cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Normal and abnormal rhythms associated with dual-chamber pacemakers.

Dual-chamber pacemaker rhythms may initially appear to be confusing and to reflect malfunction when the pacemaker is functioning normally. The normal function of these devices is reviewed to enable the reader to understand the majority of pacemaker rhythms. The rhythms reflecting true malfunction of the pacing system are also discussed; these are the pacemaker arrhythmias.
The American Human Development Index: Results from Mississippi and Louisiana

The American Human Development Report is an application of the conceptual framework pioneered by Mahbub ul Haq, Amartya Sen, and others to look at human welfare more broadly than traditional measures of economic growth. It includes a Human Development Index, a composite measurement of well-being and opportunity comprised of health, education, and income indicators. Human development reports have now been adapted for over 160 regions around the world, where they have been embraced as critical benchmarks for human progress. But the American Human Development Report is the first to apply a human development index to an affluent-country context. Just as the global Human Development Index can help explain why two developing countries with identical Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can nevertheless fare so differently in more comprehensive metrics of quality of life, so too can an American Human Development Index illuminate the distribution of disparities and opportunities within a single developed country. This chapter looks specifically at applications of the human development framework to the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. In so doing, it uncovers that while certain population groups within these states thrive at the same level as the average of the top-ranked American state (Connecticut), other groups within these states lag decades behind. Recommendations for improving human developing rankings in these two Gulf States follow.
Influence of chromium tripicolinate on growth and glucose metabolism in yearling horses.

Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearlings (n = 24; 335+/-7 d of age) were used in a 112-d feeding trial to determine whether chromium (Cr) supplementation would alter growth, development, and energy metabolism of growing horses on high-concentrate diets. The horses were assigned at random within breed and gender subgroups to one of four treatment groups: A) basal concentrate; B) basal plus 175 microg of Cr/kg concentrate; C) basal plus 350 microg of Cr/kg concentrate; and D) basal plus 700 microg of Cr/kg concentrate. Chromium was provided via Cr tripicolinate (Prince Agri Products, Quincy, IL). The horses were weighed, measured for withers and hip height, heart girth, and body length and underwent ultrasound evaluation for croup fat thickness. The concentrate was fed for ad libitum consumption for two, 1.5-hr feeding periods daily. Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay was group-fed (six animals/group) at 1% of BW daily. Feed intake was 60% concentrate and 40% hay, resulting in a supplemental Cr intake of 0, 105, 210, and 420 microg/kg diet for groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Colts consumed more concentrate and total feed than did fillies (P .10) the depletions in control animals or in those fed high-Cr diets. No difference in insulin sensitivity was detected (P > .10). Results indicate that Cr tripicolinate supplementation of yearling horses increases the rate at which glucose is metabolized and may lower the plasma glucose concentration. No effect of Cr supplementation on development of the animals was detected.
A Quantitative Disease Severity Rating Scale for Northern Corn Leaf Blight

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) is an annual issue for corn producers throughout the United States. Consequently, researchers are constantly evaluating hybrids for resistance and fungicides for ef...
Study of the passivation of carbon steel in simulated concrete pore solution using scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM)

Abstract A protective passive layer is formed on the surface of embedded reinforcing carbon steel bar in the alkaline environment of concrete. Corrosion of steel in concrete environment is a function of formation, strengthen and stability of this layer. In this study, Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) was exploited to study the kinetic and the formation of the passive layer in a simulated concrete pore solution. The specimen was cut, epoxy mounted and polished from a carbon steel reinforcing bar. Then, it was immersed in a concrete simulated pore solution containing 0.5 mM potassium ferrocyanide as a mediator for 48 h and amperometry SECM approach curves were recorded over the unbiased surface of the freshly polished surface. A platinum microelectrode tip with the diameter of 25 µm was used in the experiment. The effective heterogeneous electron rate coefficient (keff) variation for the mediator regenerating surface reaction was estimated during the time of exposure. Decreasing values of keff, throughout passivation period, indicates formation and increase in the strength of the passive layer formed on the surface of the steel in the alkaline environment in concrete pore solution.
A flow regime map for condensation in macro and micro tubes with non-equilibrium effects taken into account

Abstract A flow regime map for condensation from superheated vapor is proposed in this paper. The flow regime map takes the non-equilibrium effects into account by following the development of liquid film from the real onset of condensation to the end. It can be applied to both conventional tubes and microchannels. The transition mechanism between annular and stratified-wavy flow is determined to be the force balance between the shear force, gravity and surface tension. The transition mechanism from annular to intermittent flow is found to be the comparison between wave heights and tube diameter. The transition mechanism for stratified-wavy and fully-stratified is kept the same as elaborated by Xiao and Hrnjak (2017). The connections between the dimensionless number We, Fr and Bo and the transition criteria are analyzed. The flow regime map is validated by the experimental data in Xiao and Hrnjak (2017) and some current visualizations, which includes diabatic visualizations of R134a, R1234ze(E), R32, R245fa and R1233zd(E) condensing at 30 and 50 °C in 1, 4 and 6 mm tubes.
Transmutable Colloidal Crystals and Active Phase Separation via Dynamic, Directed Self-Assembly with Toggled External Fields

