cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Friction Reduction via Piston and Ring Design for an Advanced Natural-Gas Reciprocating Engine

Friction from the power cylinder represents a significant contribution to the total mechanical losses in internal combustion engines. A reduction in piston ring friction would therefore result in higher efficiency, lower fuel consumption, and reduced emissions. In this study, models incorporating piston ring dynamics and piston secondary motion with elastic skirt deformation were applied to a Waukesha natural gas power generation engine to identify the main contributors to friction within the piston and ring pack system. Based on model predictions, specific areas for friction reduction were targeted and low-friction design strategies were devised. The most significant contributors to friction were identified as the top ring, the oil control ring, and the piston skirt. Model predictions indicated that the top ring friction could be reduced by implementing a skewed barrel profile design or an upward piston groove tilt design, and oil control ring friction could be reduced by decreasing ring tension. Piston design parameters such as skirt profile, piston-to-liner clearance, and piston surface characteristics were found to have significant potential for the reduction of piston skirt friction. Designs were also developed to mitigate any adverse effects that were predicted to occur as a result of implementation of the low-friction design strategies. Specifically, an increase in wear was predicted to occur with the upward piston groove tilt design, which was eliminated by the introduction of a positive static twist on the top ring. The increase in oil consumption resulting form the reduction in the oil control ring tension was mitigated by the introduction of a negative static twist on the second ring. Overall, the low-friction design strategies were predicted to have potential to reduce piston ring friction by 35% and piston friction by up to 50%. This would translate to an improvement in brake thermal efficiency of up to 2%, which would result in a significant improvement in fuel economy and a substantial reduction in emissions over the life of the engine.© 2004 ASME
Granzyme B: evidence for a role in the origin of myasthenia gravis.

Abstract Purpose of research Although the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG) as an antibody mediated disorder of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at neuromuscular junctions is well understood, the origin of the autoimmune response is unclear. The thymus is intimately involved in initiation of the autoimmune response; the antigen, AChR, is present in the thymus, but how the autoimmune response is triggered is not known. Granzyme B (GrB), a proteolytic enzyme present in cytolytic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, selectively cleaves many potential autoantigens (but few non-autoantigens), generating novel fragments that trigger autoreactive responses. This protease has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, and others. In the studies described in this manuscript, we examined the ability of GrB to cleave the AChR subunits, and performed biochemical, immunohistochemical and molecular studies on thymus glands from myasthenic patients and controls to assess GrB expression. Main results GrB efficiently and specifically cleaves subunits of AChR, especially the epsilon subunit. GrB is present in thymus glands from myasthenia patients, but is absent in control thymuses. Conclusions Our results provide evidence supporting a potential role for GrB in the process of initiation of MG, and are consistent with the concept of an immunodominant epsilon epitope.
Modernising sustainable development? Standardisation, evidence and experts in local indicators

Taking inspiration from the forthcoming Rio+20 Conference in Brazil, this paper reflects upon the roles of power and knowledge in developing indicators for sustainable local development. Are indicators, the evidence they privilege, and the policies that follow from them consistent with the stated goals of sustainable development? Are they merely bureaucratic tick-boxes that enable the measurement of “progress”? Or, similarly, do they represent “knowledge modernization” whereby sustainable development can be measured objectively, like GDP? We will examine three points relating to these questions: (1) the increasing standardisation and mobility of sustainable development indicators; (2) the increasing prominence and types of “evidence” that inform sustainable development policy, and (3) the role of experts in determining the parameters of sustainable development. We argue that the development and use of indicators have become a technocratic practice that serves as a buffer between the “political” and the “r...
Shelter provided by wood, facilitation, and density-dependent herbivory influence Great Basin bristlecone pine seedling survival

Abstract Microsites created by live plants and non-living structures can be important for plant establishment where abiotic stress is high. The activity of herbivores and resulting pattern of seedling survival also affects plant distributions. We investigated factors thought to influence survival of bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva Bailey) seedlings in the White Mountains, California, USA, with two field experiments in which microsite and exposure to herbivory were manipulated. In the microsite experiment, we planted seedlings underneath wooden shade structures, underneath sagebrush plants, and in exposed locations. In the herbivory experiment, we tested the effects of herbivore exclusion in three different habitat types. We planted seedlings in full wire cages (herbivores excluded), in half cages (herbivores allowed while enabling assessment of possible non-herbivore effects of cages on seedling survival), or with no cage (herbivores allowed), and repeated these treatments in three habitats: below, within, and above a bristlecone woodland. Over three growing seasons, seedlings planted under wooden shade structures had higher survival (28.9%) than seedlings growing under sagebrush (10%) or in exposed areas (3.3%). We found a significant treatment by habitat interaction in the herbivory experiment (χ2 = 12.056, P = 0.017), driven by a clear pattern of high herbivory inside the bristlecone woodland, but not above or below it. Our results suggest that biologically-derived microsites (shelter from dead wood and live shrubs), as well as herbivore-mediated density-dependent mortality, are important determinants of bristlecone pine seedling survival.
Post-mortem transport and population longevity recorded in scolecodont death assemblages

