cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Programming as process: a “novel” approach to teaching programming

This paper introduces the process model as a way of incorporating the software life cycle into beginning computer science courses. This approach, patterned after a successful method for teaching English composition, provides students with an understanding of how all phases of programming can be accomplished. A five-step model of the process and some useful tools for each step are presented as an example and discussed.
XML representation of digital videos for visual data mining applications

A novel approach utilizing the eXtended Markup Language (XML) for representing digital videos is proposed. This new method is based on segmenting the video sequences into real-world objects and then translating the objects into a hierarchy that is easily represented by XML. The algorithm segments each frame of the video sequence into consistent objects without using MPEG by Leonardo Chiariglione (1999) motion vectors or intra-block information, thus eliminating common errors contributed from these computed sources. This efficient identification and representation of corresponding objects between frames allows for a host of visual data mining applications utilizing digital libraries, databases and Internet image searches. This new algorithm is tested on various video segments (pans, zooms, dissolves, close-ups, and multiple-object motion) with results included.
Scheduling of multiple products on parallel units with tardiness penalties using simulated annealing

Abstract We present a solution methodology to obtain near-optimal solutions for the problem of scheduling multiple products on a network of single-stage, unrelated parallel units using simulated annealing (SA) with a performance criterion based on tardiness minimization. The approach incorporates sequence dependent clean-up times, varying processing rates for different products on different units, and constraints on feasible product-to-unit assignments. Near-optimal solutions are obtained for problems with 20–100 products and 3–11 units. A comparison is made between solutions obtained by SA, solutions obtained by the heuristic improvement method of Musier and Evans for similar computational effort, and solutions obtained by a list scheduling algorithm.
A standardized quantitative skin-test assay of allergen potency and stability: studies on the allergen dose-response curve and effect of wheal, erythema, and patient selection on assay results

Abstract A quantitative skin-test assay of allergenic potency was developed and tested on 28 allergic patients. The best-fit linear regression line was calculated from the sum of erythema or wheal diameters obtained from four intradermal threefold serial dilutions near the endpoint. Each line must have a correlation coefficient ≥0.85 and the slopes of reference and test extract lines must not be significantly different. The relative potency can be calculated from the horizontal distance between the reference and test lines. The between-assay reproducibility was determined by comparing references against themselves. The 95% confidence limits were 54% to 186% when erythema was used and 27% to 367% when wheal was used. The narrower limits for the assay using erythema may be due to the 5.5 times steeper slope of erythema lines than wheal lines. Potency results on five commercial extracts were highly correlated with potency results by RAST, AgE assay, or rye I assay. Extracts with isoelectric focusing patterns dissimilar from the references were of significantly lower potency by in vivo and in vitro assays. The measured potency of two low-potency short ragweed extracts varied significantly with patient sensitivity to heat-stable and heat-labile ragweed allergens, indicating that patient selection may significantly affect assay results. Dose-response lines using either histamine or short ragweed by puncture (P) and intradermal (ID) techniques in the same patient showed that the PID dose for equal erythema response was 909 for histamine and 31,250 for ragweed. This quantitative skin-text assay is highly reproducible, yields potency data comparable to those of in vitro tests, can be applied to studies of extract stability, and is suitable as a primary bioassay of allergenic activity.
Lipid Peroxidation and Chemical Changes in Catfish (lctalurus puncfatus) Muscle Microsomes during Frozen Storage

An NADH-dependent lipid peroxidation system previously identified in channel catfish muscle microsomes functioned at -10 o C in isolated microsomes. Below that, activity was inhibited. The amount of peroxidase activity remaining after thawing previously frozen isolated miaosomes or intact catfish fillets was inversely related to storage temperature. Microsome yield and lipid content were lower in the fillets stored at -10 o C than -40 o C. Most microsomal fatty acids, especially PUFAs, gradually decreased in the fish fillets stored at -10 o C. Prolonged storage of catfish fillets would require storage below -20 o C. Any thawing would result in reactivation of the peroxidase system
Protograph-based Raptor-like LDPC codes with low thresholds

This paper presents a new construction of punctured-node protograph-based Raptor-like (PN-PBRL) codes that is suitable for long-blocklength applications. As with the Raptor codes, additional parity bits can be easily produced by exclusive-OR operations on the precoded bits, providing extensive rate compatibility. The new construction provides low iterative decoding thresholds that are within 0.45 dB of the capacity for all code rates studied, and the construction is suitable for long blocklengths. Comparing at the same information block size of k = 16368 bits, the PN-PBRL codes are as good as the best known AR4JA codes in the waterfall region. The PN-PBRL codes also perform comparably to DVB-S2 LDPC codes even though the DVB-S2 codes have longer blocklength and outer BCH codes.
N-Nmoc-l-Glutamate, a New Caged Glutamate with High Chemical Stability and Low Pre-photolysis Activity

