cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Saliency and optical flow for gaze guidance in videos

Computer-based gaze guidance techniques have important applications in computer graphics, data visualization, image analysis, and training. Bailey et al. [2009] showed that it is possible to influence exactly where attention is allocated using a technique called Subtle Gaze Direction (SGD). The SGD approach combines eye tracking with brief image-space modulations in the peripheral regions of the field of view to guide viewer gaze about a scene. A fast eye-tracker is used to monitor gaze in real-time and the modulations are terminated before they can be scrutinized by the viewer's high acuity foveal vision. The SGD technique has been shown to improve spatial learning, visual search task performance, and problem solving in static digital imagery [Sridharan et al. 2012]. However, guiding attention in videos is challenging due to competing motion cues in the visual stimuli. We propose a novel method that uses scene saliency (spatial information) and optical flow (temporal information) to enable gaze guidance in dynamic scenes. The results of a user study show that the accuracy of responses to questions related to target regions in videos was higher among subjects who were gaze guided with our approach compared to a control group that was not actively guided.
Charles Dillon Perrine and the Transformation of the Argentine National Observatory

C.D. Perrine (1867-1951). Sa nomination a l'Argentine National Observatory en 1909, Etat de l'observatoire a son arrivee. Reconstruction, achats de materiel entrepris alors par C.D.P. Les hostilites rencontrees aupres des membres de l'Universite de Cordoba, et du gouvernement argentin. Place de cet observatoire dans le monde universitaire argentin. Valeur scientifique de l'oeuvre de C.D.P.
Cyberplagiarism: A look at the Web term paper sites

Dissertations trimestrielles (term papers, dissertation universitaires, aux Etats-Unis) paraissant sur Internet: le probleme de plagiat tiend moins a l'existence de milliers de pages personnelles presentant une dissertation qu'a celle des sites appeles TEMPT, recueillant au moins 25 dissertations et proposant le telechargement. Ces sites sont pour certains gratuits, pour d'autres payants
Aid as a Tool against Insurgency: Evidence from Contested and Controlled Territory in Afghanistan

Findings in political science, economics, and security studies suggest that during civil war aid can be used to help establish control of contested areas and reduce insurgent violence by winning the “hearts and minds” of the population. These accounts typically ignore the strategic implications of aid distribution by progovernment forces, namely that rebel groups should resist the implementation of aid projects that would undermine their position. Using a new dataset of fine-grained and geolocated violence incidents in Afghanistan and random variation in the administration of some U.S. counterinsurgency aid, I show that insurgents strategically respond to counterinsurgency aid in contested districts by resisting through violent means. The results indicate that civilian aid only reduces insurgent violence when distributed in districts already controlled by progovernment forces; when allocated to contested districts civilian aid in fact causes a significant increase in insurgent violence. The results also indicate that the effect of counterinsurgency aid on violence varies by project type, and can be overwhelmed by macrolevel strategic changes in the conflict.
Bio-inspired engineering of cell- and virus-like nanoparticles for drug delivery

The engineering of future generations of nanodelivery systems aims at the creation of multifunctional vectors endowed with improved circulation, enhanced targeting and responsiveness to the biological environment. Moving past purely bio-inert systems, researchers have begun to create nanoparticles capable of proactively interacting with the biology of the body. Nature offers a wide-range of sources of inspiration for the synthesis of more effective drug delivery platforms. Because the nano-bio-interface is the key driver of nanoparticle behavior and function, the modification of nanoparticles' surfaces allows the transfer of biological properties to synthetic carriers by imparting them with a biological identity. Modulation of these surface characteristics governs nanoparticle interactions with the biological barriers they encounter. Building off these observations, we provide here an overview of virus- and cell-derived biomimetic delivery systems that combine the intrinsic hallmarks of biological membranes with the delivery capabilities of synthetic carriers. We describe the features and properties of biomimetic delivery systems, recapitulating the distinctive traits and functions of viruses, exosomes, platelets, red and white blood cells. By mimicking these biological entities, we will learn how to more efficiently interact with the human body and refine our ability to negotiate with the biological barriers that impair the therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles.
The totally nonnegative part of G/P is a ball

Abstract We show that the totally nonnegative part of a partial flag variety (in the sense of Lusztig) is homeomorphic to a closed ball.
Connecticut River Fishways: Model Studies

The fishways at the Vernon and Turners Falls Dams were optimized by use of hydraulic model studies. In both cases, slotted weirs were modified so that a better head loss distribution was obtained. In addition, the diffusers were modified to produce acceptable exit face velocity distributions. At Turners Falls, the fish entrance was modified to produce velocity conditions known to be acceptable to the two migrating species of fish. At Vernon Dam, flow conditions were optimized at the fish exit and attraction water intake. Modeling of these fishways has resulted in design changes that should improve fish passage and minimize water consumption.
Regulation of a serine transfer RNA of Bacillussubtilis