Abstract Scolecodonts (worm jaws) are common microfossils in many Paleozoic deposits. To evaluate what information might exist in that fossil record, life and death assemblages of scolecodonts were sampled in one intertidal embayment. The lightly mineralized scolecodonts of Eunicidae polychaetes were rare but jaws of Nereidae polychaetes were often abundant in the sediments. Sands stabilized by the tubes of benthic infauna and the seagrass Zostera marina appear to yield in situ preservation; losses by dissolution and/or post-mortem transport seem appreciable for Platynereis bicanaliculata. In contrast, scolecodonts of Nereis brandti apparently accumulate over several years; these heavily mineralized jaws were more numerous than the live populations at each of four study sites. Size distributions of jaws of these two nereids are consistent with patterns of predation by the nemertean Paranemertes peregrina, but the patterns are confounded in sheltered sites, probably as a result of post-mortem transport, by numerous small fragments. Scolecodonts become exposed to currents when Paranemertes defecates on the sediment surface; these can be transported by relatively weak currents. Only the most durable jaws appear to accumulate as fragments at sheltered sites high in the intertidal zone.
Effect of Method of Preparation on Composition and Electrophoretic Properties of lsoelectric Casein

Abstract Isoelectric caseins were prepared by four methods: (A) precipitated by acid and washed; (B) precipitated by acid and peptized three times with NH 4 OH, maximum pH 6.8; (C) same as (B) except that NaOH was used, and (D) same as C, except that peptization maximum pH was 10.5. Of special interest was the effect of preparative method on lability of sulfur in and electrophoretic properties of the caseins Effects of preparative methods were evaluated by analyzing caseins for total nitrogen, total phosphorous, total sulfur, and sialic acid and by moving-boundary and urea-mercaptoethanol, starch-gel electrophoreses Data suggest loss of γ-casein by Methods A and D and, because of sialic acid of κ-casein and mobilities of α-casein, alteration or interaction of γ-casein by Method D. Analyses indicate no ddferences in sulfur content among preparations by the different methods. Caseins prepared by Methods B and C seem to be identical; peptization was more rapid with NaOH than with NH 4 OH.
Inhibitory Effects of Other Antibiotics on Bacterial Morphologic Changes induced by Penicillin G

ALTHOUGH it has been suggested that tetracycline and chloramphenicol antagonize the antimicrobial activity of penicillin in vitro and in vivo1–6, several investigators do not agree with these conclusions7–9 and have suggested that variation in methods of assay and experimental conditions makes the interpretation of results very difficult. We carried out this work in order to investigate the problem using a different method from those used in previous experiments. Tests were, therefore, carried out to determine whether the addition of tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and other antibiotics would prevent the formation of spheroplasts, a step which precedes the lysis of bacteria exposed to penicillin.
Directional solidification with buoyancy in systems with small segregation coefficient

We derive an evolution equation governing the cellular structure of a binary alloy having a small segregation coefficient. This equation, applicable to long-wave instabilities of a planar interface, incorporates coupled morphological instabilities and buoyancy effects. The presence of buoyancy can inhibit the onset of the cellular structure by effectively magnifying the segregation and diffusion.
Blur reduction of conventional film-based tomograms for pre-surgical evaluation of potential mandibular implant sites.

The usefulness of motion-based cross-sectional tomography to evaluate osseous support and adjacent anatomical structures for dental implant placement is limited by the inherent blurring in these images. The goal of this study was to develop a method to remove blurring while permitting accurate dimensional analysis of the potential implant site. Defined regions (anterior, cuspid, premolar, molar) on two preserved human mandibles were imaged using cross-sectional linear tomography. Algorithms were developed as a personal computer application to remove the blur and to aid in identification of the cortical plate borders and the mandibular canal. The data set of eight tomograms was digitized and the blur reduced with the developed algorithm. An operator measured the height and width of the mandible on each original tomogram and each deblurred tomogram in triplicate. Method error was calculated as the difference between direct caliper measurements of the respective skull regions and image measurements of height...
THEORY OF PARITY-VIOLATING NONLEPTONIC DECAY

The simplest way of explaining the result $A({\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}|n{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+})=0$ is to assume an effective parity-violating Hamiltonian of the form ${(\overline{B}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}B)}_{(8)}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\ensuremath{\pi}$. With no further assumptions, this Hamiltonian predicts two sum rules which are closely related to the Lee-Sugawara triangle, and it imposes an isotopic-spin selection rule $\ensuremath{\Delta}Tl\frac{5}{2}$. The proposed coupling scheme is a consequence of several dynamical models, and the $\ensuremath{\Delta}Tl\frac{5}{2}$ rule is consistent with the data on $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\pi}$.
Ultracytochemical evidence for a proton-pump adenosine triphosphatase in chick osteoclasts.

