cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Real-Time Video Tracking System

Object identification and tracking applications of pattern recognition at video rates is a problem of wide interest, with previous attempts limited to very simple threshold or correlation (restricted window) methods. New high-speed algorithms together with fast digital hardware have produced a system for missile and aircraft identification and tracking that possesses a degree of ``intelligence'' not previously implemented in a real-time tracking system. Adaptive statistical clustering and projection-based classification algorithms are applied in real time to identify and track objects that change in appearance through complex and nonstationary background/foreground situations. Fast estimation and prediction algorithms combine linear and quadratic estimators to provide speed and sensitivity. Weights are determined to provide a measure of confidence in the data and resulting decisions. Strategies based on maximizing the probability of maintaining track are developed. This paper emphasizes the theoretical aspects of the system and discusses the techniques used to achieve real-time implementation.
Imaging arithmetic: physics U math > physics + math

Imaging devices operate at the physical interfaces corresponding to image capture and reproduction. The combination of physical insight and mathematical signal processing tools, therefore, offers unique advantages in solving problems in imaging systems. In this paper, we illustrate and support this idea using examples from our research on imaging, where the combination of physical insight, mathematical tools, and engineering ingenuity leads to elegant and effective solutions.
Stochastic response of secondary systems in base-isolated structures

Abstract In this work, the stochastic response of secondary systems attached to a base-isolated structure undergoing random ground motions is examined. It is assumed that the properties of this combined structural system are deterministic, while the ground motions are described by a filtered white noise model. The only nonlinear component of this structural system is its base isolation mechanism, which is linearized by using equivalent linearization. Also, a substructuring algorithm is developed which requires the dynamic properties of the individual, fixed-base components of the structural system. Both stationary as well as nonstationary cases are considered and comparisons are made with the results of Monte-Carlo simulations to ascertain the validity of this methodology. The example studied herein is a six-storey steel building frame with a base isolation system consisting of sliding bearings and restoring force springs. For this example, spectra are constructed that account for primary-secondary system interaction and depict the effect of variations in the base isolator's structural parameters and in the mass and location of the secondary system on the latter's root-mean-square (RMS) accelerations.
Investigation of the eutectic point in the system Al2O3 Y3Al5O12

Abstract The position of the eutectic point in the system Al 2 O 3  Y 3 Al 5 O 12 has been reestablished at 80.1 ± 0.1 mol% Al 2 O 3 − 19.9 ± 0.1 mol% Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (81.3 ± 0.1 mol% Al 2 O 3 − 18.7 ± 0.1 mol% Y 2 O 3 ) at 1800° ± 5°C, Microstructures of various compositions in this system which had been melted in a vacuum graphite resistance furnace were observed. The composition which had a eutectic microstructure free of primary phase was considered to be the eutectic composition. The eutectic temperature was obtained by heating various compositions and observing at what temperature a liquid phase first appeared.
Introduction to Thematic Minireview Series: Development of Human Therapeutics Based on Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Technology

With the advent of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology, it is now possible to derive patient-specific cell lines that are of great potential in both basic research and the development of new therapeutics for human diseases. Not only do hiPSCs offer unprecedented opportunities to study cellular differentiation and model human diseases, but the differentiated cell types obtained from iPSCs may become therapeutics themselves. These cells can also be used in the screening of therapeutics and in toxicology assays for potential liabilities of therapeutic agents. The remarkable achievement of transcription factor reprogramming to generate iPSCs was recognized by the award of the Nobel Prize in Medicine to Shinya Yamanaka in 2012, just 6 years after the first publication of reprogramming methods to generate hiPSCs (Takahashi, K., Tanabe, K., Ohnuki, M., Narita, M., Ichisaka, T., Tomoda, K., and Yamanaka, S. (2007) Cell 131, 861–872). This minireview series highlights both the promises and challenges of using iPSC technology for disease modeling, drug screening, and the development of stem cell therapeutics.
Tropical Climate Regimes and Global Climate Sensitivity in a Simple Setting

Multiple tropical climate regimes are found in an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) coupled to a global slab ocean when the model is forced by different values of globally uniform insolation. Even in this simple setting, convection organizes into an intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) solely due to the effect of planetary rotation, as was found in Kirtman and Schneider, for a single value of insolation. Here the response to a range of insolation values is explored, and surprisingly, multiple climate regimes characterized by radically different ITCZ structures are found. In order from the coldest to warmest climates, these are a symmetric double ITCZ, a near-symmetric equatorial ITCZ, a transient asymmetric ITCZ, and a stable, strongly asymmetric ITCZ. The model exhibits hysteresis in the transition from the near-symmetric to the strongly asymmetric ITCZ regimes when insolation is increased and then decreased. The initial transition away from symmetry can occur in the absence of air–sea coupling; however, the coupling is essential for the establishment and maintenance of the strongly asymmetric ITCZ. Wind–evaporation–SST feedback as well as the longwave radiative effects of clouds and water vapor on SSTs appear to be important in maintaining the asymmetric regime. The existence of multiple regimes in a single AGCM, and the dependence of these regimes on SST feedbacks, may have a bearing on the ITCZ simulation errors of current coupled climate models. The sensitivity of the global mean surface temperature generally decreases with increasing insolation, a consequence primarily of increasingly negative shortwave cloud forcing. Climate sensitivity measured across a regime transition can be much larger than the sensitivity within a single regime.
A Transcription Fork Model for Pol IV and Pol V–Dependent RNA-Directed DNA Methylation

