cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-Performance GalnAsP/InP Avalanche Photodetectors

High performance inverted-mesa GaInAsP/InP avalanche photodiodes responding out to 1.25 pm haye been fabricated. Uniform avalanche gains, M, of 700, dark current densities of 3 x 10-6 A/cm2 at M = 10, and an excess noise factor of -3 at M = 10 have been achieved by placing the p-n junction in the InP and using a new passivation technique. Pulse-response risetimes of less than 160 psec, limited by the risetime of the mode-locked Nd:YAG laser pulse, were measured with an avalanche gain of 40. Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) of the III-V quaternary alloy GaxIn1-xAsyP1-y on InP substrates have been under development in several laboratories for use in the 1.0-1.6 pm spectral region of interest for fiber optics applications. Typically, these devices, which have had the p-n junction located in the GaInAsP layer, have exhibited large values of dark current at biases sufficient to achieve gain, a condition that severely degrades the signal-to-noise performance and limits the gain to low values. Recently, however, Nishida et al. 1,2 have demonstrated in diffused structures that reductions in leakage current and increases in gain can be obtained by placing the p-n junction in the InP, so the high-field region is in the InP while the photogeneration region is in the GaInAsP. The noise performance of these devices was not discussed, but the low temperature (-190°C) noise characteristics of more conventional GaInAsP APDs were very recently published.3© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Tackling undue concentration of federal research funding: An empirical assessment on NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

Abstract This empirical study focuses on NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and its effect on a state's share of federal academic science and engineering (S&E) support to higher education institutions. Based on a panel of 50 states in period 1979–2006, the statistical results suggest that EPSCoR may have enhanced research capacity and competitiveness of EPSCoR states as reflected in a significant and positive effect of state's tenure in the program. The small effect of EPSCoR indicates that enhanced and more innovative efforts are needed in order to effectively tackle undue concentration of federal S&E support.
A user‐resource planning framework for offshore recreational artificial reefs

Abstract Artificial reefs have been used extensively in coastal waters to attract and enhance recreational fishery resources. In the United States, they have been traditionally built from “materials of opportunity”; using limited budgets. This paper explores some past planning philosophies and presents a recent artificial reef deployment case that demonstrates a lack of sensitivity to local and regional recreational demand. A systems framework is developed to guide future planning efforts in artificial reef development. The framework is intended to integrate previously fragmented knowledge and to demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of artificial reef planning. Emphasis is given to advance planning, user dimensions, and the integral issue of reef access.
Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment in the Development of Biomedical Drug Formulation Equipment

Hazard analysis and risk assessment techniques are utilized within many private sector industries and government agencies, including the medical device and pharmaceutical industry, within a structured process to control human injuries and environmental and property damage. In the U.S. the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requires a hazard analysis be performed on all medical devices. While there are biomedical engineering applications reported which deal with human hazards in clinical, patient care environment, no previous studies extend these traditional techniques to a university-based, research environment. This study applies a tiered approach to hazard analysis and risk assessment to a biomedical, university-based, research environment in the design of a high throughput platform that screens chemical excipients (additives) for their ability to increase protein solubility. Each design stage (conceptual, preliminary, system, and detailed) requires a unique hazard analysis technique based on available information. The analysis techniques applied here are evaluated for their use in a biomedical research environment where experiment accuracy is a primary concern.
High-Field Measurements on YBCO

We have performed resistance measurements on thin films of the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) in applied magnetic fields to above 200 T (2 MegaOersted) at temperatures as low as 2.5 K. The fields are produced by an explosively driven flux-compression system. We can see a particularly clear onset, without replotting the data, of the “hydrodynamic” flow of vortices probably because of the very fast increasing field. The low-temperature “critical field” for the field parallel to the c-axis of the sample is 135 T. Our data in the other direction are still preliminary. We discuss possible interpretation of our results.
The silent victims of domestic violence--who will speak?

TOPIC: Children who witness domestic violence are themselves victims of abuse. Unless directly abused, they are often overlooked and do not receive adequate services. PURPOSE: The authors contend that helping professionals as well as the state must attend to the ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, and justice in dealing with these children. Children, who witness violence at home, must receive top priority in the allocation of scarce resources. SOURCES: Published literature, clinical experience. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic screening and assessment efforts must incorporate standard questions about family violence into all mental health and school counseling interviews. Sensitive intervention and referral, linking victims and witnesses with intervention specialists, will do much to limit the sequelae often seen with family violence. Nurses must advocate for and support primary prevention programs in elementary and secondary school systems. Language: en
On compressed blind de-convolution of filtered sparse processes

