cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of lake sturgeon spawning stocks using fixed‐location, split‐beam sonar technology

Summary Fixed-location, split-beam sonar technology was used successfully to identify adult lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens as they moved upstream and downstream for spawning in the Sturgeon River, Michigan, May–June 2004. A Hydroacoustic Technology Inc. Model 241 Split-Beam Echo Sounder operating at 200 kHz and a single 4 × 10° elliptical-beam transducer with a near field range of 1.7 m set perpendicular to the river flow was used. Data collected from migrating lake sturgeon included direction of movement, swimming speed, range from transducer, time and date of passage, and target strength. The spawning population of lake sturgeon was estimated to be at 350–400 fish, with almost equal numbers of fish seen moving upstream as downstream. Most fish were recorded moving within the mid-section of the river, 1.5–1.65 m deep, and swimming speeds upstream were slower than those for downstream moving fish. These results show that spilt-beam sonar can be applied to lake sturgeon assessments, without the stress of actually handling these large, pre-spawning fish.
Thread Group Multithreading: Accelerating the Computation of an Agent-Based Power System Modeling and Simulation Tool -- C GridLAB-D

GridLAB-D™ is an open source next generation agent-based smart-grid simulator that provides unprecedented capability to model the performance of smart grid technologies. Over the past few years, GridLAB-D has been used to conduct important analyses of smart grid concepts, but it is still quite limited by its computational performance. In order to break through the performance bottleneck to meet the need for large scale power grid simulations, we develop a thread group mechanism to implement highly granular multithreaded computation in GridLAB-D. We achieve close to linear speedup on the multithread version running on general purpose multi-core commodity for a benchmark simple house model. The performance of the multithreading code also shows very favorable scalability properties, resource utilization, and much shorter execution time for large-scale complex power grid simulations.
3D intrathoracic region definition and its application to PET-CT analysis

Recently developed integrated PET-CT scanners give co-registered multimodal data sets that offer complementary three-dimensional (3D) digital images of the chest. PET (positron emission tomography) imaging gives highly specific functional information of suspect cancer sites, while CT (X-ray computed tomography) gives associated anatomical detail. Because the 3D CT and PET scans generally span the body from the eyes to the knees, accurate definition of the intrathoracic region is vital for focusing attention to the central-chest region. In this way, diagnostically important regions of interest (ROIs), such as central-chest lymph nodes and cancer nodules, can be more efficiently isolated. We propose a method for automatic segmentation of the intrathoracic region from a given co-registered 3D PET-CT study. Using the 3D CT scan as input, the method begins by finding an initial intrathoracic region boundary for a given 2D CT section. Next, active contour analysis, driven by a cost function depending on local image gradient, gradient-direction, and contour shape features, iteratively estimates the contours spanning the intrathoracic region on neighboring 2D CT sections. This process continues until the complete region is defined. We next present an interactive system that employs the segmentation method for focused 3D PET-CT chest image analysis. A validation study over a series of PET-CT studies reveals that the segmentation method gives a Dice index accuracy of less than 98%. In addition, further results demonstrate the utility of the method for focused 3D PET-CT chest image analysis, ROI definition, and visualization.
The CNS Photoreceptor of crayfish: Morphology and synaptic activity

Morphological and physiological evidence is presented which adds to our understanding of the responses exhibited by the caudal photoreceptor (CPR) interneuron of the crayfish. Illumination of a restricted area of the 6th abdominal ganglion showed that the CPR responds to light from only a part of the ipsilateral half of the ganglion. From Procion Yellow injections, the CPR neuron was found to consist of a contralateral cell body and an extensive ipsilateral dendritic tree. Significantly, the ganglionic area of light sensitivity was found to correspond closely to the dendritic domain. Electrical responses were recorded intracellularly from the CPR within the neuropil, both as a result of naturally evoked photic and mechanoreceptive input and of direct electrical stimulation of the ganglionic roots. When light was the predominant input, membrane depolarization of the CPR was gradual and smooth, reaching 8–10 mV and triggering trains of spikes. Electrical stimuli applied to the ipsilateral 1st through 5th roots of abdominal ganglion six produced monosynaptic EPSP's while stimuli to the corresponding contralateral roots evoked IPSP's. Recruitment of excitatory units was seen with increasing intensity; trains of stimuli showed summation. These inputs apparently originated from tactile hairs on the caudal appendages which were shown in the present study to be directionally sensitive. Several unidentified interneurons in abdominal ganglion six were also seen to respond to directional fluid movements over the caudal appendages, in much the same manner as did the CPR. Evidence for the presence of other light-sensitive interneurons is also presented. The data suggest that the CPR itself is transducing the light input.
Scheme for a 60-nm laser based on photopumping of a high level of Mo 6 + by a spectral line of Mo 11 +

