cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computers and world leadership

Although the computer industry is only 15 years old, it has made possible many dramatic technological achievements. Computer systems are capable of magnifying many times the output and effectiveness of our scientists, engineers, businessmen, and government leaders. Some of the problems and challenges facing this dynamic industry are outlined
Abnormalities in neural crest cell migration in laminin α5 mutant mice

Although numerous in vitro experiments suggest that extracellular matrix molecules like laminin can influence neural crest migration, little is known about their function in the embryo. Here, we show that laminin α5, a gene up-regulated during neural crest induction, is localized in regions of newly formed cranial and trunk neural folds and adjacent neural crest migratory pathways in a manner largely conserved between chick and mouse. In laminin α5 mutant mice, neural crest migratory streams appear expanded in width compared to wild type. Conversely, neural folds exposed to laminin α5 in vitro show a reduction by half in the number of migratory neural crest cells. During gangliogenesis, laminin α5 mutants exhibit defects in condensing cranial sensory and trunk sympathetic ganglia. However, ganglia apparently recover at later stages. These data suggest that the laminin α5 subunit functions as a cue that restricts neural crest cells, focusing their migratory pathways and condensation into ganglia. Thus, it is required for proper migration and timely differentiation of some neural crest populations.
Immediate versus delayed insertion of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device following dilation and evacuation: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Background The study was conducted to compare 6-month usage of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) when placed immediately or 3 to 6 weeks after dilation and evacuation (D&E) procedure. Study Design We enrolled women undergoing D&E at 15 to 23 weeks of gestation. After completion of the D&E, subjects without contraindications to immediate IUD insertion were randomized to immediate or delayed (3 to 6 weeks later) LNG-IUD insertion. Subjects in the immediate group had the LNG-IUD placed using ultrasound guidance. All subjects returned at 3 to 6 weeks and 8 to 10 weeks after D&E and were contacted by phone at 6 months. Results Of the 93 subjects enrolled, 88 were randomized. All 44 subjects (100%) randomized to immediate insertion had successful IUD placement, while only 20 (45.5%) of the 44 subjects randomized to delayed insertion returned for IUD placement, all of which were successful [difference 54.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 39.8%–69.3%]. Seventeen (38.6%) participants in each group were lost to follow-up. Of subjects contacted at the 6-month follow-up phone call, 23 of 27 women (85.2%) and 17 of 27 women (62.9%) were utilizing the LNG-IUD in the immediate and delayed groups, respectively (difference 22.2%, 95% CI −0.4% to 44.8%). Intrauterine device expulsion occurred in three subjects (6.8%) and one subject (5.0%) in whom the IUD was placed in the immediate and delayed groups, respectively (p=1.0). No significant adverse events occurred. Conclusion Significantly more participants had the LNG-IUD placed in the immediate insertion group compared with the delayed insertion group. Given the low risk of complications, immediate post-D&E insertion of the LNG-IUD should be offered, especially for populations that may have difficulty returning for follow-up.
Prevention of Auditory Dysfunction in Hypothyroid Tshr Mutant Mice by Thyroxin Treatment During Development

Based on previous work, it is clear that genetically hypothyroid Tshr(hyt) mutant mice are congenitally deaf [O'Malley et al. (1995) Hear. Res. 88: 181-189, Sprinkle et al. 2001b, J. Assoc. Res. Otolaryngol. DOI: 10.1007/s101620010077]. However, the extent to which auditory development is dependent on the availability of thyroxin (T4) during specific developmental stages is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the relative importance of prenatal and postnatal thyroxin on the ontogeny of hearing in the hyt mouse. Experimental hypothyroid subjects were offspring of hyt/hyt breeders implanted with T4 or placebo controlled-release pellets 14 days prior to mating. Pups received T4 or saline placebo injections from birth through postnatal day 14 (P14) or the time of testing on P28. In the absence of exogenous T4 replacement, very high stimulus levels (>80 dB SPL) were required to elicit responses. Remarkably, T4 treatment confined to the postnatal period failed to significantly improve auditory function relative to untreated animals, while response thresholds, latencies, and amplitudes of mice born to dams that received T4 during pregnancy were significantly improved relative to both of the untreated groups. Response thresholds were improved somewhat when maternal T4 replacement was followed by treatment during the first 14 days of life, and animals treated throughout prenatal and postnatal life were comparable to those of age-matched euthyroid individuals. Findings from this study show that treatment of hyt/hyt mice with exogenous T4 significantly attenuates hypothyroid-induced otopathology in a develop-mental-stage-dependent manner. In addition, we demonstrate that postnatal development is critically dependent on prenatal exposure to thyroxin and that the critical window of T4 dependence extends throughout development.
Dissociation between stem cell phenotype and NOD/SCID repopulating activity in human peripheral blood CD34 cells after ex vivo expansion

