cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cholinoceptive desynchronized sleep induction zone in the anterodorsal pontine tegmentum: spontaneous and drug-induced neuronal activity

The effect of carbachol microapplication (4 micrograms/250 nl per 90 s) on the discharge of neurons in the anterodorsal pons of four cats was studied using a newly devised microinjector-microelectrode assembly. Neurons were classified according to the magnitude of their discharge rate increases (or decreases) in physiological desynchronized sleep as desynchronized-on (or desynchronized-off) before injecting carbachol. When carbachol produced a desynchronized sleep-like state only half (15 out of 30) of the desynchronized-on cells were activated (desynchronized-on/desynchronized sleep-like state-on) while the other half were not (desynchronized-on/desynchronized sleep-like state-not on). Compared with the non-activated cells, the desynchronized-on/desynchronized sleep-like state-on cells had three features consistent with playing an active role in desynchronized sleep generation: these cells had a higher mean discharge frequency in desynchronized sleep and higher ratio of discharge frequency in desynchronized sleep compared with wakefulness; they did not fire in phase with electromyogram excitation of neck muscles; and they were concentrated in the short latency desynchronized sleep-like state induction zone described in the companion paper. The three-way correlation between the optimal anatomical site for short latency desynchronized sleep-like state induction, the selective neuronal discharge pattern in desynchronized sleep and the cholinergic activation pattern in the desynchronized sleep-like state suggest that we may have identified a neuronal population that is cholinoceptively activated as part of the physiological mechanism of desynchronized sleep generation.
Evangelical Christian College Students and Attitudes Toward Gay Rights: A California University Sample

Research demonstrates that Evangelical Christians generally hold more negative attitudes toward gays and lesbians, and are less supportive of gay rights than the general U.S. population. To assess these attitudes, undergraduate students at an Evangelical Christian university in California (N = 319) completed the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men (ATLG) scale (Herek, 1984, 1998) and other demographic and religiosity items. Results indicated that Evangelical Christian college students who are not homeschooled and know a gay or lesbian friend, relative, or acquaintance held significantly less negative attitudes toward gay rights than those who do not know a gay or lesbian person. Issues related to increasing respectful dialogue between groups are addressed.
A REASSESSMENT OF ITS/5.8S DNA SEQUENCE VARIATION AND PHYLOGENETIC SIGNAL IN THE SYNUROPHYCEAE

Previously, DNA sequences were determined for the entire ITS/5.8S region by direct sequencing of PCR amplification products. 28 sequences were obtained from 12 species of Synurophyceae, including Tessellaria volvocina, Chrysodidymus synuroideus, six species of Synura and four species of Mallomonas. Sequences also were determined from multiple strains of some species, including 15 strains of Synura petersenii. The length of these sequences varied from 495–598 bp. The large amount of ITS/5.8S length variation made initial attempts in determining reliable sequence alignment difficult and precluded their use in phylogenetic analyses of the class. Subsequently, the approach of Bogler & Simpson (1996) was investigated where reiterative, computer assisted alignments were generated and the quality of the alignment was evaluated by homoplasy index and consistency index values. However, these alignments also were equivocal. ITS/5.8S sequences sorted the 15 S. petersenii strains into two well supported ITS lineages. One ITS type included ten isolates from North America while isolates from the second ITS type included one each from Germany and Australia and three from North America. Results are presented here where the sequences from the 15 S. petersenii isolates were used to characterize ITS-1 and ITS-2 RNA transcript secondary structure. Next, this information was expanded to include ITS/5.8S sequences from the other taxa in the class. Finally, the characteristics of ITS 1 and ITS 2 RNA transcript secondary structure were used as a guide to align all of the ITS/5.8S sequences from the Synurophyceae in a final phylogenetic analysis.
Angular-scattering characteristics of ferroelectric liquid-crystal electro-optical devices operating in the transient-scattering and the extended-scattering modes

The angular distribution of forward-scattered light in transient-scattering-mode (TSM) and extended-scattering-mode (ESM) ferroelectric liquid-crystal (FLC) devices was evaluated by use of circularly polarized incident light. For both modes the intensity and the distribution of forward-scattered light depended primarily on the FLC birefringence, spontaneous polarization, and the cell path length. In the FLC materials examined, the forward-scattering intensity under ESM drive conditions increased with longer FLC pitch lengths, whereas under TSM conditions stronger forward scattering was observed with increasing FLC spontaneous polarization. Although both TSM and ESM drive conditions displayed a similar angular distribution for forward-scattered light, the intensity of ESM scattering over a 0°–6° range was considerably smaller than that observed in earlier experiments with linearly polarized incident light.
An Optimal Solution Method for Large-Scale Multiple Traveling Salesmen Problems

We develop an efficient branch-and-bound based method for solving the Multiple Traveling Salesman Problem, and develop lower bounds through a Lagrangean relaxation that requires computing a degree-constrained minimal spanning tree. A subgradient optimization procedure updates the Lagrange multipliers. We use fast sensitivity analysis techniques to increase the underlying graph sparsity and reduce the problem size. The algorithm was tested on 416 problems with up to 500 cities and 10 salesmen. We also present computational results on different data sets and parameters in order to identify the major factors that influence the performance of the developed code.
Laser vascular welding—How does it work?

