cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coda Q in the southern Appalachians

The attenuation of seismic coda waves in the Southern Appalachian region was studied. Signal sources were five local and regional earthquakes and one explosion located in Ohio, Virginia and South Carolina. The data were recorded digitally by a network of seven stations in western Virginia. Joint least squares estimates of the quality factor Q, relative recording site responses and coda source amplitudes were obtained in five frequency bands using the single scattering model, and assuming body wave geometrical spreading. The results indicate a frequency dependent coda Q, represented by Q = 811 f0.42, 1.5 ≤ f ≤ 12 Hz, for lapse times in the range 15 to 250 seconds. Site responses determined relative to the average network response differ by less than a factor of 2 in the range 3 to 12 Hz at five of the seven stations. However, the differences in the response of the other two sites increase with frequency, amounting to a factor of 5 at 12 Hz. Estimated relative coda source amplitude spectra exhibit similar shapes, consistent with the assumption that the scattering process is independent of path in the study region.
Selective expression of fos- and jun-related genes during osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.

Abstract Developmental studies of oncogene expression and transgenic animal studies implicate c-fos and other fos and jun family members in the regulation of bone tissue formation. Therefore, to initiate experimental examination of the hypothesis that expression of fos- and jun-related genes is functionally coupled to modulation of gene expression which supports bone development, we determined levels of expression of the principle fos and jun family members during progressive differentiation of normal rat calvaria-derived osteoblasts within two contexts. First, cellular mRNA levels were quantitated under conditions where expression of serum-induced early response genes had returned to basal levels. Our findings demonstrate high levels of c-fos, c-jun, and jun B mRNA transcripts during the proliferative period of osteoblast development, while expression of fra-1 and fra-2 is enhanced during the differentiation period, jun D is constitutively expressed during the time course exhibiting only a 30% decline in levels postproliferatively, and fos B mRNA is undetectable by Northern blot analyses. Late in the developmental sequence, apoptosis is evident. At this time, fra-1 expression is completely downregulated, while c-fos, fra-2, c-jun, jun B, and jun D show a dramatic enhancement in expression. Second, we addressed differential expression of fos and jun family members in relation to serum responsiveness as a function of stages of phenotypic development. Proliferating cells exhibit a prolonged induction of fos and jun family members in response to serum. While in differentiated cells, which are refractory to growth stimulus even when exposed to fresh serum every 2 days, a spike in fos and jun expression is observed. Thus, our data demonstrate significant differences in basal and serum responsiveness of fos and jun family members over the course of osteoblast differentiation. These findings are consistent with multiple lines of evidence linking activity of these early response genes to regulation of cell growth and development of the bone tissue phenotype.
Influence of 17-α-Methyltestosterone on Red Tilapia Under Two Thermal Regimes

Fingerling red tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus±O. niloticus) were orally administered 17-α-methyltestosterone (MT) under a warmwater (27.0 ± 0.5 C) and coolwater (21.5 ± 0.5 C) thermal regime. In the warmwater experiment, fish received either 0, 1, 5, 10, 30, 60, or 100 mg MT/kg feed for 75 days. In the coolwater experiment, fish received 0, 10, or 60 mg MT/kg feed for 75 days followed by a 34 day withdrawal period. After 75 days, fish receiving 60 mg MT/kg feed (best treatment) in the warmwater and coolwater experiments exhibited significantly higher growth rates than controls by 35.3 and 45.8%, respectively. Likewise, feed conversion among groups receiving 60 mg MT/kg feed in the warmwater and coolwater experiments were significantly better than the controls (1.14 versus 1.30 and 1.44 versus 1.77, respectively). During the withdrawal period, no significant differences in growth rates or feed conversion were observed between the control and treatment groups. MT treatment significantly affected the body composition (whole body and empty carcass) of the red tilapia in both experiments, elevating percent moisture and protein values, but depressing percent fat values. Results demonstrated that incorporation of MT into fingerling diets offers potential for extending the period when tilapias actively feed and grow in temperate climates.
Integral constraints in the study of Richtmyer-Meshkov turbulent mixing

An experimental study of the temporal evolution of the shock-induced Richtmyer-Meshkov instability in the turbulent regime with three-dimensional random interfacial perturbations is carried out. The primary interest is the growth rate of the turbulent mixing layer that develops after an impulsive acceleration of the perturbed interface between two gases (air/SF6) by a weak Ma = 1.2 incident shock wave. Planar Mie scattering is used to visualize the flow, and image sequences are captured using a high-speed video camera. The analysis of the total mixing width has been extended to study the growth behaviors of the bubbles and spikes, separately. A novel definition of the bubble and spike widths is introduced using the mass and linear momentum conservation laws. For the planar incident shock wave the newly defined bubble and spike widths increase in time as h b.s ∝ t θ, with a growth exponent θ = 1/2 that does not depend on either the initial conditions or the physical properties of the gases composing the interface.
Performance Evaluation of Waterflood Project in Southern West Virginia