A near coincidence between lines of two molybdenum ions at 13.650 nm creates conditions that satisfy requirements for producing a short-wavelength photopumped laser in a plasma containing ions of Mo6+. The scheme is based on the use of radiation from the 4s24p P23/2∘-4s25s S21/2 transition of galliumlike Mo11+ to pump the 4s24p6 1S0–4s24p56s 1/2[1/2]1 transition of kryptonlike Mo6+. The Mo6+ ion would then lase through several possible 4s24p55p–4s24p56s transitions near 60 nm.
A Fourier-series-based kernel-independent fast multipole method

We present in this paper a new kernel-independent fast multipole method (FMM), named as FKI-FMM, for pairwise particle interactions with translation-invariant kernel functions. FKI-FMM creates, using numerical techniques, sufficiently accurate and compressive representations of a given kernel function over multi-scale interaction regions in the form of a truncated Fourier series. It provides also economic operators for the multipole-to-multipole, multipole-to-local, and local-to-local translations that are typical and essential in the FMM algorithms. The multipole-to-local translation operator, in particular, is readily diagonal and does not dominate in arithmetic operations. FKI-FMM provides an alternative and competitive option, among other kernel-independent FMM algorithms, for an efficient application of the FMM, especially for applications where the kernel function consists of multi-physics and multi-scale components as those arising in recent studies of biological systems. We present the complexity analysis and demonstrate with experimental results the FKI-FMM performance in accuracy and efficiency.
Determination of the Value of Minimum Sire Accuracy Traits

Using Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers Inc. sale data, this article uses hedonic modeling to assess the marginal implicit values of physical and genetic characteristics, expected performance characteristics of calves, and market factors to bred heifer price. In 2008, a higher quality standard, known as Tier II, was created combining minimum expected progeny difference (EPD) accuracies for a heifer’s sire with previous heifer standards. Heifer characteristics and market factors as well as yearling and carcass weight EPDs were found to significantly influence heifer price. Results suggest that Tier II heifers receive a premium compared with traditional Show-Me-Select heifers.
Creating Excellence out of Crisis: Organizational Transformation at the Chicago Tribune

This article describes an organizational transformation effort involving one of the Chicago Tribune's printing facilities. In July 1985, a walkout strike affecting 1,000 workers occurred, which prompted management to seek to change the printing center to meet its vision of technological and managerial excellence. Consultants conducted a transformation effort that was conceptually similar to an organization development program, but differed in its focus on results and measures of attaining them. This effort produced statements of operating beliefs and key result areas (including implementing the operating beliefs, human resources development, and effective use of capital and resources) for performance measurement. The results include a 25% improvement in productivity in pages per hour and tens of millions of dollars in potential savings in annualized advertising revenues. The authors conclude that visions of organizations of the future must be grounded in clear, integrated action steps permitting measurabl...
Further characterization of the latency-associated transcription unit of Marek’s disease virus

Previous studies have identified a large (L) and a small (S) RNA transcript antisense to the MDV homologue of the ICP4 gene of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in cells infected with Marek’s disease virus (MDV) and in lymphoblastoid cell lines. In this study the 5′ and 3′ ends of the L RNA and of the sense ICP4 transcript of MDV were mapped by Northern hybridization and RNase protection assays. The results showed that L RNA is approximately 10.6 kb and that the ICP4 sense transcript is initiated in the region of genomic DNA where the L RNA terminates whereas L RNA is initiated where the ICP4 transcript terminates. L RNA was abundant in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected with virus strain HPRS16/attenuated whereas S RNA was predominant in CEF infected with oncogenic HPRS16 and in RPL-1 cell line. Results of cycloheximide experiments showed that the ICP4 gene of MDV was transcribed as an immediate-early gene in infected CEF whereas transcription of the L RNA required protein synthesis. Sequencing of cDNA and Northern hybridization using oligonucleotide probes showed that S RNA shared similar intron/exon boundaries as the cDNAs from several cell lines indicating that there might be a relationship between the S RNA and the antisense transcripts that generated the cDNAs.
Can Stricter Environmental Standards Benefit the Industry and Enhance Welfare

This paper argues that the industrialists' claim that stricter environmental standards reduce the industry output, competition, and hence social welfare rests solely on the "cost" effect of a stricter standard and ignores its "demand" effect. It considers situations where firms' pollution abatement increases the industry demand, but, because of inability to coordinate their emissions reductions, and thus free-riding prob- lem, they can not act in their own collective interest. The paper examines the effects of a stricter standard in such situations both at the individual firm and industry levels and when entry/exit is free as well as when the number of firms is fixed. It identifies conditions under which a stricter standard leads to a larger number of firms in the industry, a greater industry output, and a lower total pollution in the long-run; and to higher levels of firms' profits and output in the short-run. It also shows that for the industry to survive, a minimum pollution standard may be necessary. Further, it analyzes the welfare effects of a stricter standard and indicates situations in which the regulator may prefer no standards to weak ones.
Noise reduction using spatial-angular compounding for elastography

