cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A battery health monitoring framework for planetary rovers

Batteries have seen an increased use in electric ground and air vehicles for commercial, military, and space applications as the primary energy source. An important aspect of using batteries in such contexts is battery health monitoring. Batteries must be carefully monitored such that the battery health can be determined, and end of discharge and end of usable life events may be accurately predicted. For planetary rovers, battery health estimation and prediction is critical to mission planning and decision-making. We develop a model-based approach utilizing computaitonally efficient and accurate electrochemistry models of batteries. An unscented Kalman filter yields state estimates, which are then used to predict the future behavior of the batteries and, specifically, end of discharge. The prediction algorithm accounts for possible future power demands on the rover batteries in order to provide meaningful results and an accurate representation of prediction uncertainty. The framework is demonstrated on a set of lithium-ion batteries powering a rover at NASA Ames Research Center using real experimental field test data.
Repeated exposure to cocaine produces long-lasting deficits in the serotonergic stimulation of prolactin and renin, but not adrenocorticotropin secretion.

Abstract To determine whether cocaine-induced deficits in serotonergic function are long-lasting, the neuroendocrine responses to the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) releaser, p-chloroamphetamine were evaluated 1–8 weeks subsequent to 7 days of cocaine exposure (15 mg/kg b.i.d.). In cocaine-pretreated rats, the p-chloroamphetamine-induced elevations of prolactin and renin secretion were significantly reduced for 8 and 4 weeks, respectively. In contrast, the p-chloroamphetamine-induced elevation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion was at control values 1 week after cocaine exposure. The data suggest that some cocaine-induced deficits in serotonergic function are long-lasting.
‘It’s just what I like’: explaining persistent patterns of gender stratification in the life choices of college students

College students often use the rhetoric of individualism to explain their choice of major. Ethnographic interviews of male and female students reveal that students’ choices are gendered. Men’s decisions focus more on future earning potential and less on personal interest. Most women believe they can choose their major without concern for future income‐earning potential, because they plan to assume a traditional, feminine role of a non‐working wife and mother with a gainfully employed spouse.
The Power of Peers Influences on Postsecondary Education Planning and Experiences of African American Students

This investigation demonstrates the effect that peers have on students’ academic engagement and educational aspirations. Forty-nine African American university students retrospectively discuss the ...
5α-cholestan-3β-ol: High concentration in testis of white carneau pigeon

5α-Cholestan-3β-ol (cholestanol) was isolated from the testes of White Carneau pigeons in the highest concentration thus far reported in any animal tissue. It contributed 26% to 28% of the total sterols (384±29.4 μg cholestanol per gram of wet tissue) in testis, and about 27% of it was esterified. The identity of this stanol was confirmed by AgNO3 thin layer chromatography, gas liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Ovaries, liver, plasma and other tissues of this pigeon contained this stanol only to the extent of 2% to 10% of total sterols.
Clean is Beautiful: Identification and Preference as a Function of Race and Cleanliness

The classic studies of doll preference conducted by Clark and Clark have stimulated more than 25 years of research investigating self-acceptance and self-rejection in black children. These studies, however, have failed to consider the importance of nonracial factors as determinants of preference. In an investigation of the importance of cleanliness as well as race as a determinant of preference, 60 white and 56 black children of both sexes in grades 2, 3, and 4 of a nonsegregated New York City public school indicated their relative preferences for four photographs varying in cleanliness and race. Results indicate that cleanliness is a more potent determinant of preferences than is the race of the stimulus person.
Resolution, purification and characterization of rabbit serum atropinesterase and cocainesterase

Abstract Atropinesterase and cocainesterase from commercially available, pooled rabbit serum have been resolved using conventional methods of enzyme purification. Using a sequence of ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and QAE-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography, atropinesterase was purified 750-fold and cocainesterase was purified 220-fold. The two enzymes have been characterized with respect to pH optima. Michaelis constants and substrate specificities. Both hyoscyamine and scopolamine appear to function as substrates for atropinesterase; pH optima and K m determinations arc reported for both substrates. Both cocaine and tropacocaine appear to function as substrates for cocainesterase: pH optima and K m determinations are reported for both substrates with this enzyme.
Some general equations for reverse osmosis process design

Abstract : A generalized approach to reverse osmosis process design is presented for solution-membrane-operating systems characterized by the dimensionless parameters gamma, delta, and lamba defined in terms of the pure water permeability constant A, solute transport parameter, mass transfer coefficient k on the high pressure side of the membrane, and the properties of the solution. Analytical expressions are derived, in terms of dimensionless quantities, for the change of volume of solution, concentration of the bulk solution and that of the concentrated boundary solution on the high pressure side of the membrane, the change in the permeating velocity of solvent water through the membrane, solute separation, and the other related quantities, at any instance, as a function of concentration of the product solution on the atmospheric pressure side of the membrane, or time from the start of the operation for reverse osmosis systems specified by gamma, delta, and lamda. The equations are developed first for the case of batch-by-batch operation, and their applicability to the flow case is then indicated. (Author)
Computational Aspects of the Random Choice Method for Shallow Water Equations

