cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient implementation of a video transcoder

Given a video stream encoded with a particular bit rate and compression scheme (C1), transcoding the video stream refers to the process of re-encoding the input compressed stream at a different bit rate and possibly with different spatial resolution, temporal resolution and compression scheme (C2). In this paper the special case of a transcoder which has a 4:2:2 format video stream as it's input and produces a 4:2:0 output stream at a lower bit rate is considered. Further more, it is assumed that both C1 and C2, like nearly all standard video compression algorithms, use 8 x 8 block DCT based compression. In this context, it will be shown how standard implementations of transcoders, as proposed by Ghanbari and others may be simplified to obtain a reduction in the transcoder implementation complexity. In particular the problem of simplifying the process of down conversion from 4:2:2 to 4:2:0, so that this process can take place directly in the DCT domain, will be addressed. The MPEG-2 video standard treats interlaced and progressive video differently for compression purposes; the proposed scheme is shown to be applicable to both cases. Simulation results show that this simplification does not result in performance degradation when compared with standard, high complexity implementations.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cholesteric mesophase in side-chain liquid crystalline polymers: influence of mesogen interdigitation and motional decoupling

In this paper, the thermal, optical and mesomorphic properties of side-chain liquid crystalline (SCLC) homopolymers (PNBCh-n), in which cholesteryl mesogens are linked to a polynorbornene backbone by different lengths of methylene spacer (n = 4, 5, 9, 10 and 15), are investigated. By doing so, the impact of flexible spacer length on the formation of different types of LC mesophase is explained. Because of comb-shaped SCLC polymer architecture, smectic mesophases are primarily found in PNBCh-n. Interestingly, cholesteric mesophases are identified only in PNBCh-9 and 10, which are proved by (1) the selective light reflection in UV-Vis analysis, (2) the characteristic oily streak texture under polarized optical microscope (POM) and (3) a long range periodicity in the cross-sectioned films from transmission electron microscope (TEM) investigation. Moreover, temperature-controlled X-ray scattering measurements are performed to examine mesomorphic structure evolution. By comparing the mesomorphic structures in this series of SCLC homopolymers, both extent of mesogen interdigitation and motional decoupling between backbone and mesogenic side-chains are found to play a critical role in the development of cholesteric mesophase. This structure–property study of PNBCh-n will help elucidate the importance of molecular structure, particularly the length of spacers, on the formation of cholesteric mesophase and its importance in the design of thermochromic devices.
Mechanism of hydrogen-induced crystallization of amorphous silicon

Hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon films manufactured by plasma deposition techniques are used widely in electronic and optoelectronic devices1,2. The crystalline fraction and grain size of these films determines electronic and optical properties; the nanocrystal nucleation mechanism, which dictates the final film structure, is governed by the interactions between the hydrogen atoms of the plasma and the solid silicon matrix. Fundamental understanding of these interactions is important for optimizing the film structure and properties. Here we report the mechanism of hydrogen-induced crystallization of hydrogenated amorphous silicon films during post-deposition treatment with an H2 (or D2) plasma. Using molecular-dynamics simulations3,4 and infrared spectroscopy5, we show that crystallization is mediated by the insertion of H atoms into strained Si–Si bonds as the atoms diffuse through the film. This chemically driven mechanism may be operative in other covalently bonded materials, where the presence of hydrogen leads to disorder-to-order transitions.
An MDP-Based Dynamic Optimization Methodology for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are distributed systems that have proliferated across diverse application domains (e.g., security/defense, health care, etc.). One commonality across all WSN domains is the need to meet application requirements (i.e., lifetime, responsiveness, etc.) through domain specific sensor node design. Techniques such as sensor node parameter tuning enable WSN designers to specialize tunable parameters (i.e., processor voltage and frequency, sensing frequency, etc.) to meet these application requirements. However, given WSN domain diversity, varying environmental situations (stimuli), and sensor node complexity, sensor node parameter tuning is a very challenging task. In this paper, we propose an automated Markov Decision Process (MDP)-based methodology to prescribe optimal sensor node operation (selection of values for tunable parameters such as processor voltage, processor frequency, and sensing frequency) to meet application requirements and adapt to changing environmental stimuli. Numerical results confirm the optimality of our proposed methodology and reveal that our methodology more closely meets application requirements compared to other feasible policies.
Pathogenesis, management, and prevention of infective endocarditis in the elderly dental patient

Aortic stenosis and mitral valve insufficiency are common precipitating causes of infectious endocarditis in older persons. These degenerative cardiac valvular lesions may result from an exaggerated calcification process seen in association with aging. Mitral valve prolapse, especially when noted in an older man, may predispose the person to infectious endocarditis. Infectious endocarditis is harder to diagnosis and treat in older persons, and about half of patients die of the disease or its complications. Prophylactic antibiotics must be prescribed for patients with degenerative cardiac or atherosclerotic valvular defects having dental procedures likely to produce a bacteremia.
Eomesodermin Requires Transforming Growth Factor-β/Activin Signaling and Binds Smad2 to Activate Mesodermal Genes