Abstract Objectives The relationship between phenotype and function in ex vivo–cultured human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) remains poorly understood. We investigated the effects of a short-term serum-free culture on the relationship between stem cell phenotype, cell division history, and function in human CD34 + cells. Methods G-CSF–mobilized peripheral CD34 + cells were cultured for 4 days with stem cell factor, flt-3 ligand, and thrombopoietin. The phenotype (CD34, CD38, HLA-DR, c-kit), cell division history, colony-forming cell (CFC), long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC), and NOD/SCID repopulating activities were evaluated at Day 0 and 4. Results We observed a loss of CD38, HLA-DR, and c-kit surface expression resulting in a drastic increase in CD34 + CD38 − , CD34 + HLA-DR − , and CD34 + c-kit −/low cells at Day 4. In contrast, the frequency of Thy-1 + cells was maintained. We observed a 1.3-fold expansion of CFC, a 4.8-fold increase in LTC-IC, and an overall maintenance of the NOD/SCID repopulating cell activity. CD34 + CD38 − and CD34 + HLA-DR − cells detected at Day 4 displayed the most active pattern of division (4 to 5 divisions) whereas 60% of CD34 + Thy-1 + cells divided 0 to 2 times during the same period. At Day 4, the NOD/SCID repopulating activity was associated with Thy-1 + cells with no more than 2 divisions. Conclusions Our results show that the relationship between stem cell phenotype and function is dramatically altered in cultured CD34 + cells. Thy-1 expression and cell division history appear to be superior to CD38, HLA-DR, and c-kit, or to homing molecules (CXCR4, VLA-4) as predictors of the repopulating activity of cultured peripheral CD34 + cells.
Evidence that floodwaters filled and overflowed Capri Chasma, Mars

[1] Erosional features on a plateau in the Valles Marineris provide evidence that a lake filled Capri Chasma until it overflowed its eastern rim, carving two large spillover channels. The floodwaters surged into the adjacent lowlands of ancestral Ganges Chasma and eastern Eos Chasma. The channel floor elevation and depth of incision at Daga Vallis reveal that a 1200-m-deep lake water column was drained by the flooding. The width, depth, and steep energy slope (∼0.02) of Daga Vallis and the existence of several cataracts, including a 500-m-high dry falls, demonstrate the power of the floodwaters. We estimate a possible peak discharge rate of 1–6 × 108 m3·s−1. The catastrophic flows may have been triggered by the collapse of topographic barriers in eastern Coprates Chasma, providing a gateway for lake waters in the central Valles Marineris to pour eastward toward Capri Chasma and the lowlands beyond. These may have been among the earliest flows in Simud-Tiu Valles, contributing discharge to a possible sea in the northern plains of Mars.
Sphere packing numbers for subsets of the Boolean n -cube with bounded Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension

Let V contained in {0,1}^n have Vapnk-Chervonenkis dimension d. Let M(k/n,V) denote the cardinality of the largest W contained in V such that any two distinct vectors in W differ on at least k indices. We show that M(k/n,V) >= (cn/(k+d))^d for some constant c. This improves on the previous best result of ((cn/k)log(n/k))^d. This new result has applications in the theory of empirical processes.
Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the azygos vein with intact atrial septum

The case of a 13-year-old girl with an unusual form of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection is reported. Cardiac catheterization revealed anomalous connection of the right pulmonary veins to the azygos vein and an intact atrial septum. Rationale for nonsurgical management and four-year follow-up results are discussed.
Heterodyne Optical Coherent Tomography (HOCT) System

The system which we designed and tested is essentially a bistatic optical radar. It is different from OCT and may have some advantages and/or options to augment OCT's imaging into scattering material such as tissue.
Assessing the Relative Crash Fault of Out-of-State Drivers in Vermont, USA

This study examined single- and two-vehicle police-reported crashes in Vermont, United States, between 2003 and 2008. It evaluated the likelihood of being at-fault for Vermont drivers versus out-of-state drivers older than age 25 years. Analysis using logistic regression estimated that out-of-state drivers are twice as likely to be at-fault for a single-vehicle crash and 7% more likely to be at-fault for a two-vehicle crash. Season of year and road type (paved vs. unpaved) were statistically significant interactions for Vermont and out-of-state drivers for single-vehicle crashes. Driving during the winter months had more pronounced effects of increasing single-vehicle crash fault for out-of-state drivers than for Vermont drivers. No statistically significant differences were found in the factors that affect crash fault between Vermont and out-of-state drivers for two-vehicle crashes. The relative evaluation of crash fault for nonlocal drivers has been understudied in the United States. Previous research, ...
Antipredator responses of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) to sensory cues representing an avian predator

