cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dedifferentiated parosteal osteosarcoma of the radius

A 35-year-old woman presented with a painful swelling in the left distal radius that had been present for 1 year. Radiography and computerized tomography revealed a sclerotic surface lesion that had grown over the year and eroded the cortex. Histological examination demonstrated two distinct components: a cartilaginous low- to moderate-grade osteosarcoma on the surface and a high-grade osteosarcoma in the intramedullary component. This case is uncommon in two aspects: the radius is a rare site for such a tumor and the dedifferentiation was revealed at the time of the first surgery and was not secondary to recurrence.
Managing the Challenges of Complex Interdependence: China and the United States in the Era of Globalization

This article examines the increasing complex interdependence of China and the United State in an era of globalization. Deng Xiaoping's strategy of reform and opening requires a peaceful international environment. The normalization of relations with Washington was critical for China's move toward modernization. As China opens its door wider, Sino-American relations have matured to a much higher level. As the recent Strategic Economic Dialogue between Beijing and Washington indicate, bilateral relations have become truly interdependent. Interdependence creates both sensitivity and vulnerability. Lampton has described U.S.-China relations in terms of “same bed, different dreams” (tongchuang yimeng). Considering the common challenges of global financial crisis and international terrorism, perhaps it is more appropriate to think of China and the United States as strategic partners sailing in the same boat (tongzhou gongji). The complex interdependence between the two countries is particularly critical in an age of global turbulence. This article analyzes the current challenges of China-U.S. relations in the context of turbulent globalization.
Multifrequency radiation hydrodynamics simulations of H2 line emission in primordial, star-forming clouds

We investigate the collapse of primordial gas in a minihalo with three-dimensional radiation hydrodynamics simulations that accurately model the transfer of H2 line emission. For this purpose, we have implemented a multiline, multifrequency ray-tracing scheme in the moving-mesh code Arepo that is capable of adaptively refining rays based on the Healpix algorithm, as well as a hybrid equilibrium/non-equilibrium primordial chemistry solver. We find that a multifrequency treatment of the individual H2 lines is essential, since for high optical depths the smaller cross-section in the wings of the lines greatly increases the amount of energy that can escape. The influence of Doppler shifts due to bulk velocities is comparatively small, since systematic velocity differences in the cloud are typically smaller than the sound speed. During the initial collapse phase, the radially averaged escape fraction agrees relatively well with the fit of Ripamonti & Abel. However, in general it is not advisable to use a simple density-dependent fitting function, since the escape fraction depends on many factors and does not capture the suppression of density perturbations due to the diffusion of radiation. The Sobolev method overestimates the escape fraction by more than an order of magnitude, since the properties of the gas change on scales smaller than the Sobolev length.
Comparison of propofol and methohexital for deep sedation

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to compare two sedation techniques for use in outpatient third molar surgery. Forty ASA class I or II volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups. All subjects received supplemental oxygen via a nasal hood, sublimaze (.007 mg/kg intravenous bolus), and midazolam (.5 mg/min) titrated to effect. Using an incremental bolus technique, group A then received methohexital, while group B received propofol. Both groups maintained stable mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, and end-tidal CO 2 throughout the perioperative period. However, group A had a dramatic increase in heart rate (26.7% versus 13.9% for group B [ P P
Postoperative pain management in gynecologic oncology patients utilizing epidural opiate analgesia and patient-controlled analgesia☆

Intraoperative analgesia is the purview of anesthesiologists whereas postoperative pain is traditionally managed by surgeons. This series reports 19 months experience of anesthesiologists using epidural opiate analgesia (EOA) or patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) to treat postoperative pain in 302 patients following surgery for pelvic malignancy. For the 244 (81%) patients who received EOA, a lumbar epidural catheter was placed just prior to surgery, injected with local anesthetic for intraoperative analgesia, and injected with preservative-free morphine at appropriate intervals postoperatively to relieve pain. Fifty-eight patients (19%) used PCA which consisted of small self-administered boluses of intravenous narcotics. All patients were seen daily to ensure adequate analgesia and to treat side effects. Utilizing a 0-10 verbal rating scale (0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain imaginable), mean pain with EOA was 0.75 at rest and 2.6 with coughing. Mean pain ratings with PCA were 2.8 at rest and 5.0 during coughing. Side effects with EOA included nausea or vomiting (28%) and pruritus (20%). The only side effect of significance with PCA was nausea or vomiting (21%). All patients improved with treatment of side effects. Acceptance of these techniques is indicated by a steady increase in the number of gynecologic oncology surgical patients utilizing these modalities (50% at the outset to 87% currently).
Ethanol exposure during the early first trimester equivalent impairs reflexive motor activity and heightens fearfulness in an avian model

Prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading cause of childhood neurodevelopmental disability. The adverse behavioral effects of alcohol exposure during the second and third trimester are well documented; less clear is whether early first trimester-equivalent exposures also alter behavior. We investigated this question using an established chick model of alcohol exposure. In ovo embryos experienced a single, acute ethanol exposure that spanned gastrulation through neuroectoderm induction and early brain patterning (19-22h incubation). At 7 days posthatch, the chicks were evaluated for reflexive motor function (wingflap extension, righting reflex), fearfulness (tonic immobility [TI]), and fear/social reinstatement (open-field behavior). Chicks exposed to a peak ethanol level of 0.23-0.28% were compared against untreated and saline-treated controls. Birds receiving early ethanol exposure had a normal righting reflex and a significantly reduced wingflap extension in response to a sudden descent. The ethanol-treated chicks also displayed heightened fearfulness, reflected in increased frequency of TI, and they required significantly fewer trials for its induction. In an open-field test, ethanol treatment did not affect latency to move, steps taken, vocalizations, defecations, or escape attempts. The current findings demonstrate that early ethanol exposure can increase fearfulness and impair aspects of motor function. Importantly, the observed dysfunctions resulted from an acute ethanol exposure during the period when the major brain components are induced and patterned. The equivalent period in human development is 3-4 weeks postconception. The current findings emphasize that ethanol exposure during the early first trimester equivalent can produce neurodevelopmental disability in the offspring.
Cognitive-Behavioral School-Based Interventions for Anxious and Depressed Youth: A Meta-Analysis of Outcomes

A meta-analysis of school-based interventions for anxious and depressed youth using QUORUM guidelines was conducted. Studies were located by searching electronic databases, manual effort, and contact with expert researchers. Analyses examined 63 studies with 8,225 participants receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and 6,986 in comparison conditions. Mean pre–post effect sizes indicate that anxiety-focused school-based CBT was moderately effective in reducing anxiety (Hedge's g = 0.501) and depression-focused school-based CBT was mildly effective in reducing depression (Hedge's g = 0.298) for youth receiving interventions as compared to those in anxiety intervention control conditions (Hedge's g = 0.193) and depression intervention controls (Hedge's g = 0.091). Predictors of outcome were explored. School-based CBT interventions for youth anxiety and for youth depression hold considerable promise, although investigation is still needed to identify features that optimize service delivery and outcome.
Pre-existing health conditions and repeat traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Saunders LL, Selassie AW, Hill EG, Horner MD, Nicholas JS, Lackland DT, Corrigan JD. Pre-existing health conditions and repeat traumatic brain injury. Objective To assess and compare the effect of Pre-existing epilepsy/seizure disorder and drug/alcohol problem on the hazard of repeat traumatic brain injury (TBI) in persons with TBI who participated in a follow-up study. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Acute care hospitals in South Carolina. Participants Participants were from the South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury Follow-up Registry cohort of persons (N=2118) who were discharged from an acute care hospital in South Carolina and who participated in a year-1 follow-up interview. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Repeat TBI was defined by 2 isolated events of TBI in the same person at least 72 hours apart and recorded in hospital discharge or emergency department records from 1999 through 2005. Results A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the associations of Pre-existing epilepsy/seizure disorder and drug/alcohol problem with time to repeat TBI, controlling for other confounding factors. There were 2099 persons with information on both Pre-existing conditions. There were 147 (7%) persons who sustained repeat TBI after recruitment to the follow-up study, and 82 (3.9%) had a previous TBI before recruitment for which they were seen in the hospital discharge or emergency department since 1996. The hazard of repeat TBI for persons with Pre-existing epilepsy/seizure disorder was 2.3 times the hazard for those without (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–4.4; P =.011). Pre-existing drug/alcohol problem was not associated with repeat TBI. Other variables significantly associated with repeat TBI were having a prior TBI, being insured under Medicaid, and having no insurance. Conclusions Pre-existing epilepsy/seizure disorder predisposes to repeat TBI. Appropriate management of seizure control may be an important strategy to allay the occurrence of repeat TBI.
Adenosine causes bradycardia in pacing-induced cardiac failure.

BACKGROUNDIn normal, conscious dogs, systemic injection of adenosine causes arterial hypotension and a baroreceptor reflex tachycardia mediated in part by withdrawal of vagal tone from the sinoatrial node. After vagal section or muscarinic receptor blockade, however, adenosine injection causes bradycardia via a direct sinoatrial node inhibition. Because cardiac failure is marked by a loss of vagal tone, we hypothesized that adenosine injection in dogs with failing hearts would reduce heart rate.METHODS AND RESULTSMongrel dogs were instrumented with indwelling catheters, manometers, and ventricular pacing electrodes. After the dogs had recovered from the surgery, the ventricles were paced continuously at 210 beats per minute for 3 weeks, followed by pacing at 240 beats per minute for an additional week. This regimen caused mild ventricular and more striking atrial hypertrophy and a gradual onset of physiological and clinical signs of congestive heart failure. Adenosine injections that caused large tachycar...
Ultrastructural studies on fetal and early postnatal mouse ovaries. II. Cytodifferentiation.