Abstract A numerical solution of the Shallow Water Equations is presented. The construction of the solution is based on the Random Choice Method consisting in the solution of Riemann problems and sampling techniques. As an illustration the method is applied to the problem of the breaking of a dam. The main advantages of the method described lie in its ability to simulate discontinuities and in its lack of numerical dissipation.
Photodegradation of melanin by an interferometric technique

Photodegradation of melanin thin films is investigated for a UVA wavelength of 355 nm and a UVC wavelength of 244 nm. The technique involves interferometric exposure of melanin with two coherent beams from a low-power UV laser. The periodic photodegradation-grating pattern is monitored by diffraction of a second low-power He–Ne laser. Dependence of the photodegradation rate on UV intensity as well as the effect of ambient humidity is investigated and explained with a simple model. The technique has promise for investigating photo-induced effects in other biomolecular substrates as well.
Thermionic emission from surface-terminated nanocrystalline diamond

Abstract Thermionic electron emission forms the basis of both electron sources for a variety of applications and a direct energy conversion process that is compact and scalable. The present study characterizes thermionic emission from boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond films with hydrogen and nitrophenyl surface termination layers. A hemispherical energy analyzer was used to measure electron energy distributions from the emitters at elevated temperatures. Thermionic emission energy distributions, acquired at temperatures ranging from 700 to 1100 °C, reveal that emission occurs from regions of differing work functions. The relative peak intensities, representing each work function, change with temperature indicating instability in the emitter's surface chemistry. Corresponding partial pressure measurements of pertinent gases present in the chamber during the experiment were collected by a residual gas analyzer and support the hypothesis of unstable surface chemistry. The lowest work functions measured for the hydrogen- and nitrophenyl-terminated films were 3.95 and 3.88 eV, respectively. After the initial heating cycle, the hydrogen-terminated sample's surface was regenerated by exposure to hydrogen plasma. The lower work function was restored by this process, and the resulting thermionic electron energy distributions again were indicative of surface desorption.
Relationship of Perinatal PCB Exposure to Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: Reply to Appraisal.

D.V. Cicchetti, A.S. Kaufman, and S.S. Sparrow (this issue) examine various technical issues related to six studies of perinatal PCB exposure and neurodevelopment and one study of adult PCB exposure and motor function. They raise questions about possible imperfections of the studies, but many of their assertions are unsupported or frankly incorrect, and they do little to assess the potential impact of the issues that they raise; we find none of their arguments about flaws in our study compelling. Their stated purpose is to scientifically evaluate the body of literature, but their narrow focus does not allow a genuine evaluation of the scientific evidence. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 687–691, 2004.
Air Flow and Particle Trajectories around Aircraft Fuselages. Part III: Extensions to Particles of Arbitrary Shape

Abstract Earlier work that produced generalized rules for obtaining trajectories of water droplets moving around aircraft fuselages has been extended to cover the case for particles of arbitrary shape. The parameters determining the major features of the trajectories are the fuselage radius and a generalized Stokes number that can be used to calculate an equivalent water drop size for particles of arbitrary shape and density. As for water drops, the maximum width of the shadow zone for sampling the particles is about one-fifth of the fuselage radius, and it occurs for those in columns and plates of typical densities whose major dimensions are about 600 μm and 2 mm, respectively.
Cutter path simulation and product visualization using AutoCAD

In this paper, a software tool for NC (numerical control) cutter path simulation and product visualization, 3D-Sim, is presented. 3D-Sim utilizes a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) software tool, AutoCAD, to perform virtual NC verification. An NC program is interpreted and transformed into an AutoLISP program, which once loaded in AutoCAD allows the user to visualize the virtual machining operations and obtain a 3D solid model of the final part. Incorporating NC verification capability into CAD software tools not only reduces software cost but also shortens user training time. The resulting 3D solid model allows the user to visualize the final product as well as perform more detailed analysis such as measuring the dimensions. 3D-Sim has been used in the senior/graduate level computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) course and was well-received by the student. This work is part of a long-term research effort to establish an integrated manufacturing environment where students can receive rigorous training and gain hands-on experience in collaborative manufacturing through the use of integrated computerized systems. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 8: 113–126, 2000
Gravitational Redshift and Deflection of Slow Light

We explore the nature of the classical propagation of light through media with strong frequency-dependent dispersion in the presence of a gravitational field. In the weak field limit, gravity causes a redshift of the optical frequency, which the slow-light medium converts into a spatially varying index of refraction. This results in the bending of a light ray in the medium. We further propose experimental techniques to amplify and detect the phenomenon using weak value measurements. Independent heuristic and rigorous derivations of this effect are given.
Pediatric advanced life support re-training by videoconferencing compared to face-to-face instruction: A planned non-inferiority trial

