cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information theoretic analysis of canny edge detection in visual communication

In general edge detection evaluation, the edge detectors are examined, analyzed, and compared either visually or with a metric for specific an application. This analysis is usually independent of the characteristics of the image-gathering, transmission and display processes that do impact the quality of the acquired image and thus, the resulting edge image. We propose a new information theoretic analysis of edge detection that unites the different components of the visual communication channel and assesses edge detection algorithms in an integrated manner based on Shannon's information theory. The edge detection algorithm here is considered to achieve high performance only if the information rate from the scene to the edge approaches the maximum possible. Thus, by setting initial conditions of the visual communication system as constant, different edge detection algorithms could be evaluated. This analysis is normally limited to linear shift-invariant filters so in order to examine the Canny edge operator in our proposed system, we need to estimate its "power spectral density" (PSD). Since the Canny operator is non-linear and shift variant, we perform the estimation for a set of different system environment conditions using simulations. In our paper we will first introduce the PSD of the Canny operator for a range of system parameters. Then, using the estimated PSD, we will assess the Canny operator using information theoretic analysis. The information-theoretic metric is also used to compare the performance of the Canny operator with other edge-detection operators. This also provides a simple tool for selecting appropriate edgedetection algorithms based on system parameters, and for adjusting their parameters to maximize information throughput.
Experimentally determined limits for H2O-CO2-NaCl immiscibility in granulites

Synthetic H{sub 2}O-CO{sub 2}-NaCl fluid inclusions with relative salinities (R.S. = mass NaCl/(mass H{sub 2}O + mass NaCl)) of up to 50 wt% and mole fractions of CO{sub 2} (X{sub CO{sub 2}}) ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 formed in spontaneously nucleated forsterite and orthopyroxene hosts are used to define the limits of fluid immiscibility at temperatures of 890-960C and pressures of 6,600-7,500 bar. Observations of the phase ratios (liquid CO{sub 2} to H{sub 2}O-NaCl liquid) in the inclusions at 25C and microthermometric data were used to determine whether the inclusions trapped miscible or immiscible fluids. The results of this study show that fluid immiscibility in the system H{sub 2}O-CO{sub 2}-NaCl is possible for fluids with moderate to low salinities (> 23 wt% relative to H{sub 2}O) and intermediate mole fractions of CO{sub 2} (X{sub CO{sub 2}} > 0.3) for temperatures as high as 940C at 6,800-7,700 bar. This result indicates that the H{sub 2}O-CO{sub 2}-NaCl miscibility gap expands rapidly with pressure, making fluid immiscibility viable even at the highest grades of metamorphism.
Cyber-physical and networked sensor systems: challenges and future directions

Rapid advancements in embedded systems, sensors and wireless communication technologies have led to the development of cyber-physical systems, pervasive computing and smart environments with important applications in civilian, military, industry, and government sectors. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a significant role in such systems as they can effectively act as the human-physical world interface with the cyber world through sensing and actuation. However, inherent characteristics of WSNs typified by extremely scarce resources, high degree of uncertainty, distributed control and operations pose significant challenges in providing desired information (or context) quality, assurance, and reliability for intelligent decision making, particularly for mission critical applications like health care and security. This talk will examine uncertainty-driven unique research challenges in cyber-physical and networked sensor systems, and propose novel solutions for context fusion, coverage and connectivity, security and privacy with improved quality in WSNs in the presence of uncertainty. The talk will be concluded with open issues and future directions of research.
A method of delivering homogeneous irradiation to small animals.

Abstract A technique for megavoltage irradiation of small animals is descrbed. This technique makes it possible to deliver high dose irradiation to the lower half of the body of a mouse with less than 3% scatter to the axillae.
Automatic Essay Assessment

Computational techniques for scoring essays have recently come into use. Their bases and development methods raise both old and new measurement issues. However, coming principally from computer and...
AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS OF FAMILY SOCIAL SCIENCE MAIL SURVEY RESPONSE RATES

Dillman (1978) has aggressively promoted his Total Design Method as a proven technique for generating higher response rates to social science surveys. Many university faculty teach his technique on the assumption that its use will generate high response rates for the individual student who uses it faithfully in thesis or dissertation research. In an exploratory assessment of six of Dillman's mail survey steps—quality of covering letter, use of follow-ups, importance of the study, survey's appearance or readability, survey's length, and type of sample (general public or specialized population)—with 15 family social science surveys, we found that, despite the small sample size, type of sample, and follow-up predicted mail survey response rates, as did a summary measure of the use of all six steps. The results suggest that the Total Design Method's mail survey steps are useful even for low-cost research by graduate students.
Women's strategies for survival: Developing agency in abusive relationships

The simultaneity of love and violence in the lived experiences of abused women forms the context within which these women construct meaning and develop agency. Utilizing grounded theory methodology (Glaser, 1978; Glaser and Strauss, 1967; Strauss, 1987; Strauss and Corbin, 1990), this paper explicates these agentic processes by analyzing the strategies employed by 32 abused women, publically and privately, to mitigate the violence and its effects. By highlighting the contradictory duality in these relationships, the processes by which abused women strategize and develop agency to halt, change, and/or cope with the violence becomes analytically salient.
Recapitulating the History of Sickle-Cell Anemia Research: Improving Students' NOS Views Explicitly and Reflectively.

