cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Meta-Analytic Review of the Relationship between Epistemic Cognition and Academic Achievement.

Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported online in Journal of Educational Psychology on Sep 3 2018 (see record 2018-43394-001). In the article, there is an error in Table 7 which contained a production-related error. Overall N was listed as “1,9,319” when it should be “159,319.” All versions of this article have been corrected. Please see erratum for full description.] Epistemic cognition, defined as the ways that people acquire, justify, and use knowledge, has been a prominent area of scholarship in educational psychology for nearly 50 years. Researchers have argued that epistemic cognition is a key predictor of many 21st century learning outcomes including critical thinking, scientific literacy, and historical thinking, among others. Despite a large volume of quantitative empirical research on epistemic cognition and academic achievement, there has been no published systematic analysis of this literature. We conducted a meta-analysis of 132 nonexperimental studies in this literature, and found epistemic cognition, as measured predominantly in terms of beliefs, was positively correlated with academic achievement, r = .162, p < .001, indicating a small but meaningful relationship. Moderator analyses revealed models and instruments focusing on development and justification of knowledge had higher correlations with academic achievement than those focused on constructs related to authority. We found evidence supporting domain-general, domain-specific, and topic-specific conceptualizations of epistemic cognition, and stronger correlations when the specificity of the epistemic cognition measure matched the specificity of the achievement measure. Conceptual knowledge and argumentation performance were more strongly associated with epistemic cognition than declarative or procedural knowledge performance. Finally, we found epistemic cognition predicted academic achievement from elementary school through graduate school, suggesting the importance of studying epistemic cognition across all educational levels. These findings have direct implications for honing epistemic cognition theory, creating better measures of epistemic cognition, and developing effective educational interventions on this critical topic. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)
Critical Role of Ca + Sensitization in Acute Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction

Converging lines of evidence indicate that HPV involves an increase in Ca2+ sensitivity. Future work that addresses the mechanisms that underlie hypoxia-induced Ca2+ sensitization in the pulmonary circulation are therefore a priority in furthering our understanding of this vital physiological response. Such studies would include the determination of i) the precise role of the endothelium in supporting hypoxia-induced Ca2+ sensitization in pulmonary arteries, ii) the identity and mechanism of action of the putative EDCF involved in HPV and iii) the roles of PKC, PTK, p38 MAP kinase and Rho-kinase.
Cabg in Advanced Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Concurrent, independent clinical series at Yale University and the University of Virginia demonstrate an important role for CABG in patients with advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy. It is found that CABG can be performed safely in these patients, both angina and congestive heart failure states improve, ejection fraction increases substantially, and good long-term longevity is achieved. Despite prior concerns, the internal mammary conduit can be used safely in these patients. It appears that CABG serves to protect viable noninfarcted muscle and to recruit hibernating ischemic muscle. CABG is suggested as an alternative to heart transplantation in this patient group.
Radclyffe Hall, E. Lynn Harris, and Franz Kafka: Christianity, Queerness, and the Politics of Normalcy

This essay examines Christian tropes in three queer texts: Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness (1928), E. Lynn Harris's Just As I Am (1994), and Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis (1915). At issue are the linkages between queer theory and literature, on the one hand, and Christian paradigms, on the other hand. This essay considers whether, insofar as they deploy Christian tropes, these texts sustain a politics of the normal that inevitably subvert queer-positive representations.
Hyperlipidemia Secondary to Renal Disease

Hyperlipidemia is a common metabolic complication in patients with chronic renal failure. In view of the association of hyperlipidemia with atherosclerosis, and the greatly increased incidence of atherosclerosis among uremic patients, the study of lipid metabolism in chronic renal failure has drawn much attention. A brief review of current literature and the results of some of our recent studies are presented in this paper.
The Impact of Prior Laparotomy and Intra-abdominal Adhesions on Bowel and Mesenteric Injury Following Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Early recognition of bowel and mesenteric injury following blunt abdominal trauma remains difficult. We hypothesized that patients with intra-abdominal adhesions from prior laparotomy would be subjected to visceral sheering deceleration forces and increased risk for bowel and mesenteric injury following blunt abdominal trauma. We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of 267 consecutive adult trauma patients who underwent operative exploration following moderate-critical (abdominal injury score 2–5) blunt abdominal trauma, comparing patients with prior laparotomy (n = 31) to patients with no prior laparotomy (n = 236). Multivariable regression was performed to identify predictors of bowel or mesenteric injury. There were no significant differences between groups for injury severity scores or findings on abdominal ultrasound, diagnostic peritoneal aspirate/lavage, pelvic radiography, or preoperative CT scan. The prior laparotomy cohort had greater incidence of full thickness bowel injury (26 vs. 9%, p = 0.010) and mesenteric injury (61 vs. 31%, p = 0.001). The proportion of bowel and mesenteric injuries occurring at the ligament of Treitz or ileocecal region was greater in the no prior laparotomy group (52 vs. 25%, p = 0.003). Prior laparotomy was an independent predictor of bowel or mesenteric injury (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.6–16.8) along with prior abdominal inflammation and free fluid without solid organ injury (model AUC: 0.81, 95% CI 0.74–0.88). Patients with a prior laparotomy are at increased risk for bowel and mesenteric injury following blunt abdominal trauma. The distribution of bowel and mesenteric injuries among patients with no prior laparotomy favors embryologic transition points tethering free intraperitoneal structures to the retroperitoneum.
The Impact of Culture on Learner Behavior in Visual Debuggers

