cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On simulating human reach motions for ergonomics analyses

Many existing job analysis tools for ergonomics have concentrated on the potential adverse effects of force, posture, and repetition, as these appear to be traditionally recognized risk factors in the workplace. Recent investigations have indicated that this pragmatic approach may be overly simplistic, and thus miss prediction of risk factors associated with certain motions. This article reviews some of the research under way in the University of Michigan’s Human Motion Simulation Laboratory to develop a set of human motion prediction models. To produce these models, over 37,000 motions of 100 men and women from 18 to 78 years in age have been measured with a motion capture system. The motions are typical of people reaching and moving light to moderate load objects while either seated or standing.A17-link kinematics model has been developed to resolve the dynamics of the motions. Thus far, initial motion algorithms have been developed that capture well over 95% of the between participant repeatability. Advantages and limitations of the methods and data being used are discussed and illustrated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exploiting scene structure in video coding

In video coding, information about scene structure can be estimated from previous frames in the video sequence. A technique has been proposed by the author (1990) which exploits such information about scene structure to improve motion compensation accuracy, without transmitting structural information to the decoder. The more accurate motion compensation has been shown to increase overall coding efficiency by 20-35%. The author reviews this approach to motion compensation and proposes a recursive (in time) algorithm for computing the required motion field segmentation. The algorithm reduces the computational complexity of motion field segmentation while increasing its reliability. >
Reduced Precision Checking for a Floating Point Adder

We present an error detection technique for a floating point adder which uses a checker adder of reduced precision to determine if the result is correct within some error bound. Our analysis establishes a relationship between the width of the checker adder’s mantissa and the worst-case magnitude of an undetected error in the primary adder’s result. This relationship allows for a tradeoff between error detection capability and area overhead that is not offered by any previously developed floating point adder checking schemes. Experimental results of fault injection experiments are presented which support our analysis.
The effect of ionic conditions on the conformations of supercoiled DNA. II. equilibrium catenation

We studied the equilibrium formation of DNA catenanes to assess the conformational properties of supercoiled DNA as a function of ionic conditions and supercoiling density. Catenanes were formed by cyclizing linear DNA with long cohesive ends in the presence of supercoiled molecules. The efficiency of the catenation depends on the distance between opposing segments of DNA in the interwound superhelix. The fraction of cyclizing molecules that becomes topologically linked with the supercoiled DNA is the product of the concentration of the supercoiled DNA and a proportionality constant, B, that depends on conformations of supercoiled DNA. In parallel with these experimental studies, we calculated the values of B using Monte Carlo simulations of the equilibrium distribution of DNA conformations. There were no adjustable parameters in the calculations because all three parameters of the DNA model, bending and torsional elasticity of DNA and DNA effective diameter, specifying intersegment interactions, were known from independent studies. We found very good agreement between measured and simulated values of B for all the ionic conditions and DNA superhelix densities studied; the discrepancy was less than a factor of 2 over the 200-fold variation in B. The value of B decreases nearly exponentially with increasing superhelicity, this dependence being especially strong at low salt concentration. The dependence of B on the concentration of NaCl, MgCl(2), and spermidine can be described with good accuracy in terms of changes of the DNA effective diameter. We found no indication of superhelix collapse under any ionic conditions studied. We discuss, in light of these results, the biological importance of the effect of DNA supercoiling on the unlinking of the products of DNA replication.
Methodology for trench capacitor etch optimization using voltage contrast inspection and special processing

Embedded DRAM will play a much larger part in IBM server microprocessors for new SOI technologies. Etch of a deep trench (DT) into the substrate, which is used to form the capacitor, is a complicated multi-step process. One of the key elements is etch of the buried oxide layer. Voltage contrast (VC) inspection is used to detect defective DTs and can differentiate between opens in the buried oxide and those in the oxide hard mask. So these defects have a VC signal, special processing is needed to seal off the SOI layer. The process of finding the right beam conditions to detect the opens in the buried oxide, which are very subtle, is described. Failure analysis of these defects is also presented.
Stochastic optimal control model for natural gas networks

Abstract We present a stochastic optimal control model to optimize gas network inventories in the face of system uncertainties. The model captures detailed network dynamics and operational constraints and uses a weighted risk-mean objective. We perform a degrees-of-freedom analysis to assess operational flexibility and to determine conditions for model consistency. We compare the control policies obtained with the stochastic model against those of deterministic and robust counterparts. We demonstrate that the use of risk metrics can help operators to systematically mitigate system volatility. Moreover, we discuss computational scalability issues and effects of discretization resolution on economic performance.
Downward propagating Equatorial Annual Oscillation and QBO generated multi-year oscillations in stratospheric NCEP reanalysis data

