cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interband Cascade Photovoltaic Devices for Conversion of Mid-IR Radiation

Interband cascade structures are investigated for applications in the photovoltaic conversion of mid-infrared radiation. We present detailed studies of the performance characteristics and the temperature dependence of seven-stage, single-bandgap devices. These cascade structure devices were able to achieve open-circuit voltages as high as 1.68 V with a cutoff wavelength of 4.0 μm at 80 K. The total power efficiency was broken down into a product of individual efficiencies in order to determine the power loss from each of the physical mechanisms that are involved in the conversion process. We find that at low temperature, the power conversion is limited by incomplete absorption of the incident light and a fill factor below 50%. At higher temperature, the drop in open-circuit voltage limits the efficiency. We comment on how the results of this efficiency analysis will steer the direction of our future efforts toward device improvement.
Magnetic monopoles and Cherenkov light

Abstract Magnetic monopoles have recently returned to popularity with the Stanford candidate event. Here we review the experimental situation with particular emphasis on two experiments which use Cherenkov radiation.
Some "Obvious" Facts about the Teaching Career:

In this original article Professor Charters uses concepts from socio logical research to criticize the existing educational research tradition for its failure properly to take into account some "ob...
Charge effects on the diffusion of polystyrene sulfonate through porous membranes

Abstract The diffusion coefficient of potassium polystyrene sulfonate was determined in dilute bulk aqueous solution and in track-etch porous membranes. Polymer molecular weight, salt concentration, and membrane pore radius were varied. Size and charge parameters of the polymer and the membrane pores were determined to allow comparison of the experimental results with predictions based on a recently reported theory for partitioning of linear polyelectrolytes between pores and bulk solution. The membrane diffusion data and the theory exhibited fairly good aggreement under most of the conditions studied; the theory underestimated the measured effective diffusivity by 1% on average, and the root-mean-square difference between the theory and measurements was 19%. A comparison of results at various ionic strengths indicates that electrostatic effects can greatly influence membrane transport rates by altering the partitioning of polymers between pores and bulk solution.
The role of mu and kappa opioid receptors within the periaqueductal gray in the expression of conditional hypoalgesia

The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a midbrain structure involved in the modulation of pain and expression of classically conditioned fear responses. Non-selective opioid antagonists applied to the PAG block the expression of hypoalgesia in rats exposed to a Pavlovian signal for shock. This study was conducted to determine the anatomical and pharmacological specificity of the PAG's role in conditional hypoalgesia. Rat subjects received injections of either the mu opioid antagonist CTAP (6.6 nMol), the kappa opioid antagonist Nor-binaltorphimine (Nor-BNI, 6.6 nMol) or saline. Injections were made into either the dorsolateral (dlPAG) or ventrolateral (vlPAG) PAG prior to the presentation of an auditory stimulus that had previously been paired with foot shock while measuring nociception with the radiant heat tail flick (TF) test. Elevation in TF latency in response to the auditory stimulus was blocked only by administration of CTAP into the vlPAG. These results suggest that conditional hypoalgesia (CHA) is subserved by mu but not kappa opioid receptors located in the vlPAG but not the dlPAG.
Thermodynamic properties of spin-phonon interactions in a paramagnetic system

The thermodynamic properties of a model frequently used to study spin-phonon interactions in a paramagnetic system is investigated in a self-consistent manner using a variational principle for the free energy. A set of coupled nonlinear integral equations is obtained. Nonuniform ordering is allowed for but only the uniform solutions of these variational equations are studied in this paper and found to possess a phase transition qualitatively similar to the structural phase transitions observed in the rare earth vanadates. The specific heat behavior is discussed and compared with experiments. The phase transition behavior is qualitatively different from the properties obtained by previous calculations. This apparently conflicting behavior of the same model is resolved by suggesting that the Schottky-type behavior represents the weak coupling region and the phase transition behavior represents the strong coupling properties. This strong coupling behavior is related to the condition for the existence of a double minimum in the free energy. It is also shown that in the limit of strong coupling the dynamic effects of the spin-phonon coupling become small, the predominant effect being the static cooperative interaction between the spins.
Development and implementation of a NURBS curve motion interpolator

Abstract This paper deals with the issues of development and implementation of a real-time NURBS interpolator for a six-axis robot. Using an open-architecture controller system as a testbed, a real-time NURBS curve interpolator was developed, implemented and tested. Sample runs were conducted with the resulting trajectories measured in real-time during robot motion. The resulting trajectories are analyzed, discussed and compared with those from a commonly used point-to-point approximation technique. The real-time NURBS curve interpolator’s feasibility, advantages and related issues are also discussed.
Exploring 3D power distribution network physics

