cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface Properties of the Mars Science Laboratory Candidate Landing Sites: Characterization from Orbit and Predictions

This work describes the interpretation of THEMIS-derived thermal inertia data at the Eberswalde, Gale, Holden, and Mawrth Vallis Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) candidate landing sites and determines how thermophysical variations correspond to morphology and, when apparent, mineralogical diversity. At Eberswalde, the proportion of likely unconsolidated material relative to exposed bedrock or highly indurated surfaces controls the thermal inertia of a given region. At Gale, the majority of the landing site region has a moderate thermal inertia (250 to 410 J m−2 K−1 s−1/2), which is likely an indurated surface mixed with unconsolidated materials. The primary difference between higher and moderate thermal inertia surfaces may be due to the amount of mantling material present. Within the mound of stratified material in Gale, layers are distinguished in the thermal inertia data; the MSL rover could be traversing through materials that are both thermophysically and compositionally diverse. The majority of the Holden ellipse has a thermal inertia of 340 to 475 J m−2 K−1 s−1/2 and consists of bed forms with some consolidated material intermixed. Mawrth Vallis has a mean thermal inertia of 310 J m−2 K−1 s−1/2 and a wide variety of materials is present contributing to the moderate thermal inertia surfaces, including a mixture of bedrock, indurated surfaces, bed forms, and unconsolidated fines. Phyllosilicates have been identified at all four candidate landing sites, and these clay-bearing units typically have a similar thermal inertia value (400 to 500 J m−2 K−1 s−1/2), suggesting physical properties that are also similar.
Estimating pairwise distances in large graphs

Point-to-point distance estimation in large scale graphs is a fundamental and well studied problem with applications in many areas such as Social Search. Previous work has focused on selecting an appropriate subset of vertices as landmarks, aiming to derive distance upper or lower bounds that are as tight as possible. In order to compute a distance bound between two vertices, the proposed methods apply triangle inequalities on top of the precomputed distances between each of these vertices and the landmarks, and then use the tightest one. In this work we take a fresh look at this setting and approach it as a learning problem. As features, we use structural attributes of the vertices involved as well as the bounds described above, and we learn a function that predicts the distance between a source and a destination vertex. We conduct an extensive experimental evaluation on a variety of real-world graphs and show that the average relative prediction error of our proposed methods significantly outperforms state-of-the-art landmark-based estimates. Our method is particularily efficient when the available space is very limited.
An assessment of distributed flash flood forecasting accuracy using radar and rain gauge input for a physics-based distributed hydrologic model

Summary One approach to reducing societal impacts from flooding is to minimize the public’s exposure by closing flooded intersections, and warning stakeholders. Emergency responders must know when and where flooding is likely to occur. This article describes the real-time performance of a flash flood forecasting system for a significant flood event (September 7–8, 2010) in Austin, Texas. The system uses a physics-based distributed (PBD) hydrologic model, V flo , together with radar rainfall input to predict stage and discharge at 222 locations in real-time. A comparison of model forecast accuracy using the operational rain gauge-adjusted radar rainfall input (GARR) is made against rain gauge only (RGO) input for a recent flash flood. A collection of calibrated hydrologic models for flash flood prone basins, within the City of Austin, is used for the comparison. A 1.9 h reduction in timing error was achieved using GARR as input rather than RGO. The RMSE of peak stage forecasts with GARR was 0.89 m, but with RGO input, the peak stage RMSE increased to 1.77 m. The use of GARR as input to the PBD model not only increases the forecast lead-time accuracy, but also the accuracy of forecast peak stage across a range of basin sizes. Rain gauge density over the forecast basins was one of the main determinants of forecast accuracy during an extreme event that resulted in significant flooding in a major metropolitan area.
Nonlinear feedback control of the wake past a plate with a suction point on the downstream wall

Active circulation control of the two-dimensional unsteady separated flow past a plate with a suction point on the downstream wall is considered. The rolling-up of the separated shear layer is modelled by a pair of point vortices whose time-dependent circulation is predicted by an unsteady Kutta condition. A nonlinear controller able to confine the wake to a single vortex pair of constant circulation is derived in closed form for any free-stream condition. Dynamical system analysis is used to explore the performance of the controlled system. Finally, the control strategy is applied to three different classes of unsteady flows and the results are discussed.
Marginally specified logistic-normal models for longitudinal binary data.