Summary Study Aim Videoconferencing technology may be useful for providing Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) re-training to geographically isolated providers. Yet, it is unclear whether learning outcomes will be similar to those obtained with traditional, face-to-face instruction. This study assess whether PALS re-training provided via live, interactive videoconferencing was as effective as the same instruction provided in a face-to-face format on PALS knowledge, psychomotor skills, and confidence in performing resuscitation skills. Methods A planned non-inferiority trial was used to test the hypothesis that outcomes of participants receiving instruction via videoconferencing would not be inferior to outcomes of participants receiving instruction in the traditional format at the conclusion of the course. In addition, knowledge and performance were reassessed at 1 year. A two-armed prospective design with participants randomly assigned to either a videoconferencing arm or a traditional arm was conducted. Non-inferiority was assessed through hypothesis testing and comparison of group differences to a non-inferiority margin. Results No significant differences were detected among delivery methods for knowledge, psychomotor skill performance, or confidence at the conclusion of the course (all P 's>0.10). Both groups showed a decline in knowledge and skill at 1 year; however, delivery methods did not differ (all P 's>0.10). Differences among instruction methods did not exceed the non-inferiority margin at the end of the course or at 1 year. Conclusions For outcomes assessed following instruction and at 1 year, videoconferencing was not inferior to face-to-face delivery. These findings hold promise for use of videoconferencing to deliver PALS re-training to geographically isolated providers.
Abstract 2501: Rapamycin inhibits epidermal cell proliferation in a xenograft model of tuberous sclerosis skin tumors

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) develop hamartomatous tumors of the skin that have increased dermal fibroblast-like cells and a thickened epidermis. Our previous studies indicate that dermal cells are neoplastic, showing loss of TSC1/TSC2 function and activation of signaling through the mTORC1 pathway, and that overlying epidermal keratinocytes are reactive. The goals of this study were to determine whether TSC skin tumor cells induce epidermal changes and to assess the potential utility and mechanism of action of rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor. TSC2-null skin tumor cells or fibroblasts from patient normal-appearing skin were incorporated into collagen gels overlaid with normal human neonatal keratinocytes, and these constructs were grafted to the backs of nude mice. Mice grafted with TSC tumor cells (n=27) or TSC normal fibroblasts (n=23) received rapamycin (2 mg/kg) (n=24) or an equal volume of vehicle (n=26) by intraperitoneal injection on alternate days for 12 weeks beginning 5 weeks after grafting. Mice were sacrificed 24 hours after the last injection for analysis of the grafts by immunohistochemistry. Grafts containing TSC tumor cells showed greater activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway than grafts with normal fibroblasts, as shown by greater numbers of dermal cells staining for phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (p-S6). Xenografted epidermis overlying TSC tumor cells also showed stronger p-S6 staining than epidermis overlying TSC fibroblasts, replicating what we had observed in TSC skin tumors. Rapamycin treatment of tumor xenografts dramatically inhibited p-S6 staining in both epidermal and dermal cells. Tumor xenografts showed greater epidermal cell proliferation (as determined by staining with anti-Ki-67 specific antibody) than normal xenografts (p=0.009). Rapamycin treatment decreased the number of Ki-67 positive epidermal cells in grafts containing TSC tumor cells (p=0.046) but not in grafts with TSC normal fibroblasts. These results indicate that TSC tumor cells stimulate mTORC1 signaling and proliferation of overlying epidermal cells, and suggest that one of rapamycin effects on TSC skin tumors is through decreasing epidermal cell proliferation. This work was supported by an Idea Development Award (TS080064) from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program to Dr. Darling. Dr. Moss was supported by the Intramural Research Program, NIH, NHLBI. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2501.
A contact mechanism based theory of Maxwell matrix composites

Abstract Using the binder-contact laws in deriving the stress–strain relations for a composite with elastic particles/inclusions/fibers and a Maxwell type of viscoelastic matrix/binder is presented in this article. This derivation is physically based and it establishes a functional correlation of how the viscosity at the binder/matrix level is blended into that at the composite level. The derived viscoelastic stress–strain equations are multiaxial, and their equivalent models are analyzed for three scenarios. A confined creep simulation is also given with its predications being compared with the experimental results.
Steady flow generation in microcirculatory systems

In this paper we explore the mechanical generation of steady—non pulsatile—flow in microfluidic systems. The rationale of the paper is inspired in the example of cardiovascular systems where at the microscale (i.e. capillaries) the flow is steady rather than pulsatile to optimize performance. We present a solution to the generation of steady flow in engineered microfluidic systems either in open or closed loop configurations via the use of disc pumps. The disc pump consists of a flat rotating disc and utilizes both viscous drag and centrifugal force to achieve pumping. Experiments using single loop and double loop microfluidic systems are presented to characterize the disc pump. Continuous flow generated by the disc pumps can be used to separate particles based on size using recirculating loops and for extraction of small particles without disturbing the concentration of bigger particles. The potential impact of this technology includes sample separation and extraction techniques into portable microfluidic labs-on-a-chip, and long term culture systems for cells in suspension.
Adapting and implementing a long-term nutrition and physical activity curriculum to a rural, low-income, biethnic community.

