cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A design study for synchrotron-based high-numerical-aperture scanning illuminators

Abstract Scanning illumination systems provide for a powerful and flexible means of controlling illumination coherence properties. In these systems, the desired illumination divergence is synthesized through a scanning process. This method has recently been used at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths to implement a programmable pupil fill microfield exposure system employed to lithographically characterize a 0.1-numerical aperture (NA) α-class EUV stepper optic. The specifics of the implementation used in that case, however, make it difficult to directly extend the implementation to higher NA optics. Here we present scanning illuminator configurations suitable for implementing high-NA lithography capabilities at a synchrotron beamline. In particular we consider the application to a 0.3-NA EUV optic with a design field of view of 1 × 3 mm at the object plane.
Bioeconomies of scope and the discard problem in multiple-species fisheries

Abstract We consider the problem of multi-species fisheries management when targeting individual species is costly and at-sea discards of fish by fishermen are unobserved by the regulator. Stock conditions, ecosystem interaction, technological specification, and relative prices under which at-sea discards are acute are identified. A dynamic model is developed to balance ecological interdependencies among multiple fish species, and scope economies implicit in a costly targeting technology. Three regulatory regimes, species-specific harvest quotas, landing taxes, and revenue quotas, are contrasted against a hypothetical sole-owner problem. An optimal plan under all regimes precludes discarding. For both very low and very high levels of targeting costs, first best welfare is close to that achieved through any of the regulatory regimes. In general, however, landing taxes welfare dominate species-specific quota regulation; a revenue quota fares the worst.
Improved Mandarin Keyword Spotting Using Confusion Garbage Model

This paper presents an improved acoustic keyword spotting (KWS) algorithm using a novel confusion garbage model in Mandarin conversational speech. Observing the KWS corpus, we found there are many words with similar pronunciation with predefined keywords, although they have different Chinese characters and different meanings, which easily result in high false alarm rate. In this paper, an improved acoustic KWS method with confusion garbage models was developed that absorbs similar pronunciation words confused with specific keywords for a given task. One obvious advantage of such method is that it provides a flexible framework to implement the selection procedure and reduce false alarm rate effectively for a specific task. The efficiency of the proposed architecture was evaluated under HMM-based confidence measures (CM) methods and demonstrated on a conversational telephone dataset.
The face of Joubert syndrome: a study of dysmorphology and anthropometry.

Joubert syndrome (JS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, hypotonia, developmental delay, apnea/hypernea and ophthalmologic abnormalities. Since its description, most attention has focused on hindbrain malformations and the hallmark molar tooth sign (MTS) when visualized on axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Few reports have described a characteristic clinical phenotype of JS and a large cohort of patients has not undergone dysmorphology examinations. In addition, very little is known about other conditions which share some of the clinical and radiological features of JS, including, Arima, Senior-Loken, Dekaban, COACH, and Varadi (OFD VI) syndromes. The purpose of this study was to document the morphologic characteristics of Joubert syndrome based upon detailed dysmorphology and anthropometric examinations in a large cohort of JS individuals to determine whether JS is associated with a specific pattern of malformation. Dysmorphology findings included long face, frontal prominence, bitemporal narrowing, ptosis, prominent nasal bridge and tip, prognathism, eyebrow abnormalities, trapezoid shaped mouth, lower lip eversion, and thick ear lobes. Anthropometric analyses showed several significant differences in measurements including bizygomatic, frontal, nasal, and mandibular dimensions. When compared to controls, younger JS patients had significantly increased facial widths whereas older patients had longer mandibular arc lengths. These data indicate that JS lacks a clear, specific recognizable pattern of malformation, despite being associated with several dysmorphic facial characteristics and distinct anthropometric facial patterns, which change with age. Variability and overlap of features in JS and other hindbrain syndromes makes clinical diagnosis difficult and probably reflects genetic heterogeneity within the cohort of patients with the MTS.
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma With Marked Bronchial Epithelial Involvement

Marked involvement of bronchial epithelium by malignant cells with a neuroendocrine immunophenotype was observed in a pulmonary lobectomy specimen containing combined small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Review of the medical literature reveals scant information on malignant neuroendocrine cells in bronchial epithelium accompanying SCLC and no documentation of an SCLC precursor. We discuss the possibility that the intraepithelial neoplastic lesion that we have described may be a primary lesion and possibly a precursor of SCLC and the alternative possibility that it represents invasion by underlying invasive SCLC. The need for further comprehensive study of the morphology and immunophenotype of bronchial mucosal abnormalities accompanying SCLC utilizing lung resection specimens is emphasized.
The immune response of foals to natural infection with equid herpesvirus-2 and its association with febrile illness.

