cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rare-earth valence-state studies of the series RIn 3 and RSn 3 derived from quadrupole coupling constants

Time-differential perturbed angular correlation was applied to measure the quadrupole coupling constants of111Cd (247 keV) at the In and Sn sites for rare-earth compounds of the series RIn3 and RSn3 that have the AuCu3 structure. Definitive evidence was found for Yb and Eu having lower valence states relative to the assumed value of +3 for the other rare earths. Measurements at liquid helium temperatures and pressures to 18.5 kbar indicate that the room temperature valencies of CeSn3, YbSn3, and YbIn3 have not changed.
An Interval Timer for Arc Durartion

IN DEVELOPMENT work leading to new and improved designs of equipment involving arc interruption the success of the work is to a large extent influenced by the quality of the instruments used for measurement. The arc-interruption problem is one that has been in existence since the first electric installation. Nevertheless, progress continually is being made in developing smaller and more efficient devices for stopping the flow of electric current. One of the most promising ways of furthering this progress lies in the development of new methods of measurement.
Fabric contamination from pesticides on tractor tires.

1 Textiles and Clothing Extension, Iowa State University, 1055 LeBaron Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA 2 Agricultural and BioSystems Engineering Extension, Iowa State University, 2008 Davidson, Ames, IA 50011, USA 3 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Iowa State University, 1095 College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA 50011, USA 4 Textiles and Clothing Department, Iowa State University, 1055 LeBaron Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA 5 Statistics Department, Iowa State University, 21 OB Snedecor, Ames, IA 50011, USA
The Vroman effect: a molecular level description of fibrinogen displacement.

The molecular level details of the displacement of surface adsorbed fibrinogen from silica substrates were studied by atomic force microscopy, immunochemical assays, fluorescence microscopy, and vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy. The results showed that human plasma fibrinogen (HPF) can be readily displaced from the interface by other plasma proteins near neutral pH because the positively charged αC domains on HPF sit between the rest of the macromolecule and the underlying surface. The αC domains make weak electrostatic contact with the substrate, which is manifest by a high degree of alignment of Lys and Arg residues. Upon cycling through acidic pH, however, the αC domains are irreversibly removed from this position and the rest of the macromolecule is free to engage in stronger hydrogen bonding, van der Waals, and hydrophobic interactions with the surface. This results in a 170-fold decrease in the rate at which HPF can be displaced from the interface by other proteins in human plasma.
Lattice dynamics studies of grain boundary structures: I. Method and application to stability

Abstract The method of lattice dynamics has been applied to an atomistic model of a grain boundary with emphasis on its utility in examining structural instability. A 36.9° [001] coincidence symmetrical tilt boundary was used with a Morse pairwise potential. Several structures derived by a static relaxation procedure were studied. Stable structures are characterized by a vibrational spectrum consisting of real frequencies only, while one of the statically relaxed structures yielded a pair of imaginary frequencies and therefore was unstable. A comparison of the lattice dynamics method with other methods for testing stability of a defect configuration is given.
Internet-scale IP alias resolution techniques

The well-known traceroute probing method discovers links between interfaces on Internet routers. IP alias resolution, the process of identifying IP addresses belonging to the same router, is a critical step in producing Internet topology maps. We compare the performance and accuracy of known alias resolution techniques, propose some enhancements, and suggest a practical combination of techniques that can produce the most accurate and complete IP-to-router mapping at macroscopic scale.
Calculated Aeroelastic Bending of a Sounding Rocket Based on Flight Data

During a series of Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket flights, large extra-atmospheric coning angles were observed which were not predicted by preflight calculations. The most probable causes were concluded to be Magnus forces, aeroelastic bending, and/or lee-side boundarylayer separation. This paper is a report of an investigation of the aeroelastic behavior of one of these flights. An analysis was made which assumed that the missile consisted of two rigid bodies (payload and motor) hinged at their interface. Three-degree-of-freedom moment equations were written for each of the sections that were coupled by a bending moment at the hinge point. Sufficient data were available from flight, wind-tunnel, and laboratory tests to calculate the coning angles of each section. The maximum angular difference between the payload and the motor, immediately following second-stage burnout, was calculated to be -f-0. Flexural strengths obtained from bending tests accounted for the angular difference except for a 4-sec period near burnout. The additional bending is attributed to the opening of the payload separation joint caused by the rapid aerodynamic heating and sudden loss of acceleration at second-stage burnout.
Selenidium fauchaldi sp. n. and S. telepsavi (Stuart) comb. nov. (Protozoa, Apicomplexa), Gregarines from Polychaetes*

