cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periodontal Surveillance – Prospects for the Future

I am very happy to serve as the Associate Editor for this special supplement to the Journal of Periodontology on periodontal surveillance. Drs. Paul Eke (Guest Editor and Workgroup Co-Chair) and Robert J. Genco (Workgroup Chair) have pulled together experts on this timely topic as part of a joint effort between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Periodontology.1 The result is a fine assembly of work that provides the field of periodontal surveillance with the current status and some interesting future directions on the monitoring of periodontal disease. This supplement offers important tools to researchers and individuals in the public health sector with approaches in managing large periodontal disease patient populations. The body of work in this supplement pays particular attention to the use of clinical and behavioral measures of disease in the clinical and field testing arenas. There is an interesting future ahead in the use of methods of periodontal surveillance that range from new salivary proteomic and genomic biomarkers of disease to other rapid identification procedures to classify patients.2,3 This supplement provides a sound basis for future growth in the field, and we believe this work will provide our readership with an excellent resource for the continued growth in this important component of oral health monitoring and research.
Small-angle X-ray scattering and polymer melting: A model study

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) gives information on lamellar stacks in semicrystalline polymers. SAXS experiments have been used to follow the melting transition that occurs over a temperature range of 10 °C or more. One common feature is the increase in the average period by 50–100% during the melting process, a change that is often attributed to sequential melting of crystals in the lamellar stack. A quantitative treatment shows that the scattering experiment indicates only the original period, not the average period that increases throughout sequential melting. With this model, I discuss the relation between structural parameters of the melting structure and quantities derived from the SAXS intensity, the correlation function, and the interface distribution function. Uncertainties persist in our understanding of polymer melting. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2454–2460, 2001
Generalized bag models as mean-field approximations to QCD

Abstract I analyze the relationship between quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and generalized bag-type models. By functionally integrating over gluon variables and making a mean-field approximation, QCD can be reduced to a relativistic model in which quantized quarks move in a multi-bi-Grassmann-valued background gauge field. The dynamics of the background field is related to the mean quark motions by a classical variational principle, in which the gauge-invariant gluon effective action appears as the gluon kinetic term; formally, the model closely resembles the semiclassical out-in approximation to general relativity. By making an additional quark source charge approximation, the model can be further reduced to a form in which the quarks couple to a pair of classical abelian background gauge fields obeying effective action dynamics. Both formulations are natural generalizations of a non-relativistic effective action model in which the mean fields of static source charges are confined in bag-like domains. The exact QCD partition function can be formally developed in a series expansion around the solution of the abelian background field model, which serves as a zeroth-order binding approximation.
Antarctic ice shrinkage

Is the West Antarctic ice sheet disintegrating, threatening to raise the worldwide level of the ocean with disastrous effect? Charles R. Bentley, chairman of the Glaciology Committee of the Polar Research Board, National Research Council, posed the question and gave a personal answer, at a recent meeting of the Antarctican Society, in Washington, D.C. Bentley has long researched the Antarctic, beginning with a 2-year tour during the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958). West Antarctica is the subject of interest because the ice cover there rests on bedrock as much as 2000 m below sea level, and this ‘marine’ glacier, unlike the ice over of East Antarctica, may be affected by changes in sea level. West and East Antarctica (divided along the Transantarctic Mountains) are as different as New Guinea and Australia, according to Bentley. East Antarctica exhibits continental characteristics, including a thick crust and mountain ranges; much of West Antarctica is underwater and dotted with active volcanic features.
Dose–response effects in an outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis

The effects of ingested Salmonella enteritidis (SE) dose on incubation period and on the severity and duration of illness were estimated in a cohort of 169 persons who developed gastroenteritis after eating hollandaise sauce made from grade-A shell eggs. The cohort was divided into three groups based on self-reported dose of sauce ingested. As dose increased, median incubation period decreased (37 h in the low exposure group v. 21 h in the medium exposure group v. 17.5 h in the high exposure group, P = 0.006) and greater proportions reported body aches (71 v. 85 v. 94%, P = 0.0009) and vomiting (21 v. 56 v. 57%, P = 0.002). Among 118 case-persons who completed a follow-up questionnaire, increased dose was associated with increases in median weight loss in kilograms (3.2 v. 4.5 v. 5.0, P = 0.0001), maximum daily number of stools (12.5 v. 15.0 v. 20.0, P = 0.02), subjective rating of illness severity (P = 0.0007), and the number of days of confinement to bed (3.0 v. 6.5 v. 6.5, P = 0.04). In this outbreak, ingested dose was an important determinant of the incubation period, symptoms and severity of acute salmonellosis.
Systematic review: the safety and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

