cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance of a novel collimator for high-sensitivity brain SPECT

We assessed improvements in performance in detection and estimation tasks due to a novel brain single photon computed tomography collimator. Data were acquired on the CeraSPECT{sup TM} scanner using both new and standard collimators. The new variable focusing collimator SensOgrade{sup TM} samples the projections unequally, with central regions more heavily represented, to compensate for attenuation of counts from central brain structures. Furthermore, it utilizes more of the cylindrical crystal surface. Two phantom studies were performed. The first phantom was a 21-cm-diameter cylindrical background containing nine spheres ranging from 0.5 to 5 cm{sup 3} in volume. {sup 99m}Tc sphere to background activity ratio was 10:1. Twenty-nine 10-min datasets were acquired with each collimator. The second phantom was the Radiology Support Devices (Long Beach, CA) striatal phantom with striatal-background ratios of 10:1 on the left and 5:1 on the right. Twenty-nine 4-min datasets were acquired with each collimator. Perfusion imaging using {sup 99m}Tc-HMPAO was also performed in three healthy volunteers using both collimators under identical simulations. Projections were reconstructed by filtered backprojection with an unwindowed ramp filter. The nonprewhitening matched filter signal-to-noise ratio (NPW-SNR) was computed as a surrogate for human performance in detecting spherical lesions. Sphere activity concentration, radius, and locationmore » coordinates were simultaneously estimated by fitting images to an assumed model using an iterative nonlinear algorithm. Resolution recovery was implicit in the estimation procedure, as the point spread function was incorporated into the model. NPW-SNR for sphere detection was 1.5 to 2 times greater with the new collimator; for the striatal phantom the improvement in SNR was 54%. The SNR for estimating sphere activity concentration improved by 46 to 89 % for spheres located more than 5 cm from the phantom center. Images acquired with the standard collimator were too noisy in the central regions to allow estimation of sphere activity. In {sup 99m}Tc-HMPAO human studies, SNR was improved by 21 to 41 % in the cortex, 66% in the basal ganglia, and 74% in the thalamus. The new collimator leads to substantially improved detection and estimation performance throughout the brain. The higher sensitivity will be particularly important for dynamic imaging.« less
Reversible fiber-optic immunosensor measurements☆

Abstract Reversible binding of analyte to antibody is necessary for analytical sensor systems that can continuously measure increases and decreases in analyte concentration. Reversible response occurs when the dissociation rate is sufficiently fast that the analyte will dissociate in a short enough time to permit a rapid re-equilibration to be established in response to a change in analyte concentration. The previously reported phenytoin sensor is based on a homogeneous fluorescence energy-transfer immunoassay and has a reversible response to increases and decreases in phenytoin concentration with a response time of approximately 15 min. The first-order dissociation rate constant for the labeled analyte-antibody complex, phenytoin-B-phycoerythrin (BPE), is 4 × 10 −3 s −1 . Whole antibody and Fab give equivalent sensor performance, which agrees closely with that predicted from a model for the simultaneous equilibrium reactions in the sensor. These results suggest that the antibody binds monovalently to the phenytoin-BPE, and that each antibody binding site acts independently. Optimization of the labeled reactants and reaction conditions results in a sensor which has a dynamic range in the clinically important 1–20 μM concentration range for free phenytoin.
Turning Disciplinary Knowledge into Solutions

Turning disciplinary knowledge about preadolescents' and adolescents' exposure to risk factors for cancer as adults into solutions for preventing such an outcome requires that investigators from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines come together to share knowledge. Optimally, these collaborations would occur across two dimensions: (1) transdisciplinary, from the molecular or cellular level (e.g., animal studies of endocrine disruption) to the societal level (e.g., economic studies related to state tobacco policies); and (2) translational, using basic research findings in clinical and other sciences to implement prevention programs and public policy. Only when collaboration is commonplace can the disparate groups of investigators working on cancer prevention during preadolescence and adolescence gain a holistic picture of the risk factors, inform one another's work, and learn what we need to know to devise successful interventions for preventing cancer. Working transdisciplinarily also helps to ensure that messages to health professionals, policymakers, the news media, and the public are consistent and coordinated. At present, those investigating preadolescent and adolescent risk for adult cancer disseminate their knowledge individually, thus missing the opportunity to synthesize knowledge, coordinate dissemination, and implement prevention programs. In this article, we distinguish multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches; argue for the benefits of a transdisciplinary approach to devising successful solutions; and explore how to achieve transdisciplinary functioning.
Hydrologic Effects of Clearcutting and Stripcutting Loblolly Pine in the Coastal Plain