SYNOPSIS Gregarine Selenidium fauchaldi sp. n. is described from the intestinal lumen of the polychaete Phragmatopoma californica (Fewkes, 1889) in the intertidal zone of the Pacific Ocean on Santa Catalina Island, California. In addition, the new combination Selenidium telepsavi (Stuart, 1871) comb. nov. is introduced for the gregarine originally described as Monocystis telepsavi from the polychaete Telepsavus castarum in the Black Sea.
Comparison of the effect of upper body-ergometry aerobic training vs treadmill training on central cardiorespiratory improvement and walking distance in patients with claudication

Background Supervised treadmill-walking exercise programs have been proven to be a highly effective in improving walking distance in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients with lifestyle-limiting claudication. Limited information is available on the contributions of central cardiorespiratory functions for improving these patients' walking capacity with exercise training. Methods This study randomized 28 participants (21 men; age, 65.6 years; 92.7% smoking history, 36.6% with diabetes) with lifestyle-limiting PAD-related claudication to 3 hours/week of supervised exercise training for 12 weeks, using arm-ergometry (n = 10) or treadmill-walking (n = 10) vs a usual-care control group (n = 8). Cardiorespiratory function measurements were assessed before and after training at a submaximal workload and at the onset of claudication (pain-free walking distance [PFWD]) and at maximal walking distance [(MWD]). Changes in these functions from baseline were analyzed among the groups with analysis of covariance. Associations between variables were determined by Pearson's partial correlations. Results The mean baseline demographic, medical, and exercise variables were similar among the groups. There were similar significant differences in the submaximal double product (heart rate × systolic blood pressure) and at MWD, ventilatory threshold, ventilatory oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) at onset of claudication, and VO 2 peak in response to training in both exercise groups vs the control group. Statistically significant, moderate correlations ( r = 0.60-0.68) were found between changes in all cardiorespiratory variables and changes in PFWD or MWD. Conclusion Improvements in cardiorespiratory function after arm-ergometry or treadmill-training were significantly associated with improvements in both PFWD and MWD, providing supporting evidence of systemic contributions to exercise training-related improvements in walking capacity seen in patients with claudication.
The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral—And How It Changed the American West – By Jeff Guinn

Were this review scheduled for a popular history magazine, it would be a very positive one. Jeff Guinn's account of the events surrounding the iconic violence in Tombstone in 1881 is generally well...
Hispanics in Australia: An imagined community of communities

Abstract Benedict Anderson's theory about the way national and community identities are constructed in the post-modern world has also provided new tools for the exploration of community formation in multicultural and multilingual societies such as Australia. Anderson writes that any large community can only be an ‘imagined one’, for its members ‘will never know most of their members, meet or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the imagining of their communion . . . Communities are to be distinguished, not by their falsity/genuineness, but by the style in which they are imagined’.2
Power management of a direct methanol fuel cell system

The effect of discharge rate of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) on fuel efficiency was comparatively investigated using a DMFC single cell and a DMFC system. The results obtained from the single cell were used to model the DMFC system. Several semi-empirical equations were derived that relate discharge current, voltage, power output, energy density and fuel consumption for a nominal 25 W DMFC system. The decrease in fuel efficiency with decreased power output that is observed for the DMFC system is attributable to the increase of methanol crossover that can be observed for an individual cell. A DMFC system can achieve maximum energy density and fuel efficiency at an appropriately high level of power output.
Radiologic mimics of cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this article is to provide a practical review of the conditions other than cirrhosis that can result in diffuse surface nodularity of the liver or portal hypertension.CONCLUSION. Conditions that can mimic cirrhosis on imaging include pseudocirrhosis of treated breast cancer metastases to the liver, fulminant hepatic failure, miliary metastases, sarcoidosis, schistosomiasis, congenital hepatic fibrosis, idiopathic portal hypertension, early primary biliary cirrhosis, chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome, chronic portal vein thrombosis, and nodular regenerative hyperplasia.
Prospective Scope of Forest Management Education at James Madison's Montpelier.

Urban sprawl and intergenerational transfers are fostering a new period of family forest ownership in the United States typified by larger numbers of younger owners with smaller parcels that are interested in managing their forests but often lacking requisite knowledge. At the same time, there is a general decline in the public's connection to forests and appreciation of forestry. In light of these circumstances, forest management educators are increasing opportunities for younger citizens, owners of small forests, and suburban and urban residents. Incorporating forest management education into heritage tourism offers an approach that could contribute to ongoing efforts. The potential scope of such a strategy is possible to explore within the context of a newly created outdoor sustainable forestry education initiative at James Madison's Montpelier. Knox's (2002) Adult Basic Education Guide was used to guide a formative evaluation of visitor participation in outdoor sustainable forestry education at Montpelier. Results suggest the initiative may help reach a sizeable number of key constituents. The implications for reaching family owners of smaller acreages, engaging younger citizens and likely opinion leaders, future program development, and potential impacts are discussed.
pH-switchable, ion-permselective gold nanotubule membrane based on chemisorbed cysteine.