In Arabidopsis thaliana, nuclear multisubunit RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV) and RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE 2 (RDR2) are required for the biogenesis of 24-nucleotide small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that direct DNA methylation and transcriptional silencing at target loci transcribed by nuclear multisubunit RNA polymerase V (Pol V). Pol IV and RDR2 physically associate and RDR2's polymerase activity in vitro is dependent on Pol IV. RDR2 transcription of nascent Pol IV transcripts might result in discontinuous second strands, analogous to lagging-strand Okazaki fragments generated during DNA replication. In vitro, Pol V is unable to displace nontemplate DNA during transcriptional elongation. This suggests a need for DNA duplex unwinding by helper proteins, perhaps analogous to the helicase-mediated duplex unwinding that occurs at replication forks to enable leading strand synthesis by DNA polymerase e. A multiprotein complex (DRD1, DMS3, DMS11, RDM1) known to enable Pol V transcription might facilitate duplex unwinding via ATP-dependent DNA translocase, single-stranded DNA binding, and cohesin-like strand capture activities. These considerations are discussed and incorporated into a "transcription fork" model for Pol IV and Pol V-dependent RNA-directed DNA methylation.
A Cross‐Sectional Empirical Test of a Dual‐State Multi‐Factor Pricing Model

During empirical testing of the Capital Asset Pricing Model an assumption is typically made that risk is intertemporally constant. However, prior research finds that risk changes over time. We empirically test a conditional dual-state cross-sectional model allowing risk to change through prior identification of different market and economic states. We examine relationships between returns and conditional market and economic-factor betas, size, book-to-market equity, and earnings-price ratios. We find that relationships shift across regimes, suggesting the importance of a conditional, as opposed to unconditional, model. Relationships also change in January.
Progression to insulin-requiring diabetes in seronegative prediabetic subjects: the role of two HLA-DQ high-risk haplotypes.

Aims/hypothesis: Most Caucasians with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus develop an autoimmune form of diabetes known as Type IA diabetes, based on the presence of humoral responses to islet autoantigens. Alleles at the HLA locus account for the strongest susceptibility to this form of diabetes, which requires insulin therapy. Because a number of patients who develop insulin-requiring diabetes are islet autoantibody negative, the HLA class II haplotypes, DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 and DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302, were evaluated to assess whether they are an independent risk factor for progression to insulin requirement in first-degree relatives of Type I diabetic patients.
Medical caretakers assessments of futility in the NICU: Does anybody really know what time it is? • 156

No medical professional is ethically obligated to provide futile care. However, to be useful futility must be recognized prospectively; that is, in advance of the impending demise of the patient as opposed to after the fact. We wondered what percentage of futile care in the NICU (defined as care devoted to infants who would die before discharge) was recognized to be futile at the time.
Pre-operative simulation of pediatric mastoid surgery with 3D-printed temporal bone models.

Abstract Objectives As the process of additive manufacturing, or three-dimensional (3D) printing, has become more practical and affordable, a number of applications for the technology in the field of pediatric otolaryngology have been considered. One area of promise is temporal bone surgical simulation. Having previously developed a model for temporal bone surgical training using 3D printing, we sought to produce a patient-specific model for pre-operative simulation in pediatric otologic surgery. Our hypothesis was that the creation and pre-operative dissection of such a model was possible, and would demonstrate potential benefits in cases of abnormal temporal bone anatomy. Methods In the case presented, an 11-year-old boy underwent a planned canal-wall-down (CWD) tympano-mastoidectomy for recurrent cholesteatoma preceded by a pre-operative surgical simulation using 3D-printed models of the temporal bone. The models were based on the child's pre-operative clinical CT scan and printed using multiple materials to simulate both bone and soft tissue structures. To help confirm the models as accurate representations of the child's anatomy, distances between various anatomic landmarks were measured and compared to the temporal bone CT scan and the 3D model. Results The simulation allowed the surgical team to appreciate the child's unusual temporal bone anatomy as well as any challenges that might arise in the safety of the temporal bone laboratory, prior to actual surgery in the operating room (OR). There was minimal variability, in terms of absolute distance (mm) and relative distance (%), in measurements between anatomic landmarks obtained from the patient intra-operatively, the pre-operative CT scan and the 3D-printed models. Conclusions Accurate 3D temporal bone models can be rapidly produced based on clinical CT scans for pre-operative simulation of specific challenging otologic cases in children, potentially reducing medical errors and improving patient safety.
Retrieval of trapped Günther Tulip inferior vena cava filters: snare-over-guide wire loop technique.