Predator detection and subsequent antipredator response behaviours have been documented in many vertebrate and invertebrate animals, although the degree of specificity in predator recognition and response varies. We examined responses of actively courting adult male Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz) wolf spiders to cues indicating the presence of an avian predator, including visual, seismic (substrate vibration) and acoustic (airborne) stimuli. Spiders responded to acoustic (bird call) and seismic (simulated beak tap) stimuli with cessation of courtship and movement, but increased locomotion when presented with a visual stimulus (bird shadow). Spiders responded to experimental playback of avian acoustic stimuli with antipredator behaviour significantly more often and took longer to return to courtship than when exposed to nonthreatening stimuli. Tests of responses on different substrata to isolate sensory modes revealed that spiders perceive airborne sound from bird calls as substratum-conducted vibration. Results indicate that S. ocreata are capable of recognizing sensory cues associated with avian predators and distinguishing them from nonthreatening stimuli, suggesting that bird predation has been a selection factor in shaping behaviour of this wolf spider species.
Data exploitation using visual analytics

In a surveillance system the huge volume of recorded multidimensional data poses a great challenge to the user in performing meaningful analysis in efficient and coherent manner, especially in a human-vehicle or human-object interaction domain. To address this concern a semi automated data analysis concept is developed for feature extraction, object detection, trajectory determination and cluster identification. In addition this paper presents an algorithmic basis for significantly improved correlation and association of features, and events of interest in a timely and sound manner. The uncertainty associated with the operator's interpretation of data is tackled by proposing an acceptable hypothesis by the analyst based on human intelligence and experience. Experimental results and graphs are also presented in this paper.
Accumulation of trinitrotoluene (TNT) in aquatic organisms: Part 1—Bioconcentration and distribution in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Little is currently known regarding the toxicokinetics of TNT in fish. In the present study, the bioconcentration and distribution of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and TNT biotransformation products was investigated in juvenile channel catfish by exposing catfish to 14C-labeled TNT in water. Uptake experiments showed relatively fast rates (k(u)=10.1 ml g(-1) h(-1)) for TNT from the water; however, bioconcentration factors for TNT were low (0.79 ml g(-1)) due to rapid biotransformation and potential elimination of TNT. Accumulation of extractable radioactivity (TNT and all extractable biotransformation products) was much greater (BCF=10.5 ml g(-1)) than that for parent compound. TNT (parent compound) bioconcentrated to the greatest extent in the gills of the fish, while total radioactivity bioconcentrated to the greatest extent in the viscera. Residual portions of the fish that contained muscle and skin had lower concentrations of TNT than the whole fish, indicating that ingestion of fish fillets would result in decreased exposure to human consumers. Although the bioconcentration potential of TNT is very low, future research needs to be conducted to identify the biotransformation products that make up most of the radioactivity in exposed fish and evaluate their potential to promote toxicity.
The surface roughness and planetary boundary layer

Applications of the entrainment process to layers at the boundary, which meet the self similarity requirements of the logarithmic profile, have been studied. By accepting that turbulence has dominating scales related in scale length to the height above the surface, a layer structure is postulated wherein exchange is rapid enough to keep the layers internally uniform. The diffusion rate is then controlled by entrainment between layers. It has been shown that theoretical relationships derived on the basis of using a single layer of this type give quantitatively correct factors relating the turbulence, wind and shear stress for very rough surface conditions.
Sulfonation of 17β-estradiol and inhibition of sulfotransferase activity by polychlorobiphenylols and celecoxib in Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

The sulfonation of 17beta-estradiol (E2) by human liver and recombinant sulfotransferases is influenced by environmental contaminants such as hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs), which are potent inhibitors, and the therapeutic drug, celecoxib, which affects positional sulfonation of E2. In some locations, the aquatic environment is contaminated by PCBs, OH-PCBs and widely used therapeutic drugs. The objectives of this study were to investigate the sulfonation kinetics of E2 in liver cytosol from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus); to examine the effect of OH-PCBs on E2 sulfonation; and to determine if celecoxib altered the position of E2 sulfonation, as it does with human liver cytosol. E2 was converted to both 3- and 17-sulfates by catfish liver cytosol. At E2 concentrations below 1 microM, formation of E2-3-sulfate (E2-3-S) predominated, but substrate inhibition was observed at higher concentrations. Rates of E2-3-S formation at different E2 concentrations were fit to a substrate inhibition model, with K'm and V'max values of 0.40 +/- 0.10 microM and 91.0 +/- 4.7 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively and K(i) of 1.08 +/- 0.09 microM. The formation of E2-17-S fit Michaelis-Menten kinetics over the concentration range 25 nM to 2.5 microM, with K(m) and V(max) values of 1.07 +/- 0.23 microM and 25.7 +/- 4.43 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. The efficiency (V(max)/K(m)) of formation of E2-3-S was 9.8-fold higher than that of E2-17-S. Several OH-PCBs inhibited E2 3-sulfonation, measured at an E2 concentration of 1 nM. Of those tested, the most potent inhibitor was 4'-OH-CB79, with two chlorine atoms flanking the OH group (IC(50): 94 nM). The inhibition of estrogen sulfonation by OH-PCBs may disrupt the endocrine system and thus contribute to the known toxic effects of these compounds. Celecoxib did not stimulate E2-17-S formation, as is the case with human liver cytosol, but did inhibit the formation of E2-3-S (IC(50): 44 microM) and to a lesser extent, E2-17-S (IC(50): > 160 microM), suggesting the previously found effect of celecoxib on E2-17-S formation may be specific to human SULT2A1.
Fundamental investigation of cure‐induced microcracking in carbon fiber/bismaleimide cross‐ply laminates

