cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do the reported estimates of minimal clinically important difference scores amongst hip-related patient-reported outcome measures support their use?

AbstractBackground:The use of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) scores has become increasingly popular amongst clinicians when determining patient response to treatment. Recent evidence has suggested that MCID scores are context specific and a single MCID estimate does not exist within an outcome measure.Objective:The objective of this review was to systematically review the evidence regarding reported MCID scores amongst hip-related patient-reported outcome measures.Methods:Articles were selected following a comprehensive search of PUBMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases (from database inception through October 2012). Inclusion criteria involved: (1) a patient-reported outcome measure used within a hip population was reported, (2) an MCID score was calculated and/or reported, and (3) the article was available in full text.Results:A total of nine studies met the inclusion criteria; seven different patient-reported outcomes were reported amongst varying hip pathologies, a range of follow...
Cytokinetics of human acute leukemia before and after chemotherapy.

Abstract In order to evaluate the relationship of relative and absolute blast size to blast proliferative activity, both in treated and untreated human acute leukemia, blasts from peripheral blood of patients with acute leukemia were labeled in vitro with tritiated thymidine and then separated as to size by the 1 g sucrose gradient technique for subsequent evaluation of thymidine uptake and DNA content. Results suggested: (1) Leukemic lymphoblasts were smaller and less variable in size than leukemic myeloblasts; (2) thymidine uptake was excluded from relatively small cells and concentrated in relatively large cells, with some medium cell uptake; (3) DNA content of blasts increased with cell size; (4) Cytosine arabinoside and 6-thioguanine in AML caused an early increase in thymidine uptake and a shift of the cell size distribution to larger cells followed by a rapid depletion of all blasts with preferential large cell loss. This is consistent with early recruitment of small cells into cycle and S-phase specific cell kill (5) l -asparaginase in ALL caused a rapid depletion of blasts with a preferential loss of both large and medium cells and with decreased thymidine uptake, consistent with cycle nonspecific kill plus a G 1 S block inhibiting recruitment. The data support a cytokinetic model of human acute leukemia in which relative cell size correlates with cell cycle stage. Changes in size distribution may reflect drug effect and may be of value in evaluating response to chemotherapy, both of proliferating and resting cells, and in planning and sequencing multiple drug chemotherapy.
Arthroscopic treatment for chondral lesions of the hip.

SUMMARY The treatment of chondral lesions of the hip are difficult and may not ever reestablishnormal chondral anatomy; however, the methods described will predictably improvepain and function of damaged hips. A new method of classifying and treating full-thickness acetabular articular cartilage defects is described, offering a good solutionfor cartilage repair while attempting to preserve most of the cartilage matrix in theprocess. It is the author’s belief that the goal should be cartilage preservation, whichin turn should lead to a healthier hip joint. REFERENCES 1. Glick JM, Sampson TG, Gordon RB, et al. Hip arthroscopy by the lateralapproach. Arthroscopy 1987;3(1):4–12.2. Sampson T. Hip morphology and its relationship to pathology: dysplasia toimpingement. Oper Tech Sports Med 2005;13(1):37–45.3. Sampson T. Arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement. TechOrthop Hip Arthroscopy 2005;20(1):56–62.4. Ferguson SJ, Bryant JT, Ganz R, et al. The influence of the acetabular labrum onhip joint cartilage consolidation: a poroelastic finite element model. J Biomech2000;33(8):953–60.5. Daniel M, Iglic A, Kralj-Iglic V. The shape of acetabular cartilage optimizes hipcontact stress distribution. J Anat 2005;207(1):85–91.6. Kurrat HJ, Oberlander W. The thickness of the cartilage in the hip joint. J Anat1978;126(Pt 1):145–55.7. Byrd JW. Hip arthroscopy for posttraumatic loose fragments in the young activeadult: three case reports. Clin J Sport Med 1996;6(2):129–33 [discussion: 133–4].8. Klaue K, Durnin CW, Ganz R. The acetabular rim syndrome. A clinical presenta-tion of dysplasia of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1991;73(3):423–9.9. Ilizaliturri VM Jr, Byrd JW, Sampson TG, et al. A geographic zone method todescribe intra-articular pathology in hip arthroscopy: cadaveric study and prelim-inary report. Arthroscopy 2008;24(5):534–9.10. Outerbridge RE. The etiology of chondromalacia patellae. J Bone Joint Surg Br1961;43-B:752–7.11. Beck M, Kalhor M, Leunig M, et al. Hip morphology influences the pattern ofdamage to the acetabular cartilage: femoroacetabular impingement as a causeof early osteoarthritis of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005;87(7):1012–8.12. Byrd JW. Hip arthroscopy utilizing the supine position. Arthroscopy 1994;10(3):275–80.13. Tzaveas AP, Villar RN. Arthroscopic repair of acetabular chondral delaminationwith fibrin adhesive. Hip Int 2010;20(1):115–9.
Differential Pulse Polarographic Determination of Orthophosphate in Nonaqueous Media

