cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On groups whose word problem is solved by a counter automaton

We prove that a group G has a word problem that is accepted by a deterministic counter automaton with a weak inverse property if and only if G is virtually abelian. We extend this result to larger classes of groups by considering a generalization of finite state automata, counter automata and pushdown automata. Natural corollaries of our general result include a restricted version of Herbst's classification of groups for which the word problem is a one counter language and a new classification of automata that accept context-free word problems.
Center for Neural Engineering: applications of pulse-coupled neural networks

Pulsed-Coupled Neural Network (PCNN) is an oscillatory model neural network where grouping of cells and grouping among the groups that form the output time series (number of cells that fires in each input presentation also called `icon'). This is based on the synchronicity of oscillations. Recent work by Johnson and others demonstrated the functional capabilities of networks containing such elements for invariant feature extraction using intensity maps. PCNN thus presents itself as a more biologically plausible model with solid functional potential. This paper will present the summary of several projects and their results where we successfully applied PCNN. In project one, the PCNN was applied for object recognition and classification through a robotic vision system. The features (icons) generated by the PCNN were then fed into a feedforward neural network for classification. In project two, we developed techniques for sensory data fusion. The PCNN algorithm was implemented and tested on a B14 mobile robot. The PCNN-based features were extracted from the images taken from the robot vision system and used in conjunction with the map generated by data fusion of the sonar and wheel encoder data for the navigation of the mobile robot. In our third project, we applied the PCNN for speaker recognition. The spectrogram image of speech signals are fed into the PCNN to produce invariant feature icons which are then fed into a feedforward neural network for speaker identification.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
X- and γ-Radiation Damage to Single Crystal Anthracene

Abstract Recently Blum, Mattern, Arndt, and Damask1 reported the production of both optically absorbing and paramagnetic species in the gamma radiolysis of crystals of anthracene. They found no such behavior on exposure of this material of 50 Ke V X-rays.
Gallium nitride-organic semiconductor heterojunctions for optoelectronic devices

We report on study of GaN/InGaN-organic semiconductor heterostructures where electronic transport in planar junction structures shows electron or/and hole injection across the interfaces resulting e.g. light emission from the nitride quantum wells.
Social Norms and Disclosure Policy: Implications from a Comparison of Financial and Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting

Recently, pressure from multiple stakeholders regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and activities has resulted in firms' increased effort to measure and report information on numerous environmental and social issues. Disclosure of CSR information has generally been voluntary, and guidelines regarding the measurement and reporting of such information have been developed by stakeholder groups, evolving as a function of social norms. In spite of the apparent plurality of viewpoints contributing to the process, research results indicate that the outcomes seldom reflect the full range of stakeholder concerns, and often reflect only the preferences of dominant corporate interests (see, for example, Archel et al., 2011). Shortcomings in existing reporting and the perceived importance of this information for stakeholder decision making are factors in the call for greater regulation of CSR reporting to facilitate both the existence and comparability of CSR disclosure. While accountability to so...
The Brauer group of a curve over a strictly local discrete valuation ring

LetK be the field of fractions of a curve overR whereR is the henselization of a regular local ring on an algebraic curve over a field which is algebraically closed and has characteristic 0. ThenK has the exponent=degree property for division algebras. In fact every central finite dimensionalK-division algebra with exponentn is a cyclic algebra of degreen.
The organization of the main component DNA of a crustacean genome with a paucity of middle repetitive sequences

The frequency classes and organization of the main component (mc) DNA of a crustacean, the land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis, have been characterized. The reassociation kinetics of 380 nucleotide long mcDNA fragments show that approximately 50% contain sequences repeated more than 800 times. Present in few, if any, copies are sequences repeated from 2 to 800 times. The remainder of the DNA reassociates as single copy sequences with a rate constant consistent with the organism's genome size. The reassociation kinetics of highly sheared DNA fragments of every true crab studied (Vaughn, 1975; Christie et al., 1976) are similar to each other and different from those of other invertebrate DNAs (Goldberg et al., 1975). Each of these genomes has a paucity of sequences repeated from 10 to 800 times and an abundance of highly repeated sequences. To determine if sequences repeated more than 800 times are interspersed with single copy sequences, we examined the arrangement of repetitive and non-repetitive sequences in mcDNA. The reassociation and melting properties of partially duplex mcDNA fragments of increasing lengths show that at least 75% of the DNA is organized in an interspersed pattern. In this pattern, single copy sequences with an average length of 800–900 nucleotides are interspersed with repetitive sequences. S1 nuclease digestion of reassociated 3100 nucleotide fragments indicates that ∼44% of the mcDNA is repetitive and that one-third of the repetitive sequences (average length=285 nucleotides) are interspersed with single copy sequences. We conclude that repetitive sequencies are interspersed with most of the single copy sequences in an interspersion pattern similar to that of Xenopus rahter than to that of another arthropod, Drosophila.
Job and Family Scheduling of a Flow-Line Manufacturing Cell: A Simulation Study