An electroless gold plating method was used to deposit Au nanotubules within the pores of a polycarbonate template membrane. pH-switchable ion-transport selectivity was introduced by chemisorbing l-cysteine to the inside tubule walls. At low pH, where both the amino and carboxyl groups of the cysteine are protonated, these membranes preferentially reject cations and transport anions. At high pH, where both the amino and carboxyl groups are deprotonated, these membranes preferentially reject anions and transport cations. At pH = 6.0, near the isoelectric point of the chemisorbed cysteine, these membranes show neither cation nor anion transport selectivity. In addition to this electrostatically based selectivity, because of the small inside diameter of the Au nanotubules (as small as 0.9 nm), these membranes show molecular-size-based selectivity.
Clients' perceptions of therapeutic helpfulness in cognitive and marital therapy for depression

Twenty women who received marital therapy and 11 women who received cognitive therapy for co-occurring depression and marital discord reported the most helpful aspects of therapy. The verbatim responses of clients were coded into 12 response categories, and the responses of clients in the two therapies were compared to assess whether they reported similar or different therapy factors as most helpful. Clients who received marital therapy reported that the most helpful aspects of therapy were relationship-focused or interpersonal, while clients who received cognitive therapy reported that the most helpful elements were intrapersonal. The client reports are discussed in relation to independent ratings of therapist behavior and the intended impact of the treatments.
SINGLE ASPERITY ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPE STUDIES OF THE CMP OF SILICATE GLASSES

The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) allows one to examine the effects of applying highly localized stress to a surface. In the presence of solutions, tribochemical wear can be investigated. We present results of fundamental studies of the simultaneous application of chemical agents and mechanical stress involving a model single asperity and a solid surface. We show the consequences of combining highly localized mechanical stress (due to contact with the AFM tip) and exposure to aqueous solutions of known pH. The experiment simulates many features of a single particle-substrate-slurry interaction in CMP. We show that linear scans and rastered scans display significantly different material removal rates. Quantitative models are presented to explain the observed nanometer-scale surface modifications. This work complements recent observations of tip-induced wear and growth in a number of inorganic surfaces in aqueous solution.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Risk Modeling in Breast Cancer

Abstract: Woman with BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 mutations have a significantly increased risk for breast cancer. While genetic testing can provide valuable information concerning this increased risk and the proposed benefit of risk-reducing interventions, the absolute breast cancer risk conferred by BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 mutations remains to be fully determined. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines indicate that testing should be considered in women whose mutation probability is greater than 10%. None of the currently available approaches for determining BRCA gene mutation probability are 100% accurate. The computer program BRCAPRO is a useful adjunct for estimating these probabilities, but limitations inherent in mathematical models make it essential that genetic counselors are involved in decisions to perform genetic testing.
Precise interface identification to improve testing and analysis of web applications

As web applications become more widespread, sophisticated, and complex, automated quality assurance techniques for such applications have grown in importance. Accurate interface identification is fundamental for many of these techniques, as the components of a web application communicate extensively via implicitly-defined interfaces to generate customized and dynamic content. However, current techniques for identifying web application interfaces can be incomplete or imprecise, which hinders the effectiveness of quality assurance techniques. To address these limitations, we present a new approach for identifying web application interfaces that is based on a specialized form of symbolic execution. In our empirical evaluation, we show that the set of interfaces identified by our approach is more accurate than those identified by other approaches. We also show that this increased accuracy leads to improvements in several important quality assurance techniques for web applications: test-input generation, penetration testing, and invocation verification.
The Logic of Religious Language

Expressions used in religious contexts have often seemed odd and paradoxical to philosophers. Statements have appeared in Christian discourse to the effect that God is not a person and yet is a person, that he is a servant and a king, that he is nothingness and being itself. These statements appear unintelligible either because their terms are self-contradictory or because they are mutually exclusive.
The impact of unionization, right-to-work laws, and female labor force participation on earnings inequality across states

This study examines the effect of unionization, right-to-work laws, and participation of women in the labor force on income inequality. Two distinct models are developed using 1970 and 1980 census data on the 50 states in the U.S. First, an income inequality model is specified as a beta distribution of the second kind to estimate Gini measures of income inequality. Second, these Gini estimates are used in a simultaneous equations model. The 1970 results indicate that higher unionization rates decreased inequality while right-to-work laws increased inequality. In 1980, the measure of inequality was lower in states with higher female labor force participation.
Correlated-emission laser: the effect of injected atomic coherence and quantum-noise quenching for Hermitian operators

