cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound determination of total arterial wall thickness

Abstract Purpose: Ultrasonic measurement techniques for determining intima-media thickness and total arterial wall thickness have been described. The intima-media thickness measurements are currently in use in large epidemiologic trials. Intima-media thickness does not evaluate extramedial atherosclerotic change and so may not fully reflect pathologic changes in the arterial wall. Methods: After we performed variability studies of B-mode image acquisition and measurement, we measured total wall thickness and intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries in 60 adult subjects in three groups: a control group aged 20 to 29 years, a control group aged 60 to 79 years, and a claudication group aged 60 to 79 years. Measurements were made with B-mode ultrasound images. Results: No statistical difference between sexes was noted. A statistically significant ( p ≤ 0.05) increase in intima-media thickness and wall thickness was found with increasing age, and an additional increase was observed with clinically significant lower extremity arterial occlusive disease ( p ≤ 0.05). Image quality had an effect on measurement accuracy. Conclusions: The finding that the wall thickness of common carotid arteries is increased in those patients with clinically significant lower extremity disease supports the theory that atherosclerosis affects the arterial wall in a systemic fashion. Because intima-media thickness also increases across subject groups without change in its proportional contribution to the total arterial wall thickness, extramedial arterial changes also occur with aging and the development of atherosclerosis. We propose that because increases in wall thickness measurements of common carotid arteries follow intima-media thickness increases (but do not necessarily measure the same physiologic change) and the wall thickness method can be used in cases when the intima-media thickness cannot be measured, arterial wall thickness measurement may serve as an alternate or confirmatory test of peripheral artery atherosclerotic severity. (J VASC SURG 1994;19:745-53)
Early Development of Congenital Heart Surgery: Open Heart Procedures

Experience in the surgical management of congenital heart defects led to the advent of open heart surgery as it is known today. Only after 1938, when Robert Gross first ligated a patent ductus arteriosus, did congenital anomalies yield to correction. Success with these anomalies encouraged surgeons to attempt other extracardiac and intracardiac repairs. These attempts resulted in a steady flow of advances that culminated in the practical application of cardiopulmonary bypass and the procedures it made possible. Today, less than 60 years since Gross's landmark operation, surgical intervention can fully or partially correct 95% of congenital heart defects.
Infrared imaging with ferroelectrics

Abstract Texas Instruments continues to push the limits of its hybrid ferroelectric uncooled focal plane array (UFPA) technology to improve performance and producibility. Emphasizing standard silicon wafer processing techniques, TI has developed a state of the art manufacturing facility which routinely produces significant volumes of high quality, low cost infrared detector assemblies. These arrays are being delivered as part of a variety of thermal imaging products to serve both military and commercial applications. Future improvements in device performance and cost will open the door to a new realm of imaging applications.
Role of Cellular Ca++ in Phosphorylation of 21 K and 19 K Polypeptides in Cultured Thyroid Cells: Effects of Phorbol Ester, Trifluoperazine, and 8-Diethylamino-Octy1-3,4,5- Trimethoxybenzoate Hydrochloride

Cultured dog thyroid cells contain 21 and 19 kilodalton (K) phosphoproteins which by several criteria have been identified as light chains of myosin (MLC). TSH causes a reduction in the phosphorylation state of the 21 K-19 K proteins, at least in part through activating adenylate cyclase and increasing cAMP levels. We now report that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol- 13-acetate (TPA) also decreases the 21 K-19 K protein phosphorylation state, but in contrast to that due to TSH, the TPA-induced decrease is not associated with elevated cAMP levels. The effect of TPA was not additive to that of TSH. Because Ca++ is a major factor regulating MLC kinase and TPAstimulated protein kinase C in other systems, the role of Ca++ in the phosphorylation of the 21 and 19 K polypeptides in dog thyroid was examined. In intact cells, both (8-diethylamino)- octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) (1 × 10-4 M) and trifluoperazine (TFP) (4 × 10-5 M) increase basal 21 K-19 K protein phosphorylation and inhibit the decrea...
EXPAND THE USE OF POLICE GANG UNITS