Abstract This paper compares four part family scheduling procedures, which seek to avoid setups by sequencing similar jobs consecutively, with four job scheduling procedures which are oblivious of part family affiliations. Of these eight scheduling procedures, four are applied intermittently to finite job sets in stochastic and dynamic environments while the other four rules are dispatching heuristics applied dynamically in the same environments. The shop configuration is a 5-stage pure flow-line manufacturing cell. Besides determining the ranking of the procedures in various operating environments, the impact on relative scheduling performance of the mean time between job arrivals, the number of part families processed, and the family setup-to-job processing time ratio is investigated. Significant interaction effects between all these factors were detected. It can be concluded that, for the scheduling procedures and conditions used in this study, family-based scheduling approaches can generate marked imp...
Interleukin-6 Covaries Inversely with Hippocampal Grey Matter Volume in Middle-Aged Adults

Background Converging animal findings suggest that higher peripheral levels of inflammation are associated with activation of central inflammatory mechanisms that result in hippocampal neurodegeneration and related impairment of memory function. We have recently shown, consistent with animal findings, an inverse association between peripheral levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a relatively stable marker of systemic inflammation, and memory function in mid-life adults. In the current study, we extend this work to test whether systemic inflammation is associated with reduced grey matter volume of the hippocampus. Methods For this purpose, we used a computational structural neuroimaging method (optimized voxel-based morphometry) to evaluate the relationship between plasma IL-6 levels and hippocampal grey matter volume in a sample of 76 relatively healthy community volunteers ages 30–54. Results Peripheral levels of IL-6 covaried inversely with hippocampal grey matter volume, and this relationship persisted after accounting for several possible confounders, including age, gender, race, years of education, percent body fat, blood pressure, smoking, physical activity, hours of sleep, alcohol use, and total grey matter volume. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of a relationship between a peripheral marker of IL-6 and hippocampal grey matter volume, raising the possibility that low-grade systemic inflammation could plausibly presage subclinical cognitive decline in part via structural neural pathways.
Attacking the Personal Fable: Role-Play and Its Effect on Teen Attitudes toward Sexual Abstinence.

The premise behind this study was that teens engage in early sex because they believe the “personal fable” concerning pregnancy: “It can't happen to me.” Because role-play is a powerful tool for attitude change, the basic intervention consisted of teens enacting the consequences of teen pregnancy. Ss were 267 9th graders (both male and female) in a high-risk urban high school. Factor analysis of a questionnaire concerning sexual attitudes yielded orthogonal attitudes toward (a) abstaining from teen sexual behavior, and (b) use of contraceptives. ANOVAs indicated that, compared to a control group, both role-playing the consequences of teen pregnancy, and watching videos of friends role-playing, significantly increased the favorable attitude toward abstinence in girls but not boys. However, these interventions did not affect attitudes toward contraceptive use.
Chiral symmetry, the 1/N expansion and the SU(N) thirring model

Abstract In the two-dimensional SU(N) Thirring model, the 1/N expansion seems to predict spontaneous breaking of the continuous chiral symmetry. This is impossible in two-dimensions. Reasoning along the lines of Berezinski, Kosterlitz and Thouless for the two-dimensional XY model, we argue that, in fact, rather than showing long-range order, 〈 ψ ψ(x) ψ ψ(0)〉 vanishes in this model as |x|−1/N at large |x|. The 1/N expansion is, in fact, a rather good guide to the properties of this model.
Individual Differences and Hemispheric Asymmetry While Processing Emotional Words

This research examined differences in the perception of emotion words as a function of individual differences in subclinical levels of depression and anxiety. Participants completed measures of depression and anxiety and performed a lexical decision task for words varying in affective valence (but equated for arousal) that were presented briefly to the right or left visual field. Participants with a lower level of depression demonstrated hemispheric asymmetry with a bias toward words presented to the left hemisphere, but participants with a higher level of depression displayed no hemispheric differences. Participants with a lower level of depression also demonstrated a bias toward positive words, a pattern that did not occur for participants with a higher level of depression. A similar pattern occurred for anxiety. Overall, this study demonstrates how variability in levels of depression and anxiety can influence the perception of emotion words, with patterns that are consistent with past research.
Combination of cytologic evaluation and quantitative digital cytometry is reliable in detecting recurrent disease in patients with urinary diversions.