The T-box gene Eomesodermin (Eomes) is required for early embryonic mesoderm differentiation in mouse, frog (Xenopus laevis), and zebrafish, is important in late cardiac development in Xenopus, and for CD8+ T effector cell function in mouse. Eomes can ectopically activate many mesodermal genes. However, the mechanism by which Eomes activates transcription of these genes is poorly understood. We report that Eomes protein interacts with Smad2 and is capable of working in a non-cell autonomous manner via transfer of Eomes protein between adjacent embryonic cells. Blocking of Eomes protein transfer using a farnesylated red fluorescent protein (CherryF) also prevents Eomes nuclear accumulation. Transfer of Eomes protein between cells is mediated by the Eomes carboxyl terminus (456-692). A carbohydrate binding domain within the Eomes carboxyl-terminal region is sufficient for transfer and important for gene activation. We propose a novel mechanism by which Eomes helps effect a cellular response to a morphogen gradient.
Asymptotics for Least Absolute Deviation Regression Estimators

The LAD estimator of the vector parameter in a linear regression is defined by minimizing the sum of the absolute values of the residuals. This paper provides a direct proof of asymptotic normality for the LAD estimator. The main theorem assumes deterministic carriers. The extension to random carriers includes the case of autoregressions whose error terms have finite second moments. For a first-order autoregression with Cauchy errors the LAD estimator is shown to converge at a 1/n rate.
Fulminant ocular toxoplasmosis.

Seven patients had a destructive and disseminated form of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis that resulted in loss of useful vision. All had been treated initially with corticosteroids alone. Active Toxoplasma infection, virulent strains of the organism, or both may have contributed to the fulminant course of the disease.
Occupational safety and health criteria for responsible development of nanotechnology

Organizations around the world have called for the responsible development of nanotechnology. The goals of this approach are to emphasize the importance of considering and controlling the potential adverse impacts of nanotechnology in order to develop its capabilities and benefits. A primary area of concern is the potential adverse impact on workers, since they are the first people in society who are exposed to the potential hazards of nanotechnology. Occupational safety and health criteria for defining what constitutes responsible development of nanotechnology are needed. This article presents five criterion actions that should be practiced by decision–makers at the business and societal levels—if nanotechnology is to be developed responsibly. These include (1) anticipate, identify, and track potentially hazardous nanomaterials in the workplace; (2) assess workers’ exposures to nanomaterials; (3) assess and communicate hazards and risks to workers; (4) manage occupational safety and health risks; and (5) foster the safe development of nanotechnology and realization of its societal and commercial benefits. All these criteria are necessary for responsible development to occur. Since it is early in the commercialization of nanotechnology, there are still many unknowns and concerns about nanomaterials. Therefore, it is prudent to treat them as potentially hazardous until sufficient toxicology, and exposure data are gathered for nanomaterial-specific hazard and risk assessments. In this emergent period, it is necessary to be clear about the extent of uncertainty and the need for prudent actions.
Are low-literate and high-literate consumers different? Applying resource-matching theory to ad processing across literacy levels

Abstract This research investigates whether low-literate consumers process written advertisements differently than high-literate consumers do. Consistent with resource-matching theory (RMT), the first experiment reveals that, unlike high-literate processors, when low-literate processors read ads of moderate complexity, involvement with the ad does not affect processing. The second experiment extends RMT's applicability to both low- and high-literate consumers by demonstrating that low-literate processors' reading outcomes mirror those of high-literate processors when ads are written to reflect their reading capability.
AcMNPV pathogenesis and developmental resistance in fifth instar Heliothis virescens

Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus carrying a lacZ reporter gene was used to study pathogenesis and developmental resistance in fifth instar Heliothis virescens. Compared to fourth instar larvae, the progression of infection proceeded much more slowly in fifth instar larvae, and developmental resistance in orally inoculated larvae was much more sudden and severe. The resistance occurred within the first 6 h of the fifth instar and was partially relieved by the optical brightener M2R. Inclusion of M2R in oral inocula not only increased mortality levels, but also increased both the percentages of insects expressing lacZ and the numbers of foci 24 h after infection. This early developmental resistance was not observed in insects infected intrahemocoelically, indicating that it was mediated by the midgut and/or the tracheal system servicing the midgut. Another less severe resistance was encountered in insects intrahemocoelically infected 36 to 48 h postmolt. This later resistance was partially relieved by methoprene indicating that it was, in part, hormonally mediated. Fifth instar insects fatally infected prior to 12 h postmolt never pupated, but pupation increasingly occurred in insects fatally infected 12 to 48 h postmolt. This pattern of larval/pupal death was consistent with viral inactivation of the ecdysone commitment peak.
Renal Autotransplantation in the Loin Pain-Hematuria Syndrome: A Cautionary Note