This study evaluated the histology and electron microscopy of four samples of 2 cm long venotomles and artery-vein anastomoses formed in canine femoral arteries and veins using the argon laser (0.5 W power, 1 800 J/cm2, 4 min exposure/1 cm length of anastomosis). Welds were continuously irrigated with saline during the procedure to limit maximal temperatures to 44.2±1.6°C (mean±SD), and the specimens were removed immediately following fusion and preserved for examination. Histologic and electron microscopic examination of different areas of the welds revealed various mechanisms of fusion including a) apposition of denatured collagen and elastin in the media and adventitia; b) bonding of veln medial collagen and elastin to the internal elastic membrane of the artery; and c) fusion consisting of a coagulum of platelets and fibrin depending on the allgnment and apposition of the vessel edges. This study demonstrates that vascular tissue fusion by the argon laser occurs by various mechanisms. Future experiments should delineate which types of seal produce the optimal strength at the time of fusion, and enhance longterm healing.
Effects on the productivity of irradiated male populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Although several species of insects such as Drosophila melanogaster or Habrobracon juglandis have been utilized to study the effects of ionizing radiation on diploid systems (Grosch, 1962, Annu. Rev. Entomol. 7 : 89–106), relatively few radiation studies have been conducted on mosquitoes. Also, few investigators have been concerned with the genetic effects on fitness produced by ionizing radiation in mosquito populations. In 1953, Terzian (J. Immunol. 72 : 202–06) demonstrated that X rays can induce mortality in Aedes aegypti . Subsequently, Terzian & Stabler (1958, Biol. Bull. 115 : 536–50) showed that gamma radiation can affect fertility and fecundity in this species of mosquito. Irradiation has also been used to induce mutations (VandeHey & Craig, 1959, Bull. Entomol. Soc. Am. 5 : 113) as well as sterility in Ae. aegypti and other mosquitoes (McCray, Jenson & Schoof, 1961, Proc. N. J. Mosq. Ext. Assoc. 48th Annu. Meet., p. 110–15; Morlan, McCray & Kilpatrick, 1962, Mosq. News 22 : 295–300; Weidhaas, Schmidt & Seabrook, 1962, Mosq. News 22 : 283–91). Cytogenetic damage (Rai, 1963, Caryologia 16 : 595–607), radiation-induced translocations (McDonald & Rai, 1970, Science 168 : 1229–30; Rai, McDonald & Asman, 1970, Genetics 66 : 635–51; Lorimer, Hallinan & Rai, 1972, J. Hered. 63 : 159–66), and inversions (McGivern & Rai, 1972, J. Hered. 63 : 247–55) have also been reported in Ae. aegypti . Recently, Asman & Rai (1972, J. Med. Entomol. 9 : 468–78) showed that ionizing radiation can cause developmental changes in this mosquito.
Discrete Emotions and Developmental Psychopathology: The Alchemical Legacy of Carroll Izard

Carroll Izard completed his dissertation in 1952, beginning a career spanning more than six decades that coincided with clinical psychology maturing as a profession, and the birth of clinical science and cognitive neuroscience. Izard’s focus on discrete emotions as evolved systems that organize information, prepare responses, and shape the development of personality and relationships persisted through his career, despite “emotions” often being overshadowed by psychodynamic, behavioral, or cognitive perspectives. His theoretical work anticipated and now integrates contemporary neuroscience and relational perspectives. Exploration of discrete emotions has kept lines of inquiry open that enrich our understanding of psychopathology. Izard also embraced clinical science, combining basic research with effectiveness studies addressing the unmet need for mental health services via emotion-focused interventions.
On Stabilization of Systems with Uncertain Parameters: An Interval Arithmetic Approach

In this paper we consider an interval arithmetic approach for stabilization of plants with uncertain parameters. It is shown that using the principles of classical Routh Hurwitz array, one can determine a state feedback (when it exists) that will stabilize the system for the entire range of parameter uncertainties.
On methods of sieves and penalization

We develop a general theory which provides a unified treatment for the asymptotic normality and efficiency of the maximum likelihood estimates (MLE's) in parametric, semiparametric and nonparametric models. We find that the asymptotic behavior of substitution estimates for estimating smooth functionals are essentially governed by two indices: the degree of smoothness of the functional and the local size of the underlying parameter space. We show that when the local size of the parameter space is not very large, the substitution standard (nonsieve), substitution sieve and substitution penalized MLE's are asymptotically efficient in the Fisher sense, under certain stochastic equicontinuity conditions of the log-likelihood. Moreover, when the convergence rate of the estimate is slow, the degree of smoothness of the functional needs to compensate for the slowness of the rate in order to achieve efficiency. When the size of the parameter space is very large, the standard and penalized maximum likelihood procedures may be inefficient, whereas the method of sieves may be able to overcome this difficulty. This phenomenon is particularly manifested when the functional of interest is very smooth, especially in the semiparametric case.
Supported housing for the mentally ill elderly: implementation and consumer choice.

