cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Led Like Sheep: An Exercise for Linking Group Decision Making to Different Types of Tasks

"Led Like Sheep" demonstrates how group decision-making schemes relate to the type of task assigned. Participants, working in groups of 5 to 7 persons, are assigned several different tasks that represent varying degrees of demonstratability. On completion of these tasks, groups share their "right answers"—which often aren't—and share their observations of the group decision-making processes that led to these responses. "Led Like Sheep" never fails to emphasize the extent to which influence and persuasion lead groups to a group outcome.
Oral fluoride retention following various topical application techniques in children.

Eight child volunteers received routine APF gel topical fluoride applications using four different application techniques. Each child received a total of four topical fluoride applications, and all applications were separated by at least one wk. The amounts of fluoride applied, recovered from the mouth, and retained in the mouth were calculated for each treatment. Tray systems with some form of absorptive liner resulted in significantly less oral-retained fluoride after the four-minute application procedure (p<.01). The value of patient expectoration following topical fluoride treatment was also evaluated, and was a significant adjunct in reducing the net oral-retained fluoride dose in eaeh instance (p<.01).
Pharmacokinetics of high-dose chemotherapy

There is considerable variation in the severity of preparative regimen-related toxicity (RRT) in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). This variation has been recognized to be due, in part, to the wide variation in the pharmacokinetics (PK) of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC). Consequently, therapeutic drug modeling and pharmacokinetic-directed therapy (PKDT) represents an attractive strategy in this setting. Advances in our understanding of drug metabolism, the nature of the active metabolites, and the ability to measure drug concentrations have led to the point where for some agents it is now possible to treat to a given PK end point with a great deal of reliability. In-depth knowledge of the PK and pharmacodynamics (PD) associations of the agents employed in the high-dose setting will make possible more efficient research into preparative regimen dosing intensity and comparisons of different preparative regimens as well as safer HSCT overall. In this review, we discuss PK and PD studies of high-dose cyclosphamide, melphalan, thiotepa, carmustine, cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, and busulfan.
The Political `Flying Bus': Nationalism, identity, status, citizenship and Puerto Ricans

The colonial political relationship of Puerto Rico to the United States has established certain contexts which stimulate debates about citizenship, culture and Puerto Ricanness. The US Congress has...
Facile conversion from mechanical to bioprosthetic composite aortic root replacement

Discussion This case describes a patient with the unusual finding of multiple cardiac fibroelastomas involving the mitral valve and the LVOT in addition to an altered aortic valve after prior valve endocarditis. We hypothesize that the local accumulation of mobile structures might be, at least in part, because of the congenital altered bicuspid aortic valve and consecutive inflammatory alteration. Furthermore, accelerated by aortic regurgitations, jet lesions in the subvalvular region of the mitral valve and the adjacent left ventricle might have contributed to the development of the tumor. After surgical replacement of the formerly infected aortic valve, tumor growth appeared to discontinue.
A sharp minimum on the mean number of steps taken in adaptive walks

Abstract It was recently conjectured by H.A. Orr [2003. A minimum on the mean number of steps taken in adaptive walks. J. Theor. Biol. 220, 241–247] that from a random initial point on a random fitness landscape of alphabetic sequences with one-mutation adjacency, chosen from a larger class of landscapes, no adaptive algorithm can arrive at a local optimum in fewer than on average e - 1 steps. Here, using an example in which the mean number of steps to a local optimum equals ( A - 1 ) / A , where A is the number of distinct “letters” in the “alphabet” from which sequences are constructed, it is shown that as originally stated, the conjecture does not hold. It is also demonstrated that ( A - 1 ) / A is a sharp minimum on the mean number of steps taken in adaptive walks on fitness landscapes of alphabetic sequences with one-mutation adjacency. As the example that achieves the new lower bound has properties that are not often considered as potential attributes for fitness landscapes—non-identically distributed fitnesses and negative fitness correlations for adjacent points—a weaker set of conditions characteristic of more commonly studied fitness landscapes is proposed under which the lower bound on the mean length of adaptive walks is conjectured to equal e - 1 .
An approach to the formal analysis of user complexity

A formal approach to analysing the user complexity of interactive systems or devices is described, based on theoretical results from cognitive psychology. The user's knowledge of how to use a system to accomplish the various tasks is represented in a procedural notation that permits quantification of the amount and complexity of the knowledge required and the cognitive processing load involved in using a system. Making a system more usable can be accomplished by altering its design until the knowledge is adequately simplified. By representing the device behaviour formally as well, it is possible to simulate the user-device interaction to obtain rigorous measures of user complexity.
Studies on Oral Lichen Planus : I. Serum Immunoglobulins and Complement