Abstract The method is based on the polarographic behavior of 12-tungstophosphoric acid in nonaqueous media at the DME utilizing the differential pulse polarographic technique. In this procedure, orthophosphate is converted to 12-tungstophosphoric acid H3 PW 12 O 40 by reacting with tungstate under acidic conditions and at 100°C. The H3 PW 12 O 40 is extracted into 1-pentanol and its polarographic measurement is made in 1-pentanol-ethanoi mixture containing sodium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte. The differential pulse polarogram of H3 PW 12 O 40 in this solution shows three peaks between 0.00 and -0.90 V vs. Ag/ AgCl. The most cathodic peak at -0.78 V exhibited the highest peak current value and was used for the analytical measurement. A linear calibration graph in the range 0.10 - 5.00 pg/ml P in the final solution was obtained. The method has a relative standard deviation of 0.90% at the 4 pg/ml P level and 1.32% at the 1 μg/ml P level in the final solution. Arsenate, borate and silicate do not i...
A framework to minimise total energy consumption and total tardiness on a single machine

A great amount of energy is wasted in industry by machines that remain idle due to underutilisation. A way to avoid wasting energy and thus reducing the carbon print of an industrial plant is to consider minimisation of energy consumption objective while making scheduling decisions. To minimise energy consumption, the decision maker has to decide the timing and length of turn off/turn on operation (a setup) and also provide a sequence of jobs that minimises the scheduling objective, assuming that all jobs are not available at the same time. In this paper, a framework to solve a multiobjective optimisation problem that minimises total energy consumption and total tardiness is proposed. Since total tardiness problem with release dates is an NP‐hard problem, a new greedy randomised multiobjective adaptive search metaheuristic is utilised to obtain an approximate pareto front (i.e. an approximate set of non‐dominated solutions). Analytical Hierarchy Process is utilised to determine the ‘best’ alternative amon...
Scheduling Preventive Maintenance as a Function of an Imperfect Inspection Interval

This paper considers a system with periodic inspections and periodic preventive maintenance (PM) to detect and correct hidden failures that generate a penalty cost per unit time undetected. Imperfect periodic inspections (IPIs) occur at a chosen interval $t$ , and detect hidden failures with probability $p\in (0,1)$ . Both reactive maintenance (RM), performed when a hidden failure is detected by an IPI, and PM, performed at a chosen time $(n+1)t$ , renew the system. The objective is to determine the optimal frequency $t$ and quantity $n$ of imperfect inspections between PM such that the expected cost (which includes the costs of undetected failures, IPIs, PM, and RM) per unit time is minimized over an infinite horizon. We analytically establish conditions for the existence of a finite optimal $t$ for a given value of $n$ , and discuss the asymptotic behavior of the objective function for large $n$ and $t$ . These results are further exploited to describe convergence properties of a proposed approach for finding a globally optimal solution. Also, for the special case of a Weibull time-to-failure distribution, we derive conditions that guarantee the uniqueness of a locally optimal solution for a given value of $n$ .
Three views of virtual reality: virtual environments in the US military

A virtual environment is a generic, relatively low-cost real-time interactive simulation. It is shown that the US military has been a primary supporter of real-time simulation for more than 60 years, ever since the development of the Link Flight Instrument Trainer in the late 1930s. The development of flight simulation systems and head-mounted displays are reviewed. The use of virtual environments for team training, battlefield review and tactics development is discussed. Several research projects involving virtual environments and military applications are described. >
Thyrocervical trunk and external jugular vein arteriovenous fistulas.

A 36-year-old Asian female presented with complaints of a bulgingmass in her left neck. The patient reported chronic tinnitus but had no complaints of pain from the mass, presyncope, or chest pain. The patient had no prior history of neck surgery, trauma, or thyroid dysfunction. The patient was a never smoker with no past drug use and no history of hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. Blood pressure was 105/70, and pulse rate was 62 beats per minute with oxygen saturation at 100%. The neck mass was obvious to visual inspection and had a palpable thrill. Duplex scan results of the neck showed an arteriovenous fistula between the external jugular vein and a branch of the thyrocervical trunk with the subclavian artery and external jugular vein patent (A). Computed tomographic angiography scan of the neck without contrast also revealed an arteriovenous fistula of the distal ascending cervical branch of the left thyrocervical trunk to the left external jugular vein, resulting in focal aneurysmal dilatation of the left external jugular vein. Computed tomographic angiography scan with 60 mL of Isovue 300 intravenous contrast revealed the entire cervicocerebral vasculature (B); revealing hypertrophy of the ascending cervical branch of the left thyrocervical trunk with marked tortuosity of its distal segment. This tortuous segment led to the left external jugular vein resulting in focal venous dilatation measuring approximately 1.2 cm (axial) 1.8 cm (anterior-posterior) 2.3 cm (craniocaudal), and demonstrated drainage into the distal left external jugular vein (C). A threedimensional remodeling represents this anomalous formation (Cover). Because of the patient’s discomfort with this neck mass and the symptoms related to facial nerve interference, resulting in tinnitus, the patient opted for surgical correction. Because of the superficiality of the aneurysm, open resection of the segment was preferred over endovascular sclerotherapy. The patient was informed of all risks, benefits, and alternatives to the surgery and consented to proceeding with the operation. The patient was taken to the operating room. The external jugular vein proximal and distal to the area of the fistula and the aneurysm was controlled using vessel loops. Feeding vessels were very tortuous and were also isolated using vessel loops; 3-0 silk ties were used to ligate each of the vessels entering and leaving the ends of the aneurysmal vein. The segment of the fistula and aneurysm was resected. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was awakened from anesthesia. Postoperatively, there was no evidence of complications related to further vascular injury, nerve injury, or hematoma formation. The patient was discharged after the procedure and remains well at 3 months postoperation.
Work in progress — Developing an individualized life-long learning plan for junior electrical and Computer Engineering majors