Abstract This study adapted an urban-based school nutrition program for delivery in a rural community. Specific aims were to adapt the curriculum; expand it to include physical activity; determine effectiveness on students’ attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy; and assess teachers’ impressions. Three cohorts were established: 173 students taught by a resource teacher, 170 students taught by classroom teachers, and 187 students who did not receive the curriculum. Pre- and posttest surveys measured outcomes, and classroom teachers were observed and interviewed. The curriculum was shown to be effective in enhancing student outcomes for both the resource teacher and classroom teacher cohorts. Teachers reported that lessons needed to be simplified and that children enjoyed them. Findings support the transferability of an urban-based nutrition curriculum to a rural community and the need for students to receive health education annually.
Effect of acceptance or rejection on the author's evaluation of peer review of medical manuscripts.

To determine whether authors of rejected manuscripts would evaluate the editorial review process less favorably than would authors of manuscripts accepted for publication, a questionnaire was sent to solicit evaluations of the quality of the reviews that had led to the rejection or acceptance of manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Pediatrics . Similar evaluations of the editor's letter were also sought. Authors were more likely to respond to the questionnaire if their manuscripts had been accepted and were more likely to complete the questionnaire thoroughly. Authors of accepted manuscripts evaluated the editor's communication more favorably than did the authors of manuscripts not accepted for publication, but the evaluations of the reviews were not significantly different. Most authors utilized the reviews to modify their manuscripts before submitting them to another journal. ( JAMA . 1990;263:1376-1378)
Magnetic moments as a probe for rotational alignment

Abstract The g -factors of the yrast levels in even-even rare earth and actinide nuclei are interpreted in terms of collective and aligned quasiparticle angular momentum extracted from the experimental spectra. A new decomposition of the total angular momentum into collective and quasiparticle parts is suggested and applied to the calculation of g -factors. The systematic analysis of low-spin levels shows a modulation of the moment of inertia, its derivative with respect to the angular frequency and of the g -factors by the position of the high-spin intruder levels. Our cranking calculations of levels and g -factors in 232 Th and 238 U reveal certain difficulties of the standard pairing description for considered examples.
Removal of Iron From Aluminum: A Review

In this paper, the Fe-rich phases in and their detrimental effect on aluminum alloys are summarized. The existence of brittle platelet β-Fe-rich phases lowers the mechanical properties of aluminum ...
Green Light Drives CO2 Fixation Deep within Leaves

l4 CO2-fixation in spinach occurs in the middle of the palisade mesophyll [Nishio et al. (1993) Plant Cell 5: 953], however, ninety percent of the blue and red light is attenuated in the upper twenty percent of a spinach leaf [Cui et al. (1991) Plant Cell Environ. 14: 493]. In this report, we showed that green light drives 14 C02-fixation deep within spinach leaves compared to red and blue light. Blue light caused fixation mainly in the palisade mesophyll of the leaf, whereas red light drove fixation slightly deeper into the leaf than did blue light. I4 C02-fixation measured under green light resulted in less fixation in the upper epidermal layer (guard cells) and upper most palisade mesophyll compared to red and blue light, but led to more fixation deeper in the leaf than that caused by either red or blue light. Saturating white, red, or green light resulted in similar maximal 14 CO2-fixation rates, whereas under the highest irradiance of blue light given, carbon fixation was not saturated, but it asymptotically approached the maximal 14 CO2-fixation rates attained under the other types of light. The importance of green light in photosynthesis is discussed.
Lack of heritability in ovarian germ cell malignancies

Objective : Our purpose was to determine whether relatives of patients with ovarian germ cell malignancies not associated with sex chromosome abnormalities are at increased risk for similar tumors. Study Design : We reviewed pedigrees of 78 presumptive 46,XX patients (ages ranging from newborn to 20 years) with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors, excluding cases of dysgerminoma and gonadoblastoma. A three-generation family history of each proband was reviewed specifically to identify cancer in any family member. Results : Seventy-eight mothers, 87 sisters, 135 aunts, and 156 grandmothers were surveyed. None had a malignant ovarian germ cell neoplasm or other malignant ovarian neoplasm. Conclusion : First- and second-degree relatives of probards with ovarian germ cell malignancies do not have an increased risk for similar tumors. These findings were not predicted because of the well-recognized association of hereditary tumors and early age of onset.
Infiltrative cardiomyopathy and pericardial disease