Summary. Likelihood-based inference for longitudinal binary data can be obtained using a generalized linear mixed model (Breslow, N. and Clayton, D. G., 1993, Journal of the American Statistical Association88, 9–25; Wolfinger, R. and O'Connell, M., 1993, Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation48, 233–243), given the recent improvements in computational approaches. Alternatively, Fitzmaurice and Laird (1993, Biometrika80, 141–151), Molenberghs and Lesaffre (1994, Journal of the American Statistical Association89, 633–644), and Heagerty and Zeger (1996, Journal of the American Statistical Association91, 1024–1036) have developed a likelihood-based inference that adopts a marginal mean regression parameter and completes full specification of the joint multivariate distribution through either canonical and/or marginal higher moment assumptions. Each of these marginal approaches is computationally intense and currently limited to small cluster sizes. In this manuscript, an alternative parameterization of the logistic-normal random effects model is adopted, and both likelihood and estimating equation approaches to parameter estimation are studied. A key feature of the proposed approach is that marginal regression parameters are adopted that still permit individual-level predictions or contrasts. An example is presented where scientific interest is in both the mean response and the covariance among repeated measurements.
Bearings-Only Tracking Based on Multiple Sensor Measurements and Generalized Particle Filtering

In this paper we address the problem of tracking by using bearings-only data obtained by more than one sensor. We apply the generalized particle filtering methodology which does not require any probabilistic assumptions, including prior probabilities and noise distributions in the state and observation equations. As a result, the proposed approach is much more robust in performance than standard particle filtering. We investigate the method when there is an exchange of information between the sensors. The advantage of the proposed method over standard particle filtering is illustrated through computer simulations.
Use of conditioned media in cell culture can mask cytogenetic abnormalities in acute leukemia.

Abstract Conditioned media (CM) from a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line expressing interleukins 1 and 6 (IL-1, IL-6), granulocyte (G), macrophage (M), and GM colony-stimulating factors (G, M, GM-CSF) and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) were used to stimulate growth of bone marrow (BM) cells from 18 persons with leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or lymphoma. The objective was to increase numbers of analyzable metaphases and to enhance the likelihood of detecting cytogenetic abnormalities. Although more mitotic cells were observed with CM, the detection rate of cytogenetic abnormalities decreased in 12 of 18 cases. These data indicate that use of CM for cytogenetic analyses may favor growth of normal versus leukemia cells and mask cytogenetic abnormalities.
WIVES' AND HUSBANDS' PERCEPTIONS OF WHY WIVES WORK

Reasons husbands and wives give for why wives work and the structural factors related to reasons given are examined along with the impact of these reasons on husbands' and wives' personal well-being and quality of marital relationships. Although financial and other structural factors are important in understanding why wives work, interpretations using gender and family roles also explain the findings. Working for financial reasons is related to neither wives' nor husbands' personal well-being and quality of marital relationships; however, working for reasons that bring rewards to the wife alone has positive consequences for women and mixed results for men. These findings point to the need to assess both structural and interpretive explanations when examining the impact of work on the family.
Education of the handicapped in the USSR: Exploration of the statistical picture

The Soviet Union provides special schooling for physically or mentally handicapped children. Data on schooling for handicapped children was the only kind of systematic data found by the researchers on the provision of services for the handicapped in the USSR. The regional distribution of schooling for handicapped children is inconsistent with any plausible pattern of need. The number and regional distribution of disabled adults without public sector jobs may reflect the availability and effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation programs or other institutional factors more than it does the distribution of people with particular work-limiting conditions. Sources of systematic evidence of disabilities include journals and education statistics found in numerous volumes of statistical handbooks for the USSR and Soviet republics as well as related compendia of education statistics published by the Central Statistical Board. The published data on children in schools for the handicapped are not broken down by grade level or by king of handicap. In the USSR special schools have existed since the 1920s. After 1958-1959 there was an expansion of enrollments in special schools partly because of the 1959 Soviet Education Law. The availability of places in special schools tracks very closely the relative economic development levels of Soviet regions. 4 explanations which could account for these regional differences are 1) differential screening for learning disabilities; 2) differential selection criteria; 3) elaborateness of networks of schools; and 4) differential budgetary strain. The varied regional patterns show how diverse the Soviet Union is and warn of the danger of assuming that social policy in application follows the prescribed rules or that prescribed policy is implemented to the same extent in all regions of the country. It is important to distinguish the need for services for the disabled. Regional differences in resources and state budgets or regional differences in how disabilities are defined perhaps partly due to differences in the occupational makeup of the labor force are likely to affect both the need for services and how completely that need is satisfied.
Transmission and reflection peaks in multichannel ballistic transport.