Abstract Equid herpesvirus-2 (EHV-2) infection is ubiquitous in horses. Although EHV-2 infection has been associated with several disease syndromes, its true pathogenic significance in horses remains uncertain. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), another gammaherpesvirus, has been shown to cause febrile illness in humans related to its immunopathologic effects. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe the ontogeny of the immune response of a cohort of 9 foals to natural infection with EHV-2 by evaluating serial complete blood counts, lymphocyte morphology, cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), viral load in nasal swabs and blood, and antigen-specific cellular immune responses of PBMC, in conjunction with clinical evaluation of the foals. The occurrence of fever in foals was not related to lymphocytosis or specific changes in lymphocyte morphology, cytokine gene expression, or viral load, but tended to be associated (P ≤ 0.10) with increased EHV-2-specific responsiveness of PBMC. These results support the conclusion that the cellular immune response to EHV-2 may lead to an immunologically mediated disease of foals that is analogous to infectious mononucleosis caused by EBV infection in humans.
The Consequence of Encouraging Girls to be Active for Weight Loss

The purpose of the study, conducted in Pennsylvania, USA, was to assess the prospective effect of parental encouragement of physical activity (PA) for weight loss on adolescent girls' concern about weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and objectively-measured PA. Non-Hispanic White girls (N = 177) and their parents were assessed when girls were 9, 11, 13 and 15 years old. At each age, girls' concern about their weight, pubertal development, BMI, and dietary intake were measured along with mothers' and fathers' encouragement of PA for weight loss, modeling of PA, and logistic support for PA. At ages 13 and 15 years, girls' PA was assessed using accelerometry. At age 11, girls' PA was measured using a combination of self-report measures and a standardized assessment of cardiovascular fitness. Parents of obese girls reported the highest encouragement of PA for weight loss; however, girls from all weight categories were exposed to encouragement of PA for weight loss and showed similar age-related increases in parental encouragement. Encouragement of PA for weight loss was prospectively associated with higher concern about weight and higher BMI, independent of pre-existing levels of these constructs and covariates. Encouragement of PA for weight loss was not associated with girls' objectively-measured PA. Parental encouragement of PA for weight loss was therefore not an effective strategy in this sample. Findings are consistent with research on parental child feeding practices, where parental control has been linked with unintended negative dietary and psychosocial outcomes among children.
Indices for Comparative Waste Assessment in Environmentally-Conscious Manufacturing

With the expansion ofpollution-prevention initiatives in the government sector, development of certification and eco-labeling mechanisms in foreign trade, and the emergence of green market drivers for consumer demand, industry is under increasing pressure to evaluate the life-cycle waste streams which emanate from their products and manufacturing processes. While much research has been devoted to the study of system-level design-for-environment (i.e. design for disassembly, serviceability, modularity), little attention has been given to the influence of planning and design decisions at the unit manufacturing process level, which has a significant impact on waste streams through material, catalyst, parameter and feature selection decisions. One of the most pressing issues in environmentally-conscious manufacturing is the ability to compare the environmental impacts of dissimilar waste streams to formulate the above decisions. This paper presents an overview of the hierarchical levels of comparative waste assessment which links process-level emissions to immediate, site-wide, and eco-system impacts. Significant issues to be addressed are: (1) the aggregation of data collection required for each level of decision-making, (2) the range of environmental effects needed to be analyzed at each level, (3) the uncertainty present at different levels of data aggregation, (4) the influence of site-specific (fate and transport) factors, and (5) the transformation of environmental information into metrics usable in detailed design and planning of products and processes. Case studies in the fabrication of metal parts and printed circuit boards are presented.
Hydrogen cycling in the waters near Bermuda: the role of the nitrogen fixer, Oscillatoria thiebautii

Oceanic surface waters are frequently supersaturated with hydrogen gas relative to atmospheric equilibrium. One possible source for the excess hydrogen is production by nitrogen-fixing organisms, many of which are known to reduce hydrogen ion, H+, to H2. Results from short-term, shore-based incubations in Bermuda have demonstrated that Oscillatoria thiebautii, a marine cyanobacterium, produces hydrogen in significant quantities, confirming previous work from St. Croix. Measurement of an acetylene reduction:15N2 fixation ratio of 2.85 ± 0.36:1 for Oscillatoria thiebautii near Bermuda was in agreement with our relatively low rates of hydrogen production (0.002 to 0.05 nmol per colony per hour) compared with nitrogen fixation rates (0.3 to 1.5 nmol per colony per hour). Although hydrogen production was slow, rates would be sufficient to produce surface supersaturations if no removal mechanisms were important. However, data on water column distributions indicated that surface waters near Bermuda at the time of our experiment were undersaturated with hydrogen. Diffusion of hydrogen into the thermocline and in situ biological consumption appear to be the most likely hydrogen sinks.
Enzymes involved in crotonate metabolism in Syntrophomonas wolfei

