cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myoelectric control techniques for a rehabilitation robot

This work examines two different types of myoelectric control schemes for the purpose of rehabilitation robot applications. The first is a commonly used technique based on a Gaussian classifier. It is implemented in real time for healthy subjects in addition to a subject with Central Cord Syndrome CCS. The myoelectric control scheme is used to control three degrees of freedom DOF on a robot manipulator which corresponded to the robot's elbow joint, wrist joint, and gripper. The classes of motion controlled include elbow flexion and extension, wrist pronation and supination, hand grasping and releasing, and rest. Healthy subjects were able to achieve 90% accuracy. Single DOF controllers were first tested on the subject with CCS and he achieved 100%, 96%, and 85% accuracy for the elbow, gripper, and wrist controllers respectively. Secondly, he was able to control the three DOF controller at 68% accuracy. The potential applications for this scheme are rehabilitation and teleoperation. To overcome limitations in the pattern recognition based scheme, a second myoelectric control scheme is also presented which is trained using electromyographic EMG data derived from natural reaching motions in the sagittal plane. This second scheme is based on a time delayed neural network TDNN which has the ability to control multiple DOF at once. The controller tracked a subject's elbow and shoulder joints in the sagittal plane. Results showed an average error of 19° for the two joints. This myoelectric control scheme has the potential of being used in the development of exoskeleton and orthotic rehabilitation applications.
A Test to Evaluate Some Personality Traits

Resume Une reaction anormale au succes et a l'insucces semble caracteristique de plusieurs personnes qui cherchent des conseils ou du traitement a une clinique psychiatrique. Pour obtenir des donnees objectives et comparables sur ce trait de personnalite, on a invente une experience pour nous permettre de voir en action la dynamique du succes et celle de l'insucces dans une forme aussi simple que possible. On a adopte le procede suivant: on donne dix dards au sujet lesquels il jette a une cible; apres cela on note les resultats et les ecrit. Apres quatre ou cinq fois le sujet sait assez bien le niveau approxime de son execution. Puis on commence le vrai test: on demande au sujet de dire ce qu'il va accomplir. On arrange le systeme de sorte que le sujet desire predire des resultats aussi eleves que possible sans s'exposer a trop de risques (de grandes peines s'il ne fait pas ce qu'il predit). Il jette les dards encore une fois et on lui annonce les resultats—le succes ou l'insucces. Sa reaction est montree...
Arctic Ocean tides measured by satellite

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) measures Earth's gravity field by gauging the acceleration of two satellites that travel about 220 kilometers apart—slight differences in acceleration between the two satellites provide information about the distribution of mass below the satellites. To get an accurate picture of Earth's gravity field, it is necessary to know how tides are contributing to GRACE measurements. However, tidal corrections have usually been made using data from satellite altimeters that do not cover the Arctic. To get around this problem, Killett et al. developed a new method of analyzing GRACE data that enabled them to extract Arctic Ocean tides. They suggest that applying their method could help improve GRACE data processing. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, doi:10.1029/2011JC007111, 2011)
Reflections on Teaching of Business Ethics

There is a moral dimension in all business decisions. When planning a corporate takeover, which substance to use for a product, whether to hire temps or full-time workers, or where to invest, all reflect values and hence moral considerations. It is not enough to change people, we must change the structure. Within the corporate structure it is important to have special divisions dedicated to the implementation of ethics such as internal audit committees. The same might be said about business schools; to enhance ethicality, we need both that all faculty become more committed to moral education and special departments dedicated to it. Also the neo-classsical, deontological paradigm needs to be combined with deontological, social paradigms. The challenge that one cannot teach ethics because it's unclear whose values we are going to teach, can be dealt with by teaching values we all share, and knowledge and respect for those that divide us.
A limited-area model of the Gulf Stream: design, initial experiments, and model-data intercomparison

Abstract A primitive-equation, n-layer, eddy-resolving creation model has been applied to the Gulf Stream System from Cape Hatteras to cast of the Grand Banks (78°–45°W, 30°–48°N). Within the limitations of the model, realistic coastlines, bottom topography, and forcing functions have been used. A two-layer version of the model was driven by observed mean climatological wind forcing and mass transport prescribed at inflow. Outflow was determined by a radiation boundary condition and an integral constraint on the mass field in each layer. Specification of a Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) was included in some model runs. Six numerical experiments, from a series of over fifty integrated to statistical equilibrium, were selected for detailed description and intercomparison with observations. The basic case consisted of a flat bottom regime driven by wind forcing only. Realistic inflow transport in the upper layer was then prescribed and two different outflow specifications at the eastern boundary were s...
Balancing Household Needs and Human Rights of Working Families