Ultrasound elastography has developed into an imaging modality suitable for detection and diagnosis of cancers in the breast, prostate, and thyroid and for monitoring ablative therapies in the liver, kidneys, and other sites. In this article, a new approach is described that enables the reduction of noise artifacts in elastography without a significant reduction in either the contrast or spatial resolution. The technique uses angular-weighted compounding of local angular strains estimated from echo signals scanned at different insonification angles. Strain estimated along angular insonification directions can be separated into strain tensor components along the axial (direction of compression) and lateral directions. The mechanical stimulus is applied only along one direction. Angular-weighting factors are derived from the relationship between the axial and lateral strains under the assumption of tissue incompressibility. Experimental results using a uniformly elastic, tissue-mimicking phantom demonstrate the improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio obtained with angular-weighted compounding. Variation in the signal-to-noise ratio obtained using different angular increments also is investigated. Elastograms obtained from an inclusion phantom also demonstrate the improvement in contrast detail resolution obtained using spatial-angular compounding.
The Role of Chronic Inflammation in Obesity-Associated Cancers

There is a strong relationship between metabolism and immunity, which can become deleterious under conditions of metabolic stress. Obesity, considered a chronic inflammatory disease, is one example of this link. Chronic inflammation is increasingly being recognized as an etiology in several cancers, particularly those of epithelial origin, and therefore a potential link between obesity and cancer. In this review, the connection between the different factors that can lead to the chronic inflammatory state in the obese individual, as well as their effect in tumorigenesis, is addressed. Furthermore, the association between obesity, inflammation, and esophageal, liver, colon, postmenopausal breast, and endometrial cancers is discussed.
Le Roman historique contemporain ou la voix/ voie marginale du passé:

Depuis presque un quart de siecle la question de la legitimation de l'Histoire comme recit veridique, qui suit une demarche scientifique et donc objective, a fait l'objet de serieuses polemiques, avancant que le discours historiographique est le plus souvent limite, organise de maniere liberee et donc subjective et partielle. Or, dans la fiction historiographique contemporaine les enjeux d'une telle problematique se trouvent largement impliques: le paradoxe tant narratif que discursif fait en sorte que le recit historiographique est a la fois integre et depasse dans la trame fictionnelle. Sous une optique comparative, cette etude se propose de mettre en evidence les modes de representation de l'(H)istoire, par le truchement de voix marginales et marginalisees. D'autre part, l'analyse des instances enonciatives dans les romans pourrait aider a mieux comprendre cette incredulite vis-a-vis de ce grand «metarecit» qu'est l'Histoire qui peut etre narre, voire interprete de diverses manieres. La fiction histori...
Executive Functions and the Natural Habitat Behaviors of Children with Autism

Research suggests that impairments in executive functions play a role in the cognitive deficit in autism. Possible autism-specific impairments include an inability to engage in goal-directed behaviors and adjust behaviors given environmental demands. What has been described as executive functions is based largely on observations of performance in the laboratory rather than in natural settings. An ecological method first described by Barker and Wright and adapted by Scott was used to assess the patterns of goal-directed behaviors of eight children with autism and eight chronological and mental age comparable children with Down syndrome. Quantitative and qualitative features of naturalistic behaviors were collected, and coded using previously described categories of children's behavior. Results indicated that children with autism exhibited shorter and less overlapping goal-directed behaviors. These data suggest a cognitive difference rather than developmental delay, and lend support for impaired executive functions in autism. Practical implications for educators and caregivers are discussed.
Multidimensional scaling and the analysis of human biological diversity in Subsaharan Africa

Much information concerning intergroup variation in Subsaharan Africa has been collected by Hiernaux, who has calculated measures of biological distance (Δg) between pairs of 101 African human populations. The resulting very large matrix of distances is not easily interpreted through simple inspection. Therefore non-metric multidimensional scaling is here applied in order to produce a configuration of 60 selected groups in a space of reduced dimensionality. A three dimensional solution shows acceptable stress, and this map of populations is used to support and extend Hiernaux's earlier conclusions.
The significance of viscous flow properties in the theory of operation of a nephron

Abstract The salient feature of a nephron is its tiny size, 6–10 μ in radius, since the fourth-power law requires a tiny flow rate even from a large pressure gradient. Along closely folded hairpin loops that are present in the nephrons of birds and mammals and are called loops of Henle, a salt concentration gradient forms in the ambient medullary tissue. Urine collects in this tissue in ducts, equilibrates with it osmotically, and produces a final product hypertonic to blood. Other authors explain the mechanism of this loop in terms of a hypothesis of active extrusion of a small amount of sodium from one branch of the loop and operation of a countercurrent multiplication principle. By close attention to realistic physical principles we construct a model that does not use this hypothesis but produces in numerical studies the observed concentration gradient and an amplification of this effect with length. A much weaker assumption than similar ones made in other models, that two salt concentrations take on stationary values, causes a linear initial value problem for a (2×2) first-order ordinary differential equation system to replace a (4×4) first-order partial differential equation system. Basic mechanisms used, such as back diffusion, were of no importance in previous square law models.
Generalized Regular Sampling of Trigonometric Polynomials and Optimal Sensor Arrangement