People around the world are learning to code using online resources. However, research has found that these learners might not gain equal benefit from such resources, in particular because culture may affect how people learn from and use online resources. We therefore expect to see cultural differences in how people use and benefit from visual debuggers. We investigated the use of one popular online debugger which allows users to execute Python code and navigate bidirectionally through the execution using forward-steps and back-steps. We examined behavioral logs of 78,369 users from 69 countries and conducted an experiment with 522 participants from 82 countries. We found that people from countries that tend to prefer self-directed learning (such as those from countries with a low Power Distance, which tend to be less hierarchical than others) used about twice as many back-steps. We also found that for individuals whose values aligned with instructor-directed learning (those who scored high on a “Conservation” scale), back-steps were associated with less debugging success.
A pilot study of oncology massage to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

111Background: Short- and long-term toxicity of platinum compounds and taxanes includes development of CIPN. With an increased interest regarding the role of complementary approaches for symptom co...
Influence of Commercial and Laboratory Diets on Growth, Body Composition, and Reproduction in the Zebrafish Danio rerio.

Abstract The value of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism continues to expand. In developing the model, current feeding practice in zebrafish laboratories includes the use of commercial...
A feast for the eyes: edible art from apples to zucchini

A Feast for the Eyes: Edible Art from Apple to Zucchini utilizes the format of an alphabet book to explore the world of “food as art form.” According to Tillie, food and art have been linked since ...
Ray fractions and carbohydrate dynamics of tree species along a 2750 m elevation gradient indicate climate response, not spatial storage limitation.

Parenchyma cells in the xylem store nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC), providing reserves of energy that fuel woody perennials through periods of stress and/or limitations to photosynthesis. If the capacity for storage is subject to selection, then the fraction of wood occupied by living parenchyma should increase towards stressful environments. Ray parenchyma fraction (RPF) and seasonal NSC dynamics were quantified for 12 conifers and three oaks along a transect spanning warm dry foothills (500 m above sea level) to cold wet treeline (3250 m asl) in California's central Sierra Nevada. Mean RPF was lower for both conifer and oak species with warmer dryer ranges. RPF variability increased with elevation or in relation to associated climatic variables in conifers - treeline-dominant Pinus albicaulis had the lowest mean RPF measured (c. 3.7%), but the highest environmentally standardized variability index. Conifer RPF variability was explained by environment, increasing predominantly towards cooler wetter range edges. In oaks, NSC was explained by environment - values increasing for evergreen and decreasing for deciduous oaks with elevation. Lastly, all species surveyed appear to prioritize filling available RPF with sugar to achieve molarities that balance reasonable tensions over starch to maximize stored carbon. RPF responds to environment but is unlikely to spatially constrain NSC storage.
The reputational bases of India’s China policy: the forward policy and beyond

This paper analyzes instances of the Indian leadership’s choice of an escalatory approach in its border dispute with China, first in the adoption of the Forward Policy in the lead up to the 1962 wa...
7 – ATOMIC STRUCTURE

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the development of atomic structure and atomic theory. It describes the discovery of the three fundamental particles of the greatest interest to chemistry that are electron, proton, and neutron. The chapter discusses the three important atomic structure models, such as Rutherford nuclear atom, Bohr atom, and wave–mechanical atom. It explains the concept of nuclear arithmetic and discusses the electronic structure of atoms that relates to the periodic table. Electronic configurations determine the nature of the bonds that hold atoms together in molecules and ions, the crystal and molecular structures of pure substances, and the physical and chemical properties of the elements and their compounds. The chapter describes the electromagnetic spectrum.
Sleep and depressive symptoms in adolescents with type 1 diabetes not meeting glycemic targets.

Abstract Aims Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at risk for problems with self-management and suboptimal glycemic control, and depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances predict poorer diabetes outcomes. Despite evidence for associations between adolescent depressive symptoms and sleep in the general population, few studies have investigated this link in the vulnerable group of adolescents with T1D not meeting glycemic targets. The current study sought to assess both depressive symptoms and sleep in relation to diabetes indicators in adolescents with T1D. Methods 120 adolescents (ages 13–17 years) with above target glycemic control completed measures of depressive symptoms, sleep duration and quality, and self-management; parents also reported on adolescents’ diabetes management. Clinical data (i.e., HbA1c) were extracted from medical records. Results In our sample, 40% of adolescents reported at least mild depressive symptoms, and 26% reported clinically significant sleep disturbances. Adolescents with sleep disturbances were more likely to report at least mild symptoms of depression, and both depressive symptoms and sleep quality were associated with poorer diabetes management. No significant differences emerged regarding HbA1c or frequency of blood glucose monitoring. Conclusions The current findings highlight the importance of clinical assessment of both depressive symptoms and sleep in the vulnerable group of adolescents with T1D.
Synthesis and Stability of Actinium-225 Endohedral Fullerenes, 225Ac@C60.