SummaryBackground Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) provides 100% oxygen under pressure, which increases tissue oxygen levels, relieves hypoxia and alters inflammatory pathways. Although there is experience using HBOT in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the safety and overall efficacy of HBOT in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. Aim To quantify the safety and efficacy of HBOT for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The rate of adverse events with HBOT for IBD was compared to the expected rate of adverse events with HBOT. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Collaboration and Web of Knowledge were systematically searched using the PRISMA standards for systematic reviews. Seventeen studies involving 613 patients (286 CD, 327 UC) were included. Results The overall response rate was 86% (85% CD, 88% UC). The overall response rate for perineal CD was 88% (18/40 complete healing, 17/40 partial healing). Of the 40 UC patients with endoscopic follow-up reported, the overall response rate to HBOT was 100%. During the 8924 treatments, there were a total of nine adverse events, six of which were serious. The rate of adverse events with HBOT in IBD is lower than that seen when utilising HBOT for other indications (P < 0.01). The risk of bias across studies was high. Conclusions Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a relatively safe and potentially efficacious treatment option for IBD patients. To understand the true benefit of HBOT in IBD, well-controlled, blinded, randomised trials are needed for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Mirager, the "best-yet" approach for horizontal microprogramming

After a brief description of the differences encountered in "vertical" and "horizontal" microprogramming and of the MIRAGE processor, the author explains why he believes his approach to be today's most feasible one. A description of the MIRAGER microassembly system is given with special emphasis placed on its syntax, default structure, and diagnostic capabilities.
Automated optimum design of wing structures: A probabilistic approach

Abstract The optimization of aircraft wing structures is presented by considering the dynamic stresses developed during landing impact and gust load conditions. The random nature of the sinking speed and the forward velocity at the instant of contact is considered in the calculation of landing stresses. The vertical velocity due to gust is treated as a stochastic process for the computation of gust-induced stresses. The optimum designs of a symmetric double wedge airfoil, based on beam type of analysis, and a supersonic airplane wing, based on finite element analysis, are considered to illustrate the procedure. A graphical procedure is used in the case of the double wedge airfoil, and nonlinear programming techniques are used in the case of the supersonic wing, for finding the optimum solutions.
Renal ouabain inhibitable Na-K ATPase activity and myoinositol supplementation in experimental diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Alterations in ouabain inhibitable Na-K ATPase activity, polyol pathway activity, and myoinositol metabolism are part of a unifying hypothesis proposed to explain the pathogenesis of the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. Direct measurements of renal ouabain inhibitable Na-K ATPase activity in animals with streptozotocin-induced diabetes show increased or decreased activity, depending on the nephron segment examined and the duration of diabetes. While myoinositol feeding corrects depressed Na-K ATPase activity in peripheral nerve of streptozotocin diabetic rats, the effect of myoinositol feeding on altered renal Na-K ATPase activity is unknown. To assess the effect of experimental diabetes on renal ouabain inhibitable Na-K ATPase activity and test the involvement of the polyol/inositol pathway, we assayed kidneys from normal, streptozotocin diabetic, and myoinositol-supplemented diabetic rats for renal ouabain-inhibitable Na-K ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, and τ-glutamyltranspeptidase (τ-GT) activity. Ouabain inhibitable Na-K ATPase activity, expressed per milligram of protein, is increased in the inner medulla of the diabetic kidney compared with normal and, expressed per microgram DNA, is increased in both the inner medulla and cortex. Myoinositol supplementation did not affect the increase in renal enzyme activity seen with streptozotocin diabetes. These observations suggest that the regulation of renal oaubain inhibitable Na-K ATPase activity, in streptozotocin diabetes, does not depend on supplemental myoinositol. These findings do not exclude the possibility that changes in polyol or myoinositol concentrations in a specific nephron segment may have pathogenetic significance for diabetic nephropathy.
The Scattering of Alpha-Particles in Helium

Deviations from the scattering to be expected on the basis of an inverse square law of force between alpha-particles receive a satisfactory interpretation in terms of the influence on particles of zero, two and four units of angular momentum of a specific nuclear interaction having a range less than 9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm. The semistable state of the compound nucleus ${\mathrm{Be}}^{8}$ formed in certain disintegration experiments is found from the scattering analysis to have an energy of about 3 Mev, a mean life of 0.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}21}$ sec., and zero angular momentum. There is also some evidence for a semistable state of still shorter life with two units of angular momentum and an energy of 4 to 5 Mev.
USNRC materials research for evaluation of pressurized thermal shock in RPV of PWRs

Abstract The recent definition of a postulated thermal shock accident followed promptly by system repressurization termed an overcooling or pressurized thermal shock accident has set a large analysis and research effort into motion. The essential elements are concerned with defining the accident transients, evaluating the instrumentation and controls that cause the postulated accidents and evaluating the metallurgical and structural mechanics aspects of the reactor vessel with respect to its failure potential. This paper discusses the research underway by NRC for the vessel material and fracture consideration of this postulated accident and also provides information on our plans for mitigation of this problem.
Glycine enolates: the large effect of iminium ion formation on alpha-amino carbon acidity.