Granny Creek oil field is located in Southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Basin. R has been producing from the Big Injun formation. Primary production was initiated in the 1920’s and continued until early 1970’s. Around the mid 70’s, new wet:: were drilled and a waterflood project was started which is still in progress. During the course of the waterflood project, some problems were encountered. These problems included, inconsistency in sweep efficiency in adjacent patterns, and high injection pressure. In this field often two adjacent five spot patterns with similar injection to por~ volume ratios exhibit totally different oil ai~d water production rates, While water does not breakthrough in some patterns for months, other patterns experience instantaneous water breakthrough. Unusually high injection pressure is obsewed almost throughout the field, and yet some injection wells exhibit normal injection pressures, references and Illustrations at Ihe end of paper, Presented in this paper is a summary of approaches, methodologies, results and conclusions that have been reached during the performance evaluation of this waterflood project. With the aid of resei :oir simulation studies, some major heterogeneities were ct~aracterized and modeled for this field. Interpretations of seismic studies were used to confirm the orientation of such heterogeneities in the field.
Structural alteration of p53 protein in patients with muscle invasive bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Recent data imply that 3-dimensional (D) p53 protein modeling provides more specific information on its function in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In addition to immunohistochemical and single strand conformational polymorphism analysis, we performed 3-D p53 protein modeling and correlated our results with the disease-free survival of patients with muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder who underwent surgery.Materials and Methods: We identified 43 patients and analyzed p53 status in each by immunohistochemical testing, single strand conformational polymorphism and DNA sequencing with 3-D protein modeling. Median followup was 38 months (range 4 to 92). The results of each analysis were compared and correlated with cancer specific survival. Statistical analysis was performed using the log rank test on Kaplan-Meier survival curves.Results: The population included 30 men and 13 women 35 to 84 years old (median age 65). Nuclear over expression of p53 protein was observed ...
Calibration and characterization of a digital X-ray fluorescence bone lead system.

Abstract Five different combinations of digital shaping parameters were tested for a newly assembled, 109 Cd source, K X-ray fluorescence bone lead system. System calibration results are presented, along with analyses of measurement uncertainty and reproducibility obtained from repeat measurements of a bone phantom and a human tibia. Digital shaping parameters of 2.4 μs for a rise time/fall time and 1.2 μs for a flat top width were identified as superior. The digital system provided significant improvements in overall measurement precision, with gains of at least 25–35% over conventional system results.
Target Region Amplification Polymorphism (TRAP) for Assessing Genetic Diversity in Sugarcane Germplasm Collections

Target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) is a fairly new PCR-based molecular marker technique which uses gene-based information for primer design. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of TRAP markers for assessing genetic diversity and interrelationships in sugarcane germplasm collections. Thirty genotypes from the genera Saccharum, Miscanthus, and Erianthus were used in the study. Among the genus Saccharum were the species, S. officinarum L., S. barberi Jesw., S. sinense Roxb., S. spontaneum L., S. robustum Brandes and Jeswiet ex Grassl, cultivars, cultivar-derived mutants and interspecific hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. Six fixed primers, designed from sucrose- and cold tolerance-related EST (expressed sequence tags) sequences, paired with three arbitrary primers, were used to characterize the germplasm. Both the cluster and principal coordinate (PCoA) analyses placed the Erianthus spp. and Miscanthus spp. genotypes distinctly from each other and from the Saccharum species, thus, supporting their taxonomic classification as separate genera. Genotypes of the low sucrose and cold tolerant species, S. spontaneum, formed one distinct group, while the rest of the Saccharum species formed one interrelated cluster with no distinct subgroups. Sequence analysis of TRAP bands derived from a S. spontaneum genotype revealed homology with known gene sequences from other grass species includingSorghum.ABLASTn search using the homologous sequences from Sorghum matched with the S. officinarum GenBank accession from which the fixed TRAP primer was designed. These results ratify TRAPas a potentially useful marker technique for genetic diversity studies in sugarcane.
Mindfulness, time affluence, and journey-based affect: Exploring relationships

Behavioral travel research has neglected to examine the role of mindfulness in the context of the work commute. Mindfulness is a psychological construct that has been associated with improvements to mental health, social engagement, and behavioral regulation. We examined ways in which users of different travel modes perceive their journey to work from an affective stance, their dispositional mindfulness, and time affluence. Using survey data from 786 university employees, we estimated a structural equation model capturing the direct and indirect relationships between mindfulness and the degree to which commuters find their work trip satisfying and peaceful (commute-related attunement), and related mediators. Bus users, walkers, and bicyclists reported significantly less stress than drivers. Walkers and bicyclists reported greater positive journey-based affect than drivers and bus users. Additionally, walkers and bus users maintained relatively greater perceptions of time affluence than drivers. Modeling results revealed that mindfulness directly, and operating through time affluence, competence, and stress, enhanced attunement to the commuting experience. The findings suggest that enhancing individual-level time affluence and sense of competence using non-motorized modes may encourage individuals to choose active transportation modes.
Cell cycle control and cancer chemotherapy