Abstract It was shown recently that the valyl-transfer RNA pattern of Bacillus subtilis was altered during the initial stages of sporulation ( Kaneko and Doi, 1966 ). During this investigation the effect of media on the various transfer RNAs was also investigated, since there was a possibility that the alteration of transfer RNA patterns could be effected simply by a change in the environment of the cell. In this paper results are reported which illustrate that the serine transfer RNA pattern is altered when cells are grown in media in which the growth rates differ; 15 other aminoacyl-transfer RNAs including valyltransfer RNA did not show any alterations under these conditions.
Turf Toe Review

Turf toe is a term used to describe myriad injuries to the metatarsophalangeal complex of the great toe, which have been associated with the introduction of artificial turf surfaces in sport. If not diagnosed early and treated properly, these injuries can result in chronic pain and loss of mobility. Accurate injury grading through physical exam and advanced imaging is essential to guide treatment, thereby minimizing long-term complications and maximizing an athlete's recovery and return to play. Levels of Evidence: Level V.
The Peripheral Nerve Stimulator: A Monitor During Continuous Spinal Anesthesia

Background and Objectives A continous spinal anesthetic was planned and conducted for a medically compromised and demented 80-year-old man presenting for repair of an intratrochanteric hip fracture. Methods A peripheral nerve stimulator was successfully employed to monitor the height and to help time the redosing of the continuous spinal anesthetic. Results The use of a peripheral nerve stimulator allowed careful titration of our continuous spinal anesthetic to provide dense analgesia at the surgical site for 1 hour 5 minutes, using a total spinal dose of 27 mg lidocaine and 7.5 μg spinal fentanyl. Conclusion A standard peripheral nerve stimulator is an effective monitor to help optimize management of continuous spinal anesthesia.
A Neural Network Approach for Image Reconstruction from a Single X-Ray Projection

Time-resolved imaging becomes popular in radiotherapy in that it significantly reduces blurring artifacts in volumetric images reconstructed from a set of 2D X-ray projection data. We aim at developing a neural network (NN) based machine learning algorithm that allows for reconstructing an instantaneous image from a single projection. In our approach, each volumetric image is represented as a deformation of a chosen reference image, in which the deformation is modeled as a linear combination of a few basis functions through principal component analysis (PCA). Based on this PCA deformation model, we train an ensemble of neural networks to find a mapping from a projection image to PCA coefficients. For image reconstruction, we apply the learned mapping on an instantaneous projection image to obtain the PCA coefficients, thus getting a deformation. Then, a volumetric image can be reconstructed by applying the deformation on the reference image. Experimentally, we show promising results on a set of simulated data.
Reconstruction of x-ray focal spot distribution using a rotating edge

The size and shape of an x-ray source’s focal spot is a critical factor in the imaging system’s overall spatial resolution. The conventional approach to imaging the focal spot uses a pinhole camera, but this requires careful, manual measurements. Instead, we propose a novel alternative, simply using the collimator available on many x-ray systems. After placing the edge of a collimator blade in the center of the beam, we can obtain an image of its edge spread function (ESF). Each ESF provides information about the focal spot distribution – specifically, the parallel projection of the focal spot in the direction parallel to the edge. If the edge is then rotated about the beam axis, each image provides a different parallel projection of the focal spot until a complete Radon transform of the focal spot distribution is obtained. The focal spot can then be reconstructed by the inverse Radon transform, or parallel-beam filtered backprojection. We conducted a study on a clinical C-arm system with 3 focal spot sizes (0.3, 0.6, 1.0 mm nominal size), comparing the focal spot obtained using the rotating edge method against the conventional pinhole approach. Our results demonstrate accurate characterization of the size and shape of the focal spot.
Acquisition and management of field inspection data using augmented reality

Health monitoring of infrastructure systems is an important issue for public safety. Over the past decade, more structures are exhibiting signs of distress and the owners are required to perform periodic assessments of their assets. Visual inspection is the first approach employed for the assessment of a structure. The monitoring of distress evolution over time can serve as an estimator of a structure's structural performance. However, the data obtained during inspections are complex and hard to visualize on-site. Only after careful review of acquired data, the inspector can assess the condition of a structural component. The processing of field data may take several weeks before it yields any meaningful insight about the health of the structure. The procedure presented in this paper attempts to bridge this gap between the advancements of computer vision and on-site structure health monitoring, based on the utilization of Augmented Reality (AR) tools. More specifically, it includes the projection of holograms that present the reinforcement information obtained during structural inspections, data about the structural condition of the component, and 3D models including as-built details. The inspector can interact with the holograms using hand gestures. The holographic reinforcement visualization eliminates the time required to make a first assessment of a structure. Moreover, it increases efficiency and makes the inspection procedure safer, since the inspector doesn't have to carry any special equipment other than the holographic headset. Conventional approaches for the visual assessment of infrastructure systems are subjective, time consuming, and expensive to perform. Such AR systems can potentially decrease the time and cost of infrastructure inspections, by reducing the time required for post-processing and allowing the inspector to make educated estimations about the health of the structure in the field..
Advances in Deep Learning for Hyperspectral Image Analysis—Addressing Challenges Arising in Practical Imaging Scenarios