A diverse set of functional materials can be fabricated by assembling dispersions of colloids and nanoparticles. Two principal engineering challenges prevent efficient production of these materials...
Deep Convolutional Spiking Neural Networks for Image Classification

Spiking neural networks are biologically plausible counterparts of the artificial neural networks, artificial neural networks are usually trained with stochastic gradient descent and spiking neural networks are trained with spike timing dependant plasticity. Training deep convolutional neural networks is a memory and power intensive job. Spiking networks could potentially help in reducing the power usage. There is a large pool of tools for one to chose to train artificial neural networks of any size, on the other hand all the available tools to simulate spiking neural networks are geared towards computational neuroscience applications and they are not suitable for real life applications. In this work we focus on implementing a spiking CNN using Tensorflow to examine behaviour of the network and empirically study the effect of various parameters on learning capabilities and also study catastrophic forgetting in the spiking CNN and weight initialization problem in R-STDP using MNIST and N-MNIST data sets.
The Scope of the Power Series Method

This note examines the application of the power series method to the solution of second order homogeneous linear ODEs, and shows that it works in a straightforward way only under restrictive condit...
Masters Program Colorectal Pathway: Laparoscopic Right Colectomy for Benign Disease

There are three basic building blocks to laparoscopic colorectal surgery, and laparoscopic right colectomy is the most simple of the three. Key features of this chapter are the focus on laparoscopic right colectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis and emphasis on benign disease during acquisition of skills. This chapter introduces basic principles regarding anatomic landmarks, use of correct retroperitoneal planes, transection margins, and vascular division, as illustrated by laparoscopic right colectomy. Considerations regarding operating room setup, patient positioning, and trocar placement are also covered. Suggestions are made to ensure patient safety for both the novice trainee surgeon and the laparoscopic-naive surgeon.
A Biocompatible and Near-Infrared Liposome for In Vivo Ultrasound-Switchable Fluorescence Imaging

Fluorescence imaging is a remarkable tool for molecular targeting and multicolor imaging, but it suffers from low resolution in centimeter-deep tissues. The recently developed ultrasound-switchable fluorescence (USF) imaging has overcome this challenge and achieved in vivo imaging in a mouse with help from the indocyanine green (ICG) dye encapsulated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (ICG-PNIPAM) contrast agent. However, the ICG-PNIPAM has shortcomings, such as concerns about cytotoxicity and blueshifted excitation and emission spectra. This study introduces a newly developed ICG-encapsulated liposome to broaden the contrast agent selection for USF imaging and resolve the issues mentioned above. The emission peak of the ICG-liposome is 836 nm with excellent biostability and USF imaging capability. Furthermore, the cell viability test verifies the low cytotoxicity feature. Eventually, both ex vivo and in vivo USF imaging are successfully achieved and 3D USF images are acquired. The ex vivo result confirms that the ICG-liposome maintains the thermoresponsive characteristic at the right lobe of the liver and is able to conduct the USF imaging. The further in vivo USF imaging demonstrates that although the whole liver emitted fluorescence, only the right lobe of the liver contains the working ICG-liposome.
SunDew: Systematic Automated Security Testing

At Google, tens of thousands of security and robustness bugs have been found by fuzzing C and C++ libraries. The various aspects of the SunDew project, one of the projects working on automated scalable techniques related to fuzzing at Google, are presented: how to fuzz, what to fuzz, and how to deal with discovered bugs. First, a distributed fuzzing infrastructure is presented. It allows to cooperatively utilize multiple test generation techniques. Then, a system for automated fuzz driver generation, named FUDGE, is described, which automatically generates fuzz driver candidates for libraries based on existing client code. Running large-scale fuzzing services also causes lots of bugs and vulnerabilities to be reported. Various techniques are presented to provide feedback to developers to reduce the time a known security bug remains open. Finally, challenges and opportunities to incorporate security testing into the general software development workflow are highlighted.
Evaluation of Point of Load Converters for Space Computational Loads

Space experiments in low earth orbit (LEO) are becoming more ambitious and the power electronic systems for these missions are quickly becoming outdated when compared to the power-dense and highly efficient commercial solutions used to power modern processors. In this work, a comparison is presented between several radiation-hardened (rad-hard) and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) point-of-load (PoL) converters with a focus on Gallium Nitride (GaN) switching FETS. The converters were designed and evaluated based on their electrical and thermal performance when supplying power to computational loads in a LEO environment. This work is presented in the context of supplying power to a 1U FPGA-based computing platform that features a mix of COTS and rad-hard components, and a modular power system.
Reply: 'S' means stop! Critical examination of capsular tension ring movements with Miyake-Apple video analysis.

