cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Dialectics of Social Theory and Action: A Synthesis of Six Models of Community Engagement

Two dominant theoretical perspectives--systems theory and conflict theory--can be seen to underlie major approaches to community intervention. This paper presents a conceptual linkage between models of intervention for planning and organizing as developed by Rothman and elaborated by Stockdale and major sociological theories of society. Two additional models are presented to address issues of management and administration. The six models are integrated into a typology which integrates the conflict and consensus theories of society in relation to the The result is a synthesis of six models for community engagement which is rooted in dialectically opposed theories of society, and which addresses the major functions of any system of organization--planning, organizing/implementation, and management.
Impact of scaling break and fracture orientation on effective permeability of fractal fracture network

Fractures and fracture networks determine the permeability of many natural rocks. In this study, new solutions are developed to calculate the effective permeability of fractal fracture network with non-universal scaling of fracture aperture and trace length. One component of the permeability tensor is derived by assuming that the hydraulic gradient is perpendicular to the trace direction. A new solution is also derived to examine the reduction in the effective permeability of fracture network due to the influence of random fracture orientation. The fracture lengths in the network are assumed to follow the fractal scaling law. The orientation dispersion of factures in the fracture network varies according to the Fisher distribution. The effective permeability is derived by treating the fractal fracture network as a porous medium and using Darcy’s law. Results demonstrate that the effective permeability decreases with the scaling exponent before the break when the scaling break occurs early. However, the effective permeability increases with the scaling exponent before the break if the scaling break occurs late. The effective permeability increases with the scaling exponent after the break. The extent of increase varies with the location of the scaling break. If the scaling break occurs early, the increase in the effective permeability is more significant. The effective permeability of fractal fracture network increases with the location of scaling break. The reduction in the effective permeability due to fracture orientation dispersion varies from 2/3 to 0 depending on the degree of orientation dispersion as quantified by the precision parameter.
Anesthetic Management for Medialization Laryngoplasty Performed Under Concurrent Dexmedetomidine, Remifentanil, and Propofol Infusions

Summary Introduction Type I thyroplasty, or medialization larygoplasty (ML), is a procedure which improves the voice by medializing a vocal fold with a permanent implant. Anesthetic management of these cases is challenging because patients can require periods of deep sedation followed by fully awake moments for phonation to assess the implant size. We present our experience of ML with or without arytenoid adduction (AA) using a multimodal anesthetic regimen consisting of concurrent infusions of dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, and propofol. Methods This is a retrospective case series of patients anesthetized using this protocol from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. Results Seventy-five consecutive ML with or without AA patients anesthetized with dexmedetomidine and remifentanil infusions were identified, of which 74 (98.7%) also received concurrent propofol infusions. Mean duration of sedation was 190.9 ± 36.9 minutes and surgery was 139 ± 35.3 minutes. Transient hypopnea treated with supplemental oxygen complicated 18 (24%) cases and bradycardia requiring pharmacologic treatment complicated 3 (4%) cases. There were no other adverse anesthetic complications. One patient required surgical re-exploration due to postsurgical bleeding after the initial hospital discharge. Conclusion In this cohort, a combination of remifentanil, dexmedetomidine and propofol infusions was well tolerated without serious adverse perioperative events.
The James A. Rand Young Investigator's Award: Large Opioid Prescriptions Are Unnecessary After Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract Background The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determine whether the quantity of opioid pills prescribed at discharge is associated with the number of opioid pills consumed or unused by patients after primary hip and knee arthroplasty within 30 days after discharge. Methods A total of 304 opioid-naive patients were randomized to receive either 30 or 90 5-mg oxycodone immediate-release (OxyIR) pills at discharge. Daily opioid consumption, number of unused pills, and pain scores were calculated for 30 days with a patient-completed medication diary. Statistical analysis involved t-test, rank-sum, chi-squared tests, and multiple linear regression with alpha = 0.05. Results Of the 304 patients randomized, 161 patients were randomized to receive 30 pills and 143 to receive 90. In the first 30 days after discharge, the median number of unused pills was 15 in the 30 group vs 73 in the 90 group (P Conclusion Prescribing fewer OxyIR pills is associated with a significant reduction in unused opioid pills and decreased opioid consumption with no increase in pain scores and no difference in patient-reported outcomes. Level of Evidence Level I. Randomized controlled trial.
The Civil Resistance of Yaqui and Guarijio in Sonora, Mexico: Meanings, Scope and Challenges

This chapter analyses the experience of civil resistance of the Yaqui and Guarijio tribes in Sonora, Mexico. The first ones moved from violent resistance to nonviolent resistance, while the second ones moved from passive resistance to active civil resistance. These indigenous groups have exercised civil resistance against the state and private sector companies in order to defend their water resources, which, in their worldview, are an essential part of their lives, territory, and culture, and are essential for their survival. In particular, it argues that the emergence of a civil resistance process is not sufficient, nor is the capacity of resistance of the indigenous groups involved in this process. It is also necessary to overcome a set of conditions in order for these groups to effectively achieve their goals.
Depth from transparency