Gangs grew dramatically in the United States during the 1990s. This dramatic growth prompted a variety of responses to gangs. Many of these responses missed the mark, making the problem worse (Decker and Curry, 2001), creating moral panic about gang problems (McCorkle and Miethe, 2002), failing to implement “grand” designs for gang intervention (Klein and Maxson, 2006), or fostering the isolation of gang responses from the community and other institutions of the criminal justice system (Katz and Webb, 2006). This context hardly seems like one in which to recommend the expansion of a key innovation of the 1990s, the police gang unit. Yet that is precisely the position taken in this essay. In 1988 1,439 gangs and 120,636 gang members were documented in the United States. In 1995 the National Youth Gang Center (NYGC) conducted its first assessment of the national gang problem. Of 3,440 responding agencies, 2,007 reported youth gang problems. The 1995 survey revealed 23,388 youth gangs and 664,906 gang members. The number of cities with gang problems identified by the NYGC increased dramatically between 1995 and 1996 (the peak year for gangs, gang cities, and gang members) with 3,847 cities reporting gang problems. The number of gangs peaked at 30,818 reported gangs in 1996 and declined to 21,600 in 2002. The pattern for gang members is somewhat different, however. Although the number of gang members rose dramatically between 1995 (644,906) and 1996 (846,428), it did not decline as dramatically from 1996 to 2002 (when 731,500 members were reported) as did the number of gangs and gang-problem cities. These data suggest that many gangs are growing in size, even as the number of gangs declines. Based on these data, it is not difficult to establish the premise that a large number of police departments provide public safety in jurisdictions that have gangs and that those gangs do not seem to be transitory in nature. Equally important is the impact that gang membership has on criminal involvement. Simply put, being a gang member increases the frequency and seriousness of criminal involvement. Three longitudinal studies (the Denver Youth Survey, The Rochester Youth Development Study, and the Seattle Social Development Project) provide consistent conclusions about the relationship between gang membership and crime. Each of these studies documents the finding that being in a gang increases the level of criminal and delinquent involvement. During periods of membership in a gang, the level of criminality of gang members increases compared with the period of time before they joined VOLUME 6
Efficacy and safety of fluvastatin in special patient groups

Fluvastatin, the first entirely synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, is structurally distinct from the others in its class: lovastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin. This structural difference results in low systemic exposure, high protein binding, rapid absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, the shortest half-life compared with the other agents noted, high selectivity for the liver, no circulating metabolites, and extensive first-pass metabolism. However, as with other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, fluvastatin is an effective agent for lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. To date, no cases of drug-related myopathy have been reported in patients taking fluvastatin
Propagation of information in MetaNet graph models.

Information flow in metabolic networks has been studied with a graph model which represents the biochemical transformations occurring in the system under investigation. The “signal strength”, an algebraic expression which estimates the probability that an intermediate metabolite is bound to a given enzyme, has been used to derive the “signal transmittance”, the fraction of the informational signal at one intermediate that reaches another intermediate. The transmittance has been used to derive the “response ratio”, the sensitivity of the rate of change of information at one metabolite consequent to a perturbation at another metabolite. Because the graphical representation corresponds to the biochemical events presumed to occur in the network, these quantities can be used to design experiments to confirm or falsify the hypotheses underlying the model and aid in understanding the regulatory properties of the system. The technique is illustrated by an example model, and its predictions are shown to be sensitive to modest structural changes in the network.
Unusual electron-phonon superconductivity in nickel borocarbides?

Abstract We propose a picture of incomplete superconducting condensation, which is based on the BCS pairing theory, to account for the seemingly contradictory observation of unconventional superconducting state properties including specific heat, magnetic penetration depth, spin–lattice relaxation rate, thermal conductivity, and microwave conductivity in nickel borocarbide superconductors RNi 2 B 2 C (R=Y, Lu), in which strong electron–phonon interaction plays an important role. We show that the power-law temperature T dependence of these properties at low T can arise in s-wave superconductors when a small fraction of charge carriers remain unpaired at T =0.
Extragenital mixed heterologous tumor of müllerian type arising in retroperitoneum

A case report of extragenital tumor of mullerian type arising from the posterior peritoneum and compressing the kidney is presented. The embryologic basis for this type of tumor arising in the peritoneum is discussed.
Terrestrial Planet Finder: the search for life-bearing planets around other stars

The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) will detect and characterize Earth-like planets around nearby stars. NASA is currently funding a number of small studies to look at trade-offs in the design of TPF. The possible trade-offs include orbit location (1 to 5 AU), aperture size (4 to 2 m), and physically connected baselines vs. separated spacecraft flying in close formation. The performance of TPF depends critically on the brightness of the local zodiacal dust cloud at the observing site, and on the brightness and degree of structure in the zodiacal dust cloud around other stars. Sensitivity calculations indicate that TPF could accomplish its goals using 4-5 m telescopes operating at 1 AU. Such a mission would have many advantages relative to a mission operating smaller telescopes in lower background conditions at 5 AU.
Notes on implementing fuzzy sets in Prolog

Due to its unique characteristics, Prolog requires special techniques for implementing ordinary as well as fuzzy sets. This article presents a comparative overview of various strategies of representing and manipulating fuzzy sets in Prolog. There are two major approaches to implement fuzzy sets in Prolog. One is to incorporate fuzzy representations and operations on top of an existing Prolog. The second way is to develop a new extended Prolog language. This article discusses various methods based primarily on the first approach. The choice of a method depends on many factors, such as whether a database for fuzzy sets already exists, the type of applications, the type of fuzzy set operations performed, whether an implicit description of the elements is possible, the size of the database, and the required computation time. The following methods are discussed in this article: explicit description (finite), using lists; explicit description (finite), using a fact for every element; implicit description (finite, infinite); and other methods and extensions.
The Legend and Legacy of Abu Musab al‐Zarqawi

The aerial bombardment of a safe house not far outside Baghdad on 7 June 2006 resulted in the elimination of one of the Coalition’s key enemy figures in the global war on terror. At first blush, Za...
Reduction in Common Rust Severity Conferred by the Rp1D Gene in Sweet Corn Hybrids Infected by Mixtures of Rp1D-Virulent and Avirulent Puccinia sorghi.