Suppose the signal x ∈ 葷n is realized by driving a k-sparse signal z ∈ 葷n through an arbitrary unknown stable discrete-linear time invariant system H, namely, x(t) = (h * z)(t), where h(·) is the impulse response of the operator H. Is x(·) compressible in the conventional sense of compressed sensing? Namely, can x(t) be reconstructed from small set of measurements obtained through suitable random projections? For the case when the unknown system H is auto-regressive (i.e. all pole) of a known order it turns out that x can indeed be reconstructed from O(k log(n)) measurements. We develop a novel LP optimization algorithm and show that both the unknown filter H and the sparse input z can be reliably estimated.
Efficiency of Correct Nucleotide Insertion Governs DNA Polymerase Fidelity

DNA polymerase fidelity or specificity expresses the ability of a polymerase to select a correct nucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) from a pool of structurally similar molecules. Fidelity is quantified from the ratio of specificity constants (catalytic efficiencies) for alternate substrates (i.e. correct and incorrect dNTPs). An analysis of the efficiency of dNTP (correct and incorrect) insertion for a low fidelity mutant of DNA polymerase β (R283A) and exonuclease-deficient DNA polymerases from five families derived from a variety of biological sources reveals that a strong correlation exists between the ability to synthesize DNA and the probability that the polymerase will make a mistake (i.e.base substitution error). Unexpectedly, this analysis indicates that the difference between low and high fidelity DNA polymerases is related to the efficiency of correct, but not incorrect, nucleotide insertion. In contrast to the loss of fidelity observed with the catalytically inefficient R283A mutant, the fidelity of another inefficient mutant of DNA polymerase β (G274P) is not altered. Thus, although all natural low fidelity DNA polymerases are inefficient, not every inefficient DNA polymerase has low fidelity. Low fidelity polymerases appear to be an evolutionary solution to how to replicate damaged DNA or DNA repair intermediates without burdening the genome with excessive polymerase-initiated errors.
Limitation imposed on mixed-mode performance of optimized phases due to temporal juxtaposition

Abstract Mixed-mode parallel processing systems are capable of executing in either SIMD (synchronous) or MIMD (asynchronous) mode of parallelism. The ability to switch between the two modes at instruction-level granularity with very little overhead allows the parallelism mode to vary for each portion of an algorithm. To fully exploit the capability of intermixing both SIMD and MIMD operations within a single program, one must determine the optimum mapping of an algorithm to the mixed-mode architecture. The phase optimization technique, where the programmer makes an implicit assumption that by combining the best version of each phase the optimal implementation of the entire program will be achieved, generally works in a serial computer environment. The application of this approach to the selection of a mode of parallelism for each phase is investigated by presenting a detailed study of a practical image-processing application, the Edge-Guided Thresholding algorithm, and its mapping to a mixed-mode parallel architecture. The six functional phases of the algorithm, as well as their temporal juxtaposition, are analyzed along with experimental performance measurements obtained from the PASM parallel processing prototype, a mixed-mode system. The results discussed here demonstrate a situation in which the advantages of a mixed-mode approach are limited.
Probabilities, Intervals, What Next? Optimization Problems Related to Extension of Interval Computations to Situations with Partial Information about Probabilities

When we have only interval ranges [\underline {x},\bar {x}_i] of sample values x1,…,xn, what is the interval [\underline {V},\bar {V}] of possible values for the variance V of these values? We show that the problem of computing the upper bound \bar {V} is NP-hard. We provide a feasible (quadratic time) algorithm for computing the exact lower bound \underline {V} on the variance of interval data. We also provide feasible algorithms that computes \bar {V} under reasonable easily verifiable conditions, in particular, in case interval uncertainty is introduced to maintain privacy in a statistical database. We also extend the main formulas of interval arithmetic for different arithmetic operations x1 op x2 to the case when,\break for each input xi, in addition to the interval {\bf x}_i=[\underline {x}_i,\bar {x}_i] of possible values, we also know its mean Ei (or an interval Ei of possible values of the mean), and we want to find the corresponding bounds for y=x1 op x2 and its mean. In this case, we are interested not only in the bounds for y, but also in the bounds for the mean of y. We formulate and solve the corresponding optimization problems, and describe remaining open problems.
Identification of the Burial Depth of Radio Frequency Identification Transponders in Riverine Applications

AbstractRadio frequency identification (RFID) technology enables bidirectional, remote communication between a reader and a transponder (or tag) with a unique ID via an excitation antenna. This study provides a framework for estimating the burial depth of a transponder from a fixed location as a means of assessing scour depth or for other riverine applications. In doing so, a low frequency (LF), passive RFID system is used, which operates at a resonance frequency of 134.2 kHz and can penetrate through saturated sediments. The objective of this research is the development and validation of a semitheoretical expression that relates the decay of the received input voltage (VIN) at the reader with the transponder burial depth or detection distance, d, through a series of well-controlled experiments. This study examines the correspondence between VIN and d in air, as well as in water, gravel, and sand, and assesses the role of transponder orientation (perpendicular and parallel with respect to the excitation a...
Bronchovascular Responses to Intravenous Contrast Media for Helical CT Pulmonary Angiography