A multimode theory of coherent electron transport through nanostructures in resonance conditions is developed. It is shown that both peaks and inverted peaks of the transmission probabilities as functions of electron energy, such as have been found by computation in a variety of structures, are equally inherent to a local quasilevel, with Lorentzian forms at the quasilevel energy. Some model systems are also investigated. For both types of resonance, formulas in terms of the quasilevel properties are obtained for the multimode transmission and reflection probabilities, dwell times, and transmission and reflection delay times, versus electron energy. A consequence of the result for dwell times is that when all the itinerant states are filled through the resonance range (for one spin value) their density integrated over the site of the quasilevel is just that of one electron.
Residual thermal strains and stresses in nickel aluminide matrix composites

Thermally induced residual strains and stresses developed during postfabrication cooling in Saphikon/NiAl and tungsten/NiAl high-temperature composites are investigated through three-dimensional elastoplastic finite-element analyses. Average axial and transverse strains in the matrix are found to be tensile and compressive, respectively, and similar for both Saphikon and W-fiber-reinforced NiAl composites. It is suggested that the residual matrix stresses and strains are controlled more by the low-matrix yield stress than by the fiber/matrix expansion mismatch. Residual thermal strains in the matrix of these composites are measured by using a neutron-diffraction technique; the measured axial and transverse strains in the matrix are found to be in agreement with the computed values.
Propagation of low and medium frequency radio waves in a coal seam

A theoretical model has been developed to explain the unexpectedly long communication ranges of over 300 m obtained, and the marked polarization effects observed, during recent radio transmission measurements in a conductor-free area in a coal mine at frequencies in the range of 57.5 to 920 kHz. The model is based on a dipolar cylindrical TEM mode of propagation, with E vertical and H horizontal, in a low-conductivity horizontal coal seam bounded by high-conductivity rock. The best overall fit to the experimental data over the frequency range 57.5 to 920 kHz is found for coal and rock conductivities of 1.4 × 10−4 mho/m and 1.0 mho/m, respectively, for an assumed coal dielectric constant of 7. A better fit to the data at 57.5 kHz can be obtained if, in the model, the conductivity of the surrounding rock is allowed to be high for only a short distance above and below the coal seam and of a substantially lower value elsewhere. If the coal conductivity is changed from 1.4 × 10−4 mho/m, which is near the lower end of the range of expected values for bituminous coals, to 1.0 × 10−2 mho/m, which is near the upper bound of values for such coals, the attenuation is markedly increased with corresponding reductions in communication range.
The relationship between the electric field in a semi-infinite conductive region and the power input to a circular coil on or above the surface

The electric field induced in a semi-infinite isotropic homogeneous region by a time-varying current in a multi-turn circular coil positioned on or above the surface of the region is related to the power supplied to the coil. In this derivation, the electric field (normalised in terms of the conductivity of the region, the distance of the field point from the surface and the applied power) is expressed as a function of the ratios of the linear dimensions which characterise the geometry of the system to the distance of the field point from the surface and of a quantity which involves frequency, the Q factor of the coil, conductivity of the region, and the distance of the field point from the surface.
Development and validation of a scale measuring satisfaction with maternal and newborn health care following childbirth.

To demonstrate the validity and internal consistency of a multi-item scale measuring women’s satisfaction with health care received in the weeks following childbirth for both themselves and their newborns. Data are from 1,154 women delivering healthy singletons or twins recruited for a randomized trial. Satisfaction with care items were selected from prior research, including the previously validated Primary Care Satisfaction Survey for Women (PCSSW) and studies of postpartum care. After randomly splitting the sample (1:1) for cross-validation purposes, Exploratory (EFA) and Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on ordinal data using the WLSMV estimator available in the MPLUS statistical modeling program were conducted. A CFA was also conducted on available data at 2 weeks and 2 months after discharge in order to examine internal consistency at follow-up. A one factor model with 11 items was selected, with the main factor explaining 83% of total 11-item variation in the overall sample. The Cronbach’s alpha for the final 11-item scale at baseline and follow-up time periods was 0.96. High correlations with overall trust in provider (Spearman rho = 0.78) and quality of healthcare (0.75) supported convergent validity. The baseline mean score was 47.9 with a standard deviation of 7.13 and a possible range of 11 (low) to 55 (high satisfaction). This validated scale is a new tool for measuring satisfaction with health care received during the postpartum period for mothers and their newborns. This tool will be useful in studies assessing quality of care and the outcomes of postpartum health care interventions, and it is the first tool to focus on care for the mother-baby unit.
The Use of Screening Colonoscopy for Patients Cared for by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Background Medicare data indicate an increase in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening using colonoscopy and a decline in fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and double-contrast barium enema. Because of differences in the delivery of health care, this trend in use of colonoscopy in fee-for-service settings might not be paralleled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Methods National inpatient and outpatient VA databases were searched for codes indicative of colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, fecal occult blood testing, and double-contrast barium enema during fiscal years 1998 to 2003 among VA users aged 49 to 75 years. Results The frequency of tests for CRC screening increased from 432 778 in 1998 to 1 179 764 in 2003. Of those who were screened, only the proportion of subjects screened with fecal occult blood testing increased from 81.7% to 90.4%, while screening colonoscopy declined from 5.7% to 4.7%; flexible sigmoidoscopy declined from 8.3% to 3.6%; and double-contrast barium enema declined from 4.1% to 1.3%. The total use of screening colonoscopy procedures increased from 24 955 in 1998 to 55 199 in 2003, but the proportion of colonoscopy procedures performed for CRC screening purposes increased only slightly from 34.3% to 38.4%. In regression models adjusting for age, race, and sex, there was no consistent secular trend in the likelihood of undergoing screening colonoscopy for patients cared for in the VA health care system. Conclusions Colorectal cancer screening has dramatically increased in the VA, but unlike in other practice settings, fecal occult blood testing is the dominant mode of screening. Although screening colonoscopy more than doubled in frequency, it constitutes a small proportion of the total CRC screening procedures used in the VA health care setting.
The Power of Learning and Men’s Stories in Engaging Abusive Men in the Change Process: Qualitative Study Across Programs