The development of innovative alternatives to nursing homes is critical, especially in the context of OBRA mandates and the growing geriatric population. This article examines the experience of one urban county in Washington State in providing supported housing for the OBRA-affected mentally ill elderly. The significance of this demonstration project is its “bold” new approach in applying this emerging model to the elderly. It illustrates the perspectives and experience of both consumers and care-givers in implementing the supported housing approach, and the tensions between consumer preferences and staff, organizational and funding constraints.
First-principles calculations of defects in oxygen-deficient silica exposed to hydrogen

Hydrogen-related defects and oxygen vacancies in silica are analyzed using first-principles density-functional calculations. Energetics, structures, charge-state levels, and hyperfine parameters are determined. These calculations identify the hydrogen bridge related to the ${E}_{4}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ center as the defect responsible for the stress-induced leakage current, a forerunner of dielectric breakdown of gate oxides in transistors.
The Criminalization of Aliens: Regulating Foreigners

Intergroup contact and conflict is inevitable in the context of global economic competition and geopolitical interests. Immigrant and migratory groups have particularly been subjected to unequal treatment by members of dominant host groups, generally as a means of promoting and protecting their own economic and political interests. Immigrants often serve as a dependent and secondary labor force, useful within fluctuating cycles of labor shortage, economic crises, and economic prosperity. Likewise, criminalization is one tool that perpetuates notions of “otherness,” which in turn maintains immigrant minorities as a secondary labor force; and justifies penal punishment of them. For instance, in the United States, Chicanos and Mexican immigrants have been exploited as secondary labor, and have also been more likely than many other groups to be swept up in the Criminal Justice System. Drawing on neo-Marxist perspectives and postcolonial notions of “otherness”, this paper examines the relationship between incarceration of foreigners and economic conditions, economic threat, population change, and otherness. As hypothesized, country level data suggests that factors such as a free market economy, population change, economic competition, and a concentration of immigrants in the population are related to the level of imprisonment of foreigners. Implications for further research are also discussed.
Magnet wire for 600 C temperature transformers

As a part of work performed on a government contract, magnet-wire materials were investigated for application in electronic power transformers and inductors. One of the most critical environments specified for the application was 1,000-hour life in the ambient temperature range ? 65 C (degrees centigrade) to 500 C. This paper summarizes the planning and results of an ultrahigh-temperature heat-aging program designed to screen selectively the most promising magnet wires to meet this requirement.
Towards mechanisms for detection and prevention of data exfiltration by insiders: keynote talk paper

Data represent an extremely important asset for any organization. Confidential data such as military secrets or intellectual property must never be disclosed outside the organization. Therefore, one of the most severe threats in the case of cyber-insider attacks is the loss of confidential data due to exfiltration. A malicious insider who has the proper credentials to access the organization databases may, over time, send data outside the organization network through a variety of channels, such as email, crafted HTTP requests that encapsulate data, etc. Existing security tools for detection of cyber-attacks focus on protecting the boundary between the organization and the outside world. Numerous network-level intrusion detection systems (IDS) exist, which monitor the traffic pattern and attempt to infer anomalous behavior. While such tools may be effective in protecting against external attacks, they are less suitable when the data exfiltration is performed by an insider who has the proper credentials and authorization to access resources within the organization. In this paper, we argue that DBMS-layer detection and prevention systems are the best alternative to defend against data exfiltration because: (1) DBMS access is performed through a standard, unique language (SQL) with well-understood semantics; (2) monitoring the potential disclosure of confidential data is more effective if done as close as possible to the data source; and (3) the DBMS layer already has in place a thorough mechanism for enforcing access control based on subject credentials. By analyzing the pattern of interaction between subjects and the DBMS, it is possible to detect anomalous activity that is indicative of early signs of exfiltration. In the paper, we outline a taxonomy of cyber-insider dimensions of activities that are indicative of data exfiltration, and we discuss a high-level architecture and mechanisms for early detection of exfiltration by insiders. We also outline a virtualization-based mechanism that prevents insiders from exfiltrating data, even in the case when they manage to gain control over the network. The protection mechanism relies on explicit authorization of data transfers that cross the organizational boundary.
Lisdexamfetamine: a prodrug for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Purpose. The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, indications, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, dosage, and administration of lisdexamfetamine are reviewed. Summary. Lisdexamfetamine is the first prodrug formulation of the stimulant dextroamphetamine. It is approved for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children age 6–12 years and adults. Due to the need for enzymatic hydrolysis, there is a decreased liability for misuse and diversion with lisdexamfetamine. Moreover, due to the rate-limiting nature of hydrolysis, the toxicity potential and chances of overdose with lisdexamfetamine are reduced. The recommended starting dosage of lisdexamfetamine is 30 mg orally daily, which can be adjusted to a maximum dosage of 70 mg daily. Clinical trials in children age 6–12 years with ADHD found significant reductions in the ADHD symptoms with lisdexamfetamine compared with placebo. However, clinical studies in adolescents have not been conducted. The efficacy and safety of lisdexamfetamine in children with ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders also remain to be assessed. A controlled trial in adults similarly showed significant improvements in ADHD symptoms in all treatment groups. Long-term clinical trials and head-to-head comparison trials with existing stimulant formulations are necessary. The most common adverse effects include decreased appetite, insomnia, irritability, dizziness, and weight loss. Conclusion. Clinical trials in children age 6–12 years and adults with ADHD have shown lisdexamfetamine to be safe and effective, with significant improvement of ADHD-related rating scores. However, the efficacy and safety of lisdexamfetamine in children with ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders have not been assessed.
An unlearned foreign "accent" in a patient with aphasia.