ABSTRACT The Rp1D gene confers a hypersensitive, chlorotic-fleck, resistant reaction to Puccinia sorghi, the casual agent of common rust of corn. About 40% of commercial sweet corn hybrids carry the Rp1D gene. Sine 1999, Rp1D-virulent (D-virulent) isolates of P. sorghi have occurred regularly in populations of P. sorghi in North America. Observations from sweet corn hybrid nurseries and other trials indicate that the frequency of D-virulent isolates affects severity of rust on Rp1D hybrids; however, the frequency of D-virulence at which the Rp1D gene is rendered completely ineffective is not known. The objective of this study was to assess whether common rust severity is reduced by the Rp1D gene in sweet corn hybrids infected by mixtures of D-virulent and Rp1D-avirulent (avirulent) P. sorghi. Forty pairs of Rp1D-resistant and susceptible (rp1d) versions of sweet corn hybrids from six different commercial breeding programs were evaluated in 2003 and 2004 in trials inoculated with one of five different rati...
117 Non-B DNA structure-induced genetic instability in mammalian cells

Repetitive regions of genomic DNA can adopt a number of different structures, e.g. Z-DNA and they are at risk for increased genetic instability and disease development [As reviewed in (Zhao, Bacolla, Wang, & Vasquez, 2010)]. We found Z-DNA structure is intrinsically mutagenic in cultured mammalian cells and in chromosomes of transgenic mice (Wang Carbajal, Vijg, DiGiovanni, & Vasquez, 2008). Our recent data showed CG14 repeats, a model Z-DNA-forming sequence, could stall DNA polymerase progress in mammalian COS-7 cells, while AT14 repeats that does not form Z-DNA conformation, did not affect replication. These data suggested a replication-dependent model of Z-DNA-induced mutagenesis in mammalian cells. In addition, we also found that Z-DNA caused mutation and DNA breakage in the absence of DNA replication, and the spectrum of mutation from unreplicated system tended to have more large deletions than replicated DNA, suggested a replicated-independent pathway of Z-DNA-induced genetic instability (Wang, Chri...
Synthesis and Characterization of Lanthanide-Doped Silica Microspheres

We report the synthesis of silica nanoparticles and microspheres doped with Pr3+ and Er3+. Acetic acid is used to catalyze the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of LnCl3·6H2O. The particles are spherical and discrete with particle sizes and size distributions controllable by variation of the reactant concentrations and reaction time. The relative standard deviation of particle diameters can be as low as 10%. The particles exhibit bright room-temperature luminescence when excited by an argon ion laser at 488 nm.
Magnetic resonance force microscopy with a single spin S>1/2

Abstract We studied theoretically detection of a single spin S > 1 / 2 using magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) and taking into account anisotropy. We have shown that the MRFM signal for a spin S > 1 / 2 is the same as for spin S = 1 / 2 and obtained the analytical estimate for the half-width of the signal.
Cerebral blood flow and the hyperdynamic circulation of rats after portacaval anastomosis

Both increased and decreased values of cerebral blood flow have been reported in liver disease. Furthermore, the relation between the cerebral circulation and the generalized hemodynamic disturbance seen in chronic liver disease with portal-systemic shunting has not been fully characterized. We studied this problem in a well defined model of the hyperdynamic circulation, the rat after portacaval anastomosis (PCA). Using the radioactive microsphere technique, cardiac output and regional blood flows were measured; regional vascular resistances were then calculated. While the fraction of cardiac output perfusing the splanchnic bed was significantly increased, the corresponding brain fraction was reduced. Blood flow to the cerebral hemispheres and midbrain was significantly decreased. Arterial vasodilatation was demonstrated by the fall in arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance as well as splanchnic and renal resistances; cerebrovascular resistance, however, was unchanged. No relation between values of arterial pressure and cerebral blood flow was seen, making a failure of cerebrovascular autoregulation unlikely. The decrease in hemispheric and midbrain perfusion without changes in vascular resistance suggests that a drop in blood flow is appropriately coupled to a reduction in brain metabolism. The cerebral circulation does not participate in the hyperdynamic state that is seen in this model.
Techniques for the compositional and chemical state analysis of surfaces and thin films

Abstract In this review we will make a brief comparison of analytical techniques yielding information on the composition and chemical states of surfaces and thin films. We will include in this discussion CBS (charged particle backscattering spectroscopy), IIXS (ion induced X-ray spectrometry), EMP (electron microprobe), AM (analytical microscopy), AES (Auger electron spectroscopy), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy) and SIMS (secondary ion mass spectroscopy). The major accent of this treatment is on the fundamental physical processes of each technique as these affect both the sensitivity and our quantitative understanding.
A post-Hartree-Fock quantum chemical investigation of biuret planarity