Transverse microcracks are present in carbon fiber/bismaleimide (BMI) cross-ply composite laminates composed of 4,4'-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMPM)/ 0,0'diallyl bisphenol A (DABPA) matrices after standard cure and fabrication conditions, and grow in width upon subsequent postcure. This investigation characterizes cure-induced microcracking in terms of the critical fundamental macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular damage mechanisms and thresholds, and a cure cycle modification that prevents microcrack formation under standard processing conditions for [0°/90°] s laminates is examined. A unique in-situ technique is utilized in which cure of the laminate is performed inside the chamber of an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), allowing for (i) physical observation of microcrack growth and formation mechanisms and (ii) characterization of microcracking onset time-temperature thresholds. The cure cycle modification that prevents microcracking is an extended initial cure time at 177°C prior to higher temperature cure regimes. Effects of this modification are examined through network structure-property-processing interrelationships by way of (i) dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), (ii) optical and electron microscopy, (iii) differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and (iv) our previous work on carbon fiber/bismaleimide composites. From the aforementioned analysis it was concluded that an extended initial cure time at 177°C prior to higher temperature cure steps prevents microcracking under standard fabrication postcure conditions for [0°/90°] s laminates; no microcracking was observed until an additional postcure of 6 h at 300°C. This microcrack resistance was independent of initial BMPM:DABPA monomer stoichiometry for the two monomer ratios examined and associated with an improved fiber-matrix interface and lower composite residual stress.
Studies of the hemoglobins of the eel (Anguilla anguilla L.)—II. Proton binding of a component with a negative Bohr effect

Abstract 1. 1. The multiple hemoglobins of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) were separated and one isolated component (called HbE1) was studied with respect to its acid-base titration behavior. 2. 2. HbE1 has a low buffer capacity in the neutral pH range, similar to the buffer capacity of the hemoglobin mixture recently reported (Breepoel et al., 1980). 3. 3. The low buffer capacity is probably due to the small number of neutral titratable groups, particularly histidines. 4. 4. Both acid-base titrations of deoxy- and oxyHbE1 and fixed-acid Haldane measurements point to a negative Bohr-Haldane effect in the physiological pH range. 5. 5. The fixed-acid Haldane effect at pH 7.0 is nearly abolished upon the addition of saturating amounts of the endogenous organic phosphate GTP.
Precipitation Tests in Mice: IV. Determinations on Mice Belonging to an Immune-to-Cancer Stock, CBA

In the second publication of this series (1) dealing with a trichloracetic acid-total blood precipitate, data were presented which indicated that the blood of individuals of the immune-to-cancer strain, CBA, gave increasing amounts of the precipitate between 100 and 500 days of life. These same data are presented here in greater detail. Chart I gives the data obtained with mice of the CBA stock. Determinations were made at hourly intervals after the mice had been deprived of food. The hours of deprivation of food are given on the base line, the reading of the precipitate on the ordinate. Data for mice between 101 and 200 days of life are represented by the solid line; similar data for mice between 201 and 300 days by the short dash line; for mice between 301 and 400 days by the dotted line, and finally for mice between 401 and 500 days by the long dash line. It will be noted that two characteristics appear. (1) There is a gradual increase in the reading of the precipitate with advancing age (between 100 and 500 days of life), and (2) there is a gradual shift, with advancing age, from an ascending type, during the partial starvation period, to a descending type. Three differences appear in the data obtained with the CBA stock as compared with the data obtained with the A mice. (1) There is no disturbance in the type form of curve between 201 and 300 days of life as there was with the A mice. (2) The absolute readings for the CBA mice continue to increase up to 500 days of life, whereas in the A mice there was a decline with advancing age after 200 days of life. (3) Mice of 401 to 500 days show a totally distinct type of curve. The A mice at this age continue to give the ascending type (during partial starvation), whereas the CBA mice have shifted to a descending type.
Evaluation of existing condensation heat transfer models in horizontal micro-fin tubes

