cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Specificity and incremental predictive validity of implicit attitudes: Studies of a race-based phenotype

Four studies involving 2552 White American participants were conducted to investigate bias based on the race-based phenotype of hair texture. Specifically, we probed the existence and magnitude of bias in favor of Eurocentric (straight) over Afrocentric (curly) hair and its specificity in predicting responses to a legal decision involving the phenotype. Study 1 revealed an implicit preference, measured by an Implicit Association Test (IAT), favoring Eurocentric over Afrocentric hair texture among White Americans. This effect was not reducible to a Black/White implicit race attitude nor to mere perceptual preference favoring straight over curly hair. In Study 2, the phenotype (hair) IAT significantly and uniquely predicted expressions of support in response to an actual legal case that involved discrimination on the basis of Afrocentric hair texture. Beyond replicating this result, Studies 3 and 4 (the latter preregistered) provided further, and even more stringent, evidence for incremental predictive validity: in both studies, the phenotype IAT was associated with support for a Black plaintiff above and beyond the effects of two parallel explicit scales and, additionally, a race attitude IAT. Overall, these studies support the idea that race bias may be uniquely detected by examining implicit attitudes elicited by group-based phenotypicality, such as hair texture. Moreover, the present results inform theoretical investigations of the correspondence principle in the context of implicit social cognition: they suggest that tailoring IATs to index specific aspects of an attitude object (e.g., by decomposition of phenotypes) can improve prediction of intergroup behavior.
Stress, Strain, and the Inflation of the Lung

The lung is an inherently mechanical organ. Central to the process of respiration are the cyclic changes in lung volume in response to changes in the transpulmonary pressure. Pressure is force per unit area and is thus a stress, while changes in lung volume and shape constitute a strain. A fully realistic description of lung mechanical behavior must contend with the fact that the relationship between stress and strain can be nonlinear and nonuniform. Moreover, depending on the timescales of interest, lung tissue exhibits viscoelastic behavior and can thus exhibit time-varying strain even when stress is constant. Fortunately, for most clinical applications, it suffices to model lung stretch during respiration as a uniform change in volume under the influence of the transpulmonary pressure, by analogy to force/length relationships in 1D models. Apart from nonlinearities, nonuniform inflation leads to important consequences in the setting of lung injury. While the viscoelastic nature of lung tissue is well established, as yet there is no convincing evidence that such effects must be routinely accounted for at the bedside.
An updated ANGPTL3-4-8 model as a mechanism of triglyceride partitioning between fat and oxidative tissues.

Abstract In mammals, triglyceride (TG), the main form of lipids for storing and providing energy, is stored in white adipose tissue (WAT) after food intake, while during fasting it is routed to oxidative tissues (heart and skeletal muscle) for energy production, a process referred to as TG partitioning. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), a rate-limiting enzyme in this fundamental physiological process, hydrolyzes circulating TG to generate free fatty acids that are taken up by peripheral tissues. The postprandial activity of LPL declines in oxidative tissues but rises in WAT, directing TG to WAT; the reverse is true during fasting. However, the molecular mechanism in regulating tissue-specific LPL activity during the fed-fast cycle has not been completely understood. Research on angiopoietin-like (ANGPTL) proteins (A3, A4, and A8) has resulted in an ANGPTL3-4-8 model to explain the TG partitioning between WAT and oxidative tissues. Food intake induces A8 expression in the liver and WAT. Liver A8 activates A3 by forming the A3-8 complex, which is then secreted into the circulation. The A3-8 complex acts in an endocrine manner to inhibit LPL in oxidative tissues. WAT A8 forms the A4-8 complex, which acts locally to block A4's LPL-inhibiting activity. Therefore, the postprandial activity of LPL is low in oxidative tissues but high in WAT, directing circulating TG to WAT. Conversely, during fasting, reduced A8 expression in the liver and WAT disables A3 from inhibiting oxidative-tissue LPL and restores WAT A4's LPL-inhibiting activity, respectively. Thus, the fasting LPL activity is high in oxidative tissues but low in WAT, directing TG to the former. According to the model, we hypothesize that A8 antagonism has the potential to simultaneously reduce TG and increase HDL-cholesterol plasma levels. Future research on A3, A4, and A8 can hopefully provide more insights into human health, disease, and therapeutics.
DIAPHRAGMATIC MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION WITH PERI-INFARCTION BLOCK. STUDIES OF THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM AND VECTORCARDIOGRAM.