In this preliminary study we explored the possibility of an immunologic component in oral lichen planus by assessment of serum immunoglobulins and complement levels, by skin tests for cellular immunity, and by fluorescent antibody techniques to detect immunoglobulins in the lesions. Although certain abnormalities were noted, none was consistent or of significant magnitude to clarify the cause of this disease.
Reflections on a Legendary Contribution to the Empirical Study of Adolescence

As Daniel Offer completed his presentation at the end of a festschrift held in his honor at the Institute for Juvenile Research, we were all deeply touched and teary-eyed. After a long silence that gave us time to realize the significance of what we had just experienced, we burst in heartfelt applause expressing our warm admiration. We had gathered for two days to discuss his groundbreaking research and his powerful influence on us as researchers and as individuals. From the conference’s start to its finish, it was clear that Dan had done much to revolutionize our understanding of adolescent development. It also was clear that he still was teaching and inspiring us by example, by modeling what generativity is all about. Being with him and Marjorie – his wife, co-investigator and frequent coauthor – reminded us of the significance of loving what we do, of caring for those around us, and of trying to make the world a better place. We were not the first to honor his distinctive contributions. Almost three decades ago, the major professional societies devoted to the study of adolescence – the Society
Low-Energy-Electron-Diffraction Determination of the Atomic Arrangement in a Monatomic Underlayer of Nitrogen on Ti(0001)

The importance of recognizing a 1 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 1 structure preceding a superstructure in a chemisorption experiment is demonstrated by the system N-Ti(0001). Low-energy-electron-diffraction analysis of the 1 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 1 structure reveals that the N atoms are located in the octahedral holes 1.22\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 \AA{} below the first layer of Ti atoms. Interatomic distances are such as to justify the view of the surface structure as a single double-layer of TiN.
HEMOGLOBIN PRODUCTION FACTORS IN THE HUMAN LIVER : ANEMIAS, HYPOPROTEINEMIA, CIRRHOSIS, PIGMENT ABNORMALITIES, AND PREGANCY.

Human liver tissue has been assayed to determine the amount of hemoglobin production factors in normal and abnormal states. Standardized dogs made anemic by blood removal have been used in this biological assay. Normal animal liver as control is rated as 100 per cent. Normal human liver tissue as compared with the normal animal control contains more of these hemoglobin production factors-a biological assay ratio of 120 to 160 per cent. Infections, acute and chronic, do not appear to modify these values, the concentration of hemoglobin-producing factors falling within the normal range. Pernicious anemia and aplastic anemia both show large liver stores of hemoglobin-producing factors-a biological assay ratio of 200 to 240 per cent. Therapy in pernicious anemia reduces these liver stores as new red cells are formed. Secondary anemia presents a low normal or subnormal liver store of hemoglobin-producing factors-an assay of 60 to 130 per cent. Hemochromatosis, erythroblastic anemia, and hemolytic icterus in spite of large iron deposits in the liver usually show a biological assay which is normal or close to normal. Polycythemia shows low reserve stores of hemoglobin-producing factors. Leukemias present a wide range of values discussed above. Hypoproteinemia almost always is associated with low reserve stores of hemoglobin-producing factors in the liver-biological assays of 60 to 80 per cent. Hypoproteinemia means a depletion of body protein reserve stores including the labile protein liver reserves-a strong indication that the prehemoglobin material (or globin) is related to these liver stores. Pregnancy, eclampsia, and lactation all may present subnormal liver stores of hemoglobin-producing factors. Exhaustion of protein stores lowers the barrier to infection and renders the liver very susceptible to many toxic substances. It should not be difficult to correct hypoproteinemia under these conditions and thus relieve the patient of a real hazard.
Opus simulation of a wheat/sugarbeet plot near Neuenkirchen, Germany

Abstract The model Opus was used to simulate five years of soil water and crop growth data for a loam soil site. Simulations for water flow match the general trends, but there is some difference in the values. The results for crop growth were relatively good. Nitrogen was not simulated very well, but there are reasons to suspect the measured data. Pesticide dissipation was simulated with reasonable accuracy.
Blood flow in human tumors during hyperthermia therapy: demonstration of vasoregulation and an applicable physiological model

A quantitative assessment of the effect of localized magnetic-loop hyperthermia on blood flow was performed in 12 human tumors using the 133Xe clearance method. Because blood flow in these tumors changed in response to needle injection, a physiologically based, one-compartment model was developed that included both a hyperemic and a steady-state component. In six tumors, changes in blood flow induced by heat were also observed. The ability of tumor vessels to respond dynamically to stress and the degree of response may be predictive of tumor heating capacity and subsequent therapeutic response.
Le rôle de l'imagerie dans la communication réalisée par un interprète