We develop a quantum theory of a correlated-emission laser (CEL) with injected atomic coherence for arbitrary initial atomic conditions and arbitrary atomic decay rates. The effect of initial atomic coherence on the CEL is studied. It is shown that, with a proper form of the initial atomic coherence and equal atomic decay rates between the two upper levels of V-type three-level lasing atoms, the diffusion coefficients for the relative phase and the relative amplitude of two laser modes can vanish under certain conditions. These conditions, plus equal cavity-loss rates, lead to the vanishing of the normally ordered variances (quantum-noise quenching) of Hermitian operators corresponding to the relative phase and the relative amplitude.
Rat strain and sex differences in leptin responses to immobilization stress

The effects of immobilization (IM) stress on plasma leptin levels and bodyweight in adult Sprague-Dawley (19 males, 20 females) and Long-Evans (20 males, 20 females) rats were investigated. Following a 10-day baseline period, half the animals from each experimental group were exposed to immobilization stress or no-stress 20 min/day for 21 days. Plasma leptin and corticosterone levels were measured following stress or no-stress exposure on the last day of the experiment. Corticosterone levels confirmed stress exposure. Important interactive effects of stress, strain, and sex on leptin and corticosterone levels were also observed. Specifically, females displayed higher leptin levels than did males, regardless of stress exposure. Strain interacted with stress such that stressed Long-Evans rats displayed higher leptin levels than did stressed Sprague-Dawley rats; there were no strain differences in leptin levels among nonstressed rats. Also, correlations between leptin and corticosterone were strain-specific....
Managerial decisions involving bank mergers and acquisitions within the current recession: case study

As we are in the midst of the one of the longest recessions in US history, more than ever, companies are doing what they must to barely survive through its end. By virtue of their industries, products (both face-to-face and web-embedded) or policies, mergers and acquisitions strategies, a number of financial institutions are in a better position to weather the current storm. This paper examines the economic and political environment of such firms through a discussion of the Troubled Assets Relief Programme (TARP) and PNC's acquisition of the National Bank. This paper will examine the economic environment, mortgage and toxic assets crisis, and the legal and ethical requirements and considerations associated with mergers, which has been highly and schematically scrutinised by the local citizenry and investors, as National City's assets were devalued by approximately 90% within a one year time frame. Hopefully, by understanding the operational ramifications associated with the bank merger, coupled with corporate goals for sustainable strategies, some understanding of the trade-offs in the decision making process will be gained.
Characteristics of lateral heterogeneities with thermal and chemical origins in the pyrolitic lower mantle

The relative changes between shear and compressional velocities (RSP = o ln VS/o ln VP), bulk sound and shear velocities (RCS = o ln VC/o ln VS), and density versus shear wave velocity (RqS = o ln q/o ln VS) in response to thermal and chemical variations were investigated for the pyrolitic lower mantle. For heterogeneities with thermal origins, RSP increases from 1.7 to 2.0 together with RqS decreasing from 0.4 to 0.2 and RCS = � 0.27 from the top to the bottom of the lower mantle. In comparison, chemical variations (bulk iron or silica contents) are characterized by RSP 0.5 at lower mantle depths. Negative values of RqS and RCS are indicative of chemical anomalies in the lower mantle, but a combination of thermal and chemical heterogeneities may be required to produce velocity and density anomalies at the magnitudes observed in seismic data. Further refinement of these characteristics requires data on the higher order pressure and temperature derivatives of the elastic moduli of the constituent phases. 2009 National Natural Science Foundation of China and Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Limited and Science in China Press. All rights reserved.
Effective oral administration of 17 beta-estradiol to female C57BL/6J mice through the drinking water.

17 beta-Estradiol (E2) was dissolved in the drinking water of female C57BL/6J mice and presented ad libitum. The oral administration of E2 produced expected responses in E2-sensitive target tissues. Vaginal smear cytology changed from the thin leukocytic smears characteristic of ovariectomized controls to thicker smears containing only cornified epithelial cells. Uterine weight and the specific activities of uterine glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were elevated, while the postovariectomy elevation in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was suppressed. However, oral E2 did not influence the specific activity of uterine acid phosphatase. During oral administration of E2 through the drinking water, serum estrone and E2 were elevated during the night and returned to low baseline levels during the day, in parallel with the circadian patterns of drinking. Similar transient elevations of serum E2 levels were observed after subcutaneous injections of E2. The oral administration of E2 has advantages over the widely utilized parenteral routes of E2 administration (i.e., injection or surgical implantation of E2-containing capsules), particularly for long-term experiments, and may be more analogous to the usual oral route of estrogen administration in women as contraceptives or as postmenopausal estrogen-replacement therapy.
Quick Guide to Coagulation Testing. Marisa B. Marques and George A. Fritsma, Washington, DC: AACC Press, 2006, 62 pp., $15 ($12 AACC members), softcover. ISBN 1-59425-049-9.

