cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Broken Rail Prediction and Detection Using Wavelets and Artificial Neural Networks

Current track health monitoring requires time consuming use of railway monitoring vehicles. This paper presents a rail defect detection and classification algorithm that could potentially be used with bogie side frame vertical acceleration data from a data acquisition system located onboard a train car during daily operation. The algorithm uses wavelets to process the vertical acceleration data and detect irregularities in the signal. Wavelets have proven themselves to be useful in event detection and other applications where localization is needed in both the time and frequency domains. Traditional signal processing methods may use the Fourier transform which is limited to localization only in the frequency domain. Wavelets provide a solution for recognizing rail defects and determining their location. The wavelet-processed data is fed into an artificial neural network for defect classification. Neural networks can be a powerful tool in pattern recognition and classification because of their ability to be taught. The network in this algorithm has been trained to recognize impending breaks and breaks in a rail from the original vertical acceleration signal and the first four scales of the wavelet transformed signal. This paper presents an offline analysis of a set of collected data using the proposed defect detection and classification algorithm.© 2011 ASME
Association of Accelerated (Malignant) Hypertension in a Patient with Primary Aldosteronism

Observations are presented in a 37-yr-old woman with accelerated (malignant) hypertension, congestive heart failure and recurrent episodes of hypokalemia and alkalosis. Although extensive studies to differentiate primary from secondary aldosteronism were performed, definitive diagnosis was made only by adrenal exploration. The removal of an adrenal corticsl adenoma corrected the metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia and improved the hypertension.
Studies on the blood glucose and pancreatic islets of the salamander, Taricha torosa☆☆☆★

Abstract 1. 1. The normal blood sugar level and pancreatic histology, as well as experimental alterations of both, were studied in the salamander, Taricha torosa. 2. 2. The over-all average, normal blood glucose value was found to be 24 mg per cent with an average of 28 mg per cent during the breeding season and 16 mg per cent during estivation. 3. 3. The normal pancreatic islet contains but one type of active endocrine cell, the beta cell. A second type of cell, “clear” cell, exists and is thought to be non-secretory. 4. 4. Glucose, adrenalin and hydrocortisone all produce hyperglycaemia with subsequent beta cell degranulation. 5. 5. Starvation, alloxan, glucagon, Synthalin A and cortisone had no effect on the blood sugar level and produced no specific alterations of the islet cells; one exception to the latter was starvation which caused an eventual atrophy of islet tissue. 6. 6. Insulin resulted in hypoglycaemia even after doses as small as 10 U/kg. Larger doses produced delayed extensor type convulsions, while doses of 1000 U/kg or greater caused both immediate clonic and delayed extensor type convulsions. The only response of the pancreas to insulin was a moderate decrease in beta cell volume. 7. 7. Hypophysectomy resulted in a general decline in the blood sugar level and an eventual atrophy of the pancreatic islets. Pancreatectomy produced a severe hyperglycaemia in the presence or absence of the pituitary gland. Gradual atrophy of the interrenal tissue caused by hypophysectomy was accompanied by a gradual decline in the hyperglycaemic effect of pancreatectomy.
comMotion: a context-aware communication system

How many times have you gone to the grocery store but left the grocery list on the refrigerator door? Wouldn't it be more efficient to have a reminder to buy groceries and the shopping list delivered to you when you were in the vicinity of the store?We live in a world in which the information overload is part of our daily life. Many of us receive large quantities of email or voice mail messages. Yet many of these messages are relevant only in a particular context. We can use a system of reminders to keep up with all we have to do, but these reminders are often relevant only to a specific location. If reminders, to-do lists, messages and other information were delivered in the most timely and relevant context, part of the overload would be reduced. This paper describes comMotion, a context-aware communication system for a mobile or wearable computing platform.
Variability in the major lipid components of four market classes of dry edible beans

The lipid composition of dry edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) was characterised and the variability between four US market classes (navy, dark red kidney, pinto and Black Turtle Soup) was determined. The total lipid content of the beans ranged from 1–8 to 2–6 g per 100 g dry weight. Triacylglycerol esterified sterified glucoside and phosphatidylcholine were identified as the major lipid class components of the neutral lipid, glycolipid and phospholipid fractions, respectively. The fatty acids were highly unsaturated: linolenic acid was the major fatty acid. Three sterols, campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol, were identified. The lipid and fatty acid contents of the bean classes were significantly (P <0–05) different. Principal component analysis of the total lipid components resulted in the extraction of four factors, which accounted for 93.3% of the variability of the data set. These factors were characterised as the (I) fatty acid. (II) sterol. (III) lipid class, and (IV) oleic acid factors.
Digital photography and the digitalisation of foreign archives