In this paper, we address the analysis and design problems for power distribution networks (PDNs) in 3D ICs. An on-chip current distribution model is proposed to identify the unique noise behaviors of 3D PDNs. Based on the model, an analysis flow is designed for 3D PDNs in both frequency domain and time domain. With the analysis flow, the global and local resonance phenomena that are distinct in 3D PDNs are discovered. The physical mechanisms of the resonance are investigated and techniques for robust 3D PDN design are proposed.
Remodeling of the Metabolome during Early Frog Development

A rapid series of synchronous cell divisions initiates embryogenesis in many animal species, including the frog Xenopus laevis. After many of these cleavage cycles, the nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio increases sufficiently to somehow cause cell cycles to elongate and become asynchronous at the mid-blastula transition (MBT). We have discovered that an unanticipated remodeling of core metabolic pathways occurs during the cleavage cycles and the MBT in X.laevis, as evidenced by widespread changes in metabolite abundance. While many of the changes in metabolite abundance were consistently observed, it was also evident that different female frogs laid eggs with different levels of at least some metabolites. Metabolite tracing with heavy isotopes demonstrated that alanine is consumed to generate energy for the early embryo. dATP pools were found to decline during the MBT and we have confirmed that maternal pools of dNTPs are functionally exhausted at the onset of the MBT. Our results support an alternative hypothesis that the cell cycle lengthening at the MBT is triggered not by a limiting maternal protein, as is usually proposed, but by a decline in dNTP pools brought about by the exponentially increasing demands of DNA synthesis.
Validation of the traumatic sexualization survey for use with heterosexual men

Two studies were conducted to validate the traumatic sexualization survey (TSS) for use with heterosexual men. In study 1, an online sample of men completed the TSS and measures used to examine convergent and divergent validity. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that the TSS had a similar factor structure in men as previously found in women. The TSS demonstrated adequate reliability and validity with men. In study 2, male sexually transmitted disease clinic patients completed the TSS and a measure of child maltreatment. Men with a child sexual abuse (CSA) history reported higher levels of traumatic sexualization than men with a history of only physical abuse or no abuse, providing some preliminary evidence of construct validity. The TSS appears to be an adequate measure of maladaptive attitudes that have been conceptually linked to CSA impact in men.
Donor-Recipient Size Matching in Pediatric Heart Transplantation: Is Weight the Most Appropriate Parameter To Predict Outcomes in All Age Groups?

Purpose The aim of this study is to retrospectively review our practice of donor-recipient (D/R) size matching by weight criteria alone and simultaneously reassess and compare post-transplant outcomes using the additional variables of height and body-surface area (BSA). Methods and Materials We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 211 patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation at Boston Children’s Hospital over the past 20 years. The patients were divided into the following age groups: 12 years (n=74). Donor/recipient weight, height and BSA ratios were determined for each age group at the date of transplantation. Outliers were identified for each variable and analyzed separately. We compared the average and median of continuous outcomes such as length of stays, need for open chest, post-transplant filling pressures and survival. Results In our cohort the median D/R weight ratio was 1.276 (0.2-5.0), BSA ratio 1.172 (0.2-2.0) and height ratio1.061 (0.3-2.0). There was no difference in post-transplant survival when comparing outcomes by weight, BSA or height ratios. Increased D/R size ratio was associated with significantly increased likelihood of delayed chest closure, ICU and total hospital length of stay in all ages. The odds ratio was highest for the youngest age group with disproportionate number of outliers (33.3 %) but this effect was less significant when D/R matching was done by BSA. The younger patients were more likely to receive a size-mismatched hearts than older recipients. Conclusions The current practice of using weight for donor-recipient size matching in pediatric heart transplantation does not seem to impact long-term outcomes. In younger patients, an increase in donor to recipient size ratio increases post-operative recovery. However, the use of BSA is a more reliable tool for matching heart sizes in all age groups.
Safety and feasibility of percutaneous autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation in the coil-infarcted swine myocardium

Abstract Introduction Autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation (ASMT) for myocardial regeneration is a promising new treatment for patients with congestive heart failure secondary to myocardial infarction (MI). However, non-surgical delivery could broaden the utility of this approach. The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transplanting autologous skeletal myoblast (ASM) via endovascular delivery into the infarcted swine myocardium. Methods Seven female Yorkshire swine successfully underwent induced left ventricular MI. ASM biopsies were obtained from the hind limb of each animal and myoblasts were expanded in vitro. In a pilot experiment, ASM were labeled with iridium and short-term retention and biodistribution was determined 2 h after ASM delivery via the MyoStar™ needle-injection catheter inserted through the femoral artery. At 30 days post-infarction, the remaining animals were divided into three groups containing 2 animals each for percutaneous catheter delivery into the infarcted zone: group 1 control animals were injected with media only, group 2 and 3 animals were injected with approximately 300 × 10 6 and 600 × 10 6 ASM, respectively. Sixty days post-transplantation, the swine hearts were harvested. Results During the 60-day period between transplantation and harvest, no adverse events were recorded, and continuous rhythm monitoring revealed no arrhythmias. In the small sampling size, myocardial function assessments revealed a trend toward improvement in the treatment groups with respect to ejection fraction, viability, and cardiac index. However, histology of treated swine hearts identified no skeletal muscle cells. Discussion Percutaneous ASMT into an infarcted swine myocardium is feasible and safe, and may contribute to overall improved heart function.
Disparities in time to definitive surgical treatment between black and white women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ.

