cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DriftSurf: A Risk-competitive Learning Algorithm under Concept Drift

When learning from streaming data, a change in the data distribution, also known as concept drift, can render a previously-learned model inaccurate and require training a new model. We present an adaptive learning algorithm that extends previous drift-detection-based methods by incorporating drift detection into a broader stable-state/reactive-state process. The advantage of our approach is that we can use aggressive drift detection in the stable state to achieve a high detection rate, but mitigate the false positive rate of standalone drift detection via a reactive state that reacts quickly to true drifts while eliminating most false positives. The algorithm is generic in its base learner and can be applied across a variety of supervised learning problems. Our theoretical analysis shows that the risk of the algorithm is competitive to an algorithm with oracle knowledge of when (abrupt) drifts occur. Experiments on synthetic and real datasets with concept drifts confirm our theoretical analysis.
Identification Through Heteroskedasticity: Measuring

In this paper, I develop a new identification method to solve the problem of simultaneous equations, based on heteroskedasticity of the structural shocks. I show that if the heteroskedasticity can be described as a two-regime process, then the system is just identified under relatively weak conditions. Identification is also discussed under more than two regimes, when the residuals exhibit ARCH behavior, and when there are aggregate shocks. This methodology is applied to measure contagion across sovereign bonds between Argentina and Mexico. The estimates of the simultaneous parameters are relatively to different definitions of the regimes.
Teaching's Conscientious Objectors: Principled Leavers of High-Poverty Schools.

Background/ContextMost accounts of teacher attrition fall into one or both of the following categories: teacher life cycle and workplace conditions. Many educational researchers have described and ...
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors: Generalized and Determinant Free

The standard approach to finding eigenvalues relies on solving the characteristic polynomial. But the characteristic polynomial for an n × n matrix will require computing a determinant with n! term...
Analysis of 54 cases of thyroglossal duct cyst resection with hyoid bone preservation

Objective:To investigate the efficacy, complications and recurrence rate of thyroglossal duct cyst resection with hyoid preservation in children. Method:Fifty-four children with thyroglossal duct cyst underwent cervical color Doppler ultrasound, CT and/or MRI before operation to make a definite diagnosis.Hyoid-preserving thyroglossal cyst resection was performed in all children.In 51 cases, the cyst wall was close to the hyoid bone, and the thin layer of the hyoid bone surface was removed, while the other 3 cases had no definite association with hyoid bone, only cysts and branches were resected.In the cases where the cyst was close to the hyoid bone, fistula tissue was found in the suprahyoid muscle group in 4 cases, which were carefully separated and excised. Result:All patients had no complications after operation, and the incision healed in the first stage. Postoperative pathology: 51 cases were thyroglossal duct cysts and 3 cases were epidermoid cysts.Follow-up for 1 years to 3 years showed that only 1 case had recurrence（2.0%,1/51）. Conclusion:Postoperative recurrence of thyroid hyoid cysts does not depend on whether the hyoid bone is removed, but on the residue of its branches.The significance of hyoid bone preservation is to narrow the scope of operation, reduce trauma and complications, and avoid the impact of hyoid bone loss on vocal and swallowing function.
Henoch-Schönlein Purpura-Associated Hemorrhagic Shock After Secondary Norovirus Infection.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a small-vessel vasculitis, typically involving the skin, joints, kidneys, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although GI bleeding with HSP can occur, massive GI hemorrhage is rare. It is well documented that HSP can be triggered by a preceding infection, often of the upper respiratory tract. Infections that occur after the development of HSP and trigger worsening of the disease or new complications have not been well reported. We present the case of a three-year-old previously healthy boy who developed HSP with typical signs and symptoms, including hematochezia that resolved after treatment with intravenous steroids. The patient then contracted norovirus and subsequently developed massive GI bleeding, leading to hemorrhagic shock and requiring admission to an intensive care unit. This case demonstrates that secondary infection, such as norovirus infection, can precipitate worsening of underlying HSP vasculitis and lead to acute clinical decompensation. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of acute clinical changes in patients with HSP.
Reengineering the Discharge Transition Process of COVID-19 Patients Using Telemedicine, Remote Patient Monitoring, and Around-the-Clock Remote Patient Monitoring from the Emergency Department and Inpatient Units.