This study draws upon input from facilitators (n = 8) and a sample of men who committed acts of domestic abuse (n = 14) from two urban programs. A key finding of the research was that “learning things and motivation to learn” was an important factor keeping men engaged in treatment. Men also reported that hearing other mens’ stories was a motivator for change. These findings validated the importance of open-ended groups with an educational format. They also suggest that men already in treatment can be of value to others just beginning the treatment process by sharing their stories of change.
Human factors of Remotely Operated Vehicles

From Hurricane Katrina to the war in Iraq and US border security, ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) are taking a front seat. They can do work that is beyond human capabilities or that puts humans in harm's way. However, the fact that there are no humans in the vehicle is misinterpreted by some as no humans in the system. On the contrary, ROVs are complex systems that require much human involvement. There are many human factors issues ranging from remote control and soda straw displays to spatial disorientation and automation. Further, there are significant mishaps with a large portion attributed to human factors issues. This panel will describe the state-of-the art in human factors of ROVs through some examples of research in the area. In addition panelists will interact with the audience and address questions centering on the challenges, the constraints, and the successes of human factors considerations for ROVs.
Identification of major proteins in human cerebral cortex and brain tumors

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) is being increasingly employed for protein separation, and silver staining has greatly enhanced its sensitivity. However, the identity of most of the protein spots demonstrated by 2DE has yet to be established. Using immunoblotting and comigration techniques, this study describes the identification of 12 of the major spots seen on 2D gels of normal human cerebral cortex and of certain human brain tumors. These proteins include: actin, albumin, α-tubulin, β-tubulin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), nonneuronal enolase, glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, a 66-kD intermediate filament protein, the 68-kD neurofilament protein, and the β subunit of the guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins(G-proteins). In addition, the application of this technique to the study of human brain tumors has been described. A large amount of GFAP is seen in astrocytomas; the meningioma gel is characterized by a prominent vimentin complex; and the presence of NSE in medulloblastomas is confirmed. The identification of the β subunit of the G-proteins introduces a valuable means of screening for this important messenger protein, which is only beginning to be studied. While being derived from normal and pathological CNS tissue, these data are widely applicable to the study of other biological materials.
A structure--activity study of seven new water soluble nitrosoureas.

Abstract The in vitro alkylating activity, carbamoylating activity, decomposition rates and octanol-water partition coefficients (Log P) of seven water soluble chloroethylnitrosourea antitumor agents and a reference lipid soluble analog were correlated with their biological activities in mice. The alkylating activity of each compound demonstrated a significant inverse linear correlation with both the decomposition rate in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer. pH7.4 (r = -0.92,P ld 10 dose ( r = 0.87, P r = -0.86. P ld 10 dose ( r = 0.77, P d -glucopyranosyl)-1-nitrosourea, the two analogs with glucose carriers, produced a significant reduction in circulating neutrophils at their respective ld 10 doses. There was no correlation between relative myelotoxicity and alkylating activity, carbamoylating activity or Log P. The glucose moiety appears to function as an independent variable for reducing nitrosourea cytotoxicity to bone marrow cells without significantly altering antitumor activity.
Extensive photodimerization of non-adjacent pyrimidines

In a prior study we found that non-adjacent thymidyl residues in the single-stranded alternating copolymer poly[d(G-T)] are subject to photodimerization by germicidal lamp irradiation (λ(inmax 254 nm). The maximum yield of this photoproduct was 1% of the total thymine of poly[d(G-T)]. We now report that dimer formation in this polymer is increased to 10 to 40% thymine as dimer between non-adjacent pyrimidines, using near-ultraviolet irradiation (λmax 310 nm) with or without acetone triplet-sensitization. As previously observed for 254 nm irradiation, dimer formation was nearly absent in double-stranded poly[d(G-T) · d(C-A)]. These observations extend prior findings by demonstrating high-yield dimerization between non-adjacent pyrimidines via direct irradiation at environmentally relevant wavelengths (≥280 nm), and are potentially relevant to the mechanism of the ultraviolet light-induced targeted lt-1 frameshift mutation.
Beam profile spark chamber with magnetostrictive readout