The Gunther Tulip inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is designed for transjugular retrieval with use of a sheath and snare device. This report describes a technique for removal of difficult-to-retrieve Gunther Tulip IVC filters when the standard method fails. In a series of four patients, each with an IVC filter refractory to capture by snare alone, the use of a snare–over–guide wire loop technique succeeded in retrieving the filter in all cases.
Spleen Rupture After Mitral Valve Replacement for Infective Endocarditis

We present a case of splenic rupture as the cause of a sudden drop in blood pressure soon after mitral valve surgery for infective endocarditis. This case suggests that, in addition to more common causes of unstable vital signs after valvular surgery, such as cardiac tamponade or bleeding at the operation site, splenic rupture, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis. This is particularly important in the case of infective endocarditis.
Bilateral vocal fold paralysis: an unsual treatment with botulinum toxin

We presented a patient with bilateral vocal fold paralysis treated with intralaryngeal Botox injection to improve the glottal airway. The use of Botox in this manner has not been previously reported and highlights the value and role of intralaryngeal Botox in changing the configuration of the glottis. The concept and various approaches for using Botox to alter pathologic vocal fold position is reviewed and discussed.
Directional Changes in Neutrophil Adherence Following Passive Resting Versus Active Imagery

This study was designed to determine whether increases or decreases in neutrophil adherence could be achieved following a self-regulation (relaxation/imagery) intervention. Fifteen subjects were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Two experimental groups employed imagery focussed on either increasing or decreasing neutrophil adherence. Subjects had two weeks of self-regulation practice (4 total training sessions) prior to blood drawings. A third group of control subjects had the same number of resting sessions without imagery training. All subjects had blood samples collected before and after either 30 minutes of self-regulation or resting practice for two sessions. Pulse and peripheral finger temperature measures were taken before and after the blood samples. Both experimental groups demonstrated decreases in neutrophil adherence, and the control group showed a tendency toward increases in this measure. The psychophysiologic data for the control group was suggestive of a relaxation response. Th...
Gastroschisis: a simple technique for staged silo closure.

In conjunction with the Neonatology Department at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, a new protocol has evolved for the management of infants with gastroschisis, which obviates both risks associated with primary and staged silo closure. After stabilization of the infant in the neonatal intensive care unit, under sterile conditions, a 5- or 7-cm SILASTIC® silo with a spring-loaded ring is placed over the exposed viscera, under the fascial defect. No sutures are required. A fentanyl drip is given, and the bowel is gradually reduced over the next few days. The transparent material of the silo allows for continuous monitoring of the condition of the bowel. Second-stage closure in the operating room is performed using a purse-string suture in the fascia to create a pseudoumbilicus. From October 1992 to April 1994 the authors managed 10 infants using this protocol. The results are compared with those of infants with gastroschisis treated at the same institution between August 1982 and June 1993. Outcome parameters to be compared include time until closure, time on ventilation, days of total parenteral nutrition, time until start of oral feeding, time until toleration of full-volume oral feeding, and time until discharge. The authors conclude that silo closure in the neonatal intensive care unit is simple, quick, and effective. It eliminates multiple trips to the operating room, allows the natural accommodation of the bowel into the abdominal cavity with little edema and minimal vascular compromise, and has become the authors' treatment of choice for infants with gastroschisis.
Diverse chemicals including aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands modulate transcriptional activity of the 3′immunoglobulin heavy chain regulatory region

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a known disruptor of B-cell differentiation and a ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), induces binding of the AhR to dioxin responsive elements (DRE) in sensitive genes. The Ig heavy chain (IgH) gene is a sensitive target of TCDD and may be transcriptionally inhibited by TCDD through inhibition of the 3′IgH transcriptional regulatory region (3′IgHRR). While the 3′IgHRR contains binding sites for several transcription factors, two DRE motifs were also identified which may be responsible for TCDD-induced inhibition of 3′IgHRR activation and may implicate the AhR as an important regulator of IgH expression. The objectives of the present study were to determine if 3′IgHRR modulation is limited to TCDD or if structurally diverse chemicals (AhR ligands and non-AhR ligands) from environmental, industrial, dietary or pharmaceutical origin are also capable of modulating the 3′IgHRR and to verify a correlation between effects on a stable 3′IgHRR reporter and the endogenous IgH protein. Utilizing a CH12.LX mouse B-cell line that stably expresses a 3′IgHRR-regulated transgene, we identified an inhibition of both 3′IgHRR activation and IgH protein expression by the non-dioxin AhR activators indolo(3,2-b)carbazole, primaquine, carbaryl, and omeprazole which followed a rank order potency for AhR activation supporting a role of the AhR in the transcriptional regulation of the 3′IgHRR and IgH expression. However, modulation of the 3′IgHRR and IgH expression was not limited to AhR activators or to suppressive effects. Hydrogen peroxide and terbutaline had an activating effect and benzyl isothiocyanate was inhibitory. These chemicals are not known to influence the AhR signaling pathway but have been previously shown to modulate humoral immunity and/or transcription factors that regulate the 3′IgHRR. Taken together these results implicate the 3′IgHRR as a sensitive immunological target and are the first to identify altered 3′IgHRR activation by a diverse range of chemicals.
Suppression of forward-propagating stimulated hyper-Raman emission in cesium vapor due to four-wave-mixing interference