Abstract In this brief review we discuss and summarize the results of an analysis of zonal wind and temperature variations from the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis, which provide observational evidence for the 12-month Equatorial Annual Oscillation (EAO), in addition to the classical equatorial oscillations, the 6-month Semi-annual Oscillation (SAO) and Quasi-biannual Oscillation (QBO). The EAO is observed slowly propagating down with a velocity of about 3 km/month in agreement with the results from a numerical model, and characteristic of wave mean flow interactions at low latitudes that generate the QBO at 1.3 km/month. For data samples that cover as much as 40 years, the NCEP zonal winds reveal a rich spectrum of oscillations with periods between 3 and 10 years. Such multi-year oscillations can be generated by the QBO interacting with the seasonal variations through wave filtering. As shown with model simulations, the 30-month QBO can interact with the 12-month Annual Oscillation (AO) to generate a 5-year oscillation, which is prominent in the NCEP data. And the 27-month QBO can generate a 9-year quasi-decadal oscillation, which is also observed along with the related modulation signatures close to 3 years.
The Persistence of Self-Provisioning Among Smallholder Farmers in Northeast Madagascar

In the Andapa region of northeast Madagascar, smallholders cultivating swidden hill rice (tavy) for subsistence are pressing against neighboring nature reserves. A dominant policy approach to reducing this pressure requires that smallholders abandon tavy and purchase rice from proceeds obtained from their environmentally sustainable commercial crops, vanilla and coffee. Economic liberalization policies have succeeded in stimulating the expansion of these commercial crops, but have failed to reduce tavy production. We ask why this dual (subsistence and commercial) production system persists. We test two explanatory views: that either market imperfections deny farmers full entry into the market, or that internal production goals or socio-cultural norms create barriers to full market participation. Results support the latter view, although not for reasons that have been associated with this view in past studies. We propose a new factor that may serve as a barrier to full-market immersion among Andapa tavy farmers, the social relations of property.
A new approach to quantitative urine culture.

A simple, inexpensive technic for performing quantitative urine cultures is presented. This technic provides the clinician with a screening procedure which, if positive, can be forwarded to the laboratory for definitive identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The small volume of specimen required and the infrequent need for an isolation subculture are advantages commonly not found with commercially available culture systems.
Why is sad music pleasurable? A possible role for prolactin:

A hedonic theory of music and sadness is proposed. Some listeners report that nominally sad music genuinely makes them feel sad. It is suggested that, for these listeners, sad affect is evoked thro...
Ascorbic Acid Impractical as a Character for Resistance in Cotton to the Boll Weevil

The weight of adult Anthonomus grandis Boheman and the length of the developmental period were normal over 4 generations when adult and larval diets were formulated with 7.50-393.75 mg of ascorbic acid/100 g of diet. Approximately 500 adults were produced in each generation. When both diets were prepared without ascorbic acid only 10 adults were produced in the 2nd generation and none thereafter. No major effects on feeding or oviposition were found which could be associated with ascorbic acid content of the media. Since minute quantities of ascorbic acid are sufficient for the boll weevil, we concluded that it would not be practical to attempt to develop cotton lines resistant to the boll weevil via low ascorbic acid content.
Reliability of Climate-Simulation Studies Utilizing Pieris rapae (L.)

Growth of Pieris rapae (L.) was compared under natural-field and simulated-field conditions. Generation time was similar under both conditions. Past weather records could be used to predict generation time but not duration of various stages. The influence of rain and temperature on oviposition is also demonstrated.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Rectoanal Mucosal Swab of Feedlot Cattle for Detection and Enumeration of Salmonella enterica

ABSTRACT Cattle are noted carriers of the foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica. The perceived need to decrease the potential human health risk posed by excretion of this pathogen has resulted in numerous studies examining the factors that influence Salmonella shedding in cattle. Fecal grab (FG) samples have been the predominant method used to identify cattle colonized or infected with Salmonella; however, FG sampling can be impractical in certain situations, and rectoanal mucosal swabs (RAMS) are a more convenient sample type to collect. Despite a lack of studies comparing FG and RAMS for the detection and enumeration of Salmonella fecal shedding, RAMS is perceived as less sensitive because a smaller amount of feces is cultured. In a cross-sectional study to address these concerns, paired RAMS and FG samples were collected from 403 adult feedlot cattle approximately 90 days prior to harvest. Samples were processed for Salmonella enumeration (direct plating) and detection (enrichment and immunomagnetic s...
A dual but asymmetric role of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex in response inhibition and switching from a non-salient to salient action