Cell-free extracts of Syntrophomonas wolfei subsp. wolfei grown with crotonate in pure culture or in coculture with Methanospirillum hungatei contained crotonyl-coenzyme A (CoA): acetate CoA-transferase activity. This activity was not detected in cell-free extracts from the butyrate-grown coculture which suggests that the long lag times observed before S. wolfei grew with crotonate were initially due to the inability to activate crotonate. Cell-free extracts of S. wolfei grown in pure culture contained high specific activities of hydrogenase and very low levels of formate dehydrogenase. The low levels suggest a biosynthethic rather than a catabolic role for the latter enzyme when S. wolfei is grown in pure culture. CO dehydrogenase activity was not detected. S. wolfei can form butyrate using a CoA transferase activity, but not by a phosphotransbutyrylase or enoate reductase activity. A c-type cytochrome was detected in S. wolfei grown in pure culture or in coculture indicating the presence of an electron transport system. This is a characteristic which separates S. wolfei from other known crotonate-using bacteria.
Verifying success of artificial spawning reefs in the St. Clair–Detroit River System for lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817)

Summary Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) were historically abundant in the St. Clair – Detroit River System (SCDRS), a 160 km river/channel network. In the SCDRS, lake sturgeon populations have been negatively affected by the loss/degradation of natural spawning habitat. To address habitat loss for lake sturgeon and other species, efforts are underway to restore spawning substrate by constructing artificial reefs. The main objective of this study was to conduct post-construction monitoring of lake sturgeon egg deposition and larval emergence near two of these artificial reefs: Fighting Island Reef (FIR) in the Detroit River, and Middle Channel Reef in the St. Clair River. An additional site in the St. Clair River where lake sturgeon spawn on a coal clinker bed was also investigated. From 2010 to 2012, viable eggs and larvae were collected from all of these reefs, indicating that conditions are suitable for egg deposition, incubation, and larval emergence. In the St. Clair River, the results indicate the likelihood of other spawning sites upstream of these artificial reef sites.
Magnetic penetration depth λ(T) in Ni-doped YBa2(Cu1-xNix)3O7

Abstract We present measurements of the penetration depth λ(T) in YBa 2 (Cu 1-x Ni x ) 3 O 7 (x=.04,..06) and pure YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 films obtained from the T dependence of the mutual inductance of two coaxial coils on opposite sides of the films. λ(0) increases by a factor of 5 with 4% Ni and a factor of 10 with 6% Ni. The data are well fitted by the function λ(T)=λ(0)/(1-T 2 /T c 2 ) 1/2 over the entire temperature range from 7K to T c , implying at low temperatures λ(T)≈λ(0)(1+αT 2 /T c 2 ) with a coefficient α that is independent of nickel concentration.
Exploring hypotheses about media computation

Research in computing education has been criticized as "Marco Polo," e.g., the researchers tried something and reported what happened. Our developing field needs more hypothesis-driven and theory-driven research. We will get there by making clear our goals and hypotheses, testing those goals and hypotheses explicitly, and critically reconsidering our results. My colleagues and I designed and evaluated a media-centric introductory computing approach ("Media Computation") over the last ten years. We started from a "Marco Polo" style and an explicit set of hypotheses. We have worked to test those hypotheses and to understand the outcomes. Our iterative effort has led us to explore deeper theory around motivation and learning. This paper serves as an example of a ten year research program that resulted in more hypotheses, a more elaborated theory, and a better understanding of the potential impacts of a computer science curriculum change.
Targeting Skin: Vitiligo and Autoimmunity

In this issue, Singh and co-workers describe the results of classical typing of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in 1,404 vitiligo patients and 902 unaffected controls from North India and follow-up HLA typing in 355 cases and 441 controls from Gujarat. The increased frequency of DRB1*07:01 in North Indian and Gujarat populations with generalized and localized vitiligo and in several vitiligo populations studied previously suggests that it contributes to autoimmunity and destruction of melanocytes.
Archaeopteryx. Der Urvogel von Solnhofen, by Peter Wellnhofer

(2009). Archaeopteryx. Der Urvogel von Solnhofen, by Peter Wellnhofer. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 310-311.
Mutagenic evaluation of antischistosomal drugs and their derivatives in Neurospora crassa.

