cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Utilizing Breast Meat Afflicted with Woody Breast Myopathy on Sausage Textural Properties

ObjectivesWoody breast (WB) myopathy reduces the utility and value of breast meat for the broiler industry. It is hypothesized that WB meat may be included in comminuted products to increase utility and ultimately add value to the broiler industry. Information on the textural and quality characteristics that WB inclusion has on further processed products is limited in the literature. The objective of this research was to evaluate the quality of sausage made with WB meat of varying degrees of severity.Materials and MethodsFor each of three replications, broiler breast meat (normal, moderate WB, and severe WB) and chicken abdominal fat were obtained from a commercial poultry processor. Breast meat was coarse ground (19-mm) and combined with fat (targeting 15%) to produce 10-kg batches representing 25, 50, and 100% moderate WB meat, 25, 50, 100% severe WB meat, and a 100% normal control. The batches were then re-ground (4.8-mm), mixed for 1 min with 1.5% salt, and stuffed into 35-mm natural casings. Links were placed in individual bags, cooked to 70°C in a water-bath, and allowed to cool to room temperature before hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness were evaluated using texture profile analysis. Individual sausage links were weighed before and after cooking and cook loss was calculated. Data were analyzed using SAS version 9.3 with a fixed effects design with replication as a random effect.ResultsSausage hardness tended to be softer (P = 0.06) as WB inclusion rate and severity increased. Cohesiveness and springiness values were similar between treatments (P = 0.53, P = 0.95, respectively). Gumminess decreased (P < 0.05) as severity and inclusion of WB increased indicating a lack of bind, which was further supported by the decline in chewiness (P < 0.05). The raw 25% moderate WB and 50% severe WB sausage links were similar in lightness values (L*) to the normal sausage links. In cooked sausage, 25% and 50% inclusion of WB meat regardless of severity were similar in lightness values (L*) compared to the 100% normal formulations.ConclusionWith no difference in cook loss (P = 0.08), the data presented indicates that moderate and severe WB meat can be included in the formulation of linked sausages to increase utility and value of broiler WB meat.
Examining the influence of native and non-native English-speaking teachers on Korean EFL writing

Both Native English-Speaking Teachers (NESTs) and Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs) may have advantages as writing instructors, yet little is known about how they actually influence writing in EFL contexts like South Korea. To address this issue, 76 high proficiency Korean EFL university students from the International Corpus Network of Asian Learners of English (ICNALE) were separated into a group that received extensive native English speaker instruction (n = 57) and a group that did not (n = 19) using a self-survey. Analysis of essay content revealed that words used by Korean EFL writers with more NEST instruction are similar in difficulty and variety to native English writers. Concerning style, Korean EFL learners with more NEST instruction used stances to evaluate, validate, and state personal opinions, while learners with less NEST instruction used speech formulas and more unbiased logical arguments. Regarding grammar, Korean EFL learners with extensive NEST instruction used more sophisticated vocabulary, word forms, and verb tenses to create a novel argument using personal experience, whereas Korean EFL learners with low NEST instruction tended to use formulaic and logical arguments with more accuracy. Overall, results suggest that NEST instruction in Korea promotes more creativity and sophistication in composition, while NNEST instruction encourages more accurate use of language. In accordance with the findings, curricula or teacher training may be developed to ensure that each type of instruction shares the strengths of its counterpart.
Supporting a sense of inclusion and belonging for genetic counseling students who identify as racial or ethnic minorities

Racial and ethnic minority graduate students in a variety of academic and professional disciplines have been reported to experience microaggressions and feelings of isolation during the course of their training. The purpose of this constructivist grounded theory study was to characterize the training experiences of genetic counseling students who identify as racial or ethnic minorities. The goal of enhancing racial and ethnic diversity has been discussed for decades within the genetic counseling profession, but the actual training experience of underrepresented minorities has yet to be fully explored. We conducted 13 videoconference focus groups with 32 recent graduates of genetic counseling training programs who identify as racial or ethnic minorities. This paper presents results from three of the thematic categories identified in that larger study: Participants' interactions with classmates, Sense of belonging in the GC profession, and Available or desired supports. Participants reported experiencing negative interactions within their training program, during supervised clinical rotations, and at professional events; negative interactions included comments suggesting they did not belong in the United States, being confused with another non-white classmate, and intrusive questions or assumptions about their family, culture, or religion that were not similarly directed at white classmates. Trainees who were Muslim or Black/African American reported feeling particularly isolated by these incidents. Participants reported that they sought support from a variety of sources following negative experiences. Non-minority program faculty were perceived as able to offer listening or action but not understanding or guidance, which were perceived as more likely to be available from individuals who identify as racial or ethnic minorities. Results of this exploratory study suggest the need for training programs to ensure that appropriate supports are available to minority students, including diverse faculty and staff and non-program resources.
Perceived discrimination in U.S. healthcare: Charting the effects of key social characteristics within and across racial groups