Response inhibition and salience detection are among the most studied psychological constructs of cognitive control. Despite a growing body of work, how inhibition and salience processing interact and engage regional brain activations remains unclear. Here, we examined this issue in a stop signal task (SST), where a prepotent response needs to be inhibited to allow an alternative, less dominant response. Sixteen adult individuals performed two versions of the SST each with 25% (SST25) and 75% (SST75) of stop trials. We posited that greater regional activations to the infrequent trial type in each condition (i.e., to stop as compared to go trials in SST25 and to go as compared to stop trials in SST75) support salience detection. Further, successful inhibition in stop trials requires attention to the stop signal to trigger motor inhibition, and the stop signal reaction time (SSRT) has been used to index the efficiency of motor response inhibition. Therefore, greater regional activations to stop as compared to go success trials in association with the stop signal reaction time (SSRT) serve to expedite response inhibition. In support of an interactive role, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) increases activation to salience detection in both SST25 and SST75, but only mediates response inhibition in SST75. Thus, infrequency response in the dACC supports motor inhibition only when stopping has become a routine. In contrast, although the evidence is less robust, the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) increases activity to the infrequent stimulus and supports inhibition in both SST25 and SST75. These findings clarify a unique role of the dACC and add to the literature that distinguishes dACC and pre-SMA functions in cognitive control.
Cor triatriatum. Total correction in an infant.

Summary A case report of the youngest patient (3½ months) to undergo successful surgical repair of cor triatriatum is presented. The necessity of angiographic studies for diagnosis and cardiopulmonary bypass for repair is stressed. Postoperative hemodynamics are shown to return to near normal levels.
Introduction and Biographical Sketch

Jerome Frank’s background was propitious for the development of a lawyer, government administrator, federal judge, legal scholar, and teacher. He was born in New York City on September 10, 1889, the only boy of three children of Herman and Clara New Frank, descendants of German-Jewish immigrants who had come to America during the great migration from Germany during the 1840’s and ’50’s. Jerome’s father was a successful lawyer and a man of great charm and wit, and his son was to acquire both his profession and many features of his personality. The Frank home was a center of cultural activity and the family, especially Jerome’s father, deeply impressed upon their son the vital importance of academic and professional success.1
Power generation study of luminescent solar concentrator greenhouse

A Luminescent Solar Concentrator (LSC) greenhouse and an identical control greenhouse were constructed with photovoltaic (PV) cells attached to the roof panels of both structures. The placement and types of PV cells used in the LSC panels were varied for performance comparisons. Solar power generation was monitored continuously for one year, with leading LSC panels exhibiting a 37% increase in power production compared to the reference. The 22.3 m2 greenhouse was projected to generate a total of 1342 kWh per year, or 57.4 kWh/m2 if it were composed solely of the leading panel of Criss Cross panel design. The LSC panels showed no signs of degradation throughout the trial demonstrating the material's robustness in field conditions.
Political Development and Corruption: Why ‘Right Here, Right Now!’?

The anti-corruption campaign is a paradox, with both inspiring and tragic elements. On the one hand, it would only be possible alongside the rise of global social movements and a new and vibrant civil society which articulates the cosmopolitan language of political reform and a better world, and catalyses such strategic victories as the ‘Rose’ and ‘Orange’ revolutions. On the other, the campaign may be one of the final episodes in a redundant development intervention paradigm, illustrating as it does the weaknesses in conception, delivery, resources and context that accompany the expert-led, sanitised, technocratic and medicalised view of the development subject and process. It has produced, in a fifteen-year period, an industry of consultants, organisations, and technologies bounded in the discourse of combat and high moral velocity. People have been urged to ‘fight’ corruption, to ‘combat’ its causes and effects, to wage a ‘war’ against the degradation of the social fabric, and to rally around a moral standard of integrity and principal. To accompany the effort, new field technologies, rather like an army’s tools and weapons, have been designed and propagated: integrity workshops, peer review workshops, disclosure of assets, anti-corruption codes and best practice for civil servants, guidelines on conflict of interest, summarised within the iconic Transparency International (TI) Sourcebook (2000; for practical handbooks see also, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 2002, 2005; Spector, ed., 2005).
PET/CT in Medullary Thyroid Cancer

The optimal treatment for medullary cancer of the thyroid is total thyroidectomy and central nodal lymphadenectomy at a time the primary cancer is small and has not spread. In the three phenotypes of familial medullary cancer, namely, familial medullary cancer and MEN 2A and 2B, screening of families for patients with a mutation in the RET proto-oncogene and a genetic predisposition for the diseases allows surgery at an even earlier stage. Unfortunately, not all patients are treated at the optimal time. Patients with sporadic medullary cancer frequently have extensive local and distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. It is important to define the extent of disease when planning treatment.
Software Development Productivity in Different Sourcing Arrangements