Department of Chemistry, UniVersity at BuffaloSUNY, Buffalo New York 14260-3000Departamento de Qui´mica Fi´sica, Facultad de Qui´micaUniVersidad de Santiago15706 Santiago de Compostela, SpainReceiVed May 22, 2001ReVised Manuscript ReceiVed July 9, 2001We wish to report extraordinarily efficient catalysis of depro-tonation of the R-amino carbon of glycine methyl ester by thesimple ketone acetone that is the result of a 10
Comments on Daniel E. Flage’s “Berkeley’s Contingent Necessities”

According to Daniel Flage, Berkeley thinks that all necessary truths are founded on acts of will that assign meanings to words. After briefly commenting on the air of paradox contained in the title of Flage’s paper, and on the historical accuracy of Berkeley’s understanding of the abstractionist tradition, I make some remarks on two points made by Flage. Firstly, I discuss Flage’s distinction between the ontological ground of a necessary truth and our knowledge of a necessary truth. Secondly, I discuss Flage’s attempt to show that, according to Berkeley, the resemblance relation does not constitute a necessary connection.
Cancer Patient Assessment and Reports of Excellence: Reliability and Validity of Advanced Cancer Patient Perceptions of the Quality of Care

Purpose Consumer perceptions are important measures of the quality of cancer care. This article describes the validation of new measures of the quality of cancer care at the time of diagnosis and treatment for advanced cancer with life-limiting prognosis. Methods Focus groups, review of guidelines, and an expert panel were used to construct two surveys of the quality of cancer care. A prospective cohort study examined the reliability and validity of three problem scores (ie, counts of the opportunities to improve the quality of care) that examine care at the time of diagnosis and initial treatment. Results At the first interview, 58% of 206 cancer patients (54.9% females; 27.5% with lung cancer; 5.4% with pancreatic cancer; 30.4% with colorectal cancer; 18.6% with breast cancer; mean age, 66.6 years) identified one or more concerns with communication about being diagnosed with advanced cancer. At the second interview, 57.0% of the respondents voiced one or more concerns about treatment communication, and ...
Ethnic Identity and the Daily Psychological Well-Being of Adolescents From Mexican and Chinese Backgrounds

Protective effects of ethnic identity on daily psychological well-being were examined in a sample of 415 ninth graders from Mexican and Chinese backgrounds. Utilizing daily diary assessments and multilevel modeling, adolescents with a greater regard for their ethnic group exhibited greater levels of daily happiness and less daily anxiety averaged over the 2-week study period. Ethnic regard moderated the daily association between normative stressful demands and happiness, and between stressful demands and happiness experienced 1 day after stressors occurred. Moderating effects were significant even after controlling for self-esteem. Although no buffering effects of ethnic centrality were found, the results point to the positive influence of ethnic regard in the daily lives of adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Optimization of protein and cellulase secretion in Neocallimastix frontalis EB188

Variations in culture feeding protocols were used to optimize the secretion of protein and cellulase in Neocallimastix frontalis EB188. High numbers (2000/ml) of zoospores, culture feeding at 55 h using a 1:3 dilution and cotton cellulose [0.25% (w/v) final] as the carbon source increased secretion. Endoglucanase reached 1.6±0.06 IU/ml, exoglucanase reached 0.032±0.006 IU/ml and β-glucosidase reached 0.874±0.090 IU/ml. Medium containing twice the concentration of non-carbon-source components failed to increase secretions. Gel electrophoresis demonstrated that eleven cellulases were present. Two cellulases were secreted only in stationary cultures. rotein and cellulase secretion in N. frontalis EB188 may be dependent on the dilution of fermentation products.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

As the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common cause of asymptomatic liver enzyme elevations in Western nations. Although it is easy to diagnose NAFLD, a liver biopsy is currently required to diagnose nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Patients with NASH are those at greatest risk of progression to cirrhosis and, thus, treatment efforts are targeted to these individuals. Although currently there are no FDA-approved treatments for NASH, a multidisciplinary approach that addresses comorbid conditions and promotes modest weight loss comprises the backbone of therapy.
Motion estimation and segmentation

In the general structure-from-motion (SFM) problem involving several moving objects in a scene, the essential first step is to segment moving objects independently. We attempt to deal with the problem of optical flow estimation and motion segmentation over a pair of images. We apply a mean field technique to determine optical flow and motion boundaries and present a deterministic algorithm. Since motion discontinuities represented by line process are embedded in the estimation of the optical flow, our algorithm provides accurate estimates of optical flow especially along motion boundaries and handles occlusion and multiple motions. We show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other well-known algorithms in terms of estimation accuracy and timing.
Effects of oxygen and inorganic carbon concentrations on the photosynthetic quotients of marine algae