Abstract Rarely, aphasics may develop what appears to be a foreign accent, as noted by Monrad-Krohn whose Norwegian patient sounded German. We describe a right-handed native American who developed a foreign accent following damage to the left premotor region and white matter anterior to the head of the left caudate nucleus. Her aphasia was of the transcortical motor type. Both she and her parents were born in the USA, she never traveled outside the country and never learned a foreign language. Phonetic analysis of her voice taped prior to the stroke revealed normal speech with a midwestern accent. In contrast, analyses of her current spontaneous speech, repetition, and reading reveal (a) shifts in vowels, e.g., /I/→/i/, /ae/→/a/; (b) increased diphthonigization; and (c) tense speech posture. These features, which were especially frequent in spontaneous speech, probably explain her “accent.” Acoustic analysis of fundamental frequency contours of sentences read in different emotional tones revealed a restricted range and variability of the peaks and valleys.
In vitro splicing of the ribosomal RNA precursor of tetrahymena: Involvement of a guanosine nucleotide in the excision of the intervening sequence

Abstract In previous studies of transcription and splicing of the ribosomal RNA precursor in isolated Tetrahymena nuclei, we found that the intervening sequence (IVS) was excised as a unique linear RNA molecule and was subsequently cyclized. In the present work, transcription at low monovalent cation concentration is found to inhibit splicing and to lead to the accumulation of a splicing intermediate. This intermediate contains splicing activity that either is tightly bound to the RNA or is part of the RNA molecule itself. The intermediate is able to complete the excision of the IVS when it is incubated with a monovalent cation (75 mM (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ), a divalent cation (5–10 mM MgCl 2 ) and a guanosine compound (1 μM GTP, GDP, GMP or guanosine). ATP, UTP, CTP and guanosine compounds without 2′ and 3′ hydroxyl groups are inactive in causing excision of the IVS. Accurate excision of the IVS, cyclization of the IVS and (apparently) ligation of the 26S rRNA sequences bordering the IVS all take place under these conditions, suggesting that a single activity is responsible for all three reactions. During excision of the IVS, the 3′ hydroxyl of the guanosine moiety becomes linked to the 5′ end of the IVS RNA via a normal phosphodiester bond. When GTP is used to drive the reaction, it is added intact without hydrolysis. Based on these results, we propose that Tetrahymena pre-rRNA splicing occurs by a phosphoester transferase mechanism. According to this model, the guanosine cofactor provides the free 3′ hydroxyl necessary to initiate a series of three transfers that results in splicing of the pre-rRNA and cyclization of the excised IVS.
Pause, predict, and ponder: use of narrative videos to improve cultural discussion and learning

Previous research shows that video viewing (a frequent activity in language courses) is more effective when students receive guidance. We investigate how to support students in an on-line environment in acquiring cultural knowledge and intercultural competence by viewing clips from feature films from the target culture. To test the effectiveness of a set of attention-focusing techniques (pause-predict-ponder), some of which have been shown to be effective in other contexts, we created ICCAT, a simple tutor that enhances an existing classroom model for the development of intercultural competence. We ran a study in two French Online classrooms with 35 participants, comparing ICCAT versions with and without attention-focusing techniques. We found that the addition of the pause-predict-ponder seemed to guide students in acquiring cultural knowledge and significantly increased students' ability to reason from an intercultural perspective. We discuss possible implications for intelligent tutoring systems in such difficult and ill-defined domains.
Chapter 2 The Components of the Difference Between a Firm’s Price and Conventional Marginal Costs and the Intermediate Determinants of the Intensity of Quality-and-Variety-Increasing-Investment Competition