: Harvesting 29-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations on six small catchments in the Coastal Plain of west Tennessee caused variable but generally minor increases of storm-flow volumes during the four years following harvest. The increases were primarily associated with decreases of rainfall interception rather than with soil disturbance. Harvesting had no effect on stormflow volumes in six nearby catchments of 37-year-old loblolly pine to which the same treatments were applied. Postharvest increases of flow-weighted sediment concentrations averaged higher for the catchments with greater flows at both locations. During the fourth through eighth years after harvest, average sediment concentrations for harvested catchments at each location approximated closely the base rate of 62 mg L-1 previously defined for undisturbed pine types. Thus, relatively minor postharvest increases of stormflow volumes in the six 29-year-old plantations and increases of sediment concentrations in all 12 catchments were limited to about four years. Nevertheless, because of potential channel erosion, the findings confirm the need to extend stream management zones well up into drainages with intermittent and ephemeral flows wherever water quality is a concern. Despite certain undesirable effects of logging (baring of mineral soil, decreased weight and depth of forest floor, increased soil bulk density), the results demonstrate the high resilience developed by pine planted on severely eroded sites in the southern Coastal Plain.
Synthesis and properties of some new reduced niobate compounds

Abstract We report some of the physical properties of recently reported reduced niobates, Ba2Nb5O9 and Sr2Nb5O9, that contain unusual niobium clusters. We also report the synthesis of some new related potassium niobate compounds.
Is Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic edifice relevant to the 21st century?

To warrant the relevance, if any, of Freud’s psychoanalytic edifice to the 21st century, its supporters must endeavor, if at all possible, to find genuine evidence for its major pillars or to modify them significantly in response to emerging new evidence. Such a quest must begin with a clear understanding of the range and depth of the failure of Freud’s cardinal clinical arguments. I endeavor below to provide such comprehension by laying bare the epistemological gravamen in the case of each of his principal tenets. And I argue that neither the post-Freudian formulations of psychoanalysis nor its so-called “hermeneutic” reconstruction has succeeded in vindicating the psychoanalytic enterprise.
An Abnormal Electrical Conductivity in Powdered Tellurium

It was found that tellurium powder under a pressure of 1000 kg/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ had about ten times greater specific electrical conductivity than that of a single crystal of tellurium under the same pressure. An investigation was made of the influence of the electrodes, particle size, condition of the surface of the powder and the medium surrounding the particles. This anomalous conductivity was most pronounced in the purest tellurium (specific conductivity of 2.5 ${\mathrm{ohm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) and it gradually disappeared in tellurium powders containing impurities (the addition of which increases the conductivity of the massive metal). The abnormal conductivity probably existed in impure tellurium but was simply masked by the normal increase in conductivity with pressure observed for conducting particles. Momentarily passing an electric current through the powder under pressure caused its volume to diminish; but, also the electrical conductivity was greatly decreased and, in the case of pure tellurium, it became almost the same as that of the massive metal. Under a hydrostatic pressure of 20,000 kg/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ massive tellurium increases its electrical conductivity more than a hundred times and the rate of increase rises rapidly with pressure. This suggests that the anomalous conductivity of tellurium powder might be due to local pressures between particles that are greatly in excess of the average pressure that was measured. However, this explanation does not account entirely for the observed magnitude of the anomalous conductivity. It seems necessary to assume that (1) the conductivity of tellurium increases even much more for a nonuniform pressure than for a hydrostatic pressure, or (2) very sharp points occur between particles which produce strong enough electric fields to liberate electrons.
The synthesis of glycolipids containing a hydrophilic spacer-group

Abstract Cholesterol-containing glycolipids incorporating a new hydrophilic spacer-group, 8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctanoic acid, were synthesized. This spacer group eliminates many of the problems inherent in the use of hydrophobic or charged, spacer arms.
The Advance Toward Distinction in Engineering Technology

This paper traces the development of engineering technology from bifurcation to the present time. They assert that ET desires to be distinguished more than it seeks to be distinct. This analysis of the successes and failures of bifurcation lead to a differentiation between engineering technology's being distinct as a discipline and becoming distinguished in its own right. They offer some conjecture about the bright future of ET as a partner with science and engineering in an atmosphere of increased technological development but intense international competition.
Vitamin a acid effects on epidermal mitotic activity, thickness and cellularity in the hairless mouse.