Charlotte Johnson-Welch and Richard Strickland argue that one of the urgent needs for countries with developing and transition economies is to ensure equitable access to quality child care options for working women and their families. Investments are needed in resources that can ease the tension caused when household members, particularly women, have to allocate time and energy in one set of activities to the detriment of others. Policy needs to focus on the responsibilities and obligations of all actors (state and non-state) to support the child care needs of working families in order to fill the gap between demand for and investment in child care.
Exploring Social and Moral Learning Frameworks Through Collaborative Inquiry

AbstractThis article reflects on the best teaching practices explored and developed by members of a teachers’ community and action research project in Arizona. The project is an ongoing collaborative inquiry and curriculum development endeavor that involves seven dance educators who are currently teaching or have previously taught in secondary dance education classrooms, mainly in Arizona. Tied by our common sustained interests in developing and implementing student-centered and democratically oriented pedagogical frameworks, we gather monthly to query our teaching experiences, create pedagogical solutions to the problems we have identified in our classroom communities, and envision new paradigms for practice that address the complex needs of twenty-first-century high school learners. As we have worked together in this professional development commitment, we have discovered the potential of the pedagogical frameworks we have constructed that strive toward best practices through processes of dialogue, crit...
Energy Interactions of Electric Clothes Dryers and Heat Pump Water Heaters with Building Equipment Systems

The way in which an appliance is used or where the appliance is located affects its energy usage. The building equipment system which usually is most affected by the efficiency and/or the manner of operation of other building equipment systems (appliances) is the house heating and cooling (HVAC) system. Two cases of energy interactions between appliances and the house HVAC are discussed, and measured operating data are used to calculate the appliance energy usage including the HVAC interaction. The first study involves the interaction between a heat pump water heater (HPWH) and the house HVAC. Since an HIPWH extracts energy from the air in its surroundings and adds it to the water it is heating, the load on the house HVAC will be changed if the HPWH is located in a conditioned space. The second study concerns the increased amount of infiltration air brought into a house caused by venting a clothes dryer to the outside. All the increased infiltration air must be conditioned by the house HVAC if the dryer is located in a conditioned space. Graphs and tables based on measured data are presented which show the estimated interaction of the house HVAC with an HPWH and a vented electric clothes dryer.
Enhancing Participant Safety through Electronically Generated Medication Order Sets in a Clinical Research Environment: A Medical Informatics Initiative

While clinical medicine is often well supported by health system information technology infrastructure, clinical research may need to create strategies to use clinical-medicine informational technology tools. The authors describe a medication-safety initiative that was carried out in a National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA)-sponsored clinical research environment. A web based, medical informatics application was designed and implemented that allowed research groups to build protocol specific, electronic medication templates that were subsequently used to create participant-specific medication order sets for conductance of clinical research activities in the CTSA-sponsored clinical research environment. The medical informatics initiative eliminated typewritten or handwritten medication orders, created research protocol-specific templates meeting institutional order-writing requirements, and formalized a rigorous review and approval process. Enhancing safety in medication ordering and prescribing practices in a clinical research environment provided the background for multidisciplinary cooperation in medical informatics.
Investigating the impact of inquiry mode on self-reported sexual behavior: theoretical considerations and review of the literature.

Measurement of sexual behaviors is typically reliant on retrospective self-reports of behaviors. Historically, self-reported sexual behavior data were primarily collected through face-to-face interviews or paper-and-pencil questionnaires, as these were the only modes of inquiry available. In recent decades, technological innovations such as telephones, computers, and the Internet have expanded the self-report inquiry modes available. The addition of these new inquiry modes further complicates the ability of sex researchers to evaluate the quality of research results and compare findings across studies. Self-report sexual behavior data are vulnerable to participation biases, as well as to sources of bias in individual responses, such as recollection and social desirability bias. This is true regardless of the inquiry mode being used, but some modes may be more vulnerable to bias than others. This review examines the available research regarding self-report sexual behavior research, inquiry mode, and relati...
Monolayers of linear poly(vinyl benzoate) and its mixtures with stearic acid

Monomolecular films of linear poly(vinyl benzoate) (PVBz) and of mixtures of linear PVBz and stearic acid, show properties similar to branched PVBz and its mixtures with stearic acid. Nuclear magnetic resonance of linear and branched PVBz show no phenyl-hydrogen splitting, chemical shift, or other differences in relative peak positions. These results are consistent with the structure of PVBz as derived from general mechanistic considerations. The unusual monolayer properties of this polymer may be attributed to superior contiguous alignment of aromatic rings and tighter packing, but not to branching.
Exact theory of kinkable elastic polymers