This article employs an original empirical analysis to contribute to scientific understandings of the relationship between social characteristics and perceptions of discrimination in healthcare encounters within and across racial categories in the U.S. Our analysis focuses on a diverse sample of 43,020 adults aged 18 to 85 drawn from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). We use a series of weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to parse out factors associated with perceived discrimination and chart how they vary by race and ethnicity. Members of racial minorities were more likely to report perceptions of discrimination, and while the effect was somewhat mitigated by introducing patient and health-care system factors into our models, the race effects remained both statistically significant and of substantial magnitude (particularly for African Americans and Native Americans). Poor self-reported health and communication difficulties in the clinical encounter were associated with increased perceptions of discrimination across all groups. Further, among non-whites, increased education was associated with increased perceptions of discrimination net of other factors. These findings suggest efforts to reduce disparities in medical care should continue to focus on expanding the depth and quality of patient-provider interactions for disadvantaged racial groups, while also being attentive to other factors that affect perceived racial discrimination in healthcare encounters within and across racial groups.
Network Coding Based QoS-Provisioning MAC for Wireless Smart Metering Networks

The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) with smart metering networks, which enables the two-way information exchange between utilities and end-users, is the critically important component of the overall smart grid architecture. In this paper, we propose a network coding based QoS-provisioning MAC protocol for wireless smart metering networks, which aims at providing reliable and low-latency communications services between smart meters and coordinator of the utilities. In particular, to efficiently utilize the limited bandwidth resource, we develop our proposed MAC protocol based on the contention-free orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) methodology. Our proposed MAC protocol incorporates the opportunistic resource allocation, cooperative grouping, and network coding technique. Under our proposed MAC protocol, the coordinator adaptively allocates the resource blocks to each smart meters based on the channel conditions between the coordinator and the smart meter and among the smart meters. Also conducted are simulations to verify and evaluate our proposed MAC protocol.
Ubiquitin-phytochrome conjugates: pool dynamics during in vivo phytochrome degradation

Abstract The plant photoreceptor chromoprotein, phytochrome, is rapidly degraded in vivo after photoconversion from a stable red light-absorbing form (Pr) to a far-red light-absorbing form (Pfr). Previously, we demonstrated that during Pfr degradation in etiolated oat seedlings, ubiquitin-phytochrome conjugates, (Ub-P), appear and disappear suggesting that phytochrome is degraded via a ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway (Shanklin, J., Jabben, M., and Vierstra, R. D. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 84, 359-363). Here, we provide additional kinetic and localization data consistent with this hypothesis by exploiting the unique ability to photoregulate phytochrome degradation in vivo. An assay for the quantitation of Ub-P was developed involving immunoprecipitation of total conjugates with anti-ubiquitin antibodies, followed by the detection of Ub-P with anti-phytochrome antibodies. Using this immunoassay, we found that Ub-P will accumulate to approximately 5% of initial phytochrome during Pfr degradation induced by a saturating red light pulse. Reducing the amount of Pfr produced initially by attenuating the red light pulse, lowered the amount of phytochrome degraded in the following dark period and concomitantly reduced the maximal accumulation of Ub-P. Continuous far-red irradiations that maintained only 4% of phytochrome as Pfr induced rapid phytochrome degradation similar to that induced by a red light pulse converting 86% of Pr to Pfr. The appearance and disappearance of Ub-P were similar for each irradiation indicating that Ub-P accumulation is independent of the level of Pfr provided rapid phytochrome degradation is maintained. Pulse-chase studies employing continuous far-red light followed by darkness showed that Ub-P are continuously synthesized during phytochrome degradation and rapidly disappear once degradation ceases. Ub-P also accumulated during "cycled Pr" degradation induced by the transformation of Pr to Pfr and back to Pr. The commitment to degrade cycled Pr and form Ub-P occurred within seconds after Pfr formation making the cause(s) underlying this phenomenon one of the fastest phytochrome reactions known. Within seconds after Pfr formation, a majority of phytochrome is also known to aggregate in vivo (previously defined as sequestered or pelletable), with aggregated phytochrome preferentially lost during phytochrome degradation. In vitro analysis of aggregated phytochrome indicated that they contain most of the Ub-P. Moreover, the appearance of Ub-P in the aggregated and soluble fractions correlated with the time that phytochrome disappeared from that fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A search-infer-and-relax framework for integrating solution methods

We present an algorithmic framework for integrating solution methods that is based on search, inference, and relaxation and their interactions. We show that the following are special cases: branch and cut, CP domain splitting with propagation, popular global optimization methods, DPL methods for SAT with conflict clauses, Benders decomposition and other nogood-based methods, partial-order dynamic backtracking, various local search metaheuristics, and GRASPs (greedy randomized adaptive search procedures). The framework allows elements of different solution methods to be combined at will, resulting in a variety of integrated methods. These include continuous relaxations for global constraints, the linking of integer and constraint programming via Benders decomposition, constraint propagation in global optimization, relaxation bounds in local search and GRASPs, and many others.
The X-ray Spectra of Cygnus XR-1 and the Crab Nebula