Epidermal mitotic activity, thickness, and cellularity were measured in a blind study of serial biopsies after several different application schedules of vitamin A acid to hairless mice. A single dorsal application increased the mitotic index by two hours (P 2 .
Role of convection triggers in the simulation of the diurnal cycle of precipitation over the United States Great Plains in a general circulation model

[1] Recent comparisons of a number of general circulation models (GCMs) have shown that most of them have deficiencies in the simulation of the diurnal cycle of warm season precipitation. The deficiencies are particularly pronounced over the United States Great Plains where the models generally fail to capture the nocturnal rainfall maximum found in the observations. By using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction's Global Forecasting System (NCEP GFS) GCM, which is unusual in that it produces a realistic nocturnal rainfall signal over the Great Plains, this study examines the nature and realism of the mechanisms responsible for the nocturnal rain in the GCM. A series of sensitivity experiments highlight the importance of triggers implemented in the convection scheme. Specifically, the convection trigger function that the cloud base (defined as the level of free convection) must be within 150 hPa depth from the convection starting level (which crudely represents an upper limit of convective inhibition) plays a key role on the realistic simulation of the diurnal phase of convection. On the basis of this trigger, the nighttime elevation of the convection starting level (defined as the maximum level of moist static energy from the surface) above the boundary layer inversion provides the condition favorable for the development of nocturnal precipitation over the Great Plains. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for improving our understanding and parameterizations of the physical processes that generate nocturnal rain in this and other regions with large diurnal cycles.
Dominant inheritance of resistance to thyroid hormone not linked to defects in the thyroid hormone receptor alpha or beta genes may be due to a defective cofactor

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is an inherited syndrome of reduced tissue responsiveness to thyroid hormone. To date, all individuals expressing the RTH phenotype have been found to harbor mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TR beta) gene that impair T3-mediated function. We describe a unique family in which the dominantly inherited RTH is not associated with abnormalities in the TR beta or TR alpha genes, as determined by gene sequencing and linkage analysis. However, affected family members manifest a severe form of RTH, with reduced responses of thyrotrophs and peripheral tissues requiring 8- to 10-fold the normal replacement doses of L-T4 and L-T3. No other endocrine abnormalities were detected. The defect developed de novo in the proposita and was transmitted to her two children of unrelated fathers. As cultured fibroblasts from the proposita responded poorly to T3 despite a normal concentration of TR, other abnormalities in the mediation of T3 action were sought. Nucleotide sequences of the TSH beta promoter, containing thyroid hormone response elements, and TR-interacting protein 1 were normal. Nuclear extracts (NE) of cultured skin fibroblasts from affected individuals of this family were tested for their interaction with normal TR beta and thyroid hormone response elements by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay. NE from the proposita showed a strong additional band compared to NEs from normal individuals and patients with RTH caused by TR beta mutations or deletion. Far Western analysis of NE from the affected daughter hybridized with labeled TR beta demonstrated an additional band that was not seen in NEs from a normal control or patients with TR beta gene defects. It is concluded that the etiology of RTH is not confined to abnormalities in the TR beta gene. An abnormal cofactor with a specific function in the regulation of thyroid hormone action is probably involved in the expression of the RTH phenotype in this family.
Space Telescope Maintenance And Refurbishment

The Space Telescope (ST) represents a new concept regarding spaceborne astronomical observatories. Maintenance crews will be brought to the orbital worksite to make repairs and replace scientific instruments. For major overhauls the telescope can be temporarily returned to earth with the aid of the Shuttle. It will, thus, be possible to conduct astronomical studies with the ST for two decades or more. The five first-generation scientific instruments used with the ST include a wide field/planetary camera, a faint object camera, a faint object spectrograph, a high resolution spectrograph, and a high speed photometer. Attention is given to the optical telescope assembly, the support systems module, aspects of mission and science operations, unscheduled maintenance, contingency orbital maintenance, planned on-orbit maintenance, ground maintenance, ground refurbishment, and ground logistics.
Hemostasis and other benefits of fibrin sealants/glues in spine surgery beyond cerebrospinal fluid leak repairs

Background: Fibrin sealants (FS)/glues (FG) are primarily utilized in spinal surgery to either strengthen repairs of elective (e.g., intradural tumors/pathology) or traumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas. Here, additional roles/benefits of FS/FG in spine surgery are explored; these include increased hemostasis, reduction of scar, reduction of the risk of infection if impregnated with antibiotics, and its application to restrict diffusion and limit some of the major complications attributed to the controversial off-label use of bone morphogeneitc protein (rhBMP-2/INFUSE). Methods: We reviewed multiple studies, focusing not just on the utility of FS/FG in the treatment of CSF fistulas, but on its other applications. Results: FS/FG have been primarily used to supplement elective/traumatic dural closure in spinal surgery. However, FS/FG also contribute to; hemostasis, reducing intraoperative/postoperative bleeding/transfusion requirements, length of stay (LOS)/costs, reduced postoperative scar/radiculitis, and infection when impregnated with antibiotics. Nevertheless, one should seriously question whether FS/FG should be applied to prevent diffusion and limit major complications attributed to the off-label use of BMP/INFUSE (e.g., limit/prevent heterotopic ossification, dysphagia/respiratory decompensation, and new neurological deficits). Conclusions: FS/FG successfully supplement watertight dural closure following elective (e.g., intradural tumor) or traumatic CSF fistulas occurring during spinal surgery. Additional benefits include: intraoperative hemostasis with reduced postoperative drainage, reduced transfusion requirements, reduced LOS, cost, scar, and prophylaxis against infection (e.g., impregnated with antibiotics). However, one should seriously question whether FS/FG should be used to contain the diffusion of BMP/INFUSE and limit its complications when utilized off-label.
Immunolabeling of mu opioid receptors in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract: extrasynaptic plasmalemmal localization and association with Leu5-enkephalin