The current literature suggests that renal autotransplantation is nearly uniformly effective in controlling the severe and debilitating pain of the loin pain-hematuria syndrome (LPHS). However, we report two patients thought to have this syndrome in whom renal autotransplantation did not result in long-term control of pain. In case 1, autotransplantation resulted in immediate cessation of pain; however, the flank pain recurred 7 1/2 months later. The recurrent pain was also severe and debilitating, requiring narcotic medications for control. In case 2, autotransplantation of the left kidney resulted in chronic pain in the left pelvic area, the site of the autotransplanted kidney. In addition, the patient continued to experience chronic discomfort in the left flank and along the flank incision. One year after autotransplantation, the patient still requires multiple daily doses of narcotic medications for pain control. Our two patients represent the 13th and 14th reported patients subjected to renal autotransplantation for management of LPHS. They represent only the third and fourth reported patients with recurrence of pain after renal autotransplantation. Because studies with negative results are less likely to be reported in the literature than studies with positive results, it is possible that the literature overestimates the effectiveness of renal autotransplantation in the LPHS. To assess the true effectiveness of renal autotransplantation in LPHS, a survey of patients with LPHS who have undergone renal autotransplantation needs to be performed.
A class of hypothesis tests for one and two sample censored survival data

This paper proposes a class of new non-parametric test statistics useful for goodness-of-fit or two-sample hypothesis testing problems when dealing with randomly right censored survival data. The procedures are especially useful when one desires sensitivity to differences in survival distributions that are particularly evident at at least one point in time. This class is also sufficiently rich to allow certain statistics to be chosen which are yery sensitive to survival differences occurring over a specified period of interest. The asymptotic distribution of each test statistic is obtained and then employed in the formulation of the corresponding test procedure. Size and power of the new procedures are evaluated for small and moderate sample sizes using Monte Carlo simulations. The simulations, generated in the two sample situation, also allow comparisons to be made with the behavior of the Gehan-Wilcoxon and log-rank test procedures.
Viewpoint Dependence in Scene Recognition

Two experiments investigated the viewpoint dependence of spatial memories In Experiment 1, participants learned the locations of objects on a desktop from a single perspective and then took part in a recognition test, test scenes included familiar and novel views of the layout Recognition latency was a linear function of the angular distance between a test view and the study view In Experiment 2, participants studied a layout from a single view and then learned to recognize the layout from three additional training views A final recognition test showed that the study view and the training views were represented in memory, and that latency was a linear function of the angular distance to the nearest study or training view These results indicate that interobject spatial relations are encoded in a viewpoint-dependent manner, and that recognition of novel views requires normalization to the most similar representation in memory These findings parallel recent results in visual object recognition.
Independent verification & validation of integrated supply-chain network simulation and optimization models

In this joint ASU/Intel research, we are undertaking Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) of discrete-event and linear programming models developed in commercial simulation and optimization tools. These models are aimed at reproducing/predicting uncertainties across process-chains, suppliers, and consumers of prototypical Supply-Chain Networks (SNM). To achieve IV&V for SNMs, first we extended our DEVS process-chain models in the DEVS-Suite simulator. These models are constructed and executed using data contained in a realistic database. This allows comparing queuing-based vs. system-theoretic (DEVS) simulation modeling approaches and tools. Second, we integrated the optimization model with the DEVS model. At this stage, we validate state and control data exchanges between the simulation and optimization models. This effort leads to extending our integrated DEVS and Opl-Studio/CPLEX platform with a Knowledge Interchange Broker where interactions between simulation and optimization models are scalable and can also be independently mediated. Key findings of this industrial-scale IV&V development are exemplified.
Antiferromagnetism of La 2 CuO 4 − y studied by muon-spin rotation

Zero-field spin precession of positive muons has been observed in the antiferromagnetic state of La2CuO(4-y). Sharp onsets of the sublattice magnetization are found at temperatures close to those of the susceptibility maxima of different specimens. The long-lived precession signal indicates a microscopically homogeneous distribution of spin density at each Cu atom below the Neel temperature. A combination of the present results and neutron-scattering studies indicates the ordered moment per Cu atom to be significantly less than 1 mu(B).
An online diagnosable fault-tolerant redundancy system

This paper presents an online diagnosable fault-tolerant system:N-unitt-fault tolerable system. The number of unitsN in the system can be either odd or even. The relationship betweenN andt (the number of faulty units which can be tolerated) is presented. The approach of an optimumN-unitt-fault tolerable system is also given. As an example, a 4-unit 2-fault tolerable system is discussed. The reliability and mean time to failure of 4-unit 2-fault tolerable system are shown to be higher than 5MR (5-modular redundancy) and TMR (Triple Moduler Redundancy) system reliabilities. The amount of hardware components in a 4-unitt-fault tolerable system is simpler than 5MR. The complexity of switching circuit forN-unitt-fault tolerable system increases only linearly with respect of the number of modules. Our scheme is also simpler than the hybrid redundancy system. Some theorems for the online diagnosis ofN-unitt-fault systems are given and proved.
Community mental health: a review.