The suppression of forward-propagating stimulated hyper-Raman (SHR) emission is well studied in sodium vapor. Theory predicts that SHR emission to a state linked to the gound state by a one-photon transition is suppressed by an interference with a four-wave-mixing (FWM) emission that links that state to the ground state. Since FWM emission only propagates in the forward direction due to phase-matching considerations, only the forward SHR emission is suppressed. This has been previously demonstrated in sodium. An obvious corollary to this theory is that no suppression occurs if the state is not linked to the ground state by a one-photon transition. A serendipitous arrangement of energy levels in cesium allowed this corollary to be tested and confirmed here.
TRANSPORT OF HEAVY METALS DURING INFILTRATION OF SIMULATED HIGHWAY RUNOFF THROUGH LARGE-SCALE SOIL COLUMNS

An evaluation was conducted of the performance of three Washington State soils in attenuating trace heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in contaminated water. Although previous investigations of this kind have used relatively small-scale soil columns as indicators of actual performance, large-scale soil columns (0.3 m in diameter and 1 m deep) were tested under loading conditions similar to actual field infiltration basins. The soil columns were loaded periodically to produce quasi-field conditions, with the corresponding metal transport being observed as a function of depth. The data indicate that metals speciation and background metals present in the soil are important factors to consider, because they can affect expected metals removal rates of soils. The hydraulics of the system played a secondary role to the geochemistry. Results suggest that infiltration can be a viable alternative in disposing of runoff at low metals concentrations, if the soil-water system's assimilative capacity is not taken for granted.
Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Specialty Treatment Services and Race/ Ethnicity: A National Study of Children and Families Involved With Child Welfare

We used data on a national sample of children involved with child welfare systems to compare American Indian caregivers with White, Black, and Hispanic caregivers in their need for, and receipt of, specialty alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment. American Indian caregivers were significantly less likely to receive services than were Hispanic caregivers (P<.05) but not significantly less likely than were White or Black caregivers. Child placement, child age, and caregiver psychiatric comorbidity were significantly associated with service receipt.
Non-pain and pain sensations evoked by tooth pulp stimulation.

Abstract This study investigated the quality and magnitude of sensations evoked by electrical tooth pulp stimulation. Detection threshold (the minimum current intensity that evoked a sensation) and pain threshold were determined for tooth pulp stimuli varying in frequency from 5 to 500 Hz. The effect of frequency and intensity of tooth pulp stimulation on the magnitude of sensations was assessed using visual analog scales and verbal descriptor scales. Detection thresholds were stable over experimental sessions and independent of the frequency of the stimulating current. Pain threshold varied as a function of frequency with a minimum value at 100 Hz. Stimuli that evoked non-pain sensations at low frequencies evoked pain sensations when frequency was increased from 5 to 100 Hz. Subjects were able to scale non-pain sensations over a range of stimulus intensities and frequencies. The lowest currents evoked sensations that were nonpainful and were of constant magnitude despite changes in the frequency of stimulation. Higher stimulus currents evoked sensations that were non-painful at low stimulus frequencies and painful at high stimulus frequencies. Sensation magnitude at each stimulus intensity increased as a function of frequency. Temporal summation occurred in proportion to stimulus intensity. These findings suggest that the non-pain sensations evoked in tooth pulp are mediated by a distinct population of afferents that are not involved in the coding of pain. High frequency stimulation that increased the discharge rate of the lowest thershold pulpal afferents resulted in no summation of non-pain sensation and never produced pain. However, high frequency stimulation evocked greater magnitude sensations at higher stimulas currents, indicating that central summation mechanisms were critical for higher threshold afferents signaling more intense non-pain and pain sensations.
TEM observations of void-lobed defects and the origin of stringers in copper rod and drawn magnet wire