Abstract Three condensation heat transfer correlations for micro-fin tubes are reviewed in this paper. These heat transfer models were developed by using different approaches to account for the heat transfer enhancement effect in micro-fin tubes. The heat transfer coefficients predicted by the three models are compared to 414 experimental data points for pure refrigerant. The Yu and Koyama [Proceedings of the International Refrigeration Conference at Purdue, 1998, pp. 325–330] model displayed poor prediction on most of the R22 pure refrigerant data used for its validation. In addition, this model does not clearly describe the effects of the tube geometries on the heat transfer coefficient in micro-fin tubes. In general, the other two models, Cavallini et al. [Enhanced Heat Transfer 6 (1999) 441] and Kedzierski and Goncalves [Enhanced Heat Transfer 6 (1999) 161], are capable of predicting most of the pure refrigerant experimental data sets within the mean absolute deviation range of ±30%. However, Cavallini et al. [Enhanced Heat Transfer 6 (1999) 441] achieves better predictions for most of the pure refrigerant data sets if compared with the other model.
Effects of personal control over hospital noise on sleep.

Critical Care Unit (CCU) sound levels, subjective stress due to noise, and sleep were studied in 105 female volunteers in a simulated hospital environment. Subjects were randomly assigned to instruction in personal control over noise via the availability of a sound conditioner, no instruction in personal control over noise, or quiet conditions. Subjects in the two noise conditions heard audiotape-recorded CCU nighttime sounds while attempting to sleep overnight in the laboratory. The intervention did not facilitate better sleep as measured by polysomnograph equipment and self-report. However, the results provided strong support for a causal relationship between CCU sounds and poorer sleep. When compared to the quiet condition, subjects in the noise conditions had poorer sleep efficiency; more difficulty falling and staying asleep; more difficulty progressing from one stage of sleep to the next; more intrasleep awakenings; spent less time in Rapid Eye Movement sleep; and poorer sleep via self-report (all ps less than .03). As predicted, scores for subjective stress due to CCU sounds yielded significant relationships with 9 of 16 measures of sleep (all ps less than .01). Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that 13% (p less than .001) and close to 6% (p less than .05) of the variance in sleep efficiency was accounted for by CCU sound levels and noise-induced subjective stress, respectively. Thirty-eight percent (p less than .001) of the variance in Rapid Eye Movement sleep was accounted for by CCU sound levels.
Characterization of the effects of bupropion on the reinforcing properties of nicotine and food in rats

Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant drug that is the only nonnicotine-based prescription medicine approved for smoking cessation by the Food and Drug Administration. The aim of the present experiments was to investigate the effects of bupropion (5–40 mg/kg) on the reinforcing properties of nicotine and food in rats. The effects of bupropion were studied under two schedules of reinforcement: a fixed ratio 5 time-out 20-sec (FR5 TO20 s) and a progressive ratio (PR). Rats were trained to respond for nicotine (0.01 or 0.03 mg/kg/infusion, free base) or food under the FR5 TO20 s schedule. Pretreatment with the highest dose of bupropion (40 mg/kg) resulted in a significant reduction (∼50%) of nicotine intake in rats self-administering 0.03 mg/kg/infusion of nicotine. The same dose of bupropion also decreased (∼40%) the self-administration of 0.01 mg/kg/infusion of nicotine, but this effect did not reach statistical significance. Pretreatment with bupropion slightly (∼15%) reduced responding for food under the FR5 TO20 s schedule. Finally, pretreatment with bupropion did not affect the self-administration of nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion) under a PR schedule, but dose-dependently increased responding for food under the same PR schedule. These findings indicate that a high dose of bupropion decreases the reinforcing properties of nicotine as measured under an FR schedule, while having no apparent effects on breaking points for nicotine under a PR schedule that reflects both the reinforcing properties and the motivation to obtain nicotine. Synapse 50:20–28, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Do Soy Isoflavones Cause Endometrial Hyperplasia

For many years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was considered the gold standard for the symptomatic treatment of menopause. Clinical trials have found that HRT reduces the symptoms of hot flashes and sweating, while also decreasing vaginal dryness and urinary tract infections. HRT has also been shown to be protective against colon cancer (37%) and hip fractures (34%). However, recent findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) have revealed that long-term HRT may actually lead to an increase in heart disease (29%), breast cancer (26%) and other adverse events, such as stroke (41%). Consequently, many women in the United States and abroad are actively looking for alternative treatments for menopause, including botanical dietary supplements.
In vitro protocol to study the electromagnetic interaction of RFIDs and infusion pumps