Abstract Community mental health is the public health aspect of the mental health field. It is inhabited by a variety of mental health professionals in addition to psychiatrists; but it is inhabited also by social scientists, economists, politicians, social reformers, ex-patients and their families, and ordinary citizens. It needs to be differentiated from community psychiatry (which is the kind of psychiatry practiced by social system-oriented psychiatrists) and social psychiatry (which is really an interdiscipline in academia, comprising social scientists and psychiatrists who are concerned with understanding the ways in which behavioral science data illuminate human behavior, ordered and disordered). Community mental health has developed in full form largely in the past two decades, although its roots go far back in history beyond our own era. The particular themes which are intertwined in the matrix of community mental health are: (1) moral treatment, the focus on humane and humanistic approaches to the mentally disordered, and protection of their rights as citizens; (2) prevention of illness or of its consequences, the preventive medicine of psychiatry; (3) new developments and improvements in the techniques of clinical services in mental health care; and (4) The social concept of the right to health care, as it pertains to mental health programs and needs. The process by which these themes have been interwoven is one which has gone on at both federal and state-local levels, but the more enduring and significant process is that at the state-local level, as most extensively exemplified in the California system.
Analysis of human class II antigens by cloned cytolytic T cell reagents: a study using HLA loss mutant lymphoblastoid cell lines and monoclonal antibodies detecting the HLA-DP product(s).

Abstract We have utilized cloned T cell reagents and ionizing radiation-induced mutants of an HLA heterozygous lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) to investigate the determinants detected by the cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) assay. Cells of an LCL clone, 721.501, and HLA haplotype loss mutant expressing the HLA-A2-Cw1-Bw51-DR1-Dw1-DQw1-DPw2-GLO haplotype were used as sensitizing cells for responder cells in vitro. “Cloned” reagents were generated by single-cell deposition of cells of a bulk reagent primed against 721.501 cells. Those clones were screened for cytolytic activity against HLA loss mutant targets (derived from LCL 721) of four different categories; HLA-A2 loss only. A2-Cw1-Bw51 loss, A2-Cw1-Bw51-DR1-DQw1 loss, and the entire HLA haplotype loss. Of 196 clones tested, 36 were cytolytic, including three anti-A2, five anti-Bw51/Cw1, 12 anti-DR1/DQw1, 13 anti-DP region associated with DPw2, and three of undetermined specificity, based on cytolytic patterns against the HLA loss mutant targets. Of 25 anti-HLA class II lytic clones, 23 (92%) fitted the cahracteristics of helper cell-independent cytolytic T cells (HITc), whereas only two of eight (25%) anti-class I clones were HITc. The 13 anti-DP region clones were divided into three subgroups defined by blocking by anti-FA and not Tu39 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb), by Tu39 and not anti-FA, and by both MoAbs.
A new EMI system for detection and classification of challenging targets

Advanced electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors currently feature multi-axis illumination of targets and tri-axial vector sensing (e.g., MetalMapper), or exploit multi-static array data acquisition (e.g., TEMTADS). They produce data of high density, quality, and diversity, and have been combined with advanced EMI models to provide superb classification performance relative to the previous generation of single-axis, monostatic sensors. However, these advances yet have to improve significantly our ability to classify small, deep, and otherwise challenging targets. Particularly, recent live-site discrimination studies at Camp Butner, NC and Camp Beale, CA have revealed that it is more challenging to detect and discriminate small munitions (with calibers ranging from 20 mm to 60 mm) than larger ones. In addition, a live-site test at the Massachusetts Military Reservation, MA highlighted the difficulties for current sensors to classify large, deep, and overlapping targets with high confidence. There are two main approaches to overcome these problems: 1) adapt advanced EMI models to the existing systems and 2) improve the detection limits of current sensors by modifying their hardware. In this paper we demonstrate a combined software/hardware approach that will provide extended detection range and spatial resolution to next-generation EMI systems; we analyze and invert EMI data to extract classification features for small and deep targets; and we propose a new system that features a large transmitter coil.
PARENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON LIFE HISTORY IN THE HERBACEOUS PLANT CAMPANULA AMERICANA