Deep neural networks have proven to be very effective for computer vision tasks, such as image classification, object detection, and semantic segmentation—these are primarily applied to color imagery and video. In recent years, there has been an emergence of deep learning algorithms being applied to hyperspectral and multispectral imagery for remote sensing and biomedicine tasks. These multi-channel images come with their own unique set of challenges that must be addressed for effective image analysis. Challenges include limited ground truth (annotation is expensive and extensive labeling is often not feasible), and high dimensional nature of the data (each pixel is represented by hundreds of spectral bands), despite being presented by a large amount of unlabeled data and the potential to leverage multiple sensors/sources that observe the same scene. In this chapter, we will review recent advances in the community that leverage deep learning for robust hyperspectral image analysis despite these unique challenges—specifically, we will review unsupervised, semi-supervised, and active learning approaches to image analysis, as well as transfer learning approaches for multi-source (e.g., multi-sensor or multi-temporal) image analysis.
Surrogate-based optimization for mixed-integer nonlinear problems

Abstract Simulation-based optimization using surrogate models enables decision-making through the exchange of data from high-fidelity models and development of approximations. Many chemical engineering optimization problems, such as process design and synthesis, rely on simulations and contain both discrete and continuous decision variables. Surrogate-based optimization with continuous variables has been studied extensively; however, there are many open challenges for the case of mixed-variable inputs. In this work, we propose an algorithm for mixed-integer nonlinear simulation-based problems that uses adaptive sampling and surrogate modeling with one-hot encoding. We propose techniques for the design of experiments for mixed-variable problems, surrogate modeling for mixed-variable response surfaces, and iterative approximation-optimization procedure that leads to optimal solutions. Results show that one-hot encoding leads to accurate and robust mixed-variable Gaussian Process and Neural Network models that are effective surrogates for optimization. The proposed algorithm is tested on mixed-integer nonlinear benchmark problems and a chemical process synthesis case study.
CONSTRAINING THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS IN THE JETS OF γ-RAY FLARING BLAZARS USING CENTIMETER-BAND POLARIMETRY AND RADIATIVE TRANSFER SIMULATIONS. II. EXPLORING PARAMETER SPACE AND IMPLICATIONS

We analyze the shock-in-jet models for the γ-ray flaring blazars 0420-014, OJ 287, and 1156+295 presented in Paper I, quantifying how well the modeling constrains internal properties of the flow (low-energy spectral cutoff, partition between random and ordered magnetic field), the flow dynamics (quiescent flow speed and orientation), and the number and strength of the shocks responsible for radio-band flaring. We conclude that well-sampled, multifrequency polarized flux light curves are crucial for defining source properties. We argue for few, if any, low-energy particles in these flows, suggesting no entrainment and efficient energization of jet material, and for approximate energy equipartition between the random and ordered magnetic field components, suggesting that the ordered field is built by nontrivial dynamo action from the random component, or that the latter arises from a jet instability that preserves the larger-scale, ordered flow. We present evidence that the difference between orphan radio-band (no γ-ray counterpart) and non-orphan flares is due to more complex shock interactions in the latter case.
Impacts of Private Autonomous and Connected Vehicles on Transportation Network Demand in the Triangle Region, North Carolina

Abstract Autonomous and connected vehicle technologies have the potential to bring profound changes in travel behavior and transportation network performance with moderate to significant market pen...
On the Vulnerability of Hyperdimensional Computing-Based Classifiers to Adversarial Attacks

Hyperdimensional computing (HDC) has been emerging as a brain-inspired in-memory computing architecture, exhibiting ultra energy efficiency, low latency and strong robustness against hardware-induced bit errors. Nonetheless, state-of-the-art designs for HDC classifiers are mostly security-oblivious, raising concerns with their safety and immunity to adversarial inputs. In this paper, we study for the first time adversarial attacks on HDC classifiers and highlight that HDC classifiers can be vulnerable to even minimally-perturbed adversarial samples. Specifically, using handwritten digit classification as an example, we construct a HDC classifier and formulate a grey-box attack problem, where an attacker’s goal is to mislead the target HDC classifier to produce erroneous prediction labels while keeping the amount of added perturbation noise as little as possible. Then, we propose a modified genetic algorithm to generate adversarial samples within a reasonably small number of queries, and further apply critical gene crossover and perturbation adjustment to limit the amount of perturbation noise. Our results show that adversarial images can successfully mislead the HDC classifier to produce wrong prediction labels with a high probability (i.e., 78% when the HDC classifier uses a fixed majority rule for decision).
Spherically Symmetric Accretion Flows: Minimal Model with Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence

The first spherical accretion model was developed 55 years ago, but the theory is still far from being complete. The real accretion flow was found to be time dependent and turbulent. This paper presents the minimal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) spherical accretion model that separately deals with turbulence. Treatment of turbulence is based on simulations of several regimes of collisional MHD. The effects of freezing-in amplification, dissipation, dynamo action, isotropization, and constant magnetic helicity are self-consistently included. The assumptions of equipartition and magnetic field-isotropy are released. The correct dynamics of magnetized flow is calculated. Diffusion, convection, and radiation are not accounted for. Two different types of radiatively inefficient accretion flows are found: (1) a transonic nonrotating flow and (2) a flow with effective transport of angular momentum outward. The nonrotating flow has an accretion rate several times smaller than Bondi rate, because turbulence inhibits accretion. The flow with angular momentum transport has an accretion rate about 10-100 times smaller than the Bondi rate. The effects of highly helical turbulence, states of outer magnetization, and different equations of state are discussed. The flows were found to be convectively stable on average, despite the fact that gas entropy increases inward. The proposed model has a small number of free parameters and the following attractive property. Inner density in the nonrotating magnetized flow was found to be several times lower than density in a nonmagnetized accretion. However, a density that is several times lower is still required to explain the observed low infrared luminosity and low Faraday rotation measure of accretion onto Sgr A*.
The B Corporation Certification: An Institutional Theory Approach

Drawing from institutional isomorphism, gender socialization theory, the ethics of care, and social identity theory, we examine the impact of geographic locality, product market competitions, and owners’ demographic characteristics on a firm’s decision to be a certified B Corporation. Using two sets of data: a hand-collected sample of 743 small businesses receiving a B Corporation certification between 2007 and 2014 and a sample of 902 firms participating in a B Lab survey from 2011 to 2013, we examine factors that influence firms’ decision to obtain the B Corporation and their environment, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Firms in states that are Democratic-leaning, have a lower hourly wage rate, or have a greater religious population are more likely to be early adopters and leaders of the B Corporation movement than those in other states. On average, states with a higher unemployment rate and more democratic-leaning voters have more B Corporation certified firms in each year and over the years. Additionally, product market competition is positively associated with firms’ likelihood of obtaining B Corporation certification and their ESG scores.
Reliable GNSS Localization Against Multiple Faults Using a Particle Filter Framework.

For reliable operation on urban roads, navigation using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) requires both accurately estimating the positioning detail from GNSS pseudorange measurements and determining when the estimated position is safe to use, or available. However, multiple GNSS measurements in urban environments contain biases, or faults, due to signal reflection and blockage from nearby buildings which are difficult to mitigate for estimating the position and availability. This paper proposes a novel particle filter-based framework that employs a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) likelihood of GNSS measurements to robustly estimate the position of a navigating vehicle under multiple measurement faults. Using the probability distribution tracked by the filter and the designed GMM likelihood, we measure the accuracy and the risk associated with localization and determine the availability of the navigation system at each time instant. Through experiments conducted on challenging simulated and real urban driving scenarios, we show that our method achieves small horizontal positioning errors compared to existing filter-based state estimation techniques when multiple GNSS measurements contain faults. Furthermore, we verify using several simulations that our method determines system availability with smaller probability of false alarms and integrity risk than the existing particle filter-based integrity monitoring approach.
Interpersonal Conflict Goals: A Literature Review

Conflict, a process involving perceptions of differences and opposition, is often an undesired but inevitable consequence of social interaction. This review describes the various goals (internal representations of desired states) that can be present in interpersonal conflict. Several streams of research are examined: conflict motivational models which examine the conflicting parties’ motives, conflict types which classify conflicts by the parties’ conscious focus, and desired outcome models which seek to identify what the parties in a conflict desire to happen. An integrative summary of these streams of research identifies four major categories of conflict goals: content goals, relationship goals, identity goals, and process goals. Further research is needed to clarify the nature of these goals, as well increase our understanding of the relationship between conflict goals, conflict outcomes, and conflict behavior in various contexts. Such research may lead to more constructive conflict management and more satisfying conflict resolution.
Networked HIL Simulation System for Modeling Large-scale Power Systems

