cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust Image Matching with Line Context.

Some features are specially designed to cope with complex illumination variations [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. These features are based on intensity orders rather than values so that their descriptors are invariant to non-linear intensity changes. However, one limitation of such features is that they are only able to handle monotonic illumination changes, as the examples shown in Figure 1. In this paper, we try to cope with this problem by proposing a new type of local feature, which describes the context information of neighboring line segments. Through extensive experiments and based on existing research, we found that the best pixel grouping level to handle large illumination variations is using curves or lines. Since curves require more sophisticated groupings and can be approximated by multiple line segments, we use line segments as the primitives of our feature descriptor. We call the proposed feature Line Context, since it is inspired by Shape Context. Line Context Detector. It is well known that edges are present at various scales. To detect edges at different scales we use multi-scale Canny edge detector with Gaussian derivatives at several pre-selected scales. Two phases are used to remove unstable edges. The first phase is to apply Laplacian operator. Those edges that do not attain a distinctive extremum over scales will be removed. The second phase is to remove those edges with homogeneous gradients, i.e. the points where the underlying curves have zero curvatures. We apply Harris matrix to achieve this purpose. Segments in Context. The edge pixels are linked to connected curves at different scales. These curves are then fitted by straight line segments. As shown in Figure 2-(a), several cases need to be considered for representing curves with line segments. One curve may be fitted by multiple segments like curve a. Two segments with small gap in between are merged into one larger segment no matter they are on the same scale (curve b and d) or different scales (curve f and g). In the latter case, the merged segment only exists in the lower scale (segment 8). Besides, all the segments in higher levels are also segments (segment 1, 2 and 3) or part of segments (segment 5 and 7) in lower levels. For each keypoint, we need to find line segments in its neighborhood, which is also called context of the feature. The line segments lying inside or partially inside the context are called context segments. The initial scale σ provides an estimate size of searching area. Let dpoint−set(v,S) be the shortest distance from point v to a set of points S. With keypoint k and all-segments {segi}, the segments set L in the context is defined as,
Internet Use among Gay and Bisexual Men with Compulsive Sexual Behavior

This analysis sought to explore the role the Internet played in the lives and behaviors of 183 gay and bisexual men who identified their sex lives as “spinning out of control.” Participants for this study had enrolled in a multi-method community study of compulsive sexual behavior whose purpose was to investigate the nature, course and antecedents of sexual compulsivity among gay and bisexual men. Most men in the sample reported using the Internet and, the greater their reported use, the more likely they were to identify their use as a problem. Moreover, men who identified their Internet use as a problem were more likely to have sought help through 12-step programs. Data from the current study suggest the Internet may play a role in sexual risk-taking behaviors of sexually compulsive gay and bisexual men. It seems this connection to risk-taking behaviors may be different for HIV-positive and HIV-negative men. Understanding the role of the Internet in the sexual lives of sexually compulsive gay and bisexua...
Slow exhumation of UHP terranes: Titanite and rutile ages of the Western Gneiss Region, Norway

Abstract U–Pb ages of titanite and rutile were obtained from the central Western Gneiss Region, Norway, to assess the style and timing of exhumation and cooling of the Western Gneiss UHP terrane. Approximately half of the titanite ages are concordant, the majority of which yield a limited age range from 393 to 390 Ma. The other titanite data are discordant, and define discordia arrays with upper intercept ages of either ∼ 938 Ma or ∼ 1.6 Ga, and a lower intercept of ∼ 389 Ma. Concordant rutile analyses range from 385 to 392 Ma. Both titanite and rutile ages young WNW toward the core of the orogen and are ∼ 4 Ma older than 40 Ar/ 39 Ar muscovite ages, corresponding to a cooling rate of ∼ 90 °C/Ma. A well-defined boundary between concordant and discordant titanite ages, in combination with the WNW-increasing P – T gradient and the similarity between muscovite cooling ages in the east and eclogite ages in the west, suggests that the WGR remained coherent throughout its exhumation history, and was progressively unroofed from east to west. A 390.2 ± 0.8 Ma titanite in the Soroyane UHP domain indicates that exhumation occurred at a vertical rate of ∼ 7 mm/yr for ∼ 12 Ma. These rates are slower than estimates from smaller UHP terranes, but similar to other large UHP terranes, suggesting that there may be fundamental differences in the mechanisms controlling the evolution of large UHP terranes that undergo protracted subduction and exhumation, and smaller UHP terranes that undergo rapid subduction and exhumation.
Patient Characteristics That Impact Healthcare Resource Allocation Choices: Relative Impact of Mental Illness, Age, and Parental Status1