Abstract Background Although black women develop invasive breast cancer at a lower incidence than white women, the cancers they develop tend to be of a higher grade and are more likely estrogen receptor negative. There is very little information with regard to black women and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In addition, although various reasons have been proposed for the delay to screening for black women, a delay after diagnosis has also been recognized. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate disparities in time to treatment between black women and white women once DCIS has been diagnosed. Methods A retrospective analysis of 37 black women and 37 matched white women treated for DCIS was performed. Matches were made based on the date of birth, date of diagnosis, date and type of surgery, and age at diagnosis. The time from the date of diagnosis to the date of surgery was ascertained. Results Black women were 64% more likely to undergo a delay to surgery (>50 days) compared with white women (21% versus 13%, P Conclusion Black women are more likely not to reach surgery within 50 days of diagnosis, which is concerning, and further studies to investigate the cause of these delays are warranted.
The Galactic Center Region Imaged by VERITAS from 2010{2012

The galactic center has long been a region of interest for high-energy and very-high-energy observations. Many potential sources of GeV/TeV gamma-ray emission are located in this region, e.g. the accretion of matter onto the central black hole, cosmic rays from a nearby shell-type supernova remnant, or the annihilation of dark matter. The galactic center has been detected at MeV/GeV energies by EGRET and recently by Fermi /LAT. At TeV energies, the galactic center was detected at the level of 4 standard deviations with the Whipple 10m telescope and with one order of magnitude better sensitivity by H.E.S.S. and MAGIC. We present the results from 3 years of VERITAS galactic center observations conducted at large zenith angles. The results are compared to astrophysical models.
Effect of Oxygen Exposure on ATP Content of Rat Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Exogenous ATP stimulates surfactant phospholipid secretion in vitro through binding to P2-purinoceptors on the surface of the alveolar type II cell. To determine whether ATP is present in the bronchoalveolar space at concentrations sufficient to stimulate phospholipid secretion, we determined bronchoalveolar lavage ATP content in rats exposed to different inspired oxygen concentrations. Bronchoalveolar lavage ATP content of control animals exposed to room air was 155 +/- 12 nmol ATP/lavage (n = 17) and fell in a dose-dependent fashion to 34 +/- 5 nmol ATP/lavage in animals exposed to 85% oxygen for 72 h (n = 17). Airway content of ATP metabolites fell in a similar fashion in response to oxygen exposure. The decrease in airway ATP content after oxygen exposure was also time-dependent. ATP content in young adult male rats exposed to 85% oxygen decreased from a mean of 236 nmol ATP/lavage on d 1 of exposure to 18 nmol ATP/lavage after 4 d. There was no further decrease in bronchoalveolar lavage ATP content after 4-7 d of oxygen exposure. Despite the fall in airway levels of ATP, disaturated phosphatidylcholine levels increased. Rat bronchoalveolar lavage contained measurable concentrations of ATP, indicating the presence of ATP in the airway at levels which modulate surfactant phospholipid secretion from isolated alveolar type II cells in vitro. Bronchoalveolar lavage ATP content decreased significantly with exposure to oxygen, whereas disaturated phosphatidylcholine content increased.
An algorithm for locating fundamental frequency markers in speech signals

The paper describes an algorithm for determining pitch period markers in a continuous speech signal using prior knowledge of pitch values. The algorithm uses dynamic programming to determine optimal markers from a set of probable markers. Local costs are assigned based on the amplitudes of local peaks, and transition costs are based on the closeness of peak spacings to the spacing predicted by the pitch period. In tests conducted with the Keele database, it was found that over 90% of pitch markers are within /spl plusmn/0.3 ms of reference marks in the laryngograph signal recorded with the Keele acoustic data, and over 96% of markers are within /spl plusmn/1 ms of reference markers. One of the features of this algorithm is tolerance to errors in the pitch track. The algorithm can tolerate errors in the pitch track of approximately -10% to +60%, with very little degradation in performance. It also generates 1% extraneous peaks.
Exercise performance-based outcomes of medically treated patients with coronary artery disease and profound ST segment depression