The distribution of Mg+ +-ATPase in osteoclasts along the endosteal surface of the chick tibia was investigated by neutral and alkaline pH cytochemical methods at the electron-microscopic level. Reaction product was observed in mitochondria, cytoplasmic vesicles, and ruffled-border membrane. Levamisole, ouabain, and vanadate did not affect the enzymatic activity. Para-chloromercuribenzoic acid (PCMB) prevented staining of mitochondria, ruffled border, and most cytoplasmic vesicles. Tri-n-butyltin decreased the amount of reaction product in cytoplasmic vesicles and ruffled-border membrane, but did not inhibit reaction product formation within mitochondria. Duramycin, which is a potent inhibitor for proton-pump ATPase, blocked reaction-product formation along the ruffled-border membrane, in mitochondria, and in cytoplasmic vesicles at alkaline pH, but not at neutral pH. It is concluded that the alkaline pH method for Mg+ +-ATPase appears to demonstrate sites of proton-pump ATPase activity.
Combined administration of nitroglycerin and propranolol to patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Hemodynamic effects of combined nitroglycerin and propranolol administration were investigated in patients with acute myocardial infarction. After nitroglycerin infusion decreased the mean arterial pressure by 20 mm Hg for one hour, nitroglycerin was continued, and patients were given 0.033 mg/kg of propranolol every five minutes for a total dose of 0.1 mg/kg, or until there was a decrease in heart rate to 15 mm Hg, or a decrease in systolic arterial pressure to 15 mm Hg received 0.1 mg/kg of propranolol. Propranolol significantly decreased heart rate. Although pressure time/minute decreased significantly, the magnitude of its decrease was small, suggesting only a minimal effect on myocardial oxygen demands. The LVFP increased after giving propranolol but remained less than the control value. Simultaneous administration of nitroglycerin likely prevented further increases, since LVFP increased after cessation of nitroglycerin infusion, and three patients subsequently had pulmonary edema. Propranolol administration resulted in a significant increase in peripheral vascular resistance and a decrease in cardiac output.
Is the Future of Biblical Theology Story-Shaped?

This article explores the concept of story for biblical theology, particularly from the perspective of evangelical scholarship. It is suggested that story offers a framework for biblical theology that avoids undue emphasis on propositional theology and maintains biblical tensions within a plot-focused approach. Additionally, a storied approach to biblical theology resonates with the narrative quality of the biblical text and of human experience and is best pursued via a dynamic hermeneutic. The essay concludes by addressing some weaknesses of the category of story for biblical theology, including its use to avoid historical difficulties, the scholarly tendency toward theological abstraction, and the ethical question of the claim to have sketched the biblical story. In response, dialogue across boundaries, including those of ethnicity, nationality, denomination, and religion, can be a valuable practice to evangelicals and others who see story as a promising category for the future of biblical theology.
Do High Profits Imply Low Wages

It is argued in this paper that, contrary to what may be commonly believed, high wages are not inconsistent with monopsony power (neoclassical exploitation). In fact, it is argued, when a monopsonistic firm has economically profitable product-market monopoly power, which would seem to be the typical real world case, the firm's wages are expected to be high. Clearly, the situation described by the combination of profitable monopoly-monopsony conditions explains a high wage insofar as these conditions represent a profit opportunity which provides an incentive to pay a high wage and without which the high wages would not be offered or paid.
Conflicting Loyalties: Fugitives and “Traitors” in the Russo-Manchurian Frontier, 1651-1689

For many contemporary historians, the 1689 Treaty of Nerchinsk was not only the first diplomatic treaty between China and a European power, but also an example of a peaceful boundary settlement, which ended the protracted conflict between the two expanding empires. Yet despite modern emphasis on territorial demarcation, clarity of border signs hardly dominated this seventeenth century conflict in the Far East. In fact, careful examination of the published Russian archival record of Muscovite-Qing diplomatic correspondence reveals that competition for tributary allegiances of indigenous and settler populations proved to be a much greater source of tension between the two empires. Ultimately, the mercurial loyalties of local Tungus and Mongol tribes as well the cross-nation desertions of Cossacks, military commanders and Ming loyalists drove both Qing and Muscovite officials to stabilize their shared frontiers through negotiation.
Increased Q fluorescence of an inactive Xq-chromosome in man.