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), now ABET Inc., adopted Engineering Criteria 2000 (EC2000) in 1997. At the time this was considered a revolutionary approach to accreditation criteria, because of its focus on what is learned in the classroom rather than what is taught. In the spring of 2003 the faculty of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering department at Binghamton University approved a new course - EECE 382 - Electrical and Computer Engineering Seminar II. The intent was to consolidate topics that were being taught across several courses within one focused seminar to better ensure that Criteria 3 of General Criteria for Basic Level Programs - Program Outcomes and Objectives - was consistently addressed. EECE 382 was to provide an overview of the professional aspects of the fields of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. This paper reports on how one of the objectives of Criteria 3: ‘a recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning’ is addressed in EECE 382.
Electronic density of states and optical properties of polytypes of germanium and silicon

Abstract The atomic arrangement of the ideal amorphous form of germanium or silicon is thought to be a tetrahedrally coordinated random network. Since the diamond structure is only one crystalline limit of such a network with the appropriate short range order, it is instructive to compare the density of states and the optical spectrum of amorphous Ge and Si not only with those quantities calculated for cubic Ge and Si, but also with those for such simple polytypes as 2H and 4H. Our computations indicate that while N ( E ) for these polytypes becomes progressively more like presently available experimental N ( E ) as one continues to add atoms to the unit cell, the gross features of the optical spectra of these polytypes are all very nearly alike, and are consistently different from the amorphous material.
Bounds on the Reliability of Networks

This paper presents criteria for acceptable schemes to approximate system reliability and Investigates such schemes for a special clas of network reliability problems. In this framework, we are able to use powerful combinatorial theory to obtain strong bounds for network reliability which can be computed by efficient algorithms. We demonstrate these bounds on a small example, and give some computational experience.
A Geometric Presentation of the λ2-Modules of C(n)(q) and D(n)(q)

Abstract The fixed-point sheaf of the λ2-module V for each of the groups Cn(q) and Dn(q) is constructed. It is shown that the 0-homology module of the sheaf is isomorphic to V. This gives a presentation of V by geometric generators and relations.
Characteristics of cosmic X-ray bursts observed with the OGO-5 satellite

Observations of 11 cosmic X-ray bursts made with the solar X-ray spectrometer aboard OGO 5 are presented. Their identification as cosmic events is based on good time coincidence with observations of cosmic gamma-ray bursts reported in the literature. The OGO-5 experiment is most sensitive to cosmic X-ray sources located in the sunward hemisphere. When this condition was satisfied and the OGO-5 experiment was operating normally, almost every cosmic gamma-ray burst reported by other observers was detected at X-ray energies of at least 32 keV. In three events the spectrum was observed down to about 10 keV. Two intense events were observed with 0.288-s time resolution, and large time variations were observed to occur in times not exceeding 0.3 s. Evidence is found that most cosmic gamma-ray bursts have photon spectra extending down to about 10 keV. The origin of these cosmic events in processes similar to those believed to occur in solar flares is briefly examined.
Characterizing the Glycocalyx of Poultry Spermatozoa: II. In Vitro Storage of Turkey Semen and Mobility Phenotype Affects the Carbohydrate Component of Sperm Membrane Glycoconjugates