As detailed information accumulates about how cell cycle events are regulated, we can expect new opportunities for application to cancer therapy. The altered expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that commonly occurs in human cancers may impair the ability of the cells to respond to metabolic perturbations of stress. Impaired cell cycle regulation would make cells vulnerable to pharmacologic intervention by drug regimens tailored to the defects existing in particular tumors. Recent findings that may become applicable to therapy are reviewed, and the possible form of new therapeutic stratagems is considered.
The degree of intelligence of the law of Biot-Savart

The author shows that the law of Biot-Savart is capable of giving the magnetic flux density due to DC currents in complete circuits or segments of circuits. The charge accumulations at the ends of such segments are automatically accounted for in this law. In such cases, the law of Biot-Savart is equivalent to the complete form of Maxwell's equation with the displacement current included. It is concluded that the law of Biot-Savart is more generation and contains more information than is generally assumed. >
SampleSearch: Importance sampling in presence of determinism

The paper focuses on developing effective importance sampling algorithms for mixed probabilistic and deterministic graphical models. The use of importance sampling in such graphical models is problematic because it generates many useless zero weight samples which are rejected yielding an inefficient sampling process. To address this rejection problem, we propose the SampleSearch scheme that augments sampling with systematic constraint-based backtracking search. We characterize the bias introduced by the combination of search with sampling, and derive a weighting scheme which yields an unbiased estimate of the desired statistics (e.g., probability of evidence). When computing the weights exactly is too complex, we propose an approximation which has a weaker guarantee of asymptotic unbiasedness. We present results of an extensive empirical evaluation demonstrating that SampleSearch outperforms other schemes in presence of significant amount of determinism.
An ecosystem-based approach for Alaska groundfish fisheries

Witherell, D., Pautzke, C., and Fluharty, D. 2000. An ecosystem-based approach for Alaska groundfish fisheries. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 57: 771–777. An ecosystem-based approach is being developed for the management of groundfish fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean off Alaska, USA. The approach involves public participation, reliance on scientific research and advice, conservative catch quotas, comprehensive monitoring and enforcement, by-catch controls, gear restrictions, temporal and spatial distribution of fisheries, habitat conservation areas, and other biological and socioeconomic considerations. The basic ecosystem consideration employed is a precautionary approach to extraction of fish resources. Off Alaska, all groundfish stocks are considered healthy, while providing sustained yields of about 2 million tonnes annually. Management measures are also taken to minimize potential impacts of fishing on seafloor habitat and other ecosystem components such as marine mammals and seabirds. 2000 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
One Person's Statement to Prove Another's Actions

This article examines State v. McLaughlin, 14 A.3d 720 (N.J. 2011) to illustrate the importance of the hearsay rule to resolving the admissibility issue of a declarant's statement of an intention to do a future act to prove the acts of another person.
Satisfaction with Sexual Communication in Marriage: Links to Sexual Satisfaction and Dyadic Adjustment

This study explored the relationships among sexual communication satisfaction, sexual satisfaction and dyadic adjustment in marital relationships. A total of 402 married individuals responded to a mail survey. Results indicated that satisfaction with sexual communication was significantly and positively associated with sexual satisfaction, dyadic adjustment, dyadic satisfaction, dyadic cohesion, affectional expression and dyadic consensus. Based upon an examination of partial correlations it is proposed that sexual satisfaction mediates the relationship between sexual communication satisfaction and marital adjustment.
Efficient photosensitization and high optical gain in a novel quantum-dot-sensitized hybrid photorefractive nanocomposite at a telecommunications wavelength

A high-performance hybrid polymeric photorefractive nanocomposite operating at the telecommunications wavelength of 1.34 μm is presented. The photorefractive nanocomposite is sensitized with PbS nanocrystals synthesized via a hot colloidal route. Photoconductivity experiments confirm and quantify the photocharge-generation quantum efficiency of the nanocrystals. A pronounced two-beam coupling effect at the operation wavelength is observed, leading to very high optical gains. Temporal evolution of the photorefractive growth process is also studied.
17O NMR studies on substituted N-arylacetamides and aryl acetates: torsion angle and electronic effects