The ultrastructural details of mouse oogonia, oocytes and follicular cells from fetal day 12 through postnatal day 3 are presented. In fetal oogonia and oocytes cytodifferentiation proceeds slowly. The most notable change involves an increase in the number of mitochondria and in the size of the Golgi complex. Oogonial itoses, nuclear synaptinemal complexes, true intercellular bridges and multinucleated cells were observed. After the formation of unilaminar follicles with growing oocytes, cytoplasmic alterations are striking. The Golgi apparatus, previously predominately of vesicular elements, now becomes lamellar in form and occasionally develops complex anastomosing tubules. There may be important functional significance in the relationship established between the Golgi elements and long endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. The membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum cisternae facing the Golgi complex lack ribosomes and exhibit bud-like evaginations in varying stages of abstriction. Ribosomes are attached to the opposite membrane of the cisternae. Profiles of endoplasmic reticulum are intimately associated with the numerous large mitochondria. Numerous multivesicular and “dense” bodies are present in some oocytes. Zona pellucida formation is initiated in some of the larger unilaminar follicles. Cytodiferentiation of follicular cells follows a course different from that of the germinal cells in that their cytoplasmic organelles are well differentiated very early in the fetal period. Similarly they send forth the most delicate cytoplasmic extensions which separate adjacent germinal cells. Postnatally, in unilaminar follicles these same cells constitute a flattened epithelial layer containing only a few cytoplasmic organelles. In contrast when these cells become cuboidal and columnar the numerous organelles, as seen in fetal follicle cells, reappear once again. In addition, when the zona pellucida is formed cell processes from these follicle cells extend into it.
A review of the impact of US military deployments during conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq on children's functioning

Recent military conflicts have resulted in longer and more frequent deployments than past conflicts for US Servicemembers; this increased deployment tempo has potential consequences for youth's well-being. This review article synthesizes the research that has examined the impact of parental deployment in the United States since 2001 on youth's functioning. Extant literature reveals that, while parental deployment is directly associated with increased academic problems, it has a more complex association with behavior problems, peer relationships, and physical health problems. For these outcomes, variables such as parent well-being and child age played a role in the impact of parental deployment on youth. These findings highlight the need for additional research on the complex association between parental deployment and youth's functioning, and the factors that might moderate this association.
Study of optical and electrical properties of ZnO/Cu/ZnO multilayers deposited on flexible substrate

Abstract Transparent conducting oxide thin films have been extensively studied because they are essential elements in optoelectronic applications. In this communication, we report transparent conductive ZnO/Cu/ZnO multilayer films prepared by RF sputtering of ZnO and DC sputtering of Cu on flexible polyethylene naphthalate substrates. The optical and electrical properties of the multilayers were studied for different thicknesses of Cu and ZnO layers. Controlling the thickness of the ZnO layer for a specific Cu thickness affects the transmittance of the multilayer. Electrical properties are influenced by the thickness of ZnO and Cu layers. Sheet resistance of the stack rises with the decrease of Cu thickness and the increase of ZnO thickness. Repeated bending of the stack, after an initial 20% increase of sheet resistance, has no significant effect on the electrical performance of the multilayers.
Women and GIS: Geospatial Technologies and Feminist Geographies

AbstractThis article explores the emerging intersections between feminism and GIS in relation to changes in GIS technologies and the impacts of such technologies on women's lives. I argue that the past decade has seen an increasing “feminization” of GIS that involves innovations in GIS technologies and research practices, growing critical self-awareness among GIS researchers, and the development of feminist visualization as a research tool. At the same time, GIS and related geospatial technologies have become more embedded and pervasive in everyday life. The effects of new geospatial technologies on the gendered spaces of social and political life at a variety of spatial scales are discussed, with particular attention to gendered identities, geographical dimensions of everyday life, and women's activism.
A study of marine aerosols over the Pacific Ocean

Aerosol samples were collected on a Pacific cruise from 47°N to 55°S. Particle morphology, concentrations, and size distributions were analyzed with an electron microscope; elemental compositions of individual particles were determined with an X-ray energy spectrometer; and chemical compositions of bulk samples were measured with an ion chromatograph. Temporal and spatial variations of aerosol physico-chemical characteristics were studied in relation to ocean currents and atmospheric parameters. The results show that number and mass concentrations of primary particles depend mainly on surface wind speeds. However the ratios between the major ions, e.g., Na+, Cl-, and Mg++, are similar to the ratios in seawater regardless of location or meteorological conditions. The concentrations of secondary aerosols, e.g., non-seasalt sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium particles, show maxima at upwelling regions, such as along the California coast, at the Equator, and near the Chatham Rise where ascending motion brings nutrient-riched deep water into the surface layer. The number concentrations of small sulfate particles and large nitrate-coated particles showed diurnal variations with maxima in the early afternoon and minima at night, indicating that the particles are the products of photo-chemical reactions. Their precursor gases, e.g., CH3SCH3, NO, and NH3 are known to be released from seawater in upwelling regions where biological activities thrive.
Elements of oxygen production systems using Martian atmosphere