This paper presents a networked hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation system for modeling large-scale power systems. Researchers have developed many HIL test systems for power systems in recent years. Those test systems can model both microsecond-level dynamic responses of power electronic systems and millisecond-level transients of transmission and distribution grids. By integrating individual HIL test systems into a network of HIL test systems, we can create large-scale power grid digital twins with flexible structures at required modeling resolution that fits for a wide range of system operating conditions. This will not only significantly reduce the need for field tests when developing new technologies but also greatly shorten the model development cycle. In this paper, we present a networked OPAL-RT based HIL test system for developing transmission-distribution coordinative Volt-VAr regulation technologies as an example to illustrate system setups, communication requirements among different HIL simulation systems, and system connection mechanisms. Impacts of communication delays, information exchange cycles, and computing delays are illustrated. Simulation results show that the performance of a networked HIL test system is satisfactory.
Direct endoscopic placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies with jejunal extension tubes (PEG-J) using ultra-thin endoscopes - long-term outcomes from a U.S. tertiary referral center.

Several techniques for PEG-J tube placement have been described, commonly requiring fluoroscopic guidance and/or fixation of the jejunostomy tube (J-tube) into the small intestine. We describe a modified technique for placing jejunostomy tubes under direct visualization through a PEG with the use of ultra-thin endoscopes and steel guidewire. A retrospective study at a single tertiary academic center evaluating patients who underwent PEG-J placement between 2010 and 2020. All PEG tubes were placed with a pull-through technique. The Olympus GIF-N180 endoscope was advanced through the PEG to the jejunum and a Savary-Gilliard guidewire was used for placement of the J-tube extension. Fifty-eight patients underwent PEG-J placement (median age 61 years; women 52%). Surgically altered gastric anatomy was observed in 11 patients (19%). Median procedure time was 44 min for new PEG-J tube placement (range 26–103) and 20 min for placement of a J-tube extension through an existing PEG tube (range 9–86) or gastrostomy tract. Technical success rate was in 100%. Sixty-two repeat procedures were performed for J-tube exchange in 27 patients (46%, range 1–9 per patient), of which 51 procedures (82%) were done using the same technique. The most common indication for tube replacement was tube dysfunction (63%, n = 39). The median procedure time for tube exchange was 20 min (range 2–62). No major adverse events were encountered. PEG-J tubes can be placed effectively, rapidly, and safely using an ultra-thin caliber endoscope and a stiff steel wire through the PEG tube or mature gastrostomy site, precluding the need for fluoroscopy or oral access. J-tubes can be easily replaced utilizing the same technique.
Montaigne and the Values in Educating Judgment

Michel de Montaigne’s influential essay, “On Educating Children,” pivots around the idea that the development of good judgment is the raison d’etre of education. This idea informs his views of pedagogy, of curriculum, of the relationship between teacher and student, and more. To capture his outlook, Montaigne employs an analogy familiar to his sixteenth-century contemporaries. “Bees ransack flowers here and flowers there,” he writes; “but then they make their own honey, which is entirely theirs and no longer thyme or marjoram” (I:26, 171). In likeness, the child will “transform” all that he engages, from books to objects in nature. “He will confound their forms so that the end-product is entirely his: namely, his judgment, the forming of which is the only aim of his toil, his study, and his education” (171).
Relationship between Pedagogical Strategies and Teachers' Content Knowledge of Mathematics

This study employed regression analysis to investigate the relationship between primary school teachers' pedagogical practices and their knowledge of mathematics. The sample composed of 606 Grade 6 mathematics teachers in Namibia, i.e. 304 (50.2%) males and 302 (49.8%) females. The study utilized existing questionnaire data collected by the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ). The data were collected as part of a policy evaluation project covering 14 Southern African countries. Results from the study showed that teachers with high knowledge in mathematics at primary school level tend to use practical equipment in teaching mathematics, and employ individual problem solving by students in their teaching. On the other hand, teachers with low content knowledge of mathematics tend to use small groups problem-solving, quizzes and tests as part of their teaching strategies.
An Introduction to Parallel and Vector Scientific Computing

In this text, students of applied mathematics, science and engineering are introduced to fundamental ways of thinking about the broad context of parallelism. The authors begin by giving the reader a deeper understanding of the issues through a general examination of timing, data dependencies, and communication. These ideas are implemented with respect to shared memory, parallel and vector processing, and distributed memory cluster computing. Threads, OpenMP, and MPI are covered, along with code examples in Fortran, C, and Java. The principles of parallel computation are applied throughout as the authors cover traditional topics in a first course in scientific computing. Building on the fundamentals of floating point representation and numerical error, a thorough treatment of numerical linear algebra and eigenvector/eigenvalue problems is provided. By studying how these algorithms parallelize, the reader is able to explore parallelism inherent in other computations, such as Monte Carlo methods.
Information theory without the finiteness assumption, II unfolding the DES