Abstract We describe the construction and operation of a small spark chamber with magnetostrictive delay-line readout which is useful for measuring the spatial profile of particle beams. The beam profiles are accumulated directly in the memory of a multichannel analyzer. The advantages of this beam profile detector are good spatial resolution and accuracy, rapid accumulation of data and convenience of use.
DNase-resistant transfer of chromosomal cat and tet insertions by filter mating in pneumococcus

Abstract Genes for chloramphenicol resistance (Cmr) and tetracycline resistance (Tcr), which are present as heterologous insertions in the chromosomes of some clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and derivative strains, were transferred at a low frequency to other pneumococci by a DNase-resistant filter mating process that resembles conjugation. Cotransfer of Cmr and Tcr was the most common event. Tetracycline resistance was transferred alone from one Tcr strain or rarely from CmrTcr donors, whereas Cmr was never transferred alone. Neither the donor strains nor the transconjugants contained detectable plasmids. Transconjugants acted as donors for transformation and for filter mating and had properties similar to those of the parent strain. The presence of the conjugative plasmid pIP501 in the donor did not appear to influence the transfer properties of the Cmr or Tcr determinants. No transfer of Cmr or Tcr toStreptococcus faecalis JH2-2 was observed.
The use of zone theory in problems of sulphide mineralogy

Abstract The metallic or semi-metallic characteristics of many sulphide minerals, demonstrated by such properties as ductility, metallic lustre and low electrical resistivity are evidence of the metallic nature of their chemical bonds. This justifies a limited application of the electronic theories of the metallic state to problems involving these minerals. The important Brillouin zones of some of the minerals in the iron-copper-sulphur system have been determined. The volumes of these zones and the electron-to-atom ratios required to fill them, have been calculated. These minerals exhibit the properties of intrinsic semi-conductors and therefore it is assumed that free electron states exactly fill one of the zones, with an energy gap between the filled zone and the next higher zone. In the field from digenite to chalcopyrite the structural type is maintained, despite the increase in the iron to copper ratio, by the omission of sufficient metal atoms to avoid increasing the electron-to-atom ratio beyond the capacity of the filled zone. The existence of two structurally different types of sulphur in covellite and possibly in chalcocite is used to explain the apparent discrepancy between the zone capacity and the electron-to-atom ratio of these minerals.
THE IMPACT OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ON THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS

Anchored in national longitudinal data analyzed through hierarchical linear and non-linear modeling, this study found that African-American students have a similar probability of obtaining a BA degree whether they attended a historically Black college or university (HBCU) or a historically White college or university (HWCU). Among African-Americans, females are more likely to obtain a baccalaureate degree than males. Especially given that HBCUs are significantly underfunded relative to HWCUs, the findings of this study lend support to the proposition that HBCUs contribute significantly to higher education in this country and merit strong support from both the public and private sectors.
Actin from Heart Muscle: Isolation, Purification, and Physicochemical Properties

A systematic study of the preparation of actin from cardiac muscle has led to the use of a modification of Straub9s original technique which gave good yields of an F-actin with very high polymerizing activity. The G-actin obtained by this method was found to be homogneous in starch gel electrophoresis; the sedimentation behavior suggested that small amounts of oligomers of G-actin may have been present in addition to monomeric G-actin, but there was no evidence of impurity. The partial specific volume of dog cardiac actin was approximately 0.715 ml/g, the sedimentation coefficient extrapolated to infinite dilution of the protein was 3.44 S, and the intrinsic viscosity was 0.16 dl/g. Precise measurement of the diffusion coefficient was not feasible due to the instability of the G-actin monomers in solutions of high ionic strength. The sedimentation behavior of rabbit cardiac actin was similar to that of dog cardiac actin. The molecular weight of dog cardiac actin, estimated from sedimentation and viscosity data, was 62, 300. Since this estimate of molecular weight is similar to published values for rabbit skeletal actin, the different properties of cardiac and skeletal muscle cannot be attributed to a major physicochemical difference between the actins of these two tissues.
Long-term trends in atmospheric concentrations of sulfate, total sulfur, and trace elements in the northeastern United States