The mutagenic activities of lucanthone, hycanthone, niridozole, and the indazole analogs of lucanthone (IA‐3 and IAS) or hycanthone (IA‐4 and IA‐6) were studied by assaying for the induction of specific locus mutations in the ad‐3 region of N. crassa. The results show that lucanthone, hycanthone, and their indazole analogs (IA‐3 through IA‐6) are all mutagenic in N. crassa when conidia are treated with any of these compounds. On a per mole basis, hycanthone is the least toxic and mutagenic, whereas IA‐3 is the most toxic and mutagenic compound among the six closely related agents. In general, compounds with a methyl group at the C‐4 position are more mutagenic than compounds with a methanol group; 6‐chloroindazole analogs are more mutagenic and more toxic than nonchlorinated analogs. Niridazole is not mutagenic when conidial suspensions are treated. However, the mutation frequency increased more than 50‐fold when niridazole was added to the medium used to grow vegetative cultures. Thus, it appears that th...
Exergy and Energy analysis of a ground-source heat pump for domestic water heating under simulated occupancy conditions

Abstract This paper presents analysis of a 5.275 kW (1.5-ton) water-to-water ground source heat pump (WW-GSHP) satisfying hot water needs in a 345 m 2 research house operated under simulated occupancy conditions. The hot water use protocol from the Building America Research Benchmark Definition claims to capture the living habits of the average American household and its impact on energy consumption. Energy and exergy analyses provide insight on system efficiency and sources of irreversibility, the main cause of wasted energy. The WW-GSHP shared the ground loop with a 7.56 kW water to air ground source heat pump (WA-GSHP) to space condition the same house. Understanding the performance of GSHPs is vital if the ground is to be used as a viable renewable energy resource.
Fibrinolytic therapy for very late stent thrombosis—is it a viable option?

Stent thrombosis (ST) has a very high case fatality and morbidity rates. The risk of very late ST is significantly increased with drug-eluting stents (DES) compared to bare-metal stents for at least up to 4 years. Discontinuation of clopidogrel therapy is the single most important consistently identified risk factor. Immediate reperfusion, preferably by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), has been considered the therapy of choice. Compared to de novo ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), myocardial infarction (MI) related to ST has significantly higher major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and lower reperfusion rates. Due to the significantly higher mortality associated with STEMI due to ST, prompt revascularization assumes paramount significance. Our case reflects the potential utility of fibrinolytic therapy for STEMI due to very late ST. Systemic fibrinolysis should be considered for ST in the presence of ongoing significant ischemia and unavailability of prompt PCI.
Analysis of clear corneal incision integrity in an ex vivo model

Purpose To determine the most favorable sutureless incision configuration to minimize extraocular fluid inflow after cataract surgery. Setting The Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Methods Five fresh human eyes were used in the study. Two 27-gauge needles connected to a saline solution bag and a digital manometer were inserted through the limbus 180 degrees from each other. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was maintained at 15 to 20 mm Hg. Three incisions were performed in different quadrants of each cornea: uniplanar 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm tunnel lengths and 2-step 3.0 mm tunnel length. India ink was applied to the incision site, and IOP fluctuation was induced by applying pressure to the limbal area of the opposite quadrant using an ophthalmodynamometer. Imaging was performed before and after pressure application. Results The linear distance of India ink inflow after pressure application was higher than the prepressure measurements in the 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm incision groups (P = .039 and P = .023, respectively). The maximum mean of inflow after pressure application was not higher than the prepressure measurement in the 2-step incision group (P = .105). The total ink area measured before and after pressure applications in the incisions of the 3 groups was not significantly different (P = .285). Conclusions Intraocular pressure fluctuations may promote entry of bacteria-size particles into the eye when 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm single-plane incisions are performed. Stepped incisions seem to be more resistant to inflow in the presence of IOP fluctuation.
Mechanical properties of near-eutectic Sn-Ag-Cu alloy over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates

The deformation properties of near-eutectic Sn-Ag-Cu alloy were measured in temperatures ranging from −25 to 125°C, and down to strain rates of about 10×10−9. Results have been combined into a stress versus strain rate master curve. The measurements were done with dog-bone specimens that have a 1-mm diameter, which corresponds to a typical solder joint diameter in ball grid arrays (BGAs). Effects of cooling rate were also studied, with cooling rates from 0.1 to 1 degrees/sec. The stress exponent of the fast-cooled samples was high, about 16. The activation energy was about 1 eV. The relatively high temperature dependence suggests that bulk diffusion is dominating. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) were used to study the microstructures of the test samples. The slower cooled samples had large Ag3Sn plates, but the size of the plates was significantly reduced with the faster cooling rates. The yield strength increased with cooling rate, reflecting the larger amount of alloying elements remaining in the solution and smaller, dispersed precipitates. For comparison, experiments were also performed on binary AgSn and CuSn solders, pure Sn, and with two reduced silver content SAC alloys, Sn-2.5% Ag-0.7% Cu and Sn-3.0% Ag-0.7% Cu.
Origin of zoned fine-grained inclusions in the Allende meteorite

The mineral and bulk compositions in the three zones of the fine-grained Ca-Al-rich inclusion in the Allende meteorite are studied. Mineral analyses for the inclusions are presented and the principle mineral composition for the three zones of the inclusions are described. The nature of the alteration and the physical and chemical environment which caused the three-fold zonation are examined. An alteration and origin of zonation for the Allende inclusions are proposed. It is noted that the fine-grained inclusions display alteration processes such as Ca-Fe-silicate condensation and characteristics of the primary inclusion such as different rim type.
Isolation by restriction endonuclease digestion and base-specific affinity chromatography of rat-embryo DNA sequences disproportionately enriched in virogenic bromodeoxyuridine.