Abstract Presented here are the vectorcardiograms and electrocardiograms of 10 normal patients, 12 with diaphragmatic infarction, 15 with diaphragmatic infarction and diaphragmatic peninfarction block, 3 with right bundle branch block, and 4 with diaphragmatic infarction plus right bundle branch block. The characteristics of the electric patterns of diaphragmatic infarction with diaphragmatic peri-infarction block are: 1. (1) Diaphragmatic infarction changed the initial QRS vector, pointing it away from the site of infarction (diaphragm). Orientation was leftward, superiorly and anteriorly. 2. (2) In diaphragmatic peri-infarction block, the terminal QRS vector was altered and directed toward the site of infarction (diaphragm) and oriented to the right, posteriorly, and inferiorly or superiorly. 3. (3) In the electrocardiogram, QRS prolongation greater than 0.10 sec. seldom occurred. However, the vectorcardiogram always showed terminal 0.03 sec. QRS loop slowing. In peri-infarction block, the terminal vector was slowed and in the right, posterior quadrant; in right bundle branch block, terminal depolarization was again slowed but located in the right, anterior quadrant. The depolarization delay in peri-infarction block, seen only by vectorcardiogram, may be due to abnormal repolarization with early repolarization potentials altering and delaying the apparent terminal depolarization vector. How the tracings of peri-infarction block and right bundle branch block differed from the normal and from diaphragmatic infarction without block is illustrated and discussed.
Due Process Restrained: The Dual Dilemmas of Discriminate and Indiscriminate Shackling in Juvenile Deliquence Proceedings

In Hidden in Plain Sight, Barbara Bennett Woodhouse argues for the advancement of children’s rights through the development of a child-centric perspective. She identifies five principles to further that goal, including the principles of agency and dignity. These principles shed light on the problem of shackling juveniles during their delinquency proceedings. While a recent United States Supreme Court ruling barred indiscriminate shackling for all adult defendants, the status of juveniles remains unclear. Yet even in states that do not shackle juveniles without cause, significant problems remain. This Comment identifies and examines these problems, arguing for increased attention to shackled juveniles’ due process and fundamental dignity rights. The Comment concludes with proposals to improve the discriminate approach, with Woodhouse’s child-centric model in mind.
The Atmospheric Mutual Coherence Function from the First and Second Rytov Approximations and Its Comparison to That of Strong Fluctuation Theory

An expression for the mutual coherence function (MCF) of an electromagnetic beam wave propagating through atmospheric turbulence is derived within the confines of the Rytov approximation. It is shown that both the first and second Rytov approximations are required. The Rytov MCF is then compared to that which issues from the parabolic equation method of strong fluctuation theory. The agreement is found to be quite good in the weak fluctuation case. However, an instability is observed for the special case of beam wave intensities. The source of the instabilities is identified to be the characteristic way beam wave amplitudes are treated within the Rytov method.
Autophosphorylation of cardiac 3′,5′-cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase: Kinetic evidence for the regulatory subunit directly acting at the active site in the R2C2 complex

Abstract The mechanism of the autophosphorylation reaction of bovine heart cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (ATP : protein phosphotranferase, EC 2.7.1.31) has been further examined using a kinetic approach. The reaction is first order in both ATP and protein kinase when both are present at comparable concentrations. Dilution has no effect on the fraction of regulatory subunit phosphorylated over a given interval of time, and this finding is in accord with the autophosphorylation proceeding via an intramolecular (or, more appropriately in this case, by an intracomplex) reaction. The possibility of regulatory subunit phosphorylation by uncomplexed catalytic subunit or another R2C2 complex (the protein kinase complex of two catalytic subunits and the regulatory dimer) was clearly eliminated. These results are compatible with a subunit geometry permitting the regulatory subunit to bind at the protein substrate region of the kinase's active site and to undergo subsequent phosphorylation.
Adaptation among Youth Facing Multiple Risks: Prospective Research Findings

© Cambridge University Press, 2010 and Suniya S. Luthar 2003. The high prevalence of mental health problems among children in the United States has continued to stimulate service-oriented professionals to seek targets for preventive intervention. In a 1999 survey of youth risk behavior during the previous year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000), 28% of high school children felt blue or hopeless, 19% had considered suicide, and 8% had made an attempt. In terms of aggression, 36% had been in a physical fight. Academic problems were equally serious, with 30% of Hispanics dropping out before high school graduation compared to 14% of African Americans and 8% of whites. Although the majority of youth do not have such problems, the number who do is substantial. Understanding the pathways that have led to such problem behavior is an important precursor of any successful intervention. Prevention is intimately connected to developmental concerns because there is an expected time course in which activities in the present will influence activities in the future. Where the problem seems to be in the family, school, or peer group, intuitively interventions should take place in those settings and should have immediate impact. Unfortunately, most interventions in single domains have not produced major reductions in problem behavior. It appears that children typically experience multiple risks in multiple social contexts; consequently, it is unlikely that a “magic bullet” for prevention or intervention will be found (Masten & Coatsworth, 1998).
Structural reorganization of hippocampal networks caused by seizure activity

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the last category of brain abnormalities associated with epilepsy-brain abnormalities caused by the seizure activity itself. From a historical perspective, the acceptance of the idea of seizure-induced effects on the brain is relatively recent. Whereas the connection between preexisting lesions and epilepsy can be found in some of the earliest texts concerning medicine, major debates as to whether seizure activity itself could actually cause neuronal injury still persists. The ictal activity leading to the expression of a specific gene product has been demonstrated recently. Recent advances in methods for analyzing the nervous system from the genetic to the network level, however, have led to an enormous literature concerning seizure-induced effects on the brain.
Asymptotically flat and scalar flat metrics on R^3 admitting a horizon