CT angiography is now commonly used for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, but the contrast media used for imaging produces various hemodynamic changes. In this study, we investigated the bronchovascular and hemodynamic responses to intravenous iopromide, a non-ionic contrast agent used for pulmonary CT angiograms, in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated sheep (n = 6). Bronchial blood flow and cardiac output were measured with ultrasonic flow probes. Systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures were continuously monitored. Injections of 0.9% NaCl (120 ml over 30 s) or iopromide (300 mg/ml, 120 ml over 30 s) were given in random order in a peripheral vein with an angiogram infuser and hemodynamic changes were determined. After these parameters returned to baseline, the left pulmonary artery (LPA) was occluded with a snare and the animals were allowed to stabilize. Injections of NaCl and iopromide were repeated in random order as before. There were no significant hemodynamic effects with infusion of NaCl. W...
The predictive power of Cattell's personality questionnaires: An eighteen month prospective study

Abstract An 18 month prospective study of personality traits (as assessed by Cattell's Children's Personality Questionnaire and Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire) was conducted on twin pairs and their parents. The primary personality trait scores for both the adults and children had relatively low stability over the 18 month interval; in addition, in some cases, the inter-factor stability coefficients exceeded the intra-factor coefficients. This finding, coupled with the lack of parent/offspring similarity for the primary personality traits, places in question the predictive power of Cattell's personality questionnaires. A factor analysis on the original items indicated that 5 oblique factors for the children and 6 oblique factors for the adults need be retained. These factors were not only more stable than the primary trait scores, but they also did not have such high inter-factor stability coefficients. Except for Neuroticism and IQ, the adult and juvenile factors do not show structural similarities.
Effect of a conspecific's presence on deprived rats' performance- Social facilitation vs distraction/imitation*

The present study investigated effects of (a) conspecific’s "mere presence" and (b) water deprivation on emission of dominant responses by rats. Zajonc (1965) suggests that a conspecific’s presence functions like a physiologically based drive in enhancing performance of dominant responses. Alternative interpretations suggest that a conspecific’s presence impairs performance by distracting the observer or eliciting imitation of "irrelevant" responses. The social facilitation vs distraction/imitation hypotheses were tested in a 2 by 2 design: Barpress-trained rats, deprived of water for 4 or 23 h, barpressed for water in the presence of a naive rat or alone. Results supported social facilitation theory: Performance was significantly higher when the conspecific was present rather than absent and when the responder was 23 h rather than 4 h deprived. In reconciling these data with conflicting results, it was suggested that degree of contact may be important in determining how a conspecific’s presence affects performance of dominant responses. For 75 years investigators have been interested in how the presence of conspecifics affects individual behavior. Beginning with Triplett’s (1898) early work, a large volume of seemingly disparate findings accumulated indicating that the presence of others sometimes enhances and sometimes inhibits performance. Zajonc (1965) brought order to the social facilitation literature by suggesting that the presence of others arouses general drive (D), which in turn enhances emission of dominant responses. If the dominant response is correct, performance is enhanced; if the dominant response is incorrect, performance suffers. This formulation, based on Hull-Spence theory, not only satisfactorily integrated existing data but also generated a good deal of new research (e.g., Cottrell, Wack, Sekerak, & Rittle, 1968;
Power-aware networks: Balancing motion with communication energy in mobile robotic systems

This paper concerns the problem of path planning for a team of autonomous mobile robots, tasked with the formation of a relay network for providing communications between a stationary object and a remote station (controller). The trajectories of the robots should be determined so as to optimize their energy required for communication and motion. The robots are assumed to transmit while in motion. The problem is formulated in the setting of optimal control, and solved by the application of an efficient algorithm recently developed by the authors. The algorithm is based on explicit minimization of the Hamiltonian at each step thereby providing an effective, easily-computable descent direction. Following the problem formulation the paper presents the algorithm and its convergence properties, demonstrates it on application examples, and discusses various directions for future research.
The NSF Engineering Research Centers and the University-Industry Research Revolution: A Brief History Featuring an Interview with Erich Bloch

The NSF engineering research centers (ERC) program served notice of a sea change in university research funding and institutional designs, representing a transition from department-based, principle investigator-oriented university science to a new center-based model encouraging universities to work with industry and to work beyond the strictures of academic disciplines. In our view, the past three decades of U.S. science and technology policy have not seen an institutional change of greater importance. This paper begins with a brief history of the ERC program, including discussion of the program’s origins, goals and research foci, growth, and influence as a model for other science center programs in the U.S. and abroad. Our “primary data” include an interview with Erich Bloch, former NSF director who was one of the chief architects and advocates for the ERC program. Because of the historical importance of this interview, we present the entire interview with the original material largely unaltered. We conclude with discussion of the managerial challenges that ERCs face within the context of traditional university structures.
A solitary hyperfunctioning thyroid nodule harboring thyroid carcinoma: review of the literature.