Abstract We report the synthesis, the physicochemical characterization, and biological evaluation of a new caged glutamate,N-(o-nitromandelyl)oxycarbonyl-l-glutamic acid (Nmoc-Glu), that liberates free glutamate on photolysis. The low affinity of certain glutamate receptors and their rapid entry into desensitization have effectively prevented the creation of an ideal caged glutamate. In the absence of an ideal compound, Nmoc-Glu was designed to resist spontaneous hydrolysis while maintaining reasonable photorelease yield and kinetics. Chemical and physiological analyses reveal that Nmoc-Glu, indeed, has exceptionally low residual activity and high chemical stability. The quantum yield of Nmoc-Glu is 0.11. Photolytic uncaging and release of free glutamate occur in two steps, consisting of an initial light-induced cleavage that proceeds on the sub-millisecond time scale, and a subsequent light-independent, pH-dependent decarboxylation step that proceeds on the millisecond time scale. The low residual activity and high chemical stability of Nmoc-Glu are important advantages in applications where pre-photolysis Glu receptor activation and desensitization must be minimized.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with mutations in superoxide dismutase : a putative mechanism of degeneration

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurologic disease that rapidly progresses from mild motor symptoms to severe motor paralysis and premature death. Until recently, there were few substantive studies conducted on the pathogenesis of the disease. With the genetic linkage of mutations in the superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) gene with familial ALS patients, new avenues for study have become available including transgenic mice and culture models. Although not yet providing a complete picture of the disease mechanism, studies utilizing these model systems have greatly advanced our understanding of the mechanism of degeneration and should eventually lead to putative therapeutic agents. In this review, we will present the important findings from these model systems, provide a framework in which to evaluate these findings, and speculate on the mechanism of degeneration initiated by the mutations in SOD-1.
2.45 GHz inter‐/intraboard wireless communication using a CPW‐fed vertical bow‐tie antenna

Coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed vertically standing bow-tie antennas for 2.45 GHz ISM band applications for inter-/intraboard wireless communication are presented. The vertical antenna scheme provides wave propagation in the horizontal direction parallel to the substrate, allowing effective in-plane board-to-board communication. The monopole bow-tie antenna is implemented in an air-lifted fashion, resulting in high efficiency, broad bandwidth, and small footprint compared with the conventional surface mounted patch type antenna. The vertical bow-tie antenna with a height of 22.4 mm and a flare angle of 43° shows a 10-dB bandwidth of 20.4%, a footprint of ∼1 mm2, and a height reduction of 33% compared with a cylindrical monopole counterpart. A numerical analysis has been performed between 1 and 4 GHz and the transmission characteristics using two identical antennas have been performed at 2.45 GHz with a network analyzer. The numerical results are in good agreement with experimental data. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 266–269, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23988
Immunohistochemical study of delta antigen in an American metropolitan population

Delta antigen, a transmissible agent associated with hepatitis B virus, has been detected primarily in Italian patients. The preservation of delta-antigen in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissue enabled us to study the prevalence of this agent in our material. Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, delta-antigen was found in 2 of 65 consecutive biopsy specimens of patients with HBsAg-positive liver disease. In addition, delta-antigen was demonstrated in 2 of 14 autopsy specimens from HBsAg-positive patients. Of the delta-antigen-positive patients, one was Italian, one was a polytransfused American-born Italian and two were American homosexuals. All four delta-Ag-positive patients had chronic active hepatitis. In one patient, the agent persisted for 5 years while chronic active hepatitis reverted to chronic persistent hepatitis during prednisone therapy. These findings suggest that transmission of delta-antigen follows that of hepatitis B virus infection, although it is relatively uncommon in New York City.
Treatment of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Older Adults

OBJECTIVE: To review the prognosis and management of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in persons with and without heart disease with emphasis on older adults. DATA SOURCES: A computer-assisted search of the English language literature (MEDLINE database) followed by a manual search of the bibliographies of pertinent articles. STUDY SELECTION: Studies on the prognosis and management of VA in persons with and without heart disease were screened for review. Studies in older people and recent studies were emphasized. DATA EXTRACTION: Pertinent data were extracted from the reviewed articles. Emphasis was on studies involving the older persons. Relevant articles were reviewed in depth. DATA SYNTHESIS: Available data about the prognosis and management of VA in persons with and without heart disease, with emphasis on studies involving older people, were summarized. CONCLUSIONS: VA in older persons without heart disease should not be treated with antiarrhythmic drugs. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs should not be used to treat VA in older persons with heart disease. Beta blockers should be used to treat complex VA in older persons with ischemic or nonischemic heart disease if there are no contraindications to beta blocker therapy. The use of amiodarone in treating complex VA should be reserved for life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias in older persons who cannot tolerate or who do not respond to beta blockers. VA associated with congestive heart failure should be treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. If older patients have life-threatening recurrent ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation resistant to antiarrhythmic drugs, invasive intervention should be performed. The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is recommended in older patients who have medically refractory sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
Management of scale deposits by diamagnetism. Scale formation by calcium carbonate