In this paper we wish to present briefly the latest results which have been obtained on the hard X-ray spectra of two strong sources in the Northern skies. These observations, which have been discussed in detail previously (Peterson et al., 1967), were made from balloons launched at Palestine, Texas, to 3 gm/cm2 atmospheric depth during September 1966. The Crab Nebula and the Cygnus XR-1 were observed to have a differential number power law spectra with an index of about — 2 over the 20–200 keV range. Both sources have the same intensity within about 10%. The Crab Nebula has been observed on two occasions, one year apart, and showed no change in intensity over this range at about a 5% significance level.
Strongyloides and Capillaria

1 Strongyloides 2 The Parasite 3 Clinical and Pathological Aspects of Infection 4 Capillaria 5 The Parasite 6 Clinical and Pathological Aspects of Infection Keywords: Strongyloides; Strongyloides hyperinfection; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA); Strongyloides larvae; immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT); Capillariinae; C. philippinensis; C. hepatica and C. aerophila
Mortality incidence estimation using federal death certificate and natality data with an application to Tay–Sachs disease

For confidentiality reasons, US federal death certificate data are incomplete with regards to the dates of birth and death for the decedents, making calculation of total lifetime of a decedent impossible and thus estimation of mortality incidence difficult. This paper proposes the use of natality data and an imputation-based method to estimate age-specific mortality incidence rates in the face of this missing information. By utilizing previously determined probabilities of birth, a birth date and death date are imputed for every decedent in the dataset. Thus, the birth cohort of each individual is imputed, and the total on-study time can be calculated. This idea is implemented in two approaches for estimation of mortality incidence rates. The first is an extension of a person-time approach, while the second is an extension of a life table approach. Monte Carlo simulations showed that both approaches perform well in comparison to the ideal complete data methods, but that the person-time method is preferred. An application to Tay-Sachs disease is demonstrated. It is concluded that the imputation methods proposed provide valid estimates of the incidence of death from death certificate data without the need for additional assumptions under which usual mortality rates provide valid estimates.
Pharmacologic inhibition of L-tyrosine degradation ameliorates cerebral dopamine deficiency in murine phenylketonuria (PKU)

Monoamine neurotransmitter deficiency has been implicated in the etiology of neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with chronic hyperphenylalaninemia in phenylketonuria (PKU). Two proposed explanations for neurotransmitter deficiency in PKU include first, that chronically elevated blood L-phenylalanine (Phe) inhibits the transport of L-tyrosine (Tyr) and L-tryptophan (Trp), the substrates for dopamine and serotonin synthesis respectively, into brain. In the second hypothesis, elevated Phe competitively inhibits brain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activities, the rate limiting steps in dopamine and serotonin synthesis. Dietary supplementation with large neutral amino acids (LNAA) including Tyr and Trp has been recommended for individuals with chronically elevated blood Phe in an attempt to restore amino acid and monoamine homeostasis in brain. As a potential alternative treatment approach, we demonstrate that pharmacologic inhibition of Tyr degradation through oral administration of nitisinone (NTBC) yielded sustained increases in blood and brain Tyr, decreased blood and brain Phe, and consequently increased dopamine synthesis in a murine model of PKU. Our results suggest that Phe-mediated inhibition of TH activity is the likely mechanism of impaired dopamine synthesis in PKU. Pharmacologic inhibition of Tyr degradation may be a promising adjunct therapy for CNS monoamine neurotransmitter deficiency in hyperphenylalaninemic individuals with PKU.
Computation and Intentional Psychology

Le rapport entre une approche computationnelle et une approche intentionnelle en psychologie a toujours ete une question difficile. La crainte est que si les processus mentaux sont computationnels, alors ces processus, definis sur des symboles, ne soient sensibles qu'aux proprietes non semantiques des symboles. Stich, on le sait, a fait grand cas de cette tension et defendu une psychologie purement «syntaxique», en tracant une distinction tranchee entre l'individuation semantique des occurrences de symboles et leur individuation fonctionnelle etroite. Si cette derniere peut etre realisee, affirme-t-il, nous n'avons pas besoin des types semantiques. Je soutiens, pour ma part, que puisque l'individuation fonctionnelle etroite ne permet pas l'identite de type entre des occurrences de symboles qui seraient liees a des organismes distincts, une approche semantique des types reste la seule possible (l'individuation interpersonnelle physique des occurrences etant exclue).
Future potential for MSW energy development