The DES is described in purely mathematical terms by means of confusion, diffusion and arithmetic involving a group of messages and a group of keys. It turns out to be a diffusion/arithmetic cryptosystem in which confusion plays no role, although the S-boxes effect an arithmetic operation of replacement (which is sometimes mistaken for confusion) as an important part of the encryption process.
Exemplar-based theory rejection: an approach to the experience consistency problem

ABSTRACT Theory revision is the process of extending a domain theory to accommodate anomalies. Of primary concern in theory revision is the experience consistency problem–the problem of insuring that the candidate revised theories are consistent with the previous experience of the system. This paper describes an approach called exemplar-based theory rejection a solution to the experience consistency problem. Exemplar-based theory rejection collects and maintains a representative set of examples, called exemplars, of the use of the components of the theory in successful reasoning tasks. These exemplars are used to test the candidate revised theories generated by theory revision. Exemplar-based theory rejection has been implemented in the COAST system–a system that revises qualitative theories of the physical world.
Reglas Jerárquicas en el Establecimiento de Conexiones Neuronales en el Sistema Nervioso Central

The brain embodies the biological bases of mental and behavioral phenomena, and for these to have adaptive value, it is necessary that the development of the brain proceeds normally. What are the mechanisms guiding the establishment of precise nervous connections among millions of neurons? Using the interhemispheric connection through the corpus callosum as an experimental model, evidence was obtained that retinal activity, even that generated spontaneously before eye opening, plays a major role in the normal development of the visual interhemispheric connection. Surprisingly, it was also found that if retinal activity is abolished, interhemispheric linkages are able to form, but according to an abnormal plan. These results suggest that there are several mechanisms capable of specifying different patterns of nervous connections, and that these mechanisms are hierarchically organized. Thus, in the absence of retinal activity, an abnormal pattern of interhemispheric connections develops probably under the guidance of gradients of chemical substances. However, if retinal activity is present, it would supersede the chemical influences and impose the establishment of a normal pattern of interhemispheric connections. These ideas suggest that abolishing or altering mechanisms operating at different hierarchical levels may cause the development of anomalies in the nervous system.
Fabrication of Thinned CCDs at UCO/Lick Observatory

The University of California Observatories/Lick Observatory (UCO/Lick) has undertaken to produce science-grade CCDs for current and future instruments to be used on UCO/Lick and UCO/Keck telescopes. In this paper we describe the techniques developed and the progress achieved to date.
Uranus atmospheric dynamics and circulation

Uranus, with its 98° obliquity, apparently negligible internal heat source and methane-enriched, hydrogen-helium atmosphere, is a unique study in planetary meteorology. Although Voyager imaging measurements of cloud-tracked winds were disappointingly sparse, owing to the planet's low visual contrast and small number of discrete features, the available data indicate atmospheric rotation at mid latitudes nearly 200 m s^(-1) faster than that of the planetary magnetic field (presumably tied to the deep interior). Analysis of the dynamical deformation of the shape and size of isobaric surfaces measured by the Voyager radio-occultation experiment suggests a subrotating equator at comparable altitudes. Infrared temperature retrievals above the cloud deck indicate a smaller equator-to-pole contrast than expected for purely radiative-convective equilibrium, but show local variations implying a latitudinally correlated decrease with altitude in the cloud-tracked wind. While the speed of the differential motions is comparable to that on Jupiter and Saturn, the inferred shape of the zonal wind profile bears a surprising resemblance to the terrestrial circulation. If the observed flow is confined to the cloud layers, it implies an equator-to-pole temperature contrast that is not only much larger than that induced by direct solar heating but also of the opposite sign. Parametric models of the adjustment of the thermal structure by horizontal eddy fluxes successfully predict a reduced latitudinal contrast at infrared sounding levels, as compared with the radiative equilibrium value, but fail to reproduce the observed local variations in temperature and cloud-top winds. Despite the current uncertainties, the planet's unique external forcing and at least superficially simple flow structure (compared with the other Jovian planets) make the Uranian meteorology an important target for further observational and theoretical investigation.
Effect of ethanol on uterine and umbilical hemodyamics and oxygen transfer

Abstract Uterine and umbilical hemodynamics and oxygen transfer were studied in 21 pregnant ewes during 10 per cent ethanol infusion at 15 ml. per kilogram per 2 hours (0.125 ml. per kilogram per minute). With pentobarbital anesthesia and alcohol infusion, uterine blood flow increased and oxygen transfer remained level. However, umbilical blood flow and oxygen transfer to the fetus decreased markedly. Spinal anesthesia and alcohol infusion were associated with a decrease in uterine blood flow and oxygen transfer to the uterus. Conversely, umbilical blood flow and oxygen transfer to the fetus increased with spinal anesthesia. The results are discussed.
Experiences in disseminating educational visualizations