Parmi les nombreux aspects de la communication en interpretation, celui qui a ete peu etudie dans la litterature et peu aborde dans la formation des interpretes dans les ecoles de par le monde, mais qui attire notre attention de facon particuliere, c’est l’imagerie ou la representation mentale. La representation mentale a ete definie notamment par Shepard (1978, p. 89) qui decrit un continuum de representations mentales qui va depuis l’image la plus concrete (et visuelle) jusqu’a des representations non visuelles de concepts, a savoir des idees sans image. Ce processus, qui consiste a construire une image ou une representation mentale des concepts ou idees exprimes lors de la communication, a fait l’objet de nombreuses etudes dans le domaine de la psychologie cognitive, notamment en ce qui concerne la communication interpersonnelle. La presente recherche examine l’importance et le role des representations mentales et des unites cognitives dans le travail des interpretes au moment ou ceux-ci les associent a leur memoire a court et a moyen terme pour reproduire un message entendu et ­demontre qu’il pourrait etre utile d’insister sur l’importance de l’imagerie et de la representation mentale dans la formation des interpretes dans les ecoles et universites.
Hybrid deformable image registration using a closed-form Free Form Deformation approach

This paper describes an efficient non-rigid image registration method using a B-spline based Free Form Deformation (FFD) model. The proposed method is very efficient, in that it utilises sparse feature correspondences to estimate an elastic deformation field in a closed form. In a multi-resolution manner, the method is able to recover small to large nonrigid deformations, and the resulting deformation field is globally smooth and guarantees one-to-one mapping between the two registered images.
Silicon strip staves and petals for the ATLAS Upgrade tracker of the HL-LHC

Abstract This paper describes the baseline integration structures for the silicon strip sensors to be used in the ATLAS detector for the Phase-II upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) machine, the so-called High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). Highly modular structures have been developed for the integration of the silicon strips sensors, readout electronics, cooling, and support structures, called ‘staves’ for the barrel region and ‘petals’ for the end-caps of the ATLAS strips tracker. This work describes the status of the current prototypes, the building procedure, designed for mass production even at a prototyping stage, and their electrical performances.
Simulation analysis and experimental performance of a radar sensor network for distributed bridge monitoring

This paper presents a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless radar sensor network capable of measuring lower-frequency vibration and static deflection in bridges. An integrated simulation model that combines a multi degree-of-freedom structural model with a realistic model of the radar sensor network is introduced and used to characterize and predict the network’s functionality in different measurement conditions. In addition, a series of laboratory experiments have been performed for comparison with the simulation model. Finally, challenges associated with achieving accurate measurements from the radar network in a range of testing environments are discussed.
Purification of macrophage deactivating factor.

Macrophage deactivation factor (MDF) in P815 tumor cell-conditioned medium was assayed by its suppression of the ability of activated mouse peritoneal macrophages to release hydrogen peroxide. MDF displayed properties of a soluble protein(s) associated with both low (8-25,000) and high (greater than 450,000) Mr fractions. MDF was purified 6,140- fold by a seven-step procedure: extraction with acid-ethanol; precipitation with ether; and fractionation on gel filtration, anion- exchange, diphenyl reversed-phase and C4 reversed-phase HPLC columns, the last column twice. The final preparation contained two species: (a) a approximately 13,000 Mr band on reducing or nonreducing SDS-PAGE and on autoradiograms after radioiodination with chloramine T, and (b) a 66,000 Mr species ranging from approximately 5% to approximately 50% of the protein detectable by silver strain. The 66,000 Mr species was identified as albumin from its NH2-terminal amino acid sequence. However, no amino acid sequence could be obtained for the approximately 13,000 Mr species, either in fluid phase or after electroelution of the corresponding SDS-PAGE band. Thus, approximately 13,000 Mr MDF associates tightly with albumin through a variety of separation techniques, and may have a blocked NH2 terminus. Purified MDF afforded 50% inhibition of activated macrophage H2O2 releasing capacity at a concentration of 1-10 nM. Separation of MDF from most higher Mr moieties was associated with disproportionately small increases in specific activity, suggesting MDF might be partially inactivated by purification. As purified, MDF was approximately 1,000-fold less potent at deactivating macrophages than TGF-beta. Antibodies that neutralized the macrophage-deactivating effect of TGF-beta did not inhibit deactivation by MDF.
Nondeterministic Direct Product Reductions and the Success Probability of SAT Solvers

We give two nondeterministic reductions which yield new direct product theorems (DPTs) for Boolean circuits. In these theorems one assumes that a target function F is mildly hard against nondeterministic circuits, and concludes that the direct product Ft is extremely hard against (only polynomially smaller) probabilistic circuits. The main advantage of these results compared with previous DPTs is the strength of the size bound in our conclusion. As an application, we show that if NP is not in coNP/poly then, for every PPT algorithm attempting to produce satisfying assigments to Boolean formulas, there are infinitely many instances where the algorithm's success probability is nearly-exponentially small. This furthers a project of Paturi and Pudlak [STOC'10].
High-temperature oxidation of Pt-45Pd-10Rh