The importance of nonlinearities in material constitutive relations has long been appreciated in the continuum mechanics of macroscopic rods. Although the moment (torque) response to bending is almost universally linear for small deflection angles, many rod systems exhibit a high-curvature softening. The signature behavior of these rod systems is a kinking transition in which the bending is localized. Recent DNA cyclization experiments by Cloutier and Widom have offered evidence that the linear-elastic bending theory fails to describe the high-curvature mechanics of DNA. Motivated by this recent experimental work, we develop a simple and exact theory of the statistical mechanics of linear-elastic polymer chains that can undergo a kinking transition. We characterize the kinking behavior with a single parameter and show that the resulting theory reproduces both the low-curvature linear-elastic behavior which is already well described by the wormlike chain model, as well as the high-curvature softening observed in recent cyclization experiments.
THE MUTUAL ADAPTATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND ORGANIZATION DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AUTOMATED LIBRARY SYSTEM

The project investigates the factors that influence the exploratory interactions of users with new information domains. In this situation, one of the crucial factors driving the user's behaviour is interest. We view interest as the process of responding to the significance of information. As a process it has triggering conditions, it has a duration, and there are conditions which ensure its continuation. In general, we regard a user's path through an information space as being determined by the following principle: Principle of maximal interestingness - In situations in which a user explores an information space, her route through the space is along the path of maximal interestingness.
Immune-recovery uveitis in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis taking highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Abstract PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features associated with immune recovery in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis who are taking highly active antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: Sixteen patients were evaluated prospectively at the National Eye Institute, Bethesda, Maryland. Evaluation included a medical history and a complete ophthalmologic examination. The examination included best-corrected visual acuity score measured by means of logarithmic charts, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated retinal examination, retinal photography, and fluorescein angiography. Immune-recovery uveitis was defined as the ocular inflammation associated with clinical immune recovery in patients taking potent antiretroviral regimens. The ophthalmic characteristics of immune-recovery uveitis were identified, and their effect on visual acuity was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The mean CD4+ T-lymphocyte count for the 16 patients taking highly active antiretroviral therapy at the time of evaluation was 393 cells/μl (range, 97–1,338 cells/μl). Immune-recovery uveitis was characterized by vitreitis and optic disk and macular edema. Clinically important complications of immune-recovery uveitis included cataract and epiretinal membrane formation. The visual acuity scores were significantly worse in the 23 eyes with cytomegalovirus retinitis (mean, 67.2 letters, 20/50) than in the nine eyes without cytomegalovirus retinitis (mean, 89.8 letters, 20/16) ( P P ≤ .001). CONCLUSIONS: Immune-recovery uveitis is an important cause of visual morbidity in HIV-infected patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Although immune recovery associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy has allowed some patients to discontinue specific anticytomegalovirus therapy, the rejuvenated immune response can be associated with sight-threatening inflammation.
Equivalent plate modeling for conceptual design of aircraft wing structures

This paper describes an analysis method that generates conceptual-level design data for aircraft wing structures. A key requirement is that this data must be produced in a timely manner so that is can be used effectively by multidisciplinary synthesis codes for performing systems studies. Such a capability is being developed by enhancing an equivalent plate structural analysis computer code to provide a more comprehensive, robust and user-friendly analysis tool. The paper focuses on recent enhancements to the Equivalent Laminated Plate Solution (ELAPS) analysis code that significantly expands the modeling capability and improves the accuracy of results. Modeling additions include use of out-of-plane plate segments for representing winglets and advanced wing concepts such as C-wings along with a new capability for modeling the internal rib and spar structure. The accuracy of calculated results is improved by including transverse shear effects in the formulation and by using multiple sets of assumed displacement functions in the analysis. Typical results are presented to demonstrate these new features. Example configurations include a C-wing transport aircraft, a representative fighter wing and a blended-wing-body transport. These applications are intended to demonstrate and quantify the benefits of using equivalent plate modeling of wing structures during conceptual design.
A critical evaluation of the NICE guidelines for post-myocardial infarction prophylaxis. National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recently published guidelines on prophylaxis for patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction (MI). Based on a previously commissioned extensive review of the literature, the recommendations are antiplatelet therapy, β-blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) for all patients; statins for those with hypercholesterolaemia; spironolactone for those with moderate-to-severe heart failure (HF); and insulin for those with diabetes. While there may be concerns about some of the details (eg., the possible adverse interaction between aspirin and ACEIs), comments on the use of statins for those with HF, the lack of advice on the choice of lipid-lowering therapy for those intolerent of statins, the dangers of spironolactone therapy and the practicality of intensive insulin treatment, the guidelines are firmly based on sound evidence of efficacy and cost effectiveness. The NICE guidelines should therefore stimulate the provisio...
Reaction-based Processing of Textured Alumina by Templated Grain Growth