Digital photography allows for the collection of large amounts of archival documents in a short period of time. This has many benefits for the researcher including a greater convenience of time, a dramatic savings of money, and an increased flexibility in using the documents. This essay describes my own experience using digital photography in the Riksarkivet in Stockholm, as well as the materials, methods, advantages and disadvantages of using a digital workflow for research.
Design and Application of the Plug-in for Charging Facilities Monitoring Configuration Software

Introduced the characteristics of monitoring for the electric vehicle charging facilities, analysis of the model structure and the plug-in structure. Determined software architecture of platform and plugin for charging facilities monitoring configuration software. Elaborated on the interface design, workflow and application examples of plug-in in the configuration software. Engineering practice has proved that the configuration software through the use of plug-in technology to improve the degree of modular, a powerful expansion function, plug-and-play and to meet the needs of different users.
Outpatient thyroid and parathyroid surgery: a prospective study of feasibility, safety, and costs.

Background. The purpose of this study was to determine feasibility, safety, and cost savings of outpatient thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Methods. Consecutive unselected patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid operations by two surgeons with a special interest in endocrine surgery were studied prospectively. Results. One-hundred patients underwent operation, 61 as outpatients and 39 as in patients. Outpatients included those undergoing thyroid lobectomy (39), total thyroidectomy (10), total thyroidectomy with parathyroidectomy (1), total thyroidectomy with modified neck dissection (1), and parathyroidectomy (10). Inpatients included those undergoing thyroid lobectomy (15), total thyroidectomy (8), total thyroidectomy with neck dissection (4), removal of substernal goiter (2), and parathyroidectomy (10). The average age of inpatients was slightly higher than that of outpatients (p < 0.05). Average hospital cost for outpatients was $1991 ± $279 (range, $1594 to $2783) and for inpatients it was $2875 ± 615 (range, $2031 to $4216), p < 0.001. Reasons for admission included extent of surgery (6), nausea (5), oversedation (4), urinary retention (2), inadequate home help (6), long travel time (2), patient preference (9), and medical reasons (5). No outpatients subsequently required admission. Conclusions. Outpatient thyroid and parathyroid surgery can be feasible and safe and resulted in a 30% savings in hospital costs. After extensive operations patients continue to require admission for postanesthetic complications, social reasons, or presence of serious comorbid disease.
MRI-determined left ventricular “crescent effect”: a consequence of the slight deviation of contents of the pericardial sack from the constant-volume state

During one cardiac cycle, the volume encompassed by the pericardial sack in healthy subjects remains nearly constant, with a transient ±5% decrease in volume at end systole. This “constant-volume” ...
Wettability of terminally anchored polymer brush layers on a polyamide surface.

Abstract Surface wettability of terminally anchored hydrophilic polymer brush layers on polyamide–silicon (PA–Si) surfaces was evaluated with respect to surface topography at the nanoscale. Hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyacrylamide (PAAm) brush layers were synthesized via graft polymerization onto a PA–Si surface previously activated by surface treatment with atmospheric pressure plasma. Hydrophilicity (or wettability) of the PA substrate, as quantified by the free energy of hydration, was increased upon surface coverage with the PVP and PAAm brush layers by 13–24% (−101.4 to −111.3 mJ/m 2 ) and 19–37% (−106.1 to −122.4 mJ/m 2 ), respectively. Surface hydrophilicity increased with both increasing surface roughness (0.55–2.89 nm and 1.54–5.84 nm for PVP and PAAm, respectively) and polymer volume (1.3 × 10 6 –7.3 × 10 6 nm 3 /μm 2 and 3.3 × 10 6 –2.8 × 10 7 nm 3 /μm 2 for PVP and PAAm surfaces, respectively). The present study suggests that a specific level of surface wettability can be attained by tailor-designing the polymer brush layer’s physicochemical characteristics (e.g., surface roughness, wettability, and polymer water affinity) by adjusting surface topography and surface chemistry, which are controlled by surface activation and polymerization conditions. The above indicates that there is merit in structuring various surfaces with hydrophilic brush layers to increase surface wettability in membrane filtration, biomedical devices, and lubrication applications.
Video modeling imitation training to support gestural imitation acquisition in young children with autism spectrum disorder

Children with autism struggle to imitate, and this lack of imitative ability is related to the severity of autism symptoms. Teaching children with autism to imitate is a necessary component of intervention as poor imitation ability affects development in a variety of areas including play skills, social skills and language skills. The purpose of this research was to determine whether there is a functional relation between video modeling imitation training (VMIT) and increased gestural imitation in young children with autism. Secondary analyses of collateral gains, specifically language development, gesture, and play skill acquisition, after exposure to VMIT was also conducted. Results indicated that two out of three participants demonstrated an immediate, increased frequency in imitation of gestures viewed on an iPad. All three participants showed gains in receptive language and gestures before treatment. Expressive language and play skills increased for two out of three participants.
Genetic differentiation in the procellariiformes