This study assessed how changes in descriptions of hypothetical patients suffering from kidney disease impact choices about whether they should be allocated access to a life-supporting artificial kidney machine. In 2 experiments, each using a different sample, participants were given a list of prospective (fictional) patients, all of whom were described as having kidney disease, yet varied with respect to characteristics of parental status, age, and mental health status. Participants rank-ordered patients on the basis of priority for treatment. Participants favored patients who had children, were young, and were mentally healthy. Age was a larger determinant of participant choices than mental health status. Implications of these results for prejudice against those who are childless, elderly, and mentally ill are noted.
Vascular Response to Overlapping Everolimus-Eluting Stents

Background: Overlapping drug-eluting stents might be associated with an adverse vessel response because of increased drug/polymer toxicity and lesion rigidity. Methods and Results: Lesions treated with overlapping everolimus- (EES=36) or paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES=38) were analyzed for 8-9-months by 3-dimensional intravascular ultrasound. EES were associated with significantly greater neointimal suppression in the single-strut regions than PES, with a similar trend in the overlap region. PES had significant vessel expansion in all regions, whereas there were no changes with EES. Neither stent fracture nor late incomplete stent apposition (LISA) in the overlap region was observed. Conclusions: Overlapping EES appears to be effective without vessel expansion, stent fracture or LISA for up to 8-9 months. (Circ J 2010; 74: 1023 - 1025)
384 nm AlGaN diode lasers on relaxed semipolar buffers

We report operation of AlGaN laser diodes grown on semipolar buffer layers partially relaxed by misfit dislocation formation at heterointerfaces remote from the active region. This approach offers a pathway to mid-UV AlGaN based lasers.
Continuity of the Lyapunov exponent for analytic quasi-periodic cocycles with singularities

We prove that the Lyapunov exponent of quasi-periodic cocycles with singularities behaves continuously over the analytic category. We thereby generalize earlier results, where singularities were either excluded completely or constrained by additional hypotheses. Applications include parameter dependent families of analytic Jacobi operators, such as extended Harper’s model describing crystals in varying lattice geometries subject to external magnetic fields.
Comment on 'Poisson equations of rotational motion for a rigid triaxial body with application to a tumbling artificial satellite' by Liu and Fitzpatrick

Liu and Fitzpatrick (1975) discussed the secular and long-periodic behavior of a dynamical system by using improper time-averaged equations. The correct time-averaged equations are given in this note.
A comparison of the effects of medial frontal, dorsomedial thalamic, and combination lesions on discrimination and spontaneous alternation in the rat

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the hypothesis that the medial frontal cortex and dorsomedial thalamus constitute a neural system mediating a common set of behaviors. Rats with bilateral medial frontal lesions, unilateral medial frontal lesions, bilateral medial thalamic lesions, unilateral medial thalamic lesions, contralateral medial frontal and medial thalamic lesions, and sham operations were compared on spontaneous alternation and visual-tactile discrimination. Only rats with bilateral medial thalamic lesions were found to be deficient on the two tasks. Thus, while the present experiments are consistent with earlier work demonstrating that a functional medial thalamus is necessary for normal spontaneous alternation and discrimination, the present experiments failed to support the notion that the medial thalamus and medial frontal cortex constitute a common behavioral system.
Stress Distribution in a Circular Membrane With a Central Fixation

Clinical interventions can change the mechanical environment of the tissues targeted for therapy. In order to design better procedures, it is important to understand cellular responses to altered mechanical stress. Rigid fixation is one example of a constraint imposed on living tissues as a result of implanted devices. This results in disturbed stress and strain fields, with potentially strong gradients. Herein, we numerically solve the governing nonlinear ordinary differential equation for the stress distribution in a finitely deformed anisotropic circular membrane with a concentric fixation by applying a zero-displacement condition at the inner circumference. Results show that rigid fixations yield distributions of stress and strain that are markedly different from tissue defects with traction-free boundaries. Moreover, the material anisotropy plays a significant role in the manner the stress redistributes regardless of the size of fixation. The present study will contribute to the design of experiments to determine cellular reactions involved in the failure of interventional treatments.
Influence of differences in the persistence of luteinizing hormones in blood on their potency in the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion bioassay.

Data that the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion bioassay (OAAD) is sus ceptible to the influence of the circulatory half time (T 1/2) of different LH preparations is presented. Also it is shown that ovarian ascorbic acid depletion can be inhibited by injection of anti-LH sera even as long as 40 minutes after iv injection of LH. The OAAD bioassay has been described as an acute biochemical response in contrast to most other gonadotropin bioassays which are described as chronic growth responses. Preparations tested were: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) pregnant mares serum gonadotropin (PMSG) human pituitary luteinizing hormone (hLH) equine luteinizing hormone (eLH) bovine luteinizing hormone (bLH) porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) rat luteinizing hormone (rLH) and ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH). Each was tested iv on rats at 2 dose levels with the reference preparation NIH-LH-Sl (ovine); 3-4 independent assays were done at 2 hour and at 4 hour intervals. HCG PMSG HLH and eLH have a relatively slow circulatory T 1/2; all had a significantly higher OAAD at the 4 hour period. When LH preparations had similar T 1/2 ascorbic acid determinations were similar at both intervals between administration of the LH and removal of the ovary. Although these findings are significant the OAAD assay appears to be less susceptible than other goandotropin bioassays. When rabbit antiserum to LH was injected following an injection of the reference preparation the OAAD response was found to be significantly inhibited. Delayed administration of anti serum even as long as 40 minutes after LH injection did not significan tly reduce the neutralizing capacity of the antiserum.
Effect of dietary triiodothyronine on mixed-lymphocyte responsiveness in young male chickens.