PURPOSE To examine capsular tension ring (CTR) implantation to establish whether there are predictable movements of the CTR during deployment, indicating complicated vs uneventful implantation. SETTING Intermountain Ocular Research Center, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. DESIGN Experimental study. METHODS Nine cadaver eyes were prepared using standard Miyake-Apple protocol with digital video recording. A 4 o'clock-hour zonular dialysis was created, followed by a capsulorhexis and hydrodissection. In 4 eyes, a suture-guided CTR (SGCTR) injector and 8-0 nylon suture through the leading eyelet served as a visible tracer for the CTR. In 5 eyes, a standard CTR was used. The movements of the CTR during implantation were observed. RESULTS In all eyes, SGCTR and CTR movements were predictable during implantation. All CTRs displayed cardinal movements within the injector, initially adjacent to the side of the inner diameter of the CTR. As the CTR made contact with lens or capsule, it shifted first to the center and then to the opposite side of the injector lumen. The appearance of an S-curve in the surgeon's view coincided with an obstruction of the leading eyelet and stress on the zonular fibers, as viewed with Miyake-Apple analysis. CONCLUSIONS Traumatic CTR implantation might be avoided by understanding the characteristics of uneventful insertion vs an insertion complicated by entrapment or entanglement of the CTR. By recognizing the abnormal movements of the CTR associated with an obstruction, a surgeon might avoid iatrogenic complications.
Multiscale Analysis of Urban Walkability and Pedestrian's Destination Choice

Abstract Much attention has been paid to the relationship between the built environment and walking behavior. However, the findings are mixed due to different quantitative measures based on differe...
Toward Resilient Solar-Integrated Distribution Grids: Harnessing the Mobility of Power Sources

In the past decades, weather- and cyber-driven high-impact low-probability (HILP) disasters have been observed more frequently. Mobile power sources (MPSs) including truck-mounted mobile emergency generators, mobile energy storage systems, and electric vehicles have a great potential for enhancing the power system resilience. This paper mainly focuses on investigating the potential roles of the MPS in facilitating a swift restoration of power distribution systems when facing HILP disasters. The distribution system reconfiguration through real-time topology changes is also taken into account to best utilize the network built-in flexibility and help power delivery during emergencies. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is proposed for deriving a solution for MPS dispatch and distribution system reconfiguration under a given repair strategy. The model is further linearized into a tractable mix-integer linear programming formulation. Eventually, the coordination of the proposed MPS and photovoltaic (PV) generation is investigated.
A Global Society with Data Capital

This chapter reviews the current socioeconomic status to examine what a “global society” suited to data capital looks like. The examination is from three perspectives, including expected political returns on data capital, possible changes of most counties, and data sovereigns’ potential achievements. The return on data capital may involve offering fewer financial crises, partitioning with more specific descriptions to change “identity polity” (that is naive with a lazy mind), and reducing inequities in international assistance. The changes the countries might relate to data capital are on public debt reduction and governmental capital accumulation. Besides, reasonable cause is that data sovereigns will own the world soon if they can better utilize both data resources and data force.
The Impact of Public Charge on Immigrants.

Over one million individuals obtain lawful permanent resident (LPR) status each year (DHS 2020). Beginning February of 2020, LPR applicants became subject to new public charge rules that seek to ba...
Jihadists of North Africa and the Sahel: local politics and rebel groups

Most readers of this journal are more familiar with the states of the Maghreb than those of the Sahel. Some years ago, in analysing international relations throughout the continent, I divided Afric...
New paradigm of ultrafast laser system based on a high energy oscillator and nonlinear optical frequency conversion

We introduce a novel approach of generating highly reproducible, broadly tunable, ultrashort laser pulses using a very simple and inexpensive concept. Up to 10-W of average power can be routinely generated with energies up to 10 /spl mu/J per pulse and tunability from mid-IR to UV.
Variation in natural threshold voltage of NVM circuits due to dopant fluctuations and its impact on reliability

The statistical distribution of the natural threshold voltage (V/sub T0/) of 512k-bit NVM circuit arrays has been studied for two different technologies. The major source of the V/sub T0/ variation is dopant fluctuations of the NVM well. An analytical model for the dopant fluctuations provides excellent agreement with the measured circuit V/sub T0/ variation and NVM cell mismatch for both technologies. The reliability implications of the V/sub T0/ variation are considered using charge leakage models for data retention.
Intermittent turbulence and fractal dimension: Kurtosis and the spectral exponent 5/3+B