We report the first synthesis of 225Ac (t1/2 = 10 days) endohedral fullerenes,225Ac@C60. The 225Ac@C60 was produced with a 12 ± 2% efficiency by applying an electrical arc discharge between a sourc...
Wildflowers of the Adirondacks

Donald J. Leopold and Lytton John Musselman. 2020. Wildflowers of the Adirondacks. (ISBN-13: 978-1-42143110-9, pbk). Johns Hopkins University Press, 2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4363, U.S.A. (Orders: press.jhu.edu). $24.95 US, 368 pp., 315 color illustrations, references, index, 5½" × 8½".
Searches for HI in the Outer Parts of Four Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies

Previous searches for atomic gas in our Galaxy's dwarf spheroidal companions have not been complete enough to settle the question of whether or not these galaxies have HI, especially in their outer parts. We present new observations of the dwarf spheroidals Sextans, Leo I, Ursa Minor, and Draco, using the NRAO 140-foot telescope to search much farther in radius than has been done before. The new data go out to at least 2.5 times the core radius in all cases, and well beyond even the tidal radius in two cases. These observations give HI column density limits of 2-6 x 10^17 atoms cm^-2. Unless HI is quite far from the galaxies' centers, we conclude that these galaxies don't contain significant amounts of atomic gas at the present time. We discuss whether the observations could have missed some atomic gas.
Poroelastic coefficients for anisotropic single and double porosity media

Closed-form expressions for poroelastic coefficients are derived for anisotropic materials exhibiting single and double porosity. A novel feature of the formulation is the use of the principle of superposition to derive the governing mass conservation equations from which analytical expressions for the Biot tensor and Biot moduli, among others, are derived. For single-porosity media, the mass conservation equation derived from the principle of superposition is shown to be identical to the one derived from continuum principle of thermodynamics, thus confirming the veracity of both formulations and suggesting that this conservation equation can be derived in more than one way. To provide further insight into the theory, numerical values of the poroelastic coefficients are calculated for granite and sandstone that are consistent with the material parameters reported by prominent authors. In this way, modelers are guided on how to determine these coefficients in the event that they use the theory for full-scale modeling and simulations.
Modern Orthodoxies: Judaic Imaginative Journeys of the Twentieth Century

Introduction: Liberating Captivity, The Sacred Language of the Secular 1. A Pious Translation: Call it Sleep and Henry Roth's Single Sin 2. Converting Books into Bodies: Unorthodox Women and the Vanity of Art 3. An Inward Eye: Modigliani and the Burden of Moses 4. A Tale of Two Mice: The Graphic Escape of the Text Conclusion: Trajectories of Exile
Ground Validation for the Global Precipitation Climatology Project

This paper discusses the role of the Surface Reference Data Center (SRDC) and the activities associated with data collection, error characterization, and validation associated with the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP). Housed in the Environmental Verification and Analysis Center (EVAC) at the University of Oklahoma, the EVAC/SRDC has built upon work from past NOAA-supported projects to become a unique location for scientists to obtain scarce rain gauge data and to conduct research into verification activities. These data are continually analyzed to produce error-assessed rainfall products. Scientists need only to access the EVAC/SRDC web site (http://www.evac.ou.edu/ srdc) to obtain critical global rain gauge data sets. Many of these data sets are impossible to obtain elsewhere. In this paper we will discuss the data collection, analysis, and validation methodology activities of the SRDC.
Prostaglandin Dependent Control of an Endogenous Estrogen Receptor Agonist by Osteoblasts

Estrogen receptor (ER) activation has complex effects on bone cells, and loss of circulating estradiol adversely affects skeletal status in women. Hormone replacement therapy effectively circumvents bone loss after menopause, but enhances disease risk in other tissues. Here we show that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) augments the activity of an osteoblast-derived selective ER modulator, ObSERM. The stimulatory effect of PGE2 is replicated in part by either the PG receptor EP3 agonist 17-phenyl trinor PGE2 or by the PG receptor FP agonist PGF2α⋅ Whereas activation of the various PG receptors induces multiple downstream signals, the response to PGE2 was mimicked by activators of protein kinase C, and suppressed by inhibition of protein kinase C but not by inhibition of protein kinase A. Moreover, inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis and activation of the PTH and Wnt pathways increases ObSERM activity. Our studies therefore reveal that ObSERM activity is controlled in distinct ways and revise our understanding of ER activation within bone by agents or events associated with PG expression. They also predict ways to sustain or improve bone formation, fracture repair, and surgical healing without adding the risk of disease in other tissues where ER activation also has important biological functions. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1104–1114, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company
Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMPs): Inhibition of Zn-Dependent Metallopeptidases