We give a new construction of asymptotically flat and scalar flat metrics on R 3 with a stable minimal sphere. The existence of such a metric gives an affirmative answer to a question raised by R. Bartnik (1989).
Price-Taking Monopolies in Small Open Economies

The export sector of a small open economy is assumed to be a price-taking monopoly with increasing long-run average cost and positive profit. Under such conditions, demands for productive factors are shown to slope downward in the general equilibrium of an otherwise competitive economy. Comparative static effects of changing prices and factor endowments are weaker than with a competitive export sector. The comparative static effects involving monopoly profit and outputs are examined.
On the accretion disk model of QSOs.

The accretion-disk model for the optical continuum of QSOs has been investigated using the standard viscous-stress ('alpha-P') formalism. It is found that with a maximum allowable mass of 10 billion solar masses, the standard model with sub-Eddington flow falls a factor of 10 short of the luminosity of the brightest QSOs. Models with the higher mass-flow rates required to reach the maximum luminosities produce most of their energy in an optically thin region which has not yet been self-consistently treated. The disk model with sub-Eddington flow has difficulty in producing a power law of the correct slope over the optical band. It is suggested that nonthermal processes may be needed to explain the optical properties of QSOs.
Inverse eigenproblems and associated approximation problems for matrices with generalized symmetry or skew symmetry

Let R∈Cn×n be a nontrivial involution; i.e., R=R−1≠±I. We say that A∈Cn×n is R-symmetric (R-skew symmetric) if RAR=A (RAR=−A). Let S be one of the following subsets of Cn×n: (i) R-symmetric matrices; (ii) Hermitian R-symmetric matrices; (iii) R-skew symmetric matrices; (iv) Hermitian R-skew symmetric matrices. Let Z∈Cn×m with rank(Z)=m and Λ=diag(λ1,…,λm). The inverse eigenproblem consists of finding (Z,Λ) such that the set S(Z,Λ)={A∈S|AZ=ZΛ} is nonempty, and to find the general form of A∈S(Z,Λ). In all cases we use the special spectral properties of S to essentially characterize the set of admissible pairs (Z,Λ), and the special structure of the members of S to obtain the general solution of the inverse eigenproblem. Given an arbitrary B∈S, the approximation problem consists of finding the unique matrix AB∈S(Λ,Z) that best approximates B in the Frobenius norm. It is not necessary to assume that R=R* in connection with the inverse eigenproblem for R-symmetric or R-skew symmetric matrices. However, we impose this additional assumption in connection with the inverse eigenproblem for Hermitian R-symmetric or R-skew symmetric matrices, and in connection with the approximation problem for (i)–(iv).
Infinite String Rewrite Systems and Complexity

We study the relation between time complexity and derivation work for the word problem of infinitely presented semigroups and groups. We introduce the notion of theworkof a derivation (defined as the sum of the lengths of all the rules used in the derivation, with multiplicity). The following results are proved:
A Novel H/spl infin/ Controller for Wind Turbine Application Operating in Weak Grids

Doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind turbines are highly susceptible to disturbances and faults. Normally these turbines are disconnected from the grid whenever a fault occurs and then reconnected once the grid is restored to normal. Thus keeping turbines connected to grid during faults and post fault conditions is a real challenge. In this paper, a control strategy for the grid-side converter in the rotor circuit of the DFIG is implemented to keep the turbine connected to the grid. A robust H00 controller is synthesized to avoid disconnection of turbine. The control scheme is tested on a small-scale DFIG hardware prototype and the results are presented
Interacting Fidelity Defects in the Replicative DNA Polymerase of Bacteriophage RB69

The DNA polymerases (gp43s) of the related bacteriophages T4 and RB69 are B family (polymerase α class) enzymes that determine the fidelity of phage DNA replication. A T4 whose gene 43 has been mutationally inactivated can be replicated by a cognate RB69 gp43 encoded by a recombinant plasmid in T4-infected Escherichia coli. We used this phage-plasmid complementation assay to obtain rapid and sensitive measurements of the mutational specificities of mutator derivatives of the RB69 enzyme. RB69 gp43s lacking proofreading function (Exo− enzymes) and/or substituted with alanine, serine, or threonine at the conserved polymerase function residue Tyr567(PolY567(A/S/T) enzymes) were examined for their effects on the reversion of specific mutations in the T4 rII gene and on forward mutation in the T4 rI gene. The results reveal that Tyr567 is a key determinant of the fidelity of base selection and that the Pol and Exo functions are strongly coupled in this B family enzyme. In vitro assays show that the PolY567A Exo− enzyme generates mispairs more frequently but extends them less efficiently than does a Pol+ Exo− enzyme. Other replicative DNA polymerases may control fidelity by strategies similar to those used by RB69 gp43.
A Nonapoptotic Role for BAX and BAK in Eicosanoid Metabolism