A system for generating calcium carbonate hardness was established and samples of hard water were passed through tubes to check for the effect of magnetic fields on the size and number of particles.
New atomic mechanism for positron production in heavy-ion collisions

This letter gives a newly considered mechanism for positron production which consists of filling of long-lived, supercritical, multiple-vacancy states via higher-order perturbations, with interference terms of the same order of magnitude as in the case of the previously considered single vacancies. This mechanism could be relevant to the structure in positron energy spectra observed at Gesell- schaft f\"ur Schwerionenforschung in heavy-ion collisions. A possible directional anisotropy of positron emission is discussed.
Charge Trapping at Chemically Modified Si(111) Surfaces Studied by Optical Second Harmonic Generation

Covalent chemical modification of Si(111) surfaces by attachment of organic monolayers with terminal tert-butylhydrazide groups is described. Second harmonic generation studies of the hydrazide-modified surfaces in air show the presence of an electric field induced second harmonic (EFISH) response, indicative of charge trapping at the surface. Charge trapping is associated with the hydrazide group and is not observed for other organic monolayers or oxidized silicon surfaces. Charging is reversible and can be modulated by variation of the gaseous ambient of the sample, including particularly oxygen and water vapor. An interpretation is given in terms of ionosorption of O 2 as an electron trap, with strong stabilization of the electron affinity level of O 2 in the monolayer by polar hydrazide groups and adsorbed water molecules. There is also an indication that the hydrazide group may become ionized, as an electron donor. From the dependence of EFISH on laser irradiance and the observation of a transient EFISH response, it is suggested that ionosorption of O 2 may occur spontaneously in the dark and, in addition, is transiently enhanced by laser photoexcitation of silicon. By comparison with EFISH and high-resolution electron energy loss measurements on oxidized silicon surfaces, the density of charge trapped at hydrazide-modified surfaces has been estimated.
Pathogenetic mechanisms in congenital cardiovascular malformations.

C ONGENITAL ANOMALIES have aroused man’s curiosity, superstition, fear, and awe for many centuries. Explanations concerning their etiology and pathogenesis based upon supernatural forces, fatalism, mysticism, philosophy, and scholarly, if not always well founded, scientific reasoning have been offered for almost as long a time. Cardiac anomalies have enjoyed more than their share of interest, either because they are common and usually have profound influence on the life of the individual, or because the heart is an organ which has always had a certain special significance for man, possibly because it seems to have such an obvious, active life of its own within the body and reacts so rapidly and obviously to changes in man’s emotional status. To date, no one has had the opportunity to actually observe the pathogenesis of cardiovascular malformations by systematic study of embryologic material. While it has been possible for many years to induce cardiac (and other) anomalies in experimental animals, the effect of various teratogens appears to be rather nonspecific, and, therefore, the malformations produced by any one agent are not consistently all of the same type. Stockard’ concluded from his classical work with Fundulus that different disturbances applied at the same phase of development would tend to produce the same defects, whereas the same disturbing factor applied at different phases of development produces different defects. While this may be somewhat of an oversimplification, there seems to be little doubt that in many, if not most cases, the nature of the injurious agent is not as important a determining factor as the precise time in early development at which it is allowed to exert its influence. Such exact timing in administering an experimental insult is virtually impossible, certainly so in mammals. Thus, it has not been possible as yet to induce transposition complexes, tetralogy of Fallot, or any other specific anomaly reproducibly, and in a high enough percentage of offspring to render embryologic studies practicable and reliable. For this reason, experimental work aimed at producing cardiac anomalies has little or no value for the study of the pathogenesis of such anomalies. Recently, Gessne? has been able to create cardiac anomalies of a fairly uniform type (double outlet right ventricle and double inlet left ventricle) in chick embryos by mechanical means. Undoubtedly, the reason such uniform results
Matrix Isolation and ab Initio Study of 1:1 Hydrogen-Bonded Complexes of H2O2 with Phosphorus and Sulfur Bases

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy has been combined with MP2/6-31+G(d,p) and MP2/aug‘-cc-pVTZ calculations to characterize the 1:1 hydrogen-bonded complexes between H2O2 and bases containing phosphorus and sulfur as electron pair donor atoms. Most obvious from the spectra of the complexes HOOH:PH3, HOOH:P(CH3)3, HOOH:SH2, and HOOH:S(CH3)2 and their deuterated analogues is the shift to lower frequency of the hydrogen-bonded O−H or O−D stretching bands (νs) relative to isolated H2O2 and D2O2. The experimental shifts are in good agreement with the computed shifts. Shifted modes of both H2O2 and base subunits have been observed, along with the band for the intermolecular librational mode of each complex. Comparisons are made between the structures and spectral properties of these complexes and related complexes formed between H2O2 and corresponding N and O bases.
Preface for the inorganic chemistry forum: the coordination chemistry of nitric oxide and its significance for metabolism, signaling, and toxicity in biology.