Abstract 1. 1. Twelve species of birds of the order Procellariiformes were examined using electrophoresis at 16 genetic loci. 2. 2. The distributions of genetic distances, based on allelic frequencies, were concordant with the taxonomic ranking of the 12 species. 3. 3. The genetic distances for these nonpasserines were small by comparison with nonavian taxa, but larger than those reported for passerine birds.
Securing attachment: The shifting medicalisation of attachment and attachment disorders

This paper examines the medicalisation of attachment and attachment disorders. It argues that there was a shift in the form of medicalisation of attachment with significant implications for the regulation of the family. In the 1930s and 1940s, the medicalisation of attachment focused on the identification and treatment of attachment disorders in children and by extension, their mothers. While mothers were held responsible for the attachment disorders in their children, their parental difficulties were often linked to factors outside of their control such as difficult childhoods or impoverished circumstances. As a result, mothers were not held morally responsible for their failings but were instead referred for psycho-medical treatment. More recently, there was a shift to medicalising attachment as both a risk and protective factor. Through the use of the techniques of surveillance medicine, individuals were classified with secure or insecure attachment. As a result, attachment was viewed as precarious. More importantly, secure attachment status was connected to the later academic and social success of children. Consequently, there was a greater emphasis on parents, particularly mothers, monitoring themselves in the promotion of secure attachment in their children.
Globus Nexus: An identity, profile, and group management platform for science gateways and other collaborative science applications

Globus Nexus is a flexible and powerful Platform-as-a-Service to which developers can outsource identity, group, and profile management needs. By providing these frequently important but always challenging capabilities as a service, accessible over the network, Globus Nexus streamlines web application development and makes it easy for individuals, teams, and institutions to create collaborative web applications such as science gateways for the science community. We introduce the capabilities of this platform and review representative applications.
An Itch To Be Scratched

The description of itch (formally known as pruritus) as an "unpleasant sensation that elicits the desire or reflex to scratch" (Ikoma et al., 2006) is immediately familiar. Research in the field of pruritoception has added to our understanding of this area of sensory neurobiology as it pertains to both normal and pathological conditions. In particular, much progress has been made on the mechanisms and circuits of itch, which we review here.
Sediment Dispersal Within the Cocos Gap, Panama Basin

ABSTRACT The Cocos Gap is a deeper portion, or saddle, of the Cocos Ridge and forms part of the western boundary of the Panama Basin. It is probably typical of saddles within most submarine ridges. In order to determine the mechanisms controlling sediment dispersal, the nature and sources of the sediments at 23 core locations were defined by hydrodynamic size separation (> 63, 2-63, The silt-sized fraction was resolved into eight textural modes. The coarse modes reflect the progressive breakage and winnowing of the coarse fraction (foraminifera) under the influence of bottom currents and gravity. Above 2,000 m mechanical breakdown, winnowing and relocation by bottom currents mask the effects of depth related dissolution of the carbonate fraction. Intermediate modes in general represent a transitional facies with both biogenic and terrigenous influences, while the finest modes characterize a distal regime of clay deposition. The clay fraction is amorphous material with very low percentages of well-crystallized clays. Three main sources and transport paths were recognized, including one associated with the circulation of the Panama Basin bottom water. Sedimentation within the Gap is controlled by local processes, predominantly the interaction between tidally induced intensification of bottom water flow and directional (thermohaline) flow. The steepness of the seafloor slope is a major factor controlling the efficiency of winnowing of the sediment away from certain higher elevations (biogenic source areas) to the sheltered parts and flanks of the ridge. Superimposed upon this sediment dispersal is the influx of terrigenous material carried by directional bottom currents that operate as postulated upper and lower contour currents along the flanks of the ridge. The crest of the Cocos Gap acts as a catchment area for the biogenic components, while the adjacent more sloping region, the sub-plateau, acts as a source area. The extreme breakage of the foraminifera is most likely a function of the tidally induced intensification of the bottom water flow, characteristic of many shallow ridges, and is probably most significant in the sub-plateau. Hydrographic data indicate that there is no significant transport of bottom water across the Cocos Gap into the Panama Basin, but downslope transport of carbonate and siliceous fragments and minerals from the Gap into the basin is associated with cyclical tidal bottom water flow.
Activity of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system assessed by plasma hormone levels and their relation to hemodynamic abnormalities in congestive heart failure☆