BCL-2 proteins are key regulators of programmed cell death. The interplay between pro and antiapoptotic BCL-2 members has important roles in many cancers. In addition to their apoptotic function, recent evidence supports key nonapoptotic roles for several BCL-2 proteins. We used an unbiased lipidomics strategy to reveal that the proapoptotic proteins BAX, and to a lesser extent BAK, regulate the cellular inflammatory response by mediating COX-2 expression and prostaglandin biosynthesis. COX-2 upregulation in response to the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide is blunted in the absence of BAX, and Bax–/– mouse embryonic fibroblasts display altered kinetics of NFκB and MAPK signaling following endotoxin treatment. Our approach uncovers a novel, nonapoptotic function for BAX in regulation of the cellular inflammatory response and suggests that inflammation and apoptosis are more tightly connected than previously anticipated.
Can Community Colleges Afford to Improve Completion? Measuring the Cost and Efficiency Consequences of Reform:

Community colleges are under pressure to improve completion rates and efficiency despite limited economic evidence on how to do so and the consequences of different reform strategies. Here, we set ...
Morphology and Film Growth in CVD Reactions

The paper reports on three major aspects of CVD reactor simulation: 1) Modeling of transport phenomena in conventional CVD and their effect on the film growth; 2) Modeling of plasma enhanced CVD and deposition of thin films; 3) Modeling of film growth and analysis of stability and morphology case studies. Case studies involve deposition of boron on W wire, deposition of Si-H and morphology development for a typical CVD reaction. Numerical methods of simulation are discussed in detail for each category mentioned above.
Changes in the behavior of output in the United Kingdom, 1856–1990

Abstract This paper reports evidence of major increases in the persistence of output as well as contributions of low frequency components to the variance of output growth for the United Kingdom during 1856–1990; these results are contrary to those obtained by Jaeger (1990).
Perioperative cardiac pacing using an atrioventricular pacing pulmonary artery catheter.

An atrioventricular pacing thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter was evaluated in 40 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The catheter was inserted in all study patients in a timely fashion without difficulty and functioned well during the perioperative period. Before the start of cardiopulmonary bypass, atrial capture was achieved in 98% of the patients (threshold mean 4.9 mA), ventricular capture in 100% (threshold mean 3.0 mA), and atrioventricular sequential (AVS) pacing in 98%. After cardiopulmonary bypass, atrial capture was achieved in 95% of the patients (threshold mean 5.2 mA), ventricular pacing in 100% (threshold mean 3.1 mA), and sequential pacing in 95%. In 27 patients in whom cardiac outputs were recorded, cardiac index increased an average of 45% (range 8% to 95%) with atrial or AVS pacing over ventricular pacing alone. In 11 patients, extended atrial pacing was used postoperatively, the longest for 93 hours. No major complications could be attributed to the study catheter. Minor complications included diaphragmatic stimulation in one patient and supraventricular tachycardia, possibly related to atrial pacing postoperatively, in one patient. These data suggest that this catheter / pacing system is effective and reliable for hemodynamic monitoring and temporary atrial or AVS pacing. In addition, the atrial pacing probe can be used perioperatively to record atrial electrograms to facilitate the diagnosis of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Robust adaptive control of uncertain nonlinear systems using neural networks

This paper describes a hybrid approach to the problem of controlling a class of nonlinear systems in the face of both unknown nonlinearities and unmodeled dynamics. In the proposed methodology, neural networks and direct adaptive control compensate for unknown nonlinear mappings while dynamic nonlinear damping provides robustness to unmodeled dynamics. To illustrate the theoretical development, the authors design a longitudinal autopilot for a simplified nonlinear missile aerodynamic model with input unmodeled dynamics. Simulation results demonstrate robustness in the face of this type of uncertainty.
Higgs Boson Mass as the Discriminator of Electroweak Models

In the standard model (SM), vacuum stability implies a {ital lower} limit on the Higgs boson mass. In supersymmetric (SUSY) extensions, there is an {ital upper} bound on the lightest Higgs boson mass. We show that for a top quark mass {ital m}{sub {ital t}}{approx_lt}165 GeV, a gap exists between the SM and both the minimal (MSSM) and next-to-minimal SUSY model [(M+1)SSM] bounds. Thus, if the new {ital m}{sub {ital t}} measurement by the Collider Detector at Fermilab remains valid, a first measurement of the Higgs boson mass will exclude either the SM or the simplest SUSY Higgs sectors. We further discuss SUSY grand unified models, other extensions of the SM, and the potential for discovery of a light Higgs boson.
Promoting Careers in Gerontology to Students: What Are Undergraduates Seeking in a Career?