Abstract The effect of dietary triiodothyronine (T 3 ) supplementation (0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 ppm of T 3 ) on the mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) was examined in MHC-matched young Cornell K and sex-linked dwarf (SLD) strain cockerels at ages 6, 9, and 12 weeks. At all ages, MLR in SLD strain cockerels was significantly lower than in the K strain. Supplementation of 6-week-old cockerels with 0.01 and 0.1 ppm of T 3 tended to decrease MLR in both strains, whereas the highest does of T 3 had the opposite effect in the K strain and no effect in the SLD strain compared to the control. No significant effects of T 3 on MLR were observed in 9-week-old cockerels. A significant main treatment effect of T 3 on MLR was observed in 12-week-old cockerels. At this age dietary T 3 decreased MLR in both strains. These results show that allo-aggression, a functional parameter of cell-mediated immunity, can be affected by non-MHC controlled strain differences and by the iodothyronine state of these strains.
Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract Objective The study aimed to discuss the association between sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods We reviewed cases of patients with known IBD seen in an otolaryngology practice with documentation of all otologic data including age of onset, family history of otologic problems, exposure to noise, audiometric findings, and so on. Results Of 38 patients with a history of IBD, 22 had documented SNHL. Nineteen of these had no other identifiable etiology for their inner ear dysfunction. Fourteen of these patients had a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and 5 had Crohn disease. Sixteen patients had bilateral SNHL, and 3 patients had unilateral SNHL. Only one patient had a lasting response of SNHL to medical treatment. Conclusion This review suggests that SNHL is an extraintestinal association of IBD. As IBD is considered to be a local or systemic immunopathy, the associated SNHL might also be an expression of systemic immune dysfunction.
Processing of chloroplast ribosomal RNA transcripts in Euglena gracilis bacillaris.

The ribosomal RNA operons (rrn operons) of Euglena gracilis chloroplasts contain genes for (in order) 16S rRNA, tRNAIle, tRNAAla, 23S rRNA and 5S rRNA. Major sites of cleavage of the primary rrn transcript were identified by Northern blot hybridization and S1-mapping. The presumptive termini of all of the mature products have now been identified. During initial processing in the chloroplast, the primary transcript is cleaved between the two tRNAs and between the 23S and 5S rRNAs so as to separate the sequences found in the different mature rRNAs. Subsequently the tRNAs are separated from the rRNAs, further trimming provides the remaining proper ends, and the 3′-ends of the tRNAs are added.
SOURCES AND BIODEGRADATION OF CARCINOGENIC HYDROCARBONS

ABSTRACT Carcinogenic hydrocarbons (CHC) are widely distributed in air, soil, marine mud, water, oils (vegetable as well as mineral), and other materials. Most organisms appear to contain little or no CHC, but from 1 to more than 1,000 µg/kg has been detected in certain plants and animals. A major source of CHC is the combustion or pyrolysis of carbonaceous materials, including fossil fuels, organic refuse, forest fires, etc. Airborne, liquid, or solid pollutants tend to find their way into soil, streams, lakes, and the sea. Pertinent to the problem of oil spills is the quantity of CHC contributed by such spills as compared with that from aerial transport, terrestrial drainage, biosynthesis of CHC, and other sources. Evidence is presented for the synthesis of carcinogenic hydrocarbons by various species of bacteria, algae, and higher plants. Although some may be retained by their tissues, a good many animals metabolize various carcinogenic hydrocarbons and excrete the oxidation products. In most aquatic e...
Advanced low-beta cavity development for proton and ion accelerators

Abstract Recent developments in designing and processing low-beta superconducting cavities at Argonne National Laboratory are very encouraging for future applications requiring compact proton and ion accelerators. One of the major benefits of these accelerating structures is achieving real-estate accelerating gradients greater than 3 MV/m very efficiently either continuously or for long-duty cycle operation (>1%). The technology has been implemented in low-beta accelerator cryomodules for the Argonne ATLAS heavy-ion linac where the cryomodules are required to have real-estate gradients of more than 3 MV/m. In offline testing low-beta cavities with even higher gradients have already been achieved. This paper will review this work where we have achieved surface fields greater than 166 mT magnetic and 117 MV/m electric in a 72 MHz quarter-wave resonator optimized for β = 0.077 ions.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Melanoma Brain Metastases in Patients Receiving Ipilimumab: Safety Profile and Efficacy of Combined Treatment