BACKGROUND. Detecting recurrent bladder carcinoma early is important because it is a multifocal disease that may affect the bladder mucosa, ureters, urethra, and renal pelvis and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, specimens from patients who have undergone cystectomy with urinary diversion can be difficult to interpret by cytologic evaluation because they often contain degenerated epithelial cells, histiocytes, acute inflammatory cells, bacteria, and cellular debris. In this retrospective study, the reliability of quantitative digital cytometry (QDC) in conjunction with cytologic evaluation in detecting recurrent disease was determined in these patients. METHODS. In all, 116 specimens were identified from the cytology files from 83 patients who had undergone radical cystectomy with urinary diversion for bladder carcinoma at the study institution between 2002 and 2005; all specimens underwent cytologic evaluation and 105 underwent QDC. Two cytospin slides were prepared for cytologic evaluation and 1 for QDC. At least 100 of the most atypical cells were interactively digitized and evaluated for ploidy, the percentage of proliferating cells, and the percentage of cells with a DNA content greater than 5c. Based on these parameters, the DNA histograms were grouped by pattern: diploid, abnormal diploid, tetraploid, and aneuploid. The cytologic evaluation and QDC results were compared with the clinical follow-up data. RESULTS. In all, 103 specimens were negative for recurrent disease or had atypical cells on cytologic examination and were found to have diploid or abnormal diploid patterns on QDC. None of these cases had clinical evidence of upper urinary tract disease at the time the first specimen was obtained. However, recurrent urothelial carcinoma was found in subsequent conduit specimens from 2 patients. Thirteen specimens from 9 patients were suspicious or positive for malignancy by cytology. Five of these patients had an upper urinary tract recurrence and their specimens were found to be abnormal on cytologic evaluation and QDC, with 15% of cells with a DNA content greater than 5c. CONCLUSIONS. Combined cytologic evaluation and QDC is a reliable method of detecting recurrent disease in patients with urinary diversions and can be used to regularly monitor these high-risk patients. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Charge Transport Enhanced Optical Nonlinearities In Semiconductors

Low power nonlinear optical materials are needed for devices such as all-optical spatial light modulators and optical wave mixers (devices which couple energy between two or more optical beams). In particular, operating intensities of a few milliwatts/cm 2 are desirable. It is not essential that the response times of the materials be extremely short. By taking advantage of the inherent parallelism of optics, significant information processing can be achieved even if response times are of the order of microseconds. With these requirements in mind, we are studying charge transport enhanced optical nonlinearities in semiconductors. A bonus of this approach is that these materials are compatible with existing semiconductor technologies.
Analysis of State Organizational Patterns among Students with Profound Disabilities.

A review is presented of recent research on state behavior among children and youth with profound disabilities. A model depicting interactions of state with endogenous and exogenous variables is pr...
Cancer statistics, 1995

The American Cancer Society's Department of Epidemiology and Statistics reports its 29th annual compilation of cancer incidence, survival and mortality data for the United States and around the world.
Inpatient charges among HIV/AIDS patients in Rhode Island from 2000-2004.

Inpatient HIV/AIDS charges decreased from 1996–2000. This decrease was mainly attributable to treatment of HIV/AIDS patients with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). This study aims to evaluate the trend in inpatient charges from 2000–2004. Rhode Island Hospital Discharge Data (HDD) from 2000 to 2004 was used. International Classification of Disease (ICD-9) diagnosis code 042–044 was used to identify HIV/AIDS admissions. The final study population included 1927 HIV/AIDS discharges. We used a multivariable linear regression model to examine the factors associated with inflation adjusted inpatient charges. We found a significant increase in inpatient charges from 2000–2004 after adjusting for length of stay (LOS), gender, age, race and point of entry for hospitalization. In addition to calendar year, LOS, gender and race were also associated with inpatient charges. HIV/AIDS inpatient charges increased after adjusting for inflation despite earlier studies that showed a decline. Our results have implications for uninsured, as well as insured HIV/AIDS patients who do not have a medical plan that covers their charges sufficiently. Future research should investigate what factors are contributing to rising inpatient charges among HIV/AIDS patients.
Low-Reynolds-Number Aerodynamics of a Flapping Rigid Flat Plate

Two- and three-dimensional low-aspect-ratio (AR = 4) hovering airfoil/wing aerodynamics at a low Reynolds number (Re = 100) are numerically investigated. Regarding fluid physics, in addition to the well-known leading-edge vortex and wake-capture mechanisms, a persistent jet, induced by the shed vortices in the wake during previous strokes, and tip vortices can significantly influence the lift and power performance. While in classical stationary wing theory the tip vortices are seen as wasted energy, here, they can interact with the leading-edge vortex to contribute to the lift generated without increasing the power requirements. Using surrogate modeling techniques, the two- and three-dimensional time-averaged aerodynamic forces were predicted well over a large range of kinematic motions when compared with the Navier-Stokes solutions. The combined effects of tip vortices, leading-edge vortex, and jet can be manipulated by the choice of kinematics to make a three-dimensional wing aerodynamically better or worse than an infinitely long wing. The environmental sensitivity during hovering for select kinematics is also examined. Different freestream strengths and orientations are imposed, with the impact on vortex generation and wake interaction investigated.
Foraging in Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): effects of weather and season.