Abstract The structures and energies of planar and nonplanar biuret were studied using post Hartree-Fock MP2, DFT, and MP4(SDQ) levels of theory. The optimized planar conformations are each characterized by at least one imaginary harmonic vibrational frequency of large magnitude, i.e. one (198i cm−1) at the DFT/6-311G(df,pd) level, two (428i and 245i cm−1) at the MP2/6-311G(d,p) level and two (339i and 37i cm−1) at the MP4(SDQ)/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Only real frequencies were predicted at all applied levels of theory for nonplanar conformations. Planar biuret lies above its nonplanar isomer by 1.19 kcal mol−1 (MP2/6-311G(d,p)), 0.58 kcal mol−1 (MP4(SDQ)/6-31G(d,p)), 0.74 kcal mol−1 (CCSD[T]/6-31G(d,p)//MP4(SDQ)/6-31G(d,p)), and 0.08 kcal mol−1 (DFT/6-311G(df,pd)) at the indicated levels of theory.
Mulliken–Hush elucidation of the encounter (precursor) complex in intermolecular electron transfer via self-exchange of tetracyanoethylene anion-radical

Abstract The paramagnetic [1:1] encounter complex ( TCNE ) 2 - is established as the important precursor in the kinetics and mechanism of electron-transfer for the self-exchange between tetracyanoethylene acceptor (TCNE) and its radical-anion as the donor. Spectroscopic observation of the dimeric complex ( TCNE ) 2 - by its intervalence absorption band at the solvent-dependent wavelength of λIV ∼ 1500 nm facilitates the application of Mulliken–Hush theory which reveals the significant electronic interaction extant between the pair of cofacial TCNE moieties with the sizable coupling of HDA = 1000 cm−1. The transient existence of such an encounter complex provides the critical link in the electron-transfer kinetics by lowering the classical Marcus reorganization barrier by the amount of HDA in this strongly adiabatic system. Ab initio quantum-mechanical methods as applied to independent theoretical computations of both the reorganization energy (λ) and the electronic coupling element (HDA) confirm the essential correctness of the Mulliken–Hush formalism for fast electron transfer via strongly coupled donor/acceptor encounter complexes.
Estimation of pure-component properties from group-contributions

Abstract Simple group-contribution methods are proposed to estimate eleven important physical properties of pure materials. A common set of structural groups was employed. High accuracy is not claimed, but the proposed methods are often as accurate as or more accurate than techniques in common use today.
An analysis of stresses in a model of the periodontal ligament

Abstract The writers analyze the stresses in a model of the periodontal ligament of a maxillary central incisor. The model is assumed to be of paraboloidal shape, uniform thickness, and of a homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic material. The inside surface of this paraboloidal shell is subject to rigid body displacement while the outside surface is assumed rigidly supported and stationary. The edge of the model is assumed to be stress free. A system of paraboloidal coordinates is developed, and this system is fitted to the shape of the root of a typical maxillary central incisor. The displacement functions obtained by solving the differential equations of equilibrium are used to determine the stresses at the inside and outside surfaces of the model ligament. These stresses are subject to superposition so that the stresses associated with any combination of applied forces and couples may be determined.
Large- J approach to strongly coupled spin-orbital systems

We present an approach to study the ground-state and elementary excitations in compounds where spins and orbitals are entangled by on-site relativistic spin-orbit interaction. The appropriate degrees of freedom are localized states with an effective angular momentum $J$. We generalize $J$ to arbitrary large values while maintaining the delicate spin-orbital entanglement. After projecting the intersite exchange interaction to the manifold of effective spins, a systematic $1/J$ expansion of the effective Hamiltonian is realized using the Holstein-Primakoff transformation. Applications to representative compounds ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{IrO}}_{4}$ and particularly vanadium spinels $A{\text{V}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{4}$ are discussed.
Sonographic Evaluation of an Ectopic Spleen Simulating a Pelvic Mass

The presence of a pelvic spleen is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Correct diagnosis, which is essential for appropriate management, can be suggested by sonographic evaluation and confirmed with the use of computed tomography. The case presented here demonstrates the necessity of examination of the entire abdomen by sonography when a pelvic mass of unknown etiology is encountered.
The clinical significance of variations in ethanol toxicokinetics.

Introduction Many variables affect the interpretation of an isolated ethanol level in an acutely intoxicated patient. This review demonstrates the significant variability in metabolism and elimination of ethanol, how it can differ between individuals, and the clinical importance of these variables.
Bad News Revisited: The Portrayal of Violence, Conflict, and Suffering on Television News

Television news broadcasts were monitored over a 6-month period and analyzed for the amount and type of 5 categories of "bad news." The programs selected included national network news, local news, independent superstation news, and cable network news. In terms of both news time and news stories, more than half of the news depicted various forms of violence, conflict, and suffering. In addition, bad news received further emphasis by placing it earlier in the broadcasts.
Rapid field estimation of biochemical oxygen demand in a subtropical eutrophic urban lake with chlorophyll a fluorescence