The surfaces of Pt-45Pd-10Rh foils oxidized over the range 875–1075 K in a 20% O2-Ar mixture at atmospheric pressure were examined by Auger electron, X-ray photoelectron, and Raman spectroscopy. The composition of the oxide formed on the surface was found to vary with temperature from predominantly PdO at 875 K to PdRhO2 at 1075 K. Only a few atomic percent Pt was observed, present in both the metallic and (apparently) +1 oxidation states at 875 K and in the metallic state at 1075 K. The formation of PdRhO2 (and no Rh2O3) at 1075 K was found to persist upon reoxidation following a low-temperature reduction cycle in which the increased Rh concentration on the surface was retained. An oxidation-induced Rh enrichment of the surface of the alloy foil beyond 50 at. % does not appear likely within the temperature/pressure regime investigated.
The devolution of mudbrick: ethnoarchaeology of abandoned earthen dwellings in the Bolivian Andes

Abstract This ethno-geoarchaeological study considers the formation of archaeological deposits through a study of abandoned contemporary mudbrick structures on the Taraco Peninsula, Bolivia. The study site was a domestic compound with rooms for different functions that had been abandoned for over 50 years. Structures were in variable states of decay in terms of roof cover, walling integrity and abandonment fills. Geoarchaeological samples were collected from intact and weathered adobes, earthen hearths, mud plaster, and flooring. Adobes and mud plaster were locally derived from topsoil containing archaeological sediments with added gravel and plant temper. This study found a relatively light anthropogenic signature for decayed earthen houses. Rising damp exfoliated mud plaster despite un-mortared cobble wall foundations. Organic matter from roof fall attracted thriving soil faunal populations, which furthered site destruction through bioturbation, particularly packed earth floors. Sediments derived from weathered mudbrick retained little evidence of prior use as construction materials unless exposed to heat. Sediments exposed to high-temperatures produced the most distinctive rubified features but were structurally compromised. Isolated thermal features from decomposed adobe would not be distinguishable from other hearth types. Adobes exposed to low or moderate heat had few distinctive features in thin section. Intact adobes and floors that were not exposed to heat have fewer pores than natural sediments and distinctive grass inclusions. These adobes disarticulated into loose sediments when exposed to weathering. Adobe fall outside the crumbling structures blended into topsoil. This study sheds light on functional attributes of pre-Columbian construction practices. Thick, fine-textured sterile flooring is commonly encountered in the study region. This would control bioturbation from roof fall in a previous occupation enabling reconstruction in abandoned dwellings. In contrast to the contemporary dwelling, prehistoric mortared cobble foundations would resist rising damp. Cobbles without mortar may relate more to design and construction than durability. These contrasts between contemporary and prehistory construction practices reflect differences in the design, construction costs and functional use-life of adobe structures.
High Risk Strawberry Viruses by Region in the United States and Canada: Implications for Certification, Nurseries, and Fruit Production

There is limited information about the distribution of strawberry viruses in North America and around the world. Since the turn of the century, there has been a concerted effort to develop sensitive tests for many of the previously uncharacterized, graft-transmissible agents infecting strawberry. These tests were employed to determine the presence of strawberry viruses in major strawberry production and nursery areas of North America. The viruses evaluated in this study were Apple mosaic, Beet pseudo-yellows, Fragaria chiloensis latent, Strawberry chlorotic fleck, Strawberry crinkle, Strawberry latent ring spot, Strawberry mild yellow edge, Strawberry mottle, Strawberry necrotic shock, Strawberry pallidosis, Strawberry vein banding, and Tobacco streak. The aphid-borne viruses were predominant in the Pacific Northwest whereas the whitefly-borne viruses were prevalent in California, the Midwest, and the Southeast. In the Northeast, the aphid-transmitted Strawberry mottle and Strawberry mild yellow edge viruses along with the whitefly-transmitted viruses were most common. The incidence of pollen-borne viruses was low in most areas, with Strawberry necrotic shock being the most prevalent virus of this group. These results indicate that there are hotspots for individual virus groups that normally coincide with the presence of the vectors. The information presented highlights the high-risk viruses for nursery production, where efforts are made to control all viruses, and fruit production, where efforts are made to control virus diseases.
New framework for dynamic scheduling of production systems

A concept for dynamic scheduling in manufacturing systems is proposed. The scope of 'dynamic scheduling' treated includes online dynamic change of some scheduling parameters such as rules for part dispatching, machine selection, or routing. IF-THEN-type heuristic operators are utilized to perform this online real-time rule selection, and offline machine learning is used to obtain more detailed and powerful heuristics than those implemented by human experts or programmers. A learning algorithm has been developed to formulate operators that can treat quantity-type as well as quality-type information. A prototype computer program named learning aided dynamic scheduler (LADS) has been developed. A simulation study using LADS indicates good results for dynamic scheduling. >
Cooperative signaling by alpha 5 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 1 integrins regulates metalloproteinase gene expression in fibroblasts adhering to fibronectin.