). In fact, NOis a double-edged sword in biological systems. NO is suitableas a signaling molecule, because it is a freely diffusible radicalwith a relatively long lifetime in vivo and an extraordinarilyhighaffinitytoferrousheme,whichmakesitdetectablebythemammalian NO receptor, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), inthe process of cardiovascular or neuronal signaling in sub-nanomolar concentrations. On the other hand, the immunesystem (for example, macrophages) produces up to micro-molarconcentrationsofNO,which,inchronicinflammations,under septic shock, or in other disease states like diabetes,becomes detrimental. NO itself is toxic ( vide infra) and, in thepresence dioxygen (O
Applications and application-driven research

Mobile phones are becoming a convergent platform for sensing, computing, and communications. This talk will describe our attempts to jointly harness these capabilities, thereby enabling new classes of personal and collaborative applications. Our long term vision is to develop a search engine that will run on a platform of scattered mobile devices, and allow Internet users to browse and search content in the physical world. As an example, an Internet user may be able to view the Eiffel Tower in real time by stitching the camera views from different phones around that location; another user may be able to query mobile phones inside a specific coffee shop to learn if the shop offers free WiFi; yet another user may be able to search for quiet study places in the campus by aggregating ambient sound measurements from phones. This talk will revolve around envisioning a variety of such applications and carving out research questions that underlie them.
HANNAH ARENDT ON AUTHORITY: CONSERVATISM IN EDUCATION RECONSIDERED

This chapter presents Hannah Arendt's conservatism as a unique approach that resists the reactionary tendencies of many conservative arguments. It first shows that Arendt's conception of authority shares a number of fundamental assumptions with the mainstream conservative view of authority. However, the political philosophy that Arendt developed is far from being "conservative" since it is heavily influenced by her existentialist convictions. This unusual blend of a traditional view of authority with an existentialist approach to politics shapes her ideas on education. The chapter compares Arendt's view on authority in education to mainstream conservative approaches and argue that her view constitutes a genuine alternative to these approaches, one that throws fresh light on the meaning of conservatism in education. Finally, it explores the implications of Arendt's insights on authority for the debate on democratic education. The chapter also shows that, unlike the views of two mainstream conservatives, Arendt's conception of pedagogical authority has a number of important implications for democratic education.
Business cycle sources and price level-output correlation

Abstract This paper shows that predominantly aggregate demand- (supply-) driven output fluctuations are consistent with a negative (positive) correlation between the price level and output, but only if aggregate supply is flatter (steeper) than aggregate demand. These results hold even with zero covariance between demand and supply shocks, and these confluences are more likely to occur for algebraically higher values of the correlation between demand and supply shocks. Thus care should be taken in using observed signs of price level-output correlations to draw inferences about the validity of supply- or demand-based macro theories.
Toward an evaluation infrastructure for power and energy optimizations

Execution-driven simulators are often used for power/energy and performance evaluation. Simulators can provide semantic details but they provide insufficient speed and accuracy for compiler and OS research. Physical measurement is fast and objective but lacks a semantic connection between the measurement result and the evaluated program. The objective of our research is to bring together the advantages of simulation and physical measurement to build an infrastructure for power and energy optimization. Power and energy behavior is obtained through physical measurement. Simulation is used for observing the connection between power and energy behavior and the evaluated program. Our preliminary results demonstrate the ability of this infrastructure to capture detailed power behavior of any region of a program. To simplify the power/energy evaluation of programs with long execution times and overcome the limitation of physical devices, we propose using the SimPoints methodology developed by researchers at UC San Diego to find representative slices of a program. Through simulation, we validate the feasibility of the SimPoint idea in simplifying power/energy evaluation. We expect that this infrastructure will help researchers in OS/compiler power/energy optimization to evaluate their optimizations more efficiently and observe more optimization opportunities.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Psychologists have posited two types of motivation theories. Dualistic theories divide motivation into two types: intrinsic and extrinsic. Multifaceted theories, in contrast, recognize a number of ...
Synchrony and Cooperation