Control and bromodeoxyuridine-containing rat-embryo-cell DNA were digested by the restriction endonucleases Hpa II and Msp I and were subsequently analyzed by agarose-gel electrophoresis as well as DNA-affinity chromatography. By the former technique, it appeared that no substantial differences existed between the two DNA samples with respect to the amount or distribution of methylcytosine. On the other hand, it was obvious following base-specific DNA chromatography that the virogenic analog was markedly concentrated in particular nucleotide sequences which demonstrated a proportionately greater affinity for the (A-T)-specific adsorbent irrespective of digestion by either restriction endonudease.
The evolution of deformation substructure in a creep deformed fully-lamellar TiAl alloy

Abstract The evolution of deformation substructure in a powder metallurgy (P/M) TiAl alloy creep deformed at 760°C has been examined using transmission electron microscopy. Since the multiplication of lattice dislocations within γ lamellae becomes limited as a result of a refined fully-lamellar (FL) microstructure (i.e. refined lamellar spacing) within the P/M TiAl alloy, the deformation of the alloy at the primary creep stage is mainly accommodated by soft lamellar grains through the movement of interfacial dislocations in the γ–α2 and γ–γ interfaces. The mobility of interfacial dislocations is primarily impeded by grain boundaries, interface ledges and dislocation barriers formed by the impingement of lattice dislocations to the lamellar interfaces. When the alloy is deformed into the secondary creep stage, the density of interfacial dislocations increases and deformation twins nucleate and grow from the lamellar interfaces. It is suggested that deformation twinning in FL-TiAl results from a stress-relief process due to the pile-up of interfacial dislocations during deformation. The alloy becomes more resistant to creep deformation as a result of the deformation twinning because the deformation twins further restrict the dislocation motion within the γ lamellae, and the formation of sessile dislocations at the intersections between the deformation twins and the γ or α2 lamellae provides effective barriers for the movement of interfacial dislocations.
The order of recall and the recall of order

Adelphi University, Garden City, Long Island, New York 11530 Four experiments are described. The first three lend support to the assertion that retrieval from short-term storage (STS) is improved, possibly to a maximum, if items are recalled in their originally presented order. In the fourth experiment a modified recall condition was introduced in which written position of recall reflected order information. Although the subject was not constrained to recall the items in order under this modified recall condition, both item and order retention increased in comparison to both free and serial recall conditions. Within the theoretical framework adopted, the results indicate that retrieval from STS is improved by recalling in order; while long-term storage (LTS) is reduced by the constraint to recall in order. However, LTS is increased by the retention of order information when recalling in order is not required.
Analysis and modeling of Palmer's drought index series

Abstract The objective of the present study is to investigate the stochastic nature of yearly and monthly Palmer's drought index (PDI) series and to characterize them via valid stochastic models which may be used to forecast and to simulate the PDI series. The monthly and annual PDI series for Iowa (1930–1962) and Kansas (1887–1962) are analyzed in the present study. The period of data includes the severe droughts experienced in U.S.A. in the 1930's. Valid autoregressive models are fitted to these time series and the final models are selected on the basis of class selection rules. Statistical characteristics of the observed data and those generated by the selected models are compared. The selected models are also tested for their forecasting ability. Results of these analyses and the modeling effort demonstrate that PDI series can be forecast with reasonable accuracy, one to several months ahead. The yearly forecasts are much less accurate. The models can also be used to generate synthetic data which preserve the important statistical characteristics such as the long-term oscillations of the original data.
Cellulitis associated with an oral source of infection in breast cancer patients: report of two cases

We present 2 patients with prior lumpectomy, axillary node dissection and radiation therapy for treatment of breast cancer, who subsequently developed arm and chest cellulitis associated with an oral infection (gingivitis with bacteremia in one patient, and dental abscess in another). Our findings suggest that hematogeneous seeding of the compromised extremity and/or breast from the oral cavity should be considered as a possible cause of cellulitis in breast cancer patients.
An Experimental Evaluation of Corrected Inversion and DCJ Distance Metric through Simulations