The proposita's main characteristics were primary amenorrhea, lack of secondary sexual development, shortness of stature, and shield chest. Her 46 chromosomes included one normal X and an X chromosome with a partially deleted long arm. The abnormal chromosome was late labeling and formed a smaller than normal Barr body. It was almost always more brightly fluorescent than the normal X chromosome in the same cell, especially in the faintly fluorescent region around the centromere. The short arm of the abnormal chromosome was also significantly shorter than that of the normal X chromosome.
Modulized RNS-decimal number conversion algorithm and its implementations

An investigation is conducted into residue number system (RNS) to decimal number system conversion algorithms and their implementations. For general Q-tuple RNS decoding, the authors propose a modularized decoding algorithm in which each module decodes only a 2-tuple RNS code, and they discuss its computational complexity at the algorithm level. The second algorithm is for decoding a 2-tuple RNS code and can be called a partial table-lookup method. By memorizing only partial decimal numbers in the dynamic range of any RNS, this method can generate the correct decimal number with at most three additions. Hardware implementation methods are discussed, and a comparison of the algorithms with conventional decoding algorithms is made in terms of the arithmetic operation complexity, dynamic range requirements, and hardware implementation complexity. >
Genetic regulation of phospholipid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

INTRODUCTION 1 GENETIC REGULATION 2 Biosynthetic Pathways 2 Phosphatidic acid and CDP-diacylglycerol synthesis 2 Phosphatidylinositol branch 4 Phosphatidylcholine branch: de novo pathway 5 Phosphatidylcholine branch: salvage pathway 6 Inositol and choline transporters 6 Cardiolipin branch 7 Sphingolipids 8 Fatty acids 8 Cross-Pathway Regulation 8 Control by Factors Affecting Mitochondrial Development 9 LEVELS OF REGULATION 9 INOSITOL/CHOLINE RESPONSE 10 UASINO Regulatory Sequence 10 INO2 and INO4 Positive Regulatory Genes 11 OPI1 Negative Regulatory Gene 12 Other Regulatory Genes 13 Autoregulation of INO2 Expression 13 URS1 Regulatory Sequence 14 SIN3 and UME6 Global Negative Regulators 14 INO1 TRANSCRIPTION AND THE GENERAL TRANSCRIPTION MACHINERY 14 REGULATION OF PHOSPHOLIPID BIOSYNTHESIS IN OTHER FUNGI 15 Schizosaccharomyces pombe 15 Candida albicans 15 Neurospora crassa 16 CONCLUSIONS 16 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 16 REFERENCES 16
Peripheral and local anaesthetic techniques for paediatric surgery

Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) in paediatric patients are usually used as an adjunct to general anaesthesia, providing intra- and postoperative pain relief. These blocks provide good-quality analgesia and have opioid-sparing effects, preventing morbidity related to pain. PNBs aid early patient recovery and discharge, which is essential in day-case surgery. Like all invasive techniques, PNBs are associated with complications and side-effects. They should therefore be performed only after careful analysis of the risk:benefit ratio for each child. This article discusses a general approach to PNBs in children. It covers a small selection of limb and trunk blocks, and introduces the benefit of ultrasound guidance.
A Full Row-Rank System Matrix Generated Along Two Directions in Discrete Tomography

Abstract A full row-rank system matrix generated by the strip-based projection model along one scanning direction was studied recently in [9] . In this paper, we generalize the result to multiple directions. Let Cu = h be a reduced binary linear system generated along two distinct scanning directions by the strip-based projection model in discrete tomography, where C is row-rank deficient. We identify all the linearly dependent rows explicitly through a partition of the rows of C into minimal linearly dependent sets. The removal of these linearly dependent rows results in a full-rank matrix. Consequently, the computational cost for image reconstruction is reduced.
Participatory Decision Making: A Field Experiment on Manipulating the Votes

Many believe that deliberative democracy, where individuals discuss alternatives before voting on them, should result in collectively superior outcomes because voters become better informed and decisions are justified using reason. These deliberations typically involve a moderator, however, whose role has been under-examined. We conduct a field experiment to test the effects moderators may have. Participants in a class of 107 students voted on options over their writing and exam requirements. Before voting, they participated in group discussions of about five people each with one moderator. Some (randomly assigned) moderators remained neutral throughout, while others made limited interventions, supporting a specific option. We find a substantial moderator effect. Our experiment is structured like deliberations used world-wide to make community decisions and thus should have some external validity. The results indicate that if organized interest groups had influence over moderators, they might be able to hijack a deliberative decision-making process.
Fermi-Fermi mixtures in the strong-attraction limit

The phase diagrams of low density Fermi-Fermi mixtures with equal or unequal masses and equal or unequal populations are described at zero and finite temperatures in the strong attraction limit. In this limit, the Fermi-Fermi mixture can be described by a weakly interacting Bose-Fermi mixture, where the bosons correspond to Feshbach molecules and the fermions correspond to excess atoms. First, we discuss the three and four fermion scattering processes, and use the exact boson-fermion and boson-boson scattering lengths to generate the phase diagrams in terms of the underlying fermion-fermion scattering length. In three dimensions, in addition to the normal and uniform superfluid phases, we find two stable nonuniform states corresponding to (i) phase separation between pure unpaired (excess) and pure paired fermions (molecular bosons); and (ii) phase separation between pure excess fermions and a mixture of excess fermions and molecular bosons. Lastly, we also discuss the effects of the trapping potential in the density profiles of condensed and noncondensed molecular bosons, and excess fermions at zero and finite temperatures, and discuss possible implications of our findings to experiments involving mixtures of ultracold fermions.
Coronary artery quantitation and data management system for paired cineangiograms