Armies, churches, organizations, and communities often engage in activities—for example, marching, singing, and dancing—that lead group members to act in synchrony with each other. Anthropologists and sociologists have speculated that rituals involving synchronous activity may produce positive emotions that weaken the psychological boundaries between the self and the group. This article explores whether synchronous activity may serve as a partial solution to the free-rider problem facing groups that need to motivate their members to contribute toward the collective good. Across three experiments, people acting in synchrony with others cooperated more in subsequent group economic exercises, even in situations requiring personal sacrifice. Our results also showed that positive emotions need not be generated for synchrony to foster cooperation. In total, the results suggest that acting in synchrony with others can increase cooperation by strengthening social attachment among group members.
Autoprocessing of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease miniprecursor fusions in mammalian cells

HIV protease (PR) is a virus-encoded aspartic protease that is essential for viral replication and infectivity. The fully active and mature dimeric protease is released from the Gag-Pol polyprotein as a result of precursor autoprocessing. We here describe a simple model system to directly examine HIV protease autoprocessing in transfected mammalian cells. A fusion precursor was engineered encoding GST fused to a well-characterized miniprecursor, consisting of the mature protease along with its upstream transframe region (TFR), and small peptide epitopes to facilitate detection of the precursor substrate and autoprocessing products. In HEK 293T cells, the resulting chimeric precursor undergoes effective autoprocessing, producing mature protease that is rapidly degraded likely via autoproteolysis. The known protease inhibitors Darunavir and Indinavir suppressed both precursor autoprocessing and autoproteolysis in a dose-dependent manner. Protease mutations that inhibit Gag processing as characterized using proviruses also reduced autoprocessing efficiency when they were introduced to the fusion precursor. Interestingly, autoprocessing of the fusion precursor requires neither the full proteolytic activity nor the majority of the N-terminal TFR region. We suggest that the fusion precursors provide a useful system to study protease autoprocessing in mammalian cells, and may be further developed for screening of new drugs targeting HIV protease autoprocessing.
Obstructive sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a disease of increasing importance because of its neurocognitive and cardiovascular sequelae. Abnormalities in the anatomy of the pharynx, the physiology of the upper airway muscle dilator, and the stability of ventilatory control are important causes of repetitive pharyngeal collapse during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea can be diagnosed on the basis of characteristic history (snoring, daytime sleepiness) and physical examination (increased neck circumference), but overnight polysomnography is needed to confirm presence of the disorder. Repetitive pharyngeal collapse causes recurrent arousals from sleep, leading to sleepiness and increased risk of motor vehicle and occupational accidents. The surges in hypoxaemia, hypercapnia, and catecholamine associated with this disorder have now been implicated in development of hypertension, but the association between obstructive sleep apnoea and myocardial infarction, stroke, and congestive heart failure is not proven. Continuous positive airway pressure, the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnoea, reduces sleepiness and improves hypertension.
Renal Response to Tissue Injury Lessons from Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene Ablation and Expression

Abstract . Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a microsomal enzyme involved in the degradation of heme, resulting in the generation of biliverdin, iron, and carbon monoxide. Recent attention has focused on the biologic effects of product(s) of this enzymatic reaction that have important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective functions. Induction of HO-1 occurs as an adaptive and beneficial response to a wide variety of oxidant stimuli, including heme, hydrogen peroxide, cytokines, growth factors, heavy metals, nitric oxide, and oxidized LDL. HO-1 has been implicated in several clinically relevant disease states, including transplant rejection, hypertension, acute renal injury, atherosclerosis, and others. Previous studies indicate a protective role for HO-1 in heme and non-heme-mediated models of acute renal injury using chemical inducers and inhibitors of HO-1. Studies in HO-1 knockout mice further corroborate these observations, highlighting the important role of HO-1 in the pathophysiology of acute renal injury. Expression of HO-1 has been linked to prolonged xenograft survival and is important in transplant rejection as well. More recently, the first known case of human HO-1 deficiency was reported with several phenotypical similarities to the mouse HO-1 knockout. The role of HO-1 has extended far beyond its initial description as an enzyme involved in heme degradation to being an important mediator in modulating adaptive and protective responses not only in renal injury, but in other organ systems as well.
Effects of biochars and hydrochars produced from lignocellulosic and animal manure on fertility of a Mollisol and Entisol

Biochar and hydrochars (HC) are emerging soil fertility amendments; however, their ability to improve fertility levels in soils possessing vastly different pedogenic characteristics has not been well investigated. In this study, several plant and manure biochars and two blended HC applied at 3.84 g/kg (ca.10 t/ha) were incubated in pots containing a highly fertile-Mollisol (Waukegan series; Sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludoll) and an infertile Entisol (Margate series; Siliceous, hyperthermic, Mollic Psammaquent). During the 124–125 day laboratory incubations, pots were leached four times with deionized H2O with the leachates analysed for the concentrations of dissolved phosphorus (DP) and potassium (DK). After the incubations, both soils were analysed for fertility characteristics (i.e. pH, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), and extractable P and K). In both soils after biochar additions, there were mixed pH and CEC responses. Both the Mollisol and Entisol treated with swine solid biochar had greater plant extractable P and K contents, which was reflective of the elevated P and K contents in the swine solid biochar. However, most biochars and HC additions to the Mollisol and Entisol had minimal impact on soil fertility characteristics indicating a low direct fertilization potential. These nutrient contents could be altered through feedstock blending to target a particular fertilizer requirement.
Exploring Structures and Institutions in City Government