[1] Concentrations of K, Sc, Mn, Fe, Zn, As, Se, Sb, Hg, and Pb were determined in quarterly composites of daily aerosol samples collected at Mayville, and 530 km downwind at Whiteface Mountain (1.5 km altitude), New York, for ∼20 years. SO4 concentrations [SO4] were determined in individual daily samples. Continuous hourly SO2 data are also available for much of the period. [SO4] at Mayville were twice that at Whiteface Mountain, and total S (S as SO2 + SO4) burden was fourfold higher at Mayville. From 1979 through 2002, [SO4] decreased by 59% at Whiteface Mountain, and at Mayville the decrease was 30% from 1984 to 2002. From 1979 to 2002, SO2 emissions in eight states upwind of and contiguous with New York State (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ontario, Canada) decreased by 49%. A linear relationship was observed between atmospheric [SO4] and [total S] burden at the two sites with the cumulative SO2 emissions. These observations suggest that any further reductions in SO2 emissions would result in a proportional decrease in [SO4] and [total S] across New York State and possibly across the northeastern United States. The data at Whiteface Mountain suggest that beginning in 1997, the decrease in [SO4] and [total S], relative to SO2 emissions, may be faster than the earlier period. Like [SO4] and [total S], the trace element concentrations were twofold to fivefold higher at Mayville than at Whiteface Mountain. The concentrations at both sites showed an unmistakable decrease over time. The largest decreases were observed for Hg (16%/year at Whiteface Mountain and 10%/year at Mayville) and Pb (14%/year at Whiteface Mountain and 10%/year at Mayville). The remaining elements (except Sb), including the crustal elements K, Mn, Sc, and Fe, showed a decreases of 3–5%/year. Trends for Sb at Whiteface Mountain and for Mn at Mayville could not be accurately discerned, apparently due to some nearby emissions. Apparently, the reductions in the emissions of SO2 and particulate matter have also resulted in the decrease of atmospheric burden of trace elements and an improvement in air quality.
Extracorporeal Urinary Diversion

This chapter provides a step-by-step approach to extracorporeal urinary diversion performed in the setting of robot-assisted radical cystectomy. We describe in reproducible detail the extracorporeal technique for a Studer orthotopic neobladder, Indiana pouch continent cutaneous urinary diversion, and ileal conduit urinary diversion.
Online detection and classification of moving objects using progressively improving detectors

Boosting based detection methods have successfully been used for robust detection of faces and pedestrians. However, a very large amount of labeled examples are required for training such a classifier. Moreover, once trained, the boosted classifier cannot adjust to the particular scenario in which it is employed. In this paper, we propose a co-training based approach to continuously label incoming data and use it for online update of the boosted classifier that was initially trained from a small labeled example set. The main contribution of our approach is that it is an online procedure in which separate views (features) of the data are used for co-training, while the combined view (all features) is used to make classification decisions in a single boosted framework. The features used for classification are derived from principal component analysis of the appearance templates of the training examples. In order to speed up the classification, background modeling is used to prune away stationary regions in an image. Our experiments indicate that starting from a classifier trained on a small training set, significant performance gains can be made through online updation from the unlabeled data.
Predictors of treatment with dialysis modalities in observational studies for comparative effectiveness research

BACKGROUND The Institute of Medicine has identified the comparative effectiveness of renal replacement therapies as a kidney-related topic among the top 100 national priorities. Given the importance of ensuring internal and external validity, the goal of this study was to identify potential sources of bias in observational studies that compare outcomes with different dialysis modalities. METHODS This observational cohort study used data from the electronic medical records of all patients that started maintenance dialysis in the calendar years 2007-2011 and underwent treatment for at least 60 days in any of the 2217 facilities operated by DaVita Inc. Each patient was assigned one of six dialysis modalities for each 91-day period from the date of first dialysis (thrice weekly in-center hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), less-frequent HD, home HD, frequent HD and nocturnal in-center HD). RESULTS Of the 162 644 patients, 18% underwent treatment with a modality other than HD for at least one 91-day period. Except for PD, patients started treatment with alternative modalities after variable lengths of treatment with HD; the time until a change in modality was shortest for less-frequent HD (median time = 6 months) and longest for frequent HD (median time = 15 months). Between 30 and 78% of patients transferred to another dialysis facility prior to change in modality. Finally, there were significant differences in baseline and time-varying clinical characteristics associated with dialysis modality. CONCLUSIONS This analysis identified numerous potential sources of bias in studies of the comparative effectiveness of dialysis modalities.
Situation fencing: making geo-fencing personal and dynamic

Geo-fencing has recently been applied to multiple applications including media recommendation, advertisements, wildlife monitoring, and recreational activities. However current geo-fencing systems work with static geographical boundaries. Situation Fencing allows for these boundaries to vary automatically based on situations derived by a combination of global and personal data streams. We present a generic approach for situation fencing, and demonstrate how it can be operationalized in practice. The results obtained in a personalized allergy alert application are encouraging and open door for building thousands of similar applications using the same framework in near future.
A comparative study of cervical hysteresis characteristics after various osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) modalities