Activation of the mu opioid receptor (MOR) by morphine within the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is known to mediate both cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal responses. Leu5-enkephalin (LE), a potential endogenous ligand for MOR, is also present within neurons in this region. To determine the cellular sites for the visceral effects of MOR ligands, including LE, we used immunogold-silver and immunoperoxidase methods for light and electron microscopic localization of antisera against MOR (carboxyl terminal domain) and LE in the caudal NTS of rat brain. Light microscopy of coronal sections through the NTS at the level of the area postrema showed MOR-like immunoreactivity (MOR-LI) and LE labeling in punctate processes located within the subpostremal, dorsomedial and medial subnuclei. Electron microscopy of sections through the medial NTS at this level showed gold-silver particles identifying MOR-LI prominently distributed to the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membranes of axons and terminals. MOR labeled terminals formed mostly symmetric (inhibitory-type) synapses but sometimes showed multiple asymmetric junctions, characteristic of excitatory visceral afferents. MOR-LI was also present along extrasynaptic plasma membranes of dendrites receiving afferent input from unlabeled and LE-labeled terminals. We conclude that MOR ligands, possibly including LE, can act at extrasynaptic MORs on the plasma membranes of axons and dendrites in the caudal NTS to modulate the presynaptic release and postsynaptic responses of neurons. These are likely to include local inhibitory neurons and both gastric and cardiorespiratory afferents known to terminate in the subnuclei with the most intense MOR-LI.
Minimum recommended physical activity, and perceived barriers and benefits of exercise in methadone maintained persons

Methadone-maintained persons are at increased risk for many physical and mental health disorders compared to the general population. Increased physical activity could offset these risks. We assessed physical activity level, and perceived benefits and barriers to exercise in a group of 305 methadone-maintained smokers. Mean participant age was 39.9 years, 50.2% were male, 79.7% were non-Hispanic White, and mean body mass index was 29.8. Nearly 45% endorsed fair or poor physical health. Although participants perceived many benefits of exercise and few barriers, only 38% of participants met weekly recommendations for physical activity, and nearly 25% reported no physical activity. Those who met recommended guidelines were significantly more likely to endorse relapse prevention as a benefit of exercise. Motivating MMT patients to increase physical activity could have important physical, mental health, and drug treatment benefits.
The significance of skeletal magnetic resonance imaging after open bone biopsy.

The performance of a bone biopsy results in a dramatically altered magnetic resonance image (MRI) signal in both the biopsied segment and the surrounding bone. An experimental canine model was used to determine the cause and imaging sensitivity of this postbiopsy signal change in the adjacent intraosseous contents. Six dogs were used in the study. Half of the dogs had the cortical window left open, and the other half had a polymethylmethacrylate plug inserted. After hemostatic closure, images were obtained immediately postbiopsy and 6 weeks thereafter. MRI defect length was examined on both T1 and T2 weighted sequences at both time periods. After the final image was taken at 6 weeks, the bone was harvested and examined grossly and histologically for the purpose of making pathoradiographic correlations. The results suggest that magnatic resonance imaging is a sensitive method that accurately reflects the defect caused by bone biopsy and the surrounding hemorrhage. The defect length increased in size over time. The image was slightly smaller than the corresponding histologic response. Insertion of a cortical plug had no predictable effect on defect length, which depended upon the amount of pressurization used during insertion. We conclude that MRI may be useful in the staging of intraosseous primary neoplasms of bone after bone biopsy, especially in the detection of an iatrogenically induced tumor/hemorrhage margin. This may be critical when planning an intraosseous surgical resection in which short, wide margins are anticipated.
Identification of a Three-Site Defect in Semi-Insulating 4H-SiC

Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), we observe a defect that increases significantly with annealing temperature. This spin S = 1 defect is characterized by g x ≈ g y ≈ g z = 2.0056 and a fine structure splitting D ∼ 100 G whose principal axis lies in a plane perpendicular to the c-axis. Also resolved are several hyperfine interactions with the low abundance 29Si and 13C neighboring nuclei. A careful analysis of the intensity of these hyperfine lines allows a precise determination of the identity and the quantity of interacting nuclei. This center is diamagnetic in the ground state but can be excited into a paramagnetic triplet state by sub-bandgap light. We identify this new defect as a three-site vacancy involving V C-V Si-V C. The angular dependence of the 13C hyperfine interaction supports the proposed model. These may be the simplest of a family of more complex and extended defects that play a role in the semi-insulating (SI) character of SiC.
The Effect of Aerosols on the Earth-Atmosphere Albedo