Industrial Organization economists devote considerable attention to analyzing the competitive impact of various types of business conduct, and the antitrust laws of the United States and the E.U. make the legality of various types of business conduct depend (sometimes inter alia) on their competitive impact. Surprisingly, neither Industrial Organization economists, nor the antitrust laws in question, nor the lawyers and judges that interpret and apply these laws have satisfactorily defined the concepts of the intensity of competition they use. The definitions that have been proposed for (1) the impact of conduct on price competition have been incomplete, inconsistent, and/or inappropriate and (2) the concepts of the impact of conduct on QV-investment competition and the impact of conduct on price and QV-investment competition combined have been totally ignored. Chapter 4 will offer a definition of “the impact of a choice on competition” that I think correctly operationalizes this concept in both the U.S. antitrust-law context and the E.C./E.U. competition-law context.
Highly scalable parallel collaborative filtering algorithm

Collaborative filtering (CF) based recommender systems have gained wide popularity in Internet companies like Amazon, Netflix, Google News, and others. These systems make automatic predictions about the interests of a user by inferring from information about like-minded users. Realtime CF on highly sparse massive datasets, while achieving a high prediction accuracy, is a computationally challenging problem. In this paper, we present the design of a soft real-time (around 1 min.) parallel CF algorithm based on the Concept Decomposition technique [1]. Our parallel algorithm has been optimized for multicore/many-core architectures while maintaining the prediction accuracy of 0.84 RMSE. Using the Netflix dataset, we demonstrate the performance and scalability of our algorithm (in both batch mode and online mode) on a 32-core Power6 based SMP system. Our parallel algorithm delivered training time of 64s on the full Netflix dataset and prediction time of 4.5s on IAM ratings (3.2/μs per rating prediction). This is 12.6× better than the best known sequential training time and around 33 × better than the best known sequential prediction time [2], along with high accuracy (Ό.84 RMSE). To the best of our knowledge, this is also the best known parallel performance at such high accuracy.
Comments on Unparticles

Abstract We comment on several points concerning unparticles which have been overlooked in the literature. One regards Mack's unitarity constraint lower bounds on CFT operator dimensions, e.g., d V ⩾ 3 for primary, gauge invariant, vector unparticle operators. We correct the results in the literature to account for this, and also for a needed correction in the form of the propagator for vector and tensor unparticles. We show that the unitarity constraints can be directly related to unitarity requirements on scattering amplitudes of particles, e.g., those of the Standard Model, coupled to the CFT operators. We also stress the existence of explicit Standard Model contact terms, which are generically induced by the coupling to the CFT (or any other hidden sector), and are subject to LEP bounds. Barring an unknown mechanism to tune away these contact interactions, they can swamp interference effects generated by the CFT. We illustrate these points in the context of a weakly coupled CFT example. A significant amount of the unparticle literature should be reconsidered or revised in light of the observations in this note.
American Labor and American Law: Exceptionalism and its Politics in the Decline of the American Labor Movement:

Since Werner Sombart visited the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, scholars and activists have debated whether the American labor movement is “exceptionally” weak and conservative...
Raman Spectroscopy of Experimental Oral Carcinogenesis: Study on Sequential Cancer Progression in Hamster Buccal Pouch Model

Oral cancers suffer from poor 5-year survival rates, owing to late detection of the disease. Current diagnostic/screening tools need to be upgraded in view of disadvantages like invasiveness, tedious sample preparation, long output times, and interobserver variances. Raman spectroscopy has been shown to identify many disease conditions, including oral cancers, from healthy conditions. Further studies in exploring sequential changes in oral carcinogenesis are warranted. In this Raman spectroscopy study, sequential progression in experimental oral carcinogenesis in Hamster buccal pouch model was investigated using 3 approaches-ex vivo, in vivo sequential, and in vivo follow-up. In all these studies, spectral changes show lipid dominance in early stages while later stages and tumors showed increased protein to lipid ratio and nucleic acids. On similar lines, early weeks of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-treated and control groups showed higher overlap and low classification. The classification efficiency increased progressively, reached a plateau phase and subsequently increased up to 100% by 14 weeks. The misclassifications between treated and control spectra suggested some changes in controls as well, which was confirmed by a careful reexamination of histopathological slides. These findings suggests Raman spectroscopy may be able to identify microheterogeneity, which may often go unnoticed in conventional biochemistry wherein tissue extracts are employed, as well as in histopathology. In vivo findings, quite comparable to gold-standard supported ex vivo findings, give further proof of Raman spectroscopy being a promising label-free, noninvasive diagnostic adjunct for future clinical applications.
A survey of highly integrated Ethernet DataComm devices