Development of a technique for rapid field estimation of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is necessary for cost-effective monitoring and management of urban lakes. While several studies reported the usefulness of laboratory tryptophan-like fluorescence technique in predicting 5-day BOD (BOD5) of wastewater and leachates, little is known about the predictability of field chlorophyll fluorescence measurements for BOD of urban lake waters that are constantly exposed to the mixture of chemical compounds. This study was conducted to develop a numeric relationship between chlorophyll a fluorescence and BOD for a eutrophic urban lake that is widely representative of lake water conditions in the subtropical southern USA. From October 2012 to September 2013, in situ measurements at the studied lake were made every 2 weeks on chlorophyll a fluorescence and other water quality parameters including water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductivity. Water samples were taken for 5-day BOD and 10-day BOD (BOD10) analysis with and without incubation. The results showed a clear seasonal trend of both BOD measurements being high during the summer and low during the winter. There was a linear, positive relationship between chlorophyll a fluorescence and BOD, and the relationship appeared to be stronger with the 10-day BOD (r 2 = 0.83) than with the 5-day BOD (r 2 = 0.76). BOD dropped each day with declining chlorophyll a fluorescence, suggesting that die-off of phytoplankton has been the main consumption of oxygen in the studied lake. Ambient conditions such as rainfall and water temperature may have partially affected BOD variation.
Keynote Address: Human-amplifying and Transformational Computing

Human-centered computing has at its core the idea that humans are central to many of the things we create and use computers to do. On a recent trip to Haiti, I began to rethink my own perspective on computing - what, exactly, are computers and computing for? Computing is and should be about amplifying people - to be more of what we think of as "human". Not only can computing amplify intelligence - it can amplify compassion, communication, understanding, and creativity - and even transform people and our society. Programming languages like Alice, Scratch, and Snap and the creation of serious games highlight the importance of leveraging creativity to inspire the next wave of transformative innovation in computing. In this talk I'll lead in with this idea and give an overview of my work including: my new course on the Beauty and Joy of Computing, the STARS Alliance for broadening participation, creating games for education, exercise, and energy, and using data to personalize learning experiences.
Proliferation of the reticuloendothelial system and phagocytosis.

Abstract The phagocytosis and the cellular and organ distribution of polystyrene latex particles were studied in normal rabbits and rabbits treated with complete Freund's adjuvant. The size of the particles, the amount injected and the number of cells capable of phagocytosis were of importance in determining the clearance of the blood. The clearance curves were analyzed in terms of an equilibrium between phagocytosis and re-entry of particles into the circulation. Despite extensive proliferation of the RES produced by Freund's adjuvant the general nature of the clearance from the circulation was not changed. The implications of these findings in the interpretations of clearance of the blood and the process of phagocytosis were discussed.
PCN20 - Risk Of Death At One Year In Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Nsclc) Treated With Cisplatin Regimens: An Indirect Comparison Meta-Analysis Based On Renal Eligibility Criteria

sub-group analyses, RR was 1.15 (95%CI 0.98-1.34, p=0.08) for SCr, 0.90 (95%CI 0.75-1.08, p=0.27) for GFR, and 1.00 (95%CI 0.92-1.09, p=0.95) for either SCr or GFR. RR of death when GFR was indirectly compared to SCr was 0.78 (95%CI 0.62-0.99, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Using GFR as eligibility criteria for cisplatin treatment appeared to reduce the risk of death at one year compared to SCr. However, results should be interpreted cautiously as only one study using GFR was included.
Tumour-selective drug delivery via folate receptor-targeted liposomes

Tumour cell-targeted liposomal delivery has the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the toxicity of anticancer agents. Folate receptor (FR) expression is frequently amplified among human malignancies. FR is, therefore, potentially useful as a tumour marker for targeted drug delivery. FR-mediated liposomal delivery has been shown to enhance the antitumour efficacy of doxorubicin both in vitro and in vivo, and to overcome P-glycoprotein-mediated multi-drug resistance. In addition, FR-targeted liposomes have shown utility as effective delivery vehicles of genes and antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides to FR(+) tumour cells. Both solid tumours and leukaemias can potentially benefit from FR-targeted drug delivery. Multiple mechanisms might contribute to greater therapeutic efficacy for FR-targeted liposomes, such as FR-dependent cytotoxicity and antiangiogenic activity. Further investigation of this promising drug delivery strategy is clearly warranted.
Lipreading by Locality Discriminant Graph

The major problem in building a good lipreading system is to extract effective visual features from the enormous quantity of video sequences data. For appearance-based feature analysis in lipreading, classical methods, e.g. DCT, PCA and LDA, are usually applied to dimensionality reduction. We present a new pattern classification algorithm, called locality discriminant graph (LDG), and develop a novel lipreading framework to successfully apply LDG to the problem. LDG takes the advantages of both manifold learning and Fisher criteria to seek the linear embedding which preserves the local neighborhood affinity within same class while discriminating the neighborhood among different classes. The LDG embedding is computed in closed-form and tuned by the only open parameter of k-NN number. Experiments on AVICAR corpus provide evidence that the graph-based pattern classification methods can outperform classical ones for lipreading.
Symmetry detection for large Boolean functions using circuit representation, simulation, and satisfiability