Technology entrepreneurship is critical for software development organizations to stay competitive. A good understanding about emerging technologies and processes and their suitability for software development helps organizations to manage and deliver successful projects. Software development management has to evaluate decisions about implementation of software process technologies such as generation of programming languages, software methodologies (waterfall, agile, rapid application development (RAD), joint application development (JAD) and prototyping, etc.), type of sourcing arrangement (offshore, outsource, onshore and in-house), type of projects (new and enhanced projects), etc. These decisions affect the project productivity to a large extent. This study attempts to analyze the software process technologies by testing their impact on the software development productivity in four software sourcing arrangements namely offshore, outsource, onshore, and in-house. 1819 software development projects from the International Software Benchmarking Standards Group (ISBSG) data repository are analyzed to find insightful facts about the technological and methodological factors that contribute to project productivity for each type of software sourcing phenomena. The analysis reveals that new development projects are best suited for onshore development. Waterfall development reduces productivity in case of in-house development but suitable for outsourced development. Results also show that RAD/JAD is a suitable development methodology in all types of software development sourcing. Surprisingly, agile development has a negative impact in in-house development. The study provides valuable insights for the software development organizations to make informed decisions about the software process technologies to be implemented in software development.
Retirement Plan Type and Employee Mobility: The Role of Selection

Relative to defined benefit (DB) plans, defined contribution (DC) plans have been linked to greater employee mobility. Because employees with different underlying mobility tendencies may sort across plans or firms, the relationship between plan type and mobility may be due to selection. We identify the role of selection by exploiting a natural experiment at an employer, in which the transition from a DB to a DC pension plan was affected by default rules. Using the default assignment as a source of exogenous variation in plan enrollment, we find that employees with higher mobility tendencies self-select into the DC plan.
Coordinating Communication in the Wild: The Artwalk Dialogue Corpus of Pedestrian Navigation and Mobile Referential Communication.

The Artwalk Corpus is a collection of 48 mobile phone conversations between 24 pairs of friends and 24 pairs of strangers performing a novel, naturalistically-situated referential communication task. This task produced dialogues which, on average, are just under 40 minutes. The task requires the identification of public art while walking around and navigating pedestrian routes in the downtown area of Santa Cruz, California. The task involves a Director on the UCSC campus with access to maps providing verbal instructions to a Follower executing the task. The task provides a setting for real-world situated dialogic language and is designed to: (1) elicit entrainment and coordination of referring expressions between the dialogue participants, (2) examine the effect of friendship on dialogue strategies, and (3) examine how the need to complete the task while negotiating myriad, unanticipated events in the real world ― such as avoiding cars and other pedestrians ― affects linguistic coordination and other dialogue behaviors. Previous work on entrainment and coordinating communication has primarily focused on similar tasks in laboratory settings where there are no interruptions and no need to navigate from one point to another in a complex space. The corpus provides a general resource for studies on how coordinated task-oriented dialogue changes when we move outside the laboratory and into the world. It can also be used for studies of entrainment in dialogue, and the form and style of pedestrian instruction dialogues, as well as the effect of friendship on dialogic behaviors.
Modeling Teleoperated Robot Driving Performance as a Function of Environment Difficulty

Abstract: Modeling mobile robot driving performance is a challenging task, but a simple, accurate model can be helpful in making robot system design decisions that balance cost and performance. Driving performance can depend on a variety of factors including human ability, capabilities of the physical robot, and characteristics of the robot's environment ( e.g. obstacles, terrain). This paper investigates teleoperated robot driving time for a task that includes obstacles in an environment. We hypothesize that a model analogous to Fitts’ Law can be used to describe robot performance (driving time) as a function of environment difficulty. A new definition of the difficulty index (ID) in Fitts' Law is proposed in this paper that describes an environment's difficulty based on the arrangement of obstacles. The model is tested with data from a human subject study we conducted, in which a simulated differential drive robot was teleoperated through different environments in a manual control mode and semi-autonomous mode (obstacle avoidance). We demonstrate that the model for driving time and our proposed environment difficulty index fit human subject data well for a simple driving task between one pair of obstacles. Additionally, the model is expanded to predict driving time in a more complex environment with multiple pairs of obstacles. The results of this paper provide a building block for predicting teleoperated driving time performance in larger, more complex environments.
Split-time artificial insemination in beef cattle: III. Comparing fixed-time artificial insemination to split-time artificial insemination with delayed administration of GnRH in postpartum cows.