Background: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City quickly became the epicenter with hospitals at full capacity needing to care for patients. At New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, we needed to develop an innovative system of how to safely discharge the massive influx of patients. Inundation of patient care with limited manpower and resources forced us to align with a third-party vendor, around-the-clock alert, to make remote patient monitoring (RPM) possible. Each patient was prescribed a pulse oximeter and nurses were assigned to monitor vital signs, speak to patients, and escalate to physicians if required. Results: We enrolled 50 patients, of whom 13 were escalated resulting in 3 emergency room visits and 1 readmission. We had a high compliance rate with high patient satisfaction in postsurveys. Discussion: Our program was unique in that it utilized telemedicine for regular patient follow-up, along with RPM through a third-party vendor. Patients were able to be safely discharged home with close follow-up through regularly obtained vitals with access to a 24/7 hotline for any emergencies, possibly preventing readmissions. Limitations include a small sample size population. Conclusions: Our experience shows that in a short period despite lack of resources, telehealth and RPM's concurrent use with a third-party vendor could be successfully utilized for safe discharges with high patient satisfaction.
How things count as the same: memory, mimesis, and metaphor: by Adams B. Seligman and Robert P. Weller, New York, Oxford University Press, 2019, v + 227 pp., US$99.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-019-08871-8

One reads this absorbing book with great anticipation because of its focus is on how we constitute ourselves as groups and individuals. Group solidarity, we are told, is crafted out of empirical di...
IFNα Augments Clinical Efficacy of Regulatory T-cell Depletion with Denileukin Diftitox in Ovarian Cancer

Purpose: Immunotherapy treats some cancers, but not ovarian cancer. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) impede anti-ovarian cancer immunity but effective human Treg-directed treatments are lacking. We tested Treg depletion with denileukin diftitox (DD) ± IFNα as ovarian cancer immunotherapy. Patients and Methods: Mice with syngeneic ID8 ovarian cancer challenge were treated with DD, IFNα, or both. The phase 0/I trial tested one dose-escalated DD infusion for functional Treg reduction, safety, and tolerability. The phase II trial added IFNα2a to DD if DD alone failed clinically. Results: DD depleted Tregs, and improved antitumor immunity and survival in mice. IFNα significantly improved antitumor immunity and survival with DD. IFNα did not alter Treg numbers or function but boosted tumor-specific immunity and reduced tumor Treg function with DD by inducing dendritic cell IL6. DD alone was well tolerated, depleted functional blood Tregs and improved immunity in patients with various malignancies in phase 0/I. A patient with ovarian cancer in phase 0/I experienced partial clinical response prompting a phase II ovarian cancer trial, but DD alone failed phase II. Another phase II trial added pegylated IFNα2a to failed DD, producing immunologic and clinical benefit in two of two patients before a DD shortage halt. DD alone was well tolerated. Adding IFNα increased toxicities but was tolerable, and reduced human Treg numbers in blood, and function through dendritic cell–induced IL6 in vitro. Conclusions: Treg depletion is clinically useful but unlikely alone to cure ovarian cancer. Rational treatment agent combinations can salvage clinical failure of Treg depletion alone, even when neither single agent provides meaningful clinical benefit.
Modeling the World’s Most Violent Thunderstorms

Each year tornadoes are responsible for loss of life and property as they wreak destruction across large swaths of the United States. The storms that cause the most damaging tornadoes, supercell thunderstorms, have been the subject of numerical modeling since the dawn of the supercomputing age in the late 1970s. In 2020, models run on supercomputers can simulate individual thunderstorms with unprecedented realism where well-resolved multiple-vortex tornadoes form as the result of physical processes occurring within the model. Research conducted on the Frontera supercomputer includes identifying specific processes occurring in supercells that result in the most devastating tornadoes, those ranked EF4/5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. While such tornadoes account for a small fraction of observed tornadoes, they cause the bulk of the damage and fatalities, and only by increasing our knowledge of what discerns these rare but powerful storms from less damaging storms will better forecasts be possible.
The Role of Parental Involvement in Narrowing the Academic Achievement Gap for High School Students With Elevated Emotional and Behavioral Risks

Parental involvement in school is an undoubtedly important element of a student’s educational experience and outcomes. Students with elevated emotional and behavioral risks (EBR) tend to experience...
ICP-MS Analysis of Mercury in Fish: Exploration of Method Validation, Matrix Effect, and Kinetic Energy Discrimination

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a powerful analytical technique that can quantify elements of interest at parts-per-trillion concentrations. In this laboratory class, students performed ICP-MS analysis to quantify mercury concentration of standard reference material (SRM) 1947 (Lake Michigan fish tissue) and canned tuna from a local supermarket. These two samples were digested in two different matrices (HNO3/ H2O2 or HNO3/HCl/H2O2) and then analyzed using no-gas mode or helium mode with two different kinetic energy discrimination voltages (2V or 4V). The inclusion of HCl in the matrix produced more accurate results and stabilized mercury over the 8-day period after the digestion. Based on their analysis, the students were asked to draw their own conclusions about what they perceived to be the most accurate representation of the true mercury concentration of the tuna samples. This laboratory class provides students with a wide range of scientific concepts to explore such as method verification with SRM, kinetic energy discrimination, matrix effect, and trace metal stability over time.
Computational investigation of the effect of alkoxy carbon substitution on the mechanism of carbonyl group reduction by 1-hydridosilatranes