Abstract OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the relationship between exercise duration and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with profound (≥2 mm) ST segment depression during exercise treadmill testing (ETT). BACKGROUND Patients with stable symptoms but profound ST segment depression during ETT are often referred for a coronary intervention on the basis that presumed severe coronary artery disease (CAD) will lead to unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes, irrespective of symptomatic and functional status. We hypothesized that good exercise tolerance in such patients treated medically is associated with favorable long-term outcomes. METHODS We prospectively followed 203 consecutive patients (181 men; mean age 73 years) with known stable CAD and ≥2 mm ST segment depression who are performing ETT according to the Bruce protocol for an average of 41 months. The primary end point was occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) or death. RESULTS Eight (20%) of 40 patients with an initial ETT exercise duration ≤6 min developed MI or died, as compared with five (6%) of 84 patients who exercised between 6 and 9 min and three (3.8%) of 79 patients who exercised ≥9 min (p = 0.01). Compared with patients who exercised ≤6 min, increased ETT duration was significantly associated with a reduced risk of MI/death (6 to 9 min: relative risk [RR] = 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08 to 0.76; >9 min: RR = 0.14, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.53). This protective effect persisted after adjustment for potentially confounding variables. We observed a 23% reduction in MI/death for each additional minute of exercise the patient was able to complete during the index ETT. CONCLUSIONS Optimal medical management in stable patients with CAD with profound exercise-induced ST segment depression but good ETT duration is an appropriate alternative to coronary revascularization and is associated with low rates of MI and death.
Local boundary value problems for the error in FE approximation of non-linear diffusion systems

In this work we investigate the a posteriori error estimation for a class of non-linear, multicomponent diffusion operators, which includes the Stefan-Maxwell equations. The local error indicators for the global error are based on local boundary value problems, which are chosen to approximate either the global residual of the finite element approximation or the global linearized error equation. Using representative numerical examples, it is shown that the error indicators based on the latter approach are more accurate for estimating the global error for this problem class as the problem becomes more non-linear, and can even produce better adaptive mesh refinement (AMR). In addition, we propose a new local error indicator for the error in output functionals that is accurate, inexpensive to compute, and is suitable for AMR, as demonstrated by numerical examples.
A Local Semi-Implicit Level-Set Method for Interface Motion

This paper proposes and implements a novel hybrid level set method which combines the numerical efficiency of the local level set approach with the temporal stability afforded by a semi-implicit technique. By introducing an extraction/insertion algorithm into the local level set approach, we can accurately capture complicated behaviors such as interface separation and coalescence. This technique solves a well known problem when treating a semi-implicit system with spectral methods, where spurious interface movements emerge when two interfaces are close to each other. Numerical experiments show that the proposed method is stable, efficient and scales up well into three dimensional problems.
Evaluation of Commercial Conjugates for Fluorescent Antibody Detection of Salmonellae

Fluorescent antibody (FA) reagents for Salmonella produced by Difco, Sylvana, and Clinical Sciences, Inc., were evaluated for physicochemical and performance characteristics. The Difco panvalent (A through 064) and the Difco polyvalent (A through S) were similar in physicochemical characteristics. They had less than 60% gamma globulin with 3% albumin and had fluorescein to protein (F/P) ratios of less than 10. The Sylvana conjugate had 81% gamma globulin with less than 1% albumin. Its F/P was 33.9. The Clinical Sciences reagent contained 75% unlabeled albumin as packaged in the Fluoro-kit. Analysis of the original conjugate showed 86.5% gamma globulin with only 0.5% albumin. The (F/P) was 32.8. The performance characteristics were determined by using a variety of Enterobacteriaceae and food and feed samples. All conjugates stained the homologous Salmonella strains. The majority of cross-reactions were limited primarily to the Arizona, Citrobacter, and Escherichia coli groups. The Difco panvalent was more reactive with heterologous organisms. It stained 89% of the Arizona compared with 42% stained by the Difco polyvalent (A through S) and 39% stained by the Sylvana and Clinical Sciences reagents. We found 90% agreement between FA and culture when the Difco polyvalent was used to examine food and feed samples and 94% agreement when the Clinical Sciences Fluoro-kit was used on another group of samples.
Spatial Gradient Analysis for Linear Seismic Arrays

I incorporate the spatial gradient of the wave field recorded from one- dimensional arrays into a processing method that yields the horizontal-wave slowness and the change of geometrical spreading with distance. In general, the model for seismic-wave propagation is enough to be appropriate for body and surface waves propagating from nearby seismic sources but can be simplified into a plane-wave model. Although computation of the spatial gradient requires that array elements be closer than 10% of the horizontal wavelength, seismic-array apertures, in the usual sense, may extend over many horizontal wavelengths and illuminate changes within the wave field. Array images of horizontal slowness and the relative geometrical- spreading changes of seismic waves are derived using filter theory and used to interpret observed array wave fields. Errors in computing finite-difference spatial gradients from array nodes are explicitly considered to avoid spatial aliasing in the estimates. I apply the method to interpret waves in strong ground motion and small- scale refraction data sets. Use of the wave spatial gradient accentuates spatial differences in the wave field that can be theoretically exploited in fine-scale tomographic studies of structure and is complementary to frequency/wavenumber or beam- forming array-processing techniques.
Designing Decisions Rules for Transnational Infrastructure Projects