The graying of the Baby Boomers has created a shortage of professionals in aging-related careers. However, colleges and universities with gerontology and aging programs face a challenge of recruiting students. The purpose of this study was to determine what students are looking for in a career and whether these attributes are congruent with careers in gerontology. Results of this study indicated that factors important to students in a future career include whether career is enjoyable, has adequate benefits, provides personal fulfillment, provides excitements, provides an opportunity to help others, is well respected by others, and provides opportunities for employment.
Surgical Palliation of Previously Resected Thoracic Sarcoma

Surgical palliation can improve quality of life, provide local control, and extend survival. However, oncologists often view surgical intervention as a drastic measure with prohibitive morbidity. During the past decade, surgical palliation has played a role in the management of many metastatic malignancies, including those of the colon, breast, prostate, and kidney. In concert with this, the morbidity and mortality associated with surgical interventions has continued to decline. We present 2 patients with thoracic sarcoma recurrences after pneumonectomy that were associated with symptomatic compression of pulmonary vessels and airway. Both patients underwent surgical resection, with immediate relief of symptoms, improved quality of life, and extended survival.
The antiglucocorticoid and antiprogestin steroid RU 486: Its glucocorticoid agonist effect is inadequate to prevent adrenal insufficiency in primates

The glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU 486 has been used to treat the hypercortisolism of patients with nonpituitary Cushing's syndrome. Since endogenous cortisol production fluctuates in many patients with either the ectopic ACTH syndrome or adrenocortical tumors, treatment of these patients with a fixed dose of RU 486 introduces the risk of adrenal insufficiency. While RU 486 possesses some glucocorticoid agonist activity in addition to its potent antagonist effects, it is not known whether this intrinsic agonist activity is of sufficient magnitude to prevent adrenal insufficiency and sustain life. To answer this question three groups of bilaterally adrenalectomized cynomolgus monkeys (n = 5/ group) were randomized to receive a daily injection of RU 486 (5 mg/kg·day), cortisol (1.25 mg/kg·day), or saline (placebo). All adrenalectomized monkeys received weekly im injections of deoxycorticosterone pivalate (1 mg) to prevent mineralocorticoid deficiency. Five sham-adrenalectomized monkeys served as cont...
Picklist generation algorithm with order-consolidation consideration for split-case module-based fulfilment centres

This paper serves as an initial study on order-consolidating time for a module-based order-picking system. In this system, items are stored in modules, and order picking is performed in waves that comprise more than one customer order. Picked items from multiple modules are conveyed to the packaging department for sortation based on customer orders. The order-consolidating time is the main focus as well as the performance measure in this paper. Order-consolidating time is the time difference between the arrival time of the first and the last item at the packaging department that belong to the same customer order. We proposed a heuristic control strategy, namely a pick-list generation algorithm, which will reduce the order-consolidating time. We named our proposed algorithm the push algorithm, which is an improvement algorithm. The push algorithm is compared with the basic algorithm to evaluate its performance. This comparison is extended under different environment settings to provide a robust conclusion....
Toward Community-Wide Interest in Other Peoples.

A nine-month experiment, “Bonjour Seattle,” suggests the possibility of building community support for the motivation to learn about other peoples. The Community Advisory Board of a multidisciplinary university group started small, and after two years organized a city-wide program of some 50 cultural and commercial events. Financial contributions and volunteer time totaled more than $135,000. Suggestive for others is the program's experience of different types of events, management with 130 volunteer workers, fund-raising, and trade promotion. The program led to a second-year phase, concentrating on trade development, French conversation and discussion groups, and as centerpiece, the twinning with a French sister city. This relationship interests the community and the media, and it solves the problem of arousing a reciprocal interest among the French. It gives a role to city and state government, and affords the opportunity for a membership organization. Understaffed and undercapitalized as it was, the program built bridges between education, business, and government as well as between an ethnic group and a community, and between the Pacific Northwest and France.
Gross Errors in Height Indication from Pulsed Radar Altimeters Operating over Thick Ice or Snow

Errors reported in 1946 by aircraft pilots using pulsed radar altimeters over Antarctic ice, coupled wih results of radio-wave propagation studies in both polar areas (1946-1955), led to measurements of the electrical characteristics of thick ice at high and ultra-high frequencies. These measurements produced information relative to dielectric constants, loss factors, scattering, and interface reflection data that subsequently permitted successful radio-wave penetration measurements in continental ice to depth of several hundred feet in both the Antarctic and the Arctic (1958-1960). Results indicated clearly that low-flying pilots relying on pulsed 440-Mc altimeters in poor visibility over thick ice can be fatally misled by errors inherent in these instruments. The paper presents recent data obtained by the Signal Corps pertinent to radio-wave transparency of thick ice and snow.
Hierarchical video summarization based on context clustering