The turkey sperm glycocalyx is known to contain residues of sialic acid, alpha-mannose/alpha-glucose, alpha- and beta-galactose, alpha-fucose, alpha- and beta-N-acetyl-galactosamine, monomers and dimers of N-acetyl-glucosamine, and N-acetyl-lactosamine. Potential changes in these carbohydrates during in vitro semen storage at 4 degrees C were evaluated using males of both high- and low-sperm-mobility phenotypes. Changes in carbohydrate residues were quantified by flow cytometry analysis using a battery of 14 fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled lectins in combination with control (sialylated) or neuraminidase-treated (nonsialylated) sperm. Sperm were evaluated at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours of storage. For control sperm, 4 different patterns of lectin binding were observed over time: 1) increased mean fluorescence intensity (MnFI) at 2 hours (Griffonia simplicifolia lectin-I [GS-I]) and 8 hours (Ricinus communis lectin-I [RCA-I]) that remained elevated during storage; 2) increased MnFI at specific time points (Limax flavus lectin [LFA], 2 hours; Artocarpus integrifolia lectin [jacalin] and succinyl Triticum vulgare lectin [sWGA], 8 hours; Galanthus nivalis lectin [GNA], 12 hours) followed by decreasing MnFI during the remainder of the 24-hour storage period; 3) increased MnFI only at the 24-hour time point (Lotus tetragonolobus lectin [lotus] and Arachis hypogaea lectin [PNA]); and 4) no changes in MnFI during the 24-hour storage period (Erythrina cristagalli lectin [ECA], GS-II, Pisum sativum lectin [PSA], Glycine max lectin [SBA], and Wisteria floribunda lectin [WFA]). For nonsialylated sperm, increased binding of ECA, GS-II, SBA, and WFA was observed at variable time points; only Canavalia ensiformis lectin (Con A) and PSA remained unchanged during storage. Differences between mobility phenotypes existed for lectins Con A, GS-II, LFA, PSA, SBA, and sWGA, with sperm from low-mobility males exhibiting higher MnFI than high-mobility males throughout 24 hours of storage. We concluded that the observed increases in lectin binding during semen storage indicate an augmentation of nonsialylated terminal residues, which could alter sperm antigenicity and negatively impact fertility. Further, spermatozoa from low-mobility males may have higher antigenicity even before semen storage. Other possible functional implications are discussed.
The Applicability of International Law Standards to United Nations Economic Sanctions Programmes

In the first half-decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the UN Security Council repeatedly decreed mandatory economic sanctions programmes under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Some of the programmes were severely criticized for their allegedly disproportionate effects on the populations of target states. The authors identify economic sanctions as a coercive instrument and assess the applicability of international law standards. Including the traditional criteria of necessity, proportionality and discrimination, to mandatory UN economic sanctions programmes. After an overview of the theory of economic sanctions and their place among strategic Instruments of enforcement, the authors review the Instances of mandatory UN economic sanctions programmes, assessing their effects on the populations of the target states and the extent of the Council's consideration of international legal norms In designing and carrying out sanctions. Concluding that the Council has given Inadequate consideration to International law standards In Implementing these programmes, the authors propose five legal principles for mandatory economic sanctions programmes: that highly coercive sanctions follow prescribed contingencies; that they be necessary and proportionate; that the sanctloners reasonably maximize discrimination between combatants and non' combatants; that sanctions programmes be periodically assessed; and that relief bt provided to Injured third parties.
Non-linear partial derivative and its De Wolf approximation for non-linear seismic inversion

S U M M A R Y We demonstrate that higher order Frechet derivatives are not negligible and the linear Frechet derivativemay not be appropriate inmany cases, especially when forward scattering is involved for large-scale or strong perturbations (heterogeneities). We then introduce and derive the nonlinear partial derivative including all the higher order Frechet derivatives for the acoustic wave equation. We prove that the higher order Frechet derivatives can be realized by consecutive applications of the scattering operator and a zero-order propagator to the source. The full non-linear partial derivative is directly related to the full scattering series. The formulation of the full non-linear derivative can be used to non-linearly update the model. It also provides a new way for deriving better approximations beyond the linear Frechet derivative (Born approximation). In the second part of the paper, we derive the De Wolf approximation (DWA; multiple forescattering and single backscattering approximation) for the non-linear partial derivative. We split the linear derivative operator (i.e. the scattering operator) into forward and backward derivatives, and then reorder and renormalize the multiple scattering series before making the approximation of dropping the multiple backscattering terms. This approximation can be useful for both theoretical derivation and numerical calculation. Through both theoretical analyses and numerical simulations, we show that for large-scale perturbations, the errors of the linear Frechet derivative (Born approximation) are significant and unacceptable. In contrast, the DWAnon-linear partial derivative (NLPD), can give fairly accurate waveforms. Application of the NLPD to the least-square inversion leads to a different inversion algorithm than the standard gradient method.
Proliferation of de Sitter space

I show that de Sitter space disintegrates into an infinite number of copies of itself. This occurs iteratively through a quantum process involving two types of topology change. First a handle is created semiclassically, on which multiple black hole horizons form. Then the black holes evaporate and disappear, splitting the spatial hypersurfaces into large parts. Applied to cosmology, this process leads to the production of a large or infinite number of universes in most models of inflation and yields a new picture of global structure.
An information processing model for the development of aggression

This research was supported in part by grant MH-38683 from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infections: Antibiotic treatment and associated costs