The paper presents calculations of the change in reflected flux by the earth-atmosphere system in response to increases in the atmospheric aerosol loading for a range of complex indices of refraction, solar elevation angle and ground albedo. Results show that, for small values of ground albedo, the reflected solar flux may either increase or decrease with increasing aerosol loadings, depending upon the complex part of the index of refraction of the aerosols. For high ground albedos, an increase in aerosol levels always results in a decrease of reflected flux (i.e., a warming of the earth-atmosphere system).
Police and Riots, 1967-1969

This article investigates the role of policing in both the genesis and development of racial rioting. In particular, the authors focus on several riots that occurred in two cities, Boston and San Francisco, which experienced different overall levels of rioting during the peak period of racial violence in thelate1960s. The amount and type of rioting that occurred in each city is consistent with the paradoxical yet frequent pattern in which direct repression, particularly when characterized by excessive or selective use of force, fails to subdue rioting and often escalates conflict. Despite this consistency, however, there are substantial differences between the two cities concerning the amount and severity of rioting that occurred. These differences are connected to variation in three primary characteristics of the civil authorities in the two cities: (a) police preparedness and training, (b) racial polarization in attitudes toward the police, and (c) underlying police-community relations. Implications are...
Reproductive physiology in relation to deer management

One of the more important aspects of deer management is the regulation of the number of animals in the herd. It is the fertility and fecundity of the female, rather than the male, that affects the rate of increase and the number of female deer that affects the size of the population. The various parameters of reproductive physiology of female deer are discussed and the information available with regard to the species of deer occurring wild in Britain is reviewed and summarized. The time of year to cull deer and the importance of the female as well as the male for selection for breeding are briefly discussed.
Accuracy of the discharge destination field in administrative data for identifying transfer to a long-term acute care hospital.

Background Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACs) provide specialized care for patients recovering from severe acute illness. In order to facilitate research into LTAC utilization and outcomes, we studied whether or not the discharge destination field in administrative data accurately identifies patients transferred to an LTAC following acute care hospitalization.
The effects of GDF-5 and uniaxial strain on mesenchymal stem cells in 3-D culture.

Recent endeavors in tissue engineering have attempted to identify the optimal parameters to create an artificial ligament. Both mechanical and biochemical stimulation have been used by others to independently modulate growth and differentiation, although few studies have explored their interactions. We applied previously described fabrication techniques to create a highly porous (90%–95% porosity, 212–300 μm), 3-D, bioabsorbable polymer scaffold (polycaprolactone). Scaffolds were coated with bovine collagen, and growth and differentiation factor 5 (GDF-5) was added to half of the scaffolds. Scaffolds were seeded with mesenchymal stem cells and cultured in a custom bioreactor under static or cyclic strain (10% strain, 0.33 Hz) conditions. After 48 hours, both mechanical stimulation and GDF-5 increased mRNA production of collagen I, II, and scleraxis compared to control; tenascin C production was not increased. Combining stimuli did not change gene expression; however, cellular metabolism was 1.7 times higher in scaffolds treated with both stimuli. We successfully grew a line of mesenchymal stem cells in 3-D culture, and our initial data indicate mechanical stimulation and GDF-5 influenced cellular activity and mRNA production; we did not, however, observe additive synergism with the mechanical and biological stimuli.
Low-energy electron scattering by HF

The R-matrix method is used to calculate integral and differential cross sections for low energy, vibrationally inelastic scattering of electrons by HF. Nuclear vibration is included using a non-adiabatic approximation. The authors find sharp peaks in the cross sections very close to each vibrational threshold. These can be associated with S-matrix poles lying on an unphysical energy sheet just below each threshold and can therefore be interpreted as nuclear-excited Feshbach resonances. The role of the long-range dipole interaction is also discussed. Differential cross sections are calculated and are found to be non-isotropic in the vicinity of the threshold peaks.
Spectral signature of ice clouds in the far-infrared region: Single-scattering calculations and radiative sensitivity study