Purpose Ipilimumab (Ipi), a monoclonal antibody against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, has been shown to improve survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. In this single-institution study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with melanoma brain metastases (BMs) who also received Ipi. Methods and Materials From 2005 to 2011, 46 patients with melanoma received Ipi and underwent single-fraction SRS for BMs. A total of 113 BMs (91% intact, 9% postoperative) were treated with a median dose of 21 Gy (range, 15-24 Gy). Ipi was given at 3 mg/kg (54%) or 10 mg/kg (46%) for a median of 4 doses (range, 1-21). Adverse events were recorded with the use of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 3.0. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate survival, and Cox regression was used to investigate associations. Results Fifteen patients received SRS during Ipi, 19 received SRS before Ipi, and 12 received SRS after Ipi. Overall survival (OS) was significantly associated with the timing of SRS/Ipi ( P =.035) and melanoma-specific graded prognostic assessment ( P =.013). Patients treated with SRS during or before Ipi had better OS and less regional recurrence than did those treated with SRS after Ipi (1-year OS 65% vs 56% vs 40%, P =.008; 1-year regional recurrence 69% vs 64% vs 92%, P =.003). SRS during Ipi also yielded a trend toward less local recurrence than did SRS before or after Ipi (1-year local recurrence 0% vs 13% vs 11%, P =.21). On magnetic resonance imaging, an increase in BM diameter to >150% was seen in 50% of patients treated during or before Ipi but in only 13% of patients treated after Ipi. Grade 3 to 4 toxicities were seen in 20% of patients. Conclusion Overall, the combination of Ipi and SRS appears to be well tolerated. Concurrent delivery of Ipi and SRS is associated with favorable locoregional control and possibly longer survival. It may also cause a temporary increase in tumor size, possibly because of an enhanced immunomodulatory effect.
Isolation and characterization of Abelson murine leukemia virus-transformed mast cell lines from midgestation embryonic placenta.

Abelson murine leukemia virus was used to transform cells of the midgestation embryonic placenta. The frequency of transformed foci in semisolid agarose was highest when cells were isolated at 10 days of gestation and cell lines could be established in liquid culture. The continuous cell lines express characteristics of cultured mast cells, including surface antigens which are shared with lymphocytes and mono- nuclear phagocytes. These results imply a relationship between the transforming gene product and the mast cell growth factor interleukin 3.
An inexpensive remotely operated vehicle for underwater studies

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are an increasingly important tool in understanding underwater environments; however, their widespread use has been dampened by high operating costs and accessibility. To address the lack of affordable ROV technology, I have designed, constructed, and tested a ROV that can record real-time video images for less than $400. With some additional modifications and cost, the ROV can deliver a multiparameter probe to user-defined locations and collect water samples. The ROV provides high-quality video images of underwater environments and can be used for video transects of benthic environments. I show that, using an attached multiparameter probe, continuous water quality and chemical parameters can also be recorded. The ROV is made from readily available materials and can easily be built by anyone, and its maintenance costs are low. The ROV is easily maneuvered in depths up to 30 m and is easily deployable by one person. The ROV is small, lightweight, and, as it requires 12V DC power, can easily be transported to remote locations. The low cost and broad capabilities of the ROV will provide aquatic scientists, teachers, and students with a window to visually observe a wide range of underwater environments. The construction and potential applications of this ROV are discussed.
SIRT1 top 40 hits : Use of one-bead, one-compound acetyl-peptide libraries and quantum dots to probe deacetylase specificity

A novel, high-throughput method for determining deacetylase substrate specificity was developed using a one-bead, one-compound (OBOC) acetyl-peptide library with a quantum dot tagging strategy and ...
Work-related stress and intention to quit in newly graduated nurses

Hospitals are fast paced health care environments that currently staff with Registered Nurse (RN) workforce comprised of more than 10% new graduate nurses. Past research has indicated that newly graduated nurses encounter stressful challenges transitioning from student (graduate) to the professional RN in the workforce. This issue must be given unabated priority, because loss of the new graduate has financial and patient safety implications. The purpose of this research study was to investigate work-related stress among recent nursing graduates and identify factors that influence their stress levels, as well as their intention to resign from their employment. Potential factors include gender, program type, work unit and duration, graduation time, and orientation. The study results indicate that junior RNs and BSN graduates are more likely to experience stress. Of all the stressors identified, equipment issues was the only factor that correlated both statistically and significantly to the participants' intention to quit. By investigating specific work-related stressors and coping strategies that these newly graduated nurses experience, this research may provide important information to better prepare and support future nursing students successfully transitioned to practice.
Raman detection of pigments in the human retina