A computerized system designed to optimize the quantitation of coronary vessels on 35 mm cineangiograms is described and validated. Because the system has two cine film digitizers, it processes paired coronary arteriograms for the evaluation of serial changes in coronary arteries. A database system was specifically designed for the storage of coronary artery quantitation data which resides on a file server in a local area network and may be accessed by multiple workstations. In radiographic phantom studies of nine contrast-filled lucite cylinders of known size, the overall accuracy and precision for the measured diameters were 0.069 mm and 0.066 mm respectively. Measurements of minimum diameter and percent diameter stenosis of 21 coronary lesions selected from 17 routine cineangiograms showed high degree of intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility.
Designing reliable systems from unreliable components: the challenges of transistor variability and degradation

As technology scales, variability in transistor performance continues to increase, making transistors less and less reliable. This creates several challenges in building reliable systems, from the unpredictability of delay to increasing leakage current. Finding solutions to these challenges require a concerted effort on the part of all the players in a system design. This article discusses these effects and proposes microarchitecture, circuit, and testing research that focuses on designing with many unreliable components (transistors) to yield reliable system designs.
The apparent thixotropic properties of limb motion in totally relaxed subjects

Continuing work with the leg drop pendulum test under general anesthesia reports that the nonlinear model presented last year (2001) for limbs with spasticity is equally accurate in normal limb. The nonlinearities included powers of position and velocity respectively in stiffness and damping terms. An additional damping term, based on the inverse product of velocity and acceleration brings the limb model to rest in a more accurate fashion. This paper also demonstrates that the further addition of an initial limit on the acceleration, using the jerk, provides further improvements in the model. The paper speculates on the nature of these two additional terms.
Corticosteroids for Enhanced Fetal Lung Maturation in Patients with HELLP Syndrome: Impact on Neonates

This study was undertaken to determine retrospectively, in women with the HELLP syndrome, the perinatal effects of corticosteroid administration for promotion of fetal lung maturity. Twenty-seven of 427 women with the HELLP syndrome treated between 1980 and 1991 received a full course of steroids prior to preterm delivery. They were compared to 27 control patients with the HELLP syndrome matched for maternal age, severity of disease, gestational age, race, and sex of the fetus. Respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation occurred in 13 of 27 neonates who received steroid administration and in 23 of 27 who did not receive steroids (p < 0.001). The average stay in the neonatal intensive care unit was 29.8 +/- 50.6 days for the steroid-treated group and 45.2 +/- 35.3 days for the group without steroid use (p = NS). The incidence of neonatal deaths, intraventricular haemorrhage type III and IV, necrotizing enterocolitis, and retrolental fibroplasia was greater in the control group but the difference was not statistically significant.
Sound Producing Mechanisms in Recent Reptiles: Review and Comment

Reptiles produce sound by three categories of devices: those involving massive air expulsions or movements, those involving modulations of intermittent air movements through a modified glottis, and those involving rubbing or vibration of the integument. Each ocours in numerous species and there is good evidence of multiple origins. Most of the devices are used as predator deterrents, but there are a few cases of sound being used as an intraspecific communicating device. The various structures are here discussed. One may ask the general question whether the distribution of reptilian sensory modalities may not have forced this rather miscellaneous distribution of signalling devices.
Accurate alignment of laminate materials using sensor-based robot techniques

Assembly accuracies of 0.05-0.1 mm, needed for electronic product manufacture, are attainable with current automated manufacturing equipment. Aggressive electronic system designs will require manufacturing accuracies in the range of 0.005-0.01 mm. A system and strategy is described here to fabricate circuit boards requiring alignment accuracies of 7.5 /spl mu/m using existing automation equipment with enhancements and typical manufacturing line fixtures. The system, configured as a pilot workcell, consisted of an IBM 7576 coarse positioning robot, a fine positioning manipulator, an optical sensing system and a unique bracing method to reduce environmental disturbances. The strategy was to use a coarse/fine placement technique with sensing to align, stack and bond individual test laminates with patterns of 100 /spl mu/m holes. The results showed that pairs of holes were consistently aligned to 2-5 /spl mu/m which surpasses the 7.5 /spl mu/m manufacturing requirement. >
Transient global amnesia due to a dominant hemisphere tumor.