Abstract We undertook computational investigations to determine the effects of the electronic nature of the cage atoms on the energetics of the reduction of acetone by 1-hydridosilatranes. QTAIM analyses of the parent 1-hydridosilatrane 1H6 and hexasubstituted silatranes 1Me6 and 1F6 showed that the change in charge induced by the donor/acceptor properties of the substituents remained almost entirely localized on the alkoxy carbon; the hydridic nature of the silicon-bound hydrogen as gauged by the charge remained essentially unchanged. This shows resilience to the electronic effects of the substituents at this position. The energetics of acetone reduction to 2-propanol were mapped out for all three cases. Calculations showed favorable Gibbs free energies for each reduction, with considerable exergonicities and modest barriers. Reductions using 1H6 and 1Me6 follow hydride transfer mechanisms without involvement of carbonyl oxygen that lead to an ion/neutral pair, while reduction using 1F6 seems to involve a concerted σ-metathesis-like mechanism that leads directly to a dialkoxysilatrane.
Moral Origins: The Evolution of Virtue, Altruism, and Shame

From the age of Darwin to the present day, biologists have been grappling with the origins of our moral sense. Why, if the human instinct to survive and reproduce is "selfish," do people engage in self-sacrifice, and even develop ideas like virtue and shame to justify that altruism? Many theories have been put forth, some emphasizing the role of nepotism, others emphasizing the advantages of reciprocation or group selection effects. But evolutionary anthropologist Christopher Boehm finds existing explanations lacking, and in Moral Origins, he offers an elegant new theory. Tracing the development of altruism and group social control over 6 million years, Boehm argues that our moral sense is a sophisticated defense mechanism that enables individuals to survive and thrive in groups. One of the biggest risks of group living is the possibility of being punished for our misdeeds by those around us. Bullies, thieves, free-riders, and especially psychopaths-those who make it difficult for others to go about their lives-are the most likely to suffer this fate. Getting by requires getting along, and this social type of selection, Boehm shows, singles out altruists for survival. This selection pressure has been unique in shaping human nature, and it bred the first stirrings of conscience in the human species. Ultimately, it led to the fully developed sense of virtue and shame that we know today. A groundbreaking exploration of the evolution of human generosity and cooperation, Moral Origins offers profound insight into humanity's moral past-and how it might shape our moral future.
ENZYMOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF RECOMBINANT XENOPUS DG42, A VERTEBRATE HYALURONAN SYNTHASE

We have characterized the hyaluronan (HA) synthase activity of the Xenopus DG42 gene product in vitro. The recombinant enzyme produced in yeast does not possess a nascent HA chain and, therefore, is an ideal model system for kinetic studies of the synthase's glycosyltransferase activity. The enzymatic rate was optimal from pH 7.6 to 8.1. Only the authentic sugar nucleotide precursors, UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), were utilized to produce a large molecular weight polymer. UDP-glucose or the galactose epimers of the normal substrates did not substitute. The Michaelis constant, Km, of recombinant DG42 in membranes was 60 +/- 20 and 235 +/- 40 microM for UDP-GlcA and UDP-GlcNAc, respectively, which is comparable to values obtained previously from membranes derived from vertebrate cells. The apparent energy of activation for HA elongation is about 15 kilocalories/mol. DG42 polymerizes HA at average rates of about 80 to 110 monosaccharides/s in vitro. The resulting HA polysaccharide possessed molecular weights spanning 2 x 10(6)-10(7) Da, corresponding to about 10(4) sugar residues. This is the first report characterizing a defined eukaryotic enzyme that can produce a glycosaminoglycan.
Extended Inflationary Cosmology: A Primer

New approaches to inflationary cosmology have been developed which may ultimately solve the fine-tuning problem that plagues previous inflationary models. The distinctive feature is that the the inflationary phase transition is completed by bubble nucleation. The bubbles may lead to some interesting effects in the post-inflationary universe, including new seeds for galaxy formation and a unique gravitational wave signature.
Activation of spinal wide dynamic range neurons by intracutaneous microinjection of nicotine.

Nicotine evokes pain in the skin and oral mucosa and excites a subpopulation of cutaneous nociceptors, but little is known about the central transmission of chemogenic pain. We have investigated th...
Contact Melting Heat Transfer and Lubrication

Publisher Summary The subject of this chapter is the relatively recent work on melting and lubrication at the interface between two solid parts, one of which is at its melting point. It is an area of research that began in heat transfer, with studies of contact melting inside capsules and around embedded objects. Melt lubrication is now a distinct topic in tribology. The classical application of melt lubrication is in the area of sliding friction on ice and snow. Among the more modern applications is the coating of a metallic part with another metal whose melting point is considerably lower. The function of the latter is to melt and serve as lubricant in a manufacturing process to which the former may be subjected. The research reviewed in this chapter covers the contract melting of crystalline substances, anomalous crystalline substances such as ice, and the contact softening of glass-like substances. These occur in diverse contact-region geometries. The shapes of the mating solid surfaces may be concave, convex, or plane, while the perimeter of plane contact regions may be either rectangular or circular. The types of relative motion reviewed are sliding contact, rolling contact, the movement of a hot body through a melting solid medium, and the movement of a solid melting inside a heated capsule. The effect, the roughness, or contact melting over the tops of asperities is also analyzed.
Chloride Requirement of Kittens for Growth Is Less than Current Recommendations