We have used resonance Raman scattering as a non-invasive optical technique to measure the concentration of carotenoid pigments in the human retina. The technique is highly sensitive and specific strength scales linearly with actual macular carotenoid content as measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. This will facilitate studies of carotenoid distributions and their role in degenerative diseases of the eye and may allow for the rapid screening of carotenoid levels in large populations at risk for vision loss from age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in the US.
Narrated Relationships: Mothers-in-Law and Daughters-in-Law Justifying Conflicts in Taiwan's Chhan-chng

In this study, I examined how mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law in Taiwan narrated relational conflicts. The data consisted of narrative practices that emerged from open-ended interviews with 16 mothers-in-law and their 16 daughters-in-law. These practices were analyzed as situated vocabularies of motives, negotiated in talk with the interviewer. Findings indicate that conflicts centered on the issue of daughters-in-law challenging the authority of their mother-in-law, hence violating the hierarchical structuring of this society. Mothers-in-law justified their motives as upholding the value of respecting elders even if elders acted in an unjust manner. Daughters-in-law justified their motives differently, saying that conflicts were the result of unintentional acts or the faults of elders. Agency was not entirely thwarted, as daughters-in-law possessed a range of means to indirectly express displeasure with their elders.
Effect of Turbulence Intensity and Periodic Unsteady Wake Flow Condition on Boundary Layer Development, Separation, and Reattachment Along the Suction Surface of a Low-Pressure Turbine Blade

This paper experimentally investigates the individual and combined effects of periodic unsteady wake flows and freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI) onflow separation along the suction surface of a low-pressure turbine blade. The experiments were carried out at a Reynolds number of 110,000 based on the suction surface length and the cascade exit velocity. The experimental matrix includes freestream turbulence intensities of 7.9%, 3.0%, 8.0%, and 13.0%, and three different unsteady wake frequencies with the steady inlet flow as the reference configuration. Detailed boundary layer measurements are performed along the suction surface of a highly loaded turbine blade with a separation zone. Particular attention is paid to the aerodynamic behavior of the reparation zone at different FSTIs at steady and periodic unsteady flow conditions. The objective of the research is (i) to quantify the effect of FSTIs on the dynamics of the separation bubble at steady inlet flow conditions and (ii) to investigate the combined effects of Tu in and the unsteady wake flow on the behavior of the separation bubble.
Suitability of oven-dried root nodules for Rhizobium strain identification by immunofluorescence and agglutination

Legume root-nodules, dried at oven temperature (70° C for 48 h) were suitable for Rhizobium strain identification by immunofluorescence and agglutination. The fluorescence of bacteroids of R. japonicum, R. leguminosarum, R. meliloti, R. phaseoli, and Rhizobium spp. from oven-dried nodules was the same as those from frozen, desiccated, or nodules dried at room temperature (28°C). Oven-dried nodules did not require further steaming for agglutination. Bacteroid agglutinations gave 2-16 fold lower titres than those of the cultured cells. Fresh and oven-dried soybean rhizobia from a mixed inoculation gave exactly the same results when identified by immunofluorescence or agglutination
Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction is an acceptable treatment option for patients with high-risk breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) followed by immediate reconstruction is an effective treatment option for patients with early-stage breast carcinoma, but its use in patients with more advanced disease is controversial. METHODS A retrospective review was performed that included 38 consecutive patients with high-risk breast carcinoma who underwent SSM and immediate reconstruction (between July 1996 and January 2002). Tumor characteristics, type of reconstruction, margin status, timing of adjuvant therapy, postoperative complications, and incidence of recurrence were evaluated. RESULTS High-risk patients (Stage IIA [n = 4 patients] Stage IIB [n = 23 patients] Stage IIIA [n = 8 patients] and Stage IIIB [n = 3 patients]) underwent immediate reconstruction after SSM with the use of a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (n = 31 patients), a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap plus an implant (n = 3 patients), or tissue expanders with subsequent implant placement (n = 4 patients). The median follow-up was 52.9 months (range, 27.5–92.0 months), and the median time to recurrence has not yet been reached at the time of last follow-up. The median interval from surgery to the initiation of postoperative adjuvant therapy was 38 days (range, 25–238 days). Local recurrence was seen in 1 patient (2.6%), systemic recurrence in was seen in 10 patients (26.3%), and both local and distant metastases in were seen in 2 other patients (5.3%). CONCLUSIONS SSM with immediate reconstruction appeared to be an oncologically safe treatment option for high-risk patients with advanced stages of breast carcinoma. In addition to the aesthetic and psychological benefits of performing SSM with immediate reconstruction, local recurrence rates and disease-free survival were favorable when combined with the use of radiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy, as indicated. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
‘our children have only known war’: children's experiences and the uses of childhood in northern uganda