Abstract This work examines the potential supply of municipal solid waste (MSW) which could be used to support new (not existing or currently planned) energy capacity in the year 2000. The resource we are interested in is MSW which is not recycled or burned; which would be landfilled unless new MSW energy conversion capacity is constructed. A detailed analysis of MSW composition by individual components was used for 1990 and 2000. For each component of MSW we estimated heat content, ethanol yield and recycling efficiencies. From these data, we estimated how much MSW could be diverted from landfills to either new biomass-ethanol or new MSW-electricity plants. We also estimated where these new MSW-energy plants could be located. The impact of the planned growth in the MSW-power industry between 1992 and 1995 and higher material recycling rates have a significant effect on the supply of MSW in the year 2000. The implications of these changes are discussed in the context of the solid waste management industry. Some of the possible changes discussed include: • • declining amounts of MSW available after recycling will increase competition for MSW between and within power producers, recyclers and landfill firms, especially along the Eastern seaboard • • more competition for MSW may lead to lower tipping fees in the future • • as recycling efficiencies increase, MSW-power producers will need to attract MSW from further and further away to maintain capacity, causing transportation costs to rise • • the composition of materials reaching landfills may change if a large amount of MSW is consumed to produce energy, and landfill closures may be rendered moot. • • some areas of the country may not be suitable for building MSW-energy facilities in today, because by the year 2000, these areas may be in short supply of MSW. The analysis revealed that from 15.5 million to 71.7 million tonnes of new MSW power capacity could is be added by 2000, depending on the recycling scenario; if MSW is used for biomass-ethanol production, from 11.6 million to 31.6 million tonnes of MSW ethanol capacity in the year 2000.
Development of solid propellant electric thruster systems for attitude control and station keeping of spacecraft.

Solid propellant electric thrustor /SPET/ using pulse plasma for spacecraft attitude control and stationkeeping
RNA editing : A mechanism for gRNA-specified uridylate insertion into precursor mRNA

In the mitochondria of trypanosomatid protozoa the precursors of messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) have their coding information remodeled by the site-specific insertion and deletion of uridylate (U) residues. Small trans-acting guide RNAs (gRNAs) supply the genetic information for this RNA editing. An in vitro system was developed to study the mechanism of U insertion into pre-mRNA. U-insertion editing occurs through a series of enzymatic steps that begin with gRNA-directed pre-mRNA cleavage. Inserted U's are derived from free uridine triphosphate and are added to the 3' terminus of a 5' pre-mRNA cleavage product. gRNA specifies edited RNA sequence at the subsequent ligation step by base pairing-mediated juxtaposition of the 3' cleavage product and the processed 5' cleavage product. gRNA/pre-mRNA chimeras, purported intermediates, seem to be abortive end products of the same reaction.
Pressure drop due to the motion of a sphere near the wall bounding a Poiseuille flow

An expression is derived for the (low Reynolds number) additional pressure drop created by a relatively small sphere moving near the wall of a circular tube through which there is a Poiseuille flow. Two specific applications are examined: (i) the sedimentation of a homogeneous non-neutrally buoyant sphere in a quiescent fluid; and (ii) the motion of a neutrally buoyant sphere. In the latter case a pronounced increase in the additional pressure drop is predicted when the separation between the sphere and the tube wall is reduced to zero. This analysis, which includes the behaviour for a sphere in contact with the tube wall, supplements previous ‘method of reflexions’ treatments valid only when the distance from the sphere centre to the wall is large compared with the sphere radius.
Mid-infrared photodetectors based on the InAs/InGaSb type-II superlattices

We report on the growth and characterization of InAs/InGaSb type-II superlattices (SLs) designed with a photoresponse cut-off wavelength of 10 micrometers . The structural parameters, layer thicknesses and compositions, were chosen to optimize the IR absorption for a superlattice with an energy band gap of 120 meV. The energy band structure and optimized absorption coefficient were determined with an 8 X 8 envelope function approximation model. The superlattices were grown by molecular beam epitaxy and comprised of 100 periods of 43.6-angstrom InAs and 17.2-angstrom In.23Ga.77Sb strain balanced to the GaSb substrates. In order to reduce the background carrier concentrations in this material, SLs grown with different substrate temperatures were compared before and after annealing. The measured photoresponse cut-off energies of 116 +/- 6 meV is in good agreement with the designed value for the SLs. The intensity of the measured mid-IR photoresponse was found to improve by an order of magnitude for the SLs grown at the lower substrate temperature and then annealed at 520 degrees C for 10 minutes. However, the x-ray diffraction spectra were very similar before and after annealing. The temperature dependent Hall measurements at low temperatures were dominated by holes with quasi 2D behavior.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Tailoring Alumina Surface Chemistry for Efficient Use of Supported MoS2