This paper will discuss Ethernet communication device controllers and architectures which are helping to bridge the gap between exponentially rising system I/O bandwidth requirements of network applications, and current processor performance. Discussed in this paper will be a survey of innovative silicon solutions that have been developed for specific Ethernet switching applications in the areas of user media access. Covered are the four basic architectural choices for implementing switching solutions: general purpose integrated communications processors, standard product Ethernet devices, custom ASIC's and Network Processors.
An Interview with Susan Lederman

Presents an interview with Susan Lederman, retiring Associate Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Haptics.
P4F-7 Integration of a Pressure Sensing Array Into Ultrasound Elastography

Mechanical in vitro tests and in vivo elasticity imaging have shown differences between breast tissue types in their nonlinear stress/strain behavior, which could be utilized to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions potentially reducing the benign biopsy rate. Stress and strain measurements are required for absolute measures of this non-linear behavior in vivo. A variety of tests were performed with a prototype pressure sensor array to gauge its stability, sensitivity and calibration in reference to its application in ultrasound elastography. Measurements on elastographic phantoms were also performed and compared to finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. In addition, data was collected from patients undergoing ultrasound elasticity imaging at the University of Wisconsin Breast Center. Initial tests show that the pressure sensor array is stable in an ultrasound imaging environment. A reliable calibration technique was also developed, with reproducibility to within 5% for most elements. Tests also show a wide disparity in sensitivity among elements. The best performing elements are capable of detecting pressure as low as about 100 Pa. The average minimum detectable pressure was about 800 Pa. This suggests that the array is capable of detecting initial contact and measuring the contact force during a deformation of the breast - a critical task for quantifying stress/strain nonlinearities. The preliminary clinical trial confirmed this prediction. However, surface pressure distribution measurements on phantoms have shown only modest agreement with FEA simulations. Geometric uncertainties on the surface of the sensor as well as the variability of the absolute calibration make the array ill suited to measure accurate maps of the surface pressure distribution which might limit its utility for elastic modulus reconstructions.
Conceptual Framework for Modeling Dynamic Paths from Natural Language Expressions

Text documents frequently contain descriptions of different kinds of movements by individual persons, groups, animals, vehicles, or other moving objects. Comprehending and modeling the semantics of movement is an area of interest for geographic information science. In this article, we show how text documents that contain movement verbs can be analyzed for deriving representations of movement or dynamic paths. A conceptual framework is presented that provides the foundations necessary for deriving dynamic paths automatically from natural language descriptions and representing these dynamic paths in an information system, such as a geographic information system. In this research, a linguistic analysis of dynamic paths is presented and linked to a spatiotemporal representation of paths. We show how movement descriptions in text can be mapped to a set of elemental components including source, destination, route, direction, distance, start time, end time, and duration. Together, this set of path components captures the spatiotemporal characteristics of the path of a moving object as described using natural language. A systematic examination of these components builds a foundation for understanding more complex scenarios involving discourse (composed of consecutive sentences). Additional aspects reflecting important semantics about the movement characteristics of objects and discussed here are the shape of the path and granularity of modeling.
Variable selection for multivariate failure time data

In this paper, we proposed a penalised pseudo-partial likelihood method for variable selection with multivariate failure time data with a growing number of regression coefficients. Under certain regularity conditions, we show the consistency and asymptotic normality of the penalised likelihood estimators. We further demonstrate that, for certain penalty functions with proper choices of regularisation parameters, the resulting estimator can correctly identify the true model, as if it were known in advance. Based on a simple approximation of the penalty function, the proposed method can be easily carried out with the Newton-Raphson algorithm. We conduct extensive Monte Carlo simulation studies to assess the finite sample performance of the proposed procedures. We illustrate the proposed method by analysing a dataset from the Framingham Heart Study.
Genetic Interactions between Doublecortin and Doublecortin-like Kinase in Neuronal Migration and Axon Outgrowth

Summary Although mutations in the human doublecortin gene ( DCX ) cause profound defects in cortical neuronal migration, a genetic deletion of Dcx in mice produces a milder defect. A second locus, doublecortin-like kinase ( Dclk ), encodes a protein with similar "doublecortin domains" and microtubule stabilization properties that may compensate for Dcx. Here, we generate a mouse with a Dclk mutation that causes no obvious migrational abnormalities but show that mice mutant for both Dcx and Dclk demonstrate perinatal lethality, disorganized neocortical layering, and profound hippocampal cytoarchitectural disorganization. Surprisingly, Dcx −/y ;Dclk − / − mutants have widespread axonal defects, affecting the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, subcortical fiber tracts, and internal capsule. Dcx/Dclk-deficient dissociated neurons show abnormal axon outgrowth and dendritic structure, with defects in axonal transport of synaptic vesicle proteins. Dcx and Dclk may directly or indirectly regulate microtubule-based vesicle transport, a process critical to both neuronal migration and axon outgrowth.
Wind Measurements over the North Atlantic Using a Loran‐C Dropwindsonde