Various distinct aspects of the geometry of turbulence can be studied with the help of a wide family of shapes for which I have recently coined the neologism “fractals.” These shapes are loosely characterized as being violently convoluted and broken up, a feature denoted in Latin by the adjective “fractus,” Fractal geometry approaches the loose notion of “form” in a manner different and almost wholly separate from the approach used by topology. Until recently, it was believed that fractals could not be of use in concrete applications, but I have shown them to be useful in a variety of fields. In particular, they play a central role in the study of three aspects of turbulence: (a) homogeneous turbulence, through the shape of the iso-surfaces of scalars (M 1975f{H}), (b) turbulent dispersion (M 1976c{N20}), and especially c) the intermittency of turbulent dissipation (M 1972j {N14}, M1974f{N15} and M1974c{N16}.
Identification of an alternate type I insulin-like growth factor receptor β subunit mRNA transcript

Abstract Several studies have suggested that heterogeneity exists in the type I insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor beta subunit. We have examined type I IGF receptor mRNA transcripts by ribonuclease (RNase) protection assay to determine if the heterogeneity could result from alternative splicing of the gene. An area that corresponded to the nucleotide sequence just upstream of the region encoding the transmembrane domain of the beta subunit was identified as being a potential site of alteration in the transcript. Since the 5' and 3' ends were known, polymerase chain reaction was used to clone a cDNA that included this region. Analysis revealed that an alternate type I IGF receptor mRNA transcript with a 3-base pair deletion could account for the results of the RNase protection assay. The deletion changes the amino acid sequence at position 899 substituting Arg for a Thr-Gly. Furthermore, this alternate transcript was ubiquitously found in tissue and cell line RNAs. Although the identified transcript cannot fully account for the documented heterogeneity in type I IGF receptor beta subunit sizes, the results suggest that a form of the beta subunit with an alternate primary sequence may exist.
Three different MCMs, three different test strategies

This paper looks at three quite different MCMs and presents, for each design, how and why a test strategy was chosen. The first MCM examined is a very complex design implementing a RISC subsystem including a processor, cache controller, and large memory. This design has the complexity of a circuit board, including the requirement to support repair of failing components, so a test strategy closely paralleling a board test strategy was chosen. The second MCM is far simpler: four identical ASICs are mounted in one small package. The test strategy adopted was clearly a chip test strategy. The final design, an automotive engine control application, dictated a somewhat hybrid approach-a limited functional test implemented through a tester assisted self-test.
Outcomes for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Nonagenarians.

Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may offer extreme-aged patients a treatment alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The objective of this study was to describe outcomes of TAVR in nonagenarians using transfemoral and alternative access techniques. Methods In a retrospective review, we found 95 nonagenarians who underwent TAVR from September 2007 through February 2014 at Emory University using a balloon expandable valve: transfemoral (n = 66), transapical (n = 14), transaortic (n = 14), and transcarotid (n = 1). Morbidity and 30-day and midterm mortality were assessed. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to determine midterm survival rates. Results The mean age of the patients was 91.8 ± 1.8 years, and 49 (52%) were female. Postoperative morbidity included 1 patient (1%) each with stroke, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, and renal failure. The mean postoperative length of stay was 6.8 ± 5.1 days for all patients. Overall 30-day mortality was 3.2%, much less than The Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality of 14.5% ± 7.3%. There were no deaths in the transfemoral patients, but there were 2 transapical deaths (14.3%) and 1 transaortic death (7.1%). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of median survival was 2.6 years. Conclusions Extreme-aged nonagenarian patients may have excellent outcomes from TAVR at 30-day and midterm follow-up. Alternative access TAVR is associated with higher morbidity and mortality than transfemoral TAVR. Referral for TAVR of nonagenarians should not be precluded based on age alone.
Difference-integral dimming controller for the single-stage back-lighting electronic ballast

This paper proposes a novel difference-integral controller (DIC) to improve the dimming performance of variable-frequency single-stage electronic ballast for cold cathode fluorescent lamp. The proposed DIC will linearize the dimming process by linear integral behavior. The half-bridge resonant inverter is employed in the presented back-light system. This system also incorporates a voltage feed-forward control to eliminate unstable illumination and to provide excellent step response. Complete analysis and design considerations are discussed in detail in this paper. The measured results obtained from experiments are close to the theoretical prediction. The overall efficiency of the proposed system is promoted above 91%.
Central Africans and Cultural Transformations in the American Diaspora

Central Africans and Cultural Transformations in the American Diaspora. Linda M. Heywood (ed.). Foreword by Jan Vansina. Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2002. xv. 384 pp. (Cloth US$65.00; Paper US$23.00)
The Drosophila neurogenic gene big brain, which encodes a membrane-associated protein, acts cell autonomously and can act synergistically with Notch and Delta