The minimal chlorine (chloride) requirement of kittens for growth was determined in a study in which kittens were given purified diets containing 0.1, 0.4, 0.7, 1.0 or 1.3 g of chloride (Cl) as KCI/kg diet. Each dietary group contained six (three males and three females) specific-pathogen-free kittens; the diets were fed for 30 d. Kittens receiving diets with <0.7 g Cl/kg became alkalotic as evidenced by an increase in blood pH, blood bicarbonate, standard bicarbonate, actual base excess, standard base excess, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO 2) and total CO 2 . In addition, kittens were hypochloremic and hypokalemic; they had decreased serum ionized calcium and a negative chloride balance. On the basis of the chloride balance measurements, a broken-line nonlinear least-square analysis predicted a Cl requirement as 0.89 g Cl/kg diet (22 kJ/g diet). Because the dietary Cl concentration closest to 0.89 g/kg that we tested was 1.0 g Cl/kg, we recommend a minimum chloride requirement of 1.0 g Cl/kg diet for growing kittens. This value is considerably less than the recommended chloride requirement of the National Research Council of 1.9 g Cl/kg diet, or the allowance of the Association of American Feed Control Officials of 3.0 g Cl/kg diet. Because the bioavailability of chloride is high, the previous estimates appear excessive.
The effectiveness of synchronous computer-mediated communication for solving hidden-profile problems: Further empirical evidence

We experimentally compared the effectiveness of face-to-face (FTF) and synchronous computer-mediated communication when using a chat tool in solving hidden-profile business problems. In such problems, information critical to its solution is dispersed among team members and they must share it to solve the problem. Unlike prior research using hidden-profile tasks, our study used a real-world business-oriented task, established real rather than ad hoc teams, and imposed a time constraint on them. Hypotheses derived from media richness theory were found to be supported, with the results revealing that computer-mediated teams using the chat tool were less successful in exchanging and processing information than FTF teams and were thus less successful at solving the hidden-profile problem. The results also showed that, when operating under a time constraint, FTF was preferred over computer-mediated communication due to the relative immediacy of feedback and multiplicity of cues available in the FTF setting, as media richness theory predicted.
Enhanced stability in vivo of a thermodynamically stable mutant form of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c.

Previous work has established that the N57I amino acid replacement in iso-1-cytochrome c from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae causes an unprecedented increase in thermodynamic stability of the protein in vitro, whereas the N57G replacement diminishes stability. Spectrophotometric measurements of intact cells revealed that the N57I iso-l-cytochrome c is present at higher than normal levels in vivo. Although iso-1-cytochrome c turnover is negligible during aerobic growth, transfer of fully derepressed, aerobically grown cells to anaerobic growth conditions leads to reduction in the levels of all of the cytochromes. Pulsechase experiments carried out under these anaerobic conditions demonstrated that the N57I iso-l-cytochrome c has a longer half-life than the normal protein. This is the first report of enhanced stability in vivo of a mutant form of a protein that has an enhanced thermodynamic stability in vitro. Although the N57I protein concentration is higher than the normal level, reduced growth in lactate medium indicated that the specific activity of this iso-l-cytochrome c in vivo is diminished relative to wild-type. On the other hand, the level of the thermodynamically labile N57G iso-1-cytochrome c was below normal. The in vivo levels of the N57I and N57G iso-l-cytochrome c suggest that proteins in the mitochondrial intermembrane space can be subjected to degradation, and that this degradation may play a role in controlling their normal levels.
Mixed effect models of longitudinal Alzheimer's disease data: a cautionary note.

Longitudinal studies of cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are powerful tools to better understand the biology and natural history of the disease, but the attributes of the studies that make them valuable also pose special challenges to analysts. A fundamental problem is the accurate measure of time at which cognitive decline begins. Investigators typically use the date of AD diagnosis or the date of enrollment in an AD study. If the rate of cognitive decline is non-linear, variables associated with the time of diagnosis or enrollment might artificially be associated with the rate of decline. Unlike the mixed effects models typically used to analyse cognitive decline, summary measure analyses do not directly compare the rate of decline with time since decline began, and, therefore, are less sensitive to biased measures of time of decline. We simulated trajectories of cognitive decline using the multivariate normal random effect model and tested the ability of the two analytic techniques to discriminate between true and spurious associations. Our analyses suggest summary measure models are less likely to detect spurious associations generated by biased measures of time at which decline begins, and more likely to detect true associations concealed by biased time measurement.
THE DIVERGENCE OF NEUTRAL QUANTITATIVE CHARACTERS AMONG PARTIALLY ISOLATED POPULATIONS.