Hyperfunctioning nodules of the thyroid are thought to only rarely harbor thyroid cancer, and thus are infrequently biopsied. Here, we present the case of a patient with a hyperfunctioning thyroid nodule harboring thyroid carcinoma and, using MEDLINE literature searches, set out to determine the prevalence of and characteristics of malignant “hot” nodules as a group. Historical, biochemical and radiologic characteristics of the case subjects and their nodules were compared to those in cases of benign hyperfunctioning nodules. A literature review of surgical patients with solitary hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules managed by thyroid resection revealed an estimated 3.1% prevalence of malignancy. A separate literature search uncovered 76 cases of reported malignant hot thyroid nodules, besides the present case. Of these, 78% were female and mean age at time of diagnosis was 47 years. Mean nodule size was 4.13 ± 1.68 cm. Laboratory assessment revealed T3 elevation in 76.5%, T4 elevation in 51.9%, and subclinical hyperthyroidism in 13% of patients. Histological diagnosis was papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in 57.1%, follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) in 36.4%, and Hurthle cell carcinoma in 7.8% of patients. Thus, hot thyroid nodules harbor a low but non-trivial rate of malignancy. Compared to individuals with benign hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules, those with malignant hyperfunctioning nodules are younger and more predominantly female. Also, FTC and Hurthle cell carcinoma are found more frequently in hot nodules than in general. We were unable to find any specific characteristics that could be used to distinguish between malignant and benign hot nodules.
Concealed anomalous cardiac conduction pathway: an operable cause of supraventricular tachycardia.

F: Thyrotropin and prolactin pituitary reserve in the "empty sella syndrome," J Clin Endocrinol Metab 41:968, 1975. 4. Faglia G, Ambrosi B, Beck-Peccoz P, and Giovanelli M: Disorders of growth hormone and corticotropin regulation in patients with empty sella, J Neurosurg 38:59, 1973. 5. Caplan RH, and Dobben GD: Endocrine studies in patients with the "empty sella syndrome," Arch Intern Med 123:611, 1969. 6. Brisman R, Hughes JEO, and Holub DA: Endocrine function in nineteen patients with empty sella syndrome, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 34:570, 1972. 7. Neelon FA, Goree JA, and Lebovitz HE: The primary empty sella: Clinical and radiological characteristics and endocrine function, Medicine 52:73, 1973. 8. Wolf BS, Nakagawa H, and Staulcup PH: Feasibility of coronal views in computed scanning of the head, Radiology 120:217, 1976. 9. Snyder PJ, Jacobs LS, Rabello MM, Sterling FH, Shore RN, Utiger RD, and Daughaday WH: Diagnostic value of thyrotropin releasing hormone in pituitary and hypothalamic diseases, Ann Intern Med 81:751, 1974. 10. AvRuskin TW, Tang SC, and Juan CS: The glucagon infusion test and growth hormone secretion, J PED~ATR 86:102, 1975. 11. Ganguly A, Stanchfield JB, Roberts TS, West CD, and Tyler FH: Cushing's syndrome in a patient with an empty sella turcica and a microadenoma of the adenohypophysis, Am J Med 60:306, 1976.
Ultrastructural changes in human skin mast cells during antigen-induced degranulation in vivo

Human skin mast cells were degranulated in vivo by intradermal injection of antigen. Biopsy specimens of control and stimulated skin were obtained at 5 minutes, again at 10 to 15 minutes, and analyzed by electron microscopy. Degranulation, defined as dissolution of granule contents and swelling in at least 20% of secretory granules of mast cells was observed in one third of mast cells at 5 minutes and in nearly two thirds of mast cells at 10 to 15 minutes, but was absent in biopsy specimens of control subjects. Anaphylactic degranulation was characterized by extensive fusion of granules to form degranulation channels, fusion of channels with the cell membrane to form large pores, and exocytosis of amorphous or fibrillar granule matrix into the connective tissue. Extruded secretory granules of skin mast cells persist for at least 15 minutes in the connective tissues, in apparent contrast to the process of in vivo degranulation in nasal and lung mast cells.
Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of mercury in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga onitis) from the Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA).