Hardware elements have been studied in terms of their applicability to Mars oxygen production systems. Various aspects of the system design are discussed and areas requiring further research are identified. Initial work on system reliability is discussed and a methodology for applying expert system technology to the oxygen processor is described.
Uncoupling action of 2,4-dinitrophenols, 2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazoles and certain other pesticide chemicals upon mitochondria from different sources and its relation to toxicity

Abstract In order to elucidate the mode of action of representative pesticide chemicals and related substituted 2,4-dinitrophenols, 2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazoles, salicylanilides, carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazones and certain other compounds, studies were made on their selectivity as uncouplers of respiratory-chain phosphorylation under conditions in vitro , their effects in vivo on mitochondrial enzymes and the relationship between their uncoupling potency and toxicity, using various insects and mammals. Generally, mitochondria from mouse liver are less sensitive to uncouplers than mitochondria from mouse brain or from insect tissues. Some of the uncouplers are nonselective while others are active at a much lower concentration with a particular mitochondrial source. Partial correlations are evident between the potency of the compounds for uncoupling in vitro of mitochondria from housefly thoraces, honey bee heads and thoraces, and mouse brain and liver and the toxicity to these species. Brain mitochondria and, in a few cases, liver mitochondria isolated from mice treated with the above-mentioned substances and with certain inhibitors of the electron transport chain generally are completely uncoupled or inhibited only when the dose used results in severe symptoms of poisoning. Thus, effects on mitochondrial function probably are most important in the mammalian brain from a toxicological standpoint. Five chemicals of high pesticidal activity but of widely varying chemical type did not uncouple or inhibit brain or liver mitochondria in mice with severe symptoms of poisoning and so their mode of action involves other mechanisms.
Normal weight obesity and mortality in United States subjects ≥60 years of age (from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).

Current body mass index (BMI) strata likely misrepresent the accuracy of true adiposity in older adults. Subjects with normal BMI with elevated body fat may metabolically have higher cardiovascular and overall mortality than previously suspected. We identified 4,489 subjects aged ≥60 years (BMI = 18.5 to 25 kg/m 2 ) with anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance measurements from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys III (1988 to 1994) and mortality data linked to the National Death Index. Normal weight obesity (NWO) was classified in 2 ways: creation of tertiles with highest percentage of body fat and body fat percent cutoffs (men >25% and women >35%). We compared overall and cardiovascular mortality rates, models adjusted for age, gender, smoking, race, diabetes, and BMI. The final sample included 1,528 subjects, mean age was 70 years, median (interquartile range) follow-up was 12.9 years (range 7.5 to 15.3) with 902 deaths (46.5% cardiovascular). Prevalence of NWO was 27.9% and 21.4% in men and 20.4% and 31.3% in women using tertiles and cutoffs, respectively. Subjects with NWO had higher rates of abnormal cardiovascular risk factors. Lean mass decreased, whereas leptin increased with increasing tertile. There were no gender-specific differences in overall mortality. Short-term mortality ( 140 person-months) was higher in men. We highlight the importance of considering body fat in gender-specific risk stratification in older adults with normal weight. In conclusion, NWO in older adults is associated with cardiometabolic dysregulation and is a risk for cardiovascular mortality independent of BMI and central fat distribution.
Characterization of Fracture Permeability with High‐Resolution Vertical Flow Measurements During Borehole Pumping

The distribution of fracture permeability in granitic rocks was investigated by measuring the distribution of vertical flow in boreholes during periods of steady pumping. Pumping tests were conducted at two sites chosen to provide examples of moderately fractured rocks near Mirror Lake, New Hampshire and intensely fractured rocks near Oracle, Arizona. A sensitive heat-pulse flowmeter was used for accurate measurements of vertical flow as low as 0.2 liter per minute. Although boreholes were spaced at intervals ranging from 10 to 50 meters, acoustic televiewer logs showed little direct continuity of individual fractures from borehole to borehole in either the moderately fractured rocks or intensely fractured rocks. Results indicated that nearly all inflow and outflow to boreholes occurred by means of one or two discrete fractures in both cases. These fractures did not appear very different from other prominent fractures indicated on televiewer and resistivity logs for these boreholes. Hydraulic connections between boreholes apparently were composed of conduits formed by the most permeable portions of intersecting fractures. Most flow in the moderately fractured rocks occurred at isolated fractures at a depth of about 45 meters indicating a nearly horizontal zone of fracture permeability composed of orthogonal, steeply dipping fractures. Previous studies have identified a zone of horizontal permeability in the lower part of the boreholes in the intensely fractured rocks, but flowmeter tests indicated that flow also entered and exited individual boreholes by means of one or two steeply dipping fractures. These results indicate zones of fracture permeability in crystalline rocks are composed of irregular conduits that cannot be approximated by planar fractures of uniform aperture, and that the orientation of permeability zones may be unrelated to the orientation of individual fractures within those zones.
Addendum to SAM1 results previously published