Summary Background Few objective measures have been used to document change in myofascial tissues after OMT. Hypothesis Paraspinal tissues associated with cervical somatic dysfunction (SD) will demonstrate quantifiable change in myofascial hysteresis characteristics after a given OMT technique but not after a Sham intervention. Materials & methods 240 subjects were palpated for cervical articular SD. A randomly selected intervention (5 OMT techniques or a Sham) was applied to the cervical SD clinically considered to be most severe. A durometer (SA201®; Sigma Instruments, Cranberry, PA, USA) objectively measured myofascial structures overlying each cervical spinal segment pre- and post- intervention. Using a single consistent piezoelectric impulse, this durometer quantified four hysteresis (tissue texture) characteristics – fixation, mobility, frequency, and motoricity. Results Baseline changes in median hysteresis values were noted for each OMT technique but not for Sham interventions. Notably, segmental counterstrain OMT resulted in significant motoricity change compared to adjacent segmental myofascial measures (p-value 0.04) along with a suggestive trend in the mobility component (p-value 0.12). Conclusion When comparing treated to untreated cervical segments, the most significant change occurred post-counterstrain OMT with no overall change following Sham. Overall, quantifiable objective change occurs in myofascial tissues post-OMT, in addition to the noted clinical palpable change.
2,3,5-Triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride as a reagent for the determination of sugar mixtures by a differential reaction-rate technique

Smarnary-The rates of reaction of 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazoliurn chloride with the more common hexoses (glucose, fructose, mannosc, sorbose and galactose) and pentoses (xylose and ribose) have been studied. Under certain conditions, over a limited range of reaction, the extent of the reaction is directly pro~~ional to the time of reaction (a “pseudo zero-order” reaction). Also, the rates of reaction of the sugars are quite different in most cases. Thus, the behaviour of this reagent is quite satisfactory for the determination of binary mixtures of most of the sugars tested, by a simple differential rate technique developed for “zero-order” competitive reactions. The rates of reaction of 2,3,5-triphenyl-22%tetrazolium chloride with ascorbic acid, creatinine and glutathione, often found in blood serum, which interfere with most blood serum sugar analysis methods, have also been examined to determine if they would interfere with the determination. Glutathione and creatinine do not react with the reagent and do not interfere with the analysis of sugar mixtures. Ascorbic acid, however, reacts rapidly, and as little as l-2 % leads to error in the sugar-mixture determination.
A null model of exotic plant diversity tested with exotic and native species-area relationships.

At large spatial scales, exotic and native plant diversity exhibit a strong positive relationship. This may occur because exotic and native species respond similarly to processes that influence diversity over large geographical areas. To test this hypothesis, we compared exotic and native species–area relationships within six North American ecoregions. We predicted and found that within ecoregions the ratio of exotic to native species richness remains constant with increasing area. Furthermore, we predicted that areas with more native species than predicted by the species–area relationship would have proportionally more exotics as well. We did find that these exotic and native deviations were highly correlated, but areas that were good (or bad) for native plants were even better (or worse) for exotics. Similar processes appear to influence exotic and native plant diversity but the degree of this influence may differ with site quality.
Coccidioides posadasii infection alters the expression of pulmonary surfactant proteins (SP)-A and SP-D

Background Coccidioidomycosis or Valley Fever is caused by Coccidioides in Southwest US and Central America. Primary pulmonary infection is initiated by inhalation of air-borne arthroconidia. Since, lung is the first organ that encounters arthroconidia, different components of the pulmonary innate immune system may be involved in the regulation of host defense. Pulmonary surfactant proteins (SP)-A and SP-D have been recognized to play an important role in binding and phagocytosis of various microorganisms, but their roles in Coccidioides infection are not known.
An integrated framework for image segmentation and perceptual grouping

This paper presents an efficient algorithm for image segmentation and a framework for perceptual grouping. It makes an attempt to provide one way of combining bottom-up and top-down approaches. In image segmentation, it generalizes the Swendsen-Wang cut algorithm (SWC) by Barbu and Zhu (2003) to make both 2-way and m-way cuts, and includes topology change processes (graph repartitioning and boundary diffusion). The method directly works at a low temperature without using annealing. We show that it is much faster than the DDMCMC approach (Tu and Zhu, 2002) and more robust than the SWC method. The results are demonstrated on the Berkeley data set. In perceptual grouping, it integrates discriminative model learning/computing, a belief propagation algorithm (BP) by Yedidia et al. (2000), and SWC into a three-layer computing framework. These methods are realized as different levels of approximation to an "ideal" generative model. We demonstrate the algorithm on the problem of human body configuration.
Slider-disk clearance measurements in magnetic disk drives using the readback transducer

