalation to give diphenyl Pd complexes, followed by Ph−Ph reductive elimination give rise to the observed products. The water-induced reduction to catalytically active Pd(0) has been demonstrated to proceed via both the Pd(II)/P(III) to Pd(0)/P(V) redox mechanism and α-F transfer, followed by facile hydrolysis of the difluorocarbene...
The Influence of Nonaudit Service Revenues and Client Pressure on External Auditors' Decisions to Rely on Internal Audit*

This paper investigates how external auditor provision of significant nonaudit services and client pressure to use the work of internal audit influence external auditors' use of internal auditors' work. More specifically, we study how external audit evidence gathering choices are influenced by nonaudit fees and client pressure. Our research is motivated by an observation that the magnitude of nonaudit services provided to audit clients introduces the risk that client management may leverage its position with the external auditor and potentially affect the audit process. We address this issue by extending prior research and focusing on the importance of various explanatory variables, including nonaudit service revenues, client pressure, internal audit quality, and coordination, to the external auditor's decision to rely on the work of internal audit. We use data primarily obtained through surveys completed by internal and external auditors. The survey responses represent 74 separate audit engagements. Our findings reveal that when significant nonaudit services are not provided to a client, internal audit quality and the level of internal-external auditor coordination positively affect auditors' internal audit reliance decisions. However, when the auditor provides significant nonaudit services to the client, internal audit quality and the extent of internal - external auditor coordination do not significantly affect auditors' reliance decisions. Furthermore, when significant nonaudit services are provided, client pressure significantly increases the extent of internal audit reliance. Thus, external auditors appear to be more affected by client pressure and less concerned about internal audit quality and coordination when making internal audit reliance decisions at clients for whom significant nonaudit services are also provided.