A personalized video summary is dynamically generated in our video personalization and summarization system based on user preference and usage environment. The three-tier personalization system adopts the server-middleware-client architecture in order to maintain, select, adapt, and deliver rich media content to the user. The server stores the content sources along with their corresponding MPEG-7 metadata descriptions. In this paper, the metadata includes visual semantic annotations and automatic speech transcriptions. Our personalization and summarization engine in the middleware selects the optimal set of desired video segments by matching shot annotations and sentence transcripts with user preferences. Besides finding the desired contents, the objective is to present a coherent summary. There are diverse methods for creating summaries, and we focus on the challenges of generating a hierarchical video summary based on context information. In our summarization algorithm, three inputs are used to generate the hierarchical video summary output. These inputs are (1) MPEG-7 metadata descriptions of the contents in the server, (2) user preference and usage environment declarations from the user client, and (3) context information including MPEG-7 controlled term list and classification scheme. In a video sequence, descriptions and relevance scores are assigned to each shot. Based on these shot descriptions, context clustering is performed to collect consecutively similar shots to correspond to hierarchical scene representations. The context clustering is based on the available context information, and may be derived from domain knowledge or rules engines. Finally, the selection of structured video segments to generate the hierarchical summary efficiently balances between scene representation and shot selection.
Aggressive driving and safety campaigns: lessons learned from better driver campaign in Florida.

Aggressive driving is a growing concern in the United States. Often such driving results in crashes that harm both drivers and others. In NCHRP Report 500, "aggressive driving" is defined as "operating a motor vehicle in a selfish, pushy, or impatient manner, often unsafely, that directly affects other drivers." In other words, aggressive driving includes many unsafe driving behaviors by ordinary drivers. Most previous safety campaigns have used enforcement interventions as the primary means of reducing aggressive driving. Enforcement clearly plays a crucial role in reducing aggressive driving. Limited efforts have been made, however, to enhance awareness of aggressive driving by providing proper education to the public. The Better Driver Campaign plan was developed and executed to address aggressive driving in Florida. The campaign was geared toward promoting awareness of aggressive driving. The education-oriented safety campaign was effective in addressing aggressive driving and was appreciated by the p...
Structure and seasonal distribution of litterfall in young plantations of Populus ‘Tristis#1’

Litterfall was sampled in 3- to 7-year-old irrigated and fertilized plantings of Populus ‘Tristis#1’ in northern Wisconsin. Leaves accounted for more than 90 per cent of the total litter and reached an asymptotic value of about 4,000 to 4,200 kg/ha. Leaf litterfall culminated in late September or first half of October. Inadequate light appeared to be responsible for an early (June) leaf fall in dense plantings. The maximum cumulative leaf area index ranged from 8.4 to 8.7. The pattern of foliation and defoliation was similar: it started with small leaves in the lower canopy and ended with large leaves of the upper canopy. Longevity of the small leaves was shorter than that of the large leaves. Leaf size was positively affected by fertilization but was not affected by a discontinuation of irrigation by mid-July during the droughty 1976. The specific leaf weight ranged from 2.6 mg/cm2 in the lower canopy to 10.2 mg/cm2 in the upper canopy. The specific leaf weight of litter leaves was 4 to 38 per cent lower than that of green leaves of the same size.
Traumatic Rupture of Healed Cataract Wounds

Three patients suffered blunt trauma that caused rupture of the site of cataract incision three to 12 years after surgery. Epithelial cells were noted in the old cataract would of a 79-year-old white man. The second patient, a 25-year-old black women, had bilateral ocular toxoplasmosis and loss of vitreous humor at the time of lens extraction. The third patient, a 63-year-old white woman, had open-angle glaucoma treated previously with filtering procedures and cyclocryotherapy. The ultimate outcome was poor in each case.
A Spatial-Aware Haplotype Copying Model with Applications to Genotype Imputation

Ever since its introduction, the haplotype copy model has proven to be one of the most successful approaches for modeling genetic variation in human populations with applications ranging from ancestry inference to genotype phasing and imputation. Motivated by coalescent theory, this approach assumes that any chromosome haplotype can be modeled as a mosaic of segments copied from a set of chromosomes sampled from the same population. At the core of the model is the assumption that any chromosome from the sample is equally likely to contribute a priori to the copying process. Motivated by recent works that model genetic variation in a geographic continuum, we propose a new spatial-aware haplotype copy model that jointly models geography and the haplotype copying process. We extend hidden Markov models of haplotype diversity such that at any given location, haplotypes that are closest in the genetic-geographic continuum map are a priori more likely to contribute to the copying process than distant ones. Through simulations starting from the 1000 Genomes data, we show that our model achieves superior accuracy in genotype imputation over the standard spatial-unaware haplotype copy model. In addition, we show the utility of our model in selecting a small personalized reference panel for imputation that leads to both improved accuracy as well as to a lower computational runtime than the standard approach. Finally, we show our proposed model can be used to localize individuals on the genetic-geographical map on the basis of their genotype data.
The characteristics of CMOS devices in oxygen-implanted silicon-on-insulator structures