This article discusses the implications of decision rules in the governance structures of transnational infrastructure projects. It stresses that decision rules strongly affect the performance of the partnership and that, consequently, attention should be given to their design at the initial stage. The article also stresses the fact that partners must not only agree on how to make ordinary decisions, but also special ones such as, for example, changing the rules along the way or making changes to the membership of the group. This paper makes the following specific points. First, the choice of partners is a key variable, which affects the choice of decision rules and, in turn, is influenced by the conditions for new entrants. Second, the choice of decision rules can crucially affect the degree of confidence and the level of cooperation among partners, as well as the speed at which the partnership adopts new decisions. Third, agreements on how to eventually change the initial set of rules and partners should be part of the design of a well established decision system.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Reduces Subcellular Heterogeneity of Ryanodine Receptors, T-Tubules, and Ca2+ Sparks Produced by Dyssynchronous Heart Failure

Background—Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a major advance for treatment of patients with dyssynchronous heart failure (DHF). However, our understanding of DHF-associated remodeling of subcellular structure and function and their restoration after CRT remains incomplete. Methods and Results—We investigated subcellular heterogeneity of remodeling of structures and proteins associated with excitation–contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes in DHF and after CRT. Three-dimensional confocal microscopy revealed subcellular heterogeneity of ryanodine receptor (RyR) density and the transverse tubular system (t-system) in a canine model of DHF. RyR density at the ends of lateral left ventricular cardiomyocytes was higher than that in cell centers, whereas the t-system was depleted at cell ends. In anterior left ventricular cardiomyocytes, however, we found a similar degree of heterogeneous RyR remodeling, despite preserved t-system. Synchronous heart failure was associated with marginal heterogeneity of ...
Influence of soil fumigation by methyl bromide and methyl iodide on rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbial community structure.

Rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbial communities were evaluated on roots and leaves of growth chamber-grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa (L.) cv. Green Forest) plants by culture-dependent and -independent methods after soil fumigation. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) with 16S rRNA primers followed by cloning and sequencing was used to identify major rRNA bands from the rhizosphere and phyllosphere. Three weeks after fumigation, there were no differences (P = 0.16) in rhizosphere microbial communities between the fumigated treatments and the control. The same effect was observed during week seven after fumigation (P=0.49). Also, no significant differences (P=0.49) were found in the phyllosphere microbial communities between the fumigated treatments and the control during the growth period of the plant. A majority of the bands in the rhizosphere were related to known bacterial sequences with a 96 to 100 % sequence similarity. Some of the derived sequences were related to Pseudomonas syringae pv....
Temporal organization of DNA in Chinese hamster cells: cell-cycle dependent association of DNA with membrane.

Abstract DNA-lipoprotein (membrane) complexes were isolated from line CHO cells by sarkosyl crystal formation or by discontinuous gradient sedimentation analysis of sonicated cells. Less than 10 % of the DNA in the complexes was due to nonspecific interaction. Ribonuclease was without effect upon the complexes, while heating at temperatures in excess of 37 °C or treatment with deoxyribonuclease, Pronase, or sodium dodecylsulfate removed the DNA, and the latter two agents solubilized the choline-labeled membrane as well. Nearly 70 % of the newly replicated DNA (short pulse-label with [3H]thymidine) was associated with the complexes, and much of the new DNA could be removed from complexes by chasing in unlabeled thymidine. Although DNA was associated with membrane throughout the entire cell cycle, there was an increased amount of DNA complexed to membrane specifically during S phase. These results suggest that DNA-membrane complexes may play a role in both spatial and temporal organization of DNA during the cell cycle.
Exploring personal information

When we look for information in large or unfamiliar sources such as the Web or an encyclopedia, it is almost second nature to use a search engine to help us find what we need. Yet until recently, people have had to be more creative when trying to find information on their own computers; locating an email message, a bank statement, or a short movie clip of a friend on your own computer can be an exercise in patience and luck. While research in the area of personal information access has been ongoing for several years [1, 3], we are only now beginning to see widespread use of such tools. Rich search and browsing capabilities to support exploration are now being built into the next generation of PC operating systems (for example, Apple’s Spotlight for Tiger OS X and Microsoft’s Vista Search) and are also available in a variety of standalone desktop search tools.
Robert E. Hawkinson