Most visualizations produced in academia or industry have a specific niche audience that is well versed in either the often complicated visualization methods or the scientific domain of the data. Sometimes it is useful to produce visualizations that can communicate results to a broad audience that will not have the domain specific knowledge often needed to understand the results. In this work, we present our experiences in disseminating the results of two studies to national audience. The resulting visualizations and press releases allowed the studies' researchers to educate a national, if not global, audience.
Hedonic Consumption in Virtual Reality

With the fast development of online communities, it has become critical for firms to understand these communities’ influence on consumers’ consumption experiences. This is especially true in the case of hedonic consumption. The authors used a mixed approach of both quantitative and qualitative studies to analyze consumer online reviews on specific virtual realities (i.e., online video games). This study uncovers three categories of drivers of hedonic consumption in virtual reality, including product attributes, developer strategies, and virtual game community; and three dimensions of outcome, including product-related experience, and behavioral and emotional experiences. The findings also suggest that community involvement intensifies consumers’ hedonic experiences.
The role of macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune chronic inflammatory joint disease, characterized by macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration, proliferation of synovial fibroblasts, and joint destruction. Macrophages are critically involved in the pathogenesis of RA. Not only do they produce a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, but they also contribute to the cartilage and bone destruction in RA through multiple mechanisms. Macrophage activation by several distinct mechanisms is crucial for their function. This review will discuss several aspects of macrophage function in RA, including the mechanisms for macrophage activation, the signaling pathways in activated macrophages, and the mechanisms that inhibit apoptosis in macrophages in the rheumatoid joints.
Structure of Discrete Systems with Switched Delay

Abstract We clarify, for discrete time systems, two notions of a system with time variant delay, and explore their structural properties. The ultimate purpose is to shed some light on the potential ill-posedness associated with problems with rapidly increasing delay (delay increment greater than one system update step). The main approach is to consider the time delay system using an extension of the state space. For the case of periodically varying delays, this problem becomes a special case of the lifting for periodic systems. Structural problems, such as stability and reachability, can then be investigated using time-invariant theory. For instance, the property that the quotient space of reachable periodic delay systems modulo state space similarity is a smooth manifold, is inherited.
Biasing the brain's attentional set: II. Effects of selective intersensory attentional deployments on subsequent sensory processing

This study used high-density mapping of human event-related potentials to examine the brain activity associated with selective information processing when subjects were cued on a trial-by-trial basis to perform a discrimination in either the visual or auditory modality. On each trial, word-cues (S1) instructed subjects to attend to features within one sensory-modality of an impending compound auditory-visual stimulus (S2) that arrived approximately 1-second following the cue. Subjects made a discrimination within the cued modality of the S2 stimulus. The spatio-temporal patterns of activity in response to the compound S2 stimulus were examined as a function of the sensory modality being attended. The earliest effects of intersensory attention on visual processing were seen subsequent to the initial activation of visual cortex, beginning at 80 ms and continuing into the P1 and N1 components of the visual ERP. The scalp-topography of this earliest modulation was consistent with modulation of activity in ventral visual stream areas. Thus, the locus of effects on visual S2 processing differed from the anticipatory parieto-occipital biasing activity that preceded S2 presentation. This pattern of effects strongly suggests that the anticipatory activity (following the cue) associated with sustaining the focus of attention during intersensory attention, at least in the context of this paradigm, does not operate as a simple gain mechanism in early visual sensory areas. Rather, attentional biasing can operate through a higher-order process whereby parieto-occipital cortices influence the subsequent flow of visual processing in the ventral stream.
The first known type (7,1) amicable pair

Amicable pairs of type (i, 1) have been the object of special search partly because they breed other amicable pairs. Examples exist for i = 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. In this paper we exhibit the first known type (7, 1) pair.
Regulation of proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40) function by mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-mediated phosphorylation.

The rapamycin-sensitive mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) contains mTOR, raptor, mLST8, and PRAS40 (proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kDa). PRAS40 functions as a negative regulator when bound to mTORC1, and it dissociates from mTORC1 in response to insulin. PRAS40 has been demonstrated to be a substrate of mTORC1, and one phosphorylation site, Ser-183, has been identified. In this study, we used two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping in conjunction with mutational analysis to show that in addition to Ser-183, mTORC1 also phosphorylates Ser-212 and Ser-221 in PRAS40 when assayed in vitro. Mutation of all three residues to Ala markedly reduces mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation of PRAS40 in vitro. All three sites were confirmed to be phosphorylated in vivo by [32P]orthophosphate labeling and peptide mapping. Phosphorylation of Ser-221 and Ser-183 but not Ser-212 is sensitive to rapamycin treatment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that mutation of Ser-221 to Ala reduces the interaction with 14-3-3 to the same extent as mutation of Thr-246, the Akt/protein kinase B-phosphorylated site. We also find that mutation of Ser-221 to Ala increases the inhibitory activity of PRAS40 toward mTORC1. We propose that after mTORC1 kinase activation by upstream regulators, PRAS40 is phosphorylated directly by mTOR, thus contributing to the relief of PRAS40-mediated substrate competition.
One-Dimensional Representations of U (p,q) and the Howe Correspondence