The characteristics of CMOS devices fabricated in oxygen-implanted silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates with different oxygen doses are studied. The results show that transistor junction leakage currents are improved by orders of magnitude when the oxygen dose is decreased from 2.25*10/sup 18/ cm/sup -2/ to 1.4*10/sup 18/ cm/sup -2/ . The floating-body effect, i.e. transistor turn-on at lower gate voltage with dramatic improvement in subthreshold slope when the drain voltage is increased, is enhanced by the reduction in leakage current and hence the oxygen dose. In SOI substrates implanted with 1.4*10/sup 17/ cm/sup -2/ oxygen dose and annealed at 1150 degrees C, back-channel mobilities are decreased by several orders of magnitude compared to the mobilities in the precipitate-free silicon film. These device characteristics are correlated with the microstructure at the silicon-buried-oxide interface, which is controlled by oxygen implantation and post-oxygen-implantation anneal. >
A Study Of Photovoltaic Loss-Mechanisms Due to Defects and Grain Boundaries in Polycrystalline Silicon

Various photovoltaic loss-mechanisms associated with defects and grain boundaries (g.b.'s) in polycrystalline silicon have been experimentally studied. Analysis was carried out on two types of substrates/cells viz. Wacker Silso and laser crystallized RTR ribbons. Solar cells were fabricated on selected regions of the substrates and their characteristics (VOC, ISC, F.F.) related the substrate structure. Mechanisms related to photovoltaic losses are divided into two categories: electronic and physical. Parameters describing electronic loss mechanisms, such as changes in minority carrier diffusion length, dark current and local photo-current losses were measured and their dependence on density and type of defects was determined. A variety of analytical techniques were used for this study. These include I-V characterization of solar cells, I-V characterization of g.b.'s and light intensity dependences of some material parameters. Loss mechanisms associated with physical effects are defect-defect and impurity-defect interactions. It is shown that physical effects such as impurity segregation and defect annihilation can lead to significant loss/gain in photovoltaic characteristics.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of Jaw Opening on Masticatory Muscle EMG-Force Characteristics

This study was designed to evaluate the way in which changes in vertical jaw opening affected the relative contributions of various masticatory muscles to bite force production. EMG activity was recorded simultaneously from the masseter, and anterior, middle, and posterior temporalis muscles, during controlled isometric biting at different force levels and vertical jaw openings. EMG-force characteristics were compared between muscles and bite openings. All but the posterior temporalis muscle displayed significant increases in muscle activity with increased bite force production; the masseter muscle demonstrated the largest activity increments. Statistically significant changes in muscle function due to jaw opening were demonstrated only for the masseter muscle, though similar trends were observed for the anterior and middle temporalis muscles. Minimum increases in muscle activity associated with increases in bite force occurred between 9 and 11 mm of opening, measured at the first molar, for all three muscle groups. The results of this study suggest that changes in masticatory muscle length resulting from vertical jaw opening cause alterations in muscle contractile properties, but the relative contributions of various masticatory muscles toward bite force production may also be affected by biomechanical factors and neural control adaptations.
Sources and Information for Distance Educators

This chapter presents additional information and resources for distance educators at community colleges, focusing in particular on the Americans with Disabilities Act, the TEACH Act, and learning objects and models.
Fast Domain Wall Motion in Double Nickel–Iron Films

RECENTLY, Humphrey and Clow1 found that flux reversal in multilayer films2, consisting of 200 A thick nickel–iron films interleaved with silicon monoxide layers each about 100 A thick, was much faster than that observed in normal single films. A possible explanation for this fast flux reversal might be that domain wall motion is much faster in multilayer than in single films. To verify this assumption, Patton and Humphrey3 have measured wall velocities in double films. For small driving fields, the wall velocity obeys the relation in which H is the applied field, Hc the wall motion coercive force and m the so-called wall mobility. Patton and Humphrey found that—contrary to expectation—the wall mobilities in double and in single films were about the same.
DRG payment for long-term ventilator patients. Implications and recommendations.

Much concern has been expressed about the Medicare Prospective Payment System's impact on access to care. In this study, we examine the financial impact of diagnosis-related group (DRC) payment for chronic ventilator-dependent Medicare patients. During a one-year period, payment for 95 Medicare patients who received a minimum of three days of continuous ventilator treatment and who spent no time in surgical intensive care at Rush-Presbyte-rian-St. Luke's Medical Center, was calculated to be $2.2 million below costs, representing an average loss per discharge of $23,129. Patients stayed an average of 26.6 days, of which 14.2 days were spent on a ventilator. We conclude that the results suggest a financial bias against chronic ventilator-dependent patients exists in the DRG system which could present access problems. We recommend three approaches to recognizing the cost of care for such patients in the DRG payment system and encourage those in public policymaking positions to use our results as the basis for a larger scale analysis of the impact of Medicare DRG payment on chronic ventilator-dependent patients.
Sleep apnea syndrome is significantly underdiagnosed in bariatric surgical patients