• Transient global amnesia is generally regarded as a benign syndrome of probable vascular etiology. We describe a man who experienced a single episode of transient global amnesia and subsequently developed a progressive dominant hemispheric syndrome. Neuroradiologic investigations and the patient's subsequent death strongly suggest that his disease was due to a left temporal-parietal mass lesion. Although the syndrome is most often benign, such patients should be examined for mass lesions.
Spatiotemporal Saliency in Dynamic Scenes

A spatiotemporal saliency algorithm based on a center-surround framework is proposed. The algorithm is inspired by biological mechanisms of motion-based perceptual grouping and extends a discriminant formulation of center-surround saliency previously proposed for static imagery. Under this formulation, the saliency of a location is equated to the power of a predefined set of features to discriminate between the visual stimuli in a center and a surround window, centered at that location. The features are spatiotemporal video patches and are modeled as dynamic textures, to achieve a principled joint characterization of the spatial and temporal components of saliency. The combination of discriminant center-surround saliency with the modeling power of dynamic textures yields a robust, versatile, and fully unsupervised spatiotemporal saliency algorithm, applicable to scenes with highly dynamic backgrounds and moving cameras. The related problem of background subtraction is treated as the complement of saliency detection, by classifying nonsalient (with respect to appearance and motion dynamics) points in the visual field as background. The algorithm is tested for background subtraction on challenging sequences, and shown to substantially outperform various state-of-the-art techniques. Quantitatively, its average error rate is almost half that of the closest competitor.
The Role of Offspring and In-Laws in Grandparents’ Ties to Their Grandchildren

Prior research has considered the influence of the middle generation on ties between grandparents and grandchildren but has not differentiated between gender of parent and kinship to grandparent(e.g., daughter vs. daughter-in-law and son vs. son-in-law). Eighty-six grandparents provided information about the qualities of their relationships with their grandchildren (n = 239) and their grandchildren’s parents (n = 141 mothers and 141 fathers). Two characteristics of the middle generation were considered: (a) gender of the parent (mother vs. father) and (b) kinship to grandparent—son or daughter (consanguine parent) or daughter-in-law or son-in-law (affinal parent). Relationships with children-in-law were more strongly associated with qualities of ties to grandchildren than relationships with grandparents’ own children. Implications for future research addressing in-law relationships are discussed.
A dual problem of calibration of design weights

In this note, a dual problem to the calibration of design weights of the Deville and Sarndal [Calibration estimators in survey sampling, J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 87 (1992), pp. 376–382] method has been considered. We conclude that the chi-squared distance between the design weights and the calibrated weights equals the square of the standardized Z-score obtained by the difference between the known population total of the auxiliary variable and its corresponding Horvitz and Thompson [A generalization of sampling without replacement from a finite universe, J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 47 (1952), pp. 663–685] estimator divided by the sample standard deviation of the auxiliary variable to obtain the linear regression estimator in survey sampling.
Adaptation to pregnancy leads to attenuated rat uterine artery smooth muscle sensitivity to oxytocin.

Objective We tested the hypothesis that oxytocin (OT) contracts blood vessels via vasopressin V 1A (VP) receptors, and that this depends on pregnancy. Study design Concentration-contraction relationships (CCR) to OT and VP (10 −12 -10 −6 mol/L) were obtained in different blood vessels. CCR were obtained in uterine arteries (UA) from nonpregnant, mid-pregnant, and late pregnant rats (n = 6-10 per group) in the absence and presence of selective antagonists (10 −7 mol/L). Results Sensitivity to OT, but not to VP, is attenuated in pregnant rat UA. Antagonists shifted CCR of OT and VP to the right, and, to a lesser extent, of the counterpart, in all UA. VP antagonist depresses oxytocin CCR much more than OT antagonist in pregnant rat UA. Conclusion OT and VP contract UA via their own receptors, although partial cross-activation is evident. Adaptation to pregnancy led to attenuated sensitivity of UA smooth muscle to OT and transformed OT receptors into VP-like ones.
Driving the human ecological footprint

This comparative analysis shows that population size and affluence are the principal drivers of anthropogenic environmental stressors, while other widely postulated drivers (eg urbanization, economic structure, age distribution) have little effect. Similarly, increased education and life expectancy do not increase environmental stressors, suggesting that some aspects of human well-being can be improved with minimal environmental impact. Projecting to 2015, we suggest that increases in population and affluence will likely expand human impact on the environment by over one-third. Countering these driving forces would require increases in the efficiency of resource use of about 2% per year.
The Stream‐Catchment (StreamCat) Dataset: A Database of Watershed Metrics for the Conterminous United States

We developed an extensive database of landscape metrics for ~2.65 million stream segments, and their associated catchments, within the conterminous United States (U.S.): The Stream-Catchment (StreamCat) Dataset. These data are publically available (http://www2.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/streamcat) and greatly reduce the specialized geospatial expertise needed by researchers and managers to acquire landscape information for both catchments (i.e., the nearby landscape flowing directly into streams) and full upstream watersheds of specific stream reaches. When combined with an existing geospatial framework of the Nation's rivers and streams (National Hydrography Dataset Plus Version 2), the distribution of catchment and watershed characteristics can be visualized for the conterminous U.S. In this article, we document the development and main features of this dataset, including the suite of landscape features that were used to develop the data, scripts and algorithms used to accumulate and produce watershed summaries of landscape features, and the quality assurance procedures used to ensure data consistency. The StreamCat Dataset provides an important tool for stream researchers and managers to understand and characterize the Nation's rivers and streams.
Large-scale 700 hPa Height Patterns Associated with Cyclone Passage and Strong Winds on Lake Erie