The Experiment on Rapid Intensification of Cyclones over the Atlantic (ERICA) was conducted from December 1988 through February 1989. One of the principal tools for studying these storms was a newly developed Lightweight Loran Digital Dropwindsonde (L2D2). Four aircraft were equipped with this device as a means of obtaining three-dimensional profiles of winds and other meteorological parameters as the severe winter storms intensified off the east coast of the United States. An analysis of Loran-C coverage over the North Atlantic was first performed to determine whether a Loran-based dropsonde could replace the Omega dropwindsonde presently used by NOAA and the U.S. Air Force. Since the results of this analysis were positive, a development program was undertaken to provide a lightweight dropwindsonde that could be dropped in the airlanes or over land, and could measure winds to greater precision than an Omega-based system. The Loran translator and other sonde characteristics are described, as well as the aircraft-based data system. Results of the 430 drops from four aircraft are also given, and Loran performance in the severest weather conditions is discussed.
Was Wittgenstein an Anti-Realist?

William Child has said that Wittgenstein is an anti-realist with respect to a person's dreams, recent thoughts that he has consciously entertained and other things. I discuss Wittgenstein's comments about these matters in order to show that they do not commit him to an anti-realist view or a realist view. He wished to discredit the idea that when a person reports his dream or his thoughts, or past intentions, the person is reading off the contents of his mind or memory. Reporting what one dreamt or recently thought is not like reporting what one has just read. The language is different, and the criterion of truth is different. The anti-realist is able to explain why the reports of thoughts, for instance, are “guaranteed” to be true (PI II, 222) by stipulating that the character and existence of the past thought is constituted by an inclination to assert that one had that past thought so the assertion could not be false. This could not be Wittgenstein's view. What does “guarantee” the truth of such an assertion is the fact that the person himself is the principle authority on what he dreamt, thought, and intended, something which “stands fast” for us. I next consider Crispin Wright's account of Wittgenstein's ideas about intentions and point out that his assumption that person always makes a judgement as to whether his action conforms to his intention is clearly false. And he is wrong in attributing to Wittgenstein the idea that an intention does not have a determinate content prior to its author's judgement about whether the action conforms to the intention, an idea that is obscure. If this were accurate, it would be a mystery why we do anything, or, at least, why our actions ever conform to our intentions.
Purification and partial characterization of spinach leaf glycerate kinase

Abstract Glycerate kinase from spinach leaves was purified to near homogeneity using PEG/MgCl2 fractionation, ion exchange, molecular sieving and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme is a monomer of Mr 40 000, shows a pI-value of 4.8 and a broad pH optimum of 6.5–8.5 and is specific for D-isomer of glycerate. The high activity of crude enzyme (≈ 150 μmol. h−1.mg chl−1) indicates that glycerate kinase does not limit the oxidative photosynthetic carbon cycle.
Properties of invariant measures for piecewise expanding one-dimensional transformations with summable oscillations of derivative

We study the properties of absolutely continuous invariant measures for one-dimensional transformations satisfying Schmitt's condition. We prove existence, constrictiveness of the induced Perron-Frobenius operator, openness of supports, estimate on a number of ergodic components, exponential decay of correlation, Bernoulli property, etc.
Decentralized algorithm for minimum-time rendezvous of Dubins vehicles

In this paper, we consider the problem of minimum-time rendezvous of a team of Dubins vehicle at a pre-assigned destination point starting from arbitrary initial configurations. We impose an additional constraint that the separation between arrival angles of successive team members at the destination be equal. We propose a decentralized algorithm that solves the problem up to a desired level of accuracy in finite time. The communication complexity of the algorithm is quadratic and the space complexity is constant in team size. The proposed algorithm is proved to be correct by establishing some important facts for the shortest path length of a Dubins vehicle as a function of arrival angle at the destination point.
Home teleradiology system