Perceptual transparency is the visual experience of two or more apparently superimposed physical surfaces. When transparency is perceived, psychophysical evidence demonstrates effects on depth relationships suggestive of early interaction. Why should low-level visual mechanisms exist for a seemingly peripheral visual phenomenon such as transparency? A neurocomputational model is presented where transparency perception in humans and its interactions with stereopsis does not result from visual mechanisms for transparency, but rather are the result of interactions between stereopsis and occlusion processing. The model's interactions are based on accepted neurophysiological mechanisms for occlusion and stereopsis. It uses a characterization of disparity-selective neurons by a single model that captures physiological observations. The model proposes that the pattern of activity of hypothetical end-stopped cells at surface boundary junctions determines the depth interactions due to transparency. It predicts occlusion cues provide context to an ensemble encoding of disparity to effect the encoding. Many psychophysical results and perceptual observations are explained without recourse to specialized transparency mechanisms. It provides a machine vision algorithm where occlusion cues are fused with binocular depth in a novel way, and introduces a new framework for fusion of depth information.
Disclosure Dilemmas: How to Engage In, Avoid, and Combat Disclosure

Every day within organizations, employees strive to make favorable interpersonal impressions while navigating dilemmas with regard to disclosure. More specifically, employees must decide: what info...
Thrombosis of Large Aneurysm Induced by Flow-Diverter Stent and Dissolved by Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor.

Background Antiplatelet agents are typically administered before and after treatment using flow-diverter stents (FDS) to prevent thrombotic complications, but the effects of anticoagulants are unclear. We present a patient with a giant aneurysm treated with an FDS. The thrombus within the aneurysm was dissolved when a direct factor Xa inhibitor was administered to treat lower limb venous thrombosis that occurred secondary to steroid use. Case Description A 60-year-old woman with a 30-mm giant thrombosed aneurysm in the cavernous segment of the right internal carotid artery presenting with headache and right abducens nerve palsy was treated by placing an FDS. Diplopia and increased pain in her right eye appeared on postoperative day 7, and both were alleviated by continuous oral administration of prednisolone. Angiography 3 months postoperatively revealed that the aneurysm thrombosis had progressed, and there were signs of healing. However, at the same time, lower limb venous thrombosis occurred, which was treated by continuous edoxaban. Six months after surgery, her headaches worsened and angiography showed that the aneurysm was again contrast enhanced and that the thrombus within the aneurysm had dissolved. After discontinuing edoxaban 9 months after surgery, the aneurysmal thrombosis had again rapidly progressed. Conclusions Administration of a direct factor Xa inhibitor during healing after placing an FDS may cause dissolution of an existing thrombus; therefore factor Xa inhibitors must be used with caution.
Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of the periocular region

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a benign vascular lesion, typically found in the skin, consisting of a papillary proliferation of endothelial cells intimately related to a thrombus; it appears to be a rare variant of an organizing process. IPEH very rarely develops in the periocular region, with fewer than 20 such cases currently reported in the English language literature. We describe one of the largest ever case series of this uncommon lesion occurring in the periocular region and discuss its clinical features, imaging characteristics, and surgical management.
Cancer Immunoimaging with Smart Nanoparticles

Dynamic immunoimaging in vivo is crucial in patient-tailored immunotherapies to identify patients who will benefit from immunotherapies, monitor therapeutic efficacy post treatment, and determine alternative strategies for nonresponders. Nanoparticles have played a major role in the immunotherapy landscape. In this review, we summarize recent findings in immunoimaging where smart nanoparticles target, detect, stimulate, and deliver therapeutic dose in vivo. Nanoparticles interfaced with an immunoimaging toolbox enable the use of multiple modalities and achieve depth-resolved whole-body tracking of immunomarkers with high accuracy both before and after treatment. We highlight how functional nanoparticles track T cells, dendritic cells (DCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and immune checkpoint receptors (ICRs), and facilitate image-guided interventions.
Ribonucleic acid synthesis in experimental cardiac hypertrophy in rats. I. Characterization and kinetics of labeling.

Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in rats by constriction of the aortic arch. Hearts from rats with aortic constriction increased in weight about 50% above those of control rats by 7 days after operation. RNA concentration increased between 24 and 48 hours after constriction and, thereafter, returned toward the control level. DNA concentration of hearts from rats with aortic constriction remained unchanged from that of sham-operated rats. Labeling of heart RNA with 32 P was increased relative to that of sham-operated rats within the first 4 hours after aortic constriction. However, RNA labeling, relative to the labeling of AMP derived from ATP, increased above that of sham-operated rats only after 4 hours of aortic constriction and rose to maximum or near maximum values by 8 hours after operation. Various methods of extraction of RNA showed that the increase in labeling involved all the major species of RNA (28S, 18S, and 4S), and no evidence was found for the selective stimulation of a minority species. The nucleotide base composition of the various species of heart RNA of rats with aortic constriction was not significantly different from that of normal rats during the 4- to 8-hour period after operation. There was no terminal labeling of sRNA in hearts of either normal animals or those with aortic constriction.
Water Loss and Desiccation Tolerance of the Two Yearly Generations of Adult and Nymphal Kudzu Bugs, Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae)

Water loss rate, percentage total body water content (%TBW), cuticular permeability (CP), and desiccation tolerance were investigated in adult and immature stages of the invasive kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), a serious soybean pest and an urban nuisance. Adults and all five nymphal instars were weighed prior to and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 24 h after desiccated at 30 ± 1°C and 0–2% RH. Both % initial mass and %TBW loss increased linearly with time of desiccation. Rates of loss ranged from approximately 1–7%/h. Mortality occurred at 10 h after desiccation. Desiccation tolerance (%TBW lost at death) ranged between 25.6% for first-generation adult females and 75% for first-generation fifth-instar nymphs. First-generation first-instar nymphs had significantly greater %TBW (88.9%) than the other generations and instars, whereas second-generation fifth instars had the lowest %TBW (62.4%). The CP value of first-generation adult females (12.3 ± 1.6 µg cm–1 h–1 mmHg–1) was the greatest across generations. First-generation first instars had the greatest mass loss (111.11 mg/g) among all instars and generations, whereas overwintered second-generation adult females had the lowest mass loss (18.39) across generations.This study demonstrated that desiccation stress differentially affected the survival of adult and nymphal kudzu bugs and may imply that environmental stress can affect the relative abundance of this species in the fields and around homes.
Ofloxacin resistance in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Shanghai,China

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factor of Ofloxacin resistance among the tuberculosis patients in Shanghai.Methods Totally 447 isolates resistant to anyone of first-line drug (Isoniazid,Rifampicin,Streptomycin and Ethambutol) and 151 randomly selected isolates susceptible to all above drugs were collected from district tuberculosis(TB) hospitals in Shanghai during 2009 to 2010.All 598 isolates were subject to Ofloxacin sensitive test.Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine risk factors of Ofloxacin resistance.DNA sequencing was applied to study the mutation characteristics in gyrA and gyrB among Ofloxacin resistant isolates.Results Seventy-two(16.1%) of the 447 drug-resistant isolates were found resistant to Ofloxacin,and the Ofloxacin resistant rate among multiple drug-resistant (MDR) isolates was 39.6%(44/111).Ofloxacin resistance was also found in 4(2.6%) of the 151 drug sensitive isolates.Logistic regression analysis showed that first-line drug-resistance MDR(resistant to at least rifampin and isoniazid) and poly-drug resistance(resistance to two or more first-line drugs but not MDR) had significant effect on Ofloxacin resistance(OR = 19.5、5.6,95% CI:6.4 - 59.4、1.7 - 18.1,all P＜ 0.05);re-treatment(OR = 2.3,95 % CI:1.2 -4.0,P＜ 0.05),and a higher age(OR = 1.03,95 % CI:1.0 1 - 1.05,P＜ 0.05)were also significantly associated with Ofloxacin resistance.Resistance mutations in the gyrA and gyrB genes were detected in 62 of 76(81.6%) isolates with phenotypic Ofloxacin-resistance. Conclusions The Ofloxacin resistance rate in Shanghai MDR-TB patients is significantly higher than the pan-susceptible TB patients.Risk factors of ofloxacin resistance are MDR,poly-resistant,retreated patients,age.Among them,MDR has the highest strength of association. Key words: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Drug resistance,multiple; Quinolones; Ofloxacin
Effect modification of resident autonomy and seniority on perioperative outcomes in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Resident operative involvement is an integral aspect of general surgery residency training. However, current data examining the effect of resident autonomy on perioperative outcomes remain limited. Patient and operator-specific data were collected from 344 adult laparoscopic cholecystectomies at a tertiary academic institution and its regional affiliates between 2018 and 2019. Multivariate modeling compared postoperative outcomes between cases completed with or without resident involvement and its effect modification by resident seniority and autonomy per Zwisch scale. Outcomes include 30-day postoperative complications, hospital readmission rate, and operative time. Multivariate analysis revealed resident involvement in laparoscopic cholecystectomy did not significantly change odds of 30-day postoperative complications (OR 2.52, p = 0.185, 95% CI 0.64–9.92) or hospital readmission (OR 1.61, p = 0.538, 95% CI 0.36–7.23). Operative time is significantly increased compared to faculty-only cases (IRR 1.37, p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.26–1.48). While accounting for case difficulty and resident performance evaluated by SIMPL criteria, stratification by resident autonomy measured by Zwisch scale or seniority reveal no effect modification on 30-day postoperative complications, readmissions, or operative time. The effect of resident involvement on longer relative rates of operative time loses its significance in supervision-only cases (IRR 1.18, p = 0.069, 95% CI 0.99–1.41). While resident involvement and autonomy are associated with significantly longer operative times in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, their lack of significant effect on postoperative outcomes argues strongly for continued resident involvement and supervised operative independence.
Characterizing long-chain branching in commercial HDPE samples via linear viscoelasticity and extensional rheology