Rabbit synovial fibroblasts (RSF) express basal levels of the metalloproteinases (MMP) collagenase, stromelysin-1 and 92-kD gelatinase when plated on intact fibronectin (FN), but elevated levels when plated on either the central RGD-containing cell-binding region of FN (120FN) or antibody against the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin, suggesting that domains outside 120FN may suppress the induction of MMP (Werb, Z., P. M. Tremble, O. Behrendtsen, E. Crowley, and C.H. Damsky. 1989. J. Cell Biol. 109:877-889). We therefore attempted to reconstitute the basal signaling of intact FN by plating RSF on 120FN together with domains of FN outside this region. Large COOH-terminal fragments containing both the heparin-binding and HICS domains suppressed MMP when combined with 120FN. To map the active sequences, peptides from this region and larger fragments that did, or did not, include the CS-1 portion of IIICS were tested. Only CS-1 peptide, or larger fragments containing CS-1, suppressed MMP expression induced by 120FN. In contrast, peptide V from the heparin-binding region, shown previously to stimulate focal contact formation, further enhanced MMP expression by RSF when present on the substrate with 120FN. RSF expressed alpha 4 beta 1 integrin, the receptor for CS-1, and the anti-alpha 4 mAb blocked the ability of CS-1 to suppress MMP induction by 120FN. These results show that signals modulating MMP expression and focal contact assembly are regulated independently, and that cooperative signaling by alpha 5 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 1 integrins plays a dominant role in regulating expression of these extracellular matrix-remodeling genes in response to FN. This work demonstrates directly the modular way in which information in the extracellular matrix is detected and processed by cell surface receptors.
Dichlorodimethylsilane as an anti-stiction monolayer for MEMS: a comparison to the octadecyltrichlorosilane self-assembled monolayer

This paper presents a quantitative comparison of the dichlorodimethylsilane (DDMS) monolayer to the octade-cyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) with respect to the film properties and their effectiveness as anti-stiction coatings for micromechanical structures. Both coatings have been evaluated in several ways, including atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle analysis (CAA), work of adhesion by cantilever beam array (CBA) technique and coefficient of static friction using a sidewall testing device. While water and hexadecane contact angles are comparable, the DDMS coated microstructures exhibit higher adhesion than OTS coated ones. Furthermore, coefficient of static friction data indicate that the DDMS films are not as effective at lubrication as the OTS SAMs are, although both exhibit much improvement over chemical oxide. However, AFM data show that the samples which receive DDMS treatment accumulate fewer particles during processing than those which receive the OTS SAM treatment. The thermal stability of the DDMS film in air far exceeds the OTS SAM, as the DDMS remains very hydrophobic to temperatures upwards of 400/spl deg/C.
Discharge Kinetics of the Nickel Electrode

The kinetics of nickel electrode discharge are found to be controlled by solid-state proton diffusion under normal high rate discharge conditions. As the nickel electrode is discharged, the conductivity of the active material decreases until eventually mixed kinetics are observed where the electrode impedance has significant contributions from both proton diffusion and charge transfer resistance. Further discharge results in the formation of a semiconductor layer at the metal-active material interface that is depleted in charge carriers and has a relatively high electronic resistance. The depletion layer is responsible for the secondary discharge plateau of the nickel electrode at 0.0 to -0.5 V vs. Hg/HgO. Changes in electrode capacitance during depletion layer formation appear to provide a sensitive measure of the uniformity of electrode discharge. The effects of cobalt additives on the kinetics have been experimentally measured, and while cobalt does not change the discharge mechanism, it does increase the ionic and electronic conductivity of the active material, allowing a greater depth of discharge before depletion layer formation.
Gating characteristics of a steeply voltage-dependent gap junction channel in rat Schwann cells.