Abstract Resting hemodynamic measurements and plasma levels of catecholamines and renin activity were studied in 55 hospitalized treated patients with congestive heart failure in clinically stable condition. Plasma norepinephrine (mean ± standard error of the mean 594 ± 51 pg/ml, range 153 to 1,868) and plasma renin activity (mean 12.9 ± 2.4 ng/ml per hr, range 0.6 to 85.2) values were significantly (probability [p] It is concluded that patients with congestive heart failure can be categorized on the basis of neurohumoral activity. The statistically significant correlations between plasma norepinephrine and hemodynamic evidence of cardiac dysfunction suggest that the sympathetic response is either a marker of or a contributor to the hemodynamic derangement. Because hemodynamic abnormalities did not correlate with plasma renin activity despite a statistically significant correlation between plasma norepinephrine and plasma renin activity, it appears that the two systems are independently activated in congestive heart failure but that sympathetic stimulation may be one factor contributing to renin release. Further studies are needed to assess the usefulness of plasma hormone levels in evaluating and treating patients with congestive heart failure.
Effects of Adult Age and Blood Pressure on Executive Function and Speed of Processing

Previous research has established that the effects of chronically increased blood pressure (BP) on cognition interact with adult age, but the relevant cognitive processes are not well defined. In this cross-sectional study, using a sample matched for age, years of education, and sex, 134 individuals with either normal BP (n = 71) or chronically high BP (n = 63) were categorized into younger (19-39 years), middle-aged (41-58 years), and older (60-79 years) groups. Using a between-subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA), covarying for race and years of education, composite measures of executive function and perceptual speed both exhibited age-related decline. The executive function measure, however, was associated with a differential decline in high BP older adults. This result held even when the executive function scores were covaried for speed, demonstrating an independent, age-related effect of higher BP on executive function.
Properties and origins of protein secondary structure

Proteins contain a large fraction of regular, repeating conformations, called secondary structure. A simple, generic definition of secondary structure is presented which consists of measuring local correlations along the protein chain. Using this definition and a simple model for proteins, the forces driving the formation of secondary structure are explored. The relative role of energy and entropy are examined. Recent work has indicated that compaction is sufficient to create secondary structure. We test this hypothesis, using simple nonlattice protein models.
Forces on a Wall-Bound Leukocyte in a Small Vessel Due to Red Cells in the Blood Stream

As part of the inflammation response, white blood cells (leukocytes) are well known to bind nearly statically to the vessel walls, where they must resist the force exerted by the flowing blood. This force is particularly difficult to estimate due to the particulate character of blood, especially in small vessels where the red blood cells must substantially deform to pass an adhered leukocyte. An efficient simulation tool with realistically flexible red blood cells is used to estimate these forces. At these length scales, it is found that the red cells significantly augment the streamwise forces that must be resisted by the binding. However, interactions with the red cells are also found to cause an average wall-directed force, which can be anticipated to enhance binding. These forces increase significantly as hematocrit values approach 25% and decrease significantly as the leukocyte is made flatter on the wall. For a tube hematocrit of 25% and a spherical protrusion with a diameter three-quarters that of the vessel, the average forces are increased by ∼40% and the local forces are more than double those estimated with an effective-viscosity-homogenized blood. Both the enhanced streamwise and wall-ward forces and their unsteady character are potentially important in regard to binding mechanisms.
Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes, and Teaching Effectiveness of K-6 Teachers.

Abstract We assessed nutrition knowledge, certain nutrition attitudes, and commitment to teaching nutrition of K-6 teachers before and after a nutrition education study in which half of the teachers taught nutrition to their students for a 10-week period and half did not. Teachers received 1 of 3 different types of preparation for teaching nutrition. Teachers' knowledge, attitude, and commitment scores correlated more strongly with each other at the end of the study than at the beginning. The preparatory nutrition course positively influenced knowledge test scores. A positive change in attitude about favoring nutrition education in schools correlated with higher student gains in nutrition knowledge. These data suggest that relationships among teacher characteristics examined and teacher training warrant further study as possible means of improving nutrition education in schools.
Effect of blend rheology on the transport property of oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends

Rheological studies were performed to delineate appropriate stretching windows, and poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) blend films were extruded biaxially within such processing windows. The morphology and oxygen permeability properties of these films, with and without a compatibilizer, were characterized. The intent of this study was to achieve a blend oxygen permeability value (OPV) of less than 1. At a fixed draw ratio and draw temperature, appropriate rheological matching could lead to an increase in the aspect ratio of the EVOH phase and, thereby, of oxygen barrier properties. This study concludes that by melt viscosity matching it is not possible to obtain blends with OPV of less than 1. The model of Fricke, used to predict blend permeability, was found to be more accurate at the higher draw temperatures, with the measured values deviating increasingly negatively from the predicted values as the draw temperature is decreased. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Homing behavior of pigeons not disturbed by application of an olfactory stimulus