Abstract We examined the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of mercury in two marine finfish species, striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga onitis), collected from the Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA). For each of these target fish, white muscle tissue was analyzed for total mercury (Hg) and results were evaluated relative to fish age, body size, and Hg content of preferred prey. Dietary and stable isotope analysis was also used to elucidate the effect of trophic processes on Hg concentrations in fish. The Hg content of muscle tissue was positively correlated with fish age and length for both species, although striped bass accumulated Hg faster than tautog. Accelerated Hg bioaccumulation in striped bass is consistent with its high trophic level (trophic level = 4.07) and Hg-enriched prey (forage fish and macrocrustaceans; mean Hg content = 0.03 mg Hg kg wet wt−1). In contrast, tautog maintain a lower trophic status (trophic level = 3.51) and consume prey with lower Hg levels (mussels and crabs; mean Hg content = 0.02 mg Hg kg wet wt−1). Despite differences in Hg bioaccumulation between target fish, the mean Hg concentration of tautog exceeded levels in striped bass (0.24 and 0.16 mg Hg kg wet wt−1, respectively) due to a disparity in age-at-catch between sampled groups (mean age of tautog and bass = 11.3 and 4.3 yr, respectively). Taking into account legal minimum catch lengths further revealed that 75.0% of legal-size striped bass (>70.2 cm TL; n = 4) and 44.8% of tautog (>40.6 cm TL; n = 29) had Hg levels beyond the US EPA regulatory threshold of 0.3 mg Hg kg wet wt−1. Moreover, Hg-length relationships suggest that each target fish meets this threshold near their minimum legal catch length. Our findings reiterate the value of species ecology to improve predictions of fish Hg and permit better management of human contamination by this important dietary source.
Folic acid fortified fat‐free plain set yoghurt

The objective was to elucidate the effect of folic acid incorporation on the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of yoghurt. Folic acid was added during mix preparation (before pasteurization) or immediately after culture addition (after pasteurization) at 25 and 50% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 300 μg. Folic acid fortified yoghurts were significantly different from the control and were yellowish. The pH and titratable acidity (TA) values of folic acid fortified yoghurts remained unchanged compared to the control. Folic acid fortified yoghurts had significantly lower flavour, body and texture scores and better water-holding capacity compared to the control.
Accumulations of infinite links

Abstract We consider smooth links in S3 which consist of a countably infinite collection of tamely embedded circles having the property of being locally straight. We show that in general there are no restrictions on the types of accumulations that may appear in terms of the knot types: e.g., trefoils may accumulate on figure-eights in a smooth manner. Our techniques rely on properties of “universal templates”, a class of branched 2-manifolds. Our results apply to closed orbits of flows on S3.
Research on Active Suspension System Based on BP and RBF Network Algorithm

A six degrees of freedom half body vehicle suspension system is presented in the paper .The Back Propagation neural network algorithm and the Radial-Basis Function network algorithm is adopted to control the suspension system. With the aid of software Matlab/Simulink , the simulation model is obtained. A great deal of simulation work is done. Simulation results demonstrate that both the designed radius basis function neural network and the back propagation neural network work well for the proposed vehicle suspension model in the paper .
Morphologic Aspects of the Chest Gland of the Bat, Molossus Ater

The single oval chest gland of the bat, Molossus ater , is situated in the midventral axis at the base of the neck. The gland has a vascular fibrous capsule. Septa extend inward, forming a delicate supporting stroma for the ducts and glandular parenchyma. Two types of glands are present: sebaceous glands which form the main bulk and are distributed throughout the entire structure and sweat glands confined to the innermost portions where they are present in clusters. Ducts of both glands open into a pocketlike integumental fold at the ventral surface.
Destination zone fallacies and half-truths

Abstract The author discusses key issues surrounding the concept of the destination zone, and seeks to identify fallacies and half-truths about the concept which are still current. Material is drawn from recent destination zone analysis methodology work for the Canadian Government Office of Tourism.
TH‐C‐141‐11: Evaluation of MR Images as the Planning and Reference Dataset for Daily CBCT‐Based IGRT of the Prostate

Purpose: An important question rarely discussed in the CT vs. MRI simulation debate is whether MRI reference images provide an adequate image‐set to use with daily localization such as cone‐beam CT (CBCT). This study compares clinical couch shifts based on daily CBCT images to shifts measured from MR images as the reference dataset for prostate IMRT treatment. Methods: Eight patients undergoing a pilot study had MR imaging along with CT simulation with the intent of evaluating a MR‐simulation process. Patients had T1, T2 and bTFE (balanced Turbo Field Echo) sequences. The remainder of the treatment planning process continued using traditional procedures using CT. Therapists used only the CT scan as a reference for localization. Retrospectively, an observer measured shifts between daily CBCT images and MR reference images. Results: The differences in shift positions for the cohort between therapists and the observer are −0.16cm ± 0.25cm (AP), 0.04cm ± 0.19cm (SI), and — 0.01cm ± 0.14cm (LR). The mean group error for the therapists and the observer were less than 2 mm in all directions. Based on these shifts, the calculated margins for the therapists would be 0.87cm (AP), 0.65cm (SI), and 0.71cm (LR) and for the observer would be 1.1cm (AP), 0.66cm (SI), and 0.70cm (LR). For SI and LR directions both sets of margins are very close to one another. An outlier impacted the AP margin difference by 2.3mm and should be investigated further. This initial analysis suggests that each modality can be considered clinically sufficient for daily localization. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that MR reference image‐sets can be used for daily image‐guided localization of prostate cancers with at least the same accuracy as current methods. MR simulation provides substantial soft‐tissue contrast and can improve tissue targeting in radiation oncology, as a Result further investigation is warranted.
Error bounds for polynomial product approximation