The gating properties of macroscopic and microscopic gap junctional currents were compared by applying the dual whole cell patch clamp technique to pairs of neonatal rat Schwann cells. In response to transjunctional voltage pulses (Vj), macroscopic gap junctional currents decayed exponentially with time constants ranging from 60 mV, Gss was virtually zero, a property that is unique among the gap junctions characterized to date. Determination of opening and closing rate constants for this process indicated that the voltage dependence of macroscopic conductance was governed predominantly by the closing rate constant. In 78% of the experiments, a single population of unitary junctional currents was detected corresponding to an unitary channel conductance of approximately 40 pS. The presence of only a limited number of junctional channels with identical unitary conductances made it possible to analyze their kinetics at the single channel level. Gating at the single channel level was further studied using a stochastic model to determine the open probability (Po) of individual channels in a multiple channel preparation. Po decreased with increasing Vj following a Boltzmann relationship similar to that describing the macroscopic Gss voltage dependence. These results indicate that, for Vj of a single polarity, the gating of the 40 pS gap junction channels expressed by Schwann cells can be described by a first order kinetic model of channel transitions between open and closed states.
Pronouncing French names in New Orleans

This article, based on 984 interviews with bearers of French names in the city of New Orleans, investigates the use of the notion of pronunciation as a device by which speakers manage their talk. The investigation proceeded primarily by eliciting ways in which people employ devices for talking about talk in everyday communicative interactions, as a means to manage various types of communicational phenomena and to deal with communication difficulties emerging from a clash of phonetic traditions. The result is a definition of pronunciation in terms which are used by a majority of speakers. An appendix gives a list of names, with comments by their bearers concerning ways in which those bearers would attempt to convey to mispronouncers the correct pronunciation of their names. (Pronunciation, lay metalanguage, folk-linguistics, phonology, phonetics, New Orleans, French names)* We aim here to extract some general conclusions from a body of data concerning (a) pronunciations and mispronunciations of French names in the city of New Orleans, (b) remarks by their bearers on their attitudes toward these latter, and (c) bearers' various ways of correcting interlocutors. (Details on certain names, given in boldface type, can be found in the Appendix.) The data were gathered primarily by telephone interviews. The tasks of the interviewer were: (i) to inform name-bearers of the nature of the project, described as a study of the pronunciation of French names in New Orleans; (ii) to ask bearers if they would be willing to have their names included in the study; (iii) in case of an affirmative response, to ask bearers (a) how they pronounce their names, (b) if they ever hear mispronunciations of their names, (c) if yes, whether they correct people who mispronounce, (d) if they do correct, how they might go about doing so; and (iv) again to ask bearers if they mind their names being used in the study. An initial question arose as to the criteria for a French name. The initial answer to this was an informal one: if the name looked obviously French, it was placed in the list. Usually, this could be justified by appeal to the ? 1996 Cambridge University Press 0047-4045/96 $7.50 + .10 407 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.57 on Mon, 08 Aug 2016 04:55:10 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Scheduling online advertisements using information retrieval and neural network/genetic algorithm based metaheuristics

As a result of the recent technological proliferation, online advertising has become a very powerful and popular method of marketing; industry revenue is growing at a record pace. One very challenging problem which is faced by those on the publishing side of the industry is ad targeting. In an attempt to maximize revenue, publishers try their best to expose web surfers to a set of advertisements which are closely aligned with their interests and needs. In this work, we present and test an information retrieval based ad targeting technique which shows promise as an alternative solution method for this problem. A second, very difficult, challenge faced by online ad publishers is the development of an ad schedule which makes the most efficient use of their available advertisement space. We introduce three versions of this very difficult problem and test several potential solution techniques for each of them.
Toxoplasmosis, Cytomegalovirus, Listeriosis, and Preconception Care

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) can all negatively affect pregnancy outcomes. Preconception counseling about such effects can reduce the risks posed by these pathogens. Informing women of childbearing age about these pathogens and how to prevent their negative effects can help women make informed decisions about prevention. This brief summarizes some basic information about these infections and provides some web sites and articles for further information about how to prevent them within the context of preconception care. Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a protozoan parasite mainly transmitted to huThe findings and conclusions in this report have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.
Examining the Validity and Reliability of the ABC-6 in Underserved Older Adults

Losing confidence in the ability to maintain balance can be more debilitating than a fall; therefore, the accurate measurement of balance confidence is critical. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the ABC-6, a shortened version of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC), among underserved older adults. The final sample included 251 older adults (M age = 71.2 years, SD = 8.9; 72.1% African Americans, 62.5% low-income, 61% low-education). Participants completed assessments of multiple falls risk factors, physical activity, and balance confidence. The ABC-6 had excellent internal consistency reliability, substantial intraclass correlations, and significant moderate to large correlations with physical activity, mobility, balance, and total falls risk. It also demonstrated the ability to discriminate between fallers and nonfallers, and it was a significant predictor of total falls risk. The ABC-6 was a valid and reliable measure of balance confidence among u...
Environmental Interference Study Aboard a Naval Vessel

A study of nonlinear environmental sources of interference was conducted under controlled conditions aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS "Bunker Hill". Nonlinear sources were located, tested to determine their interference-contributions to nearby receiving antennas and then removed. Recommendations based on this work were incorporated by the Navy as structural modifications for existing ships and changes in new ship design. Conclusive evidence was obtained that a ship can be "cleaned-up" by locating and removing environmental nonlinearities.
Latin learning at Winchester in the early eleventh century: the evidence of the Lambeth Psalter