Classical two-variable symmetries play an important role in many EDA applications, ranging from logic synthesis to formal verification. This paper proposes a complete circuit-based method that makes uses of structural analysis, integrated simulation and Boolean satisfiability for fast and scalable detection of classical symmetries of completely-specified Boolean functions. This is in contrast to previous incomplete circuit-based methods and complete BDD-based methods. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method works for large Boolean functions, for which BDDs cannot be constructed.
Effective elastic and transport properties of regular honeycombs for all densities

The effective planar elastic moduli and planar conductivity (or dielectric constant) of regular hexagonal and triangular honeycombs were investigated for the entire range of volume fractions. Only the extreme limits of the volume fraction have been studied in the past. We studied the effective properties both numerically, via finite elements, and analytically, via rigorous three-point bounds, three-point approximations, and cross-property bounds. We show here that the three-point bounds and approximations are generally in excellent agreement with the simulation data and are superior to the two-point Hashin–Shtrikman bounds. Therefore, the three-point estimates provide accurate analytical predictions of the effective properties for all densities. Both the effective bulk modulus and effective conductivity are nearly extremal in the case of hexagonal honeycombs for the entire volume-fraction range, in contrast to the effective shear modulus. In the case of triangular honeycombs, all of the property values are relatively close to being optimal. Thus, the triangular honeycomb has desirable multifunctional performance for all densities in so far as the elastic moduli, conductivity, and dielectric constant are concerned.
Probing the Structure of Photosystem II with Amines and Phenylhydrazine

Photosynthetic oxygen evolution is catalyzed at the manganese-containing active site of photosystem II (PSII). Amines are analogs of substrate water and inhibitors of oxygen evolution. Recently, the covalent incorporation of 14C from [14C]methylamine and benzylamine into PSII subunits has been demonstrated (Ouellette, A. J. A., Anderson, L. B., and Barry, B. A. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 2204–2209). To obtain more information concerning these labeling reactions, t-[14C]butylamine and phenylhydrazine were employed as probes. Neither compound can be oxidized by a transamination or addition/elimination mechanism, but both can react with activated carbonyl groups, produced as a result of posttranslational modification of amino acid residues, to give amine-derived adducts. 14C incorporation into the PSII subunits D2/D1 and CP47 was obtained upon treatment of PSII with eithert-[14C]butylamine or [14C]phenylhydrazine. For t-butylamine and methylamine, the amount of labeling increased when PSII was treated with denaturing agents. Labeling of CP47, D2, and D1 with methylamine and phenylhydrazine approached a one-to-one stoichiometry, assuming that D2 and D1 each have one binding site. Evidence was obtained suggesting that reductive stabilization and/or access are modulated by PSII light reactions. These results support the proposal that PSII subunits D2, D1, and CP47 contain quinocofactors and that access to these sites is sterically limited.
A basic problem Of resource allocation in target tracking

Stochastic dynamic programming techniques are used to formulate and solve the problem of tracking two independent and stationary targets with one sensor in order to maximize a certain measure of performance. At any point in time, the sensor, usually a passive sonar array, can be allocated to only one of the two targets. Assuming the fluctuation process in the ocean to be governed by a phase‐random multipath law, the sensor ’’holds’’ the target when ρ, the root‐mean‐square pressure at the receiver, is above a user‐specified threshold. Using discrete time models for the ocean acoustic detection process formulated in earlier papers, we solve the problem for a finite horizon of observations using several alternative objective and reward/penalty functions. Delays of user‐specified magnitude in ’’switching’’ from one target to the other are also incorporated in our algorithms. Examples using both real and simulated data are presented and discussed. Finally, future research directions are suggested.
Quantitative detection of PfHRP2 in saliva of malaria patients in the Philippines

Malaria is a global health priority with a heavy burden of fatality and morbidity. Improvements in field diagnostics are needed to support the agenda for malaria elimination. Saliva has shown significant potential for use in non-invasive diagnostics, but the development of off-the-shelf saliva diagnostic kits requires best practices for sample preparation and quantitative insight on the availability of biomarkers and the dynamics of immunoassay in saliva. This pilot study measured the levels of the Pf HRP2 in patient saliva to inform the development of salivary diagnostic tests for malaria. Matched samples of blood and saliva were collected between January and May, 2011 from eight patients at Palawan Baptist Hospital in Roxas, Palawan, Philippines. Parasite density was determined from thick-film blood smears. Concentrations of Pf HRP2 in saliva of malaria-positive patients were measured using a custom chemiluminescent ELISA in microtitre plates. Sixteen negative-control patients were enrolled at UCLA. A substantive difference between this protocol and previous related studies was that saliva samples were stabilized with protease inhibitors. Of the eight patients with microscopically confirmed P. falciparum malaria, seven tested positive for Pf HRP2 in the blood using rapid diagnostic test kits, and all tested positive for Pf HRP2 in saliva. All negative-control samples tested negative for salivary Pf HRP2. On a binary-decision basis, the ELISA agreed with microscopy with 100 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity. Salivary levels of Pf HRP2 ranged from 17 to 1,167 pg/mL in the malaria-positive group. Saliva is a promising diagnostic fluid for malaria when protein degradation and matrix effects are mitigated. Systematic quantitation of other malaria biomarkers in saliva would identify those with the best clinical relevance and suitability for off-the-shelf diagnostic kits.
Atypical Prosodic Structure as an Indicator of Reading Level and Text Difficulty