Robert E. Hawkinson died May 22, 2011 of an apparent heart attack at the age of 68. At the time of his death Prof. Hawkinson was Emeritus Dean of Campus Life/Associate Professor of Politics at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He was also Kaneko Faculty Commons Mentor, a position created as part of the Residential Commons system initiated by Prof. Hawkinson during his tenure as Campus Life Dean at Willamette. During his nearly thirty years at Willamette, Bob Hawkinson was a fixture on campus and one of the most revered educators, advisors, and mentors, reaching out to generations of students through his inspired teaching and committed dedication to the intellectual life of the university community. Although Bob was rewarded with emeritus status in 2009, he continued to teach in the Politics Department at Willamette for the remaining two years of his life.
Generating large-scale neural networks through discovering geometric regularities

Connectivity patterns in biological brains exhibit many repeating motifs. This repetition mirrors inherent geometric regularities in the physical world. For example, stimuli that excite adjacent locations on the retina map to neurons that are similarly adjacent in the visual cortex. That way, neural connectivity can exploit geometric locality in the outside world by employing local connections in the brain. If such regularities could be discovered by methods that evolve artificial neural networks (ANNs), then they could be similarly exploited to solve problems that would otherwise require optimizing too many dimensions to solve. This paper introduces such a method, called Hypercube-based Neuroevolution of Augmenting Topologies (HyperNEAT), which evolves a novel generative encoding called connective Compositional Pattern Producing Networks (connective CPPNs) to discover geometric regularities in the task domain. Connective CPPNs encode connectivity patterns as concepts that are independent of the number of inputs or outputs, allowing functional large-scale neural networks to be evolved. In this paper, this approach is tested in a simple visual task for which it effectively discovers the correct underlying regularity, allowing the solution to both generalize and scale without loss of function to an ANN of over eight million connections.
Environment normalization for robust speech recognition using direct cepstral comparison

In this paper we describe and evaluate a series of new algorithms that compensate for the effects of unknown acoustical environments or changes in environment. The algorithms use compensation vectors that are added to the cepstral representations of speech that is input to a speech recognition system. While these vectors are computed from direct frame-by-frame comparisons of cepstra of speech simultaneously recorded in the training environment and various prototype testing environments, the compensation algorithms do not assume that the acoustical characteristics of the actual testing environment are known. The specific compensation vector applied in a given frame depends on either physical attributes such as SNR or presumed phonetic identity. The compensation algorithms are evaluated using the 1992 ARPA 5000 word WSJ/CSR corpus. The best system combines phoneme-based and SNR-based cepstral compensation with cepstral mean normalization, and provides a 66.8% reduction in error rate over baseline processing when tested using a standard suite of unknown microphones. >
Influence of Pasteurization on Fat and Nitrogen Recoveries and Cheddar Cheese Yield

Abstract Cheddar cheese was made from pasteurized (63°C for 30 min) and raw milk to determine the influence of pasteurization on cheese yield and on fat and nitrogen (i.e., protein) recovery in cheese. Pasteurization had no effect on fat recovery in cheese, but nitrogen recovery was higher for cheese made from pasteurized milk. Composition-adjusted cheese yield was higher in cheese made from pasteurized milk. Based on casein measurement by the International Dairy Federation method, it appeared that approximately 5% of the whey protein originally present in the milk, presumably β-lactoglobulin, was associated with casein micelles after milk pasteurization. It was concluded that heat denaturation of whey protein caused by HTST pasteurization of milk prior to cheese making results in a theoretical cheese yield increase of about .01 to .04 kg for a milk with a theoretical Cheddar cheese yield of 10 kg/100 kg of milk. Higher pasteurization temperatures or longer holding times would cause more heat-induced interactions of casein and whey proteins.
Asparaginase allergies: it’s all in the genes

In this issue of Blood , Fernandez et al demonstrate that human leukocyte antigen ( HLA ) DRB1 alleles confer high-affinity binding to asparaginase epitopes, leading to higher frequency of allergic reactions.[1][1] The authors initially examined HLA data from European ancestry patients enrolled onto
A Community Economic Forecasting and Simulation System: Description of a Satellite Model

This paper deals with the problem of modelling sub-county areas that are so small that county level forecasts cannot be used for policy purposes. Starting from a simple specification that relates demand for local goods and services to local and non-local income, a system of equations is developed that can be used as a satellite to a county model to forecast impacts of economic events at the town level. Regression coefficients for the equations are estimated using data at the one-digit SIC code level for a pooled sample of towns in Massachusetts. Model validation tests are reported. An example of an application is provided by simulating impacts of 500 new manufacturing jobs in a town within a county. Our approach yields simulation and forecasting results for both the town and the county.
Acid- and oxidatively-labile vinyl ether surfactants: Synthesis and drug delivery applications

Liposomes have now evolved into a commercially-important drug delivery vehicle by overcoming a host of problems that were initially encountered with first generation liposomes. In spite of these impressive advances, the great potential of liposomes as drug delivery vehicles will not be fully realized until more effective targeting and membrane fusion mechanisms have been incorporated into their formulations. Our laboratory has developed several plasmenyl-type lipids for use in acid- or photooxidatively-triggerable liposomes. This review summarizes our progress toward the design, synthesis, and triggered release of encapsulated agents upon acid-catalyzed hydrolysis or photosensitized oxidation of plasmenyl-type lipid systems. Application of these materials in cascade triggering and intracellular drug delivery schemes is also described.
Comparative analysis of portal hepatic infiltrating leucocytes in acute drug-induced liver injury, idiopathic autoimmune and viral hepatitis