We address the optimal sensor arrangement problem, which is the determination of a geometric configuration of sensors such that the mean-squared error (MSE) in the estimation of an unknown trigonometric polynomial is minimum. Unsurprisingly, an arrangement in which sensors are spaced uniformly in each dimension is optimal. However, for multidimensional problems the minimum MSE is achieved with a much larger class of configurations that we call generalized regular arrangements. These arrangements are not necessarily generated by lattices and may exhibit great nonuniformity locally.
An audio indexing system for election video material

In the 2008 presidential election race in the United States, the prospective candidates made extensive use of YouTube to post video material. We developed a scalable system that transcribes this material and makes the content searchable (by indexing the meta-data and transcripts of the videos) and allows the user to navigate through the video material based on content. The system is available as an iGoogle gadget1 as well as a Labs product (labs.google.com/gaudi). Given the large exposure, special emphasis was put on the scalability and reliability of the system. This paper describes the design and implementation of this system.
Multi-peak bandwidth enhancement technique for multistage amplifiers

A new technique for designing wideband multistage amplifiers (MA) is introduced. The proposed method has several advantages such as increased bandwidth with increasing number of stages and decreased sensitivity to process variations. All stages of the proposed MA topology can be identical, where the bandwidth can be several times more than that of a single stage. A 0.35μm CMOS process is used to implement the new MA circuit; where active negative feedbacks exploit the intrinsic capacitance within the transistors to expand the bandwidth. Simulation results show an overall GBP of 4.8THz.
Comparative evaluation of externally supported Dacron and polytetrafluoroethylene prosthetic bypasses for femorofemoral and axillofemoral arterial reconstructions

Abstract Purpose: Currently, the choice of a vascular prosthesis for an extra-anatomic arterial bypass graft is left to the surgeon's preference because well-designed comparative evaluations have not been performed. The Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 141 was organized to identify whether there is improved patency with different prosthetic grafts for patients with femorofemoral or axillofemoral bypass grafts. Methods: Between June 1983 and June 1988, patients at 20 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers who had aortoiliac occlusive disease but were not considered suitable candidates for aortic bypass surgery were randomized to receive either an externally supported polytetrafluoroethylene or Dacron bypass graft for an extra anatomic bypass. Doppler-derived ankle brachial indices (ABIs) were determined before the operation and serially after the operation. Patients were seen in follow-up every 3 months for the first year and every 6 months thereafter. All patients were instructed to take 650 mg of aspirin each day for the duration of the study. A bypass graft was considered to be patent if the Doppler-derived postoperative ABI remained significantly improved (0.15 units above the preoperative value), and additional clinical information (such as subsequent ABIs, angiograms, or operations) did not contradict these observations. Results: Three hundred forty patients with femorofemoral bypass grafts and 79 patients with axillofemoral or axillofemorofemoral bypass grafts were randomized. The indication for the bypass operation was limb salvage in 72% of the patients. The assisted primary patency rate for a Dacron bypass grafting was 79% at 1 year, 63% at 3 years, and 50% at 5 years; for polytetrafluoroethylene bypass grafting, the patency was 77% at 1 year, 62% at 3 years, and 47% at 5 years. Conclusion: The overall results of this prospective randomized study suggest that the current choices of prosthetic bypass grafting have similar long-term patency in patients who undergo femorofemoral or axillofemoral vascular reconstruction. (J Vasc Surg 1999;30:1077-83.)
A 38 GHz inverse class-F power amplifier with 38.5% peak PAE, 16.5 dB gain, and 50 mW P sat in 0.13-µm SiGe BiCMOS

This paper presents a 38 GHz 2-stage harmonic-tuned power amplifier consisted of a class-F−1 output power amplifier proceeded by a class-AB driving stage in 0.13 µm SiGe BiCMOS technology. In order to shape highly efficient class-F−1 current and voltage waveforms, the PA adopts multi-resonance series and parallel load networks that modulate load impedance to generate an optimum 50-Ω for signal band, high impedance at the 2nd harmonic band and low impedance at the 3rd harmonic band. Inter-stage matching between the driver and output stage is also applied to deliver optimal power to the output stage with a maximum PAE, resulting in 38.5% of peak PAE with 50 mW P sat at 38 GHz, which is one of the highest PAEs in silicon technology at mm-wave. The chip size is 0.9×0.55 µm2 including all pads.
New pharmacological strategies in the management of cancer pain.