Automatic assessment of reading ability builds on applying speech recognition tools to oral reading, measuring words correct per minute. This work looks at more fine-grained analysis that accounts for effects of prosodic context using a large corpus of read speech from a literacy study. Experiments show that lower-level readers tend to produce relatively more lengthening on words that are not likely to be final in a prosodic phrase, i.e. in less appropriate locations. The results have implications for automatic assessment of text difficulty in that locations of atypical prosodic lengthening are indicative of difficult lexical items and syntactic constructions.
Complex systems and particle filtering

In this paper we address the problem of applying particle filtering to complex systems. In general, we consider complex systems as ones with nonlinearities and high dimensionality of the state space. We examine strategies for filtering where the state space is partitioned into subspaces and where each subspace is explored by its own particle filter. These particle filters are interconnected and communicate essential information that is necessary for accurate operation of the particle filters. We demonstrate the proposed approach on a simulated complex system.
A decision-theoretic approach to file consistency in constrained peer-to-peer device networks

As users interact with an increasing array of personal computing devices, maintaining data consistency across those devices becomes more difficult. Typical solutions assume access to centralized servers, continual connectivity, or unbounded storage and CPU capacity. In practice, users' devices vary widely in capabilities, use intermittent or sparsely-connected networks and incur (asymmetric) transfer costs. We present a multi-agent system built upon a decision-theoretic approach to constructing and executing multiple plans to achieve consistency in a peer-to-peer, partially observable, non-deterministic environment. We analyze the performance in comparison to a standard epidemic replication algorithm.
Rational Hypocrisy: A Bayesian Analysis Based on Informal Argumentation and Slippery Slopes

Moral hypocrisy is typically viewed as an ethical accusation: Someone is applying different moral standards to essentially identical cases, dishonestly claiming that one action is acceptable while otherwise equivalent actions are not. We suggest that in some instances the apparent logical inconsistency stems from different evaluations of a weak argument, rather than dishonesty per se. Extending Corner, Hahn, and Oaksford’s (2006) analysis of slippery slope arguments, we develop a Bayesian framework in which accusations of hypocrisy depend on inferences of shared category membership between proposed actions and previous standards, based on prior probabilities that inform the strength of competing hypotheses. Across three experiments, we demonstrate that inferences of hypocrisy increase as perceptions of the likelihood of shared category membership between precedent cases and current cases increase, that these inferences follow established principles of category induction, and that the presence of self-serving motives increases inferences of hypocrisy independent of changes in the actions themselves. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Bayesian analyses of weak arguments may have implications for assessing moral reasoning.
Distribution and Effects of Ammophila breviligulata Fern. (American beachgrass) on the Foredunes of the Washington Coast

Since the turn of the century, the foredunes on the west coast of North America have become dominated by Ammophila breviligulata due to extensive sand stabilization plantings. Ammophila breviligulata was planted less extensively than A. arenaria . However, A. breviligulata has come to singularly dominate the foredunes of Washington in the southern half of the state and its range extends north along the entire coast. By comparing the distribution of current A. breviligulata and A. arenaria communities with historic shorelines, it was found that this invasion occurred in the last 50 years and the locus of the invasion was determined. A comparison of foredunes dominated by A. breviligulata with existing A. arenaria foredunes shows that this colonization has had minimal impact on the species diversity of the dunes but it has resulted in a lowering of the mean height of the foredune crests.
Energy adaptation to glucocorticoid-induced hyperleptinemia in human beings

Abstract Recombinant leptin therapy potently decreases food intake and body weight in aleptinemic individuals with leptin gene mutations. However, it is unknown whether manipulation of endogenous leptin secretion alters ingestive behavior in otherwise healthy subjects. We therefore assessed energy consumption during administration of hydrocortisone (HC), a known leptin secretagogue. Six healthy adults were admitted overnight on 2 occasions and given HC (12.5 mg/h IV) or saline infusion for 24 hours (8:00 am -8:00 am ) in a randomized crossover design. Total energy and macronutrient intake was calculated using a computerized nutrient analysis program. Blood sampling for measurement of leptin, cortisol, glucose, and insulin was performed at baseline and every 1 to 2 hours. A rise in plasma leptin level was noted after ∼5 hours of HC infusion and was sustained throughout the study period. The total energy consumed was 3004 ± 231 kcal for saline and 2486 ± 214 kcal for HC (P = .005); breakfast energy values on day 1 were similar but energy values consumed at lunch, dinner, and day 2 breakfast were all significantly lower during induced hyperleptinemia. Analysis of macronutrients indicated significant decreases in carbohydrate and fat intake during glucocorticoid-induced hyperleptinemia as compared with placebo. These results indicate that stimulation of native leptin secretion decreases energy consumption, similar to the effect observed with recombinant leptin therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting anti-ingestive responses to a leptin secretagogue. Because chronic glucocorticoid therapy is fraught with adverse effects, we suggest that nonsteroidal or steroidomimetic leptin secretagogues may be good candidates for anorectic and antiobesity drug development.
Selection for skin color among the Japanese