This paper provides an argument in favor of a specific pedagogical method of using the history of science to help students develop more informed views about nature of science (NOS) issues. The paper describes a series of lesson plans devoted to encouraging students to engage, unbeknownst to them, in similar reasoning that led scientists to understand sickle-cell anemia from the perspective of multiple subdisciplines in biology. Students pursue their understanding of a ‘mystery disease’ by means of a series of open-ended problems that invite them to discuss it from the perspective of anatomy, physiology, ecology, evolution, and molecular and cell biology. Throughout this unit, instructors incorporate techniques that invite students to explicitly and reflectively discuss various NOS issues with reference to this example and more generally. It is argued on the grounds of constructivist tenets that this pedagogy has substantial advantages over more implicit approaches. The findings of an empirical study using an open-ended survey and follow-up, semi-structured interviews to assess students’ pre- and post-instruction NOS conceptions support the efficacy of this approach.
Transactivation and repression of the α-fetoprotein gene promoter by retinoid X receptor and chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor

Retlnoic acid (RA) is widely Involved in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as embryo pattern formation. Transcription of the oncodevelopmental protein, a-fetoprotein (AFP), Is stimulated by retlnoic acid (RA) in neoplastic cells. To study RA regulation of AFP gene expression, the 5'-flanking region of AFP gene was cloned and analyzed. In the present study, transfection of deletion mutants and sequence analysis revealed a retinoid X receptor response element (AFP-RXRE) located at position -139 to -127 of the AFP promoter. Synthetic AFP-RXRE was ligated into a reporter construct with the heterologous promoter and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). AFP-RXRE conferred a marked RA responsiveness in the cotransfection with retinoid X receptor (RXR), but not with retinolc acid receptors (RARs). Consistent with these data, only RXR bound to AFP-RXRE with high affinity In the mobility shift assays. Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor (COUP-TF), an orphan member of the steroid/thyroid hormone superfamily, also demonstrated specific binding activity to AFP-RXRE in vitro. In cotransfection assays, COUP-TF dramatically repressed the transactivation of RXR on AFP-RXRE. The mechanism of repression by COUP-TF may involve the mutual occupancy of the AFP-RXRE binding site between RXR and COUP-TF.
Perspectives in U.S. Energy Resource Development

ABS>An inventory of U. S. energy resources is presented together with approximate timetables and product costs for implementation of the technologies necessary for clean utilization of these resources. These energy components include fossil fuels and their conversion to clean synthetic fuels, nuclear fuel supplies, geothermal energy, wind power, thermonuclear fusion, and the ultimate resource, solar energy. The cost of solar energy is treated in considerable detail for several prospective applications and basic energy conservation strategies are outlined. (13l references) (auth)
Inhibition of estrogen-induced progesterone receptor in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor agonists

17 beta-Estradiol (E2) induces progesterone receptor (PR) binding, immunoreactive protein, nuclear PR formation and PR mRNA levels in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Gel mobility shift analysis of nuclear extracts from E2-treated cells also exhibited a higher intensity retarded band associated with formation of a PR complex with a consensus [32P]progesterone/glucocorticoid responsive element. In contrast, 1 nM 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alone did not alter or decrease these same responses in MCF-7 cells; however, in cells co-treated with 1 nM TCDD plus 1 nM E2, TCDD significantly inhibited all the E2-induced responses. Scatchard analysis of PR binding demonstrated that TCDD decreased the number of E2-induced PR cellular binding sites but not the binding affinity of the PR for a radiolabeled promegestrone. In parallel studies, 3-methylcholanthrene, a prototypical polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon, also inhibited E2-induced PR binding and immunoreactive protein. For a series of halogenated aromatics including 2,3,7,8- and 1,2,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran, 1,3,7,8-TCDD and 6-methyl-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofuran, their rank order potency for inhibiting E2-induced PR binding paralleled their rank order binding to the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. These results support a role for the Ah receptor in mediating the antiestrogenic activity of polynuclear and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and illustrate cross-talk between the Ah and estrogen receptor signal transduction pathways.
Teaching Bible in Public High Schools Toward a Conception of Educational Legitimacy

This article reports on the movement to teach Bible courses in the public schools and proposes a set of principles that would enable teachers to do so in educationally legitimate ways. In the first part, we argue the need for standards of educational legitimacy to complement the norms of Constitutional permissibility. We argue that the guidance offered by the courts’ interpretations of the first amendment, while helpful for deciding legal issues, is often too blunt to guide teachers and administrators. The second part of this article articulates three principles that should constitute key elements of educational legitimacy and uses our own field work in Bible classes from different regions of the country to illustrate their utility. Our conception of educational legitimacy is bounded. It provides minimal standards. Legitimacy as we conceive it should not be confused with developing higher-order interpretive and analytic skills, skills associated with best practices. Rather legitimacy stands to these skill...
Hamilton’s Principle for Fluid-Structure Interaction and Applications to Reduced-Order Modeling