17O NMR spectroscopic data at natural abundance in acetonitrile at 75°C were obtained for sixteen N-arylacetamides, three N-methyl-N-arylacetamides and seven aryl acetates. The 17O chemical shifts of the N-arylacetamides are significantly influenced by both electronic and steric factors. A Hammett plot of the data for 4-substituted N-arylacetamides gives a slope of 22 ppm. Ortho substituents result in significant shielding effects, in contrast to previously reported results for conjugated ketnoes. A quantitative relationship between 17O chemical shift data and torsion angle was found for the sterically hindered arylacetamides. Electronic effects on the aryl acetate 17O chemical shifts are, in comparison, greatly reduced. Steric factors for aryl acetates show even smaller effects on the 17O chemical shifts.
Stochastic Performance Analysis of Multi-radio Multi-channel Wireless Mesh Networks

In this paper, we investigate wireless communications over multi-radio and multi-channel wireless mesh networks with IEEE 802.11e based ingress access points for local clients. We develop a theoretical model for stochastic performance analysis for real-time applications over such wireless mesh networks with wideband fading channels in various environments.
Refinement-based requirements modeling using triggered message sequence charts

Triggered message sequence charts (TMSCs) are a visual, mathematically precise notation for capturing system requirements as conditional and partial scenarios. We show how TMSCs may be used to formalize two different requirements modeling methodologies. The first approach combines prescriptive ("do this") and constraint-based ("don't do that") requirements within a single specification; it is useful for composing localized subsystem requirements with global system ones. The second approach supports layered specifications in which partial descriptions of requirements may be elaborated on in a succession of steps; it is suitable for the incremental development of complex behavior in which "error" scenarios are "layered on top of" normative ones. Both methodologies derive their formal robustness from the notion of semantic refinement for TMSCs, which is based on DeNicola's and Hennessy's must preorder. Case studies are used to illustrate the utility of the work.
Inactivation of primate superior colliculus impairs covert selection of signals for perceptual judgments

Primates base perceptual judgments on some sensory inputs while ignoring others. The covert selection of sensory information for perception is often thought to be accomplished mostly by the cerebral cortex, whereas the overt orienting toward relevant stimuli involves various additional structures such as the superior colliculus, a subcortical region involved in the control of eye movements. Contrary to this view, we show that the superior colliculus is necessary for determining which stimuli will inform perceptual judgments, even in the absence of orienting movements. Reversible inactivation of the superior colliculus in monkeys performing a motion discrimination task caused profound inattention for stimuli in the affected visual field, but only when distracters containing counterinformative signals appeared in the unaffected field. When distracting stimuli contained no information, discrimination performance was largely unaffected. Thus, the superior colliculus is a bottleneck in the covert selection of signals for perceptual judgments.
An approach toward quantification of organic compounds in complex environmental samples using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Quantitative analysis of individual compounds in complex mixtures using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) is complicated by differences in the ionization efficiencies of analyte molecules, mainly resulting in signal suppression during ionization. However, the ability to obtain concentration estimates of compounds in environmental samples is important for data interpretation and comparison. We introduce an approach for estimating mass concentrations of analytes observed in a multicomponent mixture by HR-ESI-MS, without prior separation. The approach relies, in part, on a matrix-matched calibration of the instrument using appropriate standards added to the analyte matrix. An illustration of how the proposed calibration can be applied in practice is provided for aqueous extracts of isoprene photooxidation secondary organic aerosol, with multifunctional organic acid standards. We show that the observed ion sensitivities in ESI are positively correlated with the “adjusted mass,” defined as a product of the molecular mass and the H/C ratio in the molecule (adjusted mass = H/C × molecular mass). The correlation of the observed ESI sensitivity with adjusted mass is associated with the trends of the physical and chemical properties of organic compounds that affect ionization in the positive ion mode, i.e., gas-phase basicity, polarizability, and molecular size.
Defined Contribution Plans as a Foundationfor Retirement Security

This article discusses why employer-sponsored defined-contribution (DC) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are such an important part of the U.S. retirement system. The authors discuss the numerous positive strides taken by plan sponsors to increase participation, provide more diversified portfolios, and offer immediate eligibility to a mobile workforce. They argue that the DC system provides a strong foundation upon which to continue to strengthen the U.S. retirement system and is preferable to alternative proposals that seek to wholly or partially supplant the employer’s role with expanded government provision of retirement benefits. The authors recommend that policymakers and the employer community work together to build on the substantial progress already made regarding coverage, participation, and contributions as well as in the promotion of guaranteed retirement income and other retirement risk management practices.
Design and Development of a Long Fiber Thermoplastic Bus Seat