Abstract Corrected data and additional molecules are presented for the new SAM1 semiempirical method recently published by M.J.S Dewar, J.Y. Yu, and C. Jie.
Planktonic foraminifera as bio‐indicators for monitoring the climatic changes that have occurred over the past 2000 years in the southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea

A high-resolution integrated study has been performed in a super-expanded marine record (sedimentation rate spanning from 11 cm/100 years to 20 cm/100 years) from the continental shelf area of the southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea. Planktonic foraminiferal distribution illustrates 6 major environmental changes during the past 2000 years: (i) the Roman Period–Dark Age transition (from herbivorous-opportunistic to carnivorous species); (ii) the Dark Age–MCA transition (from carnivorous to herbivorous-opportunistic species); (iii) the Medieval Classic Anomaly–Little Ice Age transition (a further and definitive change from carnivorous to herbivorous-opportunistic species); (iv) the period during the Maunder event between approximately 1720 AD and 1740 AD (turnover from the carnivorous planktonic foraminifer Globigerinodes ruber to the herbivorous-opportunistic planktonic foraminifer Turborotalita quinqueloba); (v) the Industrial Period (dominance of herbivorous-opportunistic planktonic foraminifera); and (vi) the Modern Warm Period at approximately 1940 AD (the last turnover in favor of herbivorous-opportunistic planktonic foraminifers, associated with an increase in benthic foraminifera). Our studies lead us to link this latter feature to an anthropogenic impact associated with the damming of Sele River (Salerno Gulf) at 1934 AD, which induced a change in the sediment input with a strong decrease in coarse-grained fraction and a probable alteration in nutrient supply. The δ18OG. ruber record of the past 2000 years shows the alternation of warm/wet and cold/dry events related to the Roman Period, the Dark Age, the Medieval Classic Anomaly, the Little Ice Age, the Industrial Period and the Modern Warm Period. The 5 evident δ18OG. ruber oscillations (between approximately 1325 AD and 1940 AD) coincide with the 5 minima in the solar activity record (Wolf, Sporer, Maunder, Dalton and Damon events).
A user's guide to channelrhodopsin variants: features, limitations and future developments

Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-activated channels from algae that provide these organisms with fast sensors to visible light for phototaxis. Since its discovery, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) has been used as a research tool to depolarize membranes of excitable cells with light. Subsequent chimeragenesis, mutagenesis and bioinformatic approaches have introduced additional ChR variants, such as channelrhodopsin-2 with H134R mutation (ChR2/H134R), channelrhodopsin-2 with E123T mutation (ChETA), Volvox carteri channelrhodopsin-1 (VChR1), Volvox carteri channelrhodopsin-2 (VChR2), channelrhodopsin-2 with C128 or D156A mutations (ChR2/C128X/D156A), chimera D (ChD), chimera EF (ChEF) and chimera EF with I170V mutation (I170V). Each of these ChR variuants has unique features and limitations, but there are few resources summarizing and comparing these ChRs in a systematic manner. In this review, the seven following key properties of ChRs that have significant influences on their effectiveness as research tools are examined: conductance, selectivity, kinetics, desensitization, light sensitivity, spectral response and membrane trafficking. Using this information, valuable qualities and deficits of each ChR variant are summarized. Optimal uses and potential future improvements of ChRs as optogenetic tools are also discussed.
Using electronic pressure programming to reduce the decomposition of labile compounds during splitless injection

A split/splitless capillary injection port has been developed for electronic pressure programming (EPP) in gas chromatography. The inlet may be operated in several modes: constant pressure, constant flow, vacuum compensation (for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)), pressure-programmed, or a combination mode enabling a pressure program to be followed by constant flow. A pressure-programming technique has been tried which uses high pressure (high column flow rate) at the time of injection followed by reduction in inlet pressure to a value required for normal chromatography. Sample is swept rapidly from the inlet and into the column, reducing contact with the hot, active inlet surfaces which cause sample decomposition. The decomposition of endrin and 4,4′-DDT, two labile pesticides, can be substantially reduced using this technique and modest improvements were also observed with the carbamate pesticide carbaryl.
Spatial interval discrimination with blurred lines: black and white are separate but not equal at multiple spatial scales.