Recent studies suggest an increasing prevalence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease. In the absence of prevalence and cost data, the public health burden of pulmonary NTM disease is difficult to assess. The goal of this study was to assess costs associated with NTM disease treatment and to identify risk factors associated with increased costs. Records from subjects with pulmonary NTM disease enrolled in a natural history protocol were abstracted for presenting symptoms, comorbidities, microbiology, and treatment histories. Antibiotic frequency, duration, adverse reaction, and costs were noted, the total antibiotic burden and cost were calculated, and risk factors associated with high costs were analyzed. From Jan 2004 to Dec 2005, 33 subjects were enrolled; 27 met disease criteria and had sufficient data to assess antibiotic use. Mycobacterium avium complex was present in 89% and Mycobacterium abscessus was present in 21% of subjects. Subjects received a median of 5 (1-10) antibiotics. Adverse effects were common seen in up to 50% with common antibiotics and up to 100% with uncommonly used antibiotics. Median burden of treatment was 2638 (84-7689) drug-days and the median total cost per patient was $19,876 ($398-70,917). Subjects with high treatment costs had an adjusted 9.5 fold (95% CI 1.5-97.2) likelihood of having M. abscessus and a 4.2 fold (95% CI 0.6-59.3) increased likelihood of having more extensive disease. Pulmonary NTM represent an underappreciated disease burden in the US population, with an associated treatment cost comparable to that for other chronic diseases of infectious origin such as HIV/AIDS.
Climate and environmental change in arid Central Asia: impacts, vulnerability, and adaptations.

Abstract Vulnerability to climate change and other hazards constitutes a critical set of interactions between society and environment. As transitional economies emerging from the collapse of the Soviet Union, the republics of Central Asia are particularly vulnerable due to (1) physical geography (which dominated by temperate deserts and semi-deserts), (2) relative underdevelopment resulting from an economic focus on monoculture agricultural exports before 1991, and (3) traumatic social, economic, institutional upheavals following independence. Aridity is expected to increase across the entire Central Asian region, but especially in the western parts of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Temperature increases are projected to be particularly high in summer and fall, accompanied by decreases in precipitation. We examine the concepts of vulnerability, adaptation, and mitigation in the context of climate change in Central Asia. We explore three major aspects of human vulnerability—food security, water stress, and human health—and propose a set of indicators suitable for their assessment. Non-climatic stresses are likely to increase regional vulnerability to climate change and reduce adaptive capacity due to resource deployment to competing needs.
Influences of relative rewards of top managers on firm performance

In this work the impacts of top managers’ relative rewards on firm performance are examined. What is suggested and empirically found is that greater disparities in interrank values of salary streams may lower the performance of more focused firms (such as single-product firms or related diversifiers). It is also suggested and found that higher gaps in interrank values of salary streams may boost the performance of less focused firms (unrelated diversifiers). In contrast, it is proposed and found that expanded differentials in interrank values of stock options may improve performance, regardless of the strategic profile of the enterprise. Moreover, it is contended and found that intrarank disparities in salary streams or options may adversely influence the performance of the more focused as well as the less focused firms.
Global Nursing Research: Three Perspectives

Nurse scholars involved in research on the international scene describe current efforts underway in countries such as Turkey, Mexico, Japan, and Switzerland, to name a few, to advance nursing scholarship worldwide. Theoretical perspectives reflect work focusing on Neuman's and Roy's models and Parse's theory. Issues are identified that reflect efforts to advance nursing and shared concerns within the global nursing community.
Asymptotic Performance of Broadcast Services in IEEE 802.16e with CSTD

The IEEE 802.16e system for multicast and broadcast service (MBS) is further investigated over [4]. It is shown that 802.16e networks can exploit advanced transmission and flexible resource allocation techniques to deliver high- performance MBS delivery within the constraints of the WiMAXRelease 1 system profile. A novel per-subcarrier SINR model for single frequency network (SFN) operation is proposed for the scenario in which cyclic shift transmit diversity (CSTD) - a form of delay diversity - is applied at the base station. The utility of CSTD for 802.16e MBS delivery in term of rate and coverage enhancement is investigated in detail based on the exponential effective-SINR mapping (EESM) for frame error rate (FER) prediction. In addition, an asymptotic effective SINR approach is developed for low- complexity approximation of the EESM FER mapping, and the proposed approximation is shown to be accurate for MBS simulation, while significantly reducing simulation effort.
The effect of the Mt. Mazama ashfall on the planktonic diatom community of Lake Washington1

Preserved diatom assemblages are found in deep water sediments in Lake Washington above and below an ash layer originating from an eruption of Mt. Mazama 6800 b.p. Total abundance of frustules did not change after the ash event, but a significant shift in community structure occurred. Melosira italica var. subarctica increased after the ashfall, and Fragilaria crotonensis decreased. The changes most likely indicate an increase in the Si: P ratio and decreased light penetration in the euphotic zone during winter and spring.
Perceptual and cultural geography: A commentary

Perceptual geography reached a peak of popularity in the 1960s. David Lowenthal played a key role in its rise with three contributions: two papers and an edited volume. The two papers are “Geograph...
Locality Constrained Dictionary Learning for Nonlinear Dimensionality Reduction