In the developing nervous system of Drosophila, cells in each proneural cluster choose between neural and epidermal cell fates. The neurogenic genes mediate the cell-cell communication process whereby one cell adopts the neural cell fate and prevents other cells in the cluster from becoming neural. In the absence of neurogenic gene function, most, if not all of the cells become neural. big brain is a neurogenic gene that encodes a protein with sequence similarity to known channel proteins. It is unique among the neurogenic genes in that previous genetic studies have not revealed any interaction between big brain and the other neurogenic genes. Furthermore, the neural hypertrophy in big brain mutant embryos is less severe than that in embryos mutant for other neurogenic genes. In this paper, we show by antibody staining that bib is expressed in tissues that give rise to neural precursors and in other tissues that are affected by loss of neurogenic gene function. By immunoelectron microscopy, we found that bib is associated with the plasma membrane and concentrated in apical adherens junctions as well as in small cytoplasmic vesicles. Using mosaic analysis in the adult, we demonstrate that big brain activity is required autonomously in epidermal precursors to prevent neural development. Finally, we demonstrate that ectopically expressed big brain acts synergistically with ectopically expressed Delta and Notch, providing the first evidence that big brain may function by augmenting the activity of the Delta-Notch pathway. These results are consistent with bib acting as a channel protein in proneural cluster cells that adopt the epidermal cell fate, and serving a necessary function in the response of these cells to the lateral inhibition signal.
The distribution and origin of smooth plains on Mercury

[1] Orbital images from the MESSENGER spacecraft show that ~27% of Mercury's surface is covered by smooth plains, the majority (>65%) of which are interpreted to be volcanic in origin. Most smooth plains share the spectral characteristics of Mercury's northern smooth plains, suggesting they also share their magnesian alkali-basalt-like composition. A smaller fraction of smooth plains interpreted to be volcanic in nature have a lower reflectance and shallower spectral slope, suggesting more ultramafic compositions, an inference that implies high temperatures and high degrees of partial melting in magma source regions persisted through most of the duration of smooth plains formation. The knobby and hummocky plains surrounding the Caloris basin, known as Odin-type plains, occupy an additional 2% of Mercury's surface. The morphology of these plains and their color and stratigraphic relationships suggest that they formed as Caloris ejecta, although such an origin is in conflict with a straightforward interpretation of crater size–frequency distributions. If some fraction is volcanic, this added area would substantially increase the abundance of relatively young effusive deposits inferred to have more mafic compositions. Smooth plains are widespread on Mercury, but they are more heavily concentrated in the north and in the hemisphere surrounding Caloris. No simple relationship between plains distribution and crustal thickness or radioactive element distribution is observed. A likely volcanic origin for some older terrain on Mercury suggests that the uneven distribution of smooth plains may indicate differences in the emplacement age of large-scale volcanic deposits rather than differences in crustal formational process.
Cumulative Neurological Factors Associated with Long-term Outcomes in Adult Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors

Prior research has demonstrated the reliability and validity of the Neurological Predictor Scale (NPS) in relation to childhood brain tumor survivor outcomes; however, its use has not been examined in adult long-term survivors. The current study examines the concurrent validity of the NPS with long-term intellectual and adaptive outcomes in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors relative to individual variables alone. A total of 68 adult survivors of childhood brain tumors (M = 24 years old, SD = 4) almost 16 years post diagnosis (SD = 6) completed intellectual evaluations using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Survivors' adaptive functioning skills were assessed via informant structured clinical interviews (SIB-R). NPS scores were computed from data acquired from medical records. The NPS was significantly associated with intellectual (R(2) = 0.208, p < .05) and adaptive outcomes (R(2) = 0.30, p < .05) over and above individual risk factors. Approximately 18% of long-term survivors were identified as impaired in intellectual outcomes, and 29% were identified as impaired in adaptive functioning in everyday life skills. The NPS quantifies the cumulative effects of treatment and neurological sequelae experienced by both short- and long-term survivors of childhood brain tumors. It is a useful and easy measure to employ in clinical research that focuses on quantifying the neurological risk factors associated with long-term intellectual and adaptive functioning outcomes in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors.
On the Convex Hull of the Integer Points in a Bi-circular Region

Given a set S ******2, denote $S_{\mathbb {Z}} = S \cap \mathbb {Z}^2$. We obtain bounds for the number of vertices of the convex hull of S *** , where S ******2 is a convex region bounded by two circular arcs. Two of the bounds are tight bounds--in terms of arc length and in terms of the width of the region and the radii of the circles, respectively. Moreover, an upper bound is given in terms of a new notion of "set oblongness." The results complement the well-known O (r 2/3) bound [2] which applies to a disc of radius r .
State all-driver distracted driving laws and high school students' texting while driving behavior

ABSTRACTObjective: Texting while driving is highly prevalent among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Texting while driving can significantly increase the risk of road crashes and is associated with other risky driving behaviors. Most states have enacted distracted driving laws to prohibit texting while driving. This study examines effects of different all-driver distracted driving laws on texting while driving among high school students.Methods: High school student data were extracted from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Distracted driving law information was collected from the National Conference of State Legislatures. The final sample included 6,168 high school students above the restricted driving age in their states and with access to a vehicle. Logistic regression was applied to estimate odds ratios of laws on texting while driving.Results: All-driver text messaging bans with primary enforcement were associated with a significant reduction in odds of texting while drivi...
Acute Onset Dystonia after Infarction of Premotor and Supplementary Motor Cortex.