Foraging activity of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was monitored at bait traps for 1 yr to determine how weather and season affected foraging. Soil temperature at 2 cm was the best individual predictor of foraging rates at our study site ( R 2 = 59%); workers foraged from 15 to 43°C, with maximal rates between 22 and 36°C. Season explained another 19% of sample variation in a multiple regression with soil temperature; this was because foraging was unusually low in late fall. Rain reduced foraging rates by ca. 40% and explained an additional 3% of the variation. Workers did not exhibit a tendency to forage more at night because neither time of day nor night/day were significantly correlated with foraging rates. Relative humidity, saturation deficits, soil moisture, and wind were also unrelated to foraging. Average weight of individual foragers increased ca. 30% with increasing soil temperature and decreased 15% with the advancing season. Soil-temperature data were used to calculate periods of foraging activity for an open pasture, a nearby shaded woodlot, and seven additional locations in the southeastern United States. Activity periods were distinctly shorter in shady habitats and higher latitudes. Low temperatures limited activity much more frequently than high temperatures.
Comparative long-term results of laser-assisted balloon angioplasty and atherectomy in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease

background: Early results of laser-assisted balloon angioplasty (LABA) and peripheral directional atherectomy (PDA) are encouraging. The true value of these procedures has remained in doubt, however, because of the absence of data on long-term objective patency rates. patients and methods: From August 1988 through October 1993, LABA and PDA were performed on 151 limbs of 124 patients. Presenting symptoms were mild-to-severe claudication in 128 limbs (63 LABA, 65 PDA) and rest pain or necrosis in 23 (7 LABA, 16 PDA). Seventy-seven percent of the atherosclerotic lesions were localized in the iliofemoral tract (77% LABA, 76% PDA). Seventy limbs were treated with LABA and 81 with PDA. results: Initial hemodynamic and arteriographic success was achieved in 46 LABA limbs (66%) and 75 PDA limbs (93%) ( P P conclusions: PDA had a better long-term patency rate than LABA, but long-term results were dismal with both techniques. PDA appears to have a limited role and LABA no role in the treatment of lower extremity occlusive disease.
Measurements of wet metaphase chromosomes in the scanning transmission X-ray microscope

Summary Radiation damage to Vicia faba chromosome structure, as measured by the mass loss, was determined in the scanning transmission X-ray microscope for unstained specimens in both the wet and dry states. Dried specimens remain undamaged after either single or multiple images at doses up to 2400 Mrad at wavelengths of 3·15 or 3·64nm. In contrast, wet specimens are damaged irrespective of the imaging protocol. The damage induced by multiple exposures is greater than that seen in a single exposure of the same total dose. Thus, the rate of data collection is greater than or equal to the rate of damage. The damage during multiple exposures of wet chromosomes is influenced by several factors. First, the fixative used influences the extent of radiation damage. Wet chromosomes fixed with glutaraldehyde are more resistant than those fixed with formaldehyde or osmium tetroxide. A second factor is ionic strength. Damage to wet chromosomes increases if the ionic strength decreases below that at which chromatin undergoes a conformational transition. The mass of wet and dry chromosomes is the same, and consequently quantitative measurements can be made on wet specimens. Such measurements give a DNA mass fraction of 39 ± 8% for V. faba chromosomes.
Selective-Ultratrace Detection of Metal Ions with SERS:

We report the results from experiments involving the detection of metal ions with a Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic indicator (SERS indicator). Comparisons of metals showed that the SERS effect can be used to selectively detect metal ions according to their ionic radius. We determined a resolving power for separating the alkaline earth series. The results indicate that the resolving power of the SERS approach is superior to that of absorption spectroscopy. Quantitatively, under our experimental conditions, we found a detection limit of 270 ppb for Pb2+ and 85 ppb for Cu2+ with the indicator Eriochrome Black T.
Insights from a synthesis of old and new climate-proxy data from the Pyramid and Winnemucca lake basins for the period 48 to 11.5 cal ka