It is well established that polymer chain architecture and the distribution of molecular weight play a key role in the flow behavior (processing) and performance of a given polymer material. Long-chain branching (LCB) in particular is known to strongly affect the processability and the material performance of polymers. Often branching is a result of the polymerization process and therefore must be quantified in every sample. We study four commercial high-density polyethylene (HDPE) samples with unknown degrees of polydispersity and LCB. We first use size-exclusion chromatography and linear shear rheology to identify differences in molecular weight, polydispersity, and LCB. Each material is then tested in constant rate and constant stress uniaxial extension using a filament stretching rheometer to quantify extensional viscosity and strain hardening. Correlations between nonlinear extensional rheology, LCB and polydispersity are discussed. We show that the combination of the van Gurp-Palmen plot and extensional rheology allows for a full characterization of the LCB fraction and their effect on extensional rheology.
MAVERICC: Efficient marker-free rescue of vaccinia virus recombinants by in vitro CRISPR-Cas9 engineering

Abstract Vaccinia virus (VACV)-based vectors are in extensive use as vaccines and cancer immunotherapies. VACV engineering has traditionally relied on homologous recombination between a parental viral genome and a transgene-bearing transfer plasmid, a highly inefficient process that necessitates the use of a selection or screening marker to isolate recombinants. Recent extensions of this approach have sought to enhance the recovery of transgene-bearing viruses through the use of CRISPR-Cas9 engineering to cleave the viral genome in infected cells. However, these methods do not completely eliminate the generation of WT viral progeny and thus continue to require multiple rounds of viral propagation and plaque purification. Here, we describe MAVERICC (marker-free vaccinia virus engineering of recombinants through in vitroCRISPR/Cas9 cleavage), a new strategy to engineer recombinant VACVs in a manner that overcomes current limitations. MAVERICC also leverages the CRISPR/Cas9 system but requires no markers and yields essentially pure preparations of the desired recombinants in a single step. We used this approach to rapidly introduce point mutations, insertions, and deletions at multiple locations in the VACV genome, both singly and in combination. The efficiency and versatility of MAVERICC make it an ideal choice for generating mutants and mutant libraries at arbitrarily selected locations in the viral genome to build complex VACV vectors, effect vector improvements, and facilitate the study of poxvirus biology. Graphical Abstract Overview of MAVERICC. Conceptual overview of the approach outlined in this manuscript. To make VACV recombinants, the parental virus is first purified and vDNA is isolated with phenol:chloroform extraction. This purified vDNA is then treated with Cas9 enzyme and sgRNAs that are directed to a specific locus in the VACV genome. The cleaved vDNA is then transfected into FWPV-infected BSC-40 cells along with a transfer amplicon containing an insertion or mutation of interest flanked by homologous sequences. Recombination is allowed to occur for 5-7 days, during which time the cleaved vDNA is healed by the transfer amplicon, thus editing the VACV genome, and packaged into infectious viral particles. Individual plaques are grown up and rVACVs are isolated after a single round of plaque purification. Image was created with Biorender.com.
The Actor-Critic Algorithm for Infinite Horizon Discounted Cost Revisited

Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a methodology used to solve Markov decision processes (MDPs) within simulators. In the classical Actor-Critic (AC), a popular RL algorithm, the values of the so-called actor become unbounded. A recently introduced variant of the AC keeps the actor’s values naturally bounded. However, the algorithm’s convergence properties have not been established mathematically in the literature. Numerically, the bounded AC was studied under the Boltzmann action-selection strategy, but not under the more popular e-greedy strategy in which the probability of selecting any non-greedy action converges to zero in the limit. The paper revisits the AC framework. A short review of the existing literature in the growing field of ACs is first presented. Thereafter, the algorithm is investigated for its convergence properties, under e-greedy action selection, numerically on a small-scale MDP, as well as mathematically via the ordinary differential equation framework.
Fast Computational Ghost Imaging using Unpaired Deep Learning and a Constrained Generative Adversarial Network.