Infiltrative cardiomyopathies and pericardial involvement frequently complicate the course of malignancy and usually portend a poor outcome. The initial presentation is usually non-specific, and timely diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion on the part of both the oncologist and the consulting cardiologist. The goal of this review was to illustrate three potential infiltrative conditions of the myocardium with associated cardiomyopathies that are encountered in cancer patients: cardiac amyloid, iron overload, and lymphomatous infiltration. We also review the common manifestations of pericardial disease in cancer patients and outline optimal management.
Air-pollutant chemicals and oxidized lipids exhibit genome-wide synergistic effects on endothelial cells

Background Ambient air pollution is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We have found that exposure to ambient ultrafine particulate matter, highly enriched in redox cycling organic chemicals, promotes atherosclerosis in mice. We hypothesize that these pro-oxidative chemicals could synergize with oxidized lipid components generated in low-density lipoprotein particles to enhance vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.
Rash severity in herpes zoster: Correlates and relationship to postherpetic neuralgia

Baseline and follow-up data from 4 samples of immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster who participated in clinical trials of the antiviral agent famciclovir were examined (N = 1778). In both univariate and multivariate analyses, severe rash (ie, >50 lesions, defined as papules, vesicles, or crusted vesicles) was significantly associated with older age, male sex, severe pain, primary involvement of nontrigeminal dermatomes, and a greater number of affected dermatomes. In addition, severe rash predicted the presence of pain 3 months later. The results indicate that severe rash is more common in patients with herpes zoster who are older and who have more severe acute pain and confirm that severe rash is a risk factor for prolonged pain.
WR-1065, the Active Metabolite of Amifostine (Ethyol®), does not Inhibit the Cytotoxic Effects of a Broad Range of Standard Anticancer Drugs Against Human Ovarian and Breast Cancer Cells

Amifostine (WR-2721, Ethyol®), a phosphorylated thiol, demonstrates the unique ability to protect normal but not tumour tissue from cytotoxic damage induced by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. This study tested the effect of amifostine's active metabolite, the free thiol, WR-1065, on the cytotoxicity of standard anticancer drugs against human A2780 ovarian and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines in vitro , using the well-characterised sulphorhodamine B assay. 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values were determined for each of 16 different anticancer drugs in the presence and absence of the highest nontoxic dose of WR-1065 from concentration-response curves constructed in triplicate and based on 18 replicate cell culture plates for each tested drug concentration. Pretreatment with WR-1065 had no statistically significant effect on the IC 50 value of any of the 16 drugs tested against either the A2780 or MCF7 human tumour cells. These data expand upon previous reports showing that amifostine does not protect tumours from the cytotoxic effects of anticancer agents. The ability of amifostine to protect against dose-limiting toxicity to a variety of normal tissues without protection of tumour should enhance the efficacy ratio of a wide range of standard anticancer drugs.
PREFERRED TEMPO IN PERFORMANCE OF REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS

Within- and between-S variability in performance of repetitive movements at a self-paced tempo was studied. Male and female Ss (Ns = 75) performed 36 consecutive arm swings at an individually chosen tempo. Differences between Ss' selected tempos of performance were considerably greater than the amount of variation in Ss' motor response times, indicating that individuals have preferred tempos of voluntary movement which differ from those of other individuals. No sex differences were evidenced in either preferred tempo or consistency of performance.
A comparison of the meaning and uses of models in mathematics and the empirical sciences

In the fields of spectroscopy and atomic structure, similar departures from classical physics took place. There had been accumulated an overwhelming mass of evidence showing the atom to consist of a heavy, positively charged nucleus surrounded by negative, particle-like electrons. According to Coulomb’s law of attraction between electric charges, such a system will collapse at once unless the electrons revolve about the nucleus. But a revolving charge will, by virtue of its acceleration, emit radiation. A mechanism for the emission of light is thereby at once provided.
How fast is fast? Eco-evolutionary dynamics and rates of change in populations and phenotypes.

It is increasingly recognized that evolution may occur in ecological time. It is not clear, however, how fast evolution – or phenotypic change more generally – may be in comparison with the associated ecology, or whether systems with fast ecological dynamics generally have relatively fast rates of phenotypic change. We developed a new dataset on standardized rates of change in population size and phenotypic traits for a wide range of species and taxonomic groups. We show that rates of change in phenotypes are generally no more than 2/3, and on average about 1/4, the concurrent rates of change in population size. There was no relationship between rates of population change and rates of phenotypic change across systems. We also found that the variance of both phenotypic and ecological rates increased with the mean across studies following a power law with an exponent of two, while temporal variation in phenotypic rates was lower than in ecological rates. Our results are consistent with the view that ecology and evolution may occur at similar time scales, but clarify that only rarely do populations change as fast in traits as they do in abundance.
Fast computation of optimal polygonal approximations of digital planar closed curves