James C. Clingermayer and Richard C. Feiock, Institutional Constraints and Policy Choice: An Exploration of Local Governance H. George Frederickson, Gary A. Wood, and Curtis H. Wood, The Adapted City: Institutional Dynamics and Structural Change
Diffraction tomographic imaging in a monostatic measurement geometry

Diffraction tomography (DT) is an imaging technique in which spatial variations in refractive index are reconstructed from measured data. The basis for DT is the generalized slice theorem (GST) relating a known function of the measured data to the spatially variable refractive index, subject to a weak scattering approximation. Forms of the GST have been developed for a number of measurement configurations based on bistatic geometries employing arrays of sources and receivers. The problem of imaging with scalar waves for a monostatic measurement geometry is considered. GSTs are derived for two dimensions employing several simplifying assumptions. The quality of the images and limitations of these simplifying assumptions are investigated for several two-dimensional algorithms using simulated data. It is found that one particular monostatic inversion formula yields good image quality and is not substantially limited by the necessary simplifying assumption. >
200W push-pull & 110W single-ended high performance RF-LDMOS transistors for WCDMA basestation applications

The performance of a 200W push-pull device and a 110W single-ended device, both using state-of-the-art silicon RF-LDMOS die technology, is described. In the 2.1 GHz band with a two-carrier WCDMA signal applied and a supply voltage of 28V, -37 dBc IM3 and 25-26% drain efficiency is achieved at 38W and 19W respectively for the two devices. This combination of linear power and efficiency make these devices ideally suited for power amplifier designs in basestation transceiver systems.
A Multifunctional Spinning Cell for Obtaining Raman Spectra of Micro Samples in the Backscattering Geometry

In Raman spectroscopy it is frequently desirable to reduce the power density of the laser focused on the sample in order to preserve the sample and/or to reduce thermally generated noise in the signal. This is particularly the case with thermally unstable molecules and with samples which strongly absorb the incident radiation. In attempting to obtain resonance or preresonance Raman spectra of biological molecules, one often faces the choice of flowing the sample, a technique useful where large volumes are available; or rotating the sample, when smaller amounts of material are present. As an alternative to spinning or flowing the sample, a recent article in this journal suggested the use of a line focus in backscattering rather than a point focus in order to minimize the problem of local heating. We currently use a line source but have found that for many samples we still must circulate or rotate the sample. Also, with biological preparations consideration of cost often requires the use of small volumes. Presented with this situation in our laboratory, we have designed and manufactured a relatively simple spinning cell with some interesting and useful features.
Reassessment of the cost of chronic helmintic infection: a meta-analysis of disability-related outcomes in endemic schistosomiasis

Summary Background Schistosomiasis is one of the world's most prevalent infections, yet its effect on the global burden of disease is controversial. Published disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) estimates suggest that the average effect of schistosome infection is quite small, although this is disputed. To develop an evidenced-based reassessment of schistosomiasis-related disability, we did a systematic review of data on disability-associated outcomes for all forms of schistosomiasis. Methods We did structured searches using EMBASE, PUBMED, and Cochrane electronic databases. Published bibliographies were manually searched, and unpublished studies were obtained by contacting research groups. Reports were reviewed and abstracted independently by two trained readers. All randomised and observational studies of schistosomiasis morbidity were eligible for inclusion. We calculated pooled estimates of reported disability-related effects using weighted odds ratios for categorical outcomes and standardised mean differences for continuous data. Findings 482 published or unpublished reports (March, 1921, to July, 2002) were screened. Of 135 selected for inclusion, 51 provided data for performance-related symptoms, whereas 109 reported observed measures of disability-linked morbidities. Schistosomiasis was significantly associated with anaemia, chronic pain, diarrhoea, exercise intolerance, and undernutrition. Interpretation By contrast with WHO estimates of 0·5% disability weight assigned to schistosomiasis, 2–15% disability seems evident in different functional domains of a person with schistosomiasis. This raised estimate, if confirmed in formal patient-preference studies, indicates a need to reassess our priorities for treating this silent pandemic of schistosomiasis.
Long-Range Forecasting of Colorado Streamflows Based on Hydrologic, Atmospheric, and Oceanic Data