The unpaired training can be the only option available for fast deep learning-based ghost imaging, where obtaining a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) image copy of each low SNR ghost image could be practically time-consuming and challenging. This paper explores the capabilities of deep learning to leverage computational ghost imaging when there is a lack of paired training images. The deep learning approach proposed here enables fast ghost imaging through reconstruction of high SNR images from faint and hastily shot ghost images using a constrained Wasserstein generative adversarial network. In the proposed approach, the objective function is regularized to enforce the generation of faithful and relevant high SNR images to the ghost copies. This regularization measures the distance between reconstructed images and the faint ghost images in a low-noise manifold generated by a shadow network. The performance of the constrained network is shown to be particularly important for ghost images with low SNR. The proposed pipeline is able to reconstruct high-quality images from the ghost images with SNR values not necessarily equal to the SNR of the training set.
The genesis of the Jornada criollo cattle program

Abstract Many rangelands in the southwestern United States have experienced increased shrub cover and lower and more variable forage resources during the past 100 years. Criollo cattle are descendants of cattle brought to the Americas by European explorers that spread throughout North and South America. These cattle were displaced in many areas as British breeds became popular, but isolated populations remained that had undergone natural selection for nearly 500 years. Scientists at the Jornada Experimental Range in Las Cruces, New Mexico introduced Raramuri criollo genetics from the Tarahumara region of Chihuahua, Mexico to the research herd about 15 years ago in an effort to capitalize on their ability to thrive in harsh landscapes of the Chihuahuan Desert. They hypothesized that this smaller framed animal might be more suited to extensive shrubby landscapes and exert a lower environmental footprint than cattle of European descent. Preliminary observations during the early years of this project suggested that behavioral characteristics of this biotype could potentially be used to improve utilization of extensive rangelands with restricted water distribution. Raramuri criollo generally traveled farther per day and farther from water than Angus x Hereford crossbreds typically raised on these rangelands. Approximately five years ago, the Jornada expanded this program by joining forces with scientists from New Mexico State University, Mexico, and South America. Several studies were initiated that encompassed aspects of behavior, distribution, habitat and ecological site use, maternal behavior, diet selection, heat tolerance, and performance of Raramuri criollo cattle. Many of the results from these collaborations are reported in this special issue.
COVID-19 in the Clinic: Human Testing of an Aerosol Containment Mask for Endoscopic Clinic Procedures.

ObjectiveTo create an aerosol containment mask (ACM) for common otolaryngologic endoscopic procedures that also provides nanoparticle-level protection to patients.Study DesignProspective feasibilit...
Marine Debris and Human Health: An Exposure Pathway of Persistent Organic Pollutants?

Although there are not any direct studies linking persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulated on marine debris to human health, there are numerous studies showing human health impacts from repeated and high level POP exposure, as well as studies that show POPs accumulate on plastic debris in the marine environment. With this knowledge, there is a need for greater awareness of the risks of POP exposure for those who handle marine debris regularly, especially in contexts of higher exposure such as those working in marine debris concentrated areas. Amongst the scientific community, understanding of the exposure risk might be high, but others who handle marine debris, for instance citizens groups in the global south, are not necessarily aware of this exposure pathway. Moreover, global consumers who are marketed 'ocean plastics' upcycled products are also not aware of potential POP exposure. Before marine plastics are accepted into the upcycled economy, these risks warrant further examination. This is a perspectives piece that aims to draw awareness to these emergent POP exposure pathways and considerations regarding marine plastic pollution. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Disrupting Adaptive Traffic Lights Cycles through Selective Jamming Attacks

Adaptive traffic lights are critical components in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) aiming to minimize the trip times for vehicles as well as reduce their fuel emission rates. With the recent advances in embedded systems and communication technologies, traffic lights receive signals from nearby vehicles to learn about the current load conditions as well as the types of vehicles on various lanes. This information is used by the traffic lights to adjust the traffic cycles appropriately to optimize efficiency. In this paper, we study the impact of selective jamming attacks in which a subset of the signals from the vehicles to the traffic light are jammed. This causes the traffic light to adapt its cycle to incorrect load estimates, leading to an increase in the trip times for vehicles and higher fuel emission rates. We focus on stealthy types of attacks that take the cost of the attack in consideration when mounting attacks. In particular, the attacker aims to maximize the marginal utility of the jamming attack. We evaluate the effect of our exposed attacks using SUMO simulations under various types of scenarios and for different metrics of damage and cost.
The Nineteenth-Century World of Turkic Dictionaries: An Overview

The author creates a bibliographic picture of the various Turkic-language dictionaries from the eleventh to the end of the nineteenth centuries, in various languages, and describes their structure. He then focuses specifically on printed Turkic dictionaries of the nineteenth century, discussing their historical context and a statistical survey that he conducted. A number of these dictionaries have been digitized; he examines some sites where they are accessible. In the appendix is a list of the dictionaries that he found in the course of his research.
Unspeakable Outrages and Unbearable Defilements: Rape Narratives in the Literature of Colonial India