We used Gaussian blurred lines of same- and opposite-polarity to measure the effects of blur on 3-line spatial interval discrimination (bisection). The results of our experiments can be summarized as follows. Spatial interval discrimination (3-line bisection) thresholds are proportional to the separation of the lines (i.e. Weber's law). At the optimal separation, spatial interval discrimination thresholds for same-polarity lines represent a "hyperacuity" as small as 2 sec arc. For same-polarity Gaussian blurred lines, over a wide range of the blur standard deviations (sigma), the optimal threshold occurs when the separation is approx. 2 sigma, and the optimal threshold is about 0.02 sigma, or a Weber fraction (delta s/s) of 0.01. For opposite-polarity lines, under conditions where same-polarity stimuli yield the best thresholds (at a separation approximately 2 sigma), spatial interval thresholds are an order of magnitude worse than that for same-polarity lines, suggesting that the localization of stimili of opposite-polarity is much worse than that of same-polarity stimuli over a wide range of spatial scales. At large separations, greater than about 5 sigma, spatial interval discrimination thresholds are more or less independent of both contrast and polarity. While hyperacuity is generally thought of in terms of the tiny spatial thresholds which are obtained at small separations with stimuli comprised of thin lines, the present results, and those of others, suggest that for same-polarity stimuli, hyperacuity thresholds are a general property of the visual system, occurring at many spatial scales. The present results also suggest that the poor localization of opposite-polarity lines occurs at multiple spatial scales, when the line separation is less than about five times the stimulus spread. We consider several models which can account for particular features of our data.
Capacitive Transduction for Liquid Crystal-Based Sensors, Part I: Ordered System

In this paper, the theory for tracking the average molecular orientation of a liquid crystal (LC) material via capacitive sensing of anisotropic media is presented. The candidate LC sensor structure utilizes interdigital electrodes. Two capacitive measurements in orthogonal direction can track the director axis of nematic LC material in a homogenous ordered LC film. The sensitivity for the sensor at different alignments is studied. The candidate sensors have been fabricated and experimentally verified. Both experimental and calculated values for capacitances of selected interdigital fingers sensor structures are presented.
Dimensions of register variation in Somali

The present study uses a multidimensional approach to analyze the linguistic characteristics of Somali spoken and written registers. Somali is unusual in that it has a very short history of literacy (only since 1973), but at present it has a wide range of written and spoken registers, including governmental, educational, and public information uses. It thus represents a very different language type from previously described languages. We analyze the distribution of 65 linguistic features across 279 texts from 26 spoken and written registers, using factor analysis to identify five major dimensions of variation. None of these dimensions defines an absolute dichotomy between spoken and written registers, although three of the dimensions can be considered “oral/literate” parameters. As in the multidimensional analyses of other languages, the present study shows that no single dimension adequately describes the relations among spoken and written registers; rather, each dimension reflects a different set of communicative functions relating to the purpose, general topic, degree of interactiveness, personal involvement, production circumstances, and other physical mode characteristics. In the conclusion, we briefly discuss our findings relative to previous multidimensional analyses of English, Tuvaluan, and Korean, laying the foundation for cross-linguistic analyses of universal tendencies of register variation.
Assessing threats of targeted group violence: contributions from social psychology.

Recent increases in domestic and international acts of extremist violence perpetrated against American citizens have prompted an increased need for information to help understand and evaluate the threat posed to U.S. targets by extremist groups and their individual members. The purpose of this paper is to (i) suggest the potential relevance of social psychological research on group behavior for understanding and assessing threats of extremist group violence; and, (ii) encourage more systematic research on group violence to further inform assessments of group risk. Approaching the issue from the levels of group behavior, and of individual behavior within a group context, the article summarizes research on key principles of group behavior, and the effects of group membership on individual behavior; proposes specific questions derived from these principles for consideration in evaluating risk for violence by groups, and by individuals influenced by groups; and suggests further research needs.
Junction tree decomposition for parallel exact inference

We present a junction tree decomposition based algorithm for parallel exact inference. This is a novel parallel exact inference method for evidence propagation in an arbitrary junction tree. If multiple cliques contain evidence, the performance of any state-of-the-art parallel inference algorithm achieving logarithmic time performance is adversely affected. In this paper, we propose a new approach to overcome this problem. We decompose a junction tree into a set of chains. Cliques in each chain are partially updated after the evidence propagation. These partially updated cliques are then merged in parallel to obtain fully updated cliques. We derive the formula for merging partially updated cliques and estimate the computation workload of each step. Experiments conducted using MPI on state-of-the-art clusters showed that the proposed algorithm exhibits linear scalability and superior performance compared with other parallel inference methods.
Shocking: an approach to stabilize backprop training with greedy adaptive learning rates