Highly textured, dense alumina ceramics were fabricated by a new processing route which utilizes a mixture of Al metal powder, alumina powder, alumina platelet (template) particles and a liquid phase former. The process involves dry forming the powder mixture (e.g. uniaxial pressing, and roll compaction) to align the plate-like template particles. The addition of a calcium aluminosilicate glass reduces constrained densification by the template particles and allows attainment of high density at ∼1450°C. The degree of orientation (i.e. r is 1 for a random sample and 0 for a perfectly textured material) and volume fraction of textured material, f, were measured by X-ray-based rocking curve technique and SEM-based stereological analysis, respectively. It has been shown that texture quality (the r parameter) is controlled by initial strain during forming, sintering time and temperature. In addition, alumina ceramics with the volume fraction of textured material ranging from 1 to ∼100% can be obtained.
Value conflict and thought-induced attitude change

Abstract Past research has demonstrated that thought often leads attitudes to become more extreme. Such polarization of attitudes has generally been understood to result from consistency-driven thought. Extending this consistency reasoning, we hypothesized that consistency seeking would not lead to attitude polarization when an issue entails a trade-off between two equally important values. On the basis of the similarity of subjects' rankings of two conflicting issue-relevant values, subjects were categorized as having high or low value conflict regarding a political issue. As predicted, only the attitudes of low value conflict subjects polarized; the attitudes of high value conflict subjects showed a nonsignificant tendency to depolarize. We propose that evaluative incongruity is the central feature underlying structural constraints on attitude polarization.
Using Initiative Games to Build Community, Cooperation and Trust

(2001). Using Initiative Games to Build Community, Cooperation and Trust. Strategies: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 35-37.
Basset: a tool for systematic testing of actor programs

This paper presents Basset, a tool for systematic testing of JVM-based actor programs. The actor programming model offers a promising approach for developing reliable concurrent and distributed systems. Since the actor model is based on message passing and disallows shared state, it avoids some of the problems inherent in shared-memory programming, e.g., low-level dataraces involving access to shared data. However, actor programs can still have bugs that result from incorrect orders of messages among actors or processing of messages by individual actors. To systematically test an actor program, it is necessary to explore different message delivery schedules that might occur during execution. Basset facilitates such exploration and provides a generic platform that can support actor systems that compile to Java bytecode. Our current implementation of Basset supports testing of programs developed using the ActorFoundry library and the Scala programming language.
A conceptual model of improving the collaborative information seeking groups: The impact of cultural dimensions theory

This paper explores the current literature of collaborative information seeking in academic level. The most important elements of collaborative information seeking are being analyzed in order to explain the whole process. Additionally, a conceptual model is being formed in order to show the impact of cultural dimensions theory in the activities of collaborative information seeking groups.
Injection of proteins into primary rat hepatocytes by erythrocyte-mediated techniques.

Abstract Several erythrocyte-mediated techniques for injecting selected proteins into primary rat hepatocytes were compared. Each method was evaluated as to maintenance of hepatocyte viability, percentage of liver cells receiving protein, and capability of removing non-fused loaded erythrocytes. On the basis of these criteria Sendai virus-induced fusion of pre-loaded erythrocyte ghosts and primary rat hepatocytes in culture was determined to be the best method and most useful for studying degradation of specific proteins.
Percutaneous transvesical antegrade ablation of posterior urethral valves

A technique of ablation of posterior urethral valves in a neonate is described. It involves two useful modifications of antegrade suprapubic approach. These modifications include the use of a matured percutaneous suprapubic tract for antegrade fulguration of valves and the utilization of a small urethral catheter as a guide for the valve ablation. The urethral catheter also protects the urethra from fulguration injury.
Contralateral carotid artery occlusion is not a contraindication to carotid endarterectomy even if shunts are not routinely used

Objective Although controversial, carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been proposed as being safer than carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for patients with a contralateral internal carotid occlusion (CCO). Arguably, with a CCO, CAS should be even safer than CEA if a shunt is not used. Accordingly, we reviewed our experience with 2183 CEAs performed routinely without a shunt to evaluate the risk of CEA performed in a subset of 147 patients with a CCO. Methods Between 1988 and 2011, 147 CEAs (111 men [75%], 36 women [25%]) were routinely performed without a shunt despite CCO. Of these patients, 76% were asymptomatic. CEAs were performed by seven surgeons using standard techniques (not eversion), with patients under general anesthesia and blood pressure maintained at >130 mm Hg. All patients received heparin (7500 U), and protamine reversal was routine. Median cross-clamp time was 20 minutes (range, 14-40 minutes). Results Three neurologic events occurred ≤30 days (2.0%). One transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurred immediately, and one occurred on the first postoperative day due to occlusion of the endarterectomy site. One patient sustained an immediate stroke and died of a large computed tomography-documented atheroembolic shower. Conclusions Our data demonstrate the safety of CEA in the presence of a CCO, even when performed without a shunt. It is unlikely that the stroke or delayed TIA could be attributed to nonshunting or CCO. Even if so, the stroke and death rates would be lower than those previously reported for patients undergoing CEA in the presence of a CCO. This may be due to short cross-clamp times, careful technique, general anesthesia, and blood pressure support. Given these low adverse event rates, our experience refutes the assumption that patients with a CCO are at such a high risk for CEA that the only alternative is CAS.
Studies on poison ivy and other dermatitis-producing plant parts wherein active, resinous principles are suspended in aqueous solution