A novel method to solve the min-# polygonal approximation problem is proposed.The approach uses a modified Mixed Integer Programming model to solve the min-# problem.The proposed model is smaller than previous proposals.The novel procedure obtains the optimal solution faster than state-of-the-art methods.Only one execution of our procedure is needed to assure the optimality of the solution. Display Omitted We face the problem of obtaining the optimal polygonal approximation of a digital planar curve. Given an ordered set of points on the Euclidean plane, an efficient method to obtain a polygonal approximation with the minimum number of segments, such that, the distortion error does not excess a threshold, is proposed. We present a novel algorithm to determine the optimal solution for the min-# polygonal approximation problem using the sum of square deviations criterion on closed curves.Our proposal, which is based on Mixed Integer Programming, has been tested using a set of contours of real images, obtaining significant differences in the computation time needed in comparison to the state-of-the-art methods.
Volatility and spatial distribution of resources determine ant foraging strategies

Social insect colonies have evolved collective foraging strategies that consist of many autonomous individuals operating without centralized control. The ant colony optimization (ACO) family of algorithms mimics this behavior to approximate solutions to computationally difficult problems. ACO algorithms focus on pheromone recruitment, which is only one of several known biological foraging strategies. Here, we use a spatial agent-based model to simulate three foraging strategies: pheromone recruitment, nest recruitment, and random search. We compare their performance across two environmental dimensions: spatial distribution of food resources and resource volatility. We find that pheromone recruitment performs only marginally better than the simpler nest recruitment strategy in most environments. Further, both strategies become progressively less efficient as resource dispersion and volatility increase. In the extreme, with highly dispersed or volatile resources, the simplest strategy of all, random search, outperforms the other two. Our results suggest that in many environments, pheromone-based strategies may not be required and that simpler methods like random search or nest recruitment may be sufficient, both for biological ants and computational methods.
A Comparative Analysis of Conservation Awareness among New York and Massachusetts Woodland Owners

The Conservation Awareness Index (CAI) is a survey instrument used to assess how prepared family forest landowners are to make informed decisions about their land. First developed in Massachusetts, we report results of its application in New York. Administered to 496 randomly selected New York family forest landowners and 158 benchmark landowners who had received conservation training, results confirmed instrument validity and exposed low levels of awareness about conservation options among forest landowners in the study, especially concerning New York’s current-use tax program and conservation easements. Education level, ownership acreage, and location were associated with higher levels of conservation awareness. A comparative analysis between New York and Massachusetts forest landowners revealed significantly higher levels of conservation awareness for the New England state’s landowners. The CAI can be used to improve outreach efforts by targeting education toward the conservation options for which landowners have low levels of awareness. A high level of conservation awareness is the foundation for informed forest stewardship decisions.
Surface modification of food processing and handling gloves for enhanced food safety and hygiene

Abstract Gloves made of materials such as latex, nitrile, and polyethylene are the most common types of protective equipment used to prevent cross-contamination and transmission of pathogenic bacteria in the food industry. In this study, we report a surface modification approach involving “fluorinated silica nanoparticles” (FSNs) to improve the protective ability against bacterial contamination of disposable glove surfaces. The bacterial antiadhesive (antifouling) properties of the modified gloves were evaluated with Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 and Staphylococcus aureus at bacterial concentrations of 8.6–9.0 log CFU/mL through the dip-inoculation approach. Bacterial attachment to glove surfaces were enumerated by the pour plating method as well as direct counting via scanning electron microscopy. The bacterial populations of S. Typhimurium LT2 and S. aureus on FSN-coated latex, nitrile and polyethylene gloves was reduced by 1–2 log units in comparison to bare gloves, which already reduce the bacterial attachment to some extent.
P03.04 The impact of universal chlamydia trachomatis (ct) screening during pregnancy on seroepidemiology of chlamydial infection in american children, 1991–2013

Introduction CT remains the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in developed and developing countries. Prenatal screening and treatment of pregnant women has resulted in a dramatic decrease of perinatal CT l infection (conjunctivitis, pneumonia) in the US. Before the implementation of screening, ~50% of infants born to mothers with CT infection developed chlamydial conjunctivitis and/or pneumonia. However, there have been no studies of the incidence of perinatal CT infection, including seroepidemiologic studies, following the implementation of screening and treatment as recommended by the CDC in 1993. Methods Anonymized banked serum and prospectively collected samples from children in Brooklyn, NY, were tested for CT IgG using the MIF assay. Serum samples were divided into 2 groups: 1: collected from 1991–1995, 2: from 2001–2013. Pts with C. pneumoniae (CP) infection (culture and/or antibody) were excluded. Results 491 serum samples were identified (age range 0–20), 71 samples were excluded due to evidence of CP infection. 34% of subjects 10 y had a prevalence of 32% in group 1 and 3.48% in group 2, p Conclusion Children
Information at Play: The Role of Information Behaviour and Meaning-Making