In general, backpropagation neural networks converge faster with adaptive learning rates than with learning rates that remain constant or grow or decay disregarding to the network error. This is because each synapse has its own learning rate that can vary over time by an amount appropriate to that weight. However, adaptive learning rates cause neural networks to saturate during training. When learning rates are permitted to assume values greater than unity, they are considered "greedy". Greedy adaptive learning rates can reduce not only the training times of networks, but also compromise the stability of the training process, leading to a network that fails to converge. This paper proposes a simple ad hoc approach called "shocking" as a partial solution to the instability problem caused by greedy adaptive learning rates. An analysis based on training times and failure rates for two inherently unstable benchmark problems is used to validate the use of shocking.
On Fitting a Straight Line to Data when the “Noise” in Both Variables Is Unknown

AbstractIn meteorology and oceanography, and other fields, it is often necessary to fit a straight line to some points and estimate its slope. If both variables corresponding to the points are noisy, the slope as estimated by the ordinary least squares regression coefficient is biased low; that is, for a large enough sample, it always underestimates the true regression coefficient between the variables. In the common situation when the relative size of the noise in the variables is unknown, an appropriate regression coefficient is plus or minus the ratio of the standard deviations of the variables, the sign being determined by the sign of the correlation coefficient. For this case of unknown noise, the authors here obtain the probability density function (pdf) for the true regression coefficient divided by the appropriate regression coefficient just mentioned. For the case when the number of data is very large, a simple analytical expression for this pdf is obtained; for a finite number of data points the...
ANL Stochastic Cooling Experiments Using the Fnal 200-MeV Cooling Ring

Studies of stochastic momentum cooling are being conducted on the FNAL 200-MeV Storage Ring. The specific goal of the activity is to establish confidence in the theory and simulation methods used to describe the cooling process, and to develop techniques and devices suitable for use in the antiproton accumulation scheme now planned for construction at FNAL. A summary of the activity, including hardware design, results of experiments, comparison with theory, and implications for the antiproton accumulator are presented.
In Search of an ADHD Screening Tool for African American Children

Abstract Purpose Behavior rating scales have often been used to evaluate home and classroom behavior for children suspected of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there is concern related to the use of behavior rating scales because African American boys and girls are twice as likely to be identified with ADHD behaviors by some of these instruments. This article serves as a brief reference for effectively evaluating African American children for ADHD. Methods A MEDLINE search of peer reviewed literature published from 1970 to 2009 was conducted concerning the diagnosis of ADHD in African American children. Results The majority of ADHD-specific behavior rating scales have face validity based on the Diagnosfic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) diagnostic criteria. However, with few exceptions, developers of these instruments have failed to use national samples with significant numbers of ethnic minorities to ascertain that screening questions are in fact detecting equivalent behavioral abnormalities across cultures. Fortunately, efforts have been undertaken to validate and improve effectiveness of ADHD-specific behavior rating scales in ethnically diverse populations. Conclusion There are data supporting the use of the Terry and Vanderbilt Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder scales for diagnosing ADHD in African American children. Further studies to develop and validate ADHD-specific behavior rating scales for African American children are needed.
An American Looks at the European Union

Anyone who has followed the evolution of six European nations from a simple Coal and Steel Community to the current twenty‐five Member State European Union (EU), has witnessed a truly remarkable passage. Nonetheless, the EU remains a decidedly jerrybuilt affair. Through numerous enlargements, increased competences, changes in structure and operation, the Union has been bedevilled by the fact that it is neither a simple international treaty with 25 signatories, nor a truly federal union. Rather, the EU has operated, sometimes effectively, often shakily, between these two extremes; exhibiting a sort of ‘fear of federalism’. From a US perspective, this article looks at the present state of the European Union and asks why it has met its potential in some ways, but has fallen so far short in others. Obviously, the tension between the Member States and the Community institutions is one reason. The article asks why do the states compete so much with one another, when their true competition is often with non‐European entities? Why does the European Council never seem to act in a timely manner? Why do euro‐citizens have so poor of an appreciation of what the Community does for them? Why does the Common Agricultural Policy, which contributes such a small amount to European gross domestic product, so dominate the EU budget and agenda? Can the euro, clearly the world's second currency after the US dollar, ever win over its doubters and harmonise European financial service markets? Does enlargement improve or threaten the future of the Community? And can its Common Foreign and Security Policy ever be successful if it is forced to compete with parallel politics in the Member States? All of these questions are addressed in this article with the hope that, through an external critique, the EU will live up to its potential both at home and abroad.
Support for high-priority traffic in VLSI communication switches

The design of small n*n switches that can be used to construct communication networks that provide low-latency communication for high-priority traffic, which is required for both multistage interconnection networks used in multiprocessors and direct networks used in multicomputers. The focus is on the design of the internal buffers, specifically on the design of buffers that provide non-FIFO handling of messages. Alternative designs and configurations are evaluated in the context of a multistage interconnection network. Simulation shows that a slightly modified version of the recently introduced dynamically allocated multiqueue buffer can provide superior support for high-priority traffic. >
Board game strategies in introductory computer science