The photosynthetic quotients of the marine prymnesiophyte Pavlova lutheri and the marine dinoflagellate Glenodinum sp. were measured at different concentrations of dissolved oxygen and inorganic carbon. Dissolved oxygen concentration appeared to be the most important factor controlling the photosynthetic quotient. Photosynthetic quotients generally were between 1.0 and 1.8 at oxygen concentrations less than saturation, were approximately 1.0 at oxygen saturation, and generally were from 0.1 to 1.0 at oxygen concentrations greater than saturation. The photosynthetic quotients greater than 1.0 were not caused by lipid synthesis. They may have been partially caused by the presence of KNO3 rather than an ammonium salt in the growth media. The lowered photosynthetic quotients at higher oxygen concentrations were probably caused by algal photorespiration.
Management Strategies for Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Related Vaginal Agenesis: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Purpose: The optimal method for neovagina creation in patients with vaginal agenesis is controversial. Progressive perineal dilation is a minimally invasive method with high success rates. However, the economic merits of progressive perineal dilation compared to surgical vaginoplasty are unknown.Materials and Methods: We performed a Markov based cost-effectiveness analysis of 3 management strategies for vaginal agenesis—progressive perineal dilation with and without subsequent vaginoplasty, and up-front vaginoplasty. Cost data were drawn from the Pediatric Health Information System database (2004 to 2009) for inpatient procedures and from governmental cost data (2009) for outpatient procedures and clinical followup. Other model parameters were derived from a systematic literature review and comparison with other congenital and acquired pediatric and/or adolescent gynecologic conditions. Bounded and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were used to assess model stability.Results: Including all procedures, eq...
Semantic components in children's errors with pronouns

In the presence of the experimenter and two dolls, children were asked to respond to sentences containing pronous which required distinctions to be made on the basis of person, number, and gender, such as “Point tomy (your, his, her, our, their) feet.” Errors tended to maintain distinctions; for example,we was treated as if it meantI (maintaining first person) orthey (maintaining plural) more often than could be accounted for by a response-bias model. Furthermore, there were consistent individual differences in the kinds of distinctions that were difficult; some subjects has more trouble with number, others with person. These findings support the notion that errors made during acquisition result from dropping only part of the correct meaning, and they suggest that individuals may differ in the relative strengths of different components.
Fatty acids differentially regulate insulin resistance through endoplasm reticulum stress-mediated induction of tribbles homologue 3: a potential link between dietary fat composition and the pathophysiological outcomes of obesity

Previous studies have shown that saturated fatty acids cause insulin resistance (IR) that is prevented by unsaturated fatty acids. Tribbles homologue 3 (TRIB3) is a putative endogenous inhibitor of insulin signalling, but its role in insulin signalling is controversial. This study aimed to determine whether fatty acids regulate IR via TRIB3. We treated HepG2 cells with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and evaluated TRIB3 expression. We then tested whether regulation of TRIB3 occurred through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and whether modulating TRIB3 and ER stress marker genes was necessary and/or sufficient for regulation of insulin signalling. To test the in vivo significance of this mechanism, we fed mice obesogenic diets with different fatty acid profiles and assessed physiological variables of diabetes, ER stress markers and Trib3 expression in the liver. Our data show that fatty acids differentially regulate IR through ER stress-mediated induction of TRIB3. Intriguingly, a standard and widely used obesogenic diet high in unsaturated fats failed to induce ER stress, TRIB3 or IR. However, an alternative obesogenic diet with lower unsaturated fat recapitulated the cell studies by causing ER stress, TRIB3 induction and IR. This study revealed a novel mechanism linking dietary fat composition to IR. Given the emerging roles for ER stress in non-alcoholic liver disease, we conclude that dietary fat composition rather than total amount may mediate hepatic pathology associated with obesity.
Le redécoupage du Bas-Canada dans les années 1830 : Un essai sur la « gouvernementalité » coloniale

Dans l’historiographie, la commission Gosford est generalement presentee comme une tentative ratee de conciliation des factions politiques au Bas-Canada ou comme une manoeuvre dilatoire d’une administration britannique indecise. En examinant le debat sur la representation politique menee par les associations constitutionnelles de Montreal et de Quebec, de meme que les analyses des membres de la Commission sur la situation politique bas-canadienne, cet article met en evidence un deplacement de la mentalite du gouvernement colonial d’une logique mercantiliste vers une logique liberale. Celle-ci se revele suffisamment souple pour satisfaire les tenants de conceptions d’equite contradictoires au sujet de la representation politique.
Effects of watershed densities of animal feeding operations on nutrient concentrations and estrogenic activity in agricultural streams