Abstract 1.1. A method is presented for the preparation of a new product from poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, primrose, and the like and pollen oils, whereby the active principle is suspended in aqueous solution. 2.2. The new product suspended in aqueous solution is shown to be nontoxic and nonirritating. 3.3. The alum precipitated pyridine-ivy complex suspended in saline solution is as active as an equivalent dilution of the alcoholic ivy extract. 4.4. Sensitive patients treated phylactically with the alum precipitated pyridine-ivy "extract" were relieved by the second to fifth injection. 5.5. A group of twelve patients treated prophylactically in 1943 with the alcoholic extract with poor results were treated in 1944 with the alum precipitated pyridine-ivy "extract" with good clinical results. Sixteen other sensitive individuals experienced a season practically free from poison ivy dermatitis following injections of a precipitated pyridine-ivy "extract." 6.6. Guinea pigs were sensitized by one intraperitoneal injection of the alum precipitated pyridine-ivy "extract" as shown by positive patch tests (twenty-one days after the sensitizing injection) to 3 drops of the concentrated alum precipitated pyridine-ivy "extract" or alcoholic-ivy extract.
ElectroSweep—Electrodynamic Transportation of Cotton Trash

Electrodynamic forces for moving waste or trash from beneath and around textile processing equipment are produced by a set of parallel electrodes encased in a plastic panel and connected to a polyphase source of AC power. Such an apparatus is known as an electric curtain of the contact type, or more simply, an "electric panel." When the panel is energized, particles in contact with it become charged and are levitated and transported. An electric panel is mounted beneath an experimental opener-cleaner that is considered representative of cotton trash-removing machines. Trash is separated from fibers by mechanical action at a rate implied to be a function of the opener- cleaner's velocity and the amount of cotton processed. Particles of trash, linters, and fine dust fall onto the electric panel and are removed from beneath the opener-cleaner by the electrodynamic forces of ElectroSweep, which removes trash at its maximum production rate of 20 mg/s. To promote the scaling of ElectroSweep to regular mill oper...
Nanostructured Lithium Manganese Oxide Cathodes Obtained by a Reduction of Aqueous Lithium Permanganate with Hydrogen

Nanostructured lithium manganese oxides have been synthesized by reducing aqueous lithium permanganate with hydrogen gas at 60°C in the presence and absence of lithium hydroxide followed by firing in vacuum at 250°C. The oxides have been characterized by wet-chemical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and density measurements. The Li/Mn ratio in the samples increases from 0.47 to 1.09 with increasing amount of lithium hydroxide in the synthesis medium. X-ray diffraction indicates the sample to have spinel- or Li 2 MnO 3 -like structures. The samples exhibit high capacities of 250-300 mAh/g at 4-1.5 V with good rate capability in lithium cells. The capacity retention and the charge efficiency of the cathodes improve with increasing lithium content.
Ethnic dominance damages cooperation more than ethnic diversity: results from multi-ethnic field experiments in India

Abstract Research in many societies shows that ethnic diversity correlates with a decline in cooperation at the community level. This literature neglects cases in which ethnic heterogeneity is hierarchically structured. Power and status differences between ethnic groups, or ethnic dominance, may play an important role in determining cooperative outcomes. We test this hypothesis using public goods experiments with caste groups in India in which we manipulate the caste composition of experimental groups. Conservative estimates show that ethnic dominance between high and low ranking castes has a much larger negative effect on contributions in the public goods experiment than does caste diversity. We argue that ethnic dominance interactions such as ethnic discrimination constitute a type of antisocial punishment between groups. We also find that conditional cooperation is limited to within ethnic groups, revealing ethnocentric cooperation preferences. These results confirm the importance of group structure in human cooperative patterns, and help bridge the gap between evolutionary theory and cooperation dynamics in multi-ethnic real world settings.
Origins of the doping asymmetry in oxides : hole doping in NiO versus electron doping in ZnO

The doping response of the prototypical transparent oxides NiO ($p$-type), ZnO ($n$-type), and MgO (insulating) is caused by spontaneous formation of compensating centers, leading to Fermi-level pinning at critical Fermi energies. We study the doping principles in these oxides by first-principles calculations of carrier-producing or -compensating defects and of the natural band offsets, and identify the dopability trends with the ionization potentials and electron affinities of the oxides. We find that the room-temperature free-hole density of cation-deficient NiO is limited by a too large ionization energy of the Ni vacancy, but it can be strongly increased by extrinsic dopants with shallower acceptor levels.
Quantum and classical scattering times due to charged dislocations in an impure electron gas