(extinction efficiency, absorption efficiency, and the asymmetry factor of the scattering phase function) are calculated for small particles using circular cylinders and for large crystals using hexagonal columns. The scattering properties are computed for particle sizes over a size range from 1 to 10,000 mm in maximum dimension from a combination of the T-matrix method, the Lorenz-Mie theory, and an improved geometric optics method. Bulk scattering properties are derived subsequently for 30 particle size distributions, with effective particle sizes ranging from 15 to 150 mm, obtained from various field campaigns for midlatitude and tropical cirrus clouds. Furthermore, a parameterization of the bulk scattering properties is developed. The radiative properties of ice clouds and the clear-sky optical thickness computed from the line-by-line method are input to a radiative transfer model to simulate the upwelling spectral radiance in the far-IR spectral region at the research aircraft height (20 km). On the basis of the simulations, we investigate the sensitivity of far-IR spectra to ice cloud optical thickness and effective particle size. The brightness temperature difference (BTD) between 250 and 559.5 cm � 1 is shown to be sensitive to optical thickness for optically thin clouds (visible optical thickness t 8), the BTD between 250 and 410.2 cm � 1 is shown to be sensitive to the effective particle size up to a limit of 100 mm. INDEX TERMS: 3359 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Radiative processes; 3360 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Remote sensing; 0649 Electromagnetics: Optics; KEYWORDS: far-infrared, cirrus cloud, ice crystal
Texture synthesis and pattern recognition for partially ordered Markov models

Abstract The uses of texture in image analysis are widespread, ranging from remotely sensed data to medical imaging to military applications. Image processing tasks that use texture characteristics include classification, region segmentation, and synthesis of data. While there are several approaches available for texture modeling, the research presented here is concerned with stochastic texture models. Stochastic approaches view a texture as the realization of a random field and are most useful when the texture appears noisy or when it lacks smooth geometric features. The model introduced in this paper is a subclass of Markov random fields (MRFs) called partially ordered Markov models (POMMs). Markov random fields are a class of stochastic models that incorporate spatial dependency between data points. One major disadvantage of MRFs is that, in general, an explicit form of the joint probability of the random variables describing the model is not obtainable. However, a popular subclass of MRFs, called Markov mesh models (MMMs), allows the explicit description of the joint probability in terms of spatially local conditional probabilities. We show how POMMs are a generalization of MMMs and demonstrate the versatility of POMMs to texture synthesis and pattern recognition in imaging. Specifically, we give a fast, one-pass algorithm for simulating textures using POMMs, and introduce examples of heterogeneous models that suggest potential applications for object recognition purposes. Then we address an inverse problem, where we present results from a series of statistical experiments designed to estimate parameters of stochastic texture models for both binary and gray value data. Although the applications in this paper focus on imaging, in their most general form, POMMs can be found in areas such as probabilistic expert systems, Bayesian hierarchical modeling, influence diagrams, and random graphs and networks.
Electrodeposition of preferentially oriented zinc for flow-assisted alkaline batteries

Abstract Preferred orientation of zinc deposits during charging is shown to significantly improve performance and cycle life in flow-assisted alkaline zinc batteries, which has not been demonstrated earlier. The preferred orientation of zinc deposits was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Compact zinc is found to have ( 11 2 ¯ 2 ) preferred orientation on brass, which contributes to ∼60% of the texture. The effect of charging current and zincate concentration on morphology was investigated in a rotating hull cell and correlated with anodic efficiency. Compact zinc deposits are found to have a fine-grained, bright finish and the highest anodic efficiency. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) proves that compact zinc corresponds to the minimum in the half-cell resistance. Morphological control using compact zinc could be accomplished using innovations such as pulse charging or enhanced mass-transfer to improve anode performance without affecting the cathode.
Local ground: a paper-based toolkit for documenting local geo-spatial knowledge

Comprehensive spatial knowledge is vital for making good planning decisions - whether it be for planning infrastructure, public projects or addressing other community needs. Often it is the local residents themselves who have the most current and accurate understanding of the uses and condition of any place. Including diverse voices is difficult in the planning process, as many local groups do not have access to the same technologies as larger institutional actors. To address their needs, we have developed Local Ground: a tool that allows local residents to document their personal knowledge of places using simple bar-coded paper maps, computer vision techniques and free, publicly available mapping and charting tools. Users annotate paper maps using simple pens, markers and stamps. These maps are scanned and aggregated online, where they can be analyzed and overlaid on information obtained from other knowledge sources, allowing local perspectives to influence planning decisions. We tested Local Ground with a group of high school youth involved in an urban revitalization project in a low-income neighborhood in Richmond, California. Students and teachers found our tools to be portable, fun, collaborative, and easy to learn. In this paper we describe the Local Ground toolkit, including its strengths as a geo-spatial data collection and dissemination tool, and some findings obtained from our initial field pilot in Richmond.
Sex Offender Risk Assessment: A Cautionary Note Regarding Measures Attempting to Quantify Violence Risk

ABSTRACT In recent years, the field of forensic psychology has witnessed a proliferation of instruments designed to ascertain the degree of risk of sex offenders who may be released into the community and/or who may be subject to civil commitment. Although few would argue against the importance of basing evaluations and recommendations on empirical research, practitioners sometimes draw conclusions that go well beyond what reasonably can be inferred when using some of these new ‘scientific’ risk instruments. In this article, we review some of the limitations of current measures used in sex offender risk assessments and discuss how these limitations place constraints on what can and should be communicated regarding results from these instruments. We conclude with a review of ethical concerns that arise from a failure to acknowledge the limitations of these measures.
Milton Sobel - A Precious Name Remains Everlasting in my Statistics Career