Abstract A synthesis of old and new paleoclimatic data from the Pyramid and Winnemucca lake basins indicates that, between 48.0 and 11.5·103 calibrated years BP (hereafter ka), the climate of the western Great Basin was, to a degree, linked with the climate of the North Atlantic. Paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) records from Pyramid Lake core PLC08-1 were tied to the GISP2 ice-core record via PSV matches to North Atlantic sediment cores whose isotopic and(or) carbonate records could be linked to the GISP2 δ18O record. Relatively dry intervals in the western Great Basin were associated with cold Heinrich events and relatively wet intervals were associated with warm Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) oscillations. The association of western Great Basin dry events with North Atlantic cold events (and vice versa) switched sometime after the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) reached its maximum extent. For example, the Lahontan highstand, which culminated at 15.5 ka, and a period of elevated lake level between 13.1 and 11.7 ka were associated with cold North Atlantic conditions, the latter period with the Youngest Dryas event. Relatively dry periods were associated with the Bolling and Allerod warm events. A large percentage of the LIS may have been lost to the North Atlantic during Heinrich events 1 and 2 and may have resulted in the repositioning of the Polar Jet Stream over North America. The Trego Hot Springs, Wono, Carson Sink, and Marble Bluff tephras found in core PLC08-1 have been assigned GISP2 calendar ages of respectively, 29.9, 33.7, 34.1, and 43.2 ka. Given its unique trace-element chemistry, the Carson Sink Bed is the same as Wilson Creek Ash 15 in the Mono Lake Basin. This implies that the Mono Lake magnetic excursion occurred at approximately 34 ka and it is not the Laschamp magnetic excursion. The entrance of the First Americans into the northern Great Basin is dated to approximately 14.4 ka, a time when the climate was relatively dry. Evidence for human occupation of the Great Basin is lacking for the next 1100 years (y); i.e., the oldest western stemmed point site in the Great Basin dates to 13.3 ka. Two hypotheses are suggested for this cultural hiatus: (1) the climate had deteriorated to the point that people vacated the Great Basin, or (2) people moved to basin-bottom wetlands that persisted during the dry period, and then the subsequent Younger Dryas wet event erased the archaeological evidence deposited around the low-elevation wetland sites.
High Rate of Invasive Fungal Infections Following Nonmyeloablative Allogeneic Transplantation

Nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplantation is an emerging therapy for hematologic and solid malignancies and potentially offers patients reduced transplant-related toxicity. Data regarding infectious complications of these protocols are limited, but early studies have demonstrated little infectious morbidity, particularly low rates of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). In the present study, 31 consecutive cases of nonmyeloablative transplantation were reviewed over a 2.5-year period, with a specific focus on infectious complications. Twenty-six patients (84%) had at least 1 significant infection during the year after transplantation, and infection-related mortality was 37%. Cytomegalovirus end-organ disease was diagnosed in 3 patients (10%). Ten patients (32%) were given the diagnosis of IFI; 7 (23%) met criteria for proven IFI. Fungal-related mortality was 80% within the group of patients with IFI and accounted for a significant portion of the overall mortality in the study. Severe graft-versus-host disease, high-dose corticosteroid use, recurrent neutropenia, and relapsed or refractory disease were factors associated with development of IFI.
Airway epithelial cells are the site of expression of a mammalian antimicrobial peptide gene

Abstract We previously reported the isolation and characterization of a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide from the bovine tracheal mucosa, which we called tracheal antimicrobial peptide (TAP). We now show the TAP gene is expressed throughout the adult conducting airway, from nasal to bronchiolar tissue, but not in tissues other than airway mucosa, as determined by Northern blot analysis. In situ hybridization of airway sections localizes TAP mRNA to columnar cells of the pseudostratified epithelium. We report the structural organization of the TAP gene and show that TAP is a member of a large family of related sequences with high nucleotide identity in the 5' exon. The data support the hypothesis that antimicrobial peptides contribute to host defense of the respiratory tract.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome

• Based on strong research evidence, in countries where poliomyelitis has been eliminated, GBS is the most common cause of acquired paralysis in children. (9) • Based on strong research evidence, GBS describes a spectrum of disorders caused by an autoimmune reaction against peripheral nerve components, including the myelin sheath and the axon. (10)(11) • Based on strong research evidence, GBS usually is preceded by a bacterial or viral infection, less likely by vaccination in the 1 to 4 weeks before onset. The strongest relationship is with infection by C jejuni. (12)(13) • Based on strong research evidence, GBS in children most often presents with symmetrical ascending paralysis, diminished or absent reflexes, and often severe pain. Pain may lead to a delay in diagnosis. (2) (3)(9)(14) • Based on strong research evidence, the progressive phase peaks in 7 to 14 days and can lead to various levels of weakness, from abnormal gait to total paralysis, cranial nerve weakness, pain, respiratory compromise, and autonomic instability. (2) • Based on some research evidence and consensus, children require hospitalization and often intensive care until their condition stabilizes because of significant risk of respiratory compromise and autonomic instability. (15) • Based on strong research evidence in adults and some research evidence in children, IVIG and plasma exchange hasten recovery from GBS in patients with impaired ability to ambulate. (4)(6) • Based primarily on consensus, IVIG is the treatment of choice in children with GBS. (6)(9)(15) • Based on strong research evidence, the prognosis for full functional recovery in childhood GBS is excellent. (2)(8)(9).
Phosphoproteins in Dictyostelium discoideum.