Climatic fluctuations have profound effects on water resources variability in the western United States. The research reported herein centers on streamflow predictability at the medium- and long-range scales in rivers that originate in Colorado. Specifically, we want to improve forecasting seasonal and yearly streamflows based on atmospheric-oceanic forcing factors, such as geopotential height, wind, and sea surface temperature, as well as hydrologic factors, such as snow water equivalent. The approach followed in the study involves searching for potential predictors, applying principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) for forecasting at individual sites, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) for forecasting at multiple sites, and testing the forecasts using various performance measures. The analysis includes comparisons of forecasts by using various combinations of possible predictors, such as hydrologic, atmospheric, and oce- anic variables. The study brought into relevance the significant benefits of using atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrological predictors for long- range streamflow forecasting. It has been shown that forecasts based on PCA applied to individual sites give very good results for both seasonal and yearly timescales. We also found that although PCA has been applied on a site-by-site basis, the forecasts approximated well the historical cross correlations, although some underestimation was noted for two sites. Furthermore, the forecasts based on CCAwere less efficient than those based on PCA. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000343. © 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Forecasting; Streamflow; Stochastic processes; Colorado; Hydrologic data. Author keywords: Forecasting streamflows; Atmospheric/oceanic predictors; Flow prediction; Stochastic analysis; PCA; CCA.
From parsing to database generation: applying natural language systems

A new architecture for database generation that combines several levels of language processing is described and the author examines the relevant technique in each layer. The new methods for database generation break the task roughly into three stages, emphasizing different types of processing in each phase. The preprocessing, or corpus-driven tasks, use empirical results from large text samples to guide processing. The analysis tasks perform traditional parsing and semantic interpretation. Postprocessing actually produces the database templates. Syntactic, semantic, and domain knowledge can affect processing in each state. The author explains why database generation needs these separate stages of analysis. Some of the critical methods in each category are also described. >
Hodgkin's disease simulating a pediatric thyroglossal duct cyst.

Hodgkin’s disease is a malignant lymphoma that accounts for 1% of new cancers in the United States each year.1 Clinically, patients most often present with painless cervical or supraclavicular adenopathy. Mediastinal and para-aortic lymph node involvement is also common. Enlarged nodes are usually firm and mobile. Systemic symptoms such as low-grade fever, weight loss, and night sweats (B symptoms) may be present in some patients. Hodgkin’s disease has a bimodal age-specific incidence, with an initial peak in the 15to 34 year-old age group and a second peak in persons who are older than 55 years of age. Children younger than 10 years rarely develop Hodgkin’s disease. We describe a case of a 14-year-old boy with Robin sequence who presented with a solitary midline neck mass most typical of a thyroglossal duct cyst. Histological analysis of the lesion after excisional biopsy showed Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There were no other palpable nodes or signs indicative of Hodgkin’s disease. The unusual head and neck manifestations of malignant lymphoma in children can often create a diagnostic dilemma for the physician. Simulation of benign processes may dangerously delay its diagnosis. This case emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for lymphoma in any child with a neck mass.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Graves Disease

OBJECTIVE:To review the etiology, diagnosis, and clinical presentation of Graves disease and provide an overview of the standard and adjunctive treatments. Specifically, antithyroid drugs, β-blockers, inorganic iodide, lithium, and radioactive iodine are discussed, focusing on current controversies.DATA SOURCES:Primary articles were identified through a MEDLINE search (1966–July 2000). Key word searches included β-blockers, Graves disease, inorganic iodide, lithium, methimazole, and propylthiouracil. Additional articles from these sources and endocrinology textbooks were also identified. We agreed to include articles that would highlight the most relevant points, as well as current areas of controversy.DATA SYNTHESIS:Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. The 3 main treatment options for patients with Graves hyperthyroidism include antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, and surgery. Although the antithyroid drugs propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI) have similar efficacy, ther...
The link between volatility and growth: Evidence from the States

We present evidence on the relationship between output volatility and growth using state data. No evidence of such a relationship is found once other correlates of growth are incorporated into the analysis. This finding contradicts published results using international data; some possible explanations for the contradictory results are discussed.
A new preprocessor for the SP-3000 series of time-of-flight positron emission tomographs

A new preprocessor for the University of Washington modified SP-3000 positron emission tomograph was designed and built. The device improves the maximum coincidence counting rate of the machine to greater than 450000 events per second in preprocessed mode. The new hardware also improves image quality by implementing time-of-flight offset corrections by crystal pairs, position and time-of-flight gating for the rotating sector source (for attenuation scans), and supporting corrections of randoms based on estimating singles rates from rejected time-of-flight events. The improved hardware can be installed on any SP-3000 series tomograph with modest modifications to calibration and data acquisition software. >
Investigation of torrefaction process parameters and characterization of torrefied biomass