The Home Teleradiology Server system has been developed and installed at the Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center. The main purpose of the system is to provide a service for on-call physicians to view patients' medical images at home during off-hours. This service will reduce the overhead time required by on-call physicians to travel to the hospital, thereby increasing the efficiency of patient care and improving the total quality of the health care. Typically when a new case is conducted, the medical images generated from CT, US, and/or MRI modalities are transferred to a central server at the hospital via DICOM messages over an existing hospital network. The server has a DICOM network agent that listens to DICOM messages sent by CT, US, and MRI modalities and stores them into separate DICOM files for sending purposes. The server also has a general purpose, flexible scheduling software that can be configured to send image files to specific user(s) at certain times on any day(s) of the week. The server will then distribute the medical images to on- call physicians' homes via a high-speed modem. All file transmissions occur in the background without human interaction after the scheduling software is pre-configured accordingly. At the receiving end, the physicians' computers consist of high-end workstations that have high-speed modems to receive the medical images sent by the central server from the hospital, and DICOM compatible viewer software to view the transmitted medical images in DICOM format. A technician from the hospital, and DICOM compatible viewer software to view the transmitted medical images in DICOM format. A technician from the hospital will notify the physician(s) after all the image files have been completely sent. The physician(s) will then examine the medical images and decide if it is necessary to travel to the hospital for further examination on the patients. Overall, the Home Teleradiology system provides the on-call physicians with a cost-effective and convenient environment for viewing patients' medical images at home.
Occurrence of Organic Chemicals in Two Rivers Inhabited by Ozark Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi)

Ozark Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) populations are in decrease throughout their native range with rare recruitment of young. Increased estrogenic chemical levels and alterations of physicochemical properties in their habitat may play a significant role in this phenomenon. We report here the first systematic, comprehensive study of organic chemical concentrations and physical and nutrient parameters in two rivers containing Ozark hellbender populations. Water samples were collected monthly from August 2003 to November 2004. Concentrations of 21 organic chemicals were determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Nine organic chemicals were detected. Benzyl butyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, bisphenol A, and β-sitosterol were all detected >85% of the time, with median concentrations of 18 to 234 ng/L and maximum concentrations of 198 to 4141 ng/L. Individually, concentrations of nutrients and organic chemicals were much lower than those shown previously in laboratory and field experiments to have reproductive effects on amphibians. Nevertheless, hellbenders are exposed to a variety of chemicals with potential estrogenic effects. Our study establishes the basis to examine the specific effects of the detected concentrations, alone and in combination, on the Ozark hellbenders.
Free entrainment behavior in sieve trays

Analysis was made of the behavior of entrained particles in the zone between trays in a sieve tray column for the air-water system. The effects of drop-size distribution, projection velocity, drag, and gravity were evaluated with respect to the quantity of entrained liquid between trays. The drop-size distribution was found to be logarithmic in nature. The entrainment as a function of distance above the froth is estimated in Equation (12) where dH may be calculated from projection velocities and column superficial velocity for particle sizes greater than 400 μ. Confirmation of the proposed entrainment equation via experimental data was achieved within an average deviation of 28%. It was anticipated from the relationships developed that a leveling off of entrainment at zones in proximity to the froth and at escape velocity heights would be observed. Confirmation was evident at zones in proximity of the froth and upper zone tendencies were observed.
The Transformation of a Solitary Wave over an Uneven Bottom

Based on a set of approximate equations for long waves over an uneven bottom, numerical results show that as a solitary wave climbs a slope the rate of amplitude increase depends on the initial amplitude as well as on the slope. Results are also obtained for a solitary wave progressing over a slope onto a shelf. On the shelf a disintegration of the initial wave into a train of solitary waves of decreasing amplitude is found. Experimental evidence is also presented.
Cell Taught, Self Taught: The Chicano Movement Behind Bars - Urban Chicanos, Rural Prisons, and the Prisoners’ Rights Movement

This essay places the Chicano Movement at the center of a struggle over prisoners’ rights and the construction of carceral states. It chronicles the prisoners’ rights movement through the lens of t...
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in coastal lagoons of the Po River delta: sediment contamination, bioaccumulation and effects on Manila clams.

The large estuary that the River Po forms at its confluence into the Adriatic Sea comprises a multitude of transitional environments, including coastal lagoons. This complex system receives the nutrients transported by the River Po but also its load of chemical contaminants, which may pose a substantial (eco)toxicological risk. Despite the high ecological and economic importance of these vulnerable environments, there is a substantial lack of information on this risk. In light of the recent amendments of the European Water Framework Directive (2013/39/EU), the present study investigated the sediment contamination of six coastal lagoons of the Po delta and its effects on Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), exposed in situ for 3 months. Sediment contamination and clam bioaccumulation of a wide range of chemicals, i.e. trace metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg, Pb, As), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), alkylphenols (APs), organochlorine compounds (PCBs, DDTs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organotins (TPhT, TBT), suggested a southward increase related to the riverine transports. Where the River Po influence was more direct, the concentrations of contaminants were higher, with nonylphenol and BDE-209 exceeding sediment quality guidelines. Biometric indicators suggested the influence of contamination on organism health; an inverse relationship between PBDEs in sediments and clam condition index has been found, as well as different biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) in the lagoons.
Integrated Optics Switches and Modulators

Integrated optics has been an active field of research for about 10 years. During this time, considerable progress has been made toward realizing high performance optical devices using guided-wave techniques. The electro-optic modulator and switch are two devices that have received considerable attention.