Although environmental parental effects, especially maternal effects, are well known in plants we have almost no information about their expression in nature. This study explores the influence of maternal and paternal light and nutrient environments on germination characters under natural conditions in the herbaceous plant Campanula americana. Families were grown in a greenhouse under three levels of light or three levels of nutrients, and crosses were conducted within each environmental gradient to produce seeds with all combinations of maternal and paternal environments. Seeds produced under the controlled environments were planted into the home site of the population and another local site, and germination was monitored over the fall and spring germinating seasons. The paternal light environment influenced percentage germination, demonstrating that the offspring phenotype may depend on the environment a set of pollen donors is grown in. The effect of maternal nutrient level on percentage germination depended on the offspring environment. Percentage germination in response to maternal nutrient and paternal light environments varied among families, suggesting that these parental environmental effects are genetically variable. Both maternal light and nutrient environments influenced season of germination. Germination season determines life history in C. americana: fall-germinating individuals are annuals while spring-germinating seeds are biennials. Maternal plants grown under low and high light and low nutrient conditions produced more biennial offspring while the remaining maternal environments had an equal frequency of annual and biennial offspring. In C. americana maternal environments influence life history and therefore fitness through their effects on season of germination.
Should I Stay or Should I go? Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intent of Jail Staff Throughout the United States

Research on turnover in the correctional workplace has predominately focused on investigating the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intent among prison staff. In an effort to broad...
Modifications of the law of the wall and algebraic turbulence modelling for separated boundary layers

Various modifications of the conventional algebraic eddy viscosity turbulence model are investigated for application to separated flows. Friction velocity is defined in a way that avoids singular behavior at separation and reattachment but reverts to the conventional definition for flows with small pressure gradients. This leads to a modified law of the wall for separated flows. The effect on the calculated flow field of changes in the model that affect the eddy viscosity at various distances from the wall are determined by (1) switching from Prandtl's form to an inner layer formula due to Clauser at various distances from the wall, (2) varying the constant in the Van Driest damping factor, (3) using Clauser's inner layer formula all the way to the wall, and (4) applying a relaxation procedure in the evaluation of the constant in Clauser's inner layer formula. Numerical solutions of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations are used to determine the effects of the modifications. Experimental results from shock-induced separated flows at Mach numbers 2.93 and 8.45 are used for comparison. For these cases improved predictions of wall pressure distribution and positions of separation and reattachment are obtained from the relaxation version of the Clauser inner layer eddy viscosity formula.
MACROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION OF HYDRATE FILM GROWTH AT THE HYDROCARBON/WATER INTERFACE

Clathrate hydrate film growth has been investigated at the hydrocarbon/water interface for cyclopentane and methane hydrate, using video microscopy combined with gas consumption measurements. Hydrate formation was characterized by the film thickness, propagation rate across the hydrocarbon/water interface, and gas consumption. The film formation processes of cyclopentane and methane hydrate were measured over the temperature range of 260–273 K and pressure range of atmospheric to 8.3 MPa. Hydrate formation was initiated by the propagation of a thin, porous film across the hydrocarbon/water interface. This thickening rate was strongly dependent on the hydrate former solubility in the aqueous phase, in the absence and presence of hydrate. The methane hydrate film thickness began at about 5μm and grew to a final thickness (20–100μm) which increased with subcooling. The cyclopentane hydrate film thickness began at about 12μm and grew to a final thickness (15–40μm) which again increased with subcooling. The hydrate film grew into the water phase. Gas consumption indicated that the aqueous phase supplied hydrate former during the initial hydrate growth, and the free gas supplied the hydrate former for film thickening.
On the Shape Optimization of Self-Adaptive Grooves

Microscale mechanical self-adaptive bearings are a recent development in the field that offer promising features such as enhanced load-carrying capacity compared to conventional bearings. This study aims to improve the load-carrying capacity of these bearings by introducing novel deformable groove designs. The objective is to find the optimum groove's top surface shape that maximizes the load-carrying support. Assuming that the thickness can vary along the groove's length, three different thickness patterns including constant, linear, and spline are considered. A hybrid optimization algorithm based on the harmony search (HS) algorithm and sequential quadratic programming (SQP) is utilized to find the optimum shape for each thickness pattern. A benchmark problem is considered to show the performance of new designs. Results show that the optimally designed grooves with spline thickness profile can have load-carrying capacities up to 45% larger than the original ones.
A new determination of the soft pomeron intercept

Abstract Using Regge theory at Born level and with eikonalized amplitudes we obtain for the pomeron intercept the values 1.104 and 1.122, respectively, from global fits to total cross section and ϱ-value data for p ± p , π ± p and K ± p .
Electromigration behavior of multilayered Al/Hf and Al/Ti fine lines and its dependence on Cu and Pd solute additions