Summary Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is often caused by innate and adaptive host immune responses. Characterization of inflammatory infiltrates in the liver may improve understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of DILI. This study aimed to enumerate and characterize leucocytes infiltrating liver tissue from subjects with acute DILI (n = 32) versus non-DILI causes of acute liver injury (n = 25). Immunostains for CD11b/CD4 (Kupffer and T helper cells), CD3/CD20 (T and B cells) and CD8/CD56 [T cytotoxic and natural killer (NK) cells] were evaluated in biopsies from subjects with acute DILI, either immunoallergic (IAD) or autoimmune (AID) and idiopathic autoimmune (AIH) and viral hepatitis (VH) and correlated with clinical and pathological features. All biopsies showed numerous CD8+ T cells and macrophages. DILI cases had significantly fewer B lymphocytes than AIH and VH and significantly fewer NK cells than VH. Prominent plasma cells were unusual in IAD (three of 10 cases), but were associated strongly with AIH (eight of nine) and also observed in most with AID (six of nine). They were also found in five of 10 cases with VH. Liver biopsies from subjects with DILI were characterized by low counts of mature B cells and NK cells in portal triads in contrast to VH. NK cells were found only in cases of VH, whereas AIH and VH both showed higher counts of B cells than DILI. Plasma cells were associated most strongly with AIH and less so with AID, but were uncommon in IAD.
Individual differences in use of external visualisations to perform an internal visualisation task.

SUMMARY Thirty participants performed a novel spatial inference task, which required them to imagine and draw the cross section of a three-dimensional (3-D) object. While performing the task, participants could interactively control two computer visualisations (animations) of the object. There were large individual differences in how frequently participants used the computer visualisations, which were related to spatial ability. Use of the interactive visualisations was highly predictive of performance on the cross-section task and mediated the correlation between spatial ability and performance. These findings suggest that interactive computer visualisations can aid performance on spatial inference tasks, but that they do so only for a subset of individuals who can discover how to best use the additional information that they provide. Copyright # 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Serum and follicular fluid organochlorine concentrations among women undergoing assisted reproduction technologies.

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides, is widespread among the general population. There is evidence of adverse effects on reproduction and early pregnancy in relation to organochlorine exposure but human studies remain limited. The increased use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) presents unique opportunities for the assessment of environmental influences on early pregnancy outcomes not otherwise observable in humans, but studies need to be designed to maximize the efficiency of the exposure data collected while minimizing exposure measurement error. The present study was conducted to assess the correlation between concentrations of organochlorines in serum and follicular fluid samples collected from a subset of women undergoing ART in a large study that took place between 1994 and 2003, as well as the temporal reliability of serum organochlorine concentrations among women undergoing multiple ART cycles in the study. PCB congeners (118, 138, 153, and 180), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDT), the DDT metabolite p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor and mirex were measured in 72 follicular fluid samples and 265 serum samples collected from 110 women. Organochlorine concentrations in paired serum and follicular fluid samples were correlated, with Pearson and Spearman coefficients ranging from 0.60 to 0.92. Serum organochlorine concentrations were two- to three-fold greater than in follicular fluid, and a significant inverse trend was observed in the distribution of follicular fluid:serum ratios with increasing molecular weight of the compound (p-value for trend < 0.0001). Serum organochlorine concentrations were highly reliable over the course of several months, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.86 to 0.98. Finally, there was evidence for a declining trend in organochlorine concentrations between samples collected between years 1994–1998 and those collected in 1999–2003. Our results support the use of a single serum sample to adequately represent a more biologically relevant dose (concentrations in follicular fluid), as well as exposure levels over time, in epidemiological studies of ART outcomes in relation to organochlorine exposure.
Greedy Receivers in IEEE 802.11 Hotspots

As wireless hotspot business becomes a tremendous financial success, users of these networks have increasing motives to misbehave in order to obtain more bandwidth at the expense of other users. Such misbehaviors threaten the performance and availability of hotspot networks, and have recently attracted increasing research attention. However the existing work so far focuses on sender-side misbehavior. Motivated by the observation that many hotspot users receive more traffic than they send, we study greedy receivers in this paper. We identify a range of greedy receiver misbehaviors, and quantify their damage using both simulation and testbed experiments. Our results show that even though greedy receivers do not directly control data transmission, they can still result in very serious damage, including completely shutting off the competing traffic. To address the issues, we further develop techniques to detect and mitigate greedy receiver misbehavior, and demonstrate their effectiveness.
Vertical Integration and Information Technology Adoption: A Study of the Insurance Industry