The neutral model of phenotypic evolution has yielded several simple predictions about the long-term rates of between-population divergence of polygenic traits and about the equilibrium level of within-population variance when mutation and random genetic drift are the sole evolutionary forces. These conclusions must be modified if populations are only partially isolated. A quantitative model is presented for the development of within- and between-population variance for neutral quantitative characters in pairs of populations with arbitrary effective sizes and migration rates. Both the variance in the base population and subsequent variance generated by mutation are considered, and several dynamical and equilibrium properties are shown to be adequately described by simple approximations. The resultant formulations provide some insight into the sensitivity of measures of morphological distance to gene flow, the necessity of isolation for the accumulation of variation between incipient species, and the consequences of gene flow into captive populations of endangered species.
Metabolism of abscisic acid: Bacterial conversion to dehydrovomifoliol and vomifoliol dehydrogenase activity

Abstract A species of Corynebacterium , capable of metabolizing abscisic acid (ABA), was isolated from soil. The organism converted ABA to dehydrovomifoliol [(±)-1′-hydroxy-4′-keto-α-ionone] as the major metabolise. A cell-free extract exhibited vomifoliol dehydrogenase activity. This suggests that vomifoliol is most likely the immediate precursor of dehydrovomifoliol.
Toward Latin@ revisionings of decolonizing Western science and math

It is important that the reader understands that not only Rene and I, but each author in this series, have a unique set of circumstances that represent a dialectic relationship between themselves—each author in this series and you, the reader. Some may say, ‘‘Well, of course, that is obvious!’’ But how does this apparent dialectic manifest itself in education research? The uniqueness of an individual, and zer/her/his unearthing the complexity of teaching and learning, is not necessarily a trademark of education research. We would argue that clumping students for the sake of large data sets is the norm and that when one amasses actors in education, the norm is also to lose the individual. What we have tried to do in this special issue through all of the authors is to champion the value of diversity in research perspectives that honors the plurality of our subjects. In other words, we decry the use of any methodology that forsakes identity for the sake of persuasion. The methodological challenge is to ask: How does one capture difference and maintain individuality and at the same time present a clear picture that may give rise to new anti hegemonic practices and opportunities? This is a question, which creates a dialectic between epistemological, ontological, and axiological frames of mind. Struggling to be who we are while, at the same time, trying to fit in and be recognized, as an important part of the whole, should always be made explicit when writing about underrepresented populations. We have focused on particular groups, such as Latinas/os/ Hispanics/Chicanas/os/, and Mexican Americans, yet they belong to the larger whole, namely La Raza. We believe this distinction to be important, because Rene and I are the two editors of this special edition. He is Puerto Rican, and I am Nicaraguan. Nonetheless, I prefer to be called Latino, and Rene also identifies as Latino first and then as Puerto Rican in the spirit of Latin America solidarity. In terms of being Latin@, we have some
Characterization of antimicrobial resistant Salmonella Kinshasa from dairy calves in Texas

Aim: To determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella isolated from a central Texas dairy calf farm that raises animals for dairy-beef production. Methods and Results: Salmonella isolates collected from 50 faecal samples were characterized for susceptibility to 20 antimicrobial agents. Seventy per cent of the faecal samples (35 of 50) tested positive for Salmonella, and high rates of resistance to the following drugs that are commonly used for treatment of bacterial enteritis in livestock were observed: ampicillin (88%), apramycin (83%), neomycin (86%), spectinomycin (91%) and oxytetracycline (90%). No resistance to the fluoroquinolone antibiotics was observed. The most prevalent Salmonella serotype was Kinshasha (22 of 35 samples), followed by Agona (4 of 35), Newport (3 of 35), Infantis (2 of 35), Montevideo (2 of 35), Lille (1 of 35) and Newington (1 of 35). The Kinshasa, Agona, Newport and Infantis serotypes all displayed resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulphamethoxazole and tetracycline, and the penta-resistance phenotype was transferable to an Escherichia coli recipient strain. Significance: Multi-drug resistant Salmonella in dairy calves pose a costly animal health problem and a potential risk to the public health. This study emphasizes the need for alternative, non-antimicrobial intervention strategies for the control of zoonotic pathogens.
A score based on age and DWI volume predicts poor outcome following endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke

Background and AimsThe Houston Intra-Arterial Therapy score predicts poor functional outcome following endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke based on clinical variables. The present study sought to (a) create a predictive scoring system that included a neuroimaging variable and (b) determine if the scoring systems predict the clinical response to reperfusion.MethodsSeparate datasets were used to derive (n = 110 from the Diffusion and Perfusion Imaging Evaluation for Understanding Stroke Evolution 2 study) and validate (n= 125 from Massachusetts General Hospital) scoring systems that predict poor functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 4–6 at 90 days.Results Age(P < 0·001; β = 0·087) and diffusion-weighted imaging volume (P= 0·023; β = 0·025) were the independent predictors of poor functional outcome. The Stanford Age and Diffusion-Weighted Imaging score was created based on the patient's age (0–3 points) and diffusion-weighted imaging lesion volume (0–1 points). The perc...
A comparison of vector quantization techniques in transform and subband coding of imagery