In a second attempt to repeat recently published experiments that appear to support an hypothesis that olfactory cues play an important role in pigeon navigation, we have conducted 15 experiments in whichα-pinene in vaseline was applied to the birds' beak and nostrils prior to release, a procedure reported by Benvenutiet al. (1973) to cause a decrement in homing performance. Our results show no consistent difference between the experimental and control birds in any of the three parameters (initial orientation, rapidity of orientation, homing speed) measured by Benvenutiet al.
Lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (LMAN) in the zebra finch: neuronal connectivity and the emergence of sex differences in cell morphology.

The song system of birds provides a model system to study basic mechanisms of neuronal plasticity and development underlying learned behavior. Song learning and production involve discrete sets of interconnected nuclei in the avian brain. One of these nuclei, the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (LMAN), is the output of the so-called anterior forebrain pathway known to be essential for learning and maintenance of song, both processes depending on auditory feedback. In zebra finches, only males sing and this sexually dimorphic behavior is mirrored by sexual dimorphism in neuronal structure that develops during ontogeny. Female zebra finches are not able to sing and nuclei of the song system are strongly reduced in size or even lacking, when compared to male brains. Only LMAN can be delineated as easily in females as in males. Since female zebra finches, despite being unable to sing, recognize song just as males do and form a memory for song (model acquisition) early in life, LMAN is a putative candidate for song acquisition in both sexes. Therefore, development of LMAN was studied at the cellular and ultrastructural level in both male and female zebra finches. Regressive development of dendritic spines, enlargement of neuronal cell body and nuclei size, as well as changes at the nucleolar level are events all occurring exclusively in males, when song learning progresses. The decline in synapse number and the augmentation in synaptic contact length at synapses in LMAN in males are indicative for synaptic plasticity, whereas in females synapse number and synaptic contact length remain unchanged.
In a team of robots the loudest is not necessarily the best

The effects of communication on the task performance of simulated robot colonies are studied Robots in the colony perform tasks that require the cooperation of two robots in time and in space. A robot's call for help is responded to by another robot, resulting in the pair performing the cask. The control of the robots is based on the concept of a tropism system cognitive architecture. The effects of the communication radius on performance of the colony is studied, and it is shown that a larger communication radius does not necessarily result in better colony performance.
Development of a Tool for Measuring and Analyzing Computer User Satisfaction

This paper reports on a technique for measuring and analyzing computer user satisfaction. Starting with the literature and using the critical incident interview technique, 39 factors affecting satisfaction were identified. Adapting the semantic differential scaling technique, a questionnaire for measuring satisfaction was then created. Finally, the instrument was pilot tested to prove its validity and reliability. The results of this effort and suggested uses of the questionnaire are reported here.
Pharmacogenomics: assessing educational exposure, confidence in knowledge and training elements of pharmacists

Aim: This study assessed pharmacist’s knowledge and confidence in pharmacogenomics (PGx)-related concepts, and determined their needs with regard to education and training in PGx. Methods: A cross-sectional survey instrument was sent via postal mail to pharmacists (n = 319) who were randomly selected from the New York State database of licensed pharmacists. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were performed. Results: The response rate was 32% (n = 102). The majority (83%) of respondents had been exposed to basic concepts in genetics, while PGx was not an integral part of their education. Most respondents indicated being somewhat confident in their knowledge of PGx-related concepts. In addition, 64% of respondents reported being interested in attending 1–10 h of continuing education programs in PGx, and 42% of respondents indicated being interested in obtaining a certificate in PGx. Conclusion: Educational program development in the format of continuing education or certificate is needed to improve pharma...
Organizational Frames of Reference

This paper proposes the concept of “organizational frames of reference” (OFOR) as a framework for examining the unquestioned assumptions and processes underlying strategic decision-making. Components of OFOR are described and their functions and formation are discussed. Future research questions and management implications are suggested.
Theory of the Boltzmann Equation