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are protein protease inhibitors that target zinc-dependent metallopeptidases of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), disintegrin metalloproteinase (ADAM), and disintegrin metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif (ADAM-TS) families. TIMPs form very tight 1:1 stoichiometric complexes with target peptidases that are centered on the peptidase catalytic zinc ion, and in which three zinc–ligand bonds are donated by the peptidase and two zinc–ligand bonds are donated by the TIMP. While this general structural mechanism of inhibition is highly conserved among all complexes studied, the reported binding constants for TIMP–peptidase interactions span many orders of magnitude, revealing overlapping but distinct specificity. Nonconserved epitopes at the periphery of the TIMP/peptidase interface contribute to differential recognition among complexes. This article summarizes currently available structural and biochemical data relating to molecular recognition in TIMP–peptidase complexes. Keywords: protease inhibitor; tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases; TIMP; zinc endopeptidase; metalloendopeptidase; matrixin; matrix metalloproteinase; MMP
Self-calibrating floating-point analog-to-digital converter

The floating-point analog-to-digital converter (FPADC) is an extended version of the fixed-point ADC. It is designed to deal with a broader dynamic range of signals while exhibiting a smaller relative quantization error. The traditional implementation of the FPADC requires high-precision high-speed components in order to achieve these characteristics for high sampling rates. The paper introduces a new high-speed high-precision FPADC that employs low-grade components whose errors are compensated through a low-speed high-precision calibration mechanism. The precision is maintained at high values by additional hardware that periodically performs calibration cycles. A hybrid hardware-software implementation of the design is carried out and described. Finally, experimental measurements are performed to compare the characteristics of the new FPADC.
Identification of a cyclohexylcarbonyl CoA biosynthetic gene cluster and application in the production of doramectin.

The side chain of the antifungal antibiotic ansatrienin A from Streptomyces collinus contains a cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (CHC)-derived moiety. This moiety is also observed in trace amounts of ω-cyclohexyl fatty acids (typically less than 1% of total fatty acids) produced by S. collinus. Coenzyme A-activated CHC (CHC-CoA) is derived from shikimic acid through a reductive pathway involving a minimum of nine catalytic steps. Five putative CHC-CoA biosynthetic genes in the ansatrienin biosynthetic gene cluster of S. collinus have been identified. Plasmid-based heterologous expression of these five genes in Streptomyces avermitilis or Streptomyces lividans allows for production of significant amounts of ω-cyclohexyl fatty acids (as high as 49% of total fatty acids). In the absence of the plasmid these organisms are dependent on exogenously supplied CHC for ω-cyclohexyl fatty acid production. Doramectin is a commercial antiparasitic avermectin analog produced by fermenting a bkd mutant of S. avermitilis in the presence of CHC. Introduction of the S. collinus CHC-CoA biosynthetic gene cassette into this organism resulted in an engineered strain able to produce doramectin without CHC supplementation. The CHC-CoA biosynthetic gene cluster represents an important genetic tool for precursor-directed biosynthesis of doramectin and has potential for directed biosynthesis in other important polyketide-producing organisms.
Invasive Shrubs in Kentucky

Abstract I surveyed the distribution of invasive (non-native) shrubs in Kentucky, along with their properties, effects, and control measures. Kentucky's floral, physical geography, and climate are representative of a much broader region of the US, and the state has a large number of counties with available data. Invasive shrub species richness increases with county population and appears to be underreported in most of the state. The most widespread of the 68 species reported were Rosa multiflora (Multiflora Rose), Elaeagnus umbellate (Autumn Olive), Morus alba (Mulberry), Lonicera maackii (Amur Honeysuckle), Albizia julibrissin (Mimosa), Euonymus alatus, and Ligustrum sinense (Common Chinese Privet). An additional 17 were identified as ones that may become widespread in the future. Families with the largest number of species were Rosaceae, Caprifoliaceae, and Oleaceae. Most shrubs originated in eastern Asia, were introduced in the 19th century, have animal-dispersed fruit, reproduce vegetatively, are at l...
Paediatric renal tumors.

Pediatric renal masses are uncommon and the differential diagnosis list is made up of a mix of benign and malignant lesions. While there is some overlap in the entities affecting children and adults, the majority of lesions arise in childhood. The child’s age, clinical history, and imaging findings all help to distinguish the majority of tumors. The purpose of this interactive session is to review the renal lesions that affect the pediatric population, describe their imaging findings, and discuss how the different lesions are differentiated on imaging. The following tumors will be included: Benign tumors
Pharmaceutical Cost Savings of Treating Obesity with Weight Loss Medications