Abstract We explicitly determine the theta lifts of all one-dimensional representations of U ( p , q ) in terms of Langlands parameters, and determine exactly which lifts are unitary. Moreover, we show that such a lift is unitary if and only if it is a weakly fair derived functor module of the form A q ( λ ). Finally, we show that the correspondence of unitary representations behaves well with respect to associated cycles.
Influence of spatial and temporal coding on auditory gap detection

This study investigated the effect on gap detection of perceptual channels, hypothesized to be tuned to spatial location or fundamental frequency (f0). Thresholds were measured for the detection of a silent temporal gap between two markers. In the first experiment, the markers were broadband noise, presented either binaurally or monaurally. In the binaural conditions, the markers were either diotic, or had a 640-μs interaural time difference (ITD) or a 12-dB interaural level difference (ILD). Reversing the ITD across the two markers had no effect on gap detection relative to the diotic condition. Reversing the ILD across the two markers produced a marked deterioration in performance. However, the same deterioration was observed in the monaural conditions when a 12-dB level difference was introduced between the two markers. The results provide no evidence for the role of spatially tuned neural channels in gap detection. In the second experiment, the markers were harmonic tone complexes, filtered to contain...
Physical Properties of Native Biofilm Cells Explored by Atomic Force Microscopy

Biofilms are complex microbial communities that grow at interfaces. Bacteria in biofilms are phenotypically different than their planktonic (free swimming) relatives; they adapt to the communal, sessile lifestyle by optimizing their motility, adhesion, and metabolism. We used Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to directly probe the physical properties of native bacterial cells in simple biofilm communities and demonstrated that widely dissimilar biofilm-colonizing cells all have a high cellular spring constant, indicating that they are quite stiff. However, the lab strain E. coli ML35 that does not form robust biofilms is much less stiff, hinting that stiff bacteria may preferentially colonize surfaces in the early stages of biofilm formation. Adhesive forces between the retracting AFM tip and bacterial cells vary between cell types in terms of the force components, the distance components, and the number of adhesion events, reflecting differences in associated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), pili, and flagella. Because biofilms are dynamic, robust, and challenging to control or destroy, potential removal agents are of great interest in industrial, medical, and agricultural settings. We also explored the changes that occur in E. coli biofilm cells as they are devoured Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, a bacterial predator of other bacteria. Invaded prey cells, called bdelloplasts, undergo substantial chemical and physical changes that we probed directly with the AFM tip. Bdelloplasts are significantly shorter than uninvaded E. coli biofilm cells, and prey cells clearly lose elasticity after invasion by B. bacteriovorus predators. On average, the spring constant of uninvaded E. coli cells was three times stiffer than that of bdelloplasts. The retraction portions of the force curves indicate that bdelloplasts adhere to the AFM tip with larger pull-off forces as compared to uninvaded E. coli. Thus, AFM provides provocative information about native biofilms.
Values and Information Source Preferences.

The relationship between an individual's information and value systems has not been adequately explored for several reasons, including failure to agree on a measure of values and, to some extent, the elements that make up a person's information system. Using the Rokeach Value System and a question designed to measure information source preference, it was hypothesized that (1) interpersonal sources of information will be regarded as more important than impersonal sources in providing information useful in striving toward value-directed goals; and (2) instrumental and terminal values will tend to be more closely associated with impersonal and interpersonal sources, respectively. Based on 204 personal interviews, results tended to confirm the first hypothesis but were incomplete concerning the second. Indications were that terminal values discriminated more than did instrumental values among all information source preferences.
Clumping in the inner winds of hot, massive stars from hydrodynamical line-driven instability simulations

We investigate the eects of stellar limb-darkening and photospheric perturbations for the onset of wind structure arising from the strong, intrinsic line-deshadowing instability (LDI) of a line-driven stellar wind. A linear perturbation analysis shows that including limb-darkening reduces the stabilizing eect of the diuse radiation, leading to a net instability growth rate even at the wind base. Numerical radiationhydrodynamics simulations of the non-linear evolution of this instability then show that, in comparison with previous models assuming a uniformly bright star without base perturbations, wind structure now develops much closer (r . 1:1R?) to the photosphere. This is in much better agreement with observations of O-type stars, which typically indicate the presence of strong clumping quite near the wind base.