Introduction The majority of cancer patients experience pain during the course of their disease, especially in the advanced stages. Pain may be directly related to tumor or result from cancer therapy. Unrelieved pain impairs functional status, compromises quality of life, and may interfere with antineoplastic treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that relief of pain and other symptoms should be of high priority in the care of cancer patients (1,2). The WHO three-step analgesic ladder is a medication titration protocol that has been demonstrated to be effective in relieving 75-90% of cancer pain (3-5). Yet many cancer patients suffer with unrelieved pain due to a number of factors. Poor assessment of pain (6,7), professional knowledge deficits, and regulatory interference with the prescription of opioid analgesics (8) all contribute to the problem. Much progress has been made to overcome these educational and social barriers.
Development Of A Remote Sma Experiment - A Case Study

A remote laboratory containing a specially designed experiment was built to demonstrate and visualize the characteristics of wire-shape shape memory alloys (SMAs). In particular, the unit helps the study of the hysteretic behavior of SMAs as well as how the electrical driving frequency changes the hysteresis loop. One such SMA remote experiment with a novel unified framework was constructed at the Texas AM however, the hysteresis of SMA has been successfully demonstrated by the data recorded in the new remote SMA experiment with the novel unified framework, which matches the original results collected locally. The study compares two different implementation approaches for the remote SMA experiment; one is the traditional approach with the LabVIEW remote panel and the other is the new approach with the novel unified framework. The difference of these two solutions is listed, and the advantage of the new SMA remote experiment based on the novel unified framework is presented. The capability of running remote experiments on portable devices allows users to learn by observing and interacting with the real experiment in an efficient way.
Principal Component GARCH Model

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a technique widely used in multivariate statistics. I apply this model in finance where the estimation of parameters are practicably impossible when we have more than five assets. The conclusion is that this technique does a good job in summarizing the information in the stocks and can be used to forecast future volatility.
Gruntman, Mike, Intercept 1961: The Birth of Soviet Missile Defense

Mike Gruntman, who grew up on the Tyuratam (Baikonur) missile range and space launch base during the 1950s and early 1960s, is a professor of astronautics and founder of a space engineering program...
Selflessness as a Foundation of Spiritual Transcendence: Perspectives From the Neurosciences and Religious Studies

ABSTRACTAlthough of increasing scientific interest, the neurologic foundations of spiritual experiences remain ambiguous due to the neurological complexity of such experiences and the lack of a clear taxonomy of “spiritual experiences.” A previously proposed preliminary neuropsychological model of spirituality (Johnstone & Glass, 2008) suggests that decreased self-orientation (or increased selflessness), associated with reduced right hemisphere/right parietal lobe (RH/RPL) functioning, serves as a neuropsychological foundation of spiritual transcendence (defined as the ability to emotionally and cognitively connect with higher powers beyond the self or experience cosmic unity). This model was based on research that indicates that transcendent spiritual experiences are related to reduced activation of portions of the RH/RPL during religious rituals (e.g., Buddhist meditation, Christian prayer), as well as research that indicates that individuals with RH/RPL dysfunction report increased transcendence. This ...
Involvement in Antipollution Activities and Perceived Negative Consequences from Pollution

Members of an antipollution group considered pollution a significantly higher priority problem and believed to a significantly greater degree that they would be negatively affected by pollution than nonmembers.
Generalization of some algorithms of Euler

r 1/L r2/L rL ( L1)/L by rational numbers, r a suitable integer. Euler gave algorithms for L = 2,3,4,5. We will define an L X L matrix EL(r) and construct a complete set of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Taking powers of this matrix and multiplying by a vector embraces Euler's algorithms. Rates of convergence are evident. This matrix provides an instructive example for Perron's theorem on positive matrices, anticipated in this instance by Euler. Let Z denote the integers, R the real numbers, and C the complex numbers. Let r > 1 be an integer. Define the L X L matrix
A New Species of Xylaria

It is rather unusual to find a species of Xylaria growing on grass roots. This one developed in a blue grass (Poa pratensis L.) lawn in a city lot in Raleigh, N. C, during the summer of 1956. There was an area of dying grass, 40 to 60 feet in diameter, in the center of the lawn, no part of which was shaded by trees. It was thought the death of the grass was due to a burrowing web worm and the presence of the Xylaria in the area was probably coincidental. The only organic materials present in addition to the dead grass roots and clippings were a few oak and pecan leaves. No stable manure had been applied. The habitat is uncommon, as most named species have been found on wood. There have been a few recorded on other sub? strates such as decayed fruits, nuts, leaves and even termite nests. The only other ones described on grass roots are X. graminicola Ger. from New York and X. rhizophila Cke. and Mass. from Australia.
WAVE-PRODUCED MOTION OF MOORED SHIPS

This paper presents a brief description of some ship motion measurements made in Los Angeles Harbor in conjunction with the model study of inner mole at that location. It also includes the description of the battery of recording instruments which was developed as the result of the difficulties encountered in making the ship motion measurements by conventional means.
Features and Matching