E.M. Forster was hardly the first writer to broach the subject of rape in the literature of colonial India. This paper considers narratives of rape not only in A Passage to India , but also in three other colonial-era texts: Flora Annie Steel's On the Face of the Waters (1896), a "historical" novel about the Rebellion of 1857, Dinabandhu Mitra's The Blue Mirror (1860), a Bengali play about the abuses of indigo planters in Bengal, and Rameshvar Chaumuval's Bhima's Glory [1935], a Hindi play based on an episode from the epic Mahabharata. Steel's "Mutiny" novel seems to support Fanon's suggestion that if rape is the master trope of imperialism, it should be a colonizing woman raped by colonized man. The two Indian plays, however, contest such a tropology, casting Indian women as victims of aborted rapes, and suggesting that the violation of idealized Indian heroines is tantamount to the rape of Bharat Mata (Mother India). While On the Face of the Waters and A Passage to India allude to unspeakable outrages perpetrated against white women, The Blue Mirror and Bhima's Glory describe the unbearable defilement of Indian women.
Primate motor cortex and free arm movements to visual targets in three-dimensional space. II. Coding of the direction of movement by a neuronal population.

We describe a code by which a population of motor cortical neurons could determine uniquely the direction of reaching movements in three- dimensional space. The population consisted of 475 directionally tuned cells whose functional properties are described in the preceding paper (Schwartz et al., 1988). Each cell discharged at the highest rate with movements in its “preferred direction” and at progressively lower rates with movements in directions away from the preferred one. The neuronal population code assumes that for a particular movement direction each cell makes a vectorial contribution (“votes”) with direction in the cell9s preferred direction and magnitude proportional to the change in the cell9s discharge rate associated with the particular direction of movement. The vector sum of these contributions is the outcome of the population code (the “neuronal population vector”) and points in the direction of movement in space well before the movement begins.
A Resolution Adaptive Video Compression System

Modern video encoding systems employ block-based,multi-mode, spatio-temporal prediction methods in order to achieve high compression efficiency. A common practice is to transform, quantize and encode the difference between the prediction and the original along with the system parameters. Obviously, it’s crucial to design better prediction and residual encoding methods to obtain higher compression gains. In this work, we examine two such systems which utilize subsampled representations of the sequence and residual data. In the first system, we consider a method for reorganizing, downsampling and interpolating the residual data. In the second system, we propose a new method that employs lower resolution intensity values for spatial and motion-compensated prediction. Both of these methods are macroblock adaptive in the rate-distortion sense. Our experiments show that implementing these methods brings additional compression efficiency compared to the state-of-the-art video encoding standard H.264/AVC.
Infrared Astronomy with Arrays: The Next Generation; Sunset Village, Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 1993

Conference papers on infrared array techniques and methods for infrared astronomy are presented. Topics covered include the following: infrared telescopes; infrared spectrometers; spaceborne astronomy; astronomical observatories; infrared cameras; imaging techniques; sky surveys; infrared photography; infrared photometry; infrared spectroscopy; equipment specifications; data processing and analysis; control systems; cryogenic equipment; adaptive optics; image resolution; infrared detector materials; and focal plane arrays.
The impact of voiding symptoms on the diagnosis of prostate cancer

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 2547 Introduction: Because patients with a modestly elevated serum PSA are more likely to have benign than malignant pathology, it would be beneficial to identify those clinical characteristics that correlate with biopsy results. When benign prostatic disorders are symptomatically evident, it may be less likely that cancer is responsible for the abnormal PSA. To define this issue quantitatively we have examined the relationship between the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) and prostate biopsy results. Methods: An IPSS was obtained from all men prior to transrectal ultrasound and biopsy of the prostate performed for standard indications. Voiding symptoms were classified into four categories: absent (IPSS=0), mild (1-7), moderate (8-19), or severe (20-35). The relationship between the symptom score and biopsy result was examined by calculating series of crude, stratified, and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: A total of 1017 men underwent prostate biopsy during a 42-month period (November 2000-July 2004). The mean age was 64.8 years and mean IPSS was 11.3. Biopsies were positive in 456 (44.8%) and negative in 561 (55.2%). Men with moderate to severe symptoms (IPSS=8-35) were significantly less likely (OR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.50-0.83) to have a positive biopsy compared to those who were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (IPSS≤7). When adjusted for age, this association remained significant (OR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.53-0.89). In patients with modestly elevated PSA (4-10 ng/mL) and moderate to severe symptoms, there was a 40% less likelihood of a positive biopsy compared to those with mild or no symptoms (OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.42-0.86). The observed association was less pronounced among patients with lower and higher PSA levels. Conclusions: Men with a modestly elevated PSA (4-10 ng/mL) are less likely to have prostate cancer on biopsy if they have moderate to severe voiding symptoms compared to those with mild or no symptoms. Thus significant voiding symptoms (IPSS=8-35) behave as a surrogate for benign prostatic conditions (BPH and prostatitis) commonly responsible for a modest PSA elevation.
Does sharecropping affect productivity and long-term investment ? evidence from West Bengal's tenancy reforms