Application of manures from animal feeding operations (AFOs) as fertilizer on agricultural land can introduce nutrients and hormones (e.g. estrogens) to streams. A landscape-scale study was conducted in the Shenandoah River watershed (Virginia, USA) in order to assess the relationship between densities of AFOs in watersheds of agricultural streams and in-stream nutrient concentrations and estrogenic activity. The effect of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on nutrients and estrogenic activity was also evaluated. During periods of high and low flow, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and orthophosphate (PO(4)-P) concentrations were analyzed and estrogens/estrogenic compounds were extracted and quantified as17β-estradiol equivalents (E2Eq) using a bioluminescent yeast estrogen screen. Estrogenic activity was measurable in the majority of collected samples, and 20% had E2Eq concentrations >1 ng/L. Relatively high concentrations of DIN (>1000 μg/L) were also frequently detected. During all sampling periods, there were strong relationships between watershed densities of AFOs and in-stream concentrations of DIN (R(2) = 0.56-0.81) and E2Eq (R(2) = 0.39-0.75). Relationships between watershed densities of AFOs and PO(4)-P were weaker, but were also significant (R(2) = 0.27-0.57). When combined with the effect of watershed AFO density, streams receiving WWTP effluent had higher concentrations of PO(4)-P than streams without WWTP discharges, and PO(4)-P was the only analyte with a consistent relationship to WWTPs. The results of this study suggest that as the watershed density of AFOs increases, there is a proportional increase in the potential for nonpoint source pollution of agricultural streams and their receiving waters by nutrients, particularly DIN, and compounds that can cause endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms.
Characterization of Ion Dynamics in Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations

Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulation (SLIM) represent a novel class of ion optical devices based upon electrodes patterned on planar surfaces, and relying on a combined action of radiofrequency and DC electric fields and specific buffer gas density conditions. Initial experimental studies have demonstrated the feasibility of the SLIM concept. This report offers an in-depth consideration of key ion dynamics properties in such devices based upon ion optics theory and computational modeling. The SLIM devices investigated are formed by two surfaces, each having an array of radiofrequency (RF) “rung” electrodes, bordered by DC “guard” electrodes. Ion motion is confined by the RF effective potential in the direction orthogonal to the boards and limited or controlled in the transversal direction by the guard DC potentials. Ions can be efficiently trapped and stored in SLIM devices where the confinement of ions can be “soft” in regard to the extent of collisional activation, similarly to RF-only multipole ion...
Identification of Potential Calorie Restriction-Mimicking Yeast Mutants with Increased Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain and Nitric Oxide Levels

Calorie restriction (CR) induces a metabolic shift towards mitochondrial respiration; however, molecular mechanisms underlying CR remain unclear. Recent studies suggest that CR-induced mitochondrial activity is associated with nitric oxide (NO) production. To understand the role of mitochondria in CR, we identify and study Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants with increased NO levels as potential CR mimics. Analysis of the top 17 mutants demonstrates a correlation between increased NO, mitochondrial respiration, and longevity. Interestingly, treating yeast with NO donors such as GSNO (S-nitrosoglutathione) is sufficient to partially mimic CR to extend lifespan. CR-increased NO is largely dependent on mitochondrial electron transport and cytochrome c oxidase (COX). Although COX normally produces NO under hypoxic conditions, CR-treated yeast cells are able to produce NO under normoxic conditions. Our results suggest that CR may derepress some hypoxic genes for mitochondrial proteins that function to promote the production of NO and the extension of lifespan.
Real-ear measurement of hearing threshold and loudness.

For at least the past sixty years, the predominant type of electronic circuit present in hearing aids has been a single-channel amplifier designed to be linear over most of its operating range with its maximum output limited via peak clipping (Berger, 1984). Although this is presently still the case (Hawkins and Naidoo, 1993), it is apparent that hearing aids designed to be nonlinear over most of their operating range are increasingly encountered and are now offered by a wide range of manufacturers (Berkey et al, 1992; HIA, 1995). Moreover, many of these contemporary devices are two- or three-channel instruments with programmable control of the nonlinear characteristics available for each channel. Research into the physiological and perceptual nature of the sensorineural hearing loss experienced by the vast majority of hearing-aid wearers (see review by Van Tasell, 1993) and advancements in engineering (see Killion, 1993) have largely led to this trend toward nonlinear hearing aids. Briefly, it has been established that the normal inner ear provides a compression of the input sound intensity that appears to be dependent on the presence of normally functioning outer hair cells. Listeners with sensorineural hearing loss attributed to underlying cochlear pathology typically lack normally functioning outer hair cells and the corresponding compression of input sound intensity. Nonlinear hearing aids have been designed to restore this normal compression of sound intensity prior to delivering the amplified sound to the inner ear of the listener with sensorineural hearing loss. The ways in which hearing aids are fit and evaluated have also undergone considerable evolution over the past sixty years. This evolution, primarily concerned with the fitting of linear hearing aids, has been reviewed recently elsewhere (Humes, 1996). The most commonly accepted approach to fitting linear hearing aids involves the use of some prescriptive formula, based either on thresholds or suprathreshold loudness measurements [see Humes (1991), McCandless (1994), and Humes and Halling (1994) for reviews], to generate target real-ear gain. Once targets are generated, the hearing aid is fit to the patient and adjusted to achieve a match to the targeted gain values for a moderate level input signal. For contemporary nonlinear hearing aids, unlike their linear predecessors, the gain at low and high input levels is not designed to be the same as that at the moderate input levels used to generate and confirm the targeted values. For nonlinear devices, the gain is generally less as the input increases over the range from 50 to 100 dB SPL, although the manner in which it decreases with increases in input level varies with the particular circuit incorporated into the hearing aid. Moreover, the desired level-dependent gain characteristics may vary across channels for multi-channel hearing aids.
Synthesis of 2‐furanylmethyl‐α‐2H and ‐3H furosemide