The paper presents a generalized protocol to test and verify the reported results of EMI effects between RFID scanners and wearable infusion pumps. In addition, the protocol was created to more precisely evaluate the amount of interaction between RFID and medical devices, and identify those factors which had a significant influence on the level of interaction. Experimental EMI testing was conducted between three wearable infusion pumps and two RFIDs; no interference was observed.
Severe Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) gladioli Infection in Chronic Granulomatous Disease: Report of Two Successfully Treated Cases

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is characterized by a defect in phagocytic cells that leads to recurrent superficial and deep pyogenic infections. Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) gladioli is a gram-negative bacillus in the pseudomallei group of pseudomonads that is known primarily as a plant pathogen. We report two cases of pneumonia, one accompanied by septicemia, caused by B. gladioli in patients with CGD and their successful treatment with antibiotics. We believe these represent the first reports of human disease caused by this organism. We conclude that B. gladioli should be considered a potential pathogen in patients with CGD.
The Saltatory Sheaf-Odyssey of a Monadologist

An odyssey to a monadological quantum brain dynamics is told here. The very spirit of the odyssey would be violated by ab-straction, literally the lifting out of abstract order, which presumes a metaphysical lifter, a Cartesian subjectivity that does the lifting. A true odyssey, if anything, is existential, unabstractable segments of academic life experience along stalks of a fractal sheaf structure, a saltatory story.
Kinetic subjective contours

Continuous changes in spatially separated figures can evoke perception of subjective con­ tours and figures in physically homogeneous space between them. This occurs when all of the interruptions in the objectively present patterns (inducing elements) can be seen as caused by a unitary figure partly occluding them. Two experiments demonstrated and explored this phe­ nomenon. In both, displays were presented to subjects under three conditions. In one condition, stationary inducing elements were shown as they would be interrupted by a figure rotating in front of them. In another condition, the background and inducing elements rotated, with in­ terruptions occurring as if a stationary figure were in front. In a third condition, observers were shown 10 static views taken from the figure-rotation sequence for each display. Subjects con­ sistently perceived unitary central figures with well-defined forms and clear edges from pattern changes given by figure movement and background movement. As with static subjective fig­ ures, kinetic subjective figures appear in front of, partly occluding, the inducing elements. These percepts form rapidly, and they depend upon temporal relations rather than upon infor­ mation present in momentary views. Subjects occasionally reported subjective edges or a cen­ tral figure in the stationary displays in Experiment 1, but not at all in Experiment 2, in which guessing tendencies were reduced by more specific instructions. The existence of kinetic sub­ jective contours suggests that the visual system readily utilizes relationships among occlusion events separated in space and time. The minimum conditions for contour perception require neither information all along an edge nor simultaneous specification of the edge at two or more places.
Use of mobile high-resolution device for remote frozen section evaluation of whole slide images

Introduction: With recent advances, it is now possible to view whole slide images (WSI) on mobile, high-resolution, viewing devices (MVD). This creates a new paradigm in which MVDs may be used for consultation and/or diagnosis. Validation of the results with devices is important for practitioners and regulators. We evaluated the use of MVDs in frozen section (FS) interpretation. Methods: A series of 72 consecutive FS cases were selected for potential inclusion in the study. A 67 case subset of these were successfully scanned at 20x magnification. Scan times were recorded. A sample of WSI FS cases, with gross and clinical information, was presented to six pathologists on an iPad MVD using the Interpath application. Times to diagnosis were recorded. Results were compared with the original reported and final diagnosis. Participants also completed a survey assessing image quality, interface, and diagnostic comfort level. Results: Scan times averaged two minutes and 46 seconds per slide, (standard deviation [SD] 2 minutes 46 seconds). Evaluation times averaged 4 minutes and 59 seconds per case, range to 13 minutes and 50 seconds, SD 3 minutes 48 seconds. Concordance between initial FS diagnosis and rendered through the MVD was 89%. Minor discrepancies made up 8% and major disagreements 3%. The kappa statistic for this series is 0.85. Participants rated the experience at 5 on a 10-point scale, range 3 to 7. Two-thirds found the image quality to be adequate, half were satisfied with image resolution, and 33% would be willing to make a diagnosis on the iPad, plus one only for special cases. Five of six respondents (83%) found the navigation with the study software difficult. Conclusion: Image fidelity and resolution makes the iPad potentially suitable for WSI evaluation of FS. Acceptable accuracy is attainable for FS interpretation. But, although possible to obtain acceptable results, use of the iPad with Interpath to view WSI is not easy and meets user resistance. The obstacle of slide navigation at high magnification could introduce frustrations, delays, or errors.
Contestation and Change in National Policy on “Scientifically Based” Education Research:

In this article, we examine the definitions of “scientifically based research” in education that have appeared in recent national legislation and policy. These definitions, now written into law in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, and the focus of the National Research Council’s 2002 publication, Scientific Research in Education, are being used to affect decisions about the future of education programs and the direction of education research. Perhaps because of the high stakes involved, there has been some tendency to lump together the definitions emanating from Washington sources. From our perspective as participants in some of this activity, we argue that there are important differences among these definitions and their purposes. Furthermore, we suggest that the various definitions, together with public input about them, can provide leverage for altering the meanings of scientifically based research and education research that are being operationalized i...
“TOTO: Total on-time operations”—a microcomputer-bases statistical quality control procedure for measuring, monitoring, analyzing, and controlling transit system on-time performance

Abstract “On-Time Performance” is a primary measure of service for most transit operations. Despite its importance, few transit operations have developed statistically valid methods for measuring, monitoring, and controlling system “on-time” performance. Attempting to maintain on-time performance has been identified as an operational factor that contributes to driver fatigue, driver stress, and short- and long-term occupational health and safety incidents. This paper describes work done by the Oregon State University Transportation Research Institute and the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering to enable transit officials and analysts to use the microcomputer to address these problems. As part of the work done on a study entitled Human Factors Considerations in Public Transportation Safety sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Urban Mass Transportation Administration, a microcomputer procedure called TOTO for Total On-Time Operation was developed that enables industrial quality control concepts to be easily applied to transit system operations. Another microcomputer procedure that can be used in conjunction with TOTO is one called SCRAM for Schedule Constraint and Route Analysis Model. SCRAM allows transit system officials to estimate the impact of operational elements such as changing traffic loads, increased passenger loads, and time demands due to riders requiring special assistance on schedule completion. TOTO and SCRAM were developed with the assistance and cooperation of the transit agencies in Portland, Salem, Corvallis, and Eugene, Oregon. TOTO has proven itself useful in application in the Lane Transit District operations in Eugene, Oregon, but is generally applicable to any transit operation or to any process where entities are expected to arrive at specified times at defined points in a system.
Brittle fracture of nickel by dynamic indentation

Cracks of up to 40 μm which are either transgranular cleavage or very low energy “ductile” cracks have been introduced into large-grained fcc Ni. The mechanism for introducing this brittle fracture was dynamic indentation. Optical and scanning electron microscopy together with use of selected area channeling patterns were used to confirm that the fracture process is transgranular. The results qualitatively support the hypothesis that dynamic cracks originating in a brittle film can propagate relatively large distances into a ductile face-centered-cubic substrate by a rapid, low energy process.
Learning color and locality cues for moving object detection and segmentation

This paper presents an algorithm for automatically detecting and segmenting a moving object from a monocular video. Detecting and segmenting a moving object from a video with limited object motion is challenging. Since existing automatic algorithms rely on motion to detect the moving object, they cannot work well when the object motion is sparse and insufficient. In this paper, we present an unsupervised algorithm to learn object color and locality cues from the sparse motion information. We first detect key frames with reliable motion cues and then estimate moving sub-objects based on these motion cues using a Markov Random Field (MRF) framework. From these sub-objects, we learn an appearance model as a color Gaussian Mixture Model. To avoid the false classification of background pixels with similar color to the moving objects, the locations of these sub-objects are propagated to neighboring frames as locality cues. Finally, robust moving object segmentation is achieved by combining these learned color and locality cues with motion cues in a MRF framework. Experiments on videos with a variety of object and camera motion demonstrate the effectiveness of this algorithm.
Perceived Penal Sanction and Self-Reported Criminality: A Neglected Approach to Deterrence Research.

With few exceptions, empirical tests of deterrence theory have limited themselves to a consideration of crimes that are mala in se , such as homicide or the seven “Crime Index” offenses; and they have been based upon analyses of aggregate data that are available from official sources, such as Uniform Crime Reports and National Prisoner Statistics. Inconsistency of findings, limitations of available data, and questions necessarily left unanswered by these approaches to deterrence research provide a rationale for alternative approaches that are based upon unofficial data collected at the individual level, and involving crimes that are mala prohibita , as well as mala in se . Interviews with 321 university students were used to determine relationships between admitted marijuana use ( mala prohibita ) and theft ( mala in se ) and perceptions of the severity and certainty of punishment. The data suggest that: (1) perceptions of severe punishment are largely unrelated to admitted theft or marijuana use, (2) “general” deterrence appears not to be working for either offense—that is, punishment of “other” when perceived by “ego” appears unrelated to “ego's” admitted criminality, (3) the expectation that arrest or maximum penalties upon conviction would be likely (certain) for oneself appears somewhat related to lower levels of marijuana use and larceny. However, these latter relationships are stronger for marijuana use—which is mala prohibita —than they are for theft—which is mala in se . Such a discrepancy offers support for theoretical positions taken by Morris (1951), Andenaes (1966), and Zimring (1971).
Doi‐Edwards theory evaluation in double‐step strain flows