The phosphoproteins of Dictyostelium discoideum were compared at different stages of development by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Certain phosphoproteins of vegetative amoebae were conserved while others appeared and disappeared during development. Four major phosphoproteins with apparent subunit molecular weights of 50,000, 47,000, 38,000, and 34,000 disappeared precociously in response to exogenous cAMP. Two membranal phosphoproteins, with apparent subunit molecular weights of 80,000 and 81,000, appeared precociously in response to added cAMP. One of these phosphoproteins, molecular weight of 80,000, has been identified tentatively as the “contact site A” glycoprotein. Another membranal protein, with apparent subunit molecular weight of 42,000, unaffected in its appearance by cAMP, has been identified tentatively as phosphoactin.
Effect of Manual Acupuncture-Induced Injury on Rat Skeletal Muscle

ABSTRACT Background: Muscle injury stimulates normal quiescent resident satellite (stem) cells to re-enter the cell cycle and execute the myogenic program, resulting in muscle fiber regeneration. We hypothesized that part of acupuncture's efficacy is a consequence of needle-induced injury that stimulates satellite cells within muscle tissue. Objective: To determine whether manual acupuncture needling on a single point (ST 36) in a rat model can produce focal muscle damage and activate satellite cells. Design and Setting: Four male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in this experiment at a single US academic institution. Intervention: The rats were anesthetized and underwent needling at ST 36 in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. Main Outcome Measure: Assessment of TA muscle damage was determined using light microscopy. Immunofluorescence was used to detect MyoD antibody, and Western blot to determine MyoD protein. Results: Phenotypic and morphological changes associated with focal injury were demonstrated. ...
Engineering Online: Assessing Innovative Education

This paper presents research on student performance outcomes, satisfaction, and retention rates in a fiber optics course at Arizona State University. Although the course typically has been taught by conventional methods for over 20 years, the instructor offered alternative delivery methods, such as the Web, during the Fall 2000 semester. This course was also unique in that it was comprised of diverse groups such as undergraduates and graduates and on- and off-campus students. Although online students were significantly more satisfied with the course, performance outcomes and retention rates were favorable overall. It is likely that course options and convenience aided in student outcomes and course retention.
An attribute-space representation and algorithm for concurrent engineering

This paper presents a novel formulation of the configuration-design problem that achieves the benefits of the concurrent engineering (CE) design paradigm. In CE, all design concerns (manufacturability, testability, etc.) are applied to an evolving design throughout the design cycle. CE identifies conflicts early on, avoids costly redesign, and leads to better products. Our formulation is based on a distributed dynamic interval constraint-satisfaction problem (DDICSP) model. Persistent catalog agents map onto DDICSP variables and constraint agents map onto DDICSP constraints. These agents use a set of operations and heuristics to navigate the design space to eliminate sets of designs until a solution is found. Experimental results show that an architecture where each catalog agent resides on a separate computer has performance advantages over nondistributed approaches.
Messina Hof Wine and Jazz Festival: an economic impact analysis.

The purpose of the study was to estimate the economic impact on Brazos County, Texas, of a proposed weekend Wine and Jazz Festival to be produced by Messina Hof Winery. An economic impact analysis ...
Reducing HIV Sexual Risk Among African American Women Who Use Drugs: Hearing Their Voices

A pilot study was conducted to understand women's realities, perspectives, and perceived needs regarding the interaction between substance use, types of sexual relationships, and the challenges and barriers they pose to practicing safer sex. An additional purpose was to examine this population's willingness to participate in the program and receptiveness to the components of proposed interventions. Data were collected in this descriptive, exploratory study by the use of one focus group. Twelve African American women between 20 and 55 years of age who had previous drug detoxification experience participated in a 3-hour focus group. All participants were sexually active as well as current users of illicit substances, and all but one had traded sex for money, drugs, or alcohol. The focus group interview was guided by a semistructured questionnaire. Participants were recruited by counselors in detoxification units. Each unit counselor was asked to randomly select a third of their residents, explain and read the purpose of the focus group, and get the residents' verbal consent to participate. The women discussed their sexual behaviors and drug use that increased their risk for acquiring HIV. They provided insight about the effects of different drugs on one's sexual behavior, motivation for sex, and reasons for unsafe sex and made recommendations for HIV prevention intervention. Participants agreed that safer sex and healthy living intervention would be most beneficial if placed within the context of a detoxification program. The juxtaposition of increased sexual risk behavior and the potential to acquire and transmit HIV infection suggests the urgency of intervening with African American women who are substance abusers.
Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War. By Anton Kaes

Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War. By Anton Kaes (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2009), xi + 312 pp. $29.95/£20.95 cloth. In his study of German film after World ...
Combings of semidirect products and 3-manifold groups

IfG is a finitely generated group that is abelian or word-hyperbolic andH is an asynchronously combable group then every split extension ofG byH is asynchronously combable. The fundamental group of any compact 3-manifold that satisfies the geometrization conjecture is asynchronously combable. Every split extension of a word-hyperbolic group by an asynchronously automatic group is asynchronously automatic.
Superlattice interface and lattice strain measurement by ion channeling

The ion-beam channeling technique has been used to characterize the interface and the first few layers of [100] GaSb/AlSb superlattice structures. Strain caused by alternating tensile and compressive stress has been detected by measuring the oscillation of the [110]-aligned direction with depth. From the angular displacement and its oscillation, the amount of strain in the superlattice has been determined directly.
Bearing cage telemeter for the detection of shaft imbalance in rotating systems

We demonstrate for the first time a low-cost battery-free wireless telemeter integrated on a dynamically balanced ball bearing operating in a test setup that mimics the operating conditions of a two-compressor turbocharger. In this method we continuously monitor the bearing cage temperature and demonstrate the ability to detect rotor imbalance during operation even at low speeds below 5,550 RPM. The telemeter is based on a simple commercially-available temperature-sensitive capacitor coupled with an inductor that is mounted on the bearing cage and is able to operate at temperatures up to 150°C. Cage temperature is sensed wirelessly through a matched interrogator tuned to the natural frequency of the cage sensor at 13.1 MHz. A 5°C temperature differential is detected at 4,700 RPM between a balanced rotor and one with an applied 2.32×10{−3} kg-m imbalance.
Modern Control of Large Hydroelectric Generating Stations

A brief description is given of the evolution of control of large hydroelectric stations up to the present time, and also plans for control of future plants, including the John Day and Lowver Monumental plants now under construction. The design for new stations provides the same control in the powerhouse control room that would be provided at a remotecontrol station, and also is compatible, with a minimum of modification, with remote control from a central computer.
Structural characteristics of stored black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study and compare the structural characteristics of black beans after 2 years of storage under ambient conditions (AC) and refrigerated hypobaric conditions (RHC). The exterior surface of the seed coats of the black beans were covered with small flake-like materials randomly clustered together. The hilar regions of black beans stored under either AC or RHC were similar, and the “linea lucida” exhibited well defined double palisade cell layers in both bean treatments. Cross sections of the seed coats revealed that the parenchymal cell layers of the beans stored under AC were disrupted and frequently exhibited large intercellular spaces between the cell layers. The parenchymal cell layers of the beans stored under RHC demonstrated little disruption of the cell layers, with only occasional intercellular spaces between the cell layers. Cotyledon cross sections of blackbeans showed that the cotyledon cells of the beans stored under RHC exhibited many large intercellular spaces characteristic of normal beans. Conversely, cotyledon cross sections of the beans stored under AC exhibited cotyledon cells with few small intercellular spaces characteristic of hard-to-cook beans.
A modified subset selection formulation with special reference to one-way and two-way layout experiments

The usual formulation of subset selection due to Gupta (1956) requires a minimum guaranteed probability of a correct selection. The modified formulation of the present paper includes an additional requirement that the expected number of the nonbest populations be bounded above by a specified constant when the best and the next best populations are ‘sufficiently’ apart. A class of procedures is defined and the determination of the minimum sample size required is discussed. The specific problems discussed for normal populations include selection in terms of means and variances, and selection in terms of treatment effects in a two-way layout.
Mapping Forest Types using Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing Methods

As climate change becomes more critical in the future, having access to accurate maps of forest types and conditions will allow climate modelers to more accurately predict the carbon sequestration capacity of forested landscapes. Remote sensing tools make mapping of forest type and conditions possible. The remote sensing team members of the Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) program mapped the ECSU campus using both Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data (acquired 6/12/99) and aerial photographic data (acquired from NC OneMap, http://www.nconemap.com/). NC OneMap is a public resource for North Carolina geospatial data. Aerial photographic data was used to distinguish the different features indicated in the Landsat ETM+ image. Both remote sensing data sets were calibrated using a variety of field verification (ground truth) measurements acquired during summer 2006 session. This paper presents the final product, a land cover map of the campus, produced using unsupervised classification methods provided by MultiSpec. MultiSpec is data analysis and image processing software and was used to evaluate the ETM+ data. The ETM+ data provided multispectral data at 30 m spatial resolution, while the aerial photography provided hyperspatial data. The combination of the two sensors provided complimentary data allowing identification and mapping of dominant land cover types, including forest types, non-forest vegetation, and categories of development (parking lots, roadways, buildings, campus landmarks, etc.), not possible using either sensor separately. Mapping of the distribution of forest species assemblages (hardwoods, softwoods, and mixtures of the two) was also possible. Field methods included the identification of dominant forest species, forest canopy height, tree age, and relative state-of-health of selected tree species. Tree cores provided insight into changing growth patterns over the past century. The use of these remote sensing methods facilitated the production of accurate and up-to-date mapping of the ECSU campus not possible using other cartographic methods.
A comparison between the Earth Simulator and AlphaServer systems using predictive application performance models