Current nonlinear dimensionality reduction (NLDR) algorithms have quadratic or cubic complexity in the number of data, which limits their ability to process real-world large-scale datasets. Learning over a small set of landmark points can potentially allow much more effective NLDR and make such algorithms scalable to large dataset problems. In this paper, we show that the approximation to an unobservable intrinsic manifold by a few latent points residing on the manifold can be cast in a novel dictionary learning problem over the observation space. This leads to the presented locality constrained dictionary learning (LCDL) algorithm, which effectively learns a compact set of atoms consisting of locality-preserving landmark points on a nonlinear manifold. Experiments comparing state-of-the-art DL algorithms, including K-SVD, LCC and LLC, show that LCDL improves the embedding quality and greatly reduces the complexity of NLDR algorithms.
Asymmetrically Wrapped Flat-Profile Tape–Head Friction and Spacing

In this work, we study the friction and spacing between a magnetic data storage tape and a recording head. The tape–head friction force and magnetic spacing are measured as a function of the angles with which the tape is wrapped around the read/write head at 2 and 6 m s−1 tape transport velocity. It is found that the friction force can be described as a linear function of the leading and trailing wrap angles, where the friction force increases for increasing wrap angles. The analysis treats the total friction force as the sum of three components resulting from (1) the leading edge, (2) the head surface, and (3) the trailing edge. Coefficients of friction are calculated for each of the three components from experimental data. The leading edge and head surface components are both dependent on the leading-edge wrap angle and independent of the trailing-edge wrap angle, whereas the trailing-edge component is only dependent on the trailing-edge wrap. In addition, the estimated magnetic spacing is found to decrease with increasing leading-edge wrap angle, but is independent of the trailing-edge wrap angle, even for negative trailing-edge wrap angles. Hence, the trade-off between friction and spacing can be optimized through judicious choice of the wrap angles. In addition, we find that a significant portion of the friction is due to edge friction (as high as 70 % in the case of symmetric wrap). Therefore, we conclude that modifications to the head surface topography to reduce the contact area may not result in a significant reduction in head–tape friction.
Efficient and effective placement for very large circuits

We present two major extensions to the implementation of simulated annealing for row-based placement which have enabled it to obtain the best results ever reported for a large set of MCNC benchmark circuits while using the least computation time ever reported for remotely comparable results. Our results indicate that chip area reductions up to 16% can be expected, compared with TimberWolfSC v6.0. Our new hierarchical annealing-based placement program yields total wire length reductions of up to 9% while consuming up to 7.5 times less CPU time in comparison to TimberWolfSC v6.0. In comparison to the Gordian/Domino program, our new program yields total wire lengths which are always lower (up to 9% lower) and our program is always faster for circuits with more than 5000 cells (which represents the range of circuit sizes of interest).
Year Zero for the Archaeology of Iraq: A Response to Matthews

The thought-provoking paper by Roger Matthews addresses issues that by far surpass the boundaries of Iraq, but the ongoing destruction of the cultural heritage of that country is indeed a good occasion to reappraise the attitudes of archaeologists working in the developing world toward their host countries. Matthews addresses important aspects of the ethics of archaeology, a topic that is often ignored and where scholarly practice shows remarkable callousness. It is hard to disagree with any of the comments made in this paper, and I will try here to nuance them somewhat and place them in the perspective of someone who is not an archaeologist but an historian of ancient Iraq.
Health policy grant making by foundations in the 1990s

Foundations in the United States account for only a fraction of this country’s vast health care expenditures (an estimated $2.2 billion in 1996), and almost all of this support funds direct services and medical research. 1 A small number of major health funders have made programmatic commitments to informing health care policy and policymakers through support for research, analysis, education, and advocacy. A recent Grantmakers in Health report stated, “Foundations can maximize their impact by influencing decisions on how government health dollars are spent, and by persuading government to direct funds towards concerns of the foundation.” 2 Still, only about one in ten health grantmakers make policy grants in a given year. These are typically for specific initiatives or on an ad hoc basis when a policy funding opportunity coincides with a funder’s grantmaking agenda. Regardless of their level of commitment, foundations have been active throughout the 1990s at the national, state, and local levels in awarding health policy‐related grants focused on most of the country’s pressing health care issues. This essay provides a brief overview of grantmakers’ funding in health, followed by a descriptive analysis of patterns of support for health policy in 1990 and 1995 based on a sample of foundation grants. The analysis measures the size of health policy funding, charts changes in funding from 1990 to 1995, provides examples of how policy dollars were spent, and identifies key funders.
A Nested Grid Computation for the Barotropic Free Surface Atmosphere

Abstract The nested grid is used in a barotropic free surface model. Two grids are nested; one is a coarse mesh grid that covers a large region and the other a fine mesh grid set in a limited area inside the larger region. The interaction between the two grids is one-directional; the boundary condition for the smaller domain is taken from the solutions of the larger domain. The two major problems are how to select appropriate boundary settings for the limited area fine mesh grid and to evaluate how quickly the boundary error grows and invades the inner domain. Two methods of boundary setting are proposed; one is to specify a set of well-posed “physical” boundary conditions as well as to provide the “computational” boundary conditions by using “upwind” extrapolation and “pseudo-characteristic” extrapolation methods. The other is to specify all variables at all boundaries as they are taken from the solutions of the larger area coarse mesh grid and to apply “boundary smoothing” in order to suppress the compu...
Questions for genre theory from the blogosphere