Long fiber thermoplastics (LFTs) are increasingly being used in automotive applications for front-ends, bumper beams, dashboards, and under body shields. They have a significant potential for mass-transit applications in buses, trucks, and railroad vehicles. The LFTs are processed with a thermoplastic matrix such as polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PAI) reinforced with long glass (or carbon, aramid, etc.) fibers, with starting fiber lengths >12 mm, through a pultrusion processing method. The LFT components are typically produced using extrusion-compression molding. In the present work, a bus seat was chosen as a candidate component to assess the viability of LFT technology to reduce weight and cost, without compromising performance over presently used designs. A conservative estimate of 43% weight reduction and 18% cost reduction per seat was predicted over presently implemented seat designs that contain a circumferential steel frame. Cadpress-Thermoplastic (EXPRESS) compression molding software for LFTs ...
Ambipolar field effect in the ternary topological insulator (BixSb1-x)2Te3 by composition tuning

Topological insulators exhibit a bulk energy gap and spin-polarized surface states that lead to unique electronic properties, with potential applications in spintronics and quantum information processing. However, transport measurements have typically been dominated by residual bulk charge carriers originating from crystal defects or environmental doping, and these mask the contribution of surface carriers to charge transport in these materials. Controlling bulk carriers in current topological insulator materials, such as the binary sesquichalcogenides Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3 and Bi2Se3, has been explored extensively by means of material doping and electrical gating, but limited progress has been made to achieve nanostructures with low bulk conductivity for electronic device applications. Here we demonstrate that the ternary sesquichalcogenide (Bi(x)Sb(1-x))2Te3 is a tunable topological insulator system. By tuning the ratio of bismuth to antimony, we are able to reduce the bulk carrier density by over two orders of magnitude, while maintaining the topological insulator properties. As a result, we observe a clear ambipolar gating effect in (Bi(x)Sb(1-x))2Te3 nanoplate field-effect transistor devices, similar to that observed in graphene field-effect transistor devices. The manipulation of carrier type and density in topological insulator nanostructures demonstrated here paves the way for the implementation of topological insulators in nanoelectronics and spintronics.
In vivo measurement of the shape of the tissue-refractive-index correlation function and its applicationto detection of colorectal field carcinogenesis

Polarization-gated spectroscopy is an established method to depth-selectively interrogate the structural properties of biological tissue. We employ this method in vivo in the azoxymethane (AOM)-treated rat model to monitor the morphological changes that occur in the field of a tumor during early carcinogenesis. The results demonstrate a statistically significant change in the shape of the refractive-index correlation function for AOM-treated rats versus saline-treated controls. Since refractive index is linearly proportional to mass density, these refractive-index changes can be directly linked to alterations in the spatial distribution patterns of macromolecular density. Furthermore, we found that alterations in the shape of the refractive-index correlation function shape were an indicator of both present and future risk of tumor development. These results suggest that noninvasive measurement of the shape of the refractive-index correlation function could be a promising marker of early cancer development.
The Monster Within: How Male Serial Killers Discursively Manage Their Stigmatized Identities

Investigations of identity management regarding serial killers are sparse and rarely account for the communal discourse surrounding serial homicide. Such studies are essential to understanding the intersections of stigma and identity, particularly for the exploration of reframing that is severely limited for deviant populations. This interpretive study examined 13 interviews with serial killers to explore stigmatized identity management. The analysis revealed that male serial killers rejected their stigmatized identity by indicating a lack of control over their non-normal behavior or by justifying their actions. They also indicated that societal influences, such as previous traumatic experiences and communal discourse surrounding serial killing, influenced their identity management.
COMPUTER-BASED MULTIMEDIA PAVEMENT TRAINING TOOL FOR SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

Advances in technology, more retirements, and less-experienced personnel have increased demand for training within the pavement industry. Traditionally, training demand has been met by classroom short courses. Although many are excellent, these courses can take substantial time to develop and deliver, and they have trouble reaching everyone who needs or desires training. The term "self-directed learning" (SDL) refers to learning and teaching methods that rely on the direction and guidance of the learner. Examples are distance learning and learning from computers or television. When combined with short courses, SDL offers the potential to extend training outreach and improve the quality and productivity of instructor-student contact hours within short courses. The Pavement Guide was developed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of SDL tools for use in pavement training. Pavement Guide refers to the generic concept of a computer-based multimedia CD-ROM training tool that provides general and de...
Family Transformation: Parse's Theory in Practice

This article illustrates how the principles and practice dimensions of the theory of man-living-health were used to change the health situation of a family facing the loss of the family patriarch who had experienced major neurosurgery. Theoretical structures from the theory of man- living-health are elucidated through describing nursing care with the family. The article demonstrates the value of theory-based nursing prac tice by describing how care based on the theory of man-living-health transformed a family situation as the family members struggled to live their value priorities.
Stochastic perturbations of position dependent random maps

A random map is a dynamical system consisting of a collection of maps which are selected randomly by means of fixed probabilities at each iteration. In this note, we consider absolutely continuous invariant measures of random maps with position dependent probabilities and prove that they are stable under small stochastic perturbations. This result depends on a new lemma which handles arbitrarily small extra partition elements that may arise from the perturbation of the random map. For perturbations satisfying additional conditions, we give precise estimates of the error in the invariant density.
Effect of codeword placement on the reliability of erasure coded data storage systems