The difference in 700 hPa height patterns was examined on a seasonal basis between years with high numbers and low numbers of cyclone passages through Lake Erie, and high and low numbers of strong wind events at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. These show that both cyclones and strong wind events often are associated with atmospheric patterns resembling the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation, or the negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation. Custom teleconnection indices were derived from these maps of 700 hPa height differences, and the seasonal means of each of these indices were linearly regressed against the number of cyclones and the number of strong wind events in that season for each year. This procedure led to moderate, but statistically significant, correlation coefficients. This gives some basis for probabilistic prediction of cyclone passages and strong wind events at Lake Erie. Actual application in prediction will require skill also in predicting the geopotential heights, and predictions generalized over larger areas may have greater significance and robustness.
Implementing virtual microscopy improves outcomes in a hematology morphology course.

ABSTRACT In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of virtual microscopy as the primary mode of laboratory instruction in undergraduate level clinical hematology teaching. Distance education (DE) has become a popular option for expanding education and optimizing expenses but continues to be controversial. The challenge of delivering an equitable curriculum to distant locations along with the need to preserve our slide collection directed our effort to digitize the slide sets used in our teaching laboratories. Students enrolled at two performance sites were randomly assigned to either traditional microscopy (TM) or virtual microscopy (VM) instruction. The VM group performed significantly better than the TM group. We anticipate that this approach will play a central role in the distributed delivery of hematology through distance education as new programs are initiated to address workforce shortage needs. ABBREVIATIONS: TM - traditional microscopy, VM - virtual microscopy, DE - distance education, CLS - clinical laboratory sciences, CI - classroom instruction, F2F - face to face, GPA - grade point average, RBC - red blood cell, WBC, white blood cell
Simplified Predictive Instrument to Rule Out Acute Coronary Syndromes in a High-Risk Population.

Background It is unclear whether diagnostic protocols based on cardiac markers to identify low‐risk chest pain patients suitable for early release from the emergency department can be applied to patients older than 65 years or with traditional cardiac risk factors. Methods and Results In a single‐center retrospective study of 231 consecutive patients with high‐risk factor burden in which a first cardiac troponin (cTn) level was measured in the emergency department and a second cTn sample was drawn 4 to 14 hours later, we compared the performance of a modified 2‐Hour Accelerated Diagnostic Protocol to Assess Patients with Chest Pain Using Contemporary Troponins as the Only Biomarker (ADAPT) rule to a new risk classification scheme that identifies patients as low risk if they have no known coronary artery disease, a nonischemic electrocardiogram, and 2 cTn levels below the assay9s limit of detection. Demographic and outcome data were abstracted through chart review. The median age of our population was 64 years, and 75% had Thrombosis In Myocardial Infarction risk score ≥2. Using our risk classification rule, 53 (23%) patients were low risk with a negative predictive value for 30‐day cardiac events of 98%. Applying a modified ADAPT rule to our cohort, 18 (8%) patients were identified as low risk with a negative predictive value of 100%. In a sensitivity analysis, the negative predictive value of our risk algorithm did not change when we relied only on undetectable baseline cTn and eliminated the second cTn assessment. Conclusions If confirmed in prospective studies, this less‐restrictive risk classification strategy could be used to safely identify chest pain patients with more traditional cardiac risk factors for early emergency department release.
Has Congress Slimmed Down the Hogs?: A Look at the BAPCPA Approach to Pre-Bankruptcy Planning

In April, 2005, Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act ("BAPCPA"), the first major overhaul of bankruptcy law in 25 years. The proponents of BAPCPA were motivated primarily by a desire to put an end to bankruptcy abuse. The types bankruptcy abuse that BAPCPA's proponents wished to discontinue included liquidations by consumers who might be able to fund a repayment plan and the sheltering of assets in high-exemption states. This paper focuses on the second type of abuse, pre-bankruptcy exemption planning. Prior to the enactment of BAPCPA, courts exercised an enormous amount of discretion in determining whether a debtor's conversion of non-exempt assets to exempt assets before bankruptcy was fraudulent as to creditors. The new legislation removes judicial discretion when certain types of asset conversions are involved, primarily conversions of personal property into exempt homesteads. In my article, I analyze whether these changes, which on their face seem to discourage pre-bankruptcy asset conversions, in fact impose any greater penalties on debtors than did the case law pre-BAPCPA.
Kinetic-energy-assisted He + -ion neutralization at a solid CO 2 surface