A general framework based on the extended Hamilton’s principle for external viscous flows is presented. The indicated method is shown to yield the correct governing equations and boundary conditions when applied to the problem (herein called the “model problem”) of vortex-induced oscillations of an elastically-mounted rigid circular cylinder with a transverse degree-of-freedom. The vortex shedding is assumed to be sufficiently correlated along the span of the cylinder that the flow can be taken as nominally two-dimensional. The incoming flow is assumed to be incompressible, steady, and uniform. The continuity equation results directly from the global mass balance law, thus avoiding its introduction via a Lagrange multiplier. The true strength of this framework lies in the fact that it represents a physically sound basis from which reduced-order models can be obtained. Some preliminary work on this reduced-order modeling applied to the model problem is described.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
An improved approach to fault tolerant rank order filtering on a SIMD mesh processor

This paper presents an approach for the fault tolerant computation of the rank order filtering on a SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) mesh processes such as the MasPar. The proposed approach improves over a previous approach in two respects: by changing the data dependency in the execution of the rank order filtering, a new algorithm with constant execution time complexity can be designed; and by introducing a dependency for the rank values of faulty PEs as computed by neighboring (fault free) processing elements (PEs), a lower distortion can be achieved for enhancement of the image.
Evaluation of absorption and emission properties of Yb/sup 3+/ doped crystals for laser applications

The emission and absorption properties of numerous host crystals doped with Yb/sup 3+/ ions have been studied. The hosts which have been selected include LiYF/sub 4/, LaF/sub 3/, SrF/sub 2/, BaF/sub 2/, KCaF/sub 3/, KY/sub 3/F/sub 10/, Rb/sub 2/NaYF/sub 6/, BaY/sub 2/F/sub 8/, Y/sub 2/SiO/sub 5/, Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/, YAlO/sub 3/, LuPO/sub 4/, Ca/sub 5/(PO/sub 4/)/sub 3/F, LiYO/sub 2/, and ScBO/sub 3/. Spectral determinations have been made of the resonant absorption and emission cross sections between 850 and 1100 nm, and the emission decay times of the upper laser level have been measured. The emission cross sections have been evaluated using the absorption cross section and principle of reciprocity, and again using the Fuchtbauer-Ladenberg formula. Agreement between the two methods is within 20% for most materials. The results are discussed in the framework of requirements for an effective diode-pumped Yb/sup 3+/ laser system. Ca/sub 5/(PO/sub 4/)/sub 3/F:Yb is predicted to exhibit the most useful laser properties and is expected to be far superior to Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/:Yb in many key microscopic parameter values. >
Transient gene expression from yeast artificial chromosome DNA in mammalian cells is enhanced by adenovirus

The introduction of high molecular weight DNA into mammalian cells is useful for gene expression studies. However, current transfection strategies are inefficient, necessitating propagation of stable DNA transformants prior to analysis of gene expression. Here we demonstrate that transient lipid-mediated DNA transfection can be used to assess gene expression from yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) containing the 230 kb cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) and Escherichia coli lacZ. We also show that psoralen-UV inactivated adenovirus significantly enhances transfection efficiency. The ability to deliver high molecular weight DNA using lipid-mediated transfection should expedite the analysis of large human genes contained within artificial chromosome vectors. Extensive stretches of genomic DNA can be introduced into mammalian cells using yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) as gene transfer vectors. The most common methods to introduce YACs involve spheroplast fusion or the formation of complexes of gel-purified YAC DNA with cationic lipids. The expression of selectable marker genes contained within YACs allows the generation of stable cell lines and subsequent analysis of gene function (1). However, this approach is inefficient, expensive and time consuming. When smaller cDNA constructs such as plasmids are transferred to mammalian cells, gene expression can often be studied in transient assays, without the need to generate stable cell lines. To determine if useful information could be obtained after lipid-mediated transient transfection of YAC DNA, we have taken advantage of the capacity of YACs to simultaneously express more than one gene. We have modified YACs which contain the human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) under the control of its own regulatory elements ( 2,3), with the reporter gene Escherichia coli lacZ, which encodes β-galactosidase (β-gal) under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (4). The two resulting CFTR YACs (yCFTRβ-gal and yCFTRNeoβ-gal; 330 and 340 kb, respectively) were confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization analysis to be the correct sizes and to contain lacZ and CFTR (data not shown). YAC DNA was then gel-purified from high density plugs for transfer into mammalian cells (5) (manuscript in preparation). Gel-purified YAC DNA was combined with Lipofectamine (Gibco BRL) at ~1 μg of YAC DNA for every 7.5‐10 μg of lipid, incubated at room temperature for 45 min, and then added to a human cervical
DISCRETE TASK REPRESENTATION, ETHICS, AND THE BIG PICTURE