This experiment was designed to compare pregnancy rates in postpartum beef cows following split-time (STAI) or fixed-time (FTAI) artificial insemination. Estrus was synchronized for 671 cows at seven locations following administration of the 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol (100 μg GnRH + CIDR insert [1.38 g progesterone] on d 0; 25 mg prostaglandin F2α [PG] at CIDR removal on d 7). Cows were assigned to treatments that were balanced across locations based on age, body condition score, and days postpartum at the time treatments were initiated. All cows in treatment 1 (n = 333; FTAI) were inseminated at 66 h after PG and GnRH was administered concurrent with insemination regardless of estrus expression. For cows in treatment 2 (n = 338; STAI), inseminations were performed at 66 or 90 h after PG, and estrous status was recorded at these times. Cows in the STAI treatment that exhibited estrus by 66 h were inseminated at that time and did not receive GnRH, whereas AI was delayed 24 h until 90 h after PG for cows that failed to exhibit estrus by 66 h. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (100 μg) was administered concurrent with AI at 90 h only to cows failing to exhibit estrus. Estrus expression that occurred during the 24 h delay period among cows assigned to the STAI treatment increased the total proportion of cows that expressed estrus prior to insemination (1 = 60%; 2 = 86%; P < 0.001). Pregnancy rates for cows inseminated at 66 h that exhibited estrus did not differ between treatments (1 = 58%; 2 = 58%; P = 0.93); however, pregnancy rates among non-estrous cows at 66 h were improved (1 = 35%; 2 = 51%; P = 0.01) among cows assigned to the STAI treatment when insemination was postponed by 24 h. Consequently, total AI pregnancy rate tended to be higher for cows that received STAI (1 = 49%; 2 = 56%; P = 0.06). In summary, following administration of the 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol, total estrous response increased and pregnancy rates resulting from AI tended to be higher among cows assigned to STAI versus FTAI treatments.
Structural and Mechanistic Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster Agmatine N-Acetyltransferase, an Enzyme that Catalyzes the Formation of N-Acetylagmatine.

Agmatine N-acetyltransferase (AgmNAT) catalyzes the formation of N-acetylagmatine from acetyl-CoA and agmatine. Herein, we provide evidence that Drosophila melanogaster AgmNAT (CG15766) catalyzes the formation of N-acetylagmatine using an ordered sequential mechanism; acetyl-CoA binds prior to agmatine to generate an AgmNAT•acetyl-CoA•agmatine ternary complex prior to catalysis. Additionally, we solved a crystal structure for the apo form of AgmNAT with an atomic resolution of 2.3 A, which points towards specific amino acids that may function in catalysis or active site formation. Using the crystal structure, primary sequence alignment, pH-activity profiles, and site-directed mutagenesis, we evaluated a series of active site amino acids in order to assign their functional roles in AgmNAT. More specifically, pH-activity profiles identified at least one catalytically important, ionizable group with an apparent pKa of ~7.5, which corresponds to the general base in catalysis, Glu-34. Moreover, these data led to a proposed chemical mechanism, which is consistent with the structure and our biochemical analysis of AgmNAT.
MnSod deficiency causes significant mitochondrial abnormalities and contractile dysfunction in skeletal muscle, but does not decrease muscle mass

Loss of innervation and consequent disruption of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in skeletal muscle results in mitochondrial dysfunction and increased ROS that are associated with muscle atrophy and weakness. To directly test the role of mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS in this series of events independent of loss of innervation, we generated a muscle specific knockout mice in which MnSOD, the primary superoxide anion scavenger in the mitochondrial matrix, was deleted using a Cre-Lox approach with Cre driven by a constitutively active human skeletal actin promoter (HSA-Cre). We measured mitochondrial ROS production and respiration using permeabilized fibers from red gastrocnemius muscle in wild type and MnSod deficient (mSod2 KO) mice at 6-10 months of age. In mSod2 KO mice, ROS generation was elevated by ~5 fold, and significant defects in mitochondrial respiration were observed-most pronounced in complex II-mediated respiration. Mitochondrial calcium retention capacity was also decreased by 70% in mSod2 KO mice. To determine the effect of reduced MnSOD and increased superoxide on muscle function, we measured in situ contractile function in gastrocnemius muscle. Maximum isometric specific force was decreased by ~30% in mutant mice with direct stimulation on muscle, but the reduction in force was greater (~50%) after stimulation of the sciatic nerve. Surprisingly, gastrocnemius mass was increased in mSod2 KO mice potentially due to compensatory mechanism by fiber branching. Our findings suggest that increased mitochondrial ROS generation and subsequent oxidative stress play an important role in regulating contractile function of skeletal muscle but did not cause muscle atrophy. This result supports the concept that mitochondrial ROS and dysfunction are not critical mediators of denervation-induced atrophy.
A rapid, sensitive and field-deployable isothermal assay for the detection of Verticillium alfalfae