I first met Professor Milton Sobel in late fall of 1989 when I joined the graduate program in the Department of Statistics and Applied Probability at the University of California, Santa Barbara. During my first three years, I was able to meet him several times, as his office was in the corridor of the department I joined. In the middle of Fall Quarter of 1992, I ran into Dr. Milton in the corridor, as usual. But this time, he asked me whether I was interested in or had ever heard about the statistical decision problems such as multinomial problems or the ranking and selection methodologies. After I answered that I did not know about those, he told me come to his office if I wanted to know more about his questions. Perhaps, this was the first step in what would result in my statistics career. We usually worked together about twice a week. One moment I vividly remember was when we were discussing a statistical problem that he assigned to me catechistically in question and answer form. Suddenly, his voice boomed. I was so confused, not knowing at the time that his hearing aid’s battery ran out. Since then, the first job I had in the morning when I meet him, was to check his hearing aid battery. If his voice was getting louder, that was a sure sign that his hearing battery was running out.
Normal gestation and chorionic gonadotropin levels in the monkey after ovariectomy in early pregnancy.

In a series of 9 pregnant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) bilaterally ovariectomized between the 20th and 24th day after mating, 5 animals (ovariectomized between days 21 and 24) were able to: maintain pregnancy, deliver normal young, and provide adequate lactation. At this time, the histological degenerative alterations in the corpus luteum of pregnancy seen after day 25 were not yet observed. Peak levels of monkey chorionic gonadotropin (MCG) ranged from 100 to 200 IU equivalents of HCG/24 hr. Normal patterns of MCG excretion persisted after removal of the ovaries. (Endocrinology 78: 1076, 1966)
On a certain representation of a compact group

As is well known, when a group acts on a space it gives rise to a linear action on functions defined over that space. It is the particular case of a group acting on itself by conjugat ion which concerns us here. This action has been extensively studied by the author and others (see e.g. [5]). In the present situation let G be a locally c~mpact group and a be defined by (axf) (g)=f(xgx -1 ) where f eLp(G), 1 <_p< oo ~d x, g e G. As we shall see below, for p = 2, (in fact for any p), if G is compact (or even if G/Z(G) is compact, where Z(G) is the center of G), then a decomposes into a discrete direct sum of finite-dimensional irreducibles. It is then of interest to know which irreducibles of G occur and with what multiplicities. In the case of a finite group the answer can be regarded as known insofar as it can be read off from the character table, and gives useful information on the group. In general, such an analysis is not feasible. It was therefore a pleasant surprise to the author that one can, by other methods, analyze a into irreducibles when G is a compact analytic group. The case of a finite group: In this case the study of the decomposition is contained :,~ the following result 1. Here ZG(x) denotes the centralizer of x ~ G , IZc(x)l its rder, and [a : ~] denotes the multiplicity of the irreducible Q in a.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates an essential transcriptional element in the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene.

Ig heavy chain (Igh) transcription involves several regulatory elements including the 3′Igh regulatory region (3′IghRR). 3′IghRR activity is modulated by several transcription factors, including NF-κB and AP-1 and potentially the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The prototypical AhR ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) inhibits antibody secretion and 3′IghRR activity. However, the exact mechanism is unknown and TCDD can modulate NF-κB and AP-1 in an AhR-independent manner. To determine if the AhR is a significant regulator of the 3′IghRR, we utilized a mouse B-cell line that stably expresses a 3′IghRR-regulated transgene and either an AhR antagonist or shRNA targeting the AhR. Disruption of the AhR pathway reversed TCDD-induced suppression of the 3′IghRR-regulated transgene and of endogenous Ig demonstrating a biologically significant effect of the AhR on 3′IghRR activation. Altered human 3′IGHRR activity by AhR ligands, which include dietary, environmental, and pharmaceutical chemicals, may have significant implications to human diseases previously associated with the 3′IGHRR.
Diagnostic-Photographic Determination of Drag/Lift/Torque Coefficients of a High Speed Rigid Body in a Water Column

Prediction of a rigid body falling through water column with a high speed (such as Mk-84 bomb) needs formulas for drag/lift and torque coefficients, which depend on various physical processes such as free surface penetration and bubbles. A semi-empirical method is developed in this study to determine the drag/lift and torque coefficients for a fast-moving rigid body in a water column. The theoretical part is to derive the relationships (called diagnostic relationships) between (drag, lift, and torque) coefficients and (position and orientation) of the rigid body from the three momentum equations and the three moment of momentum equations. The empirical part is to collect data of trajectory and orientation of a fast-moving rigid body using multiple high-speed video cameras (10,000 Hz). Substitution of the digital phatographic data into the theoretical relationships leads to semi-empirical formulas of dragllift and torque coefficients, which are functions of the Reynolds number, attack angle, and rotation rate. This method was verified by 1/12th Mk-84 bomb strike experiment with various tail configurations (tail section with four fins, two fins, and no fin and no-tail section) conducted at the SRI test site. The cost of this method is much lower than the traditional method using the wind tunnel. Various trajectory patterns are found for different tail configurations.
Design of a performance technology infrastructure to support the construction of responsive software