This study sought to better understand the torrefaction process, and more specifically, how torrefaction affects the physical and chemical properties of corn stover biomass. The work done to accomplish this was divided into three sections that map to three research objectives. First, effect of torrefaction residence time, temperature and untreated biomass moisture content on chemical properties of torrefied corn stover was addressed. Second, effect of torrefaction process condition on physical characteristics of torrefied biomass, namely hydrophobicity was assessed. In addition, resistance to microbial degradation as a result of torrefaction and increased hydrophobicity was investigated. Third, influence of gas residence time and biomass particle size on chemical characteristics of torrefied corn stover was studied. Corn stover biomass at three moisture contents (30, 45, and 50% wet basis) was torrefied at three different temperatures (200, 250, and 300 °C), and at three reaction times (10, 20, and 30 min). In each of the 17 treatments elemental and proximate compositions of the torrefied stover was determined, along with the composition of released gaseous and liquid products. Using these data, the mass and energy balance of each torrefaction was quantified. The energy balance accounted only for energy contained in the biomass. As torrefaction process temperature increased, an overall increase (2-19%) in the energy density of torrefied biomass and decrease (3-45% and 1-35% respectively) in mass and energy yield was observed. At 200 oC, mass and energy losses increased with an increase in the initial biomass moisture content. The difference in both mass and energy losses between biomass of 22% and 41% initial moisture content was about 10 percentage points at 200 oC. The liquid phase condensed from the stream of volatiles was composed primarily of water, followed by
An English Businessman in Sicily, 1806–1861

This account of the activities of an energetic, highly diversified mercantile capitalist illustrates in some detail the world-wide flow of commodities and capital in the early nineteenth century. Aggressive merchandising and sophisticated administration were involved, and one by-product was a rich reservoir of investment capital for developing American industries.
Gas Chromatographic Fractionations of the Carbon and Oxygen Isotopes of Carbon Monoxide

Abstract A high-precision gas chromatograph was used in conjunction with a quadrupole mass spectrometer and an on-line computer to study the fractionation of carbon and oxygen isotopes in carbon monoxide on silica and on finely divided nickel powder. Relative retentions were studied as a function of temperature using both natural abundances and isotopically enriched species. On silica, the values ranged from 0.99639 ± 0.00046 to 1.00152 ± 0.00089 for the 13/12C pair and from 1.00054 ± 0.00057 to 1.00162 ± 0.00039 for the 16O/18O pair. The values on nickel were greater, average values being 1.037 for the 12C/13C pair and 1.009 for the 16O/18O pair. The larger values on nickel compared to those on silica reflect the much stronger interaction.
The effects of estrogen and relaxin upon the uptake of glycine-1-C14 by connective tissue in vivo.

AN EARLIER paper from this laboratory (4) dealt with the effects of estrogen and relaxin upon the incorporation of labeled glycine into connective tissue proteins of the guinea pig symphysis pubis in vitro. The administration of estradiol-17β to ovariectomized guinea pigs for one week or longer increased glycine uptake by symphyseal slices five-fold or more. Symphyseal connective tissue from relaxed animals (estrogen followed by relaxin) likewise showed elevated in vitro incorporation rates compared to castrate controls. Unexpectedly, relaxin alone, in the absence of prior estrogen treatment, was found to be approximately as effective as estrogen in stimulating glycine uptake. The incorporated activity was found to be present in each of the three protein fractions examined, with the largest amount in the collagen fraction. These observations led to a study of the effects of these hormones upon the incorporation of labeled glycine into proteins of the pubic symphysis in vivo.
Studying Civil Suits Against the Police: A Serendipitous Finding of Sample Selection Bias

This article examines the sources of municipal variation in the number of civil suits filed against police. Although a number of theoretical explanations are plausible, existing data and research are limited to a handful of rational/ technical explanations. A secondary analysis of a national survey data set reveals a moderate but manageable problem with missing data among the predictors. However, the problem is more severe for the outcome variable, the ratio of civil suits per 1,000 field officers, which is missing for about 70% of respondents. The authors explore a number of potential remedies based on recent advances in the statistical treatment of incomplete multivariate data. Their analysis suggests that data on civil suits are not missing randomly: There are important and quantifiable differences between respondents and nonrespondents to this survey item. These findings suggest a modest case of sample selection bias, which cannot be corrected using even the most recent statistical advances. The remed...
Profit Maximization In The National Football League

This paper investigates if NFL teams maximize profits with respect to ticket price. We modify Ferguson et al’s (1991) NHL paper as it pertains to the NFL. A profit function incorporating variable revenue and cost factors such as gate receipts and player expenses is employed. A systems model is used as the estimation procedure to identify the determinants of ticket prices for NFL franchises. The model implies a Kuhn-Tucker based cross equation parameter restriction that result from attendance capacity constraints. Results from the regression are then used in conjunction with other data to numerically test the first order necessary profit maximization conditions. The results indicate that over 80% of NFL teams set ticket prices in a manner consistent with gate receipt and profit maximization.