In many visual effects applications, we need to relate images taken from different perspectives or at different times. For example, we often want to track a point on a set as a camera moves around during a shot so that a digital creature can be later inserted at that location. In fact, finding and tracking many such points is critical for algorithms that automatically estimate the 3D path of a camera as it moves around a scene, a problem called matchmoving that is the subject of Chapter 6. However, not every point in the scene is a good choice for tracking, since many points look alike. In this chapter, we describe the process of automatically detecting regions of an image that can be reliably located in other images of the same scene; we call these special regions features . Once the features in a given image have been found, we also discuss the problems of describing, matching, and tracking them in different images of the same scene. In addition to their core use for matchmoving, feature detection is also important for certain algorithms that estimate dense correspondence between images and video sequences (Chapter 5), as well as for both marker-based and markerless motion capture (Chapter 7). Outside the domain of visual effects, feature matching and tracking is commonly used for stitching images together to create panoramas [72], localizing mobile robots [432], and quickly finding objects [456] or places [424] in video databases.
A Catalytic Role for C-H/π Interactions in Base Excision Repair by Bacillus cereus DNA Glycosylase AlkD.

DNA glycosylases protect genomic integrity by locating and excising aberrant nucleobases. Substrate recognition and excision usually take place in an extrahelical conformation, which is often stabilized by π-stacking interactions between the lesion nucleobase and aromatic side chains in the glycosylase active site. Bacillus cereus AlkD is the only DNA glycosylase known to catalyze base excision without extruding the damaged nucleotide from the DNA helix. Instead of contacting the nucleobase itself, the AlkD active site interacts with the lesion deoxyribose through a series of C–H/π interactions. These interactions are ubiquitous in protein structures, but evidence for their catalytic significance in enzymology is lacking. Here, we show that the C–H/π interactions between AlkD and the lesion deoxyribose participate in catalysis of glycosidic bond cleavage. This is the first demonstration of a catalytic role for C–H/π interactions as intermolecular forces important to DNA repair.
The Challenge of Theodicy and the Divine Access to the Universe

Any new attempt to cope with the problem of theodicy is forced to reinterpret and remodify the classic set of divine attributes. Classical monotheism, at least in the Christian or Islamic tradition, emphasizes the concept of God as a personal, almighty being who is in a completely free relation to the world. However, even within Christianity we find other tendencies which might help us to rewrite the idea that God has some sort of libertarian and unrestricted access to the world. The following article raises the question whether God, as an absolute being, can influence the course of the world directly. The answer to this question has an enormous impact on the problem of theodicy: If God’s non-intervention is based on God’s essence (rather than any form of initial self-restriction), then God cannot be held directly responsible for not performing direct acts of intervention.
Law as Specified Consequences

Any political positive law must specify a coercive consequence for compliance or non-compliance in order to be a political positive law. Exclusive reliance on consequences extrinsic to the law cannot meet the requirements for legality, nor can the mere labeling of a lawmaker’s non-coercive speech act as “law.” This classification depends upon a broadly Aristotelian naturalistic methodology that begins with the causal effects of phenomena upon those who experience them. Any consequence must rest on coercive physical force in order to be a legal rather than a non-legal social or other kind of consequence. Although intrinsically-specified consequences by themselves alone do not constitute legal obligations, no legal obligation can exist without the lawmaker’s socially-recognizable intention to employ coercive physical force. Examples of non-coercive laws, such as the law of wills, put forward by H.L.A. Hart and others in fact have their distinctively legal effects derived from coercive specified consequences.
Comments on: On learning and branching: a survey

Branch-and-bound algorithms provide a common framework for solving hard discrete optimization problems. In particular, branch-and-bound solvers for Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) have become very reliable and powerful optimization tools widely applied in fields that are critical to the global economy such as transportation, supply chain, energy, health, finance, and security. The diversity, difficulty, and scale of optimization problems continue to grow, and new advances in effective solution methods are critical to improving our ability to address them. We believe that such advances can be brought about by a recent successful research trend focusing on the integration of data-driven machine learning techniques in the design of branch-and-bound methods.
Season-ahead forecasting of water storage and irrigation requirements – an application to the southwest monsoon in India

Abstract. Water risk management is a ubiquitous challenge faced by stakeholders in the water or agricultural sector. We present a methodological framework for forecasting water storage requirements and present an application of this methodology to risk assessment in India. The application focused on forecasting crop water stress for potatoes grown during the monsoon season in the Satara district of Maharashtra. Pre-season large-scale climate predictors used to forecast water stress were selected based on an exhaustive search method that evaluates for highest ranked probability skill score and lowest root-mean-squared error in a leave-one-out cross-validation mode. Adaptive forecasts were made in the years 2001 to 2013 using the identified predictors and a non-parametric k -nearest neighbors approach. The accuracy of the adaptive forecasts (2001–2013) was judged based on directional concordance and contingency metrics such as hit/miss rate and false alarms. Based on these criteria, our forecasts were correct 9 out of 13 times, with two misses and two false alarms. The results of these drought forecasts were compared with precipitation forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). We assert that it is necessary to couple informative water stress indices with an effective forecasting methodology to maximize the utility of such indices, thereby optimizing water management decisions.
Clinical Excellence in Endocrinology.