GREENWAY, FRANK L., DONNA H. RYAN, GEORGE A. BRAY, JENNIFER C. ROOD, ELIZABETH W. TUCKER, AND STEVEN R. SMITH. Pharmaceutical cost savings of treating obesity with weight loss medications. Obes Res. Objective: To evaluate, in compliant patients, the pharmaceutical costs of treating obesity with fenfluraminel/mazindol, fenfluramine/phentermine, caffeine/ephedrine, or mazindol relative to the pharmaceutical costs of treating obesity-related comorbid conditions and reducing cardiovascular risk. Methods and Procedures: Subjects were between 18 and 60 years of age with a BMI of >30 kg/m2. Pharmaceutical costs were evaluated in 73 of 220 subjects taking medications for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or hypertension before and after treatment using fenfluramine with mazindol or phentermine. The pharmaceutical cost of weight loss, cardiac risk reduction, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduction was calculated for fenfluramine with mazindol or phentermine, caffeine with ephedrine, or mazindol alone, and compared to approved lipid-lowering medications. Results: Losses of 6% to 10% of initial body weight reduced pharmacy costs $122. 64/month for insulin treated diabetes, $42. 92/month for sulfonylurea-treated diabetes, $61. O7/month for hyperlipidemia treated with medication, and $0. 20/month for hypertension treated with medication. Blood pressure and laboratory evidence of insulin resistance improved in all medication groups. Caffeine/ephedrine was most cost-effective of the three treatments in reducing weight, cardiac risk, and LDL cholesterol. Discussion: Obesity medications produced a substantial weight loss in compliant patients and resulted in a net pharmaceutical cost savings compared to treating obesity related comorbid conditions.
Expression profile analysis and biochemical properties of the peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase A (PMSRA) gene family in Arabidopsis

Abstract The peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase A (PMSRA) gene family in Arabidopsis consists of five members. Three are localized in chromosome five (encoding cytosolic proteins), one in chromosome four (encoding a plastid proteins) and one in chromosome two (encoding a protein targeted for secretion). Analysis of the sequence showed that four of the proteins (PMSRA1 to PMSRA4) have a conserved catalytic domain GCFWG and a domain unique for plants PIRCYG (PMSRA5 does not have any of them). To establish detailed expression data of this gene family, comprehensive in silico and RT-PCR analyses for the five PMSRA s were conducted. This included analysis of organ-specific and developmental expression and expression in response to oxidative stress induced by high light, paraquat, cercosporin and ozone. All genes are expressed in the different plant organs. PMSRA4 is predominant in all tissues except roots. PMSRA1 to PMSRA3 have higher expression in roots and stems. PMSR1 is more expressed in flower buds and PMSRA5 in stems. Promoter analysis showed the presence of cis responsive elements to different stress conditions such as metals, extreme temperatures, pathogens, water stress, high light salinity. RT-PCR analysis showed that PMSRA4 is up-regulated by oxidative stress conditions, especially by high light that induced an eight-fold increase in mRNA. The other genes were not as responsive. To further characterize the PMSRA family, recombinant plastid PMSRA4 and one cytosolic PMSRA (PMSRA3) were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Kinetic parameters ( K M , k cat , k cat / K M ) were measured for both proteins using FMOC/MetSO as a substrate.
Locally Invertible Multidimensional Convolutional Encoders

A polynomial matrix is said to be locally invertible if it has an invertible subsequence map of equal size between its input and output sequence spaces. This paper examines the use of these matrices, which we call locally invertible encoders, for generating multidimensional convolutional codes. We discuss a novel method of encoding and inverting multidimensional sequences using the subsequence map. We also show that the overlapping symbols between consecutive input subsequences obtained during the sequence inversion can be used to determine if the received sequence is the same as the transmitted codeword.
Peace through cooperation

The present opening in the relations between the US and the USSR is an opportunity for starting the building of a cooperative relationship.
Suppression of appetitive behavior in the rat by naloxone: Lack of effect of prior morphine dependence

Abstract Naloxone (0.3–10 mg/kg) produced a dose-related suppression of eating and drinking in rats that had been deprived of food for 48 hr or water for 24 hr. The suppression of water intake by naloxone was unaltered in rats that had been physically dependent upon morphine one week earlier and which were tolerant to the analgesic effect of morphine at the time naloxone was tested. These results confirm the ability of naloxone to suppress appetitive behavior in the rat but do not resolve the issue of whether or not this effect of naloxone is the consequence of an interaction with an endogenous opioid system.
Ground alert for looking glass: SAC's new emphasis on strategic warning

(1991). Ground alert for looking glass: SAC's new emphasis on strategic warning. Defense Analysis: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 104-107.
Optical methods for iterative image restoration

ABSTRACT In this paper we propose a new totally optical approach to the implementation of iterative algorithms for image restoration. A phase conjugating mirror (PCM) is employed as an amplifying element to implement a coherentoptical feedback system capable of performing iterative operations on a spatially modulated input beam. Three systems are suggested. Their optical analysis is performed. The obtained results indicate that each system is capableof restoring linearly degraded images. 1. INTRODUCTION A recorded image is almost certainly a degraded version of an original image due to the imperfections of physicalimaging systems and the particular physical limitations imposed in every application in which image data is recorded1.The purpose of image restoration is to operate on the degraded image to obtain an improved image which is as close as possible to the original one, subject to a suitable optimality criterion. Iterative algorithms have been used to achieve image restoration. Such algorithms range from the simple successive approximations algorithm to morerefined ones26. Their implementation by purely numerical methods has proved to be time consuming due to thelarge amount of computations necessary between successive iterations.In view of the above, hybrid TV-optical implementations, using incoherent optical feedback systems and analogaddition and substraction of video signals, have been suggested7 .
Comments on Intravitreal Sulfur Hexafluoride

Diddie and Smith 1 reported the danger of anterior displacement of an intraocular lens during surgical correction of a retinal detachment after intravitreal injection of sulfur hexafluoride. They did not report the ventilating gas used.
Schlafen 3 induction by cyclic strain regulates intestinal epithelial differentiation.