This paper relates to the conference in the area of user studies. It examines the similarities of information behaviour and meaning making in 4 studies of adult play environments. It will also make a case for the importance of studying information behaviour and meaning-making in play environments. One of these studies is now complete, the other three are ongoing, though two of these are nearly complete. Cette communication porte sur l'etude des utilisateurs et examine les similitudes entre le comportement informationnel et la formulation de sens dans quatre etudes sur les environnements de jeu pour adultes. Elle justifie par ailleurs l'importance d'etudier les comportements informationnels et la formulation de sens en environnement de jeu. Une de ces etudes est deja completee, les autres sont toujours en cours dont deux qui sont quasi terminees.
The British position on EU pension policies

What are British interests in a single pension market, and how does the domestic social policy discourse correspond to the EU's effort to develop common pension policies? This chapter will argue that, contrary to conventional works that depict Britain as the European Union's “awkward partner” (George, 1990), Britain was quite enthusiastic about EU pension policies and frequently pushed for their adoption. While Germany had to send credible signals in order to get its preferences heard at the EU level, the maturity of the British occupational pension sector made it easy for Britain to call the shots on formulating EU pension policy. This is because both goal (pension portability) and instrument (liberalization of investment rules) of EU pension policies fit well with the existing British welfare finance nexus. On the other hand, the British pension policy discourse is characterized by bitter disputes between the financial industry demanding a liberal pension regulator and consumer advocates requesting more efficient protection against corporate pension losses. Thus, in contrast to Germany, what needs to be explained in the British case is not the mechanisms that make signaling credible, but how the push-and-pull dynamics of British enthusiasm over pension market integration on the one hand and the inadequate representation of domestic consumer demands for a stringent pension regulator on the other fed into legislative outcomes at the EU level.
Human Capital in the Classroom: The Role of Teacher Knowledge in Economic Literacy

Renewed emphasis on increasing student academic achievement highlights the importance of improving educational quality despite limited educational budgets. This paper illustrates that investing in ...
Compensatory Activation of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor Inhibition of GABA Release in the Rostral Ventromedial Medulla in Inflammatory Pain.

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a relay in the descending pain modulatory system and an important site of endocannabinoid modulation of pain. Endocannabinoids inhibit GABA release in the RVM but it is not known if this effect persists in chronic pain states. In the present studies, persistent inflammation induced by complete Freund9s adjuvant (CFA) increased GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs). Endocannabinoid activation of cannabinoid (CB1) receptors known to inhibit presynaptic GABA release was significantly reduced in the RVM of CFA-treated rats compared to naive rats. The reduction in CFA-treated rats correlated with decreased CB1 receptor protein expression and function in the RVM. Paradoxically, the non-selective CB1/CB2 receptor agonist WIN55,212 inhibited GABAergic mIPSCs in both naive and CFA-treated rats. However, WIN55,212 inhibition was reversed by the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant in naive rats but not in CFA-treated rats. WIN55,212-mediated inhibition in CFA-treated rats was blocked by the CB2 receptor-selective antagonist SR144528 indicating that CB2 receptor function in the RVM is increased during persistent inflammation. Consistent with these results, CB2 receptor agonists, AM1241 and GW405833 inhibited GABAergic mIPSC frequency only in CFA-treated rats and the inhibition was reversed with SR144258. When administered alone, SR144528 and another CB2 receptor-selective antagonist AM630 increased mIPSC frequency in the RVM of CFA-treated rats indicating that CB2 receptors are tonically activated by endocannabinoids. Our data provide evidence that CB2 receptor function emerges in the RVM in persistent inflammation and that selective CB2 receptor agonists may be useful for treatment of persistent inflammatory pain. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT These studies demonstrate that endocannabinoid signaling to CB1- and CB2-receptors in adult RVM is altered in persistent inflammation. The emergence of CB2 receptor function in the RVM provides additional rationale for the development of CB2 receptor-selective agonists as useful therapeutics for chronic inflammatory pain.
Benign Anal Disease: Who Are the Right Candidates for Sacral Nerve Stimulation?