The purpose of this article is to bring up to date earlier surveys [1, 2] of the state of the art in the theory of the Boltzmann equation for a dilute monatomic gas. Historically, the principal methods of attack have been connected with normal solutions and transport coefficients (Hilbbrt and Chapman-Enskog), polynomial and other more-or-less arbitrary approximations to the distribution function, integral iterations, and methods specific to models of the Boltzmann equation (e.g. Fourier transform). Each method has seen decisive advances in recent years. These advances are characterized by increased sophistication in mathematical techniques, improved understanding of the significance of older approximate results, and a general trend away from ad hoc and toward more precise mathematical procedures. In the singular limit of small mean free path, the traditional Hilbert and Chapman-Enskog expansions have been shown to be asymptotic to true solutions of the Boltzmann equation, but only when the variables are appropriately interpreted. At the opposite extreme of large mean free path where the behavior is again nonuniform, the precise mathematical singularities have been exposed. Over the whole range of linear problems the presence of a continuous spectrum in both the collision operator and the streaming operator points to the inadequacy of traditional exponential “normal mode” expansions in both initial and boundary value problems. Result in all the regimes have been tied together by the overall qualitative understanding given by a more comprehensive existence theory which, for the first time, is broad enough to encompass the transition to macroscopic continuum flow. Another attack, of very recent appearance, is direct numerical computation; this method is still largely exploratory.
A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy for Older Persons

Given the current health care debate, it is imperative to document the usefulness of various health services for older persons, a rapidly growing population at increased risk for a wide variety of physical and functional impairments. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the degree of effectiveness of occupational therapy for older persons. For a sample of 15 distinct tests of occupational therapy, a positive unweighted mean effect size of .51 (.54 when corrected for instrument unreliability) was obtained, along with a highly significant cumulative result for treatment success (p < .001). Beneficial treatment effects extended to activities of daily living-functional and psychosocial outcomes. The results for physical outcomes suggested a beneficial effect, although not every meta-analytic test yielded significant results. It was concluded that factors such as publication bias or poor study design are incapable of accounting for the positive meta-analytic result and that occupational therapy represents a worthwhile treatment option for older persons.
Censoring sensors: a low-communication-rate scheme for distributed detection

We consider a new scheme for distributed detection based on a "censoring" or "send/no-send" idea. The sensors are assumed to "censor" their observations so that each sensor sends to the fusion center only "informative" observations, and leaves those deemed "uninformative" untransmitted. The main result of this work is that with conditionally independent sensor data and under a communication rate constraint, in order to minimize the probability of error, transmission should occur if and only if the local likelihood ratio value observed by the sensor does not fall in a certain single interval. Similar results are derived from Neymarr-Pearson and distance-measure viewpoints. We also discuss simplifications for the most interesting case that the fusion center threshold is high and the communication constraint is severe. We compare censoring with the more common binary-transmission framework and observe its considerable decrease in communication needs. Finally, we explore the use of feedback to achieve optimal performance with very little communication.
Autoimmune-mediated oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction: implications of accelerated vascular injury in type I diabetes.

The pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in the setting of type 1 diabetes is not well-defined. The hypothesis that hyperglycemia is largely responsible for vascular endothelial dysfunction, and ultimately atherosclerosis, continues to evolve. However, despite tight glucose control, a subset of patients still develop clinically significant occlusive disease. While the specific mechanisms of persistent vascular injury are not clear, an increasing body of evidence suggests a dysregulated autoimmune response may contribute to the development of vascular injury. That is, the same inflammatory response that is responsible for pancreatic β-cell destruction may facilitate chronic vascular endothelial injury prior to the onset of hyperglycemia. Herein, we discuss (1) the clinical experience with tight glycemic control and the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 1 diabetes; (2) the cellular mechanisms involved in vascular endothelial injury; and (3) the long-term clinical implications of autoimmune-mediated vascular disease and current treatment strategies.
Navigator Program: exploring new worlds

NASA's Navigator Program comprises a suite of interrelated missions that will discover and characterize planetary systems and Earth-like planets around nearby stars. The missions are designed to build on each other's success, each providing an essential step forward toward the goal of discovering habitable planets and life. The missions in the Navigator Program and their relation to each other are described in this paper. Moreover, the Program is described in the wider context of international efforts in the broadening field of extrasolar planet research. Science priorities and research opportunities related to the Navigator Program are also described.
Exchange coupling and magnetic blocking in bipyrimidyl radical-bridged dilanthanide complexes.

The synthesis and magnetic properties of three new bipyrimidyl radical-bridged dilanthanide complexes, [(Cp*2Ln)2(μ-bpym•)]+ (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy), are reported. Strong LnIII-bpym•– exchange coupling is observed for all species, as indicated by the increases in χMT at low temperatures. For the GdIII-containing complex, a fit to the data reveals antiferromagnetic coupling with J = −10 cm–1 to give an S = 13/2 ground state. The TbIII and DyIII congeners show single-molecule magnet behavior with relaxation barriers of Ueff = 44(2) and 87.8(3) cm–1, respectively, a consequence of the large magnetic anisotropies imparted by these ions. Significantly, the latter complex exhibits a divergence of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled dc susceptibility data at 6.5 K and magnetic hysteresis below this temperature.
Design, control, and characterization of a sliding linear investigative platform for analyzing lower limb stability (SLIP-FALLS)