Abstract This paper establishes bounds on the uniform error in the approximation of a continuous function defined on a rectangle by polynomial product approximations. The dependence of product approximations on the basis functions used for the associated polynomial spaces is investigated.
Lehigh Instrument for Learning Interaction (LILI): An Interactive Robot to Aid Development of Social Skills for Autistic Children

Recent studies show that autistic children tend to speak and interact more in the presence of an interactive robot. Unfortunately, most of the robotic experiments were conducted in highly controlled clinical settings or limited selected home environments due to the high deployment cost. In this paper, we design a low-cost interactive robot that can be readily deployed to home environments. Our robot, called Lehigh Instrument for Learning Interaction (LILI), interacts with users via gestures, voice commands, and an animated speaking avatar. LILI can recognize users' faces, and her motion can be controlled either via gesture or voice. We describe both the system and software architectures of LILI. Experimental results are also presented.
Is gastric cancer preventable

Gastric cancer is a major health burden worldwide and prevention is the most promising strategy to control the disease. The available scientific evidence indicates that curing Helicobacter pylori infection results in a modest retardation of the precancerous process but does not prevent all cancers. Individuals at the highest risk should be cured of their infection and monitored endoscopically to detect dysplasia and “early” cancer, amenable to successful treatment.
Are bacteria more like plants or animals? Growth rate and resource dependence of bacterial C : N : P stoichiometry

Summary 1. We examined the relative importance of resource composition (carbon : phosphorus molar ratios which varied between 9 and 933) and growth rate (0·5‐1·5 h - 1 ) to biomass carbon : nitrogen : phosphorus stoichiometry and nucleic acid content in Escherichia coli grown in chemostats, and in other heterotrophic prokaryotes using published literature. 2. Escherichia coli RNA content and the contribution of RNA-P to total cellular P increased with increasing growth rate at all supply C : P ratios. Growth rate had a much stronger effect on biomass C : P than did supply C : P, and increased RNA content resulted in low biomass C : P and N : P ratios. 3. However, we observed only twofold variations in biomass C : P and N : P ratios in the experiments, despite a difference of two orders of magnitude in C : P and N : P supply. The response of biomass C : P and N : P ratios to alteration of the supply C : P and N : P ratios revealed that E. coli was strongly homeostatic in its elemental composition. 4. This result, and a literature survey, suggest that each heterotrophic bacterial strain regulates its elemental composition homeostatically within a relatively narrow range of characteristic biomass C : P and N : P ratios. 5. Thus shifts in the dominance of different bacterial strains in the environment are probably responsible for the large variation in bacterial biomass C : P, as has been suggested for crustacean zooplankton. These findings indicate that bacteria are more like animals than plants in terms of biomass C : P and N : P homeostasis.
Use of Plasma Procalcitonin Levels as an Adjunct to Clinical Microbiology

Procalcitonin (PCT) is synthesized by a large number of tissues and organs in response to invasion by pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and some parasites. Current PCT assays are rapid, specific, and of sufficient sensitivity to detect increases in PCT serum levels within 4 to 6 h of initiation of infection. Clinically, PCT levels may help in decisions regarding the need for empirical antibiotic therapy, “source control” of infection, and duration of antibiotic therapy. The addition of PCT levels to bacterial culture and viral detection results can assist with the separation of colonization and invasion by pathogenic bacteria.
Simultaneous MR elastography and diffusion acquisitions: diffusion-MRE (dMRE).

Purpose To present a new technique for concurrent MR elastography (MRE) and diffusion MRI: diffusion-MRE (dMRE). Methods In dMRE, shear wave motion and MR signal decay due to diffusion are encoded into the phase and magnitude components of the MR signal by using a pair of bipolar gradients for both motion-sensitization and diffusion encoding. The pulse sequence timing is adjusted so that the bipolar gradients are sensitive to both coherent and incoherent intravoxel motions. The shape, number, and duration of the gradient lobes can be adjusted to provide flexibility and encoding efficiency. In this proof-of-concept study, dMRE was validated using a tissue phantom composed of a gel bead embedded in a hydrated mixture of agarose and gelatin. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and shear stiffness measured using dMRE were compared with results obtained from separate, conventional spin-echo (SE) diffusion and SE-MRE acquisitions. Results The averaged ADC values (n = 3) for selected ROIs in the beads were (1.75 ± 0.16) μm2/ms and (1.74 ± 0.16) μm2/ms for SE-diffusion and dMRE methods, respectively. The corresponding shear stiffness values in the beads were (2.45 ± 0.23) kPa and (2.42 ± 0.20) kPa. Conclusion Simultaneous MRE and diffusion acquisition is feasible and can be implemented with no observable interference between the two methods. Magn Reson Med 71:1682–1688, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Colorectal cancer prevention and treatment.