Fecal incontinence (FI) is defined as the involuntary passage of stool or flatus over at least 1 month’s duration [1, 2]. It is a physically and socially debilitating condition that affects between 1 and 15 % of adult patients [3–5]. The disease can dramatically limit an individual’s activity, negatively impacting quality of life and resulting in significant morbidity. The etiology of FI is often multifactorial and consequently management of the disease is complex. Initial therapy typically begins with conservative measures including dietary or medical management [6–8] and biofeedback [9, 10]. However, when patients do not respond to these initial measures, consideration is given to surgical management including sacral nerve stimulation (SNS), sphincteroplasty [11], sphincter replacement strategies [12, 13], or stoma creation [14, 15]. Sacral nerve stimulation was initially developed for management of urinary incontinence but was first used for the successful treatment of FI by Matzel et al. in 1995 [16]. Due to its reported long-term efficacy and low morbidity, SNS continues to develop as an emerging and promising technique for the management of severe FI. Here, we aim to identify which patients with FI would benefit from SNS. Further, we describe the utility of SNS for management of FI in the subset of patients with a complete external sphincter defect.
Potential of Zero Charge and Its Temperature Derivative for Au(111) Electrode|Alkanethiol SAM|1.0 M Aqueous Electrolyte Solution Interfaces: Impact of Electrolyte Solution Ionic Strength and Its Effect on the Structure of the Modified Electrode|Electrolyte Solution Interface

We demonstrate how small and rapid temperature perturbations (produced by the indirect laser-induced temperature jump (ILIT) technique) of solid metal electrode|electrolyte solution interfaces may be used to determine the potential of zero (total) charge (Epzc) and its temperature derivative (dEpzcdT) of Au(111) electrode surfaces modified by alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers in contact with high ionic strength (i.e., 1.0 M) aqueous electrolyte solutions. The Epzc’s measured for two different types of SAMs (made from either HS(CH2)n−1CH3 (5 ≤ n ≤ 12, Epzc = −(0.99 ± 0.12) V vs SSCE) or HS(CH2)nOH (3 ≤ n ≤ 16, Epzc = (0.46 ± 0.22) V vs SSCE)) are considerably different than those measured previously at much lower electrolyte solution ionic strengths. For mixed monolayers made from both HS(CH2)n−1CH3 and HS(CH2)nFc (where Fc refers to ferrocene), the difference in Epzc decreases as a function of the surface concentration of the Fc moiety (i.e., [Fc]), and it completely disappears at a surprisingly small...
‘Absent and yet Somehow Present’: Idealized Landscapes and the Counter-historical Impulse in Contemporary Northern Irish Photography and Writing

This article explores how three artists are responding to the idealized landscape that is contemporary Northern Ireland. I argue that the rural/urban dichotomy which implicitly or explicitly forms a point of departure in the photographic collections of David Farrell’s Innocent Landscapes (2001) and John Duncan’s Trees from Germany (2003) is also evident in David Park’s 2008 novel, The Truth Commissioner , offering a new lens to explore the play of absences and presences that constitute the peace process. The three works allow us to perceive how idealized landscapes act as facades that conceal, contain and defer alternative realities.
Saying sorry: Ethical leadership and the act of public apology

Abstract How do top representatives exercise ethical leadership in the context of public apologies? This paper examines public apologies made by corporate and government leaders for organizational wrongdoing. Conducting qualitative case-research, our deductive inquiry demonstrates that ethical leadership strategies that have been formulated for organizational contexts are utilized in the public arena and adapted to meet the particular demands of this context. We also inductively derive four aggregate strategies that leaders employ: “articulating values in relation to past and future”; “defining the wrongdoing”; “constructing moral communities” and “differentiating responsibilities”. We discuss the findings vis-a-vis the body of literature on ethical leadership, and identify some thorny ethical issues for further investigation.
Pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and radiation dosimetry for 89Zr-trastuzumab in patients with esophagogastric cancer

Trastuzumab with chemotherapy improves clinical outcomes in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (EGA). Despite the therapeutic benefit, responses are rarely complete, and most patients develop progression. To our knowledge, this is the first report evaluating 89Zr-trastuzumab in HER2-positive EGA; here, we evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and dosimetry 89Zr-trastuzumab. Methods: Trastuzumab was conjugated with deferoxamine and radiolabeled with 89Zr. A mean activity of 184 MBq was administered to 10 patients with metastatic HER2-positive EGA. PET imaging, whole-body probe counts, and blood draws were performed to assess pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and dosimetry. Results: No clinically significant toxicities were observed. At the end of infusion, the estimated 89Zr-trastuzumab in plasma volume was a median 102% (range, 78%-113%) of the injected dose. The median biologic half-life T1/2β was 111 h (range, 78-193 h). The median biologic whole-body retention half-life was 370 h (range, 257-578 h). PET images showed optimal tumor visualization at 5-8 d after injection. The maximum tumor SUV ranged from no to minimal uptake in 3 patients to a median of 6.8 (range, 2.9-22.7) for 20 lesions in 7 patients. Dosimetry estimates from OLINDA showed that the organs receiving the highest absorbed doses were the liver and heart wall, with median values of 1.37 and 1.12 mGy/MBq, respectively. Conclusion:89Zr-trastuzumab imaging tracer is safe and provides high-quality images in patients with HER2-positive EGA, with an optimal imaging time of 5-8 d after injection.