The construction of software that meets its performance objectives is a challenging task considering the distributed nature of modern architectures. Although substantial progress is being made in areas of performance technology, a breakthrough in the wider use of prediction tools during the software development process still remains to be seen. Lack of integration and standardization is one of the reasons for the slow adoption of the performance technology. This paper presents the design of a Performance Technology Infrastructure (PTI), an integration environment for hardware models, workload descriptions, and performance analysis tools. PTI includes a workload specification library, a model evaluation engine, and an interface to external hardware models. PTI components interact with XML scripts based on the syntax of predefined schemas that can be extended to include the requirements of new components incorporated into the system. A prototype implementation of a performance prediction tool is also introduced. It includes third party hardware models, a performance specification language, and an analysis tool. Performance predictions for the Sweep3D application running on a PC cluster are obtained and analyzed to demonstrate the tool’s capabilities.
Talking about Music: Better Questions? Better Discussions!:

istening to music is a daily event for most young people. Many adolescents devote hours to their personal music libraries. Yet when asked to describe the music they listen to and collect, they are hard-pressed to say more than "I like it" or "It's got a great beat." For them, musical listening is an intuitive experience, one that reflects moods and memories, fashion and fun. Some philosophers consider music a mostly "felt experience," which means that musical thinking does not require verbal thinking. Bennett Reimer, for example, has written that language "need not be and typically is not applied to the sounds we are engaged with in musical experience."' But Reimer also tells us that discussion in the music classroom that helps us to "know why, [is] probably the most neglected aspect of music education."2 We need language to pursue this sort of discussion. Equipping students with the skills and language to discuss, describe, and defend music they know and like, as well as music that is new and different, is an essential aspect of music teaching. The music classroom is the perfect setting for investigative and imaginative inquiry-for teaching students how to talk about music. Because dialogue that is done well is too dynamic (dare we say
Corrigendum to “Probabilistic fatigue life prediction of multidirectional composite laminates” [Composite Structures 69 (2005) 11–19]

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Box 1831-B, Nashville, TN 37235, USA ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi s The author regrets that in the above article Eqs. (6) and (7) were printed incorrectly. They are now reproduced correctly, below:
Motivational Interviewing and Social Justice

This address explores the relationship between motivational interviewing (MI) and six broad humane values: compassion, respect, fairness, human potential, prizing of differences, and collaboration. These values are implicit in the spirit and practice of MI, and have implications far beyond professional practice.
Knowledge, society, power, and the promise of epistemological externalism

This paper has two aims. The first is to criticize epistemological externalism in a way different from most other criticisms. Most criticisms claim externalism fails because it does not adequately explicate ordinary notions of knowledge and justification. Such criticisms are often unhelpful to the externalist because he may not even intend his theory to be such an explication. The criticism presented here avoids this difficulty. The other aim, achieved en route to this criticism, is to explode a dogma of contemporary epistemology — that the primary end of epistemic endeavors is truth — and to bring to light the many other important goals there are for such endeavors in addition to truth. Several of these goals pertain to the power of knowledge in social contexts. The criticism ultimately made of externalism is that externalist knowledge is defective because it fails to achieve these extra-verific goals of epistemic endeavors.
Improved MR imaging for patients with metallic implants

Abstract Pediatric oncology patients with large metallic prostheses were imaged with one of two MR imaging techniques: 1) the “tilted view-angle” technique, 2) or a higher readout bandwidth technique. The tilted view-angle method uses an additional gradient in the slice selection direction during readout. The high bandwidth technique increases the readout bandwidth and shortens the echo time (TE). High bandwidth and short echo times were implemented in both T1-weighted (T1W) turbo spin echo and turbo short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences. Both imaging techniques reduced the size of metal-induced image artifacts. The tilted view-angle method reduced the artifact to a greater degree but had inherent shortcomings. The reformatted images were blurred and shifted. The area of interest was often moved outside of the field of view, unless parameters were adjusted on the basis of a pre-scan calculation. The high readout bandwidth, short echo technique required no special preparation and reduced metal artifacts without image blurring. The combination of high-bandwidth, shorter echo turbo STIR and T1W turbo spin echo sequences with subtraction of pre- from post-contrast images allowed effective fat suppression without local field inhomogeneity affects. This greatly improved our ability to evaluate suspected disease near metallic implants in pediatric cancer patients.