Abstract This article describes the situation of children forcibly abducted by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda. The involvement of children complicates efforts to end rebellion, and particular notions of childhood circulate through government and aid agencies to affect children's ‘rehabilitation’. This paper examines national, ethnic, and generational causes of the conflict, discussing the ways in which normative and ideal concepts of childhood are employed by different players. Through a situated analysis of children's circumstances, I suggest the need for interlocutors to re-evaluate their goals and methods of assisting war-affected children.
High-context images: Comprehension of main, background, and inferential information by people with aphasia

Background: Professionals often recommend using high-context images as expressive and receptive communication supports, even though researchers know little about the information people with aphasia can extract from these images.Aims: This study’s purposes were to compare the accuracy and speed with which people with and without aphasia derive main action, background, and inferential information from high-context images.Methods & Procedures: Twenty people with and 20 people without neurological impairment selected high-context images to match spoken sentences conveying main action, background, or inferential information. Participants listened to each sentence presented twice and selected the target image from a field of four. Computation of nonparametric statistics allowed accuracy and speed comparisons between participant groups and among the three stimulus sentence conditions. Additionally, the researchers computed correlations between participants’ standardised test scores and their accuracy and speed w...
Design and Control of Wave Propagation Patterns in Excitable Media

Intricate patterns of wave propagation are exhibited in a chemical reaction-diffusion system with spatiotemporal feedback. Wave behavior is controlled by feedback-regulated excitability gradients that guide propagation in specified directions. Waves interacting with boundaries and with other waves are observed when interaction terms are incorporated into the control algorithm. Spatiotemporal feedback offers wide flexibility for designing and controlling wave behavior in excitable media.
Comment on "Emergence of novel color vision in mice engineered to express a human cone photopigment".

Jacobs et al . (Reports, 23 March 2007, p. 1723) reported that plasticity in the mammalian visual system permitted the emergence of “a new dimension of sensory experience” in mice genetically engineered to express a human long-wavelength–sensitive cone photopigment. However, neither neural plasticity nor a new dimension of sensory experience is required to explain their results.
Quality of life index for patients with cancer.

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument for measuring the quality of life of cancer patients. Quality of life was measured with 14 linear analogue scale items concerning general physical condition, normal activities, and personal attitudes on general quality of life. The tool was tested with four subject groups: oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy (43) or radiation therapy (39), oncology inpatients receiving chemotherapy (48), and nonpatient volunteers (48). Test-retest reliability coefficients for these samples ranged from r = .11 to .97, with 52 of the 56 possible r's greater than .60, p less than .01; internal consistency was .88, p less than .01. Construct and discriminant validity were indicated, while concurrent validity between quality of life scores and physician estimates of Karnofsky ratings, prognosis, and quality of life were poor.
Evolution of environmentally sustainable practices: the case of the US carpet industry and CARE

This paper contributes to the literature by examining evolution of voluntary environmentally sustainable practices (ESPs) in the US carpet industry. The case illustrates the importance of an integrated and multi-stakeholder industry group – Carpet America Recovery Effort – in supporting use of ESPs throughout the industry. Equally importantly, this paper examines ESPs within the context of innovation, and offers recommendations for successful development and dissemination of ESPs at company and industry levels for carpets and other products. This paper uses the technological community perspective, a theoretical framework that examines evolution of innovations at the community level; this includes internal and external stakeholders, and is beyond the traditional focus on organisation or industry levels. This approach provides lessons on complex and dynamic interactions between and among multiple stakeholders responsible for successful development and dissemination of ESPs – and can be applied to other industries in the US and internationally.
Modeling Laterally-Contacted nipi-Diode Radioisotope Batteries

A framework for modeling the power generation of laterally-contacted n-type/intrinsic/p-type/intrinsic (nipi) diodes coupled with an alpha-particle radioisotope source is developed. The framework consists of two main parts, the alpha-particle energy deposition profile (ADEP) and a lumped parameter equivalent circuit model describing the nipi device operation. Experimental measurements are used to verify the ADEP modeling approach which determines the spatially varying energy deposited within the device. Using these results, nipi-diode radioisotope batteries are simulated and the effect of the number of junctions, the thickness of the junction, and the alpha-particle flux on output voltage and power are investigated. The modeling results indicate that a 1 cm2 bi-layer device (consisting of one source and two adjacent nipi-diodes) with a source activity of 300 mCi can reach a power output of 2 mW, excluding radiation damage effects.
The microstructure and galling wear of a laser-melted cobalt-base hardfacing alloy