In the past decades, significant advances have been made in understanding coagulation disorders, including thrombophilias and bleeding diatheses. Anticoagulant therapy has advanced just as rapidly, leading to the development of several new classes of drugs that may be used to treat those coagulation disorders. Our theoretical understanding of coagulopathies has been paralleled by analytical developments to help establish accurate clinical diagnoses and to aid monitoring of new therapeutic interventions. Clinical practitioners have recognized these coagulopathies and have been administering the new anticoagulants, thus driving the need for more complex coagulation testing in clinical laboratories. Unfortunately, the clinicians’ understanding of selection and interpretation of the appropriate coagulation tests has not progressed as rapidly. The principal reason may be that diverse coagulation disorders present with only a limited number of apparently similar clinical symptoms. Often the exact diagnosis can be elucidated by test panels only, or by sequential application of multiple tests during which each subsequent test is selected based on results of the preceding analyses. The presence or absence of comorbid conditions, such as an acute illness, pregnancy, or the treatment of a coagulation disorder before the final diagnosis is established, can interfere with results of coagulation testing to the extent that correct diagnosis …
Youth Out-Migration from Pennsylvania: The Roles of Government Fragmentation vs. the Beaten Path Effect

The authors of a recent Brookings report argue that Pennsylvania's lackluster economic performance, including a high rate of loss of young residents (age 25-34), is partly due to fragmented local units of government hindering comprehensive and regional approaches to stimulating economic growth. This assertion is based on casual inference rather than rigorous statistical analysis. In the present study we employ a newly-developed measure of state/county government fragmentation in a county-level econometric migration model to test the Brookings assertion formally. After examining and controlling for the complete set of fac- tors identified from previous studies to motivate youth out-migration, we conclude that gov- ernment fragmentation acts to keep youth in Pennsylvania rather than drive them out. We conclude that calls for consolidating sub-county government units based on young migration are premature and offer a number of explanations for our finding along with policy implica- tions.
Maternal decidual macrophages inhibit NK cell killing of invasive cytotrophoblasts during human pregnancy

Human pregnancy is an immunological paradox. Semiallogeneic (fetal) placental cells (extravillous cytotrophoblasts [CTBs]) invade the uterine lining (decidua), which contains a unique decidual natural killer (dNK) cell population, identified by the cell surface phenotype CD56(bright) CD16(-) CD3(-) and CD14(+) CD206(+) macrophages (dMac). Previous reports suggested that human dNK cells are not a threat to the fetoplacental unit because they are anergic. In contrast, here we showed that purified and exogenously stimulated dNK cells are capable killers of cellular targets, including semiallogeneic CTBs. However, dMacs in the decidual leukocyte (DL) population restrained dNK killing through a transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1)-dependent mechanism. Our findings support a new model whereby dNK cells, capable of killing CTBs, are prevented from doing so by neighboring macrophages, thus protecting the fetal cells from NK cell attack. We speculate that this mechanism would inhibit dNK cell-mediated killing, even under conditions where high levels of cytokines may stimulate dNK cells, which could pose a threat to the developing placenta.
A Bayesian approach to a patient with a residual mass after treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the thyroid.

A 51-year-old female with a previous history of Hashimoto’s disease presented with a right neck mass. The mass was thought to involve the thyroid gland. An initial fine needle aspirate was nondiagnostic, but suspicious for lymphoma. An open incisional biopsy of the thyroid mass revealed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and surrounding thyroid parenchyma revealing chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). The large neoplastic lymphoid cells were strongly CD 20 positive on immunohistochemical staining. Flow cytometry revealed that 15% of the cells were abnormal B-lymphocytes with CD 19, CD20, FMC7 expression and loss of immunoglobulin lightchain expression, consistent with a B-cell lymphoma. A computed tomography scan revealed a 3 5 cm mass that involved the thyroid as well as a 1 2 cm right supraclavicular node. A staging work-up, including a positron emission tomography (PET) scan and a bone marrow biopsy, determined that she apparently had disease localized to the neck, with only the thyroid mass and the supraclavicular node demonstrating fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake. She was treated with four cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and rituximab, followed by involved-field radiation to the neck (41.40 Gy). After completion of this therapy, a firm, nontender 1.5 cm mass was still present in the right thyroid region. A repeat PET scan, performed approximately 6 weeks after the completion of the radiation, demonstrated that the thyroid mass had shrunk from 5 cm to 1.5 cm and that the supraclavicular node had disappeared. The thyroid mass was still avid for FDG uptake; no other areas of abnormality were noted. A presumptive diagnosis of residual lymphoma was made and the patient was scheduled to be admitted for reinduction chemotherapy to be followed by high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell support.
Marketing Sovereign Promises: The English Model

The difficulty sovereign actors face in making their promises credible is widely appreciated (e.g., North and Weingast 1989; Myerson 2008). In this article, I argue that the English repeatedly used institutions of monopoly brokerage to mediate trades between the sovereign (offering various promises) and subjects (offering revenues). Once set up—at different times in different markets—institutions of monopoly brokerage sparked substantial and abrupt growth in state revenues. Moreover, these revenue increases cannot be explained by changes in promise-holders’ ability to punish nonperformance, changes in the preferences of pivotal state decision makers, or changes in high constitutional structure alone.
Evaluating video-based motion capture