It is widely accepted that for reversing double-step strain deformations, predictions based on the Doi-Edwards (DE) molecular theory without the independent alignment approximation (IAA) are superior to predictions obtained with the IAA, or equivalently, the Kaye-Bernstein-Kearsley-Zapas (K-BKZ) theory. This summation, however, is based on data obtained over limited ranges of strain and time: the time both between the step strains (t1) and following the second step strain (t–t1). In this study, a thorough evaluation of the DE theory is carried out using a comprehensive double-step strain flow data set. The results of this study indicate that the DE theory is an improvement over the K-BKZ theory in flows with strain reversal but only for cases when the criteria t1, t–t1 ≫ τk is satisfied. The constant τk, defined as the time beyond which the stress relaxation modulus is factorable: G(γ, t) = h(γ)G(t), is believed to represent the end of the chain retraction process in the DE theory. It appears that the dynamics of chain retraction have an important influence on double-step strain behavior and, therefore, should be accounted for in molecular-based theories devised to have general validity in this important deformation history. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Characterization of aging process in power converters using spread spectrum time domain reflectometry

This paper aims to find a new technique to predict the state of health of power converters by characterizing the most vulnerable components in the converter without affecting the normal circuit operation. Spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) can detect most of the aged components inside the converter while the converter is operational. Semiconductor switches and electrolytic capacitors are the two most sensitive components in power converter circuits, and this paper demonstrated how SSTDR can be used to determine the degradation of these components. Multiple sets of test data have been generated while the SSTDR process is applied to the power MOSFETs, IGBTs connected in a chopper circuit and to the aluminum electrolytic capacitors connected in an RC circuit. Analysis is done on these obtained test data to show how the SSTDR generated data are consistent with the aging of power MOSFETs, IGBTs and electrolytic capacitors.
Quality and speed in linear-scan register allocation

A linear-scan algorithm directs the global allocation of register candidates to registers based on a simple linear sweep over the program being compiled. This approach to register allocation makes sense for systems, such as those for dynamic compilation, where compilation speed is important. In contrast, most commercial and research optimizing compilers rely on a graph-coloring approach to global register allocation. In this paper, we compare the performance of a linear-scan method against a modern graph-coloring method. We implement both register allocators within the Machine SUIF extension of the Stanford SUIF compiler system. Experimental results show that linear scan is much faster than coloring on benchmarks with large numbers of register candidates. We also describe improvements to the linear-scan approach that do not change its linear character, but allow it to produce code of a quality near to that produced by graph coloring.
Electrophysiological correlates of recollecting faces of known and unknown individuals.

We recorded brain potentials from healthy human subjects during a recognition test in order to monitor neural processing associated with face recollection. Subjects first attempted to memorize 40 faces; half were accompanied by a voice simulating that person speaking (e.g., ‘‘I’m Jimmy and I was a roadie for the Grateful Dead’’) and half were presented in silence. In the test phase, subjects attempted to discriminate both types of old faces (i.e., ‘‘named’’ and ‘‘unnamed’’ faces) from new faces. Recognition averaged 87% correct for named faces, 74% correct for unnamed faces, and 91% correct for new faces. Potentials to old faces were more positive than those to new faces from 300 to 600 ms after face onset. For named faces, the old‐new ERP difference was observed at anterior and posterior scalp locations. For unnamed faces, the old‐new ERP difference was observed only at posterior scalp locations. Results from a prior experiment suggest that these effects do not reflect perceptual priming of faces. The posterior portion of the old‐new ERP difference was thus interpreted as a neural correlate of retrieval of visual face information and the anterior portion as an indication of retrieval of person-specific semantic information. r 2000 Academic Press
Blocking Skype through Deep Packet Inspection

Skype is a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Voice over IP (VOIP) chat program. It provides its clients with an inexpensive means to communicate worldwide via the internet through wired and wireless networks. In the past this application was limited strictly to computers, yet with continuous advancements in mobile communication, Skype phones and other mobile devices have recently hit the market in an attempt to capitalize on Skypes reliable connection algorithms. However, despite the success of this application, it is important to note that due to Skypes connection algorithm and the nature of P2P, a number of vulnerabilities emerge that threaten both users and their networks. This paper outlines how to block the Skype application through the use of Deep Packet Inspection. This novel approach is completely scalable to networks of any size as a means of blocking one of the largest threats to commercial and government networks today. *