Objective Poststroke dystonia is the second most common movement disorder after chorea and often has a delayed manifestation. Lesions of the contralateral lenticular nucleus, particularly the putamen, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of dystonia. We present an unusual case of rapid onset of focal dystonia of the left upper extremity, which developed after infarction of the right premotor cortex (PMC) and the supplementary motor area (SMA). Method A retrospective chart review of the patient was performed. Results and Conclusion We propose that disruption of the afferents from PMC and SMA in the setting of chronic striatal abnormality can result in acute dystonia due to disinhibition of the thalamocortical circuit.
Does Order of Presentation Affect Users' Judgment of Documents?.

User evaluation of the relevance of documents retrieved by an information system can be a useful measure of the performance of the system. The meaningfulness of this measure is, in part, determined by the extent to which it is influenced by external factors. This article examines the question of whether the order of presentation of the document citations influences the relevance judgment of the user. An experiment to test the hypothesis that order of presentation does have an effect is described. The results indicate that users are not influenced by this factor when the set of retrieved document citations has fewer than 15 members. © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Limitations Imposed by Heteroduplex Formation on Quantitative RT–PCR

RT-PCR, a rapidly emerging technique for the detection of RNA, is being used by many investigators to quantify small amounts of RNA. Accurate quantification of RNA content has been facilitated by the use of competitive amplicons as internal controls. We demonstrate that losses in sensitivity and accuracy are associated with an internal standard having sequence similarity to the primary amplicon. Analysis of PCR products under non-denaturing and denaturing conditions provided evidence that these losses were associated with heteroduplex formation. Subsequent analysis of factors associated with heteroduplex formation provides insights for future development of competitive assays. Assay considerations that can minimize limitations associated with competitive PCR protocols are discussed.
Adjusting selectivity in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with 1,2-hexanediol

In this report, we introduce a new micelle modifier useful to alter selectivity in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). 1,2-Hexanediol acts as a class I organic modifier in that its effects are on the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar rather than the surrounding aqueous phase. This characteristic allows 1,2-hexanediol to improve resolution when applied at concentrations as low as 20 mM (0.25% v/v) by altering the selectivity observed with SDS alone. The effects of 1,2-hexanediol on the critical micelle concentration of SDS, electroosmotic flow, electrophoretic mobility of the SDS micelle, and reproducibility are presented. 1,2-Hexanediol had little impact on the migration time window at concentrations below 100 mM. Changes in selectivity induced by 1,2-hexanediol for a large set of model compounds are presented. Analytes capable of forming hydrogen bonds tend to decrease their interactions with the micellar phase while nonhydrogen bonding analytes increase their interactions. The usefulness of 1,2-hexanediol was demonstrated by examining its effects on the separation of dansylated amino acids. Eighteen of twenty amino acids could be separated with a resolution greater than 1.6 within 1600 s using a combination of 1,2-hexanediol and isopropanol.
MO-D-332-01: Noise Evaluation of a New Solid-State X-Ray Image Intensifier (SSXII)

Purpose: To measure the impact of thermal and multiplication‐excess noise and the instrumentation‐noise equivalent exposure (INEE) of a new solid‐state x‐ray image intensifier (SSXII) based on electron‐multiplying CCDs (EMCCDs). Method and Materials: The SSXII consists of a 350μm thick CsI(Tl) phosphor grown on a fiber‐optic plate optically coupled to a Peltier cooled EMCCD camera with a fiber‐optic input window via a 4:1 minifying fiber‐optic taper. The EMCCD provides signal multiplication gain prior to the read‐out electronics, thereby eliminating this primary noise source, effectively allowing for instrumentation‐noise free operation even at very low x‐ray exposures. Two additional potential noise sources, thermal and multiplication‐excess noise, were investigated. Thermal noise was determined using a linear fit of dark‐signal variance versus integration time at a constant readout rate. Multiplication‐excess noise was determined using signal variance normalized to gain versus signal plots. The gradient of a linear fit to this data at 1x gain as compared to higher gain values (up to 14x) was used to determine the excess noise factor (ENF). Overall noise‐performance was then determined using the INEE. Results:Thermal noise was measured to be < 2% of the maximal signal (12‐bits) with an EMCCD gain of 275x and an integration time of 30 ms, and is considered an upper bound under typical clinical operating conditions, indicating thermal noise has a negligible impact on overall image quality. The ENF was unity for the range of gains tested, suggesting the inherent excess noise of the electronic‐multiplication process has little effect when imaging secondary quanta from an x‐ray converting phosphor. An INEE of < 0.2μR further demonstrates the SSXII's capability to operate instrumentation‐noise free at very low x‐ray exposures. Conclusion: The SSXII provides quantum‐noise‐limited performance well below typical fluoroscopic exposure levels with negligible thermal and multiplication‐excess‐noise. (Support: NIH Grants R01‐NS43924, R01‐EB002873, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation).
Reclaiming Marx’s ‘Capital’: A Refutation of the Myth of Inconsistency , Andrew Kliman, Lanham: Lexington Books, 2007