Synthesis of furosemide. specifically labelled at the 2-furanylmethyl α-position with 2H or 3H is reported. This synthesis required reduction of N-[(2-furanyhethyl)amino]-4-chloro-5-(N-acetylaminosulfonyl)benzoia acid (2) with sodium 2H- or 3H-borohydride. followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the acetyl group.
Galvanomagnetic Effects in Cadmium Sulfide

The Hall and magnetoresistance effects were measured at 297, 196, and 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in single crystals of $n$-type CdS having a room-temperature resistivity of 4 \ensuremath{\Omega}-cm. The results of the measurements were consistent with a simple single-valley model of the energy surfaces in the conduction band and can be summarized in terms of two Hall mobilities ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{H1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{H3}$ and a magnetoresistance parameter $\ensuremath{\xi}=\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\rho}}{({\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{H1}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{Hi}}{B}^{2})}$, where $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\rho}}{{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}}$ is the relative change in resistivity in a transverse magnetic field $B$, and $i$ may be 1 or 3, depending on the directions of current and magnetic field with respect to the $c$ axis. The measured Hall mobilities ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{H1}$ were 390, 840, and 5600 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/V-sec, and the values of $\ensuremath{\xi}$ were 0.077, 0.074, and 0.045 at the three respective temperatures. A two-terminal method of measuring the ratio $\frac{{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{H1}}{{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{H3}}$ was devised, which yielded the values 1.014, 1.05, and 1.32 at the three temperatures. The magnitude of the mobility at the two upper temperatures is explained quite well on the basis of combined optical mode and piezoelectric scattering by assuming an effective mass ${m}^{*}=0.19{m}_{e}$, while at the lowest temperature impurity scattering also contributes. The temperature-dependent anisotropy is larger than predicted for piezoelectric scattering, possibly due to some form of anisotropic defect scattering.
Automated optical inspection of surface mount components using 2D machine vision

An inspection system based on two-dimensional vision and the algorithms for inspecting various surface mount component defects are discussed. The surface mount postsolder inspection system described detects component polarity, shifted components, missing components, bridges, and the presence/absence of a solder fillet with an accuracy of 99.9%. Insufficient solder on a fillet can be detected with 99.5% accuracy. >
High- $Q$ Fully Reconfigurable Tunable Bandpass Filters

In this paper, the authors present a design technique that enables inter-resonator and external coupling control for high-quality-factor (Q) tunable bandpass filters. The design incorporates low-Q varactors as part of the inter-resonator and external coupling mechanisms without degrading the overall high Q of the original filter. Detailed design methodology and equations are presented to illustrate the concepts. A first-time demonstration of these concepts is presented for a widely tunable high-Q evanescent-mode cavity bandpass filter. The cavities are integrated in a low-loss substrate with commercially available piezoelectric actuators and solid-state varactors for frequency and bandwidth tuning. This technique allows for reduced bandwidth variation over large tuning ranges. As one example, a constant 25-MHz absolute-bandwidth filter in the 0.8-1.43-GHz tuning range with loss that is as low as 1.6 dB is presented as an example. The filter third-order intercept point is between 32.8 and 35.9 dBm over this tuning range. To further show the impact of the technique on high- Q filters, a filter Q that is as high as 750 is demonstrated in the range of 3-5.6 GHz, while using low-Q varactors (Q < 30 at 5 GHz for a 0.4-pF capacitance) to achieve more than 50% reduction in bandwidth variation over the tuning range.
Automatic method for inspecting plywood shear samples