Motion capture can be an effective method of creating realistic human motion for animation. Unfortunately, the quality demands for animation place challenging demands on a capture system. To date, capture solutions that meet these demands have required specialized hardware that is invasive and expensive. Computer vision could make animation data much easier to obtain. Unfortunately, current techniques fall short of the demands of animation applications. In this paper, we will explore why the demands of animation lead to a particularly difficult challenge for capture techniques. We present a constraint-based methodology for reconstructing the 3D motion given image observations, and use this as a tool for understanding the problem. Synthetic experiments confirm that these situations would arise in practice. The experiments show how even simple visual tracking information can be used to create human motion but even with perfect tracking, incorrect reconstructions are not only possible but inevitable.
Impact and compression response of composite materials containing fortifiers

The effect of adding fortifiers to an epoxy matrix on the response to impact and compression-after-impact properties of carbon fabric/epoxy laminates was investigated. The experimental work included determining laminate compression strength, absorbed energy from impact, damage area and compression-after-impact strength for an impact energy level of 21 joules per centimeter of thickness. This paper presents the results from this investigation and discusses the relationship between neat resin properties (with and without fortifiers) and the laminate properties.
Spore Germination, Infection Structure Formation, and Colony Development of Erysiphe pulchra on Dogwood Leaves and Glass Slides

Li, Y. H., Windham, M. T., Trigiano, R. N., Fare, D. C., Spiers, J. M., and Copes, W. E. 2005. Spore germination, infection structure formation, and colony development of Erysiphe pulchra on dogwood leaves and glass slides. Plant Dis. 89:1301-1304. Spore germination, infection structure formation, and colony development of Erysiphe pulchra on glass slides and leaf disks of a susceptible flowering dogwood line were examined using light and scanning electron microscopes. On both glass slides and leaf disks, germination of conidia started within 2 h after inoculation (hai). One to four germ tubes grew from two poles of a conidium, one or two of the germ tubes formed initial appressoria, and only one of the germ tubes with initial appressoria formed secondary appressoria. However, formation of initial and secondary appressoria was delayed on glass slides (48 and 72 hai, respectively) compared with that on dogwood leaf disks (3 and 24 hai, respectively). Branching hyphae did not grow from germinated conidia on glass slides. However, on dogwood leaf disks, branched hyphae were observed 48 hai. In epidermal cells, the fungus formed compact and globose haustoria. Conidia formation on conidiophores started on leaf disks 7 days after inoculation.
Executive dysfunction in major depressive disorder

Executive dysfunction is commonly seen in major depression. The types of executive deficits seen in depression include problems with planning, initiating and completing goal-directed activities. Executive dysfunction may vary as a function of the severity of depression. In addition, a subset of geriatric depression is also characterized by prominent deficits in executive functioning. The presence of executive dysfunction in depression is associated with vocational disability and possibly poorer treatment response. While few studies have examined the treatment of executive dysfunction in depression, preliminary work suggests that both pharmacologic interventions and psychosocial interventions such as problem solving therapy may be efficacious.
Clinical and economic impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization or infection on neonates in intensive care units.

[HR], 0.9 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.5‐1.5]; ) nor infection (HR, 1.2 [95% CI, 0.7‐1.9]; ) was associated with increased P 1 .05 P 1 .05 mortality risk. Infection caused by MRSA strains that were resistant to clindamycin and/or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole increased the mortality risk by 40% (HR, 1.4 [95% CI, 0.9‐2.2]; ), compared with the mortality risk of control subjects, but the increase was not P 1 .05 statistically significant. MRSA infection independently increased length of stay by 40 days (95% CI, 34.2‐45.6; ) and was associated P ! .001 with an extra charge of $164,301 (95% CI, $158,712‐$169,889; ). P ! .001 conclusions. MRSA colonization or infection in infants is associated with significant morbidity and financial burden but is not independently associated with increased mortality. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010; 31:177-182
Comets, meteorites and interplanetary dust

Cometary debris of all sizes impacts the Earth but it is likely that only particles the size of dust survive atmospheric entry and are collected as meteoritic samples. Conventional meteorites and a substantial fraction of collected interplanetary dust particles appear to be asteroidal debris. Nearly half of the collected interplanetary particles have properties consistent with cometary material and resemble Halley dust that has lost the majority of its carbon and nitrogen. These particles might be aggregates of presolar grains and they provide some insight into the properties of interstellar grains.
Platelet-rich plasma: is it ready for prime time?: Commentary on an article by Stefano Gumina, MD, PhD, et al.: "Use of platelet-leukocyte membrane in arthroscopic repair of large rotator cuff tears. A prospective randomized study".