Abstract Reported activity trends for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) over MoS 2 /γ-Al 2 O 3 catalysts show a maximum in activity with Mo loading when activity is normalized to Mo content. In contrast, simple monotonic decreases in normalized activity are observed over TiO 2 and ZrO 2 supports. While earlier work ascribes these different activity trends to differences in MoS 2 morphology, activity measurements and transmission electron microscope images presented here conclusively demonstrate that the two different trends can occur on support materials that give rise to virtually identical MoS 2 morphologies. Since differences in morphology cannot explain this result, we instead propose the following chemical explanation involving the formation of inactive molybdate species on γ-Al 2 O 3 at low Mo coverages. Reaction of aqueous molybdates with the highest frequency, or type I-a, OH groups on γ-Al 2 O 3 is known to form stable MoO 4 2− species at low Mo coverages, which are difficult to convert into the active MoS 2 form. As a result, normalized HDS activity is very low. As Mo coverage increases the type I-a OH groups are consumed and formation of more easily sulfided molybdate species begins to predominate, and normalized activity increases. Ultimately, normalized activity goes through a maximum with Mo coverage as the average size of the MoS 2 platelets begins to grow, resulting in a decrease in the fraction of Mo atoms located at active edge sites. Since the type-I-a hydroxyls on γ-Al 2 O 3 are associated with tetrahedrally coordinated Al cations, it should be possible to prevent the formation of inactive molybdates, and thereby eliminate the maximum in activity with coverage, by removing all tetrahedrally coordinated Al cations from the surface. This removal has been accomplished through the use of α-Al 2 O 3 , which contains only octahedrally coordinated Al atoms, and through titration of the type I-a hydroxyls on γ-Al 2 O 3 with titanium isopropoxide prior to Mo loading. In both cases, no maximum in activity is observed and activity at all Mo loadings is higher than on γ-Al 2 O 3 . Fourier transform infrared measurements of OH group consumption coupled with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of molybdate reducibility support the chemical explanation by demonstrating that reaction of γ-Al 2 O 3 with titanium isopropoxide preferentially consumes type I-a hydroxyls and that molybdates are more easily reduced on α-Al 2 O 3 and titania coated γ-Al 2 O 3 than on pure γ-Al 2 O 3 . Thus, titration of type I-a OH groups on γ-alumina by a suitable modifier, such as titania, offers a simple method for increasing the overall activity of supported MoS 2 catalysts, while retaining the advantageous properties of γ-Al 2 O 3 supports, such as high surface area and thermal stability.
Theory and Practice for Nanophotonic Light Trapping

We present studies of light management in solar cells from a rigorous electromagnetic perspective. We discuss the statistical temporal couple theory formalism, and the practical considerations to achieve simultaneously light trapping and anti-reflection. Article not available.
Valuing Changes in Investment Opportunities

Arrow and Pratt introduced a measure of risk aversion---the negative ratio of the second to the first derivative of the utility function. This measure has found widespread use in the valuation of uncertain lotteries and in the calculation of the risk premium of an investment. This paper introduces two new measures for characterizing changes in the valuation of uncertain lotteries when their outcomes are modified by a monotone transformation. The first is a characteristic transformation of a utility function, U, and a monotone transformation, g. The shape of the characteristic transformation determines an upper bound, lower bound, or equality on the magnitude of the certainty equivalent of the modified lottery. The second is a measure of change in certainty equivalent, ηg, whose sign also determines upper or lower bounds, and whose magnitude determines the change in value of a “small-risk” lottery when its outcomes are modified by a monotone transformation. For shift and scale transformations on the lottery outcomes, both the characteristic transformation and the measure of change, ηg, provide new characterizations for the notions of decreasing absolute and relative risk aversion with wealth.
Socialization, resocialization, and communication relationships in the context of an organizational change

This investigation explores the influence of perceptions of socialization tactics' use and communication relationships on employees at the initiation of and 4 months into an organizational restructuring. Results of this longitudinal investigation reveal that employees (N = 72) report considerable changes in perceptions of organizational socialization/resocialization efforts. Results also indicate that both perceptions of socialization tactics' use and communication relationships contribute to decreased role ambiguity and role conflict and increased commitment at the initiation of the restructuring and four months later. However, the influence of these factors on the dependent variables changes over time. These findings are discussed in relation to recent research on organizational entry and change, and suggestions are made for future research.
Simulation of Erosions in a Single Discharge EDM Process

Abstract A model developed for simulation of the electrical discharge machining processes was used to evaluate the importance of pulse waveforms. In a case study that involves a. single discharge, periodical variations in both the spark pressure and spark temperature resulted in predictions that will be significant in the development of future commercial electrical discharge machines. The predicted oscillation in the temperature of the spark causes a repetitive increase and decrease in the size of anode melt-cavity. The multiple melting and resolidification of the anode surface is described to be effective in growth of the new, thermally protective surface layers detected by other researchers.
Lossy encoding of document images with the continuous skeleton