Abstract A carbon dioxide laser was used to modify the surface of a Stellite 156 weld overlay that had been deposited using a plasma transferred arc. Conditions were identified that resulted in a crack-free surface. The modified surfaces were characterized using optical microscopy, microhardness measurements and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Galling wear resistance was determined using a pin-on-plate test. Pre- and post-test surface roughness values were determined with a profilometer. Laser-induced melting led to a significant increase in microhardness, a significant reduction in grain size and a more uniform distribution of alloying elements in the cobalt-rich matrix and the carbide precipitates. However, the galling wear resistance of the lasermelted specimens was unchanged from that measured on untreated specimens.
Estimating abundance and survival in the endangered Point Arena Mountain beaver using noninvasive genetic methods

The Point Arena mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra) is federally listed as an endangered subspecies that is restricted to a small geographic range in coastal Mendocino County, California. Management of this imperiled taxon requires accurate information on its demography and vital rates. We developed noninvasive survey methods, using hair snares to sample DNA and to estimate abundance and survival at two sites, Kinney Beach and Alder Creek, within Manchester State Park. We extracted DNA and genotyped 371 hair samples resulting in the identification of a total of 54 individuals during annual sampling from 2006–2009. Estimated population numbers were small, ranging from 9–18 individuals at Kinney Beach and 14–18 individuals at Alder Creek. Neither location demonstrated a trend in abundance over the 4-year sample period. There was weak support (evidence ratio 2.15) for higher apparent survival probabilities at Alder Creek (0.75) than Kinney Beach (0.59) and no support for time or site effects on recruitment. Recruitment ranged from 0.25 to 0.46 and was highest during the same interval (2007–2008) at both locations. The time series of estimates from 2006–2009 does not suggest that abundance at either study site is declining; while reassuring, concern still remains due to low total numbers at this, one of the few protected sites for this endangered subspecies.
Designing heterogeneous many-core processors to provide high performance under limited chip power budget

This thesis describes the efficient design of a future many-core processor that can provide higher performance under the limited chip power budget. To achieve such a goal, this thesis first develops an analytical framework within which computer architects can estimate achievable performance improvement of different many-core architectures given the same power budget. From this study, this thesis found that a future many-core processor needs (1) energy-efficient parallel cores and (2) a high- performance sequential core. Based on these observations, this thesis proposes an energy-efficient broad-purpose acceleration layer that can be snapped on top of a conventional general-purpose processor. In addition to such an energy-efficient parallel cores, this thesis also proposes different architectural techniques to further boost the performance of sequential computation while those parallel cores are idle. In particular, this thesis develops low-cost architectural techniques to enhance the memory performance of a host core by utilizing those idle parallel cores. This idea is evaluated in two different system architectures: one with the aforementioned acceleration layer and the other with an emerging integrated CPU and GPU chip.
Facial expressions as honest signals of cooperative intent in a one-shot anonymous Prisoner's Dilemma game

Abstract Previous research has posited that facial expressions of emotion may serve as honest signals of cooperation. Although findings from several empirical studies support this position, prior studies have not used comprehensive and dynamic measures of facial expression as potential predictors of behaviorally defined cooperation. The authors investigated (a) specific positive and negative facial actions displayed among strangers immediately following verbal promises of commitment within an unrestricted acquaintance period and (b) anonymous, behaviorally defined decisions of cooperation or defection in a one-shot, two-person Prisoner's Dilemma game occurring directly following the acquaintance period. The Facial Action Coding System [Ekman P. & Friesen W.V. (1978). Facial Action Coding System . Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychology Press] was used to measure affect-related facial actions. It was found that facial actions related to enjoyment were predictive of cooperative decisions within dyads; additionally, facial actions related to contempt were predictive of noncooperative decisions within dyads. Furthermore, and consistent with previous works, participants were able to accurately predict their partner's decisions following the acquaintance period. These results suggest that facial actions may function as honest signals of cooperative intent. These findings also provide a possible explanation for the association between subjective affective experience and facial expression that advances understanding of cooperative behavior.
Female choice for song characteristics in the house finch

Song has been proposed to function in mate choice, and such a role has been demonstrated experimentally in a number of species. We presented captive female house finches, Carpodacus mexicanus, with a choice of two songs, each of which was identical except for a single parameter that had been either accentuated or minimized. To ensure that our playback tapes offered choices within the normal range of variation in house finch song, we recorded wild male finches, then created playback tapes using values for the song parameters under consideration that were above or below the mean for the local population, but within the natural range of variation. We presented females that had not previously mated with choices between songs that (1) were long or short, (2) were given at fast or slow rates, and (3) included a large or small repertoire of unique song elements. Females showed significant preferences for long songs and for songs presented at a faster rate, but there was no significant preference for large or small repertoires of unique song elements. Song length and rate each seem likely to indicate a male's energy reserves, and thus could be important sources of information for females choosing mates.
A generalized polyphase principle for uniform digital filter banks