This paper discusses the long term implications of the “unbundled legal services movement” with particular focus on overcoming perceived “ethical” barriers to unbundling and on the possibility of laying a foundation for the creation of a right to counsel in civil cases for those who cannot afford a lawyer.
Gene expression profiling during the byssogenesis of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Since its invasion to the North American waters 20 years ago, the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) has negatively impacted the ecosystems through its firm underwater adhesion. The molecular mechanisms governing the functions of the zebra mussel byssus, the main structure responsible for maintaining the underwater adhesion, have received little attention. Our previously developed zebra mussel foot byssus cDNA microarray was applied in this study to identify the genes involved in different stages of the byssal threads generation. Byssal threads of zebra mussels were manually severed under laboratory conditions and the formation of new byssal threads was followed over a 3 week course. By comparing the gene expression profiles in different stages of byssal threads generation (byssogenesis) to their baseline values, we found that the number of unique byssus genes differentially expressed at 12-h, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 21 days post-treatment was 13, 13, 20, 17, 16, 20, and 29, respectively. Comparisons were also made between two subsequent samples (e.g., 12 h vs. 1, 1 vs. 2 days, 2 vs. 3 days, and so on). Seven differentially expressed genes were selected for validation by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and the results were consistent with those from the microarray analysis. By using fluorescent in situ hybridization, we found that two microarray identified genes, BG15_F03-DPFP and BG16_H05-EGP, were expressed in two major byssus glands located in the zebra mussel foot: the stem-forming gland and plaque-forming gland, respectively. Moreover, the qRT-PCR of seven microarray identified genes with different zebra mussel samples suggested that they were also expressed in other mussel tissues beside the foot, albeit at much lower levels. This suggested that the microarray identified genes were produced primarily by the foot, and were likely associated with byssogenesis. The differentially expressed genes identified in this study indicated that multiple molecules are involved in byssogenesis, most likely performing multiple functions during the generation of byssal threads. These results obtained herein represent the first logical step toward understanding underwater attachment mechanisms employed by this invasive species.
Survival of tree seedlings on different species of decaying wood maintains tree distribution in Michigan hemlock-hardwood forests

Summary 1. Seedlings of some tree species are strongly associated with decaying wood in the germination or establishment period. Despite recognition of this pattern in forests around the world, few studies have compared the ability of different species of decaying wood to support seedlings. 2. We measured the abundance, survival, and age distribution of seedlings of Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock), Betula alleghaniensi s (yellow birch), and Acer saccharum (sugar maple) among forest floor substrates at field sites in Upper Michigan, USA. Seedlings were censused on decaying wood of the same three species and on soil to determine whether species of decaying wood and soil differ in their ability to support seedlings. We hypothesized that Tsuga and Betula seedling abundance and survival are higher on Tsuga wood than on Acer wood or soil. 3. Independent of seed fall, light and size of wood piece, Tsuga wood generally supported the highest densities of first-year and established (> 1 year-old) seedlings of Betula and Tsuga . Averaged over three sites, established seedlings per metre square on Tsuga wood, Betula wood, Acer wood and soil were 0.42, 0.21, 0.08 and 0.01, respectively, for Tsuga , 0.60, 0.15, 0.10 and 0.01, respectively, for Betula and 0.09, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.98, respectively for Acer . Long-term seedling survival was also greatest on Tsuga wood which supported seedlings as old as 13 years, while on Acer wood seedlings > 3 years-old were rare. Despite a strong general pattern in seedling densities, there were large site differences perhaps related to water availability. 4. Synthesis . We conclude that the strong association of Tsuga and Betula seedlings with Tsuga decaying wood and not with Acer wood or soil, combined with the distribution of Tsuga wood, helps explain (i) the close Tsuga ‐ Betula association, (ii) the maintenance of distinct, temporally stable Tsuga- and Acer -dominated patches; and (iii) the decline of Tsuga in selectively logged forests as mature trees are harvested and decaying Tsuga wood is scarce. Differences between Tsuga and Acer wood may reflect general differences in the suitability of conifer vs. angiosperm wood for seedling establishment.
Goldilocks and the importance of AV intervals in cardiac resynchronization—How to best find the AV interval that is not too long, not too short, but just right for patients