The blog illustrates well the constant change that characterizes electronic media. With a rapidity equal to that of their initial adoption, blogs became not a single genre but a multiplicity. To explore the relationship between the centrifugal forces of change and the centripetal tendencies of recurrence and typification, we extend our earlier study of personal blogs with a contrasting study of the kairos, technological affordances, rhetorical features, and exigence for what we call public affairs blogs. At the same time, we explore the relationship between genre and medium, examining genre evolution in the context of changing technological affordances. We conclude that genre and medium must be distinguished and that the aesthetic satisfactions of genre help account for recurrence in an environment of change.
Degradation of aflatoxin B1 in dried figs by sodium bisulfite with or without heat, ultraviolet energy or hydrogen peroxide

Dried fig fruits were spiked to contain 250 ppb aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and treated with sodium bisulfite (1% in the aqueous phase of the mixture). This treatment caused 28.2% of added toxin to degrade in 72 h at 25°C. When hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 0.2% in the aqueous phase) was added 10 min before the bisulfite treatment, 65.5% of added toxin was degraded in 72 h. In both instances, most of the degradation occurred during the second day of treatment. Heating bisulfite-treated samples at 45 to 65°C for 1 h caused up to 68.4% of added AFB1 to be degraded. Ultraviolet radiation (from a low-energy source) degraded 45.7% of AFB1 in fig samples that were treated for 30 min; the rate of degradation was not enhanced when bisulfite or H2O2 was present during this treatment.
It’s what’s inside that counts: egg contaminant concentrations are influenced by estimates of egg density, egg volume, and fresh egg mass

In egg contaminant studies, it is necessary to calculate egg contaminant concentrations on a fresh wet weight basis and this requires accurate estimates of egg density and egg volume. We show that the inclusion or exclusion of the eggshell can influence egg contaminant concentrations, and we provide estimates of egg density (both with and without the eggshell) and egg-shape coefficients (used to estimate egg volume from egg morphometrics) for American avocet (Recurvirostra americana), black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), and Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri). Egg densities (g/cm(3)) estimated for whole eggs (1.056 ± 0.003) were higher than egg densities estimated for egg contents (1.024 ± 0.001), and were 1.059 ± 0.001 and 1.025 ± 0.001 for avocets, 1.056 ± 0.001 and 1.023 ± 0.001 for stilts, and 1.053 ± 0.002 and 1.025 ± 0.002 for terns. The egg-shape coefficients for egg volume (K v ) and egg mass (K w ) also differed depending on whether the eggshell was included (K v = 0.491 ± 0.001; K w = 0.518 ± 0.001) or excluded (K v = 0.493 ± 0.001; K w = 0.505 ± 0.001), and varied among species. Although egg contaminant concentrations are rarely meant to include the eggshell, we show that the typical inclusion of the eggshell in egg density and egg volume estimates results in egg contaminant concentrations being underestimated by 6-13 %. Our results demonstrate that the inclusion of the eggshell significantly influences estimates of egg density, egg volume, and fresh egg mass, which leads to egg contaminant concentrations that are biased low. We suggest that egg contaminant concentrations be calculated on a fresh wet weight basis using only internal egg-content densities, volumes, and masses appropriate for the species. For the three waterbirds in our study, these corrected coefficients are 1.024 ± 0.001 for egg density, 0.493 ± 0.001 for K v , and 0.505 ± 0.001 for K w .
Exposing the role of electron correlation in strong-field double ionization: X-ray transient absorption of orbital alignment in Xe+ and Xe2+

Orbital alignment measurements and theory are used to examine the role of electron correlation during atomic strong-field double ionization (795 nm, (1-5) × 10(14) W cm(-2)). High-order harmonic, transient absorption spectroscopy is used to measure the angular distributions of singly and doubly tunnel-ionized xenon atomic states via 4d core to 5p valence shell transitions between 55 and 60 eV. The experimental MJ alignment distributions are compared to results of a rate-equation model based on sequential ionization, previously developed for coherent electron motion, and now applied to account for the alignment prepared by tunneling ionization. The hole generated in the (2)P3/2 state of Xe(+) is measured to be entirely composed of |MJ| = 1/2, in agreement with theory. The result is a higher degree of alignment than previously reported. Because the model neglects effects of electron-ion recollision, the theory predicts a high degree of alignment in both spin-parallel (triplet) and antiparallel (singlet) terms of Xe(2+). However, the alignment generated with linearly polarized light is observed to be spin-state dependent. The measured alignments for triplet spin states ((3)P2 has |MJ| = [0 : 1 : 2] of [27±6 : 45±11 : 29±0] and (3)P1 has |MJ| = [0 : 1] of [56±2 : 44±2]) are in good agreement with the expectations of theory, which are [33 : 53 : 14] and [66 : 33], respectively. The results validate the rate equation model for sequential tunnel ionization. However, the alignment extracted for a singlet state is greatly diminished: (1)D2 is measured to be [18±1 : 39±2 : 43 ± 2] compared to theoretical expectation of [60 : 39 : 1] for |MJ| = [0 : 1 : 2]. The poor agreement with the sequential ionization model suggests that the alignment of (1)D2 is strongly influenced by the high propensity for the liberated first electron to return to and recollide with its parent atomic orbital. Therefore, although the influence of electron recollision appears minor in the triplet states and suggests sequential ionization, electron correlation between the ionic core and the first ionized electron cannot be ignored in the singlet state. Singlet states are likely to be generated through nonsequential double ionization over the intensity range where the experiments are performed.
Linking Surface Potential and Deprotonation in Nanoporous Silica: Second Harmonic Generation and Acid/Base Titration