This book seeks to defend Marx’s theory in Capital against the long-standing criticism of logical inconsistency, which has provided the main justification for the rejection of Marx’s theory over the last century. This book presents a new interpretation of Marx’s theory that has emerged over the last several decades called the ‘temporal single-system’ interpretation (commonly abbreviated as TSSI). Kliman argues that the TSSI eliminates all of the alleged logical inconsistencies in Marx’s theory, and therefore logical inconsistency is not a valid reason to reject Marx’s theory. I agree in general with much of this book, but I disagree on some points, especially the use of one-commodity models and its interpretation of the transformation-problem.
Numerical and experimental studies of target detection with MIMO radar

Spatially diverse multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar systems combine multistatic measurements of the target under view into a single detection algorithm and are thereby expected to alleviate the effects of fading on target radar cross sections (RCS) as the angle of observation is varied. Previous analytical studies of target detection for this case have shown that MIMO radar detection performance can exceed that of the corresponding phased array radar if both sufficient spatial diversity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are achieved. These results have been based on a statistical model for the multistatic RCS of the target that is similar to the traditional Swerling models of the monostatic RCS. The degree to which these results are applicable to specific target geometries therefore remains uncertain. To address this issue, two studies of MIMO radar target detection incorporating realistic RCS properties for specific target geometries were performed. The first study utilized a numerical method to compute the multistatic RCS of a helicopter-like target observed at center frequency 200 MHz, while the second involved radar measurements of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) target at 2.75 and 4.5 GHz. MIMO radar configurations having two transmitters and either three (for the radar measurements) or four (numerical simulations) receivers were used. In both cases, multistatic received fields were combined with regulated thermal noise levels in postprocessing to study target detection performance. Because in general the azimuthal orientation of a specific target with respect to the radar is uncertain, the detection performance results shown are averaged over the azimuthal orientation angle of the target. The average over target orientation can also be interpreted as similar to an average over “trials” of a statistical target description, enabling comparisons of field properties averaged over target orientation with similar ensemble averages from the statistical models of the literature. Although detection performance curves for the specific targets considered are not identical to those predicted analytically by the statistical target model, results for these targets confirm that the MIMO radar system can achieve enhanced detection performance as compared with the corresponding phased array radar system.
Investigations of laser-sustained plasma and its role in laser nitriding of titanium

Laser-sustained plasma (LSP) and CCD imaging of reactant species were employed to investigate the role of near-surface plasma in CO2 laser nitriding of titanium in open atmosphere. Insights were gained regarding the role of plasma processes and the role of reactive nitriding species in the nitriding process. Studies of single nitrided trails have identified the following regimes, as a function of LSP off-focal distance and beam translation speed, characterized by (1) the formation of heavily oxidized surfaces, (2) the formation of titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticulate, (3) nitride formation in the absence of a surface-struck or LSP and (4) the formation of near-stoichiometric, oxide-free TiN surfaces with a LSP. For the first time it will be shown that the LSP can access nitriding conditions beyond those achieved with surface-struck plasma (or in the absence of plasma) to produce uniform, near-stoichiometric, titanium nitride coatings.
A Light-Weight Event-Driven Protocol for Sensor Clustering in Wireless Camera Networks

We propose a light-weight event-driven protocol for wireless camera networks to allow for formation and propagation of clusters of cameras for the purpose of collaborative processing during object tracking. Cluster formation is triggered by the detection of objects with specific features. Our protocol allows for simultaneous formation and propagation of multiple clusters. Cameras being directional devices, more than one cluster may track a single object since groups of cameras outside each others communication range may see the same object. Entry into a cluster and cluster membership maintenance require a sensor node to confirm the presence of features of the object being tracked. Each cluster elects its own leader among the cameras that observe the same target. When a cluster leader loses track of an object, it assigns the leadership role to another cluster member. To avoid high communication overhead among cluster members, single-hop clusters are formed, i.e., every member of a cluster is within the communication range of the cluster head. We have implemented a simple version of this protocol on a test-bed and provide an experimental evaluation.
Mouse strain and source of l-tryptophan affects hepatic nuclear tryptophan binding

Abstract This study describes that the affinity for specific l -tryptophan binding to hepatic nuclei in vitro is markedly decreased in NZBWF 1 mice in comparison to that in Swiss mice. Also, the hepatic nuclei of NZBWF 1 mice have a significantly decreased binding response in vitro to Showa Denko l -tryptophan (implicated in the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome) or to its contaminants, 1,1′-ethylidenebis(tryptophan) or 3-phenylamino- l -alanine, when each is added to control, non-implicated l -tryptophan compared with hepatic nuclei of Swiss mice. Enhanced hepatic protein synthesis induced by tube-feeding control l -tryptophan is much less in NZBWF 1 mice than in Swiss mice. Tube-feeding of Showa Denko l -tryptophan induced less stimulation of hepatic protein synthesis than did control l -tryptophan in Swiss mice but essentially none in NZBWF 1 mice. NZBWF 1 mice have a genetically altered response to l -tryptophan which may prove to be useful is studying the role of l -tryptophan in health and in disease.
Transient small boats as a long-distance coastal vector for dispersal of biofouling organisms