A method is described for noninvasively measuring the mechanical clearance between a head slider and the recording medium in magnetic storage devices. The method is based on detection of the pulse width of the output signal of the readback transducer. It is shown that a variation in clearance produces a proportional variation in pulse width. The proportionality factor can be determined by simulating the effect of the varying spacing loss on a digitized isolated impulse response typical for the head-disk combination under investigation. Instrumentation is presented that provides an analog output voltage which is a measure for the ratio (PW/sub xT) of athe pulse width at the x% level (PW/sub x/) and the repetition period (T) of the readback signal. With this instrumentation, the absolute slider-disk clearance can be determined by evacuating the air from the head-disk interface. The bandwidth of the instrumentation is such that clearance dynamics can also be measured. This allows the detection of glide defects, in situ in a fully operational storage device. Examples of these clearance and glide measurements are given for hard disk drives. >
The Exchange Value of Housework

Explaining persistent inequalities in the division of household labor amid secular change in women's employment patterns and in sex-role attitudes remains a challenge for sociologists and economist...
Pearl S. Buck : A Cultural Biography

Preface: Rediscovering Pearl Buck 1. Missionary childhood 2. New worlds 3. Winds of change 4. The Good Earth 5. An exile's return 6. The prize 7. Wartime 8. Losing battles 9. Pearl Sydenstricker.
Persuading Students Of Their Responsibilities In The Learning Process

Education is a two-sided coin, with teaching technique and curriculum on one side and student effort and motivation on the other side. Much educational research is directed predominately at the teaching side, while slighting the student's side. This study reports an experiment that emphasizes the role of the student’s effort in learning. The students in the experimental group were asked to compare their individual effort and test score to the mean reported effort and test score of the class. They were then asked to consider making adjustments in their efforts with the hope of improving their performance. As a result, the students in the experimental group increased their study hours and significantly increased their exam scores as compared to the control group students. The results of this study indicate that actively reminding students of their effort and performance in course work has a positive effect on students' effort of study which can ultimately translate into improvement of academic performance.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ROOST SITES USED BY BURROWING OWLS (ATHENE CUNICULARIA) WINTERING IN SOUTHERN TEXAS

Abstract The western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) is threatened in Mexico, endangered in Canada, and declining in most of the western United States. Most previous research has focused on burrowing owl breeding biology, and little is known about its winter ecology. We determined characteristics of roost sites used by western burrowing owls in southern Texas during winter. Data on 46 winter roost sites were collected from 15 November 2001 to 15 February 2002. Of these roost sites, 87% were located on agricultural land, 80% were along roads, and 74% were concrete, steel, or cast-iron culverts. Mean diameter (±SE) of roost site openings was 22 ± 1.5 cm. Most roost sites (70%) were located on inaccessible private lands. Bare ground comprised 61% of ground cover within a 10-m radius of roost sites. We recommend that landowners and public-land managers should be encouraged to use smaller-diameter culverts when building roads or replacing old or damaged culverts and to graze livestock or mow around...
Cultural Paradigms of Age Discrimination and Unearned Privileges

Discrimination cases and lawsuits are causing anxiety for many employers, managers and employees in the United States and are driving many good employees to courts or other organizations. One of the greatest fears of company officials and individual managers is the likelihood of either being sued for something that they have done intentionally or unintentionally, or for something that they should have considered doing but did not. One form of discrimination that has become widespread deals with age. Age discrimination in the workplace impacts people of all sizes, races, colors, religions, and ethnicities. It is no secret that age-related lawsuits proliferated during the last few years’ recession and more recently age related claims have been on the rise as some of the layoffs seem to have been targeting older workers. Juries often side with aggrieved employees, even if the evidence is flimsy. Because of these trends, companies and their managers are realizing the need to protect their firms by periodically reviewing workforce diversity and proactively analyzing their work environment for latent signs of discrimination. A cultural perspective of aging is discussed in the enclosed document along with the societal norms and perceptions of aging from the perspective of people in Afghanistan, Turkey, Jamaica, and the United States. Also, the concept of “unearned privilege” is discussed as it applies to age in different cultures. The focus of this material is discrimination based on age in order to create awareness and reduce the negative impact of stereotypes associated with “older workers.” It is imperative that older workers are kept in the American workforce as long as possible, as there will be a shortage of skilled labor as early as 2005, if older workers continue to retire early.
International Multicultural Name Matching Competition: Design, Execution, Results, and Lessons Learned

This paper describes different aspects of an open competition to evaluate multicultural name matching software, including the contest design, development of the test data, different phases of the competition, behavior of the participating teams, results of the competition, and lessons learned throughout. The competition, known as The MITRE Challenge™, was informally announced at LREC 2010 and was recently concluded. Contest participants used the competition website (http://mitrechallenge.mitre.org) to download the competition data set and guidelines, upload results, and to view accuracy metrics for each result set submitted. Participants were allowed to submit unlimited result sets, with their top-scoring set determining their overall ranking. The competition website featured a leader board that displayed the top score for each participant, ranked according to the principal contest metric - mean average precision (MAP). MAP and other metrics were calculated in near-real time on a remote server, based on ground truth developed for the competition data set. Additional measures were taken to guard against gaming the competition metric or overfitting to the competition data set.