Abstract Background Devastating morbidity and mortality can result when patients with undiagnosed sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) undergo bariatric surgery. We evaluated the prevalence of SAS and its rate of nondiagnosis in bariatric patients at a university hospital. Methods The demographic, anthropomorphic, and co-morbidity data were collected from 1368 patients evaluated for bariatric surgery. All patients were screened for symptoms of SAS, and symptomatic patients were evaluated with polysomnography. Results At the time of this report, 834 patients (61%) had completed the preoperative evaluation. Of these patients, 210 (25%) presented with previously diagnosed SAS. An additional 174 patients (21%) exhibited symptoms of SAS and underwent polysomnography. Most patients tested (127, 73%) had SAS that required treatment, 11 patients (6%) had mild SAS not requiring treatment, and 36 (21%) tested negative for SAS. Thus, symptom screening for SAS had a positive predictive value of 79% for predicting the presence of SAS and 73% for identifying patients who required SAS treatment. The patients with SAS tended to be older and male and have a greater body mass index ( P Conclusion Overall, SAS that required treatment with an oral appliance was prevalent (40%) in patients who presented for bariatric surgery. However, many of these patients with significant SAS (38%) were previously undiagnosed, despite exhibiting clear symptoms of the disease. Symptom screening appears to be effective in identifying patients who should be evaluated by polysomnography. To avoid the potential perils of undiagnosed SAS during the perioperative period, patients who undergo bariatric surgery should be screened, tested, and treated for this co-morbidity.
Roadside measurements of size-segregated particulate organic compounds near gasoline and diesel-dominated freeways in Los Angeles, CA

Abstract Individual organic compounds such as hopanes and steranes (originating in lube oil) and selected polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) (generated via combustion) found in particulate emissions from vehicles have proven useful in source apportionment of ambient particulate matter (PM). Detailed information on the size-segregated (ultrafine and accumulation mode) chemical characteristics of organic PM during the winter season originating from a pure gasoline traffic freeway (CA-110), and a mixed-fleet freeway with the highest fraction of heavy-duty diesel vehicles in the state of California (I-710) is reported in this study. Hopanes and steranes as well as high molecular weight PAHs such as benzo(ghi)perylene (BgP) and coronene levels are found comparable near these freeways, while elemental carbon (EC) and lighter molecular weight PAHs are found much elevated near I-710 compared to CA-110. The roadway organic speciation data presented here are compared with the emission factors (EFs) measured in the Caldecott tunnel, Berkeley, CA [Phuleria, H.C., Geller, M.D., Fine, P.M., Sioutas, C., 2006. Size-resolved emissions of organic tracers from light- and heavy-duty vehicles measured in a California roadway tunnel. Environmental Science and Technology 40, 4109–4118] for light-duty vehicles (LDVs) and heavy-duty vehicles. Very good agreement is observed between CA-110 measurements and LDV EFs as well as I-710 measurements and corresponding reconstructed EFs from Caldecott tunnel for hopanes and steranes as well as heavier PAHs such as BgP and coronene. Our results, therefore, suggest that the EFs for hopanes and steranes obtained in tunnel environments, where emissions are averaged over a large vehicle-fleet, enable reliable source apportionment of ambient PM, given the overall agreement between the roadway vs tunnel concentrations of these species.
Tracheal and Main Bronchial Disruptions After Blunt Chest Trauma: Presentation and Management

Tracheobronchial disruption is one of the less common injuries associated with blunt thoracic trauma. This injury can be life threatening, however, and failure to diagnose it early can lead to disastrous acute or delayed complications. Nine cases of tracheobronchial disruption in the setting of nonpenetrating thoracic trauma were seen at four Los Angeles trauma centers between 1980 and 1987. Mechanism of injury, presentation, diagnosis, and management of these patients were reviewed. Disruptions involved the trachea in 3 patients, the right bronchus in 5 patients, and the left bronchus in 2 patients. Tracheobronchial disruptions occurred in settings of high-energy impact-type injuries and were more likely to have associated injuries than they were to occur alone. Common presenting signs included subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea, sternal tenderness, and hemoptysis. Radiographic findings were most commonly pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and clavicle or rib fractures. Rigid bronchoscopy and fiberoptic bronchoscopy were both highly accurate methods for diagnosis but only in the hands of trained cardiothoracic surgeons. Delay in diagnosis increased the likelihood of postoperative complications.
Production and properties of flexible sodium silicate films from rice hull ash silica

Flexible self-supported films were produced from rice hull ash silica extract. Silica was extracted from rice hull ash using 1 N NaOH. This extract was concentrated by volume reduction and adjusted to 3 N NaOH. Concentrated silica extracts in 3 N NaOH solution were used to produce flexible silicate films. XRD analysis showed that silicate existed in an amorphous form in the film. The effect of methyl oleate (MO) as a plastisizer in the presence and absence of the emulsifier lecithin on the film properties was also investigated. FTIR data indicated that the interaction of silicate and MO in the films was mainly due to siloxane groups. This interaction resulted in significant changes in film network and film flexibility. Percent elongations as measured by a texture analyzer for silicate film, silicate film with MO and silicate film with MO and lecithin were 12, 15 and 17, respectively. Mechanical strength of silicate films was not significantly affected by addition of MO and lecithin. All the silica based films were permeable to water vapor. However, they were excellent barriers for hexane and iso-octane.