Long before cardiac resynchronization (CRT) became standard therapy for patients with QRS prolongation and drug-refractory heart failure, standard dual chamber pacing in the right atrium and right ventricle using short atrioventricular (AV) delays was undertaken. The proponents of this procedure performed in patients without traditional bradycardia indications for pacing theorized that a shortened AV delay would decrease symptoms of heart failure by decreasing mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation. Several case reports and case studies demonstrated favorable outcomes of improvement in cardiac output and decrease in symptoms of breathlessness in patients randomized to right ventricular pacing with short AV intervals. 1,2 Right ventricular pacing solely to improve symptomatic heart failure in patients without bradycardia was no longer thought useful after the publication of a double-blind randomized crossover trial of 12 patients, which demonstrated no difference in hemodynamic parameters or symptoms of heart failure between the times spent in the backup VVI 40 beats/min mode vs the VDD mode with an AV delay of 100 ms. The importance of AV intervals was realized even in the early days of left ventricular pacing for the treatment of heart failure. In a substudy of the Pacing Therapies in Congestive Heart Failure (PATH-CHF) trial, patients with a left bundle branch block treated with an epicardial left ventricular lead had significant differences in acute hemodynamic parameters as the AV interval was varied. There were significant variations in the optimal AV interval among individual patients, but the greatest benefit was seen as improvements in aortic pulse pressure, aortic systolic pressure, and left ventricular contractility if the AV interval was not too short and not too long. 3
Neutralizing Antibodies to Interferon β-1b are not Associated with Disease Worsening in Multiple Sclerosis:

The clinical impact of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) on interferon beta (IFNβ) efficacy was studied in three large patient cohorts comprising 6698 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients receiving IFNβ-1...
Free Vibration Analysis of Kirchhoff Plates With Damaged Boundaries by the Chebyshev Collocation and Perturbation Methods

In order to compare numerical and analytical results for the free vibration analysis of Kirchoff plates with both mixed and damaged boundaries, the Chebyshev collocation and perturbation methods are utilized in this paper, where the damaged boundaries are represented by distributed translational and torsional springs. In the Chebyshev collocation method, the convergence studies are performed to determine the sufficient number of the grid points used. In the analytical method, the small perturbation parameter is defined in terms of the damage parameter of the plate, and a sequence of recurrent linear boundary value problems is obtained which is further solved by the separation of variables technique. The results of the two methods are in good agreement for small values of the damage parameter as well as with the results in the literature for the undamaged case. This study can lead to an efficient technique for structural health monitoring (SHM).Copyright © 2010 by ASME
A general computational framework for distributed sensing and fault-tolerant sensor integration

Proposes an abstract framework to address the problem of fault-tolerant integration of information provided by multiple sensors. This paper presents a formal description of spatially distributed sensor networks, where i) clusters of sensors monitor (possible overlapping) regions of the environment; ii) sensors return measured values of a multidimensional parameter of interest; and iii) uncertainties associated with a sensor output are represented by a connected subset in the parameter space. A method to obtain interval estimates of components of the actual parameter vector is developed, wherein information from faulty sensors are filtered out. The problem addressed involves combining interval estimates of sensor outputs into a best intersection estimate of outputs. The sensor fault model used assumes most faults cluster in the neighborhood of the correct values. The procedure of this paper is superior to earlier work. To test the theoretical analysis of the framework proposed, we have developed a modular parameter-driven simulator SIMDSN for the fault-tolerant integration of abstract sensor interval estimates. The simulator uses the well-known Monte-Carlo technique to generate random correct and tamely faulty intervals. >
Computing Triangulations without Small and Large Angles

We propose a heuristic method for computing Steiner triangulations without small and large angles. Given a two-dimensional domain, a minimum angle constraint alpha and a maximum angle constraint gamma, our methodcomputes a triangulation of the domain such that all angles are in the interval [alpha, gamma]. Previously known Steiner triangulation methods generally consider a lower bound alpha only, and claim a trivial upper bound (gamma = 180 - 2*alpha). Available software work for alpha as high as 34 degrees (implying a gamma value of 112 degrees), However, they fail consistently whenever larger alpha and/or smaller gamma values are desired.Experimental study shows that the proposed method works for alpha as high as 41 degrees, and gamma as low as 81 degrees. This is also the first software for computing high quality acute and non-obtuse triangulations of complex geometry.
Stereostructure of oligomeric polyisoprenyllithium in tetrahydrofuran

The oligomer of polyisoprenyllithium, 2,5,5-trimethylhexen-2-yllithium, formed from tert-butyllithium and one molecule of isoprene in benzene has a structure similar to that of higher members of the series and also similar properties. In THF only one stereoisomer is stable, and an attempt is made to determine its stereostructure. The lithium compound was converted at low temperature to the acid, and this by a series of steps in which the structure was monitored to the acid's parent hydrocarbon 3,6,6-trimethyl-3-heptene. This was then compared with a synthesized sample of this hydrocarbon of known structure. In this way it was shown that the original lithium compound had a cis configuration in tetrahydrofuran solution.
Autocalibrating Tiled Projectors on Piecewise Smooth Vertically Extruded Surfaces