The intestinal epithelium is subjected to repetitive deformation during normal gut function by peristalsis and villous motility. In vitro, cyclic strain promotes intestinal epithelial proliferation...
CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF KETAMINE IN YOUNG ANIMALS

This study was undertaken to assess the cardiovascular (CV) effects of Ketamine (K) in unsedated young animals. Four lambs and 4 piglets were instrumented under general anesthesia and not studied before the third postoperative day. Pulmonary flow (Qp), systemic (Pao) and pulmonary (Ppa) arterial, and left atrial (Pla) pressures were monitored before and after K was given at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg IV. In each lamb the Qp rose, usually within 2, but always within 4 minutes, and in each piglet the Qp remained unchanged or fell. In only one lamb did the Pao rise >10%, and in the others it remained unchanged or increased <10%. The Ppa remained the same or fell slightly. The systemic (Rs) and pulmonary (Rp) resistances fell slightly in each lamb. In the piglets the fall in Qp was associated with a rise in Pla and a rise in Rs. The Rp increased slightly in 3 and fell in one. Tachypnea was a consistent finding most marked within 2 minutes. Heart rate increased in 3 of 4 lambs and was not affected in the piglets. There is considerable species variability in the CV effects of K which may be related to variations in sympathetic responses. In piglets less sympathetic response allows more apparent myocardial depression to be manifest. Importantly, and in contrast to reports in adults, no consistent rise in Rp was noted in these young animals.
GaAs RF Wafer Qualification using RF Probes

Processing of Gallium Arsenide MMIC's is expensive due in part to the time required to RF-qualify wafers. Manufacturers who intend to compete in this relatively new market must reduce device costs. To reduce a MMIC's cost a major emphasis should be on early detection and discontinuation of wafers which will not yield devices meeting the MMIC's expected RF performance. On-wafer RF qualification can be established as a technique to achieve this goal.
The Cdk/Cdc14 Module Controls Activation of the Yen1 Holliday Junction Resolvase to Promote Genome Stability

Faithful genome transmission during cell division requires precise, coordinated action of DNA metabolic enzymes, including proteins responsible for DNA damage detection and repair. Dynamic phosphorylation plays an important role in controlling repair enzymes during the DNA damage response (DDR). Cdc14 phosphatases oppose cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) phosphorylation and have been implicated in the DDR in several model systems. Here, we have refined the substrate specificity of budding yeast Cdc14 and, using this insight, identified the Holliday junction resolvase Yen1 as a DNA repair target of Cdc14. Cdc14 activation at anaphase triggers nuclear accumulation and enzymatic activation of Yen1, likely to resolve persistent recombinational repair intermediates. Consistent with this, expression of a phosphomimetic Yen1 mutant increased sister chromatid nondisjunction. In contrast, lack of Cdk phosphorylation resulted in constitutive activity and elevated crossover-associated repair. The precise timing of Yen1 activation, governed by core cell-cycle regulators, helps coordinate DNA repair with chromosome segregation and safeguards against genome destabilization.
Cone sampling array models

A model is described for positioning cones in the retina. Each cone has a circular disk of influence, and the disks are tightly packed outward from the center. This model has three parameters that can vary with eccentricity: the mean radius of the cone disk, the standard deviation of the cone disk radius, and the standard deviation of postpacking jitter. Estimates for these parameters out to 1.6 deg are found by using measurements reported by Hirsch and Hylton [Vision Res. 24, 347 (1985)] and Hirsch and Miller [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4, 1481 (1987)] of the positions of the cone inner segments of an adult macaque. The estimation is based on fitting measures of variation in local intercone distances, and the fit to these measures is good.
Interrogation systems for slab coupled optical fiber sensors

This paper provides a description of electric field sensing using the slab coupled optical fiber sensor (SCOS) with an emphasis on the detection electronics. This analysis includes estimated signal strength and the main noise sources. With all noise eliminated except for the shot noise in the photodetector, thermal noise in the terminating resistor, and the thermal noise in the low noise amplifier the theoretical sensitivity is calculated to be 0.85 V/m Hz^0.5. The signal is measured using an electrical spectrum analyzer and found to have a sensitivity of 1.34 V/m Hz^0.5.
Metaanalyses of Acustimulations: Effects on Nausea and Vomiting in Postoperative Adult Patients