A novel device, the Sliding Linear Investigative Platform For Analyzing Lower Limb Stability (SLIP-FALLS), has been designed to study the detection and discrimination thresholds of humans to uniaxial horizontal step, ramp, or sinusoidal translations of the surface upon which they stand or stride. The device also can be used to test the human potential for, and mechanisms of, slips and falls. The SLIP utilizes air bearing technology and a noncontact linear motor to produce ultra-low-vibration translations. The FALLS system measures the forces on four load cells, platform linear and head tri-axial accelerations, four channels of electromyographic data, motor voltage, and a subject's psychophysical response; and derives other physiological and biomechanical measures, like center-of-pressure and shear force. The effect of acceleration and shear force on the accuracy of the center-of-pressure calculations is presented. Operating ranges depend on the interactions among displacement, velocity, acceleration, and jerk parameters for linear translations, and between amplitudes and frequencies for sinusoidal translations. Displacements from 5 /spl mu/m to 0.277 m, velocities from 5 /spl mu/m/s to 0.3 m/s, and accelerations up to 2.5 m/s/sup 2/ are achievable with precise control (i.e., without overshoot), but tradeoffs exist such that all three maxima cannot be reached simultaneously. For a 0.15 m/s linear translation at 4 m/s/sup 2/, SLIP-FALLS produces substantially less vibration than the worm-driven NeuroTest system. The usefulness of having precise control over movement parameters is discussed.
Agroecology and Sustainable Livelihoods: Towards an Integrated Approach to Rural Development

Agroecology and SL studies are multi-disciplinary development schools that investigate the contexts and struggles of the rural poor in making a living under various adverse conditions. Both schools have made critical strides in rural development by promoting people-centered approaches. However, these two vital approaches to rural development have cut across each other based solely upon a loose combination of relevant elements derived from each of them. This paper argues that not only the shared spectrums but also the divergent interests between agroecology and SL studies signify the potential for beneficial cross-fertilization. With this conception, this paper tries to make conceptual and methodological syntheses between agroecology and SL studies as an integrated approach to rural development. The attempt results in a stylized model of modified SL framework with an eclectic set of new concepts. It is hoped that critical discussions on the possibility of integration between agroecology and SL studies woul...
Natural oil slicks fuel surface water microbial activities in the northern Gulf of Mexico

We conducted a series of roller tank incubations with surface seawater from the Green Canyon oil reservoir, northern Gulf of Mexico, amended with either a natural oil slick (GCS-oil) or pristine oil. The goal was to test whether bacterial activities of natural surface water communities facilitate the formation of oil-rich marine snow (oil snow). Although oil snow did not form during any of our experiments, we found specific bacterial metabolic responses to the addition of GCS-oil that profoundly affected carbon cycling within our 4-days incubations. Peptidase and -glucosidase activities indicative of bacterial enzymatic hydrolysis of peptides and carbohydrates, respectively, were suppressed upon the addition of GCS-oil relative to the non-oil treatment, suggesting that ascending oil and gas initially inhibits bacterial metabolism in surface water. Biodegradation of physically dispersed GCS-oil components indicated by the degradation of lower molecular weight n-alkanes as well as the rapid transformation of particulate oil-carbon (C: N >40) into the DOC pool, led to the production of carbohydrate- and peptide-rich degradation byproducts and bacterial metabolites such as transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). TEP formation was highest at day 4 in the presence of GCS-oil; in contrast, TEP levels in the non-oil treatment already peaked at day 2. Cell-specific enzymatic activities closely followed TEP concentrations in the presence and absence of GCS-oil. These results demonstrate that the formation of oil slicks and activities of oil-degrading bacteria result in a temporal offset of microbial cycling of organic matter, affecting food web interactions and carbon cycling in surface waters over cold seeps.
Therapeutic Angiogenesis: New Indication for Endothelial NO Synthase Gene Transfer

Evidence continues to accumulate on the importance of NO in angiogenesis.1–7⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓ A number of angiogenic substances, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stimulate production of NO in endothelial cells.8,9⇓ In vivo biosynthesis of NO is essential for angiogenesis induced by tissue ischemia.3 Angiogenesis is severely impaired in ischemic hindlimb of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)-deficient mice.3,10⇓ This impairment is not corrected by administration of VEGF, strongly suggesting that NO is downstream signal for angiogenic effect of VEGF. Indeed, in vascular endothelial cells, VEGF increases eNOS enzymatic activity via activation of protein kinase Akt and subsequent phosphorylation of eNOS.11,12⇓ More recent study demonstrated that 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor simvastatin also promotes angiogenesis by activation of protein kinase Akt.13 This effect seems to be mediated by stimulation of eNOS enzymatic activity. The importance of protein kinase Akt in regulation of NO production in vivo was demonstrated by adenovirus-mediated delivery of active Akt into the vascular wall. Overexpression of Akt increased resting blood flow, whereas expression of dominant negative Akt inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxation mediated by NO.14 Thus, phosphorylation of eNOS by protein kinase Akt seems to be a major molecular mechanism underlying the angiogenic effect of VGEF and statins. See page 1279 Structural adaptation of the vascular tree in response to increased shear …
Analyzing Attacks in Wireless Ad Hoc Network with Self-Organizing Maps