The genus Verticillium contains 10 plant pathogenic species that are responsible for billions of dollars of crop losses annually on more than 400 plant species worldwide. On alfalfa, Verticillium alfalfae causes Verticillium wilt, a disease with the potential to reduce yields of susceptible cultivars by the second harvest year and to limit the productive stand life to less than 3 years. Susceptible alfalfa cultivars exhibit disease symptoms that include chlorotic V-shaped lesions at the leaf tip that cause entire leaflets to become bleached and twisted, leading to defoliation. Stems often remain green after all leaflets have desiccated, and discolouration, stunting and wilting of shoots is visible. Internally, the taproot can show yellow to brown vascular discolouration. International quarantines sometimes prohibit the entry of alfalfa samples contaminated with the Verticillium pathogen. In this investigation, we developed a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay coupled with a lateral f...
Implications of Screening for Brain Metastases in Patients With Breast Cancer and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

This study analyzes the value of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain for patients with cancers that frequently metastasize to the brain.
Pirates, Blackwater and Maritime Security: The Rise of Private Navies in Response to Modern Piracy

This essay examines the controversial rise of private security companies (PSCs) available for hire to maritime shipping companies in response to the troubling increase in piratical attacks over the past 15 years in dangerous shipping routes, such as the Gulf of Aden and the Straits of Malacca. This introduction briefly highlights current trends in modern piracy, the scope of piracy and its impact on the maritime shipping industry, and the consequential growth of the market for maritime private security as a potential solution to the problem. Section II identifies the major maritime PSCs that have begun providing services in the Straights of Malacca and off the Horn of Africa. Section III assesses the legal and practical concerns that critics have with the use of maritime PSCs. The legal issues of liability and jurisdiction are analyzed in Section IV. Finally, Section V concludes with the presentation of several possible solutions to the legal and practical issues that currently surround the use of PSCs to defend against piracy and several potential benefits of using PSCs. 2008 was a shocking year statistically. According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC), an independent arm of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), there were more hijacked vessels and hostages taken in 2008 than in any other year since the PRC began reporting on worldwide piracy statistics in 1992.
PSYCHOSES AND OTHER ADVERSE PSYCHIATRIC REACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MARIHUANA

Abstract There are three general categories of adverse reactions that have been associated with cannabis: acute adverse reactions, flashbacks, and prolonged reactions. While these disorders have been variously linked to the consumption of a biological agent (i.e., cannabis), there is persistent controversy over syndrome definition; the relative role of set, setting, and premorbid personality (versus the direct “toxic” effect of the drug) in the etiology of specific symptom clusters; as well as questions of cause and effect (versus mere association) especially in the relationship between marihuana use and some of the prolonged reactions. Two types of acute reactions have been described: toxic reactions and panic reactions. The format have been characterized by errors in judgement and confusion. There may also be an amnesic period following the period of gross intoxication. Toxic reactions appear to be dose related and are, therefore, thought to be less common in North America than in the Near and Far East. Panic reactions consist of overwhelming anxiety and a fear of loss of control in response to drug-induced symptoms. Factors related to set, setting, and/or personality which rriay lead the drug user to respond with severe anxiety to the pharmacological effects of the drug are responsible for acute panic reactions. Flashbacks secondary to marihuana use have been described, but their specific association with marihuana is controversial since some observers attribute flashbacks to the associated use of hallucinogen, In some marihuana users. Cannabis psychosis has been differentiated from schizophrenia in the Eastern literature, but the distinctions that have been drawn do not appear to be clear enough at this time to validate the existence of a specific syndrome (cannabis psychosis) with implications for North American patterns of use. Indeed, NIDA-supported studies in Greece and Jamaica failed to identify this disorder in users of cannabis. Finally, evidence is evaluated relative to the existence of nonpsychotic prolonged adverse reactions and a public health evaluation program is proposed to clarify the psychiatric risks of cannabis consumption.
Three Examples from English

In applying the analogical approach to actual language examples, we need to consider a number of questions on how to construct the data set. We must first select the variables that will specify the occurrences in the data set. We must also decide whether the data should be represented by token or by type.
Large Volume Operational Room Inerting

Developmental testing facilities using gases or cryogenic fluids which form explosive mixtures with air when a leak occurs have been designed to minimize the consequences of an explosion rather than to eliminate the cause. In general, this has been achieved by operating questionable hardware in the open or by surrounding it by light walls which can blow off with little damage.
Emotionally driven natural language generation for personality rich characters in interactive games