In this paper, we present a novel technique to calibrate multiple casually aligned projectors on fiducial-free piecewise smooth vertically extruded surfaces using a single camera. Such surfaces include cylindrical displays and CAVEs, common in immersive virtual reality systems. We impose two priors to the display surface. We assume the surface is a piecewise smooth vertically extruded surface for which the aspect ratio of the rectangle formed by the four corners of the surface is known and the boundary is visible and segmentable. Using these priors, we can estimate the display's 3D geometry and camera extrinsic parameters using a nonlinear optimization technique from a single image without any explicit display to camera correspondences. Using the estimated camera and display properties, the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of each projector are recovered using a single projected pattern seen by the camera. This in turn is used to register the images on the display from any arbitrary viewpoint making it appropriate for virtual reality systems. The fast convergence and robustness of this method is achieved via a novel dimension reduction technique for camera parameter estimation and a novel deterministic technique for projector property estimation. This simplicity, efficiency, and robustness of our method enable several coveted features for nonplanar projection-based displays. First, it allows fast recalibration in the face of projector, display or camera movements and even change in display shape. Second, this opens up, for the first time, the possibility of allowing multiple projectors to overlap on the corners of the CAVE-a popular immersive VR display system. Finally, this opens up the possibility of easily deploying multiprojector displays on aesthetic novel shapes for edutainment and digital signage applications
Ribavirin, human convalescent plasma and anti-β3 integrin antibody inhibit infection by Sin Nombre virus in the deer mouse model

The New World hantavirus Sin Nombre virus (SNV) is an aetiological agent for the often-fatal hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). There is no disease model for SNV and specific treatments for HCPS do not exist. By using the deer mouse infectious model, the in vivo inhibitory potential of ribavirin, human anti-SNV immune plasma (HIP), an anti-beta3 antibody (ReoPro) and a polyclonal rabbit anti-recombinant nucleocapsid (N) antibody against SNV was investigated. Concurrent intraperitoneal administration of 100 mg ribavirin kg(-1) prevented seroconversion in all mice at day 15 post-inoculation (p.i.). No evidence of infection was detectable by immunohistochemical staining or by quantitative RT-PCR in two of these six mice. Lower doses of ribavirin, between 5 and 50 mg kg(-1), were much less effective at inhibiting infection. Mice given 200 microl aliquots of dilutions as high as 1 : 20 of HIP (neutralizing-antibody titre 800) failed to seroconvert by day 15 p.i. SNV N antigen staining and viral S genome were undetectable in these mice. A subset of mice given higher dilutions of HIP became infected. Treatment with 6 mg ReoPro kg(-1) did not prevent seroconversion, but was able to reduce viral load. Mice treated with 200 microl anti-N antibody or negative human plasma seroconverted when challenged with SNV, and antigen staining and viral loads were comparable to those seen in untreated controls. These results show that ReoPro can lower viral loads and that ribavirin and HIP, but not anti-N antibody, inhibit seroconversion and reduce viral loads in a dose-dependent manner.
The effect of caffeine, adenosine, and buffer ionic composition on the induction of cell-surface cAMP binding during starvation of Dictyostelium discoideum.

We have analyzed the effects of the cAMP relay inhibitor, caffeine, and the receptor antagonist, adenosine, on the regulation of the cell-surface cAMP receptor in suspension-starved Dictyostelium discoideum cells by measuring ammonium sulfate-stabilized binding of [3-H]cAMP to intact cells. When cells were starved in fast (230 r.p.m.) shaken suspension in 10 mM Na+/5 mM K+ phosphate buffer, pH 6.5, plus 1 mM CaCl2 and 2.5 mM MgCl2, and assayed for specific cAMP binding, receptor accumulation peaked at approximately 6 hours, reaching a maximum of 1.5 pmol cAMP bound/10(7) cells (saturation binding). Neither caffeine nor adenosine inhibited the accumulation of cAMP receptors. Similar results were obtained in caffeine-treated, slow shaken (90 r.p.m.) suspension cultures. These results suggest that starvation alone is sufficient stimulus to induce the cAMP receptor. We have also tested the effects of different buffer ionic compositions on the accumulation of cAMP receptors. Elevation of the monovalent ion concentration to 30-40 mM was found to significantly inhibit the induction of cAMP receptors.
MR imaging of Parkinson disease with spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences

High-field MR with both spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences was performed in 21 patients with (idiopathic, drug-responsive) Parkinson disease. The use of gradient echoes allowed more sensitive detection than did spin echoes of susceptibility changes in the putamina and substantia nigra. No statistically significant difference in putaminal hypointensity on long TR/long TE spin-echo sequences or on T2*-weighted images using gradient-echo sequences was observed between Parkinson patients and controls. There was also no statistically significant difference in the frequency of restoration of the signal intensity of the substantia nigra between the two groups of patients. The width of the pars compacta of the substantia nigra in patients with Parkinson disease was 2.12 + 0.82 mm (mean +/- SD). This value in age- and gender-matched controls was 2.67 +/- 0.5. Comparing these two groups with an unpaired t test resulted in a p value less than or equal to .005. Our MR study with spin-echo and gradient-echo images in Parkinson and control patients was able to substantiate and elaborate on previously described MR features of Parkinson disease.
The acute toxicity of L-dopa

Abstract The LD50 values for l -dopa and l -dopa-N-methyl ester hydrochloride in mice, rats and rabbits administered by various routes are compiled from various sources and given in tabular form.
The maximum hardness principle in the Gyftopoulos-Hatsopoulos three-level model for an atomic or molecular species and its positive and negative ions