Context Clinical endocrinology is a field driven largely by numerical parameters. To achieve outstanding patient care, however, the clinical endocrinologist must employ a range of skills which can collectively be called "clinical excellence." While there is extensive published guidance regarding appropriate medical management and outcomes for endocrine patients, there has been no consensus definition of excellence in the field, nor any recommendation as to how excellence can be achieved. Evidence Acquisition Literature review, review of websites of professional societies, clinical organizations, and government agencies. Evidence Synthesis and Recommendations After review of endocrine clinical outcomes guidelines and published descriptions of clinical excellence generally, key aspects of clinical excellence in endocrinology were derived: the ability to work in teams, communication and interpersonal skills, skillful negotiation of the health care system, and a strong knowledge base and scholarly approach. Examples of how these skills drive superior outcomes for patients are discussed. Conclusions Clinical excellence in endocrinology is necessary to optimize care for endocrine patients. A definition of clinical excellence should be adopted by professional societies and medical institutions and its importance in patient care recognized and emphasized. Efforts should be undertaken in the context of endocrine fellowship training and faculty development to foster the skills inherent in clinical excellence.
Avoiding Complications in Regional Anesthesia

There is widespread conviction among anesthesiologists that regional anesthesia offers significant advantages over general anesthesia in certain settings. At the same time, there is a fear of complications related to the performance of regional anesthetic techniques that is held with almost equal intensity. Complications related to regional anesthesia have been described by many authors, although our understanding of the numerous factors leading to these complications is limited. Auroy et al.1 described the risk of complications related to regional blocks as lower than 5 in 10,000 patients in their series, which included spinal, epidural, and peripheral nerve blocks. In the case of spinal or epidural hematoma, the relative risk has been described as 1∶220,000 and 1∶150,000, respectively, a rate that approaches the risk of routine general anesthesia.2 However, the risk of neurologic complications after central neuraxial block can be markedly elevated (1∶1,800) in patients with risk factors such as female sex, osteoporosis, or concurrent use of anticoagulants.3 Despite the relatively infrequent occurrence of complications related to regional anesthesia, the fear of complications exceeds their actual occurrence. This may be attributable in part to widespread misperceptions regarding the role of regional anesthesia in producing neurologic injury on the part of patients, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare providers. The absence of a clear understanding often leads to blame being assigned to the regional anesthetic without careful assessment and diagnosis of the neurologic deficit to determine its etiology.
Model Theory for Abstract Entities and its Philosophical Implications

Throughout this book, I have principally concerned myself with natural language semantics and the natural language metaphysics underlying it So for the most part, I have concentrated on discussions of DRSs, the partial models whose task it is to reflect to some extent natural language metaphysics in their discourse referent types. This chapter concentrates on themes of real metaphysics, the model theoretic interpretation of the DRS construction procedure and its possible philosophical implications.
Probabilistic goal recognition in interactive narrative environments

Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in interactive narrative-centered virtual environments for education, training, and entertainment. Narrative environments dynamically craft engaging story-based experiences for users, who are themselves active participants in unfolding stories. A key challenge posed by interactive narrative is recognizing users' goals so that narrative planners can dynamically orchestrate plot elements and character actions to create rich, customized stories. In this paper we present an inductive approach to predicting users' goals by learning probabilistic goal recognition models. This approach has been evaluated in a narrative environment for the domain of microbiology in which the user plays the role of a medical detective solving a science mystery. An empirical evaluation of goal recognition based on n-gram models and Bayesian networks suggests that the models offer significant predictive power.
Violence Risk Assessment Tools: Overview and Critical Analysis

One of the important inuences on contemporary conceptions of risk assessment is the risk/ needs/responsivity (RNR) model described by Canadian researchers (Andrews & Bonta, 2006; Andrews, Bonta, & Hoge, 1990; Andrews, Bonta, & Wormith, 2006). is involves the appraisal of three related domains. Risk refers to the probability that the examinee will engage in a certain kind of behavior in the future, typically either violence/violent oending, or criminal oending of any kind, with higher-risk individuals receiving more intensive intervention and management services. is kind of risk classication has typically employed static risk factors, which do not change through planned intervention, although some tools (for example, the Level of Service Inventory [LSI] measures) (see Andrews & Bonta, 2001; Andrews, Bonta & Wormith, 2004) use both static risk factors and risk-relevant needs. Needs are variables describing decits which are related to the probability of such targeted outcomes; they are composed of dynamic risk factors (called criminogenic needs in the RNR model) or protective factors that have the potential to change through such planned intervention. Responsivity refers to the extent to which an individual is likely to respond to intervention(s) designed to reduce the probability of the targeted outcome behavior.
89Zr-Chloride Can Be Used for Immuno-PET Radiochemistry Without Loss of Antigen Reactivity In Vivo