This paper examines how differences in vertical integration and prior IT investments shape IT investment patterns within an industry. We focus on the insurance industry where information technology investment has had an important and sustainable impact and where longstanding, systematic differences in the extent of vertical integration in distribution across firms provides a natural way to examine the effect of vertical integration on technology adoption. We show that although less vertically integrated insurers had slower rates of Internet adoption ceteris paribus, less integrated insurers had greater prior investment in compatible client/server technologies which increased the rate of adoption. Without accounting for prior investments, one might conclude that less vertically integrated firms had higher rates of Internet adoption, ceteris paribus. These results demonstrate the importance of controlling for technology differences when examining the effects of organizational structure on IT investment.
Fatty acid oxidation in normotriglyceridemic men

Background Moderate hypertriglyceridemia is frequently associated with central obesity, insulin resistance, and atherogenic dyslipidemia. We showed previously that moderately obese men with hypertriglyceridemia have reduced fatty acid oxidation postabsorptively and postprandially. In the present study, we examined the oxidation of fatty acids in normotriglyceridemic men. Objective The study objective was to determine the relation between plasma triglyceride levels and fatty acid oxidation in normotriglyceridemic men. Study design Twenty-four healthy, nonobese White and African American men participated in a cross-sectional metabolic study for evaluation of fatty acid oxidation. Men were healthy, and none took hypolipidemic or hypoglycemic agents. They ingested 200 mg of fat/hour/kg of body weight over a 10-hour period. Plasma levels of triglyceride, nonesterified fatty acids, 3-β-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, and glucagon were measured postabsorptively and postprandially. Chylomicron-triglyceride halflife was also calculated. Results Nonobese White and African-American men had similar anthropometry, levels of plasma triglyceride, lipoprotein cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids, 3-β-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, and glucagon postabsorptively and postprandially. For the group as a whole, there was a positive and significant correlation between plasma fatty acids and 3-β-hydroxybutyrate and an inverse association between plasma triglyceride levels and 3-β-hydroxybutyrate at baseline. All subjects had increased levels of metabolites of interest postprandially. However, there were no significant changes in plasma insulin, glucagon, or the ratio of insulin to glucagon. The postprandial levels of 3-β-hydroxybutyrate correlated positively with nonesterified fatty acids and inversely with the half-life of chylomicron triglyceride. Conclusion Normotriglyceridemia is strongly associated with oxidation of fatty acids by the liver suggesting the possibility that the fatty acid oxidation pathway is a potential target of intervention to prevent hypertriglyceridemia and concomitant fatty liver.
Chapter 20 – Mechanical stress

This chapter discusses mechanical stressors that are believed to be associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. It starts with an introduction to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (particularly those with high incidences in workplaces, such as disorders of low back, neck/shoulder, hand/wrist, elbow, and knee) in high-risk industries, and those mechanical stressors (such as high forces, awkward postures, high repetitions, excessive contact stress, and harmful human vibrations) in workplaces that are responsible for these disorders. Quantification methods of these mechanical stressors are then discussed. Although various quantification methods such as self-report, observational technique, and direct measurement are discussed, details are focused on many of those well-published observational techniques used by practitioners to assess risk levels of these mechanical stressors in jobs. These methods can quantify job mechanical stressors and provide risk level indications that can be used by practitioners to facilitate their decision making. These methods can also be used to evaluate the improvements of ergonomics interventions by comparing the risk levels quantitatively before and after the interventions.
Study of Mobility Limiting Mechanisms in (11-20) 4H-SiC NO Annealed MOSFETs

NO annealed Lateral (11-20) MOSFETs were fabricated and mobility limiting mechanisms were investigated by MOS-gated Hall measurements, impedance analysis of MOS capacitor and so on. We have clarified that about 1×1012 cm-2 of inversion electrons are trapped at the interface and mobility is largely limited by Coulombic scattering. We attribute that the Coulombic scattering is caused by electrons trapped at interface states and positive fixed charges, which might be due to donor-like states.
Aging Population–Focused Accessibility Assessment of Multimodal Facilities in Florida

A significant responsibility of officials involved in transportation planning is ensuring people’s accessibility to multimodal facilities. This challenging task depends on the available transportation infrastructure as well as the overall population, traffic, roadway, and regional characteristics. Such planning takes on additional complexity when aging populations are considered because any extra time that they incur in reaching these facilities can be especially confounding in light of their potential health and other safety concerns. As such, there is a need for transportation plans to have a multimodal transportation assessment component that specifically focuses on the accessibility of aging people to critical facilities. To accomplish this goal, this paper describes a geographic information systems–based methodology for measuring the aging population–focused accessibility to multimodal facilities in Florida. Spatially detailed population block- and county-based accessibility scores are calculated wit...