Utilizing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we have discovered a defect, which we call a void-lobed defect, in copper precursor rod and in sections of failed copper magnet wire. This defect is the origin of, or basis for, stringers or stringer defects in copper rod and wire, and consists of a contaminated, solidified copper microdroplet which is entrained in the solidifying rod, and is disconnected at its ends in the rod drawing direction, forming voids and elongated void lobes at the ends of the copper inclusion. Utilizing a novel technique to build up fine wires by copper electroplating, we have followed their progress in the magnet-wire drawing process using TEM. Detailed examination of wire failures showed that these defects are forced to the wire axis by successive drawing stages forming coalesced void/debris channels which provide a mechanism for failure. There was no evidence for copper oxides either as stringer components or in connection with debris channels in failed wires. These defects and therefore stringers in precursor rod are created as contaminated or reacted ”copper rain” prior to the solidification stage, and entrained in the rod. The process is usually intermittent and may be reduced or eliminated by properly adjusting the equilibrium chemistry through hydrogen control for oxygen reduction and steam formation; thereby producing high-quality rod for magnet wire produciton. This is an extraordinary example of TEM application in the solution of a contemporary industrial problem which has been otherwise intractable.
Stimulus programming in psychophysics

The major thesis of this paper has been that one should choose a psychophysical method appropriate to the question which prompted the inquiry. It has been suggested that the method of constant stimuli, although not inappropriate for most questions, is by no means optimal for any particular question. A class of stimulus programming techniques called Markov designs has been briefly described. These have the principal advantage of using data as it is gathered to improve the selection of stimuli for the remainder of the experiment. This improvement is achieved by concentrating observations in the region of most interest. They are also reasonably easy to carry out and can be tailored to a wide range of experimental objectives, and pose no new problems in data analysis. Finally data analysis is discussed. It is pointed out that the question of which mathematical form to use in graduating the data is a minor one if the data are efficiently gathered and that, within reason, mathematical convenience is a good criterion. An advantage of the logistic function over the normal ogive is mentioned. Few of the ideas advanced here are new but many have not been appreciated fully by psychophysicists. The emphasis in this paper has been on the areas of sensitivity testing in which psychophysics has lagged behind best statistical practice, although it was pointed out that no efficient methods of analysis of the continuous response procedures have yet been devised by the statisticians. Better communication in both directions is clearly desirable.
Developing a voice-spelling alphabet for PDAs

A persistent problem with personal digital assistants (PDAs) is the difficulty of entering data into the devices. The best current solutions to the problem are small soft keyboards and constrained handwriting recognizers. Another solution is use of speech. PDAs do not yet have the power to support full speech dictation, but they do have sufficient power to support voice spelling. Voice-spelling problems include the high acoustic confusability between certain letters of the alphabet and the difficulty of memorizing code words for the letters of the alphabet. This paper describes several User-Centered Design studies conducted to develop a voice-spelling alphabet for PDAs that overcomes these problems, including: (1) the development of a model of user performance to assess the potential of voice spelling as an alternate input method for PDAs, (2) Web-based surveys for determining the words that people tend to associate with the letters of the alphabet, (3) accuracy experiments used to tune the final voice-spelling alphabet, and (4) the development of a graphical user interface for displaying code words as a prompt when voice spelling is used. The results of these studies suggest that it would be worthwhile to develop a working voice-spelling system for PDAs in the future.
Optimized Extraction of MOS Model Parameters

A common problem faced by designers in simulating MOS circuits is the specification of model parameters. Typical parameter extraction procedures determine parameters sequentially, ignoring many of the interactions between parameters. The resulting fit of the model to measured data may be less than optimum. Furthermore, the usual extraction procedures are specialized to a particular model; considerable effort is required to accommodate improvements in the model. This paper describes the application of general-purpose optimization techniques to the problem of extracting MOS transistor parameters. With this method, all parameters are extracted in a single operation, using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm to find a least-squares fit of the model to measured device characteristics. The technique is independent of the MOS model used-new models may be incorporated simply by inserting the model equations into the extraction program. The optimized parameter extraction technique has been implemented and has proven effective. The ease with which the model may be changed makes the program particularly useful for the evaluation of new models.
Evaluation of Fecal Immunochemical Tests for Colorectal Cancer Screening

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening reduces the mortality due to CRC. It is important for health care providers to be aware of the variation in the products available for CRC screening. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to summarize the accuracy of results of individual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) products across pathology proficiency testing programs. Methods: Secondary data analysis of proficiency testing programs’ FIT results. Results: Four of 7 proficiency testing program’s FIT evaluations were obtained for a 2-year period. Fourteen unique FIT brands were evaluated by at least 1 of the 4 proficiency testing programs. Five of the products performed similarly with sensitivities ranging from 98.1% to 98.8% and specificities from 98.1% to 99.6%. Ninety-three percent of the FIT tests completed were manual Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments–waived FITs. Conclusions: About two thirds of the commonly used FIT products performed acceptably on spiked samples of human hemoglobin. Howev...
Optimal Income Taxation with Adverse Selection in the Labor Market