Aside from its Old English gloss, the Lambeth Psalter has largely been ignored. Yet this manuscript furnishes valuable evidence about Latin learning in late Anglo-Saxon England, specifically at Winchester. And it can lay claim to be the most important surviving witness to psalter scholarship from this period.
Classification and use of image data

This chapter describes the categories and organization of data items used in the representation of image data. The classification applies to both Crystallographic Binary File (CBF) and Image-supporting Crystallographic Information File (imgCIF) representations. The primary motivation for introducing the items defined in the CBF/imgCIF dictionary is to extend the mmCIF dictionary (Chapter 3.6 ) for the storage of synchrotron diffraction images. However, these items have the potential for use in other fields that require binary image data, including journal publishing, the creation of web pages or the production of movies. Data categories in the CBF/imgCIF dictionary support one-, two- and three-dimensional array detectors that output data organized by time and/or wavelength. Three major groups of categories are defined: ARRAY_DATA describes the image data themselves; AXIS is used to identify unambiguously the laboratory coordinate system; and DIFFRN introduces new terms that characterize the experimental apparatus and measurements.
What is known about racial disparities in Parkinson's disease diagnosis and treatment?

Influence of race on healthcare disparities Understanding the relationship between race and health is complex. First, many researchers question the genetic basis of race [9,10]. There is more genetic variation among individuals of the same race than between races; therefore, it is less likely that observed racial differences are due to genetic differences. In addition, the independent inf luence of race on observed healthcare disparities remains controversial. Race may serve as a proxy for education, socioeconomic status, culture or behavioral differences [11]. Therefore, it is possible that race is more often a risk marker and not a risk factor. Disentangling these influences is essential to truly understand and resolve racial disparities. PD epidemiology & race Studies have described racial differences in the incidence and prevalence of PD [1,2]. However, the exact relationship between race and risk of PD remains unknown. Epidemiological studies of PD demonstrate mixed results. While one study suggested that whites are at an increased risk of PD when compared with African–Americans [12], another study showed the opposite, that is, African–Americans are at increased risk of PD [13]. The reason for these discrepant findings is unclear. Some researchers hypothesize that biological differences may explain the observed racial difference in disease risk [14]. Interestingly, a recent study found that lighter hair color and polymorphisms in the MC1R gene coding for hair color are associated with a higher risk of PD [15]. Although differences in hair pigmentation can reflect differences in race, controlling for race in their analysis did not alter the relationship between hair color and PD risk. Another potential reason for the mixed findings in the relationship between PD risk and race are methodological differences. Sources of bias in epidemiological studies such as measurement bias or differences in
DC to DC power conversion using IGBT switches

The IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) is a power electronic device capable of operating efficiently at high frequencies, particularly in a DC chopper. The waveforms and performance characteristics of a DC chopper built using the IGBT are obtained with the help of a digital storage oscilloscope and personal computer software. The harmonic characteristics of load current waveform and the variation of output voltage with duty cycle are also obtained. >
A Novel Computational Approach for Simultaneous Tracking and Feature Extraction of C. elegans Populations in Fluid Environments

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a genetic model widely used to dissect conserved basic biological mechanisms of development and nervous system function. C. elegans locomotion is under complex neuronal regulation and is impacted by genetic and environmental factors; thus, its analysis is expected to shed light on how genetic, environmental, and pathophysiological processes control behavior. To date, computer-based approaches have been used for analysis of C. elegans locomotion; however, none of these is both high resolution and high throughput. We used computer vision methods to develop a novel automated approach for analyzing the C. elegans locomotion. Our method provides information on the position, trajectory, and body shape during locomotion and is designed to efficiently track multiple animals (C. elegans) in cluttered images and under lighting variations. We used this method to describe in detail C. elegans movement in liquid for the first time and to analyze six unc-8, one mec-4, and one odr-1 mutants. We report features of nematode swimming not previously noted and show that our method detects differences in the swimming profile of mutants that appear at first glance similar.
Choline Transport and de novo Choline Synthesis Support Acetylcholine Biosynthesis in Caenorhabditis elegans Cholinergic Neurons