Gastrointestinal cancer has attracted the attention of many basic scientists and clinical investigators over the past 2‐3 decades, and the progress made is currently being translated into new types of clinical management for our patients. This review will focus on colorectal cancer, highlight some of the newer findings that are available, and attempt to predict where future breakthroughs are likely to occur. Drug interventions directed at established cancer and novel preventive programs will be highlighted; patients are increasingly interested in understanding how they can prevent cancers in both high-risk and ordinary-risk situations. General Management Strategies for Gastrointestinal Cancer The gastrointestinal tract represents the interface with our diet. We should be mindful that the digestive organs account for more cancer than any other system. A key message is that manipulation of diet, gut flora, and the gastrointestinal milieu are reasonable targets to modify the risk of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. Our approaches to the management of cancer and cancer risk might be broadly divided into the following categories. At the preventive end of the spectrum, we try to identify healthy people who are at increased risk for cancer and intervene with treatment programs that will prevent neoplastic lesions from developing. Some individuals who are completely healthy may approach us and ask how to reduce their risk of cancer. In the near future, we may be asked to develop cancer prevention programs
Construction of Justice at the Street Level

By conceptualizing street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) as the ultimate policy makers, Michael Lipsky (1980) focused attention on the interaction between citizens and the state at the organizational front lines. In subsequent years, research on SLBs provided significant insight into the interactions of SLBs and citizens. In particular, scholarship has focused on the inherently autonomous nature of street-level work and the discretion these agents of the state possess. Work in this area has traditionally relied on teachers, social workers, and police officers as sources for empirical study of how formal and informal social structures influence the use of discretion by SLBs. Recent scholarship, and coverage of New York City's stop and frisk policy, has renewed interest in the role that SLBs play in constructing justice for the citizens they encounter. In this review, we consider the street-level-bureaucracy scholarship and articulate how insights from this literature inform our current understanding of investiga...
Aeroelastic Analysis of F-16 and F-18/A Configurations Using Adapted CFD-Based Reduced-Order Models

A fast and robust method for constructing aeroelastic reduced-order models (ROMs) at new Mach numbers and angles of attack from a discrete set of aeroelastic ROMs available at dierent Mach numbers and angles of attack is presented. This method is based on interpolation on a tangent space to a Grassman manifold. Its accuracy is assessed with the parameteric aeroelastic identification of two F-16 and F-18/A configurations in subsonic, transonic, and supersonic air streams. In particular, the aeroelastic frequencies and damping coecients predicted by this new ROM interpolation method are compared to counterpart results obtained from full-order nonlinear aeroelastic simulations, alternative ROM adaptation methods, and flight test data. Good correlations are observed, including in the transonic regime. Concluding remarks about the potential of the proposed ROM interpolation method for assisting the flutter test and store clearance of fighter aircraft are also oered.
Pediatric Urologic Imaging

Significant advances have been made in the imaging of the urinary tract in children. The trio of renal-bladder ultrasound, voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), and nuclear scintigraphy dominate this imaging. CT and MRI, however, are rising in utility to supplement these studies and in some cases provide the definitive imaging. This article provides the radiographic findings associated with the most common pediatric urologic problems and some less common anomalies. The focus will be on ultrasound, VCUG,and nuclear studies with CT and MRI discussed as pertinent.
A clock extraction circuit using passive components-free filter in standard digital process

The necessity of passive components in analog circuit design such as Clock Recovery Circuits (CRC) or Phase Locked Loops (PLL) has been a main barrier to overcome especially when using a standard digital CMOS process. In addition to lack of support of high quality passives in digital CMOS, use of passive devices causes problems with area, thermal noise of resistance, process variation, mismatch of capacitances, and inability to scalable designs. Consequently current high speed clock recovery circuits are implemented mostly in bipolar technology or other passive friendly technology. However, these technologies are not well-suited to the higher levels of integration needed for "systems on a chip". Also, current technology emphasis is shifting from increasing the operation speed of components to reducing their size, power consumption, and cost to eliminating the need for adjustment and trimming. These goals can be achieved by using fully passive component-free monolithic CMOS circuits. In this paper, we present a method for implementing a passive component filter which can be used in clock recovery circuit or PLLs.
Effects Of RFID Technology On Efficiency And Profitability In Retail Supply Chains

Ten years have passed since Wal-Mart’s public announcement about its RFID technology adoption plan in 2003. Some large competitors of Wal-Mart in the U.S. retail industry jumped on the trend of RFID technology adoption. However, there has been a slowdown of RFID technology adoption since 2008. Many U.S. retailers do not consider adopting RFID technology because of the uncertainty of return on investment and the lack of business cases demonstrating its profitability or efficiency. This study investigates whether RFID companies have better financial performance ratios in the U.S. retail supply chains. RFID retailers have significantly lower daysin-inventory and lower per-employee costs. Compared with pre-RFID, the RFID retailers do not improve profit ratios after they adopted it, but their days-in-inventory ratio and sales efficiency improve significantly. Panel data regression analyses show that inventory management efficiency does impact gross margins, but the impact of cost efficiency is negligible. RFID retailers have a positive relationship with gross margin increases. In summary, it could be stated that introducing RFID improves inventory management efficiency but we do not know yet if RFID technology adoption also contributes to profitability in U.S. retail industry.
THE USE OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF ESCAPE-MAINTAINED DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