This paper studies optimal linear and nonlinear redistributive income taxation when there is adverse selection in the labor market. Unlike in standard taxation models, firms do not know workers’ abilities and competitively screen them through nonlinear compensation contracts. The equilibrium concept used is the Miyazaki-Wilson-Spence (MWS) one, adapted to a labor market with taxes. The government observes neither abilities nor the private market contracts and has to foresee the reaction of firms, in addition to workers. Adverse selection leads to different responses to taxes than in the standard Mirrlees (1971) model, because of the use of work hours as a screening tool by firms, which for higher talent workers results in a rat race. Accordingly, the new optimal income tax formulas include corrective terms for the rat race and redistributive terms take into account the informational rents and cross-subsidies received by lower productivity workers. The most surprising result is that, if the government has sufficiently strong redistributive goals, welfare is higher when there is adverse selection than when there is not. This result is due to the rat race in which high productivity workers are caught, which limits their flexibility to react adversely to distortive taxation. I draw the link to policy praxis by discussing various policies that a government can use to endogenously affect adverse selection. The model also has practical implications for the interpretation, estimation, and use of taxable income elasticities, which are central to optimal tax design.
Molecular Dynamic Simulations of Cisplatin- and Oxaliplatin-d(GG) Intrastand Cross-links Reveal Differences in their Conformational Dynamics

Mismatch repair proteins, DNA damage-recognition proteins and translesion DNA polymerases discriminate between Pt-GG adducts containing cis-diammine ligands (formed by cisplatin (CP) and carboplatin) and trans-RR-diaminocyclohexane ligands (formed by oxaliplatin (OX)) and this discrimination is thought to be important in determining differences in the efficacy, toxicity and mutagenicity of these platinum anticancer agents. We have postulated that these proteins recognize differences in conformation and/or conformational dynamics of the DNA containing the adducts. We have previously determined the NMR solution structure of OX-DNA, CP-DNA and undamaged duplex DNA in the 5'-d(CCTCAGGCCTCC)-3' sequence context and have shown the existence of several conformational differences in the vicinity of the Pt-GG adduct. Here we have used molecular dynamics simulations to explore differences in the conformational dynamics between OX-DNA, CP-DNA and undamaged DNA in the same sequence context. Twenty-five 10 ns unrestrained fully solvated molecular dynamics simulations were performed starting from two different DNA conformations using AMBER v8.0. All 25 simulations reached equilibrium within 4 ns, were independent of the starting structure and were in close agreement with previous crystal and NMR structures. Our data show that the cis-diammine (CP) ligand preferentially forms hydrogen bonds on the 5' side of the Pt-GG adduct, while the trans-RR-diaminocyclohexane (OX) ligand preferentially forms hydrogen bonds on the 3' side of the adduct. In addition, our data show that these differences in hydrogen bond formation are strongly correlated with differences in conformational dynamics, specifically the fraction of time spent in different DNA conformations in the vicinity of the adduct, for CP- and OX-DNA adducts. We postulate that differential recognition of CP- and OX-GG adducts by mismatch repair proteins, DNA damage-recognition proteins and DNA polymerases may be due, in part, to differences in the fraction of time that the adducts spend in a conformation favorable for protein binding.
GROUP EMBEDDED-FIGURES TEST: PSYCHOMETRIC DATA FOR A SAMPLE OF BUSINESS STUDENTS

185 undergraduate students in business completed the Group Embedded-figures Test. Distribution characteristics, sex differences, reliability, internal consistency, and differences across independen...
Web Services Composition with Traceability Centered on Dependency

Web services composition is becoming increasingly important as organizations are now getting ready to provide more complex service-based applications. Contemporary literature on the web services composition primarily addresses various aspects of composition for example, automated composition, quality-driven composition, and semantic composition. These approaches, however, do not adequately address the various dependencies among the tasks performed by the web services. Such dependencies could potentially affect how the web services are composed. Additionally business rules play a crucial role for achieving dynamic composition of web services. In this article we present our task dependency approach for web services composition driven by business rules.
The fusing of sport and politics - media constructions of U.S. versus Iran at France '98.

The World Cup is a site for political discourses and national symbols. In an environment in which global print and electronic media blanket the tournament, it is not surprising that political and n...
Neural networks applied to traffic management in telephone networks

In this paper the application of neural networks to some of the network management tasks carried out in a regional Bell telephone company is described. Network managers monitor the telephone network for abnormal conditions and have the ability to place controls in the network to improve traffic flow. Conclusions are drawn regarding the utility and effectiveness of the neural networks in automating the network management tasks.
High- versus Low-Dose Oxytocin for Augmentation or Induction of Labor

OBJECTIVE:To compare the use of high- and low-dose oxytocin for augmentation or induction of labor.DATA SOURCES:Clinical trials were accessed through MEDLINE (1966–November 2003). Published literature relevant to the use of oxytocin for augmentation or induction of labor was evaluated.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:Articles identified from the data sources were evaluated and included if they were clinical trials comparing high- versus low-dose oxytocin for augmentation or induction of labor.DATA SYNTHESIS:Oxytocin is a treatment of choice for augmentation and induction of labor; however, no consensus exists regarding optimal dosing. Relevant studies comparing high-dose (2–6 mU/min) and low-dose (1–2 mU/min) therapy for labor augmentation and induction were evaluated.CONCLUSIONS:High-dose oxytocin decreases the time from admission to vaginal delivery, but does not appear to decrease the incidence of cesarean sections when compared with low-dose therapy.
Cutting Edge: Differential Expression of Chemokines in Th1 and Th2 Cells Is Dependent on Stat6 But Not Stat4