Abstract Transform image coding is considered using scalar quantization, pyramid vector quantization (PVQ), weighted pyramid vector quantization (WPVQ) and generalized Lloyd algorithm vector quantization (VQ). Subband image coding is considered using scalar quantization and pyramid vector quantization. A modification to the PVQ encoding algorithm is described and shown to provide improvement in encoded image peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 0.5 to 1.0 dB. The WPVQ encoding algorithm is described and an adaptive WPVQ image coder is developed which provides improvements of up to 1.5 dB over the PVQ coder. In a simulation study, at low bit-rates (0.5 bit/pel) the transform VQ coder generally provided the largest PSNR, although the PVQ subband coder was superior for some images, and th was competitive for most images. At larger encoding rates (for which, because of complexity, the generalized Lloyd algorithm VQ was not considered) the scalar quantizer subband coder generally yielded larger PSNR than did the scalar quantizer transform coder. The PVQ transform and subband coders provided similar values of PSNR, but the subband coded image had less blockiness than the transform coded image. At an encoding rate of 0.5 bit/pel, the subband coders and the full search VQ and adaptive WPVQ transform coders are roughly an order of magnitude more complex than the PVQ and tree-searched VQ transform coders.
Constructivism and the study of human communication

(1977). Constructivism and the study of human communication. Quarterly Journal of Speech: Vol. 63, No. 1, pp. 66-83.
The dynamics of hierarchical age-structured populations

An age-structured population is considered in which the birth and death rates of an individual of age a is a function of the density of individuals older and/or younger than a. An existence/uniqueness theorem is proved for the McKendrick equation that governs the dynamics of the age distribution function. This proof shows how a decoupled ordinary differential equation for the total population size can be derived. This result makes a study of the population's asymptotic dynamics (indeed, often its global asymptotic dynamics) mathematically tractable. Several applications to models for intra-specific competition and predation are given.
Circulating T-cell subsets in Guillain-Barré syndrome

Summary We compared the distribution of circulating T-cell subsets within 2 weeks of onset of symptoms in 14 patients with acute Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and 37 normal controls. The levels of OKT4 + (putative helper-inducer) cells was definitely abnormal (decreased) in 3/13 tested. The levels of OKT8 + (putative suppressor-cytotoxic) cells were elevated in 3 and decreased in 2 of the 14 tested. Abnormal OKT4/OKT8 ratios were detected in 5 (2 elevated and 3 decreased) patients. Four of the 5 GBS patients with abnormal OKT4 + /OKT8 + ratios were studied sequentially at least 4 times over 1–10 months; there was a return towards a normal ratio in all. Serial studies in 3 other GBS patients showed consistently normal values. In comparison, sequential studies over 5–24 months in 7 normals showed no abnormal OKT4 + /OKT8 + ratios. Thus, abnormalities in OKT4 + /OKT8 + ratios appear to be a marker of systemic events during symptomatic phases of GBS. It is not as yet known whether this is related to the cause or is secondary to the clinical manifestations of GBS.
Different activation dynamics in multiple neural systems during simulated driving.

Driving is a complex behavior that recruits multiple cognitive elements. We report on an imaging study of simulated driving that reveals multiple neural systems, each of which have different activation dynamics. The neural correlates of driving behavior are identified with fMRI and their modulation with speed is investigated. We decompose the activation into interpretable pieces using a novel, generally applicable approach, based upon independent component analysis. Some regions turn on or off, others exhibit a gradual decay, and yet others turn on transiently when starting or stopping driving. Signal in the anterior cingulate cortex, an area often associated with error monitoring and inhibition, decreases exponentially with a rate proportional to driving speed, whereas decreases in frontoparietal regions, implicated in vigilance, correlate with speed. Increases in cerebellar and occipital areas, presumably related to complex visuomotor integration, are activated during driving but not associated with driving speed.
Aerodynamic interactions between a rotor and wing in hover

An experimental investigation of rotor/wing aerodynamic interactions in hover is described. The investigation consisted of both a large-scale and a small-scale test. A 0.658-scale V-22 rotor and wing was used in the large-scale test. Wing download, wing surface pressure, rotor performance, and rotor downwash data from the large-scale test are presented. A small-scale experiment was conducted to determine how changes in the rotor/wing geometry affected the aerodynamic interactions. These geometry variations included the distance between the rotor and wing, wing incidence angle, wing flap angle, rotor rotation direction, and configurations both with the rotor axis at the tip of the wing (tilt rotor configuration) and with the rotor axis at the center of the wing (compound helicopter configuration).
Spin and SU(3) in a ghost-free dual model☆

Abstract Two problems are treated under the assumption that the amplitude is given as a sum of permutations of terms related to definite orderings of the external particles. Firstly, it is shown that isospin invariance, absence of exotic states, duality and factorization force a decomposition of each permutation into an SU(3) factor times an SU(3) invariant function. The SU(3) factor is uniquely determined as 1 2 Tr (λ a 1 λ a 2 …λ a n ) . Secondly, if spin is introduced as proposed by Mandelstam, Bardakci and Halpern, it is suggested that a modification of their spin factors transforms the ghost intermediate states into real particles. Thus, a dual model with SU(3) and spin is developed whose only ghosts come from the Beta function at daughter levels. Tachyons cannot appear in this model.
Scarcity effects on desirability: mediated by assumed expensiveness?