The available data of complete ordering of genes on each chromosome of organisms is increasing thank to the research in gene hunting and annotation. Researchers like evolutionary biologists and computer scientists are greatly interested in gene order data because it make possible to resolve the ancient branches to fill the tree of life. Inversion based distance metric and the so called DCJ (double-cut-and-join) distance metric have been intensively studied through all these years of work. However, both of the two metrics only consider the smallest possible distance between two genomes, known as edit distance. It underestimates the true evolutionary distance and thus makes the phylogenies less accurate. Correction techniques for inversion and DCJ have been proposed to improve the aforementioned problem. The first has been widely used in phylogenetic reconstructions and the second has not seen significant use to date. We design and conduct a series of experiments to estimate the quality of inferred phylogenies by using inversion and DCJ based distance metrics in various aspects, with and without applying correction. Our main findings are three folds: First, correction techniques yield much more accurate phylogenies; second, inversion and DCJ measure return similar results; last but not least, corrected DCJ (CDCJ) provides the most accurate distance metric for tree reconstruction.
Impact of automatic sentence segmentation on meeting summarization

This paper investigates the impact of automatic sentence segmentation on speech summarization using the ICSI meeting corpus. We use a hidden Markov model (HMM) for sentence segmentation that integrates the N-gram language model and pause information, and a maximum marginal relevance (MMR) based extractive summarization method. The system-generated summaries are compared to multiple human summaries using the ROUGE scores. The decision thresholds from the segmentation system are varied to examine the impact of different segments on summarization. We find that (1) using system generated utterance segments degrades summarization performance compared to using human annotated sentences; (2) segmentation needs to be optimized for summarization instead of the segmentation task itself, however, the patterns are slightly different from prior work for other tasks such as parsing; and (3) there are effects from different summarization evaluation metrics as well as speech recognition errors.
Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factor Genotypes in Children in the United States: Clues about Genotype and Outcome Relationships

The most common Helicobacter pylori genotype among 37 U.S. children was cagA positive, vacA s1m1, and oipA "on" (n = 17, 45.9%), followed by cagA negative, vacA s2m2, and oipA "off" (n = 8, 21.6%), similar to the pattern in adults. cagA positivity was more common in blacks than in whites (i.e., 100% versus 56.5%, P = 0.032).
Marketing Music Library Services Through Video Infomercial and Resource Guides: A Case Study from the University of Tennessee George F. DeVine Music Library

ABSTRACT To raise awareness of the variety of library services and resources offered, demonstrating relevancy to the current age, two librarians from the University of Tennessee created a library infomercial/visual resource guide targeting the Music Library's primary users. This article explores the impetus for engaging in such a marketing initiative, the planning process, production of the video, and delivery. Additionally, a survey designed to assess the effectiveness of this project was created and its results shared. Ideally, the information contained in this article can be applied to similar marketing initiatives by other libraries.
The Perfect Melodeon: The Origins of the Estey Organ Company, 1846–1866*

The founding of the Estey Organ Company is a case study in the precarious cut-and-try method by which, in the nineteenth century, most American firms were created. Fleeting partnerships reflected the continuous search for and exhaustion of numerous small reservoirs of capital. Survival and growth were tied to increasing entrepreneurial specialization, broadening markets, and immunity to developing geographic handicaps.
GPS Adaptive Array Phase Compensation using a Software Radio Architecture

Digital Beam Forming and nulling are viable means of GPS array signal processing that enable multipath mitigation and provide protection against interference. As reported in the literature [1], nulling causes errors in the carrier phase and code phase measurements. The output of multi element antenna arrays (Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas – CRPAs) are subject to significant variations in their phase patterns that arise from the application of time varying adaptive array weights. This phase error can be compensated in the carrier phase tracking domain in the baseband GPS receiver. Classical approaches implement a constrained beam steering mechanism to control the phase response of the array in the look direction. An alternative approach using unconstrained adaptive array processing with compensation for the subsequent phase distortion of the GPS signal is demonstrated using a software defined GPS radio.
Seven-year follow-up of allogeneic transplant using BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan chemotherapy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma after autograft failure: importance of minimal residual disease

AbstractAllogeneic transplant using reduced intensity conditioning is a therapeutic option for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) who relapse after an autograft. This was a prospective study of 31 consecutive eligible patients with HL who relapsed after an autograft and underwent an allograft using BEAM (BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) conditioning. At a median follow-up of 7 years the progression-free survival (PFS) was 36% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19–54%) and overall survival (OS) was 42% (95% CI 23–59%). In multivariate analysis only residual disease at the time of transplant predicted outcome, with a 4-year PFS and OS of 62% and 75% for patients with minimal residual disease versus 8% and 8% for patients with gross residual disease, respectively (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). This benefit seemed to be irrespective of chemosensitivity, with an OS for patients with chemorefractory yet minimal disease of 71% at 4 years. BEAM allogeneic transplant is effective in producing long-ter...
An Analysis of IRS Concerns with Conservation Easement Charitable Deductions