A reflectance spectrophotometer was used to record the skin color on the inner side of the upper arm on a series of 421 Japanese students of both sexes aged 15 through 19. All geographic regions in the country, and the upper, middle and lower socioeconomic classes were represented. It was found that, as among most peoples previously studied, males are darker than females. Boys from northern Japan are, on average, a bit lighter than are those from the southwest, but there are no geographically based differences among the girls. In both sexes and all areas, the mean reflectance values of the upper class group are higher than in the middle and lower class groups, but the difference is most pronounced among the males. It is therefore concluded that social selection for light skin color has had some genetic effect.
The Illness Management Survey: identifying adolescents' perceptions of barriers to adherence.

Objective To develop a self-report measure of barriers to adherence and to evaluate its reliability and validity in a sample of adolescents with asthma. Methods The Illness Management Survey (IMS) was developed through item generation, expert panel review, and focus group administration. Adolescents with asthma (N = 152) completed the measure. Participants reported on perceived drawbacks to medication, risk-taking behavior, and social desirability tendencies. Providers rated adolescents' illness severity and adherence. Reliability and validity of the IMS were assessed, and factor structure was examined. Results The 27-item IMS shows high internal consistency (alpha =.87). Scores correlate with perceived medication drawbacks, risk taking, and self- and provider reports of adherence. Principal-components analysis indicates five domains of barriers, accounting for 52.4% of the variance: disease/regimen issues, cognitive difficulties, lack of social support/lack of self-efficacy, denial/distrust, and peer/family issues. Conclusions Preliminary data indicate that the IMS reliably and validly assesses perceived barriers to adherence within this sample of adolescents with asthma. It shows promise as a tool for identifying subgroups of nonadherent adolescents.
Radiobromination of the 1‐position of estradiol using no‐carrier‐added bromine‐77

The target compound, 1-([77Br]bromo)estradiol (1a), was prepared in three steps from 4-aminoestradiol, 3-methyl ether (2). Electrophilic bromination of 2 with in situ generated 77BrCl followed by deamination in the same reaction mixture gave 1-([77Br]bromo)estradiol 3-methyl ether (4a) in 59% radiochemical efficiency. Subsequent demethylation of 4a gave la in 92% radiochemical efficiency with an estimated specific activity of 300–600 Ci/mmol. An overall radiochemical yield of approximately 20% was obtained. Stability studies of la showed no decomposition over a three-day period.
Submersible bioprobe for continuous monitoring of peroxide species

A peroxidase-based biosensor, coupled to a newly designed remote probe, is used for monitoring peroxide species at large sample-instrument distances. The new bioprobe can operate over a broad pH and ionic-strength ranges relevant to natural water conditions. Measurements of micromolar levels of hydrogen peroxide and 2-hutanone peroxide in untreated river and groundwater samples are demonstrated, and prospects and challenges for remote field applications are discussed.
Hormone Replacement Therapy in a Postmenopausal Woman with Epilepsy

OBJECTIVE:To prospectively evaluate the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on seizure activity in a postmenopausal woman with epilepsy.BACKGROUND:Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis secondary to a lack of estrogen's protective effects. As a result, women without known contraindications often take HRT to counteract this risk. Postmenopausal women with epilepsy are at a greater risk for osteoporosis because of the negative effects that certain antiepileptic drugs have on bone density. Clinical studies and experience have shown that hormonal variances across a woman's lifetime play a significant role in seizure activity, but the effects of HRT in postmenopausal women with epilepsy are unknown.CASE SUMMARY:We report the case of a 51-year-old postmenopausal white woman with epilepsy who presented with frequent vasomotor flushing. To determine individual effects of HRT on seizure activity, therapy was initiated in two three-month phases, with month...
Predicting the wear of rails on curves from laboratory data

Abstract Research has been performed, intermittently over the last two decades, to determine whether the wear behavior of rail steels can be predicted from small scale, rolling/sliding tests. The approach involved studying the field wear phenomena and reproducing the wear damage in laboratory experiments. The validity of the method has been checked by comparing the relative performance of a number of steels under both sets of conditions. This paper reviews that work and highlights the problems encountered. It is concluded that, for practical purposes, the modeling effort has to be restricted to a specific range of conditions, rather than attempt to develop an all-embracing general relationship. The results predict the effect of increasing wheel load on wear rates for a restricted set of track and traffic parameters, and the potential behavior of new steels under those conditions.