Abstract Electromigration behavior and the kinetics of intermetallic formation in fine lines of Al/Hf/Al, Al/Ti/Al and Ti/Al/Ti as a function of Cu and Pd solute additions have been measured. In Hf/Al films, a second higher temperature eutectic reaction occurred, characterized by a resistance decrease and associated HfAl3 redistribution. In Ti/Al films a second intermetallic phase (Ti9Al23) formed, dependent on both the deposition technique and annealing temperature. The reliability implications of: (1) the high temperature eutectic reaction in Hf/Al films, and (2) Ti9Al23 phase formation in Ti/Al films were considered.
Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve: A 30-year perspective

Objective Systolic anterior motion (SAM) can occur after mitral valve repair (MVr), most frequently in patients with degenerative valve disease. Our initial observations (1981-1990) revealed that most patients with SAM can be successfully treated medically. Here the authors review the last 16 years of their experience with SAM after MVr. Methods Between January 1996 and October 2011, 1918 patients with degenerative mitral valve disease underwent MVr at our institution. We performed a retrospective analysis of SAM in this patient population. Results The incidence of SAM was 4.6% (89 of 1918) overall, 4.0% (77 of 1906) in patients who did not have SAM preoperatively (de novo). Compared with our previously published report, the incidence of SAM decreased from 6.4% to 4.0% ( P = .03). Hospital mortality was 2.0% (38 of 1918) overall, 1.3% (14 of 1078) for isolated MVr. One patient with de novo SAM (1 of 77; 1.3%) died after emergency MVr. All patients with de novo SAM were successfully managed conservatively with intravenous fluids, α agonists, and/or β blockers. A higher incidence of SAM was associated with a left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 60% ( P = .01), posterior leaflet resection ( P = .048), and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy ( P P = .03). Conclusions In the more recent era, SAM occurs one-third less frequently after repair of degenerative mitral valve disease. Use of an incomplete annuloplasty band rather than a complete ring is associated with a lower incidence of SAM. The mainstay treatment of SAM continues to be medical management.
The numerical range of 3 × 3 matrices

Abstract Let A be an n × n complex matrix. Then the numerical range of A, W(A), is defined to be { x∗Ax: x ∈ C n , x∗x = 1} . In this article a series of tests is given, allowing one to determine the shape of W(A) for 3 × 3 matrices. Reconstruction of A, up to unitary similarity, from W(A) is also examined.
Induction of erythropoiesis using human vascular networks genetically engineered for controlled erythropoietin release

For decades, autologous ex vivo gene therapy has been postulated as a potential alternative to parenteral administration of recombinant proteins. However, achieving effective cellular engraftment of previously retrieved patient cells is challenging. Recently, our ability to engineer vasculature in vivo has allowed for the introduction of instructions into tissues by genetically modifying the vascular cells that build these blood vessels. In the present study, we genetically engineered human blood–derived endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) to express erythropoietin (EPO) under the control of a tetracycline-regulated system, and generated subcutaneous vascular networks capable of systemic EPO release in immunodeficient mice. These ECFC-lined vascular networks formed functional anastomoses with the mouse vasculature, allowing direct delivery of recombinant human EPO into the bloodstream. After activation of EPO expression, erythropoiesis was induced in both normal and anemic mice, a process that was completely reversible. This approach could relieve patients from frequent EPO injections, reducing the medical costs associated with the management of anemia. We propose this ECFC-based gene-delivery strategy as a viable alternative technology when routine administration of recombinant proteins is needed.
Realism and the critique of technology

The ‘classical Realist’ thinkers Hans J Morgenthau and John Herz developed a puissant yet typically overlooked critique of technology. Driven by fears of nuclear warfare, they broke with Realism's inappropriately nonchalant view of technological development. Morgenthau focused on the dangers of a naive faith in technological growth, arguing that it typically generated an apolitical and potentially irresponsible view of international politics. Even more effectively, Herz zeroed in on the problem of what he described as technological acceleration, according to which the rapid pace of recent technological change threatens humanity's future. While Morgenthau's ideas on technology are ultimately tension ridden, Herz still provides a fruitful starting point for any version of international relations theory hoping to take the phenomenon of social speed or acceleration seriously. Many of his reflections anticipated the contemporary debate among social theorists about the high-speed temporality of contemporary soc...
Effects of phenobarbital and SC-13504 on partially kindled hippocampal seizures in rats.