Modern data storage systems employ advanced erasure codes to protect data from storage node failures because of their ability to provide high data reliability at high storage efficiency. In contrast to previous studies, we consider the practical case where the length of codewords in an erasure coded system is much smaller than the number of storage nodes in the system. In this case, there exists a large number of possible ways in which different codewords can be stored across the nodes of the system. In this paper, it is shown that a declustered placement of codewords can significantly improve system reliability compared to other placement schemes. A detailed reliability analysis is presented that accounts for the rebuild times involved, the amounts of partially rebuilt data when additional nodes fail during rebuild, and an intelligent rebuild process that attempts to rebuild the most critical codewords first.
Context-Driven Image Annotation Using ImageNet.

Image annotation research has demonstrated success on test data for focused domains. Unfortunately, extending these techniques to the broader topics found in real world data often results in poor performance. This paper proposes a novel approach that leverages WordNet and ImageNet capabilities to annotate images based on local text and image features. Signatures generated from ImageNet images based on WordNet synonymous sets are compared using Earth Mover's Distance against the query image and used to rank order surrounding words by relevancy. The results demonstrate effective image annotation, producing higher accuracy and improved specificity over the ALIPR image annotation system.
Tension-compression fatigue of an oxide/oxide ceramic composite at elevated temperature

Abstract Tension-compression fatigue behavior of an oxide-oxide ceramic-matrix composite was investigated at 1200 °C in air and in steam. The composite is comprised of an alumina matrix reinforced with Nextel™720 alumina-mullite fibers woven in an eight harness satin weave (8HSW). The composite has no interface between the fiber and matrix, and relies on the porous matrix for flaw tolerance. Tension-compression fatigue behavior was studied for fatigue stresses ranging from 60 to 120 MPa at a frequency of 1.0 Hz. The R ratio (minimum stress to maximum stress) was −1.0. Fatigue run-out was defined as 105 cycles and was achieved at 80 MPa in air and at 70 MPa in steam. Steam reduced fatigue lives by an order of magnitude. Specimens that achieved fatigue run-out were subjected to tensile tests to failure to characterize the retained tensile properties. Specimens subjected to prior fatigue in air retained 100% of their tensile strength. The steam environment severely degraded tensile properties. Tension-compression fatigue was considerably more damaging than tension-tension fatigue. Composite microstructure, as well as damage and failure mechanisms were investigated.
Social Security Reform: The Politics of the Payroll Tax

This Article examines the principal reform proposals that would increase tax revenue for the Social Security trust fund — weighing the pros and cons of each. The Article also considers the prospects for political agreement on a reform proposal given the past efforts and the looming crisis. Part I of the Article recounts the latest data as of 2013 on insolvency projections and discusses the methods by which the Office of the Chief Actuary measures the effect of proposed reforms. Part II provides an overview of the payroll tax and benefit calculations. The factors used in calculating both tax and benefits are key components used in many reform proposals. The Article focuses on two types of tax reform proposals: (1) proposals that increase the tax rate, which are the subject of Part III; and (2) proposals that increase the maximum taxable income rate, which are discussed in Part IV. Part V examines the political realities of reform proposals and suggests ways in which political bargaining can be structured to maximize the chances of a proposal being adopted.
High-throughput discovery of post-transcriptional cis-regulatory elements.

Post-transcriptional gene regulation controls the amount of protein produced from an individual mRNA by altering rates of decay and translation. Many sequence elements that direct post-transcriptional regulation have been found; in mammals, most such elements are located within the 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs). Comparative genomic studies demonstrate that mammalian 3′UTRs contain extensive conserved sequence tracts, yet only a small fraction corresponds to recognized elements, implying that many additional novel elements exist. Despite a variety of computational, molecular, and biochemical approaches, identifying functional 3′UTRs elements remains difficult. We created a high-throughput cell-based screen that enables identification of functional post-transcriptional 3′UTR regulatory elements. Our system exploits integrated single-copy reporters, which are expressed and processed as endogenous genes. We screened many thousands of short random sequences for their regulatory potential. Control sequences with known effects were captured effectively using our approach, establishing that our methodology was robust. We found hundreds of functional sequences, which we validated in traditional reporter assays, including verifying their regulatory impact in native sequence contexts. Although 3′UTRs are typically considered repressive, most of the functional elements were activating, including ones that were preferentially conserved. Additionally, we adapted our screening approach to examine the effect of elements on RNA abundance, revealing that most elements act by altering mRNA stability. We developed and used a high-throughput approach to discover hundreds of post-transcriptional cis-regulatory elements. These results imply that most human 3′UTRs contain many previously unrecognized cis-regulatory elements, many of which are activating, and that the post-transcriptional fate of an mRNA is largely due to the actions of many individual cis-regulatory elements within its 3′UTR.
Observations on the Biology and Ovipositional Habits of Aleurocybotus occiduus (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) Attacking Grasses and Sedges