We examine a new approach to document image compression based on the continuous skeleton shape representation. In particular, we exploit the structure-extracting property of the skeleton transformation to devise a code which allows graceful degradation of reproduction quality in exchange for dramatic increases in compression. At the source, the contours which make up the skeleton-based shape description are approximated by B-spline functions and then quantized and encoded. At the receiver, the skeleton contours are reconstructed and then used to regenerate the document. We apply the method to a standard ensemble of facsimile documents and compare the compression results with conventional lossless methods. The result is that significant compression gains can be achieved while incurring nearly imperceptible loss in the reproduction. This approach is motivated by the principle that the proper level at which to encode a document is at the object or component level, rather than at the pixel level. Approximations made to the descriptions of these objects are much less noticeable than comparable approximations made to the raw pixel data. Thus, adopting this object-centered viewpoint toward document compression allows us to introduce errors progressively, and often unobtrusively.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Civil Liberties Attitudes and Personality Measures: Some Exploratory Research

Questionnaires containing civil liberties and personality measures were administered in two different years to samples of adults in the metropolitan New York City area. Attitudes towards civil liberties issues consistently correlated positively with flexibility, self-reliance and independence measures, even when age, education, and socioeconomic status were simultaneously held constant. Anomie and fate control measures had low negative relationships to some but not all civil liberties attitude measures. Anxiety scores did not relate to attitudes.
Diurnal heart rate and body temperature in marmosets.

Marmosets, Saguinus oedipus oedipus and S. fuscicollis, have been shown to have a diurnal heart rate pattern that has a marked difference between high and low values (about 55 beats/minute) and shows a low point during daylight hours around 1300–1400 hours. A similar pattern for body temperature was seen. A species difference existed; the larger S. o. oedipus has a higher heart rate during both light and dark periods. All measurements were made on undisturbed animals at hourly intervals using radiotelemetry. They were kept in a controlled environment with a light cycle of 12L: 12D and a temperature of 27 ± 1°C.
A network-heuristic approach to improve the impact of genomic data on drug discovery.

The explosive growth of molecular diagnostic tests introduces the possibility of increasing our understanding of disease mechanisms in the clinic and promises to improve target identification for new therapies. A new paradigm is emerging in drug discovery that is driven by these clinically derived data. Unfortunately, the translation of novel insights into useful therapies remains costly and difficult. New clinical trial design and open validation of markers may reduce these barriers to clinical utility. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2013); 93 4, 295–297. doi:10.1038/clpt.2012.246
A probabilistic semantic model for image annotation and multi-modal image retrieval

This paper addresses automatic image annotation problem and its application to multi-modal image retrieval. The contribution of our work is three-fold. (1) We propose a probabilistic semantic model in which the visual features and the textual words are connected via a hidden layer which constitutes the semantic concepts to be discovered to explicitly exploit the synergy among the modalities. (2) The association of visual features and textual words is determined in a Bayesian framework such that the confidence of the association can be provided. (3) Extensive evaluation on a large-scale, visually and semantically diverse image collection crawled from Web is reported to evaluate the prototype system based on the model. In the proposed probabilistic model, a hidden concept layer which connects the visual feature and the word layer is discovered by fitting a generative model to the training image and annotation words through an Expectation-Maximization (EM) based iterative learning procedure. The evaluation of the prototype system on 17,000 images and 7736 automatically extracted annotation words from crawled Web pages for multi-modal image retrieval has indicated that the proposed semantic model and the developed Bayesian framework are superior to a state-of-the-art peer system in the literature.
Precision measurement of the mean curvature

Very small mean curvature is a robust prediction of inflation worth rigorous checking. Since current constraints are derived from determinations of the angular-diameter distance to the CMB last-scattering surface, which is also affected by dark energy, they are limited by our understanding of the dark energy. Measurements of luminosity or angular-diameter distances to redshifts in the matter-dominated era can greatly reduce this uncertainty. With a 1% measurement of the distance to z=3, combined with the CMB data expected from Planck, one can achieve {sigma}({omega}{sub k}h{sup 2}){approx}10{sup -3}. A nonzero detection at this level would be evidence against inflation or for unusually large curvature fluctuations on super-Hubble scales.
Food for peace program

The Food for Peace Program of the U.S. Agency for International Development started in 1954 and will be continued even in time of short food supplies. The Food for Peace Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and cooperating food processors developed technology for large scale production of soy grain blended foods.
A re-investigation the electronic spectra of chromium(III) picolinate complexes and high yield synthesis and characterization of Cr2(μ-OH)2(pic)4·5H2O (Hpic=picolinic acid)

Abstract Chromium(III) tris(picolinate), Cr(pic) 3 , is a popular nutritional supplement, although recent studies have raised concerns about its use. The mechanisms of transport and absorption of Cr(pic) 3 have not been elucidated, in part because of the lack of a suitable spectroscopic method for following the fate of the compound. Even the electronic spectrum of the complex has been a matter of debate; discrepancies in reports of these spectra have now been reexamined and resolved. Interpretation of the 1 H NMR spectrum of Cr(pic) 3 has been complicated by the presence of small amounts of a byproduct during its synthesis, Cr 2 (OH) 2 (pic) 4 . A high-yield synthesis of the dimer and its NMR spectrum in dimethylsulfoxide are described. Discrepancies in reports of the electronic spectrum of the dimer are also reconciled.
More Than Just a Budget Label: A History of Naxos