Natural Language Generation for personality rich characters represents one of the important directions for believable agents research. The typical approach to interactive NLG is to hand-author textual responses to different situations. In this paper we address NLG for interactive games. Specifically, we present a novel template-based system that provides two distinct advantages over existing systems. First, our system not only works for dialogue, but enables a character's personality and emotional state to influence the feel of the utterance. Second, our templates are resuable across characters, thus decreasing the burden on the game author. We briefly describe our system and present results of a preliminary evaluation study.
Risk Stratification Post Myocardial Infarction

Research concerning the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the past two decades has emphasized high risk patients. Efforts to identify patients who are at high risk for reinfarction and death have enabled the identification of low risk patients as defined below. The latter comprise between one-third and one-half of post-AMI patients. Since approximately 800,000 Americans survive an AMI each year, the distinction between low risk and high risk patients has important economic and public policy implications: low risk patients require less intensive and expensive diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic intervention and have a greater potential for functional recovery, including the capacity to return to work soon after the acute event.
Chapter 2 – Properties of the normal metallic state

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a background on normal conductors, which provides some perspective on the superconducting state. The material in the chapter constitutes a convenient source for important definitions and formulas. The chapter also explains the conduction electron transport, frequency-dependent electrical conductivity, and the brillouin zones for structures, fermi surface, and electromagnetic fields. The electron densities of several metals are a thousand times greater than the density of an ideal gas at standard temperature and pressure. A harmonically varying electric field periodically accelerates the conduction electrons in the forward and backward directions.
Metabolic syndrome and risk of breast cancer mortality by menopause, obesity, and subtype

To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and risk of breast cancer mortality by menopausal status, obesity, and subtype. Data from 94,555 women free of cancer at baseline in the National Institute of Health-American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study cohort (NIH-AARP) were used to investigate the prospective associations of baseline MetS and components with risk of breast cancer mortality using Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for baseline behavioral and demographic covariates. During a mean follow-up duration of 14 years, 607 women in the cohort died of breast cancer. Overall, MetS was associated with a 73% increased risk of breast cancer mortality (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.09–2.75); the association remained significant among post-menopausal women overall (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.32, 3.25), and among those with overweight/obesity (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.81, 1.64). MetS was associated with increased risk of breast cancer mortality for ER+/PR+ (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.52, 3.16) and lower risk for ER−/PR− (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.11, 1.75) subtypes; however, the associations were not statistically significant. Of the individual MetS components, high waist circumference (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.03, 1.70), high cholesterol (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.05, 1.46), and hypertension (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.05, 1.46) were independently associated with increased risk of breast cancer mortality. MetS was associated with increased risk of breast cancer mortality, especially among post-menopausal women. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to definitively determine the extent to which these associations vary by breast cancer subtype.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease in pregnancy.

SUMMARY Heartburn during pregnancy occurs in approximately two thirds of all pregnancies. The origin is multifactorial, but the predominant factor is a decrease in LES pressure resulting from female sex hormones, especially progesterone. Mechanical factors play a small role. Serious reflux complications during pregnancy are rare outside the obstetric setting. Therapy involves lifestyle modifications and nonsystemic medications as the initial choices. H2 blockers are probably safe in severe and refractory cases.
ADMX SLIC: Results from a Superconducting LC Circuit Investigating Cold Axions.

Axions are a promising cold dark matter candidate. Haloscopes, which use the conversion of axions to photons in the presence of a magnetic field to detect axions, are the basis of microwave cavity searches such as the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX). To search for lighter, low frequency axions in the sub- $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ (50 MHz) range, a tunable lumped-element LC circuit has been proposed. For the first time, through ADMX SLIC (Superconducting LC Circuit Investigating Cold Axions), a resonant LC circuit was used to probe this region of axion mass-coupling space. The detector used a superconducting LC circuit with piezoelectric driven capacitive tuning. The axion mass and corresponding frequency ranges $1.7498--1.7519\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ (42.31--42.36 MHz), $1.7734--1.7738\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ (42.88--42.89 MHz), and $1.8007--1.8015\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ (43.54--43.56 MHz) were covered at magnetic fields of 4.5 T, 5.0 T, and 7.0 T, respectively. Exclusion results from the search data, for coupling below ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{GeV}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, are presented.
Segmental timing control in speech production