The epidermal cells of grasses and sedges contain large amounts of silica and lignin. As a result, the ovipositing females of Aleurocybotus occiduus Russell deposit the egg stalks in the stomatal openings of the leaf. Besides attaching the egg to the plant tissue, the egg stalk also absorbs moisture from the plant, keeping the egg in a viable, turgid state. The morphology of the egg is discussed in relation to the transfer of symbionts from one generation to the next.
Effect of Mating on Egg Production by the Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Virgin females laid infertile eggs in clusters averaging 17 eggs each, at intervals which averaged 6.6 days, but with great variation between individuals. The presence of 1 or 2 males increased about 3-fold both cluster size and frequency of laying, and these increases were maintained for 3 weeks after the males were removed. Females activated by males each produced 15–30 eggs daily; virgins, 0–7 eggs, with occasional brief periods of egg-laying at twice the mean rate. Activation by males, which apparently required a 3–4-day period, seemed a major requirement in determining fecundity on this strain of Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas). The delayed onset and long persistence of this activation suggest that it was mediated by endocrine factors, especially the corpora allata.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Surface Nucleation during Growth of an Alkane Crystal

Crystal growth from the melt of n-pentacontane (C50) was studied by molecular dynamics simulation. Quenching below the melting temperature gives rise to propagation of the crystal growth front into the C50 melt from a crystalline polyethylene surface. By tracking the location of the crystal–melt interface, crystal growth rates between 0.02 and 0.05 m/s were observed, for quench depths of 10–70 K below the melting point. These growth rates compare favorably with those from a previous study by Waheed et al. [Polymer 2005, 46, 8689−8702]. Next, surface nucleation was identified with the formation of two-dimensional clusters of crystalline sites within layers parallel to the propagating growth front. Critical nucleus sizes, waiting times, and rates for surface nucleation were estimated by a mean first passage time analysis. A surface nucleation rate of ∼0.05 nm–2 ns–1 was observed, and it was nearly temperature-independent. Postcritical “spreading” of the surface nuclei to form a completely crystallized layer...
The Etiology Analysis of Infantile Choledochal Cysts Development

Objective:To investigate the etiology development and chronic inflammation affection in the infantile chole-duchal cysts.Methods:Twenty-nine patients under 1 year with choleduchal cysts were reviewed between 2000 to 2006.The expressions of CD4,CD8,CMV and EBV were detected by immunohistochemical staining for observing the distribution of choleduchal epithetical cells.The information combined with clinical data and operative cholangiogram were analyzed.Re-sults:Seventeen patients underwent operative cholangiogram,and 6 patients(54.5%) had an anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system.CD4 expression happened in 11 patients(37.9%),and CD8 was detected in 22 patients(75.9%).Four patients(13.8%) expressed CMV,and 12 patients(41.4%)expressed EBV.Conclusion:Reflux of pancreatic enzymes containing trypsin upward into the common bile duct can result in damage to the ductal wall.The virus infection can induce inflammation of epithelial membrane and high expression of CD8.Common bile duct dilatation is related to intermittent obstruction from mucous plugs.
Biliary calcium secretion in the dog occurs primarily by passive convection and diffusion and is linked to bile flow

Despite the importance of biliary calcium in the pathogenesis of gallstones, little is known about the sites or modes of entry of calcium into bile. We here examine the mechanisms of calcium entry into canine bile by comparing the entry of calcium, over a wide range of bile flows (2.4 to 38.0 microliters/kg per minute), with that of potassium, a small ion that is passively distributed throughout the biliary tract and that is also subject to alteration by Gibbs-Donnan forces. It is shown that (1) the concentrations of free ionized calcium, [Ca++], increases in an apparently linear fashion with increasing total bile salt concentration at low bile flow, whereas the rise in [Ca++] is strongly blunted at high rates of flow; (2) the entry of both calcium and potassium into bile is tightly linked to bile flow; and (3) calcium outputs are linearly related to potassium outputs with an intercept at the origin. These results indicate that the canaliculus is permeable to Ca++ ions, and that Ca++ enters bile primarily by passive convection and diffusion. Calcium entry is thus tightly linked to the water flux generated by bile salt secretion. Such passive entry and distribution indicate that calcium will always be present in bile and that possible therapeutic reduction of biliary [Ca++] for treatment, and possibly prevention of calcium-containing gallstones, will require sustained chelation of calcium within the lumen of the biliary tract.
Student Participation in Professional Organizations: A Synopsis of Data Collected From CAAHEP-Accredited Sonography Programs

A professional society, organization, or association offers members the opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills and to maintain their certification through organizational activities. By d...
Integrating Liberal Arts Learning Outcomes in the Development and Implementation of a Multisection Undergraduate Public Health Capstone Course