Objective: Using metaanalysis to examine the effects of acustimulations on nausea and vomiting symptoms (NVS) in postoperative adult populations. Methods: Metaanalyses of effects of various acupoints stimulations (AS) (including acupuncture, acupressure, and electrical stimulation) on NVS in postoperative adult populations were performed. Thirty-three quality randomized controlled trials (RCT) published over the past three decades were identified by evaluatingthequalityofrandomizationandtreatmentmethods, and results were pooled using a fixed effects model. Results: Twenty-four trials were pooled for nausea, 29 trials for vomiting, and 19 trials for rescue antiemetics, with AS compared with placebo or controls. Two additional trials did not have control groups but compared AS to medication groups. Compared with the controls, AS (all modalities) reduced nausea (relative risk [RR] 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54-0.67, P.0001), vomiting (RR0.51, 95% CI: 0.45-0.57,P.0001), and use of rescue antiemetics (RR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.54-0.74, P 0001). All AS modalities were effective in reducing NVS. Korean hand acupressure stimulations (two trials) had the best impact on reducing vomiting. There were no significant differences on pooled RRs for nausea (five trials) and vomiting (eight trials) between medication and AS groups, but medication groups had increased use of rescue antiemetics (two trials, RR 2.27, 95% CI: 1.48-3.49, P .0002). There was a placebo effect when compared with controls in reducing nausea (four trials, RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.50-0.90,P.0069) and vomiting (three trials, RR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19-0.80, P .0106). Conclusions: This metaanalysis demonstrated that AS is just as effective as medications in reducing NVS and that acupressure is just as effective as acupuncture or electrical stimulation in reducing NVS for postoperative adult populations.
A Comparison by Sexual Orientation of Sexual Health and Sexual Behaviors Among Hispanic Men

High rates of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) related to high-risk sexual behaviors are a public health problem in the USA. Hispanics have the second highest rates of HIV infection among racial/ethnic minorities. Previous research with Hispanic men has identified a number of factors that influence sexual risk and render Hispanic men at risk for HIV/STIs. These factors vary by sexual orientation. Despite these differences in sexual risk by sexual orientation, no study to date has compared the sexual behaviors of Hispanic men by sexual orientation. The purpose of this study was to compare the sexual behaviors of a sample of Hispanic men by sexual orientation. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 163 Hispanic men in South Florida: 80 heterosexual and 83 MSM. Participants completed measures of sexual health, sexual behaviors, and demographics. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups of men in terms of age of sexual debut, number of sexual partners during the previous 3 months, condom usage during the previous 3 months, HIV testing history, and substance use during sex. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups of men in terms of certain STIs. Hispanic men as a population may engage in high-risk sexual behaviors that place them at risk for HIV/STIs. More research is needed to develop both culturally tailored and sexual orientation-appropriate interventions to assist Hispanic men reduce high-risk sexual behaviors.
Predicting Protein Subcelluar Localizations Using Weighted Euclidian Distance

Predicting subcellular localizations of proteins is very important for the determination of protein functions. In this paper, we present a K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) method for predicting the subcellular localizations of proteins in Gram-negative bacteria. The method makes predictions based on a weighted Euclidian distance computed from amino acid composition. The method achieves 81.4% accuracy in assigning proteins into five subcellular locations. Comparisons show that using the weighted Euclidian distance developed in this study can achieves better performance in predicting subcellular localization than using the standard Euclidian distance. We also compare our method with CELLO II, one of the best methods in subcellular localization prediction. The comparisons show the performances of the two methods are comparable, while our method is much simpler and faster.
TRANSVERSE MOMENTUM DISTRIBUTION OF PROTONS IN p-p ELASTIC SCATTERING

It is shown that previously determined p-p elastic scattering cross sections that range in energy from 10 to 30 Bev and momentum transfer squared from 3 to 25 (Bev/c)/sup 2/ can be fit by a single exponential in transverse momentum. This exponential is the same one that describes the transverse momentum distributions of mesons ( pi ) produced in nucleon-nucleon interactions. (C.E.S.)
OUTLIERS IN ASSESSMENTS

Outliers in assessments are often treated as a nuisance for data analysis; however, they can also assist in quality assurance. Their frequency can suggest problems with form codes, scanning accuracy, ability of examinees to enter responses as they intend, or exposure of items.
Parallel circuit simulation with adaptively controlled projective integration