ABSTRACT: Over the past 30 years conservation easements have become an increasingly popular tool available to private landowners for protecting endangered natural areas, scenic properties, and working farms and forests. In addition, the charitable contribution deduction allowed for qualified conservation easement contributions has grown from an obscure and technical type of contribution to one of the most popular and significant types of charitable deductions available to taxpayers. Conservation easement contributions have also created a tugging match between those who write federal tax law and those who enforce it. Congress has generally looked on conservation easements favorably, and has increased the tax benefits of such contributions over time, while the IRS has listed contributions of conservation easements as an important source of tax evasion. This conflict leaves taxpayers in the middle, faced with the necessity of carefully planning qualifying conservation easement contributions in this difficult...
Anthropic Correction of Information Estimates and Its Application to Neural Coding

Information theory has been used as an organizing principle in neuroscience for several decades. Estimates of the mutual information (MI) between signals acquired in neurophysiological experiments are believed to yield insights into the structure of the underlying information processing architectures. With the pervasive availability of recordings from many neurons, several information and redundancy measures have been proposed in the recent literature. A typical scenario is that only a small number of stimuli can be tested, while ample response data may be available for each of the tested stimuli. The resulting asymmetric information estimation problem is considered. It is shown that the direct plug-in information estimate has a negative bias. An anthropic correction is introduced that has a positive bias. These two complementary estimators and their combinations are natural candidates for information estimation in neuroscience. Tail and variance bounds are given for both estimates. The proposed information estimates are applied to the analysis of neural discrimination and redundancy in the avian auditory system.
Altered Gene Expression in the Liver of γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase–Deficient Mice

Abstract We used mice deficient in γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) to analyze the effects of GGT deficiency and altered thiol levels on gene expression in liver. GGT-deficient mice have markedly reduced levels of glutathione (GSH), cysteine, methionine, and cysteinylglycine in liver. Steady-state RNA levels of the catalytic subunit of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis, are elevated 4-fold in these mice, while those for glutathione synthetase (GSH syn) are elevated 2-fold. RNA levels of cystathionase (cystathionine γ-lyase), a key enzyme in the synthesis of cysteine from methionine, are elevated ∼3.5-fold. In contrast, levels of RNA coding for multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2), which transports GSH into bile, are half wild-type values. We found no change in RNA levels of enzymes related to oxidative injury (CuZn and Mn superoxide dismutases [SOD], catalase, and glutathione peroxidase). Similarly, RNA levels of glutathione reductase and ribonucleotide reductase were unchanged. Furthermore, in contrast to previous in vitro results, methyl methanesulfonate did not induce stress-activated signal transduction as measured by c-jun phosphorylation in livers of GGT-deficient mice, despite further depletion of GSH by buthionine sulfoximine. Our findings indicate that GGT deficiency itself and/or altered thiol levels regulate expression of genes involved in GSH metabolism, but have no effect on the expression of other antioxidant genes. (Hepatology 2000;32:556-562.)
The evolving epidemiology of fiber and heart disease.

The diet:coronary heart disease (CHD) hypothesis has been a fixture in heart disease research for the last half of this century (Ascherio et al ’95a). The dominant assumption behind this hypothesis has been that dietary fats and cholesterol influence CHD risk through their effects on various lipoproteins (Keys ’65, Hegsted ’65). However, a parallel line of scientific findings over the same period suggests that dietary fibers may also affect the risk for heart disease. The challenge for researchers and the public at large is to understand the role of fiber in context with the influences of other lifestyle factors (Ascherio et al ’85a). Does the crude association of increased fiber intake with a lowered risk for heart disease merely reflect an inverse relationship with accepted risk factors such as fats or cigarettes (Sacks ’93, Wynder ’96)? Or do fibers have an independent effect on CHD risk, and, if so, do they exert that influence through recognized lipid pathways (LRC ’84) or through other biologic mechanisms?
Size-related habitat shifts facilitated by positive preference induction in a marine kelp crab

Individual variation in habitat use has important ecological and evolutionary consequences. Here, we combine developmental and functional approaches to study habitat use in Pugettia producta, a marine crab that sequesters pigments from the algae it inhabits and consumes to camouflage with different colored algal habitats. Pugettia from different habitats differ in size and color; individuals living in red intertidal algae are small and red, whereas crabs in amber-colored kelp forests are larger and more amber. We examine the developmental causes (effects of size and experience) and the functional consequences (growth and mortality rates) of size-specific habitat use in Pugettia. We demonstrate that positive preference induction may be a mechanism facilitating size-specific habitat use: prior feeding experience with kelp (in the field or laboratory) increases habitat preferences for kelp but only for larger crabs. Habitat use also has important fitness consequences; small red crabs grow equally fast on both kelp and red algae but suffer much higher mortality in kelp; large red crabs grow faster on kelp diets relative to red algae but experience only marginally higher mortality in kelp. Thus, habitat-specific mortality rates may explain the use of intertidal red algal habitats by small crabs, whereas reduced growth of large crabs on red algae may help trigger shifts to subtidal kelp habitats. Size-specific functional consequences of habitat use may select for developmental processes--such as positive preference induction--that facilitate shifts in habitat use in Pugettia and other phenotypically plastic organisms that shift habitats through ontogeny. Copyright 2010, Oxford University Press.
Technological Diffusion and Asset Prices