As demand increases for well-trained public health professionals, academic leaders of universities and colleges must tailor their curricula to prepare students to be ready for the public health workplace, while also providing critical thinking and awareness skills through a liberal arts course context. Temple University’s undergraduate public health program has created a capstone experience that bridges these two priorities. Using public health community-based program planning and evaluation as its content, this two-semester (32 weeks) writing-intensive course provides training for students in writing a grant proposal, including conducting a needs assessment, devising evaluable program goals and objectives, creating an intervention and planning its implementation and evaluation, and developing budgeting and marketing plans. Students also complete related assignments that help develop the critical thinking skills they need to understand the context of public health within the larger society. Utilizing the ...
The Civic Engagement Gap(s): Youth Participation and Inequality From 1976 to 2009:

Civic participation in the United States is highly unequal, resulting in a “civic engagement gap” between socioeconomic, racial, and gender groups. Variation in civic participation and the civic en...
Predictors of preoperative weight loss achievement in adult bariatric surgery candidates while following a low-calorie diet for 4 weeks.

Abstract Background Achieving program-mandated preoperative weight loss poses a challenge for many bariatric surgery candidates. No systematic method exists to identify at-risk patients early in preoperative care. Objectives This study sought to explore predictors of preoperative weight loss achievement and to develop a treatment algorithm for guiding clinical decision-making. Setting Greenville Health System, South Carolina. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for 378 patients who followed a program-mandated low-calorie diet (LCD) for 4 weeks to achieve≥8% excess weight loss (EWL). Associations between weight loss achievement and patient demographic, nutrition, psychological, clinical, anthropometric, and treatment characteristics documented at 5 preoperative evaluation events were analyzed using logistic regression. Results During the LCD, 62.7% of patients achieved≥8% EWL. Independent predictors of achievement (all P Conclusion Patients of female sex or non-Caucasian race; with a BMI≥50 kg/m2, many co-morbidities, or no hypertension diagnosis at surgeon evaluation; who demonstrate prediet weight loss or extended wait time between surgeon evaluation and preoperative LCD initiation may be at risk for preoperative weight loss failure and may require preemptive diet modification to improve outcomes.
Nonlinear methods of analysis to examine respiratory waveform variability during oral feeding in preterm infants

In a novel exploratory study, nonlinear methods of analysis for respiratory patterns were used to examine respiratory waveform variability during oral feeding in preterm infants. Twelve healthy preterm infants were studied using a within-subject cross over design to compare semi-upright and the elevated sidelying position during bottle feeding. Outcome measures were physiologic indicators of cardiopulmonary status: heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and respiratory pattern variability. Preliminary results suggest that analysis of respiratory waveform variability is feasible and may be a more sensitive measure of cardiopulmonary physiology than means for heart rate, respiratory rate and percent haemoglobin oxygen saturation. Nonlinear methods of analysis of the respiratory data provide a distinct perspective on the adaptability of infants' breathing patterns while feeding. The clinical application of monitoring respiratory waveforms using nonlinear methods may be helpful in identifying readiness to initiate and advance feeds orally in preterm infants.
Seq-ing the Circuit Logic of the Basal Ganglia

Recently, Wallace et al. (2017) provide an unprecedented view of the layers of molecular, cellular and circuit complexity involving a basal ganglia output structure, the entopeduncular nucleus. Their findings lend order to chaos by revealing how molecularly and functionally defined cellular subsets are organized into distinct circuitry.
A survey of rate control in HEVC and SHVC video encoding

Rate control in video coding has proven to be a prolific research area because it is the heart of video coding. This paper presents an overview of rate control techniques in HEVC. The paper introduces and reviews some of the rate control algorithms for prior video coding standards. Next, the paper presents the basic features of HEVC that drive the need for new rate control techniques. The paper also describes R-D model based taxonomy of various algorithms including the classification criteria. Another classification categorizes the rate control algorithms according to their basic principle and mechanisms. The paper includes a section giving an overview of the scalable extension of HEVC namely SHVC while highlighting some of the possible challenges in SHVC rate control design. Finally, the paper identifies some of the conspicuous unresolved research issues in HEVC rate control and outlines possible future directions.
Do State Affordable Housing Appeals Systems Backfire? A Natural Experiment

Several U.S. states have supplemented traditional judicial review of local land-use regulation with a state affordable housing appeals system (SAHAS). Empirical evidence indicates that a SAHAS can ...
Response of Selected Old Garden Roses to Seven Isolates of Marssonina rosae in Mississippi

Abstract Seven isolates of Marssonina rosae (imperfect stage of Diplocarpon rosae) elicited different blackspot disease expression among 39 Old Garden Roses in laboratory tests. ‘Felicite Parmentie...