We derive the ratio of transport and single-particle relaxation times in three- and two-dimensional electron gases due to scattering from charged dislocations in semiconductors. The results are compared to the respective relaxation times due to randomly placed charged impurities. We find that the ratio is larger than the case of ionized impurity scattering in both three- and two-dimensional electron transport.
Interactive rendering and efficient querying for large multivariate seismic volumes on consumer level PCs

We present a volume visualization method that allows interactive rendering and efficient querying of large multivariate seismic volume data on consumer level PCs. The volume rendering pipeline utilizes a virtual memory structure that supports out-of-core multivariate multi-resolution data and a GPU-based ray caster that allows interactive multivariate transfer function design. A Gaussian mixture model representation is precomputed and nearly interactive querying is achieved by testing the Gaussian functions against user defined transfer functions on the GPU in the runtime. Finally, the method has been tested on a multivariate 3D seismic dataset which is larger than the size of the main memory of the testing machine.
Surface parameter retrieval using fast learning neural networks

Abstract The application of neural networks to the problem of retrieval of surface electrical and roughness parameters is examined. To illustrate the usefulness of the first training algorithm developed here, simulated data sets based on a surface scattering model were used so that the data may be viewed as taken from a completely known randomly rough surface. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) trained with fast training (the FL network) and back‐propagation (referred to as the BP network) algorithms were tested on the simulated backscattering data. Sensitivity studies were made regarding the number of independent angles and polarizations necessary for the extraction of the surface parameters. The RMS error of training the FL network was found to be less than one half the error of the BP network while requiring one to two orders of magnitude less CPU time for training. When applied to inversion of parameters from a statistically rough surface, the FL network was successful at recovering the layer permittivity,...
Retrying Galileo – By Maurice A. Finocchiaro

What Descartes once called “the Galileo affair” did not terminate at Galilei's death in 1642. The author of this book chronicles a second, but equally animated, phase as later writers retried the c...
Untreated cervical cancer complicated by obstructive uropathy and oliguric renal failure

Between 1955 and 1980, 18 patients were seen with untreated cervical cancer, bilateral ureteral obstruction, and oliguric renal failure. Medical and surgical management of renal failure were both employed; both methods were useful and neither method seemed clearly superior. Eight patients had medical management of renal failure and pelvic irradiation. Six of these experienced spontaneous resolution of oliguria before radiation therapy was completed. Congestive heart failure from increased intravascular volume was the most frequent complication of medical management. Surgical relief of ureteral obstruction was effective in eight patients. Three had open nephrostomy, three had retrograde ureteral catheterization alone, and two had retrograde catheterization followed by percutaneous nephrostomy. Infection, the most frequent complication of surgical diversion, developed in six patients. Unilateral relief of obstruction was performed in seven patients but was accompanied by postobstructive diuresis in only four patients. Dialysis was selectively employed in patients managed medically and surgically to temporarily control increased intravascular volume or for other complications of renal failure. Thirteen patients completed pelvic irradiation for local control of their malignancy with a mean survival of 16.9 months. The five patients whose renal failure and cervical cancer were not treated survived an average of only 25.6 days. Although none of the patients in this review has survived beyond 34 months, the results of comprehensive management of renal failure and pelvic irradiation justify further pursuit of this approach.
Seismic Anisotropy in the Deep Mantle, Boundary Layers and the Geometry of Mantle Convection

An attempt is made to explore the geodynamical significance of seismic anisotropy in the deep mantle on the basis of mineral physics. The mineral physics observations used include the effects of deformation mechanisms on lattice and shape preferred orientation, the effects of pressure on elastic anisotropy and the nature of lattice preferred orientation in deep mantle minerals in dislocation creep regime. Many of these issues are still poorly constrained, but a review of recent results shows that it is possible to interpret deep mantle seismic anisotropy in a unified fashion, based on the solid state processes without invoking partial melting. The key notions are (i) the likely regional variation in the magnitude of anisotropy as deformation mechanisms change from dislocation to diffusion creep (or superplasticity), associated with a change in the stress level and/or grain-size in the convecting mantle with a high Rayleigh number, and (ii) the change in elastic anisotropy with pressure in major mantle minerals, particularly in (Mg, Fe)O. The results provide the following constraints on the style of mantle convection: (i) the SH > SV anisotropy in the bottom transition zone and the SV > SH anisotropy in the top lower mantle can be attributed to anisotropy structures (lattice preferred orientation and/or laminated structures) caused by the horizontal flow in this depth range, suggesting the presence of a mid-mantle boundary layer due to (partially) layered convection, (ii) the observed no significant seismic anisotropy in the deep mantle near subduction zones implies that deformation associated with subducting slabs is due mostly to diffusion creep (or superplasticity) and therefore slabs are weak in the deep mantle and hence easily deformed when encountered with resistance forces, and (iii) the SH> SV anisotropy in the cold thick portions of the D" layer is likely to be due to horizontally aligned shape preferred orientation in perovskite plus magnesiowustite aggregates formed by strong horizontal shear motion in the recent past.
Comparison of methods for generation of absolute reflectance-factor values for bidirectional reflectance-distribution function studies