The neutralization of ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ ions at a solid ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ surface is investigated by analyzing the energy distribution of electrons ejected from the surface and by use of spin-labeling techniques, specifically the use of electron-spin-polarized ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ ions coupled with energy-resolved measurements of the ejected-electron polarization. The data indicate that ion impact leads to efficient electron ejection through formation of an autoionizing collision complex comprised of the incident ion and two neighboring ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ molecules in which a significant portion of the initial kinetic energy of the ion is converted to potential energy.
Influence of pH on the Reductive Transformation of Birnessite by Aqueous Mn(II)

We investigated the effect of pH (5.5–8.5) on the mineralogical transformation of hexagonal birnessite induced by reaction with aqueous Mn(II) (50–2200 μM), using batch sorption experiments, X-ray diffraction analyses, X-ray absorption and infrared spectroscopic measurements. Samples reacted at pH < 7.0 exhibited disrupted stacking of birnessite sheets, but no mineralogical transformation products were observed. At pH 7.0 and 7.5, reaction with Mn(II) under anoxic conditions caused reductive transformation of birnessite into manganite (γ-MnOOH), whereas at pH 8.0 and 8.5, conversion into hausmannite (Mn3O4) occurred. Feitknechtite (β-MnOOH) is a major transformation product at low Mn(II) inputs at pH 7.0–8.5, and represents a metastable reaction intermediate that is converted into manganite and possibly hausmannite during further reaction with Mn(II). Thermodynamic calculations suggest that conversion into hausmannite at alkaline pH reflects a kinetic effect where rapid hausmannite precipitation prevents ...
Effects of Charge Localization on the Orbital Energies of Bithiophene Clusters

Standard and constrained density functional theory calculations were used to study the degree of charge localization in positively charged bithiophene clusters. Although polarization effects due to the crystalline environment are known, many charge-transport models in π-conjugated organic materials assume a highly localized picture of carriers due to the strong electron–phonon interaction. These first-principles calculations show that the positive charge delocalizes over at least eight molecules in one-dimensional herringbone stacks. For such one-dimensional clusters, positive charge is more likely to localize on “tilted” molecules than on “parallel” molecules because of polarization effects. For two-dimensional clusters, whereas polarization effects cancel due to symmetry, positive charge is shown to affect molecular sites anisotropically. Differences in computed HOMO energies between the localized and delocalized charges are ∼1–2 eV, about the same as the difference in energy computed between a singly c...
Early Identification of Fertility in Hens’ Eggs

Abstract IT IS common practice among hatchery-men to wait until eggs have been incubated 14 to 18 days before removing the infertiles. Although infertile eggs are easily detected at this age, by simply passing the tray over a group of lights, nevertheless much incubator space is occupied by them which could be profitably used if the infertile eggs were removed earlier. Still other benefits would be obtained if the two classes of eggs could be distinguished at an early hour of incubation. For example, a poultryman could quickly check the fertility of the eggs from his flock and a scientist could conduct certain experiments using only fertile eggs if he so desired. With this in mind, a series of experiments was conducted to determine the earliest and most practical time when infertile white and brown shelled eggs could be removed from the incubator. Preliminary investigations on this project were begun the . . .
Communication at work—praise and touch

In this case study I am going to discuss a ‘communication incident’ that I have experienced in practice. I will be using the Gibbs reflective cycle (1998) to help me evaluate and learn from this ‘incident’. This will include an exploration of the positive and negative views of praise and touch within the act of communicating. I shall draw my own conclusion using the Gibbs reflective cycle. I believe that this will provide valuable education for me in the practice of reflection as it is described by Lane, Cooper and Turner (2004) ‘that reflection is a vital aspect of professional life’.
Bioassays of TH6038 and Difluron Applied to Western Spruce Budworm and Douglas-fir Tussock Moth

Two insect molt inhibitors, TH6038 (N-[[ (4-chlorophenyl) amillo]carbonyl]-2,6-dichlorobenzamide) and difluron (N-[[ (4-chlorophenyl) amino]carbonyl]-2,6-difluoro-benzamide), were tested for topical and feeding toxicity to the western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, and the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata (McDonnough). Both compounds showed little topical activity, but both were quite toxic when fed to insects in artificial diet. Difluron was most active when fed to early instars of both species. Difluron sprayed on Douglas-fir seedlings showed substantial residual activity for 6 wk.
Recognition of Traffic Sign Symbols in the Field during Daytime and Nighttime

Early recognition of Traffic Control Devices, especially the recognition of symbols on warning signs is important since this provides drivers with a maximum amount of time to make decisions with regard to vehicle direction, speed and lateral position. A number of studies providing recognition distances for selected traffic warning sign symbols have been published in recent years. All these laboratory studies provide relatively short recognition distances. Independent daytime and nighttime field experiments for traffic warning sign symbol recognition were conducted using a set of 12 retroreflective warning signs. The results indicate that the average symbol recognition distances obtained in this study for daytime conditions are about 2 times longer than the corresponding distances obtained in the laboratory and are about 1.2 times longer than the corresponding nighttime distances obtained in this study. The 50, 85, 90, 95 and 99 percentile symbol recognition distances have been established for both daytime...