89Zr immuno-PET continues to be assessed in numerous clinical trials. This report evaluates the use of 89Zr-chloride in the radiolabeling of monoclonal antibodies conjugated with desferrioxamine B (DFO), describes its effects on radiopharmaceutical reactivity toward antigen, and offers guidance on how to ensure long-term stability and purity. Methods:89Zr-DFO-trastuzumab and 89Zr-DFO-cetuximab were prepared using 89ZrCl4. The stability of each was evaluated for 7 d in 20 mM histidine/240 mM sucrose buffer, 0.25 M sodium acetate (NaOAc) buffer containing 5 mg·mL−1n-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), or 0.25 M NaOAc containing 5 mg·mL−1l-methionine (L-MET). To assess antigen reactivity, 89Zr-DFO-trastuzumab was evaluated using the Lindmo method and tested in PET/CT imaging of mouse models of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive or –negative lung cancer. Results: Using 89ZrCl4, 89Zr-DFO-trastuzumab and 89Zr-DFO-cetuximab were prepared with increased specific activity and retained purities of 95% after 3 d when formulated in NaOAc buffer containing L-MET. Based on Lindmo analysis and small-animal PET/CT imaging, 89Zr-DFO-trastuzumab remained reactive toward antigen after being prepared with 89ZrCl4. Conclusion:89ZrCl4 facilitated the radiosynthesis of 89Zr immuno-PET agents with increased specific activity. L-MET enhanced long-term solution stability better than all other formulations examined, and 89Zr-DFO-trastuzumab remained reactive toward antigen. Although further evaluation is necessary, these initial results suggest that 89ZrCl4 may be useful in immuno-PET radiochemistry as radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies are increasingly integrated into precision medicine strategies.
A Mastery Learning Module on Sterile Technique to Prepare Graduating Medical Students for Internship.

Introduction Sterile technique is a basic technical skill used for a number of bedside procedures. Proper use of sterile technique improves patient safety by reducing infection risk. Methods We app...
Spatial ultrasonic wavefront characterization using a laser parametric curve scanning method

Ultrasonic wavefield imaging (UWI) provides insightful spatial information about ultrasonic wave propagation in planar (2-D) space for nondestructive evaluation and structural health monitoring (NDE-SHM) applications. In all materials, the wavefronts of the incident and reflected waves propagate with unique patterns that may be represented by parametrized polar curves in 2-D geometric space. In this paper, a spatial ultrasonic wavefront characterization method based on a parametric curve laser scan is proposed to characterize the spatial ultrasonic wavefront for both isotropic and anisotropic materials. Three parametric curves (circular, hyperbolic, and cyclic-harmonic curves) were considered. Two wavefront characterization process were carried out, namely (i) deciding the parametric equation of the closed-form geometric plane curve via UWI, and (ii) measuring and updating the ultrasound via laser ultrasonic interrogation system (LUIS) and quantifying the values(s) of the predicted parametric curve equation using a temporal cross-correlation technique. The proposed method was tested on pristine aluminum and cross-ply CFRP plates to characterize the spatial incident and reflected wavefronts of the plates. The non-fiber direction region (105°⩽ϕS⩽165°) and the fiber direction region (165°⩽ϕS⩽195°) of the cross-ply CFRP plate were considered in the test. The laser circle scan and the laser cyclic-harmonic curve scan showed the ability to characterize the incident wavefronts of the S0 and A0 modes in the aluminum plate and the CFRP plate, respectively, followed by the laser hyperbolic curve scan. With the promising results obtained in the proposed method, the integration of the parametric curve scanning method into LUIS may provide a new approach to damage detection and useful information for ultrasonic algorithm design in NDE-SHM applications.
Local racial context, campaign messaging, and public political behavior: A congressional campaign field experiment

Abstract Local racial contexts influence public opinion and voting behaviors. This paper argues that differences in community racial demographics also change public political behavior and influence the effectiveness of different campaign appeals to change public political behaviors of white Americans. Using data from an experiment run by a congressional primary campaign, I examine the responses of white Republicans to display a yard sign of a white Republican running against a Latino Republican. Consistent with theories of racial threat, whites in Latino neighborhoods were more likely to be willing to post yard signs. Moreover, the results also show that the effectiveness of different campaign appeals varies by neighborhood racial context. These findings show that racial diversity affects the public political behaviors of white Americans and, more importantly, changes the effectiveness of different campaign appeals.