The in vivo function of Th cell subsets is largely dependent on the ability of differentiated CD4+ T cells to be recruited to specific sites and secrete restricted sets of cytokines. In this paper we demonstrate that Th1 and Th2 cells secrete discrete patterns of chemokines, small m.w. cytokines that function as chemoattractants in inflammatory reactions. Th2 cells secrete macrophage-derived chemokine and T cell activation gene 3, and acquisition of this pattern of expression is dependent on Stat6. In contrast, Th1 cells secrete lymphotactin and RANTES, though unlike IFN-gamma, expression of these chemokines is independent of Stat4. We further show that supernatants from activated Th2 cells preferentially induce the chemotaxis of Th2 over Th1 cells, corresponding with Stat6-dependent expression of CCR4 and CCR8 in Th2 cells. These data provide the basis for restricted and direct T cell-mediated cellular recruitment to sites of inflammation.
Historical Note About Cross-Sectional Versus Longitudinal Studies:

Cross-sectional comparisons of different age groups are usually easier and quicker to make than comparisons of a single group over a number of years. This note calls attention to a study initiated by Lewis Terman, founder of the gifted-child movement, in which results of the two methods can be compared. He had administered one form of his Concept Mastery (verbal-ability) Test (CMT) to several related groups, and twelve years later administered a comparable form of that test to the same persons. Both types of comparisons indicated that CMT ability improves considerably with age. This multiple checking of several groups each time versus the same groups over time strengthens the conclusion.
Fluorous-based small-molecule microarrays for protein, antibody and enzyme screening

Microarray techniques based on covalent and noncovalent compound immobilization have been developed for screening proteins, antibodies and enzymes to probe the possible biological roles of these interactions as well as their therapeutic and diagnostic potential. Small-molecule microarrays are particularly valuable for creating and probing multivalent displays of molecules, such as saccharides that mimic the multivalent displays of cell surface-bound compounds. After development of the method for the screening of carbohydrates in a multivalent display format, microarrays based on noncovalent fluorous interactions have seen use in probing protein-binding partners with a range of arrayed compounds. In this article, existing strategies and future perspectives for fluorous-based small-molecule microarrays for protein, antibody and enzyme screening will be presented. To date, qualitative and quantitative fluorous-based microarrays have offered important information regarding biomolecular interactions. Larger compound arrays created with automated fluorous-based synthesis and diagnostic tools based on fluorous-based microarrays are likely ahead.
Using a Genetic Algorithm to Tune a Bounded Weak Echo Region Detection Algorithm

Abstract Weather detection algorithms often rely on a simple rule base that is based on several features. Fuzzy logic can be used in the rule base, and the membership functions of the fuzzy sets can be tuned using a search or optimization algorithm that is based on the principles of natural selection. The bounded weak echo region (BWER) detection algorithm was developed using a genetic algorithm to tune fuzzy sets. The run-time algorithm uses the tuning information produced by the genetic algorithm to differentiate between BWERs and non-BWERs and to assign confidence estimates to its detections. The genetic algorithm that was used to tune the fuzzy rule base of the BWER algorithm is described. The paradigm of using a genetic algorithm to tune a fuzzy rule is a very general and useful one. It can be used to improve the performance of other weather detection algorithms. The paradigm makes it easy to change the behavior of a run-time algorithm according to locale and/or end users. The paradigm when applied t...
Predictors of Early Discontinuation of Effective Contraception by Teens at High Risk of Pregnancy

Abstract Study Objective In the United States, teen pregnancy rates are declining. However, the United States still has the highest teen pregnancy rate among high-income countries. Understanding factors that predict discontinuation of effective contraception might help to further decrease teen pregnancy. We aimed to assess predictors of early discontinuation of effective contraception during typical use by high-risk teens. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures We recruited 145 women aged 13-20 years (mean, 17.7 ± 1.8 years); 68% (99/145) Hispanic; 26% (38/145) black; 14% (20/145) ever pregnant; and 4% (6/145) high school dropouts who chose an effective contraceptive method during a health care visit and we prospectively assessed use of the method after 6 months. Contraceptive choices of the 130 participants who were reassessed at 6 months (90% retention) were: intrauterine device (IUD), 26% (34/130); depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), 8% (10/130); combined oral contraceptives (COCs), 48% (62/130); transdermal patch (Patch), 13% (17/130); and intravaginal ring (Ring), 5% (7/130). Results After 6 months, only 49 of 130 (38%) continued their chosen method; 28 of 130 (22%) never initiated the method; and 53 of 130 (40%) discontinued. Users and nonusers at 6 months did not differ according to cultural and/or social characteristics (age, ethnicity, acculturation, education, health literacy) but differed according to contraceptive method type. For the 102 of 130 who initiated a method, 88% continued use of the IUD, 20% DMPA, 43% COC, 17% Patch and Ring ( P P P P P P Conclusion Contraceptive method type is the strongest predictor of early discontinuation; compared with IUDs, all other methods are 6-12 times more likely to be discontinued. Cultural and/or social characteristics, with the exception of school dropout, are of little predictive value. Increasing the use of IUDs by high-risk teens could decrease discontinuation rates and possibly teen pregnancy rates.
Towards repeatable, reproducible, and efficient biometric technology evaluations