Abstract: This paper presents a quasi-formal model describing the accuracy with which the durations of individual segments are controlled in speech production. The model assumes, in accordance with previous data, that when a speaker intends a fixed speech rate he actually speeds up and slows down by small but measurable amounts over a period of minutes. A little-known variance statistic, the half mean square successive difference, is employed to separate the component of variability due to these slow changes in rate away from variability due to errors in segmental duration control; the accuracy of the speaker’s segmental clock is then shown to be characterized by a constant of proportionality, termed “relative variance,” between segment variability and segment duration. The model is then tested, with fair success, against the measured durations of various segments in two sentences repeated many times by nine normal English speakers. Two possible models for the neural mechanism underlying the segmental clock are discussed, namely a “capacitor discharge” model and a “clock and counter” model, and possible differences between them are explored.
Learning to program

Three aspects of learning to program are described-the organization and compilation of problem-solving operators, the impact of knowledge representation, and the impact of working memory limitations. The GRAPES system simulates the organization and compilation of these operators. The simulation of one problem solving episode is discussed. Also discussed are the impact of different data notations and the impact of working memory load on successful application of LISP functions.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Community Physicians: What We've Learned.

INTRODUCTION The prevalence of childhood trauma, as measured by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study questionnaire, has been studied in a wide variety of community settings. However, little is known about physicians' familiarity with and use of the ACE questionnaire or the prevalence of childhood trauma in the physician community. OBJECTIVE To survey a convenience sample of community-based physicians and resident physicians to assess for familiarity with and use of the ACE questionnaire in clinical practice and to measure the prevalence of their own ACEs. METHODS An electronic survey was created and disseminated that included demographic questions, questions about physician awareness and use of the ACE questionnaire in clinical practice, and the 10-point ACE questionnaire. RESULTS Most physicians surveyed (81%) reported they had never heard of the ACE questionnaire. Even fewer (3%) reported using the questionnaire in clinical practice. Most physicians (55.5%) reported no personal history of ACEs. Physicians reporting a history of childhood trauma reported a wide range of ACE scores (1-9). Compared with men, women reported a statistically higher number of ACEs (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION In this sample of community physicians, familiarity with and clinical use of the ACE questionnaire was low. Most physicians surveyed reported no personal history of childhood trauma. Of physicians reporting a history of childhood trauma, women were disproportionately affected. Physicians in this study reported a lower prevalence of ACEs than the population they serve. Physicians must become better educated and actively address the effects of ACEs on their patients and on themselves.
Expression and T cell Regulatory Action of the PD-1 Immune Checkpoint in the Ovary and Fallopian Tube

The Programmed Cell Death Protein-1 (PD-1/PDCD-1/CD279) checkpoint has powerful immunomodulatory action, including in the context of cancer. PD-1 receptor activation by its ligands (PD-L1/2) is associated with downregulated immune response, and tumor cells can avoid surveillance via PD-1 and/or ligand expression. While receptor expression is largely limited to lymphoid, myeloid, and tumor cells, we show that membrane bound and soluble variants of PD-1 and ligands are also expressed by permanent constituent cell types of the human ovary and fallopian tube, including granulosa cells and oocytes. PD-1 and soluble ligands were highly enriched in exosome fractions in human follicular fluid at bioactive levels that can control T cell PD-1 activation. PD-1 checkpoint signaling may be involved in physiological ovarian functions including follicle, and ultimately, germline and embryo immune-privilege.
Clavicle nonunion: plate and graft type do not affect healing rates-a single surgeon experience with 71 cases.

Background Clavicle nonunions often result after nonoperative treatment for the acute fracture. Those that require >1 surgical procedure in order for a nonunion to heal are termed recalcitrant. The aims of the present study were to (1) determine healing rates of clavicle nonunions after plate osteosynthesis using either a conventional or locked plate, (2) compare iliac crest bone graft vs. bone morphogenetic protein on nonunion healing, and (3) identify risk factors for the development of a recalcitrant nonunion. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of 78 clavicle nonunions treated with open reduction and plate fixation with or without graft augmentation by a single surgeon over 25 years. Seventy-one patients over the age of 18 with at least 12 months of follow-up comprised the study group. We analyzed healing rates after the index clavicle nonunion surgery comparing plate type and graft technique as well as identifying risk factors for developing a recalcitrant nonunion. Results A total of 62 patients (87.3%) healed after their index nonunion surgery at our institution. Three patients (4.2%) required additional surgery but healed, and 6 patients (8.5%) remain un-united; these 9 patients (12.7%) were defined as recalcitrant. There was no statistically significant difference in healing rates between plate type (P = .633) or type of bone graft (P = .157). There were no identifiable risk factors for the development of a recalcitrant nonunion. Conclusions Plate fixation of clavicle nonunions remains a successful method of treatment. The type of plate or the method of bone graft did not produce different results. There were no demographic, patient, or injury characteristics associated with the development of a recalcitrant nonunion.