This article surveys the activities of the internationally acclaimed, budget classical recording label Naxos, from its founding in 1987 to the end of 2010. Naxos's dedication to developing a compre...
From Random Polygon to Ellipse: An Eigenanalysis

Suppose $x$ and $y$ are unit 2-norm $n$-vectors whose components sum to zero. Let ${\cal P}(x,y)$ be the polygon obtained by connecting $(x_{1},y_{1}),\ldots,(x_{n},y_{n}),(x_{1},y_{1})$ in order. We say that $\widehat{{\cal P}}(\widehat{x},\widehat{y})$ is the normalized average of ${\cal P}(x,y)$ if it is obtained by connecting the midpoints of its edges and then normalizing the resulting vertex vectors $\widehat{x}$ and $\widehat{y}$ so that they have unit 2-norm. If this process is repeated starting with ${\cal P}_{0} = {\cal P}(x^{(0)},y^{(0)})$, then in the limit the vertices of the polygon iterates ${\cal P}(x^{(k)},y^{(k)})$ converge to an ellipse ${\cal E}$ that is centered at the origin and whose semiaxes are tilted forty-five degrees from the coordinate axes. An eigenanalysis together with the singular value decomposition is used to explain this phenomenon. The problem and its solution is a metaphor for matrix-based research in computational science and engineering.
Studies of fibrin film. I. Stress relaxation and birefringence.

Measurements of stress relaxation in uniaxial extension and associated time-dependent birefringence have been made on bovine fibrin film, prepared by gentle compaction of coarse fibrin clots, containing 13–22% fibrin plasticized with either aqueous buffer or glycerol. Both unligated and ligated (i.e., with α-α and γ-γ ligation by fibrinoligase, factor XIIIa) films were studied. Both types showed two stages of stress relaxation, with time scales of approximately 10 and 103–104 s, respectively, with a plateau region between. In the plateau, the nominal (engineering) stress for ligated glycerol-plasticized film is proportional to In λ, where λ is the stretch ratio, up to λ ≅ 2, and it decreases with increasing temperature. For unligated glycerol-plasticized film, the stresses are smaller by a factor of one-half to one-third. For ligated film, the second stage of relaxation is relatively slight, and recovery after release of stress is often nearly complete. For unligated film, the second stage involves a substantial drop in stress, and after recovery there is a significant permanent set. A second relaxation for ligated film reproduces the first, but for unligated film it reproduces the first only if the initial relaxation is terminated before the second stage; otherwise, the second relaxation shows a weaker structure. The behavior of water-plasticized film is similar to that of glycerol-plasticized except that the second stage of relaxation occurs at shorter times. During the first stage of stress relaxation, up to about 100 s, the birefringence and the stress-optical coefficient increase; during the plateau zone of stress relaxation, the birefringence of ligated films is approximately constant and is proportional to 2λ2/(λ2 + 1) − 1, where λ is the stretch ratio. This dependence is predicted by a two-dimensional model in which rodlike elements in the plane of the film are oriented with independent alignment. During the final stage of stress relaxation, the birefringence of ligated films decreases slightly; that of unligated films decreases substantially, but less rapidly than the stress, corresponding to a further increase in the stress-optical coefficient. With additional information from small-angle x-ray scattering reported in an accompanying paper, the first stage of relaxation is attributed to partial release of bending forces in the fibers by orientation, accompanied by increased birefringence. The second stage is attributed, for ligated films, to an internal transition in the fibrin units accompanied by elongation of some of the fibers; and in the unligated films, to a combination of the latter transition with slippage of protofibrils lengthwise within the fiber bundles that causes some loss of orientation, which diminishes the birefringence.
Economic Dependence, Overurbanization, and Economic Growth: A Study of Less Developed Countries

Excessively large and rapidly growing urban populations characterize social structural change in less-developed countries. This is in contrast to the developmental patterns which accompanied struct...
Evaluation of the second-order reduced density matrix for correlated electronic wave functions

Formulas are presented for the evaluation of the second-order reduced density matrix for correlated wave functions, including wave functions constructed from pairwise nonorthogonal orbitals. Numerical results are provided for the correlation holes and conditional nuclear spin densities for the water molecule.
Development of a Remotely Controlled Testing Platform with Low-drag Air-ventilated Hull

This paper addresses the development and testing of a remotely controlled boat platform with an innovative air-ventilated hull. The application of air cavities on the underside of ship hulls is a promising means for reducing hydrodynamic drag and pollutant emissions and increasing marine transportation efficiency. Despite this concept’s potential, design optimization and high-performance operation of novel air-cavity ships remain a challenging problem. Hull construction and sensor instrumentation of the model-scale air-cavity boat is described in the paper. The modular structure of the hull allows for easy modifications, and an electric propulsion unit enables self-propelled operation. The boat is controlled remotely via a radio transmission system. Results of initial tests are reported, including thrust, speed, and airflow rate in several loading conditions. The constructed platform can be used for optimizing air-cavity systems and testing other innovative hull designs. This system can be also developed into a high-performance unmanned boat.
Monitoring functional patency of in situ saphenous vein bypasses: the impact of a surveillance protocol and elective revision.