Alaska is at the northern end of an apparent latitudinal trend of decreasing coastal marine introductions on the West Coast of North America. Historical propagule supply may have played a role in forming this trend, but few studies have evaluated propagule supply to northern latitudes. Here, we examined the role of small boat traffic as a mechanism of long-distance spread for nonindigenous species (NIS) into coastal Alaska. We used a combination of public records, marina surveys, and boater interviews to characterize vessel traffic patterns and boater behaviors. In-water SCUBA sampling of recently arrived transient boats provided data on extent, richness, composition, and biogeography of biofouling incursions to Alaska from outside of the state. We documented a striking seasonality and directionality of vessel traffic, and most vessels were on voyages of >900 km. Most transient vessels sampled had few organisms, although one third had >100 organisms on submerged surfaces. Several NIS were recorded, including two that are not known to be established in Alaska (Watersipora subtorquata and Amphibalanus improvisus). The seasonal northward pulse of vessels and their cumulative biofouling species represent an important incursion mechanism for species yet to establish at the northern edge of a marine bioinvasion front in the northeastern Pacific. The low numbers of NIS sampled in this study coincide with the low number of marine NIS known from Alaska, which suggests that an opportunity remains to promote awareness and management of the vector to limit NIS influx to the region. This may be particularly relevant for future scenarios of increased vessel traffic and ocean warming, which are likely to interact to increase establishment success of invaders from the south.
Inductive and axial properties of prospective wing-bud mesoderm in the chick embryo.

Abstract Prospective wing-bud mesoderm, stripped of ectoderm mechanically through the use of glass needles, or chemically by means of EDTA or trypsin, was obtained from donor embryos of stages 11 through 21. Grafts were made in both homopleural (aadd and apdv) and heteropleural (aadv and apdd) combinations to the right flank of host embryos of the same range of stages. Flank ectoderm from the host healed over the graft in a few hours and, in combinations between donors and hosts in the range of stages 12 through 17, the composite formed, with high frequency, a limb bud capped by an apical ectodermal ridge, and then developed into a supernumerary wing in which all proximodistal levels were represented. When either member of the combination was older than stage 17, only incomplete limbs, if any, were formed. Regardless of their orientation on the host, the supernumerary limbs always showed the axial characteristics appropriate to their side of origin. Supernumerary wings failed to form if the grafts were inserted into a space tunneled between flank ectoderm and its underlying mesoderm. If the covering ectoderm were deliberately torn and forced to heal over the graft, however, an ectodermal ridge formed and a supernumerary limb developed. It is concluded, therefore, that: (1) the wing-bud mesoderm, appropriately combined with flank ectoderm, has the property of morphological and axial self-differentiation by stage 12; (2) the apical ectodermal ridge is induced in flank ectoderm by prospective wing-bud mesoderm; (3) this inductive power is restricted to prospective wing-bud mesoderm from donors of stages 12 through 17; (4) the response competence is limited to flank ectoderm that has healed over the mesoderm; and (5) this competence is lost by the end of stage 17.
Numerical simulation of convective diffusion at a microarray channel electrode

Abstract Concentration profiles and currents were simulated for an array electrode on one wall of a rectangular flow-throuh channel, using the backward implicit finite difference numerical procedure to solve the equation governing the convective diffusion process. Different simplifying hypotheses usually considered in these types of calculations, and their concomitant errors were analyzed. A simple criterion for estimating the importance of longitudinal and lateral diffusion was developed. The responses of a variety of both regular and pseudo-randomly distributed geometries of array electrodes were evaluated under a wide range of conditions. Current response was evaluated as a function of the number of active sites, fractional surface blockage, and flow conditions, relative to solid electrodes. The geometrical pattern of the array was found to affect the current response, a regularly spaced array yielding the maximum response for a given degree of partial blockage of the electrode and a constant number of microelectrodes.
Ethics Naturalized: Feminism's Contribution to Moral Epistemology

A survey of Western feminist ethics over the past thirty years reveals considerable diversity; nonetheless, much recent work in this area is characterized by its adoption of a naturalistic approach. Such an approach is similar to that found in contemporary naturalized epistemology and philosophy of science, yet feminist naturalism has a unique focus. This paper explains what feminist naturalism can contribute to moral philosophy, both by critiquing moral concepts that obscure or rationalize women’s subordination and by paying attention to real-life practices of moral inquiry, including those used by women.