Although transfer of agricultural land ownership through land reform had positive impacts on productivity, investment, and political empowerment in many cases, institutional arrangements in West Bengal -- which made tenancy heritable and imposed a prohibition on subleasing -- imply that early land reform benefits may not be sustained and gains from this policy remain well below potential. Data from a listing of 96,000 households in 200 villages, complemented by a detailed survey of 1,800 owner-cum tenants, point toward binding policy constraints and large contemporaneous inefficiency of share tenancy that is exacerbated by strong disincentives to investment. A conservative estimate puts the efficiency losses from such arrangements in any period at 25 percent.
La presencia masculina en los cuentos de Rima de Vallbona

El titulo de este trabajo menciona un terna - como aparecen los hombres en la obra literariade las mujeres-el cual ha sido tratado con sorprendente negligencia.
Screening of hot electron effect during plasma processing

CMOS devices are subjected to high-field electron injection during plasma processing. This work investigates the screening of hot carrier stress degradation in an n-channel MOSFET when the device was exposed to plasma processing. Devices with various antenna ratios were subjected to current stress (both gate injection and substrate injection) while the source and drain terminals were reverse biased by a screening potential followed by hot carrier stress. It was observed that screening of the drain edge was effective for both gate injection and substrate injection at different screening potentials. For higher antenna ratio devices, the hot carrier screening potential is reduced due to pre-existing oxide traps. The hot carrier lifetime is directly related to interface state density (D/sub it/), measured by charge pumping method. These results suggest that hot electron degradation could be severe or mild for devices affected by plasma damage depending on their exposure to the level of screening potential.
Magnetoacoustic Measurements of the Fermi Surface of Copper

Oscillations in the attenuation of 600-MHz LA waves propagated along the principal symmetry direction of copper single crystals are examined as a function of magnetic field in a perpendicular plane. Frequencies of the magnetoacoustic oscillations are associated with the responsible electron-orbit groups on the Fermi surface and, from them, radial dimensions are derived. These dimensions are standardized by means of open-orbit resonances in terms of Brillouin-zone dimensions. This also gives an independent measurement of the velocity of sound at ultrahigh frequencies. A close correlation is found between measured dimensions and the Koringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) calculation by Faulkner et al. A generally good fit of the measured dimensions to a recent synthesis of the copper Fermi surface by Halse and Shoenberg from de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) data is also observed.
Litigation Risk and the Financial Reporting Credibility of Big 4 versus Non‐Big 4 Audits: Evidence from Anglo‐American Countries

Prior research suggests that Big 4 auditors provide higher quality audits in the U.S. in order to protect the firm's brand name reputation and to avoid costly litigation. In this study, we examine whether the perceived higher quality of a Big 4 audit is related to auditor litigation exposure or to reputation concerns. Specifically, we utilize an estimable proxy for financial reporting credibility—the ex ante cost of equity capital—to examine whether Big 4 auditors are perceived as providing higher quality audits (relative to non‐Big 4 auditors) in the U.S., and in the less litigious (but economically similar) environments in other Anglo‐American countries during the 1990–99 period. We find that a Big 4 audit is associated with a lower ex ante cost of equity capital for auditees in the U.S. but not in Australia, Canada, or the U.K. Our findings suggest that it is litigation exposure rather than brand name reputation protection that drives perceived audit quality.
A flow-transfer device with nonmetallic diaphragms for propulsion wind tunnel models

The Langley Research Center has developed a new flow-transfer device for powered wind tunnel models in which the traditional metal bellows have been replaced with nonmetallic diaphragms. Two complete flow transfer assemblies have been fabricated and installed within a twin-jet propulsion simulation system. Calibrations of the force balance have been performed over a range of nozzle mass flow rates up to 15 lbs/sec in order to validate the nonmetallic diaphragm design concept. Results from these calibrations are compared to those obtained with flow-transfer devices utilizing metal bellows.
The intramolecular self-organization of dendrimers

This review focuses on our recent efforts to develop an understanding of the structural factors required to compel a dendrimer to fold into a well-defined, chirally-biased secondary structure. Molecular packing appears to be the most important factor in creating folded dendrimer structures. Effective packing occurs when the dendrons are preorganized in a manner that forces adjacent subunits to pack in a mutually complementary arrangement. This ordered structural arrangement plays an extremely important role in stabilizing dendron secondary structure because it creates non-bonded interactions within the dendrimer that couple the motions and conformational preferences of multiple structural subunits. Cooperativity in the conformational equilibria of the peripheral subunits causes small energetic differences between conformational states to be magnified leading to a more stable folded state. To cite this article: J.R. Parquette, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).
Foreword to the Special Issue on Unmanned Airborne Vehicle (UAV) Sensing Systems for Earth Observations

The seven papers in this special issue are grouped into five categories: UAV platforms and platform systems; UAV sensors and sensor systems; UAV data processing; UAV telemetry; and UAV applications.
Perturbing pro-survival proteins using quinoxaline derivatives: A structure activity relationship study