Currently, spectrophotometric standard reference materials are calibrated only by using the illumination and viewing geometries recommended by the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage, and for some geometries the spectral range is limited to the visible wavelengths. A need exists for procedures that calibrate standards at many other geometries and for a broader spectral range. Two methods for calibrating the spectral bidirectional reflectance factor are described. The absolute bidirectional reflectance factor of a sintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sample is determined for nearly all the possible illumination and viewing geometries from 400 nm to 2500 nm. The references are a 45/0 reflectance standard calibrated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and a sintered PTFE sample with a directional, hemispherical reflectance factor traceable to the Institute. The results of the two methods agree to within 0.01 in reflectance factor values. With this PTFE sample as a transfer standard, the instrument described can also be used to measure the absolute bidirectional reflectance factor at nearly all the illumination and viewing geometries from 400 nm to 2500 nm.
Argon Plasma Transport Properties at Reduced Pressures

Argon plasma transport properties at low pressures (0.01 atm) are calculated using a modified Debve length suggested by T. Kihara et al. Electrons and heavy species are treated as two different gases, and the method of calculation is based on the simplified theory (or transport properties developed by R. S. Devoto. A generalized Saha equation is used to calculate the species composition, and experimental data by Y. Itikawa for momentum transfer cross sections are adapted for the evaluation of electron-atom collision cross sections.
The schroedinger equation and momentum transfer in crystals

Abstract The differential equation recently proposed by Fitzgerald in connection with momentum transfer and non-elastic deformation in crystalline solids is shown to be an alternative form of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation which applies generally to periodic structures such as crystals. The physical significance of the momentum transfer equation is not clear when it is presented solely as a form of the Schroedinger equation and hence the new formulation adds little to an understanding of the momentum transfer process in crystal lattices. On the other hand, some increased understanding of the Schroedinger equation itself appears to be possible as a result of the ideas discussed here.
Overview of the miniaturization technologies

ABSTRACTThis overview paper will cover the miniaturization technologies as applied to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) ormicromanufacturing. Technologies reviewed will include bulk and surface micromachining of silicon, the high-aspect ratiotechnologies including deep X-ray lithography (LIGA) and photo sensitive polyimide, and the complementary processeswhich include micro -drilling,milling, turning, and electrical discharge machining, laser based micromachining andfocussed ion beam micromachining. Examples of each ofthe process technolgies will be given and a capabilitiescomparison among the technologies will be presented. A historical comparison ofMEMS with the vlsi industry will be madeand the current status and market forecast for these technologies will be presented. A brief comparison of US research withcurrent research in Japan and Europe will be made along with comments about the status ofUS research, including currentresearch projects at the Institute for Micromanufacturing (JIM).Displayed below are most ofthe overheads that will be shown during this invited talk.Keywords: micromanufacturing, miniaturization technologies, MEMS
The safety of pelvic surgery in the morbidly obese with and without combined panniculectomy: a comparison of results.

Purpose The purpose of our study was to evaluate the benefit of panniculectomy combined with pelvic surgery in the morbidly obese patient. Previous literature has found this combined procedure in this particular patient population to have increased morbidity and that it was not beneficial. Methods A chart review was performed an all patients who underwent pelvic surgery with or without a panniculectomy between June 2004 and June 2005. Only morbidly obese patients (body mass index of >40 kg/m2) were included in the study. Factors evaluated were operative times, intraoperative blood loss, weight of pannus resection specimen, length of hospital stay, wound infection rate, and other complications. All data were analyzed using Levene test for equality of variances and the t test for the equality of means. Results Thirty-six patients had combined panniculectomy and abdominal hysterectomy, 14 had an abdominal hysterectomy without a panniculectomy. The mean operative times for the combined procedure was 3.4 hours versus 2.6 hours without panniculectomy. The mean estimated blood loss was 526 mL for the combined procedure (CP) and 536 mL for hysterectomy alone (HA). There were 2 wound infections in the CP group (5.6%) versus 3 in the HA group (21.4%). There was one wound dehiscence in the CP group (2.8%) and one in the HA group (7.1%). There was one inadvertent enterotomy in the HA group (7.1%) and none in the CP group. There were no statistical differences noted for any variable including patient body mass index, mean operative time, estimated blood loss, or rate of complications. Conclusions Our findings, in contrast to previous findings, reveal that panniculectomy combined with pelvic surgery in the morbidly obese is a safe procedure that can decrease the incidence of intraoperative complications and postoperative wound complications without significantly increasing operative time or blood loss.
Gradients in extension and strain at Valles Marineris, Mars