The cho-1 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans encodes a high-affinity plasma-membrane choline transporter believed to be rate limiting for acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis in cholinergic nerve terminals. We found that CHO-1 is expressed in most, but not all cholinergic neurons in C. elegans. cho-1 null mutants are viable and exhibit mild deficits in cholinergic behavior; they are slightly resistant to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb, and they exhibit reduced swimming rates in liquid. cho-1 mutants also fail to sustain swimming behavior; over a 33-min time course, cho-1 mutants slow down or stop swimming, whereas wild-type animals sustain the initial rate of swimming over the duration of the experiment. A functional CHO-1∷GFP fusion protein rescues these cho-1 mutant phenotypes and is enriched at cholinergic synapses. Although cho-1 mutants clearly exhibit defects in cholinergic behaviors, the loss of cho-1 function has surprisingly mild effects on cholinergic neurotransmission. However, reducing endogenous choline synthesis strongly enhances the phenotype of cho-1 mutants, giving rise to a synthetic uncoordinated phenotype. Our results indicate that both choline transport and de novo synthesis provide choline for ACh synthesis in C. elegans cholinergic neurons.
Stutter-Flash Light-Emitting-Diode Beacons to Increase Yielding to Pedestrians at Crosswalks:

Motorists often fail to yield to pedestrians in marked multilane crosswalks at uncontrolled locations. Several studies have demonstrated that the use of advance yield markings along with a "Yield Here to Pedestrians" sign can reduce the incidence of multiple-threat crashes but have only a small effect on overall driver yielding behavior. A low-cost alternative to increase driver yielding is the use of amber light-emitting-diode (LED) flashers with an irregular flash pattern. As part of an FHWA cooperative agreement to evaluate intelligent transportation system treatments, amber LED flashers with an irregular flash pattern were installed at two multilane crosswalks in Miami-Dade County, Florida, in an experiment to increase yielding behavior. A reversal design was employed in this experiment to demonstrate experimental control at each site. This design involves alternating sessions with and without the devices activated. The results showed that the LED flashers installed on the pedestrian sign produced a m...
Differential Effects of μ-, δ-, and κ-Opioid Receptor Agonists on Mechanosensitive Gastric Vagal Afferent Fibers in the Rat

Single-fiber recordings were made from the decentralized right cervical vagus nerve (hyponodosal) of the rat. A total of 56 afferent fibers that responded to gastric distension (GD) were studied: 6...
ISP managed peer-to-peer

Despite their widespread popularity, peer-to-peer (P2P) systems engender continuing controversy. To reduce P2P's high network cost, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have installed network devices that detect and block P2P traffic. These devices angered subscribers because they also increased download times. For that reason, application developers have begun obfuscating their traffic to avoid ISP-detection. This "cat and mouse" game portends a broader shift. If ISPs remedy the relationship with P2P developers now, developers may cooperate with them to develop network-efficient protocols in the future. Our proposal makes a noteworthy contribution in this direction.
The effects of low temperature fatigue on the RRR and strength of pure aluminum

Low temperature fatigue effects on residual resistivity ratio ( RRR = \rho_{273 K}/\rho_{4.2K} ) and strength of 300 and 1000 RRR aluminum are reported. The objective of this investigation is to select the best initial purity for the stabilizer aluminum used in energy storage magnets. Monolythic centimeter diameter specimens were fatigued at 4.2 K to strains (e) reaching 0.3 percent. The resistivity ratio rapidly decreases during the first 100 cycles and approaches saturation (RRR f ) after about 1000 cycles for all strains tested. The RRR f values are different for different initial resistivity ratio (RRR i ) values, but all tend to come together at 0.3% strain independent of RRR i . The maximum specimen stress ( \sigma_{\max} ) is reached after about 1000 cycles also, and approaches a common value ( \sigma_{\max} = eE/2 , where e is the strain range and E the elastic modulus) independent of RRR i . Thus high purity aluminum becomes "fully hard" at equilibrium and behaves elastically. The impact of fatigue damage on conductor design and choice of stabilizer purity is considered.
Analysis and Enhancements for IEEE 802.11 Networks Using Directional Antenna With Opportunistic Mechanisms

Directional antennas are introduced to improve the performance of IEEE 802.11-based wireless networks by allowing stations equipped with directional antennas to beam the data in a specific direction. Since IEEE 802.11 has been developed with omni antennas in mind, deploying IEEE 802.11 in a directional antenna environment leads stations to be conservative in blocking their own transmissions in favor of the ongoing transmissions. This conservative behavior conflicts with the main directional antennas' objective of increasing the spatial reuse channel by supporting simultaneous transmissions. In this paper, we analytically show that an IEEE 802.11 station with directional antenna is conservative in terms of assessing channel availability, with as much as 60% of unnecessary blocking assessments. This percentage increases up to 90% in case we allow the station to alter the way it accesses its media access control (MAC) data queue. Motivated with this analysis, we design and evaluate two enhancement schemes for IEEE 802.11 networks when using directional antennas. The first enhancement is to augment the IEEE 802.11 protocol with additional information (location of the stations) that gives a station the flexibility to transmit data while there are ongoing transmissions in its vicinity. The second enhancement, using the augmented protocol, alters the way the IEEE 802.11 accesses its data queue. Simulation shows improvement in network throughput of up to 40% in the case of applying the first enhancement and up to 60% in the case of applying the second enhancement.