A plywood panel is composed of several layers of wood bonded together by glue. The adhesive integrity of the glue formulation employed must surpass the structural integrity of wood used to make the panel. The American Plywood Association (APA) regularly tests plywood from manufacturing plants to ensure that this performance requirement is met. One of the procedures used is to saw a panel into a number of 1 X 3- 1/4 inch blocks called samples. These samples are then subjected to a number of treatments to simulate natural aging. The treated samples are then sheared into two halves. A 1 X 1 inch area on each of the two halves is then visually inspected to determine the percent wood failure that occurred during the shear. Roughly speaking a region of solid wood or a region of wood fibers embedded in glue is considered to be a region of wood failure while a region of glue is considered to be a region of glue failure. If the percent wood failure of sample from a significant number or panels from a plant is too low, the right to use the APA trademarks is withdrawn. The number of samples inspected annually by the APA is in the millions. The human inspectors are well trained, typically having years of experience, and are regularly tested. As in any human endeavor, the inspectors are subject to fatigue, boredom, etc. For these and other reasons an automatic inspection system could aid the APA in better performing its regulatory role.
Network-aware partial caching for Internet streaming media

The delivery of multimedia over the Internet is affected by adverse network conditions such as high packet loss rate and long delay. This paper aims at mitigating such effects by leveraging client-side caching proxies. We present a novel cache architecture and associated cache management algorithms that turn edge caches into accelerators of streaming media delivery. This architecture allows partial caching of media objects and joint delivery from caches and origin servers. Most importantly, the caching algorithms are both network-aware and stream-aware; they take into account the popularity of streaming media objects, their bit rate requirements, and the available bandwidth between clients and servers. Using Internet bandwidth models derived from proxy cache logs and measured over real Internet paths, we have conducted extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of various cache management algorithms. Our experiments demonstrate that network-aware caching algorithms can significantly reduce startup delay and improve stream quality. Our experiments also show that partial caching is particularly effective when bandwidth variability is not very high.
Critical Pedagogy and the Decolonial Option: Challenges to the Inevitability of Capitalism:

The demise of capitalism was theoretically prophesied by Marx who posited that the world would come to such a state of destruction and human suffering that no amount of coercion or concessions would suffice to stop the massive uprisings that would lead us into a new socialist alternative. Although the downfall of world capitalism may seem ludicrous, we are seeing multiple examples of uprisings across the world and must seize this moment of possibility. Drawing on revolutionary critical pedagogy and decolonial theory, the authors argue that we must look to the subalterns whose geopolitical position of oppression and their experiences with class struggle may provide important models from which we may build future socialist movements. Specifically, the authors discuss briefly some of the successes of the Cuban and Bolivarian revolutions.
Solution of Dirichlet problems by the Exodus method

Applying the Exodus method to Dirichlet problems in rectangular and axisymmetric solution regions is proposed. The stochastic technique is illustrated with specific practical applications to the solution of Laplace's equation. Although the method is probabilistic in its approach, it is not subject to randomness as are the other Monte Carlo techniques because it does not involve the use of a pseudo-random generation subroutine. The method provides a more accurate solution in less amount of time compared with the fixed random walk. It is also found that the accuracy of the Exodus method is comparable to that of the finite difference method. >
Inhibition of the Daily LH Release Mechanism by Progesterone Acting at the Hypothalamus

Simulation of proestrus-like serum levels of progesterone (P) limits daily LH release in the estrogen primed, ovariectomized rat to a single day and abolishes delayed LH release in the pento barbital (PB) blocked proestrous rat. This study describes sites responsive to inhibition of LH re lease by implantation of P. Pentobarbital (35 mg/kg) given at 1330 h on proestrus postpones the LH and P surges for 24 h. Unilateral or bilateral implantation of P directly into the ventral hippo campus from 1400 h proestrus to 0800 h on the day of estrus in PB blocked rats does not prevent the LH surge on the day of estrus. However, implantation of P into the preoptic -anterior hypo thalamic area (POA-AHA) of the PB blocked rat for the same interval prevented the LH surge during estrus or diestrus-1. Repetitive daily LH surges induced by chronic s.c. estradiol implanta tion in acutely ovariectomized rats was prevented by P implantation in the POA-AHA. Subsequent removal of the P allowed daily LH surges to resume. P also decreased the response of the pituitary gland to exogenous LHRH. This effect was overcome by priming with LHRH 60 mm prior to the LHRH challenge. Thus P, secreted on proestrus, prevents the daily neural signal for LH release by acting on both the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Surgical Intervention for Peripheral Arterial Disease