Abstract In HeLa cells the combinatorial knockdown of Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 is sufficient to induce spontaneous apoptosis. Quinoxaline derivatives were screened for the induction of Mcl-1 dependent apoptosis using a cell line without functional Bcl-xL. Quinoxaline urea analog 1h was able to specifically induce apoptosis in an Mcl-1 dependent manner. We demonstrate that even small changes to 1h results in dramatic loss of activity. In addition, 1h and ABT-737 synergistically inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis. Our results also suggest that 1h could have therapeutic potential against ABT-737 refractory cancer.
Acute myocardial ischemia detected in dogs by temporal variation in two-dimensional ultrasound gray level☆

This study tests the hypothesis that acute myocardial ischemia induces a characteristic temporal variation in regional ultrasound amplitudes. Myocardial ischemia was created by circumflex coronary artery occlusion in seven closed-chest mongrel dogs. Ultrasound images were acquired prior to occlusion and post-occlusion on a phased-array two-dimensional system. Unprocessed ultrasound data from end-diastolic images were taken digitally for quantitative gray level analysis. Temporal variation in ultrasonic gray level of a nonischemic control region was compared to the temporal variation in gray level of the ischemic area. In the ischemic area, the average gray level for all seven dogs increased from 39.2 +/- 4.2 prior to occlusion to 42.5 +/- 4.9 at 15 minutes after occlusion, and then to 44.4 +/- 5.9, 45.3 +/- 6.2, and 47.0 +/- 6.0 at 30, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively (p less than 0.05 for control vs 15 minutes and 15 minutes vs 120 minutes). No significant changes in the average gray level of all seven dogs occurred in the nonischemic area from pre-occlusion to 2 hours post-occlusion (38.8 +/- 8.8, 38.4 +/- 8.0, 37.7 +/- 8.4, 37.8 +/- 8.5, and 38.0 +/- 8.2 for control, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively. These data show that regions of acute myocardial ischemia can be characterized by temporal variation in intramyocardial ultrasonic gray level, not only from the time before coronary occlusion to 15 minutes after occlusion, but also between 15 and 120 minutes in the post-occlusion period. Gray level values in nonischemic regions of the left ventricle are remarkably constant over time.
What do minority elementary students understand about the causes of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, colds, and obesity?

Elementary school-age children's conceptual understanding and factual knowledge about the causes of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), colds, and obesity are poorly understood, particularly among black children living in low-income, urban neighborhoods. We examined minority children's conceptual understanding about the causes of these illnesses. In addition, children's knowledge and misconceptions about the causal agents of AIDS, colds, and obesity were investigated. A developmentally based, semistructured interview was developed to measure children's level of understanding about the causes of each condition. Interviews were conducted with 239, predominately black, first, third, and fifth grade students attending two public elementary schools in a low income city in northern California. Interviews were verbally administered and tape recorded for later verbatim transcription. Children's responses to questions about causality first were scored based on their level of conceptual sophistication. Responses then were assigned to thematic categories reflecting the children's factual knowledge about the causes of AIDS, colds, and obesity. Increases in grade level were associated with higher scores for causality of AIDS (p < .0001), colds (p < .0001), and obesity (p < .01). In all three conditions, causality scores increased between first and fifth grades, but did not significantly vary between third and fifth grades. Gender, socioeconomic status, and number of adults living in the household were not significantly associated with causality scores. Within each grade, the finding of lower causality scores for AIDS, as compared to colds and obesity, points out the need for developmentally appropriate explanations to children about the causes of AIDS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Aerially applied citric acid reduces the density of an invasive frog in Hawaii, USA

The Puerto Rican frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) is an invasive pest in Hawaii. Citric acid is approved for controlling these frogs, but has been limited to terrain accessible by foot or vehicle. We determined the effectiveness of helicopter applications of 16% citric acid and repeated 11% citric acid treatments for eradicating and/or reducing densities of E. coqui by monitoring populations before and after treatment using mark–recapture. We also evaluated the effects of the marking technique, toe-clipping, and weather changes on population parameter estimates. We found that a 16% citric acid treatment appears to have reduced adult E. coqui density 3-fold in a plot, T1, completely covered with citric acid, but did not reduce adult density in a plot, T2, where 6% of the plot was unintentionally not treated. Preadults were reduced 3- to 5-fold in treated plots. The apparent reduction in adults in T1 lasted at least 5 months. Repeated treatments of 11% citric acid were studied in T2 and likely reduced adults 440-fold while preadults were reduced 9-fold. E. coqui that had fewer toe-clips had greater recapture probability and survival estimates, while weather had no effect on parameter estimates. In summary, we found that 16% and 11% citric acid treatments can reduce E. coqui density, treatment effects can last 5 months for adults, and repeated treatments appear more effective for reducing density than single applications.