Detecting anomalous events and attacks in the ad-hoc wireless network is a challenging area for research due to the characteristics of wireless network. The proposed detection system monitors network traffic on each node and analyzes collected data by self-organizing maps to extract statistical regularities from the input data vectors and encode them into the weights without supervision. We evaluate our approach to detect network attacks on AODV and DSR protocols using OPNET. Our simulation results show that our approach can accurately detect anomalous behaviors caused by network attacks.
Content Analysis—A Methodological Primer for Gender Research

This article is intended to serve as a primer on methodological standards for gender scholars pursuing content analytic research. The scientific underpinnings of the method are explored, including the roles of theory, past research, population definition, objectivity/intersubjectivity, reliability, validity, generalizability, and replicability. Both human coding and computer coding are considered. The typical process of human-coded content analysis is reviewed, including the steps of unitizing, sampling, measurement, coder training, reliability assessment, and reportage of methods. Numerous applications to research on gender roles and related issues are reviewed. Practical checklists are offered for content analysis preparation and methodological execution.
Attention: A Better Way to Measure SEO Marketing Impact

This research differentiates itself from previous SEO marketing studies by using the first direct attention measure: the user search frequency index from Google Insight for Search (GIS), a service that tracks on a daily basis the search frequency for every Google search engine user. We find that as an attention proxy, GIS index has significant power in capturing impact around the time of the offering. A one point increase in the pre-issue GIS index change corresponds to a future reduction in the offer price discount by about 3%. In addition, as the only direct measure in SEO research, the GIS index differentiates itself from previous indirect measures by capturing some attention effects that are not captured by previous studies. All effects corresponding to the GIS index change are statistically significant and economically important.
Optical weights and waterfalls in doped charge-transfer insulators: A local density approximation and dynamical mean-field theory study of La 2-x Sr x CuO 4

We use the local density approximation in combination with the dynamical mean-field theory to investigate intermediate energy properties of the copper oxides. We identify coherent and incoherent spectral features that result from doping a charge-transfer insulator, namely quasiparticles, Zhang-Rice singlet band, and the upper and lower Hubbard bands. Angle resolving these features, we identify a waterfall-like feature between the quasiparticle part and the incoherent part of the Zhang-Rice band. We investigate the asymmetry between particle and hole doping. On the hole-doped side, there is a very rapid transfer of spectral weight upon doping in the one particle spectra. The optical spectral weight increases superlinearly on the hole-doped side in agreement with experiments.
Female Red-Backed Fairy-Wrens (Malurus Melanocephalus) Do Not Appear to Pay a Cost For High Rates of Promiscuity

ABSTRACT. Males of monogamous species are expected to increase their overall fitness by engaging in extrapair copulations, but the fitness implications of this behavior for females are somewhat less clear. Numerous studies have examined the potential benefits of extrapair mating to females, but the costs of extrapair mating, which may be substantial, are less well studied. Quantifying these costs is critical to understanding the evolution of extrapair mating behavior in females. We examined the costs of extrapair paternity to female Red-backed Fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus) using an 8-year data set that allowed us to examine both short-term and long-term costs. The variability of individual extrapair mating behavior in female Red-backed Fairy-wrens allowed us to compare the parental care, fecundity, and apparent survival of faithful and promiscuous females. We found no effect of the presence of extrapair offspring on the rate at which males provisioned broods. We also found that promiscuous and fait...
ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON PLANT SPECIES COMPOSITION IN GROUND-WATER SEEPS IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK

Ground-water seeps in the Catskill Mountains are important water sources for streams and often have different chemistry than nearby surface water. Many studies have shown correlations between water chemistry and plant species composition in wetlands, but there are no such studies in the Catskill Mountain ground-water seeps. The objective of this study was to identify the chemical and physical environmental variables that most strongly influence plant cpecies composition in seeps. Environmental variables and plant species abundance were measured at 33 seeps. TWo-way INdicator SPecies ANalysis with analysis of variance and Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that plant species composition is determined primarily by water depth and alkalinity/acidity complex gradients. Growing season changes in water chemistry were not shown to influence the plant community.