We present three open-ended freshman projects where students design and implement their own player strategies for well-established board games: Quoridor by Mirko Marchesi (Gigamic), San Francisco Cable Cars by Dirk Henn (Queen Games), and The aMAZEing Labyrinth by Max J. Kobbert (Ravensburger). Unlike modern computer games, most board games are inherently discrete. For example, the board tends to have a fixed number of allowed positions for the game pieces and every player performs a search through a finite number of possible moves to decide which move to take next. As such, designing a player strategy for a board game provides a very natural context for basic data structures, searching algorithms, and other concepts typically covered in a freshman-level computer science sequence. Furthermore, the project allows for continual improvements to one's strategy, targeting both beginners as well as more advanced programmers.
Technical Note-Estimating the Probability Distribution of Travel Times for Urban Emergency Service Systems

We describe an extension of Larson's hypercube queuing model to enable it to calculate the probability distributions of travel times. In addition, we discuss the general need for this capability in emergency service models as a prerequisite for developing second-generation models that may relate direct outcome measures such as damage, loss of life, and arrests to the managerial decisions.
Risk Management Principles for Nanotechnology

Risk management of nanotechnology is challenged by the enormous uncertainties about the risks, benefits, properties, and future direction of nanotechnology applications. Because of these uncertainties, traditional risk management principles such as acceptable risk, cost-benefit analysis, and feasibility are unworkable, as is the newest risk management principle, the precautionary principle. Yet, simply waiting for these uncertainties to be resolved before undertaking risk management efforts would not be prudent, in part because of the growing public concerns about nanotechnology driven by risk perception heuristics such as affect and availability. A more reflexive, incremental, and cooperative risk management approach is required, which not only will help manage emerging risks from nanotechnology applications, but will also create a new risk management model for managing future emerging technologies.
Coexistence of abdominal aortic aneurysm and carcinoma of the colon: a dilemma.

Abstract The incidence of colonic cancer coexisting with an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is approximately 2%. Such a coexistence presents a true dilemma to the surgeon for it is often difficult to decide whether to treat the carcinoma or the aneurysm first. This report summarizes the opinions of 46 Professors of General Surgery and Vascular Surgery who gave their response as to which condition should receive priority of treatment. Approximately one third of the respondents favored excision of the carcinoma first; one third stated they would excise the aneurysm first; and the remaining third said they would withhold a decision until laparotomy was performed. Two surgeons replied that they would attempt to perform aneurysmectomy and colectomy simultaneously. (J VASC SURG 1985;2:724-6.)
A SECURITISED MARKET FOR HUMAN CAPITAL

This paper proposes a simple finance innovation with an income-contingent repayment system to supplement our current fixed-interest rate student loan system. Income-contingent repayments could be pooled and securitised while lenders could sell these lifetime equity-like human capital securities to investors who seek to diversify their existing portfolios. Without increasing the government’s fiscal burden, this innovation would significantly reduce entry barriers facing finance-constrained college students in a continually rising cost environment.
The Children Are Listening: An Autoethnographic Account of the Years Leading up to Familicide in a Quiet, Suburban Neighborhood

Familicide is a rare but troubling event that can be difficult to recount, especially for residents of the community were it occurred. The author of this piece combines her academic and practitioner knowledge of family violence with her personal experience, recalling the events leading up to the murder of a classmate nearly 20 years ago. The author reframes these memories through her current knowledge of risk assessment for domestic lethality as well as the safety behaviors women typically employ to protect themselves and their children. Further emphasis is placed on the need for children and young people to be involved in coordinated community efforts to detect and disclose incidents of family violence. Public education on this topic, for both adults and young people, can be useful in reducing stigma and coordinating efforts for intervention.
Interpolation-Based Super-Resolution Reconstruction: Effects of Slice Thickness

Standard clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is acquired in two-dimensions where the in-plane resolution is higher than the slice select direction. These acquisitions include axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. To date, there have been few attempts to combine the information of these three orthogonal orientations. This paper aims to take advantage of the different in-plane resolution acquired from each plane orientation and combine them into one volume in order to attain a higher resolution image. This combination of MRI data will allow the detection of smaller areas that would otherwise be missed using only one slice orientation. A comparison of slice thicknesses along with image registration is performed. The mean-squared error and peak signal-to-noise were computed for quantitative assessment. MRI and phantom scans and joint histograms were used for qualitative assessment.
Time for a Change: The Variance Gamma Model and Option Pricing

The most widely used option pricing model is the Black-Scholes model. We motivate an alternative option pricing model called the Variance Gamma (VG) model and demonstrate its implementation in the Bloomberg system.