Abstract The maximum hardness principle is examined within the Gyftopoulos-Hatsopoulos three-level model for an electronic system. As an atom or a molecule approaches equilibrium at some chemical potential μ and constant temperature T, its softness (inverse hardness) is shown to most often approach a minimum value.
Formulations and analysis of the spectral volume method for the diffusion equation

The spectral volume (SV) method is a newly developed high-order finite volume method for hyperbolic conservation laws on unstructured grids. It has been successfully demonstrated for multi-dimensional Euler equations. We wish to extend the SV method to the Navier–Stokes equations. As a first-step towards achieving that goal, the SV method is extended to and tested for the diffusion equation. In this paper, we present three different formulations of the spectral volume method for the diffusion equation. The first formulation yields an inconsistent and unstable scheme, while the other two formulations are consistent, convergent and stable. A Fourier type analysis is performed for all the formulations, and the analysis agrees well with numerical results. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Generation of truncated brain AE3 isoforms by alternate mRNA processing

AE3 gene is a member of the AE anion exchanger gene family that is expressed primarily in brain and heart. The principal product of the AE3 gene in rodent brain, FL-AE3p, when expressed in heterologous cell lines, gives rise to chloride-dependent changes in intracellular pH consistent with its operation as an anion exchanger. We have identified two novel isoforms of mouse AE3 that are generated by tissue-specific alternate RNA processing. One of these isoforms encodes a polypeptide, 14-AE3p, that corresponds to a portion of the NH2-terminal cytoplasmic domain of AE3. 14-AE3p lacks the entire transmembrane domain that-in FL-AE3p forms the anion exchange channel. Immunoblots with antibodies to the NH2- and COOH-termini confirm that FL-AE3 and 14-AE3 are expressed in rat brain as 160 kDa and 74 kDa polypeptides, respectively. Unlike FL-AE3p, however, 14-AE3p is insoluble in non-ionic detergent, suggesting a possible association with the cytoskeleton.
Structural design of flight vehicle components

Since the flight vehicle structure must be lifted from the earth’s surface and transported on every flight during the life of the vehicle, the primary concern in the design of the structure is weight. Every component of the structure must be designed to have a minimum practical weight and still be strong enough to take all the applied forces and temperatures expected during the vehicle life. As discussed in Section B.14,(Vol.1), it is necessary to use the highest strength low density materials available and to use optimum design procedures for materials and structure types to obtain a minimum weight structure.
Tongway, D. J., and Ludwig, J. A. Restoring disturbed landscapes. Putting principles into practice

This book is a much welcome addition to the ecological restoration literature. Many books have come out on recent years, under the umbrella of the Society for Ecological Restoration International (...
Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic crystalline basement rocks of north-central Idaho: Constraints on the formation of western Laurentia

Zircon U-Pb analyses of 18 orthogneisses from the Clearwater and Priest River complexes of northern Idaho have identified important exposures of Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic basement rocks in northwest Laurentia. All samples have ages that fall into two tightly defined age ranges: in the Neoarchean from 2.67 to 2.65 Ga and in the Paleoproterozoic from 1.88 to 1.84 Ga. The Neoarchean orthogneisses show no evidence of older components, whereas some of the Paleoproterozoic orthogneisses have xenocrystic zircon cores with ages overlapping with those of the Neoarchean gneisses. Collectively, these two packages of rocks represent the two main periods of crust formation in northwest Laurentia, one wholly juvenile in the Neoarchean, and the other a mixture of juvenile Paleoproterozoic and inherited Neoarchean components. Based on existing data, the ages of orthogneisses in the Clearwater and Priest River complexes are identical and probably represent one continuous crustal block; we refer to this basement domain as the Clearwater block. The Paleoproterozoic 1.86 Ga magmatism described here is distributed throughout the northwest Laurentian margin and does not coincide with the proposed trend of the Great Falls tectonic zone. Therefore, a model of a single linear arc preserved within the Great Falls tectonic zone is inadequate in describing the majority of the known 1.86 Ga crust in the region.
Applying Telepresence to education

A Victorian time traveller visiting us today would be amazed at the use of advanced technology in today’s hospitals, homes, offices and factories. However, a glance at our schools and colleges would suggest very little has changed, at least in our delivery methods. Education is under increasing pressure. It is being accused of failing to deliver quality or to embrace efficiencies. Our classrooms and lectures halls are becoming overcrowded, the numbers are increasing but resources are remaining stable or indeed in some sectors reducing. Against this rather depressing backcloth many are seeing technology as the new saviour [1, 2]. However, too often, technology is advocated solely for increasing efficiency, whereas, it is argued here that its real power lies not just in efficiency savings but also in improving the quality of education.
Muscle-pedicle bone grafts.