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used clinically for its potentially enhanced soft-tissue healing properties. These healing properties, which stem from its derivation from autologous blood, have been attributed to the increased concentrations of growth factors and secretory proteins. PRP thereby hopefully enhances the recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of cells involved in tissue regeneration1,2. The majority of orthopaedic applications for PRP can be classified into four groups: chronic tendinopathies, acute ligamentous injuries, muscle injuries, and intraoperative augmentation2. As noted by Hall et al.1, several PRP preparation systems are commercially available. The volume of autologous blood, centrifugation rate and time, delivery method, activating agent, leukocyte concentration, final PRP volume, and final platelet and growth factor concentrations vary among these systems. Hematologic variations between patients (e.g., leukocyte count and platelet count) may also affect the final PRP preparation. Debate continues regarding the optimal quantity of platelets and growth factors required for muscle and tendon-healing1. In this study, the authors …
Symmetric Galerkin boundary integral formulation for interface and multi-zone problems

Domains containing an ‘internal boundary’, such as a bi-material interface, arise in many applications, e.g. composite materials and geophysical simulations. This paper presents a symmetric Galerkin boundary integral method for this important class of problems. In this situation, the physical quantities are known to satisfy continuity conditions across the interface, but no boundary conditions are specied. The algorithm described herein achieves a symmetric matrix of reduced size. Moreover, the symmetry can also be invoked to lessen the numerical work involved in constructing the system of equations, and thus the method is computationally very ecient. A prototype numerical example, with several variations in the boundary conditions and material properties, is employed to validate the formulation and corresponding numerical procedure. The boundary element results are compared with analytical solutions and with numerical results obtained with the nite element method. ? 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association Meeting Participation: A Test of Competing Models

Understanding association meeting participation is increasingly important to destination marketers and meeting planners. This study develops and tests three competing models of conference participation. Using structural equation modeling, the results reveal that all three models provide theoretical bases for understanding meeting participation behavior. A fuller understanding of meeting participation is achieved by adding two domain-specific variables: destination image and past experience.
Comparison of SEU rate prediction techniques

A variety of methods are in use for predicting upset rates. The predictions of several of these methods are compared with flight data from the microelectronics package on the CRRES (Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite). The implications of current cosmic ray research relative to these results are discussed. The CRRES data appear to satisfy the mission goal of pointing to a good method of calculating upset rates in space. The data in their present form demonstrate the problems that exist when using a single threshold for all parts for upset rate predictions and point to the use of an integral approach using the rectangular parallelepiped geometry in a CREME-type code. The data also point toward the need for updated cosmic ray models for use with short missions. >
Releasing efficient beta cores to market early

Verification of modern processors is an expensive, time consuming, and challenging task. Although it is estimated that over half of total design time is spent on verification, we often find processors with bugs released into the market. This paper proposes an architecture that tolerates, not just the typically infrequent bugs found in current processors, but a significantly larger set of bugs. The objective is to allow for a much quicker time to market. We propose an architecture built around Beta Cores, which are cores partially verified. Our proposal intelligently activates and deactivates a simple single issue in-order Checker Core to verify a buggy superscalar out-oforder Beta Core. Our Beta Core Solution (BCS), which includes the Beta Core, the Checker Core, and the logic to detect potentially buggy situations consumes just 5% more power than the stand-alone Beta Core. We also show that performance is only slightly diminished with an average slowdown of 1.6%. By leveraging program signatures,our BCS only needs a simple in-order Checker Core, at half the frequency, to verify a complex 4 issue out-of-order Beta Core. The BCS architecture allows for a decrease in verification effort and thus a quicker time to market.
Pacing lead fracture after a deceleration injury

Acute pacemaker malfunction is potentially lethal. A high index of suspicion must be maintained in physicians caring for traumatized patients utilizing permanent pacing systems. We present a case of transvenous pacemaker lead fracture sustained in a vehicular deceleration injury.
Terahertz technology: where transistors (so far) fear to tread

In this paper, the development of integrated diode circuits manufactured by a GaAs-on-quartz integration process has been studied. GaAs material is a pair of micron-thickness that support the ohmic contacts and Schottky diodes in the center of each circuit.
Ayurvedic herbal medicine and lead poisoning

Although the majority of published cases of lead poisoning come from occupational exposures, some traditional remedies may also contain toxic amounts of lead. Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine that is native to India and is used in many parts of world as an alternative to standard treatment regimens. Here, we report the case of a 58-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, anemia, liver function abnormalities, and an elevated blood lead level. The patient was found to have been taking the Ayurvedic medicine Jambrulin prior to presentation. Chemical analysis of the medication showed high levels of lead. Following treatment with an oral chelating agent, the patient's symptoms resolved and laboratory abnormalities normalized. This case highlights the need for increased awareness that some Ayurvedic medicines may contain potentially harmful levels of heavy metals and people who use them are at risk of developing associated toxicities.
The New Class War