Abstract The effects of three doses of SC-13504 were determined on prekindled and partially kindled hippocampal seizures in rats. A dose of phenobarbital previously shown to be anticonvulsant in rats was used for comparison. The drugs were tested for effectiveness twice during the 12 sessions, once during session 2 to determine the prekindling effectiveness and once during the last session to determine the effectiveness against kindled seizures. After 11 stimulations, the seizures showed a significant increase in afterdischarge duration, clinical seizure severity, and time to return to normal EEG and the stimulus threshold showed a nonsignificant decrease compared to the first stimulation. These results indicate that the development of progressively more severe hippocampal seizures (kindling) can occur with just 11 days of stimulation. When stimulated at the control day threshold, 3 and 300 mg/kg SC-13504 provided anticonvulsant protection against both prekindled and kindled seizures, whereas 30 mg/kg SC-13504 was less effective. Animals stimulated until seizures occurred on drug days showed a dose-dependent decrease in afterdischarge duration and an increase in voltage threshold with all three doses of SC-13504. Phenobarital provided no protection against prekindled seizures but was very effective against kindled seizures. These results may indicate that phenobarbital is a more effective anticonvulsant against developing or developed limbic system seizures than against prekindled seizures. This paradigm may provide a model for testing the effectiveness of anticonvulsants during the progressive development of epileptic seizures.
Implementation of a speculative Ling adder

A large number of adder designs are available based on the constraints of a particular application, e.g., speed, fanout, wire complexity, area, power consumption, etc. However, a lower-bound has been set on the speed of these adders and it has not been possible to design reliable adders faster than this lower bound. This paper deals with the design and implementation of a speculative adder, that takes advantage of the probabilistic dependence of the maximum carrypropagate chain length on the adder operand size. That is, this type of adder is designed to produce correct results for a vast majority of inputs that have carry-propagate chains shorter than the length for which the adder has been designed. An improvement is proposed to an earlier design of a speculative adder, by using Ling equations to speed it up. The resulting speculative adder, called the ACLA has been compared with the earlier design and traditional adders like Ling and Kogge-Stone in terms of area, delay and number of gates required. The ACLA is at least 9.8% faster and 20% smaller than the previous design. A circuit for error detection and error correction has also been implemented, resulting in the Reliable Adder (RA). When implemented as a sequential circuit, such a combination of ACLA and RA can significantly increase the average speed of the adder unit.
FURTHER EVIDENCE ON INSIDER TRADING AND THE MERITS OF SECURITIES CLASS ACTIONS

To provide further evidence on the merits of securities class actions, we examine insider transactions immediately before and during the class period, using a larger and newer data set. We show that insiders reduce their stock sales by an abnormal amount immediately before the class period. Alternative measures of insider transactions and analysis of data before the enactment of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provide consistent results. These new findings indicate that class actions, on average, have merit. Our data also reestablish a previous empirical result that there is no abnormal selling during the class period.
Buying center research and business marketing practice: meeting the challenge of dynamic marketing

The make‐up, structure, functioning and outputs of multi‐person buying decision‐making units, commonly referred to as “buying centers,” have received substantial attention in the business marketing literature. Although most business buying decisions are non‐static in nature, theorists and researchers have been hard pressed to effectively capture the dynamic nature of business buyers’ decision‐making processes. This paper presents a synthesis of recent buying center research and reports the findings of a study which attempted to capture “process effects” in buying center structure during the buying process. Study findings affirm the widely held belief that buying centers change over time and provide interesting insights regarding how these decision‐making units change in structure and make‐up over time. The resulting implications and caveats of these findings for business marketers are discussed.
Barotropic oscillations of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas

The periods and structures of several of the lowest barotropic free modes of oscillation of the combined Mediterranean—Adriatic system are computed. The computations take account of the two-dimensional structure of the Mediterranean—Adriatic system, the actual bottom topography, and the earth's rotation. To separate the effects of each of these factors, calculations are carried out first for uniform depth, then for variable depth but no rotation, and then for variable depth and rotation. The results show that the effect of variable bottom topography is more important than rotation. The computed periods for the lowest four modes of the Mediterranean Sea are 38.5 h. 11.4 h, 8.4 h, and 7.4 h. In addition, the periods and structures of several of the lowest modes of the Adriatic Sea are computed without rotation on a high resolution grid. The location of the mouth of the Adriatic Sea is determined by the combined Mediterranean-Adriatic calculation. By imposing the mouth in the proper location, we found that the computed periods of the lowest modes agree with observed periods. The computed periods of the three lowest modes in the Adriatic Sea are 21.9 h, 10.7 h, and 6.7 h. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.1983.tb00216.x
Vertebral column resection for rigid spinal deformity.