This paper gives a detailed analysis of the relative performance between the Earth Simulator and systems built using Alpha processors. The achieved performance results from an interplay of system characteristics, application requirements and scalability behavior. Detailed performance models are used here to predict the performance of two codes representative of ASCI computations, namely SAGE and Sweep3D. The performance models do not require access to a full sized system but rather rely on characteristics of the system as well as knowledge of the achieved single-processor performance. One result of this analysis is in the determination of an equivalent-sized Alpha-based machine that would be required to obtain the same performance as the Earth Simulator.
A retargetable instruction reorganizer

Extant peephole optimizers can perform many optimizations that are handled by higher-level optimizers. This paper describes a retargetable instruction reorganizer that performs targeting and evaluation order determination by applying a well known algorithm for optimal code generation for expressions to object code. By applying the algorithm to object code after code generation and optimization, a phase ordering problem often encountered by higher-level optimizers is avoided. It minimizes the number of registers and temporaries required to compile expressions by rearranging machine instructions. For some machines, this can result in smaller and faster programs. By generalizing its operation, the reorganizer can also be used to reorder instructions to avoid delays in pipelined machines. For one pipelined machine, it has provided a 5 to 10 percent improvement in the execution speed of benchmark programs.
Approaches to large-scale urban modeling

Large-scale urban modeling technologies use a variety of sensors and data acquisition techniques. The authors categorize current approaches and describe their advantages and disadvantages. Their survey examines current research with respect to several performance criteria including data acquisition sources, user interaction level, geometric fidelity, model completeness, and intended applications. Although modeling systems vary with respect to these criteria, data acquisition strongly influences model characteristics and usefulness. We therefore cluster the methods into those based on photogrammetry, active sensors, and hybrid sensor systems.
Geometric modeling of tubular structures

In this paper, we present a method for extracting center axis representations of tubular shapes obtained from medical images. The method extracts centerlines by computing minimum-cost paths from a graph based optimization algorithm which minimizes responses obtained from multi-scale medialness filters. These filters are designed from the assumption that tubular structures, in general, has circular shapes in cross-sectional views. The proposed algorithm can produce a local centerline segment between two points as well as a centerline tree from a single seed, which can be detected automatically. The main contribution of the method is its ability to extract center axis of tubular shapes which may contain boundary noise, holes, gaps and attachment of nearby structures or pathologies due to the errors from segmentation algorithms.
Satellite detection of land-use change and effects on regional forest aboveground biomass estimates.

We used remote-sensing-driven models to detect land-cover change effects on forest above- ground biomass (AGB) density (Mg·ha �1 , dry weight)
Real-time parallel parameter estimators for a second-order macroscopic traffic flow model

The online estimation of traffic flow characteristics could be used for traffic control, incident management etc. This paper presents a real-time parameter estimation scheme based on a second-order macroscopic traffic flow model. The online estimation of the key parameters does not follow from standard estimation techniques due to the fact that the unknown parameters cannot be expressed in the form of a linear parametric model. In this paper we bypass this problem by using parallel estimators and an appropriate logic to choose the one that generates more accurate estimates. One month field traffic data from the Berkeley Highway Laboratory (BHL) are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach
The kinoform: a new wavefront reconstruction device

A new, computer-generated, optical element called a kinoform is described. This device operates only on the phase of an incident wave and forms a single image by wavefront reconstruction without the unwanted diffraction orders characteristic of holograms. The kinoform is also more efficient in the use of spatial frequency potential and reconstruction energy and can be synthesized in considerably less computer time than the digital hologram.
Skin-electrode circuit model for use in optimizing energy transfer in volume conduction systems

The X-Δ model for through-skin volume conduction systems is introduced and analyzed. This new model has advantages over our previous X model in that it explicitly represents current pathways in the skin. A vector network analyzer is used to take measurements on pig skin to obtain data for use in finding the model’s impedance parameters. An optimization method for obtaining this more complex model’s parameters is described. Results show the model to accurately represent the impedance behavior of the skin system with error of generally less than one percent. Uses for the model include optimizing energy transfer across the skin in a volume conduction system with appropriate current exposure constraints, and exploring non-linear behavior of the electrode-skin system at moderate voltages (below ten) and frequencies (kilohertz to megahertz).