Jeff Manza reviews three recent books and their takes on the coming (or current) class war so many believe is tearing America apart.
CORONARY LUMINAL ATTENUATION VALUE OF CORONARY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IDENTIFY CORONARY ARTERY SEVERE STENOSIS: COMPARISON BETWEEN CORONARY CTA AND SPECT

Coronary luminal attenuation value of coronary CT angiography (CTA), such as coronary opacification (CO), may relate to the stenosis. We investigated the relationship of the stenosis on coronary angiography (CAG) with CO on CTA and SPECT. We retrospectively 34 patients with investigated 43 lesions
Voices of Young Women Dance Students: An Interpretive Study of Meaning in Dance (1990)

This frequently cited work was one of the earliest examples of research in dance education that draws on qualitative data from dance students. The researchers observed seven 16–18-year-old participants in their dance technique classes and conducted extensive interviews following the classes, seeking to understand how these young women were making sense of their experiences in dance; the analysis drew from procedures in participant hermeneutics and phenomenological inquiry. They found that, for these participants, the meaning of dance was intertwined with the identity of the students; the students perceived dance as either discipline and structure, with a goal of “getting it right,” or else as a transcendence of structure, a release and/or an escape from the everyday world. At the same time, the students saw themselves as outsiders in terms of the professional dance world, perceiving it as consisting of fixed values with little chance for change. The researchers discuss their findings in the context of socio-cultural structures and draw implications for teaching young women dancers.
Kinetic Model of NOx SCR Using Urea on Commercial Cu−Zeolite Catalyst

Analysis of catalyst performance data over a commercial Cu−zeolite SCR catalyst shows that NH3 oxidation leads to NO formation at temperatures above 500 °C. This contributes to the reduction in NO conversion efficiency at high temperatures. It is shown that the conversion of NH3 to NO should be second order in NH3 concentration. A kinetic model incorporating this reaction is developed for a commercial SCR catalyst. The kinetic parameters are estimated using NO and NH3 conversion data collected over varying temperatures, flow rates, NH3 to NOx ratios, and NO2 to NOx ratios using actual engine exhaust. The optimized pre-exponential factors and activation energy are reported. The model is validated by comparing predictions with catalyst performance data over other engine operating conditions. The model predictions are in reasonable agreement with the measurements except at low temperatures and flow rates. The R2 value for NO conversion efficiency predictions is 0.88 and for NH3 slip is 0.76 excluding the pre...
Assessment of the effect of acculturation on dietary and physical activity behaviors of Arab mothers in Lubbock, Texas.

OBJECTIVES: Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regarding their dietary and physical activity behaviors and to assess the relationship of acculturation to these behaviors. DESIGN: Focus groups and interviews were conducted to collect data on dietary and physical activity behaviors of Arab mothers in Lubbock, Texas. The Social Cognitive Theory guided the development of questions related to the role of acculturation on the dietary and physical activity behaviors. The Male Arab-American Acculturation Scale was used to measure acculturation. RESULTS: A bicultural dietary pattern of Arab mothers emerged. Negative behaviors included skipping meals, increased intake of high-fat fast foods and meat consumption, and lack of traditional physical activity. Some reported reasons for the negative behaviors included children's preferences, lack of access to traditional foods, preference for convenience, the low cost of some foods, and lack of time. Positive changes for some Arab mothers included healthier cooking techniques, reading nutritional labels, and making new healthy food choices due to increased awareness of healthy foods, availability and affordability of many healthy choices in the United States, and Arab mothers' attempts to enrich their families' meals with vegetables in order to keep the Arabic dietary pattern. CONCLUSION: Positive dietary and physical activity changes should be supported. Nutrition interventions are needed that address the major barriers to diet and physical activity changes reported by these Arab mothers. Ethn Dis . 2012 Spring;22(2):192-7.
Automatic Identification of Rice Light-trapped Pests Based on Images

Automatic identification and count of rice light-trapped pests is a common and important pest forecasting method in paddy fields.However,most of the light-trapped pests are unnecessary to be monitored and must be removed.This manual method is time-consuming and fatiguing with a low accuracy rate.We developed an automatic method for identifying rice light-trapped pests based on the images.Firstly,we divided the images into several groups according to their morphological features.Each group has three classifications:the back-side image of a pest,the abdomen-side image of this pest,and non-forecasting pest image similar to this pest.Then,thirty-one features including the color,shape and texture features were extracted from each insect image.Finally,three support vector machine classifiers with posterior probabilities were used to train and test the three groups of insects,respectively.In the results,the back-side image and the abdomen-side image of a pest were considered as the same species.We achieved a 97.4% accuracy rate in the three species of rice light-trapped pests.