In this paper we demonstrate that the gradual diffusion of technology causes the stock market to exhibit a cyclical behavior. More importantly, we attribute sharp declines and increases in the stock market such as the ones that occurred in the early 1970s and mid 1990s in the United States to expected rapid technological diffusion.
Understanding human disease mutations through the use of interspecific genetic variation

Data on replacement mutations in genes of disease patients exist in a variety of online resources. In addition, genome sequencing projects and individual gene sequencing efforts have led to the identification of disease gene homologs in diverse metazoan species. The availability of these two types of information provides unique opportunities to investigate factors that are important in the development of genetically based disease by contrasting long and short-term molecular evolutionary patterns. Therefore, we conducted an analysis of disease-associated human genetic variation for seven disease genes: the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the neural cell adhesion molecule L1, phenylalanine hydroxylase, paired box 6, the X-linked retinoschisis gene and TSC2/tuberin. Our analyses indicate that disease mutations show definite patterns when examined from an evolutionary perspective. Human replacement mutations resulting in disease are overabundant at amino acid positions most conserved throughout the long-term history of metazoans. In contrast, human polymorphic replacement mutations and silent mutations are randomly distributed across sites with respect to the level of conservation of amino acid sites within genes. Furthermore, disease-causing amino acid changes are of types usually not observed among species. Using Grantham's chemical difference matrix, we find that amino acid changes observed in disease patients are far more radical than the variation found among species and in non-diseased humans. Overall, our results demonstrate the usefulness of evolutionary analyses for understanding patterns of human disease mutations and underscore the biomedical significance of sequence data currently being generated from various model organism genome sequencing projects.
Lending Kindle e‐book readers: first results from the Texas A&M University project

Purpose – This paper aims to evaluate the reception of the Amazon Kindle e‐book lending program at the Texas AM academic titles were rarely selected. The Texas AM libraries must continue to invest in new ways of delivering content.Originality/value – This is the first study on e‐book reader lending services in...
Differential effects of extracellular ATP on chloride transport in cortical collecting duct cells

Extracellular ATP in the cortical collecting duct can inhibit epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) but also stimulate calcium-activated chloride channels (CACC). The relationship between ATP-mediated ...
The package integration of RF-MEMS switch and control IC for wireless applications

The integration of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch and control integrated circuit (IC) in a single package was developed for use in next-generation portable wireless systems. This packaged radio-frequency (RF) MEMS switch exhibits an insertion loss under -0.4 dB, and isolation greater than -45 dB. This MEMS switch technology has significantly better RF characteristics than conventional PIN diodes or field effect transistor (FET) switches and consumes less power. The RF MEMS switch chip has been integrated with a high voltage charge pump plus control logic chips into a single package to accommodate the low voltage requirements in portable wireless applications. This paper discusses the package assembly process and critical parameters for integration of MEMS devices and bi-complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) control integrated circuit (IC) into a single package.
Distributed target classification and tracking in sensor networks

The highly distributed infrastructure provided by sensor networks supports fundamentally new ways of designing surveillance systems. In this paper, we discuss sensor networks for target classification and tracking. Our formulation is anchored on location-aware data routing to conserve system resources, such as energy and bandwidth. Distributed classification algorithms exploit signals from multiple nodes in several modalities and rely on prior statistical information about target classes. Associating data to tracks becomes simpler in a distributed environment, at the cost of global consistency. It may be possible to filter clutter from the system by embedding higher level reasoning in the distributed system. Results and insights from a recent field test at 29 Palms Marine Training Center are provided to highlight challenges in sensor networks.
Phylogeography of ninespine sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) in North America: glacial refugia and the origins of adaptive traits

The current geographical distribution of the ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) was shaped in large part by the glaciation events of the Pleistocene epoch (2.6 Mya– 10 Kya). Previous efforts to elucidate the phylogeographical history of the ninespine stickleback in North America have focused on a limited set of morphological traits, some of which are likely subject to widespread convergent evolution, thereby potentially obscuring relationships among populations. In this study, we used genetic information from both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences and nuclear microsatellite markers to determine the phylogenetic relationships among ninespine stickleback populations. We found that ninespine sticklebacks in North America probably dispersed from at least three glacial refugia—the Mississippi, Bering, and Atlantic refugia—not two as previously thought. However, by applying a molecular clock to our mtDNA data, we found that these three groups diverged long before the most recent glacial period. Our new phylogeny serves as a critical framework for examining the evolution of derived traits in this species, including adaptive phenotypes that evolved multiple times in different lineages. In particular, we inferred that loss of the pelvic (hind fin) skeleton probably evolved independently in populations descended from each of the three putative North American refugia.