1. A muscle pedicle permitted to remain attached to autogenous bone grafts in rabbits was effective in retaining viability of the contiguous bone. 2. The deeper areas of pedicled bone grafts, remote from the muscle pedicles, did not remain viable. 3. Fractures through the experimental bone grafts with muscle pedicles showed evidence of reparative osteogenesis in the region of the viable bone. 4. Control experiments without muscle pedicles revealed necrosis of the bone grafts. 5. Fractures of the control bone grafts showed no evidence of reparative osteogenesis.
Psychiatric Disturbances Associated with Ganciclovir Therapy

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of possible ganciclovir-induced psychiatric disturbances.CASE SUMMARY:A patient with AIDS who had no known psychiatric history and mild renal dysfunction experienced exacerbation of cytomegalovirus retinitis and was treated with ganciclovir 5 mg/kg iv q12h. The patient complained of nightmares and developed visual hallucinations and severe agitation on day 15 of ganciclovir therapy. The problems resolved after haloperidol administration and ganciclovir withdrawal and reappeared when the same regimen was reinstituted. However, the patient was able to tolerate the maintenance dose of ganciclovir at 5 mg/kg/d along with haloperidol later without further episodes of visual hallucinations.DISCUSSION:Case reports in the literature on ganciclovir- or its analog, acyclovir-, induced psychiatric disturbances were reviewed and compared. The potential relationship between ganciclovir accumulation in patients with renal insufficiency and the observed central nervous system problems in our p...
Teaching Psychosomatic Medicine: Implications for Patients, Physicians and the Liaison Team

Liaison psychiatric services which originated from hospital consultation psychiatry have literally multiplied in the last thirty years. Subsequent research and educational endeavors helped to solidify the altered scope of psychosomatic medicine. In 1968, Lipowski (1) clarified the present meaning of psychosomatic medicine and stressed the importance of the relationship of consulting psychiatrists with other physicians.
Evaluation of Environmental Impact of Landfills

In order to evaluate various refuse recycling and disposal alternatives, it was necessary to evaluate the environmental impact of present disposal methods (landfill). The method used involves evaluating ratings for 20 field factors to determine the effect on six basic environmental parameters. This procedure was used to evaluate 69 sites in Wisconsin. The results showed that land use and esthetics were affected most by landfills, followed by air and water quality with lesser effects on noise and vectors. Further analysis compared average ratings for various types of land disposal sites.
A Transaction Cost Perspective on Vertical Contractual Structure and Interchannel Competitive Strategies

Despite potent theory to contrast transactional governance in “markets and hierarchies,” the variety of extant channel systems strains this dichotomy. The authors examine three contractually integr...
The Impact of the Academic Achievement Gap on the African American Family: A Social Inequality Perspective

The academic achievement gap impacts the African American family in various ways. It can influence how African American children experience school; and it has implications for their high school dropout and graduation rates, college attendance, and college completion rates. For parents, the academic achievement gap may influence their own socioeconomic status via their educational attainment, which then has direct implications for their children. The purpose of this article is to present a comprehensive review of the academic achievement gap for the African American family from school entry through college graduation. We do so by examining current trends and theoretical perspectives, under the rubric of social inequality. The article concludes with implications for practice with African American families.
Associative symmetry: V. An interference interpretation of the failure of stimulus availability

A list of paired associates was learned to partial criterion. Using a completely between design, stimulus and response recall was then ascertained after delays of 10 min and 24 h. Forward recall was initially superior to backward recall. However, while stimulus recall improved with the passage of time, the responses deteriorated so that the two were equivalent after 24 h. These data were explained in terms of interference theory.
Building Rapport to Improve Retention and Success in Online Classes

As the prevalence of online education continues to grow, so do concerns about student success. Online students tend to withdraw more often and earn lower grades, compared to students in traditional...
Boron templated synthesis of a BODIPY analogue from a phthalocyanine precursor

The synthesis of aza(dibenzopyrro)methenes (ADBM) using aryl boron compounds as templates is described. The resultant half phthalocyanine BPh2 compounds (1–3) are structurally related to the BODIPY class of fluorophores and were isolated with terminal imine, terminal oxo, or mixed imine-oxo heteroatom positions. Compounds 1–3 were investigated for their absorption/emission properties, and large stokes shifts of ∼50 nm were observed for fluorescence emission. The electronic structures of 1–3 were probed by TD/DFT methods.
Performing ‘the Troubles’: Murals and the Spectacle of Commemoration at Free Derry Corner

‘But it’s not a performance.’ The tour guide turned to me and said it again, ‘It’s not a performance. It’s the truth. We’re telling our story. We’re telling what really happened. Bloody Sunday, Battle of the Bogside: we’re getting our story out there. That’s what it’s about.’ We were standing atop Derry’s seventeenth-century city walls, a group of nine foreign tourists, overlooking the Bogside, when I suggested to our guide that the area around Free Derry Corner resembles a stage set in performance. The guide was employed by the Museum of Free Derry’s Bloody Sunday Centre to give hour-long walking tours of the Bogside and city walls, which offer panoramic views of Derry’s historically Catholic and Nationalist neighborhood. Though he could not have been older than 30, and thus could not have lived through the events he referred to, the idea that their memorialization and public display might be termed a performance seemed to strike him as an offence.1