Abstract Traditional micro-economic theory assumes that consumer preferences are independent of market forces like supply, demand and price. However, this assumption is inconsistent with psychological research on commodity theory (Brock 1968). This research has found that scarcity enhances the desirability of experiences and objects. Two studies were conducted to test the possibility that these scarcity effects on desirability are due to a tendency for people to assume that scarce things cost more. Consistent with this hypothesis, study 1 found that scarcity increased the desirability of art prints only when subjects had been primed to think about the expensiveness of art prints in general. Study 2 further supported the hypothesis by finding that scarcity enhanced the desirability of wine only when subjects did not know how much the wine cost. The economic, marketing and research implications of these results are discussed.
Nonlinear Evolution of a Two-Stream Instability

Calculations of a two-stream instability have been made by following the motion of the phase-space boundaries of an incompressible and constant-density phase-space fluid. Because of the condensation of holes, which to a good approximation act as gravitational particles, large-scale nonlinear pulses develop.
A computer simulation of chemical signaling during the aggregation phase of Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract A model for chemical signaling among cells during the aggregation phase of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is simulated using a computer. The resulting chemical concentration profiles are considered in terms of experimental observations. Considerable emphasis is placed on examination of the chemical environment at the center of an aggregation. Its unique nature suggests a mechanism for initially establishing the location of center. Effects of the dimensionality of the simulation universe are also discussed.
Chest High-Frequency Oscillatory Treatment for Severe Atelectasis in a Patient With Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Atelectasis is a significant risk factor for the development of pneumonia, especially in pediatric populations more prone to alveolar collapse or those who may have weakened muscular tone. The Metaneb system is a pneumatic, noninvasive physiotherapy technique that delivers chest high-frequency oscillations. Chest high-frequency oscillations have been shown to enhance mucociliary clearance of secretions and help resolve patchy atelectasis. This report describes the case of a 17-year-old female patient who developed significant left-sided atelectasis after extubation and was effectively managed with complete resolution of her atelectasis with the Metaneb system, obviating the need for reintubation.
The psychobiology of PTSD: Perspectives and reflections on the past, present, and future.

This article reviews historic, clinical, therapeutic, and research work regarding psychopathological responses to massive emotional stress. From these emerge the suggestion that post-traumatic stress disorder represents a physioneurosis. Psychophysiological and neuroendocrine investigations of the last decade are summarized, as well as the neuropsychological hypothesis the author has derived therefrom about the etiologic development of post-traumatic stress disorders. Lines of future research are suggested.
The Evaluation and Treatment of Therapy-Resistant Enuresis: A Review

Children with enuresis that neither responds to the alarm or to desmopressin medication usually have nocturnal detrusor over-activity combined with high arousal thresholds as a cause for their bedwetting. The evaluation of these children is focused on 1) excluding underlying pathology such as kidney disease, urinary tract infection or neurogenic bladder, 2) looking for concomitant day-time bladder problems or constipation, and 3) detecting possible reasons for failure of alarm treatment. A bladder diary is essential, but blood tests, radiological examinations or invasive procedures are seldom informative. The non-pharmacologic treatment of these children consists of eradication of constipation, if present, and the provision of advice regarding sound drinking and toilet habits. Such treatment is essential but not uniformly sufficient by itself. The first-line pharmacologic treatment of therapy-resistant enuresis is anticholinergic medication, although this is, as yet, not evidence-based. Anticholinergics can be combined with desmopressin for better efficiency. For children failing all these measures there is still a place for tricyclic antidepressant therapy, provided that adequate safety precautions are strictly observed.
Asynchronous Learning and Faculty Development: Evolving College-Level Online Instruction and Empowered Learning

A phenomenological study of higher education faculty experiences with course content adaptation, methodological changes, and program assessment, this paper summarizes both psychological and work-effort considerations for creating online learning environments. Using journaling, student responses and interviews, the qualitative, two-year study yielded consistent conclusions regarding the need for supported and interactive development for faculty. Online classroom practices are investigated and a number of navigable and intractable problems are summarized. Implications for higher education practices in program design, faculty development and student learning are also described.
AdaptGuard: guarding adaptive systems from instability