We identified 3 clients whose destructive behavior was sensitive to negative reinforcement (break from tasks) and positive reinforcement (access to tangible items, attention, or both). In an instructional context, we then evaluated the effects of reinforcing compliance with one, two, or all of these consequences (a break, tangible items, attention) when destructive behavior produced a break and when it did not (escape extinction). For 2 clients, destructive behavior decreased and compliance increased when compliance produced access to tangible items, even though destructive behavior resulted in a break. For 1 client, extinction was necessary to reduce destructive behavior and to increase compliance. Subsequently, when the schedule of reinforcement for compliance was faded for all clients, destructive behavior was lower and fading proceeded more rapidly when compliance produced multiple functional reinforcers (i.e., a break plus tangible items or attention) and destructive behavior was on extinction. The results are discussed in terms of the effects of relative reinforcement value and extinction on concurrent operants.
Late Endocytic Multivesicular Bodies Intersect the Chlamydial Inclusion in the Absence of CD63

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens that replicate solely within a membrane-bound vacuole termed an inclusion. Within the confines of the inclusion, the replicating bacteria acquire amino acids, nucleotides, and other precursors from the host cell. Trafficking from CD63-positive multivesicular bodies to the inclusion was previously identified as a novel interaction that provided essential precursors for the maintenance of a productive intracellular infection. The present study analyzes the direct delivery of resident protein and lipid constituents of multivesicular bodies to the intracellular chlamydiae. The manipulation of this trafficking pathway with an inhibitor of multivesicular body transport and the delivery of exogenous antibodies altered protein and cholesterol acquisition and delayed the maturation of the chlamydial inclusion. Although inhibitor studies and ultrastructural analyses confirmed a novel interaction between CD63-positive multivesicular bodies and the intracellular chlamydiae, neutralization with small interfering RNAs and anti-CD63 Fab fragments revealed that CD63 itself was not required for this association. These studies confirm CD63 as a constituent in multivesicular body-to-inclusion transport; however, other requisite components of these host cell compartments must control the delivery of key nutrients that are essential to intracellular bacterial development.
Quality of Life of Persons With Medical Illnesses: Counseling's Holistic Contribution

This article presents a rationale for the addition of psychological counseling in the treatment of persons with medical illnesses. Empirical data on the mind-body connection are presented, and I. Pollin's (1995) Medical Crisis Counseling model is outlined as an example of an effective intervention. The authors discuss the issues and counseling techniques related to the model within the frameworks of individual, group, and family counseling; use case studies to illustrate intervention strategies; and suggest implications for future research and training.
Psychometric Functions for Shortened Administrations of a Speech Recognition Approach Using Tri-Word Presentations and Phonemic Scoring

Method Complete psychometric functions for phoneme and word recognition scores at 8 signal-to-noise ratios from −15 dB to 20 dB were generated for the first 10, 20, and 25, as well as all 50, three...
Androgen Receptor CAG Repeat Polymorphism and Risk of TMPRSS2:ERG–Positive Prostate Cancer

Background: The androgen receptor (AR) is an essential gene in prostate cancer pathogenesis and progression. Genetic variation in AR exists, including a polymorphic CAG repeat sequence that is inversely associated with transcriptional activity. Experimental data suggest that heightened AR activity facilitates formation of TMPRSS2:ERG , a gene fusion present in approximately 50% of tumors of patients with prostate cancer. Methods: We undertook a nested case–control study to investigate the hypothesis that shorter CAG repeat length would be associated with prostate cancer risk defined by TMPRSS2:ERG status. The study included 291 men with prostate cancer (147 ERG-positive) and 1,221 cancer-free controls. ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression. Results: Median CAG repeat length (interquartile range) among controls was 22 (20–24). Men with shorter CAG repeats had an increased risk of ERG-positive (OR, 1.07 per 1 repeat decrease; 95% CI, 1.00–1.14), but not ERG-negative prostate cancer (OR, 0.99 per 1 repeat decrease; 95% CI, 0.93–1.05). Conclusions: These data suggest that shorter CAG repeats are specifically associated with development of TMPRSS2:ERG– positive prostate cancer. Impact: Our results provide supportive evidence that androgen signaling underlies the development of prostate tumors that harbor TMPRSS2:ERG . Moreover, these results suggest that TMPRSS2:ERG may represent a unique molecular subtype of prostate cancer with an etiology distinct from TMPRSS2:ERG– negative disease. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(10); 2027–31. ©2014 AACR .