The adsorption of ions at the oxide/water interface is important for a variety of technological and environmental applications. Understanding ion adsorption is complicated, even for smooth planar s...
Optical and electrical properties of solution processable TiOx thin films for solar cell and sensor applications

Recently, few tens of nanometer thin films of TiOx have been intensively studied in applications for organic solar cells as optical spacers, environmental protection and hole blocking. In this paper we provide initial measurements of optical and electrical properties of TiOx thin films and it’s applications in solar cell and sensor devices. The TiOx material was made through hydrolysis of the precursor synthesized from titanium isopropoxide, 2-methoxyethanol, and ethanolamine. The TiOx thin films of thickness between 20 nm to 120 nm were obtained by spin coating process. The refractive index of TiOx thin films were measured using an ellipsometric technique and an optical reflection method. At room temperature, the refractive index of TiOx thin film was found to be 1.77 at a wavelength of 600 nm. The variation of refractive index under various thermal annealing conditions was also studied. The increase in refractive index with high temperature thermal annealing process was observed, allowing the opportunity to obtain refractive index values between 1.77 and 2.57 at a wavelength 600 nm. The refractive index variation is due to the TiOx phase and density changes under thermal annealing. The electrical resistance was measured by depositing a thin film of TiOx between ITO and Al electrode. The electrical resistivity of TiOx thin film was found to be 1.7×107 Ω.cm as measured by vertical transmission line method. We have also studied the variation of electrical resistivity with temperature. The temperature coefficient of electrical resistance for 60 nm TiOx thin film was demonstrated as - 6×10-3/°C. A linear temperature dependence of resistivity between the temperature values of 20 – 100 °C was observed. The TiOx thin films have been demonstrated as a low cost solution processable antireflection layer for Si solar cells. The results indicate that the TiOx layer can reduce the surface reflection of the silicon as low as commonly used vacuum deposited Si3N4 thin films.
Novel curricula and tools for Java in CS1 courses

This workshop introduces novel curricula and tools for Java. Dr. Blank demonstrates how to start a course "design-first," using web-based multimedia and a procedure to develop a class diagram from a problem description. A UML tool provides feedback and generates skeletons of Java source code from class diagrams. Students then use DrJava to implement and test them. Dr. Moll introduces iJava, an interactive, webbased textbook. On each page, students enter code and get immediate feedback. Thus the cycle has students reading a few paragraphs of text, then interacting with Java to consolidate their understanding of the material.
An Analysis of Seed Development in Pisum sativum III. The Relationship Between the r Locus, the Water Content and the Osmotic Potential of Seed Tissues in vivo and in vitro

The water content and osmotic potential (ψ2) of the different parts of the pea fruit have been measured during development of the seed in two lines near-isogenic except for the r locus. During the early development of both genotypes, the testa possessed a more negative ψ2 than either embryo, endosperm or pod while, at stages when liquid endosperm was present, the embryo always maintained ψ2, more negative than the endosperm. A clear effect of the r locus on water content and ψ2 was only observed in embryo tissue — wrinkled (rr) embryos possessing more water and maintaining a more negative ψ2 than round (RR) for most of the developmental period studied. The more negative ψ2 of wrinkled embryos correlated with their greater uptake of water in vivo. When cultured in vitro, the embryos of both genotypes showed maximum growth (fresh or dry weight) if 10 per cent sucrose was added to the medium (equivalent to about — 1.2 MPa). Round embryos, however, increased in weight more than wrinkled at all sucrose concentrations examined. Cultured embryos maintained a similar or more negative ψ2 than their surrounding medium; wrinkled more negative than round.
Determination of bisphenol A in drinking water by high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometer

Objective: To develop an analytical method for determination of bisphenol A in drinking water by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer(HPLC-MS/MS),and provide the reference for revising the "Health Standards for Drinking Water"(GB/T 5750-2006) in future.Methods: After centrifugation,bisphenol A in drinking water samples was separated by C18 column and determined by HPLC using methanol/water as mobile phase.Results: The limit of quantification was 0.002 mg/L,the recovery rate was 90%～110% at 3 concentration levels,and the RSD was less than 5%.Conclusion: This method can meet the detection demands of bisphenol A in drinking water without sample enrichment operation.