With the proliferation of biometric-based identity management solutions, biometric algorithms need to be tested now more than ever. Independent biometric technology evaluations are needed to perform this testing, but are not trivial to run, as demonstrated by only a handful of organizations attempting to perform such a feat. Worse, many software development packages designed for running biometric technology evaluations available today shy away from techniques that enable automation, a concept that supports reproducible research. The evaluation software used for testing biometric recognition algorithms needs to efficiently scale as the sample datasets employed by researchers grow increasingly large. With better software, additional entities with their own biometric data collection repositories could easily administer a reproducible biometric technology evaluation. Existing evaluation software is available, but these packages do not always follow best practices and they are lacking several important features. This paper identifies the necessary requirements and ideal characteristics of a robust biometric evaluation toolkit and introduces our implementation thereof, which has been used in several large-scale biometric technology evaluations by multiple organizations.
151 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FRESH AND CRYOPRESERVED BOAR SPERMATOZOA USING RNA SEQUENCING

Fertility of cryopreserved spermatozoa is significantly reduced compared with that of their fresh counterparts, which is certainly due to the inflicted sublethal damage to spermatozoa that is observed at various molecular and cellular levels. The identification and characterisation of this damage will help us better understand sperm cryobiology and therefore develop suitable media and procedures to improve sperm cryopreservation and fertility outcomes, especially in swine. Here, we present our preliminary assessment of RNA pools of fresh and frozen‐thawed spermatozoa using RNA-sequencing technology. Semen ejaculates of 8 fertile boars were harvested and divided into 2 fractions for each ejaculate. Fraction 1 was freshly extended in commercial diluent (FD) and fraction 2 was frozen in 5-mL plastic straws (FT). Both specimens were shipped to our laboratory for analyses. The samples were purified through Percoll gradient centrifugation and resulting motile spermatozoa were washed in cold PBS. Pelleted spermatozoa were used for total RNA extraction, followed by an in-column DNase digestion. Purity and integrity of RNA samples were checked and rRNA depleted. After random priming, 40 million short cDNA reads were produced using Illumina RNA-Seq technology (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). All reads were aligned to the pig reference genome and the produced genome-scale transcription maps consisted of both the transcript structure and the expression level of each gene mapped. Analysis of FD sperm RNA revealed a total of 18 357 sequence tags that were successfully mapped to all pig chromosomes and the mitochondrial genome. Frozen‐thawed spermatozoa showed only 16 864 sequence tags. In both FD and FT samples, chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 7, and 13 contained, in total, the highest density of mapped transcripts (>42%). Chromosome Y and mitochondrial RNAs had the lowest sequence tags mapped ( 10%; 17, 7, 4, Y, and X) to moderate (10 to 5%) or weak (≤5%) reduction in RNA numbers. Structural annotation revealed a diverse population of sperm transcripts comprising both coding (mRNA) and noncoding (rRNA, snRNA, and mtRNA) RNAs. In both FD and FT samples, noncoding RNAs were among the most abundant sequence tags. Approximately 12 355 of sequence tags in FD v. 10 948 in FT spermatozoa were annotated with ENSEMBL and the selected genes are under investigation for comparative analyses using RT-PCR. In conclusion, mature boar spermatozoa contain a large pool of coding and non-coding RNAs that can be affected by the freezing-thawing procedure. Inflicted damage affects RNAs of all chromosomes with a great effect being seen on chromosome X. Generated datasets have the potential to lead to further study of the cryo-damage associated with reduced fertility of cryopreserved spermatozoa. Study was supported by USDA-ARS Biophotonics initiative grant # 58-6402-3-0120 and MAFES-SRI grants.
Poetry and Biography

When we read a poem by, let us say, John Milton or Emily Dickinson or William Wordsworth, we know there is a person behind the words, a poet whose experiences in life contributed to the choice of subject matter, the imagery, the attitude, or other aspects of the poem. Although we can never know precisely how the poet’s experiences come together to inform a poem, some biographical knowledge may often be helpful, and occasionally crucial, to our understanding of the poem.