In this article, a parallel transient circuit simulation approach based on an adaptively-controlled time-stepping scheme is proposed. Different from the widely-used implicit numerical integration techniques in most transient simulators, this work exploits the recently-developed explicit telescopic projective numerical integration method for efficient parallel circuit simulation. Because telescopic projective integration addresses the well-known stability issue of explicit numerical integrations by adopting combinations of inner integrators and outer integrators in a multilevel fashion, the simulation time-step is no longer limited by the smallest time constant in the circuit. With dynamic control of telescopic projective integration, the proposed projective integration framework not only leads to noticeable efficiency improvement in circuit simulation, it also lends itself to straightforward parallelization due to its explicit nature. The latter has led to encouraging runtime efficiencies, observed on shared-memory parallel platforms. In addition to solving standard initial-value problems (IVPs) of differential equations, the same telescopic integration framework is adopted for solving final-value problems (FVPs), where the system is integrated backwards in time. Through a new elegant formulation, we show how an IVP and FVP can be simultaneously solved to allow for a coarse-grained bidirectional parallel circuit simulation scheme. Such a bidirectional approach is demonstrated in the context of parallel shooting-Newton-based steady-state circuit analysis. The proposed bidirectional approach has unique and favorable properties: the solutions of the two ODE problems are completely data-independent with built-in automatic load balancing.
Extended topological quantum computing

This paper gives an account of topological quantum computing based on unitary solutions to the Yang-Baxter Equation. We show how quantum computing with Majorana Fermions fits into this context.
Gesture and right hemisphere involvement in evaluating lecture material

This study investigated hemispheric lateralization in comprehending and evaluating lecture material with and without nonverbal hand gestures. Participants watched a lecture with and without gesture under conditions of cognitive load in the left or right hemisphere. There were no effects of gesture or load on lecture comprehension, but gesture and load influenced how participants evaluated the lecture. Specifically, presence of gesture significantly influenced participants’ affective evaluations of the lecturer in both load conditions. However, gesture influenced cognitive evaluations of the lecture material only when the right hemisphere was free from cognitive load. The results suggest that the right hemisphere may be specialized for processing information conveyed through hand gestures.
Behavioral effects of lead and Toxocara canis in mice

Adult mice were administered the common parasite Toxocara canis or lead or both. The parasite clearly altered mouse performance on tests of exploration, activity, learning, and motor coordination; behavioral effects in mice receiving lead alone were less general. Consequence of Toxocara administration appeared attenuated in animals receiving both agents. Parasite larvae were found in the central nervous system in all infected mice.
Materials and processing for 0.25 mm multilevel interconnect

A new generation of interconnect schemes is required for high performance ULSI. This involves developing process modules aimed at reducing RC delay and power consumption, as well as developing new equipment technology to support these processes. In the materials area, the most significant challenge is to define a workable and reliable combination of high conductivity metals (Al(Cu), Cu) with a low dielectric constant insulator (starting with fluorinated silicon oxide). As far as processing is concerned, the key technological issues that we will address in this paper are (i) etching dielectrics and metals with high aspect ratio (4:1 for contact/via and greater than 1.5:1 for lines/trenches) and (ii) filling these aggressive topologies using dielectric films with high gap-filling capabilities and conformal/planarizing CVD and PVD metal deposition. Besides the option of using SiOF dielectric and oxide CMP, four process modules of interconnects can be highlighted: (1) gap-fill oxide/W interconnect and/or via plug/metal etch; (2) gap-fill oxide/via fill and planarized Al/metal etch; (3) metal plug/metal damascene; and (4) Cu dual damascene. Since time-to-market will still be very critical for fabrication at 0.25 μm technology, typically for 200 mm and 300 mm wafers, the challenge is clearly to achieve successful vertical and horizontal integration of these modules. As a result, more than ever, suppliers and chip manufacturers have to work very closely at early stages of technology development. Examples of joint development programs leading to new breakthroughs in technology and reactor design will be discussed.
Reply to Letter to the Editor: Posterior Malleolar Stabilization of Syndesmotic Injuries is Equivalent to Screw Fixation

Reply: We appreciate the interest by Huang et al. in our article [1] and the opportunity to reply. The first concern of Dr. Huang and his colleagues regarded the patients we examined in our study population. They correctly note that supination-external rotation injuries do not always have syndesmotic involvement. In our case population, as noted in the article [1], all patients had a positive radiographic stress examination and preoperative MRI that confirmed syndesmotic involvement necessitating fixation. Their second point was whether our posterior malleolar fixation would provide sufficient stabilization for fractures with “greater instability.” We did not address this directly, but as we did mention, the posterior malleolus alone accounts for 42% of the strength of the syndesmosis [2]. We believe that if the medial side is reconstructed, either by fixation of a medial malleolar fracture or by repair of a torn deltoid ligament, additional syndesmotic fixation is unnecessary, even in more unstable injury patterns. Since reviewing the patients in our article [1], the senior author (DGL) has completely stopped augmenting posterior malleolar fixation with syndesmotic screws, even in fracture-dislocations. Each of these patients has stress testing after fixation and they no longer have any sign of instability. Thus, they have anatomic fixation without screws across the syndesmosis. The third question also addresses this topic, asking why a combination of posterior malleolar fixation and transsyndesmotic screw fixation was used in the more unstable fracture-dislocations. During the time we were accumulating this series of patients, we were unsure if the construct would be stable enough for these more severe injuries, but after this study and its predecessors were published and after review of our subsequent patient series (as yet unpublished), we do not believe more severe injuries need supplemental syndesmotic fixation. We thank Dr. Huang and his colleagues for their interest in our article.