A number of signal processing applications exist for which the implementation of a uniform bank of digital filters is desirable. Such filter banks are often implemented in a highly efficient polyphase manner. Previously, the multirate polyphase realizations were restricted to sample-rate alterations, which are related to the multiplicity of channels in the bank. A polyphase formulation is presented for uniform filter banks with arbitrary output sampling. It is shown that a highly efficient polyphase realization exists for every possible sample-rate alteration. >
Invasive Species: Old Foes Meet Again

Tawny crazy ants are spreading across the southern U.S., replacing one of the most notorious invasive pests, the red imported fire ant. A crucial factor in this process is that tawny crazy ants are able to efficiently detoxify fire ant venom.
Phosphoproteomic analysis of human brain by calcium phosphate precipitation and mass spectrometry

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is manifested in the brain by the aggregation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The tangles are primarily composed of microtubule-associated protein tau that is aberrantly hyperphosphorylated, suggesting that deregulated phosphorylation may contribute to AD pathogenesis. However, systematic analysis of the phosphoproteome in AD brain tissues has not been reported. We used calcium phosphate precipitation to analyze an AD postmortem brain, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The protein sample was first resolved by one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subjected to gel excision and in-gel digestion. Phosphopeptides in the resulting peptide mixtures were enriched in a single step of calcium phosphate precipitation, and then analyzed by the LC-MS/MS approach. After database search, stringent filtering, and manual validation of neural loss in the MS/MS spectra, a total of 466 phosphorylation sites on 185 proteins including tau were identified. The majority of sites were not described previously. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining calcium phosphate precipitation with mass spectrometry for phosphoproteome analysis of postmortem human brain tissue.
Real-Time Median Filtering for Embedded Smart Cameras

This paper describes a new median filter algorithm optimized for real-time performance in smart cameras with embedded processors. As in the JPEG and MPEG compression algorithms, each frame of the video stream is first partitioned into a regular array of non-overlapping square blocks. The median value for each block is then computed and compared with corresponding values of neighboring blocks. If the magnitude of the difference does not exceed a threshold, the output value for all the pixels in the block is set to the median value. Otherwise, the output value for each pixel in the block is computed as the median value within a window of the same size centered at this pixel. We describe variations for binary and grayscale images. The algorithm has been implemented and tested in an embedded single-board-computer (SBC) with no hardware acceleration, as a component of a Visual Sensor Network (VSN) system for real-time indoor person detection and tracking. In this system, where the SBCs have the additional overhead of decoding JPEG frames from IP cameras, our new algorithm is 5 to 20 times faster than the traditional algorithms for typical window sizes. We expect further speedups to frame-rate performance on smart cameras with embedded image sensors and reconfigurable hardware.
Teaching humanistic and psychosocial aspects of care: current practices and attitudes.

To assess current practices and attitudes toward teaching humanistic and psychosocial aspects of care in internal medicine residency programs. Design and participants: Survey questionnaires were sent to residency directors at all 434 internal medicine residency programs accredited in 1985–1986. Response rate for two mailings was 71%. Measurements and main results: 78% of residency directors and 70% of department chairpersons bad high or moderately high levels of commitment to teaching bumanistic/psychosocial aspects of care, but only 44% of responding programs offered mandatory training, and only 18% offered elective training in these areas. Obstacles to expanded teaching of the bumanistic/psychosocial aspects rated high or moderately high by residency directors included insufficient curriculum time (51%), lack of trained faculty (44%), and pressures to reduce both training costs (40%) and patient-care costs (37%). Conclusions: Most of the training that does occur in the humanistic/psychosocial aspects of care probably happens informally via mentoring and role modeling. Appeals to expand teaching in these areas raise questions regarding what to include in medical training and the proper scope of internal medicine. Sustainable change will depend on the politics of resource distribution and the influence of general internal medicine and primary care on traditional training.
Study of Nanocomposites Obtained by Carbonization of Different Organic Precursors within Taeniolite Matrices

The lithium form of taeniolite served as the molecular template for carbon nanocomposites. It was intercalated with hydroxy aluminum and hydroxy aluminum-zirconium cations. Aliquots of the inorganic matrices were saturated by furfuryl alcohol followed by its interlayer polymerization. The structures were heated at 973 K in nitrogen to carbonize the polymeric precursor. Additional materials were mixed with polypropylene glycol which was then carbonized within the mineral layers. The surface properties of the nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), DTA, SEM and sorption experiments (sorption of nitrogen). The results showed that structural properties of the derived materials depend on the inorganic matrix and organic precursor. The carbon-taeniolite nanocomposites derived from polyfurfuryl alcohol as a precursor were characterized by high carbon content and a high percentage of its surface area in micropores. A broad spectrum of surface characteristics of the final products were found, depending on the history of the sample.