Abstract Extension and strain are calculated for six profiles across the Valles Marineris troughs. Extension accommodated by the large trough normal faults varies systematically along the length of the trough system, increasing from 5 to 10 km near the eastern and western termini to a maximum value of 20–30 km near the center, assuming 60° fault dip angles and ±1 km in trough relief. The spatial gradient in extension exceeds reasonable uncertainties in both topography and fault dip, demonstrating an inhomogeneous deformation field along strike, similar to other well documented examples of normal faults and grabens on Earth. Strain also varies with position, typically between 5 and 20%. Smaller values of strain reported for the Valles Marineris region,
Mechanism of N(5)-ethyl-flavinium cation formation upon electrochemical oxidation of N(5)-ethyl-4a-hydroxyflavin pseudobase.

We investigated the oxidation behavior of 5-ethyl-4a-hydroxy-3-methyl-4a,5-dihydrolumiflavin (pseudobase Et-FlOH) in acetonitrile with the aim of determining if the two-electron oxidized Et-FlOH2+ undergoes a release of hydroxyl cation and the production of 5-ethyl-3methyllumiflavinium cation (Et-Fl+). The focus of this work is to investigate the possibility of using Et-FlOH as a catalyst for water oxidation. The cyclic voltammetry demonstrates that Et-FlOH exhibits two one-electron oxidation potentials at +0.95 and +1.4 V versus normal hydrogen electrode (NHE), with the second oxidation potential being irreversible. The production of Et-Fl+ is observed in the cyclic voltammetry of Et-FlOH and has been previously assigned to the release of OH+ from the two-electron oxidized Et-FlOH2+. The results of our study show that this is not the case: (i) we performed bulk electrolysis of the electrolyte solution at +2 V and then added Et-FlOH to the electrolyzed solution. We found that Et-Fl+ is produced from this ...
Endoscope-assisted vestibular neurectomy†

Objective/Hypothesis: In some instances endoscopes offer better visualization than the microscope and frequently allow less invasive surgery. This study was undertaken to determine whether endoscopy is safe and effective during neurectomy of the vestibular nerve. Method: Ten patients with intractable unilateral Meniere's disease underwent a retrosigmoid craniotomy for neurectomy of the vestibular nerve. Endoscopy with a Hopkins telescope was used during each procedure to study posterior fossa anatomic relationships and to assist the neurectomy. Preoperative and postoperative audiometric evaluation was performed in all patients undergoing vestibular neurectomy. Nine of these patients had preoperative electronystagmography, and four patients completed postoperative electronystagmography. The 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in Meniere's disease were used. Results: Complete neurectomy was achieved in all 10 patients. Endoscopy allowed improved identification of the nervus intermedius and the facial, cochlear, and vestibular nerves and adjacent neurovascular relationships without the need for significant retraction of the cerebellum or brainstem. In addition, endoscopic identification of the cleavage plane between the cochlear and vestibular nerves medial to or within the internal auditory canal (n = 3) was not made with the 0-degree endoscope; however, identification was made with the 30- or 70-degree endoscope in all cases. In all patients with Meniere's disease, elimination of the recurrent episodes of vertigo (n = 10) or otolithic crisis of Tumarkin (n = 1) was achieved. Conclusions: Posterior fossa endoscopy can be performed safely. Endoscope-assisted neurectomy of the vestibular nerve may offer some advantages over standard microsurgery including increased visualization, more complete neurectomy, minimal cerebellar retraction, and a lowered risk of cerebrospinal fluid leakage.
A Collateral Source Version of the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale

One hundred ninety-four patients undergoing comprehensive geriatric assessment completed the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and their collateral source (CS) completed a CS version of the GDS (CS-GDS). The results were compared with the blind, prospective diagnoses made by geriatric psychiatrists. The CSs reported the presence of 28 of 30 symptoms significantly more often than the patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed good agreement among the clinical diagnoses and both the patient-completed GDS and the CS-completed CS-GDS. At cutoff scores used in prior studies of the GDS, the CS-GDS had limited specificity and poor positive predictive value.
THE EFFECTS OF DENTAL DISEASE ON SYSTEMIC DISEASE

Chronic exposure to periodontal pathogens results in the continued stimulation of an immune and nonimmune response by the host. The cytokines and other inflammatory mediators produced in gingivitis/periodontitis result in local tissue destruction and may reach significant levels affecting the cardiovascular system or placental tissues. The oral cavity may also serve as a direct reservoir for bacterial contamination of the lungs with subsequent development of bacterial pneumonia.