Abstract Implementation of a protocol that monitored in situ saphenous vein bypass hemodynamics for low-flow states provided insight into the pathophysiologic characteristics and time course of graft failure. From 1981 to 1988, 250 in situ bypasses to popliteal ( n = 83) or tibial ( n = 167) arteries were performed in 231 patients. Indications for operation included critical limb ischemia in 232 cases (93%), popliteal aneurysm in 11 cases (4%), and disabling claudication in seven cases (3%). Arterial pressure measurements, continuous-wave Doppler spectral analysis, and duplex ultrasonography were used to assess patency, detect hemodynamic changes indicative of graft stenosis, and localize anatomic hemodynamic changes indicative of graft stenosis. Seventy grafts with correctable anatomic lesions (retained venous valves, graft stenosis, arteriovenous fistula, native vessel atherosclerosis) that decreased graft blood flow or ankle arterial pressure or both were identified. Correction of vein conduit or anastomotic lesions comprised 73 (77%) of the 95 revisions performed. Vein-patch angioplasty of a stenosis was the most common secondary operation performed. Graft revision was highest in the perioperative period (10% at 30 days), decreased to 7% per 6-month interval until 18 months, and was 3% per year thereafter. The primary patency rate of grafts not identified to have a correctable lesion was 86% at 4 years, a level similar to the secondary patency of 81% for grafts requiring one or multiple revisions. The surveillance protocol identified grafts with correctable lesions before thrombosis thereby permitting elective revision of patent grafts. Hemodynamic studies confirmed that a frequent mechanism of late failure of grafts was the development of a low-flow state produced by lesions not amenable to revision. (J Vasc Surg 1989;9:286–96.)
Assessment and incidence of salivary leak following laryngectomy.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine the incidence and risk factors of pharyngocutaneous fistula formation in patients undergoing either primary or salvage laryngectomies and evaluate the role of barium esophagram in these patients. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Medical records of 259 patients who underwent total laryngectomy between 2003 and 2009 at our institution were reviewed. Risk factors for fistula formation were analyzed, including primary treatment modality, comorbidities, and operative details, which included use of a free flap for closure, concurrent neck dissections, margin status, and preoperative tracheostomy. The length of time until leak, postoperative swallow study results, and fistula management strategies were also assessed. Results: Fifty-five patients developed a pharyngocutaneous fistula (overall incidence, 21%) in a median time of 12 days (range, 4–105 days). Twenty of these patients underwent laryngectomy as their initial treatment modality, and 35 had failed previous radiotherapy. Fistula formation was significantly higher in salvage surgery patients (P = .03), particularly those with hypothyroidism (P < .0002). A barium swallow performed at approximately 1 week after laryngectomy demonstrated a sensitivity of 26% with a specificity of 94%. Sixty-two percent of the fistulas healed with conservative measures only. Conclusions: Our data confirmed that previous radiotherapy and hypothyroidism, particularly in salvage laryngectomy patients, are important significant predictors of postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula. The use of a postoperative barium swallow in these patients may be useful but was not found to be highly sensitive in predicting who will develop a clinically evident leak and should be used with caution.
Overtime for programmers: a review of the legal authority

Overtime For ProgrammersThere is no doubt that a significant number of those employed as programmers may be non-exempt employees with respect to F.L.S.A. requirements for overtime compensation. Wage and Hour Division Regulations and Interpretive Bulletins seem to limit exemption from these requirements to the programmer who works in a bona fide executive or administrative position. Recent litigation establishes the likelihood that a large group of programmers may come under this exemption and that some programmers may be exempt as professional persons, even though Wage and Hour Division interpretations suggest otherwise.
Self-Stabilizing Deterministic Time Division Multiple Access for Sensor Networks

An algorithm for time division multiple access (TDMA) is found to be applicable in converting existing distributed algorithms into a model that is consistent with sensor networks. Such a TDMA service needs to be self-stabilizing so that in the event of corruption of assigned slots and clock drift, it recovers to states from where TDMA slots are consistent. Previous self-stabilizing solutions for TDMA are either randomized or assume that the topology is known upfront and cannot change. Thus, the question of feasibility of self-stabilizing deterministic TDMA algorithm where the topology is unknown remains open. In this paper, we present a self-stabilizing deterministic algorithm for TDMA in networks where a sensor is only aware of its neighbors. To our knowledge, this is the first such algorithm that achieves these properties. Moreover, this is the first algorithm that demonstrates the feasibility of stabilization-preserving deterministic transformation of a program in shared-memory model on an arbitrary topology into a program that is consistent with the sensor network model.