OBJECTIVE: Vertebral column resection (VCR) is a surgical technique that may be applied for correction of moderate to severe spinal deformities, including those with large rigid curves, fixed trunk translation, or asymmetry between the length of the convex and concave column of the deformity. This article reviews the VCR technique as it relates to correction of rigid spinal deformity, including case examples to illustrate its application. METHODS: The literature was reviewed in reference to the use of VCR for correction of rigid spinal deformity. RESULTS: VCR involves complete resection of one or more vertebral segments using either combined anterior and posterior approaches or a posterior-only approach and enables significant deformity correction in all three dimensions. Herein, we provide description of the indications, preoperative planning, surgical techniques, complication avoidance, postoperative management, and case examples for VCR. CONCLUSION: VCR enables significant correction of rigid spinal deformities in cases in which less aggressive approaches are not adequate.
Differential impulse response of unipolar space-charge-limited current

Die Zeitabhangigkeit des Stromstossesi(t) wird berechnet, den eine kleine Ladung beeinflusst, wenn sie sich durch das elektrische FeldE(r) bewegt, das ein stationarer, raumladungsbegrenzter Strom in drei verschiedenen Medien und in Strukturen von ebener, zylindrischer und spharischer Geometrie erzeugt. Die drei betrachteten Medien sind das Vakuum, und zwei Festkorper, in denen entweder die Beweglichkeit oder die Bahngeschwindigkeit der Ladungstrager von der Feldstarke unabhangig ist. Man findet, dass fur die beiden Festkorperi(t) undE(r) zwei eng verwandte Funktionen sind, deren Zusammenhang beschrieben wird. Eine experimentelle Bestimmung der Feldverteilung nach diesem Verfahren erscheint knapp durchfuhrbar und wurde direkte Einsicht in den Vorgang des Stromflusses vermitteln.
Bounded model checking of concurrent data types on relaxed memory models: a case study

Many multithreaded programs employ concurrent data types to safely share data among threads. However, highly-concurrent algorithms for even seemingly simple data types are difficult to implement correctly, especially when considering the relaxed memory ordering models commonly employed by today's multiprocessors. The formal verification of such implementations is challenging as well because the high degree of concurrency leads to a large number of possible executions. In this case study, we develop a SAT-based bounded verification method and apply it to a representative example, a well-known two-lock concurrent queue algorithm. We first formulate a correctness criterion that specifically targets failures caused by concurrency; it demands that all concurrent executions be observationally equivalent to some serial execution. Next, we define a relaxed memory model that conservatively approximates several common shared-memory multiprocessors. Using commit point specifications, a suite of finite symbolic tests, a prototype encoder, and a standard SAT solver, we successfully identify two failures of a naive implementation that can be observed only under relaxed memory models. We eliminate these failures by inserting appropriate memory ordering fences into the code. The experiments confirm that our approach provides a valuable aid for desigining and implementing concurrent data types.
Simultaneous FU and register binding based on network flow method

With the rapid increase of design complexity and the decrease of device features in nano-scale technologies, interconnection optimization in digital systems becomes more and more important. In this paper we develop a simultaneous FU and register (SFR) binding algorithm for multiplexer optimization based on min-cost network flow. Unlike most of the prior approaches in which functional unit binding and register binding are performed sequentially, our approach performs these two highly correlated tasks gradually and concurrently. We also present an ILP formulation of the combined functional unit and register binding problem for the optimality study of heuristics. Experimental results show that when compared to traditional binding algorithms, our simultaneous resource binding algorithm is close to optimal solutions for small-size designs (only 5% more MUX) and achieves significant reduction for MUX area (12%) and timing (10%) for a set of real-life benchmark designs.
STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF TIO2 SURFACES: A BRIEF REVIEW

Titanium oxides are used in a wide variety of technological applications where surface properties play a role. TiO2 surfaces, especially the (110) face of rutile, have become prototypical model systems in the surface science of metal oxides. Reduced TiO2 single crystals are easy to work with experimentally, and their surfaces have been characterized with virtually all surface-science techniques. Recently, TiO2 has also been used to refine computational ab initio approaches and to calculate properties of adsorption systems. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies have shown that the surface structure of TiO2(110) is more complex than originally anticipated. The reduction state of the sample, i.e. the number and type of bulk defects, as well as the surface treatment (annealing in vacuum vs. annealing in oxygen), can give rise to different structures, such as two different (1×2) reconstructions, a ‘rosette’ overlayer, and crystallographic shear planes. Single point defects can be identified with STM and influence the surface chemistry in a variety of ways; the adsorption of water is discussed as one example. The growth of a large number of different metal overlayers has been studied on TiO2(110). Some of these studies have been instrumental in furthering the understanding of the ‘strong metal support interaction’ between group-VIII metals and TiO2, as well as low-temperature oxidation reactions on TiO2-supported nanoscopic gold clusters. The growth morphology, interfacial oxidation/reduction reaction, thermal stability, and geometric structure of ultra-thin metal overlayers follow general trends where the most critical parameter is the reactivity of the overlayer metal towards oxygen. It has been shown recently that the technologically more relevant TiO2 anatase phase can also be made accessible to surface investigations.