The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is increasing worldwide, with recent global estimates exceeding 200 million people. Advanced PAD leads to a decline in ambulatory function and diminished quality of life. In its most severe form, critical limb ischemia, rest pain, and tissue necrosis are associated with high rates of limb loss, morbidity, and mortality. Revascularization of the limb plays a central role in the management of symptomatic PAD. Concomitant with advances in the pathogenesis, genetics, and medical management of PAD during the last 20 years, there has been an ongoing evolution of revascularization options. The increasing application of endovascular techniques has resulted in dramatic changes in practice patterns and has refocused the question of which patients should be offered surgical revascularization. Nonetheless, surgical therapy remains a cornerstone of management for advanced PAD, providing versatile and durable solutions to challenging patterns of disease. Although there is little high-quality comparative effectiveness data to guide patient selection, existing evidence suggests that outcomes are dependent on definable patient factors such as distribution of disease, status of the limb, comorbid conditions, and conduit availability. As it stands, surgical revascularization remains the standard against which emerging percutaneous techniques are compared. This review summarizes the principles of surgical revascularization, patient selection, and expected outcomes, while highlighting areas in need of further research and technological advancement.
Resilience and recovery potential of duneland vegetation in the southern Kalahari

Many dune fields around the world have undergone alternating periods of mobilization and stabilization in response to changes in wind power and rainfall. However, in modern times disturbances associated with land use are believed to be a dominant factor contributing to the activation of stabilized vegetated dunes in drylands, while the reduction in human activities such as grazing and farming may lead to stabilization of once active dune fields. The Kalahari region of southern Africa has recently begun to exhibit visible signs of dune mobilization, a process that could lead to an activation of aeolian transport in the region with important implications for the biogeochemistry of downwind terrestrial and marine ecosystems. It is still unclear whether the region is poised at a tipping point between its current state (i.e., vegetated fixed linear dunes), and a “degraded” state (i.e., barren and active dunes). Here we investigate the ability of the landscape to recover from the degraded state by assessing the resilience of duneland vegetation and evaluating the vegetation and soil characteristics. Using field observations and soil seed bank experiments, we show that palatable perennial grass cover is reduced while the seedbank is depleted on grazed dunefields. Conversely, the interdunes generally exhibit relatively rich seed banks. Soils from grazed and ungrazed sites show that plant available nutrient contents are not significantly different; therefore, soil nutrients are likely not a major factor limiting the recovery of perennial vegetation in this region. It is observed that the perennial grasses reestablish on the recovering dunes after grazers have been excluded, indicating that the landscape is still able to recover after years of denudation and that any irreversible shift to a stable degraded state is likely during extended periods of disturbance and/or climatic shifts that promote the degraded state. We also find that changes in grass cover, grass community composition, and seed bank can serve as indicators of whether the system has irreversibly shifted from a vegetated to a bare dune state.
Capturing Cognitive Fingerprints from Keystroke Dynamics

Conventional authentication systems identify a user only at the entry point. Keystroke dynamics can continuously authenticate users by their typing rhythms without extra devices. This article presents a new feature called cognitive typing rhythm (CTR) to continuously verify the identities of computer users. Two machine techniques, SVM and KRR, have been developed for the system. The best results from experiments conducted with 1,977 users show a false-rejection rate of 0.7 percent and a false-acceptance rate of 5.5 percent. CTR therefore constitutes a cognitive fingerprint for continuous. Its effectiveness has been verified through a large-scale dataset. This article is part of a special issue on security.
Writing in New World Civilizations

Mesoamerican Writing Systems: Propaganda, Myth, and History in Four Ancient Civilizations. Joyce Marcus
A vision-based approach to collision prediction at traffic intersections

Monitoring traffic intersections in real time and predicting possible collisions is an important first step towards building an early collision-warning system. We present a vision-based system addressing this problem and describe the practical adaptations necessary to achieve real-time performance. Innovative low-overhead collision-prediction algorithms (such as the one using the time-as-axis paradigm) are presented. The proposed system was able to perform successfully in real time on videos of quarter-video graphics array (VGA) (320 /spl times/ 240) resolution under various weather conditions. The errors in target position and dimension estimates in a test video sequence are quantified and several experimental results are presented.
Synchronous Optical Packet Buffers

Synchronous optical packet buffering is presented as a solution for asynchronous time division multiplexed (TDM) optical packet switched networks. Truly asynchronous optical packet synchronization and buffering are demonstrated using multiple independent transmitters, synchronous optical buffers, and a burst mode receiver. Optical packet synchronizers are used to dynamically align incoming asynchronous packets to local timeslots for synchronous loading of buffers. Multiple optical buffers based on integrated InP technology resolve contention of packets destined for the same output port at the same time. TDM asynchronous optical packets are detected on a per packet basis using a burst mode receiver with better than 99.9% packet recovery. An analysis of power consumption of the synchronous buffers is presented and potential power reductions are discussed.
Recent developments in high speed heterojunction devices: a tutorial

Some high-speed heterojunction devices and concepts are discussed. The principles of operation of MODFETs are examined, and a few devices using MODFETs are presented. The advantages of heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) are described, and HBT devices are discussed in detail. >