In this paper, we design, implement and evaluate AdaptGuard, a software service for guarding adaptive systems, such as QoS-adaptive servers, from instability caused by software anomalies and faults. Adaptive systems are of growing importance due to the need to adjust performance to a larger range of changing environmental conditions without human intervention. Such systems, however, implicitly assume a model of system behavior that may be violated, causing adaptation loops to perform poorly or fail. The purpose of AdaptGuard is simple: in the absence of an a priori model of the adaptive software system, anticipate system instability, attribute it correctly to the right "runaway" adaptation loop, and disconnect it, replacing it with conservative but stable open-loop control until further notice. We evaluate AdaptGuard by injecting various software faults into adaptive systems that are managed by typical adaptation loops. Results demonstrate that it can successfully anticipate instability caused by the injected faults and recover from performance degradation. Further, a case study is presented using an Apache Web server serving multiple classes of traffic. A performance anomaly is demonstrated, caused by unexpected interactions between an admission controller and the Linux anti-livelock mechanism. In the absence of a model that describes this mechanism, AdaptGuard is able to correctly attribute the unexpected problem to the right runaway loop and fix it.
Honing in on the (epi)genetic basis of AITL.

In this issue of Blood , Odejide et al report on recurring mutations in a large series of patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) clustering around three epigenetic modifiers: TET2 , DNMT3 , and IDH2 .[1][1] Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoid
On the influence of cohesive stress-separation laws on elastic stress singularities

The nature of the stress field occurring at the vertex of an angular elastic plate under in-plane loading is reconsidered. An additional boundary condition is introduced. This boundary condition reflects the action of cohesive stress-separation laws. Companion asymptotic analysis proceeds routinely on employing coupled eigenfunction expansions. Results show that a number of configurations that had previously contained stress singularities become singularity free.
ENDOTOXIN ALTERS DEXTROSE INSULIN SECRETION IN SUCKLING RATS

To better understand the molecular mechanisms of decreased insulin secretion during endotoxic shock, isolated pancreatic islets from 10 day old rats were studied Pancreatic islets were isolated A hours after an ip injection of saline or endotoxin (LPS: 0.1mg/kg: LD90 at 24 hours). Glucose transporter GLUTI and 2 mRNA abundance in isolated islets were determined by Northern blots, and morphologic changes of islets were observed. Five islets were incubated for 60 minutes in 10 ml of RPMI media with dextrose (500mg/ml) to determine insulin release (pM). Abundance of glucose transporter isotorm in LPS treated group was expressed as percent of saline treated controla. LPS did not alter islet anatomy. Insulin response to dextrose was decreased in the LPS treated group. The abundance of mRNA for GLUT1 was increased and GLUT2, decreased, thus showing divergent regulation of the two transporter isoforms. Altered glucose transporter gone expression in pancreatic islets may help explain decreased insulin release in the young rat with endotoxic shock.
Witness to God’s Redemption of Creation

This article, in response to Willis Jenkins’ Ecologies of Grace , explores the connections between Christian ecological practices and soteriology. How do ecological practices draw Christians closer to God? For Aquinas, human sanctification takes place through knowledge of God’s creation. Conversely, human knowing and loving of creation, enabled by grace, draws all creation together into closer relationship with God. For the sanctification of nonhumans, human intellect acts as a sort of funnel pointing from creation towards God. However, it is argued here that a better account of the human-nonhuman relationship and sanctification is that humans come to know the ecological peace and abundance of the Kingdom of God by witnessing to that peace and abundance here and now, by living in conformity with the interspecies peace, justice, and abundance of the Kingdom. Human sanctification occurs through the real, concrete activities of caring for God’s creation.
NEW EXAMPLES OF INHOMOGENEOUS EINSTEIN MANIFOLDS OF POSITIVE SCALAR CURVATURE

Ab stract. The purpose of this note is to announce the explicit construction of a new infinite family of compact inhomogeneous Einstein manifolds of positive scalar curvature in every dimension of the form 4n−5 for n>2. In fact, each manifold has two, non-homothetic, Einstein metrics of positive scalar curvature. Moreover, in every fixed dimension, these families each contain infinitely many distinct homotopy types. Each individual manifold has a Sasakian 3-structure and all of these examples are bi-quotients of unitary groups of the form U(1)\U(n)/U(n−2). In particular, when n=3, we obtain infinite subfamilies of mutually distinct homotopy types where each member of the subfamily is strongly inhomogeneous; that is, these Einstein manifolds are not even homotopy equivalent to any compact Riemannian homogeneous space.
Reynolds number effects on mixing and combustion in a reacting shearlayer

The temperature field is investigated in a gaseous, reacting mixing layer between two streams containing low concentrations of hydrogen and fluorine, over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The results show the presence of large, hot structures that govern the flow dynamics at all speeds. The mean-temperature profile is found to decrease modestly with increasing speed, a result suggesting a weak Reynolds number dependence of the production rate. Tripping ht high-speed boundary layer is found to have a significant effect on the width of the mixing zone and the profile of the mean temperature rise.