cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallelization of Connected-Component Labeling on TILE64 Many-Core Platform

Many-core technology is considering as a key to improve the performance of recent computer systems. To obtain good performance for a many-core system, exploiting parallelism in arithmetic level is not enough and the parallelization strategy must apply to both of hardware architecture and software. Due to the contention of shared hardware resource, the speedup ratio of a many-core system is usually much lower than the number of processor units. In this paper, we take connected-component labeling (CCL) as a data-intensive application and take TILE64 as a many-core platform to perform a fast linear-time two-scan algorithm for labeling connected components in grayscale-level images. In the first scan, the data partition parallelism is applied and each core in the many-core system assigns provision labels (PLs) to the object pixels in a sub-image and collects equivalence information to several tables. Two parallel modes, the cascade path mode and tree path mode developed for the second scan, when the representative labels (RLs) with the help of equivalence information replace the PLs. According to the experimental results, the 10 times of speedup, compared with the performance of the single core scenario, it is can be achieved when 32 processor units is activated. The experimental results also demonstrate that the efficiency of our implementation with TILE64 is superior to that of other parallel labeling platforms.
Distributed Approach for Estimation of Dynamic Origin-Destination Demand

The problem of dynamic origin-destination (O-D) demand estimation aims at estimating the unknown demand values for all O-D pairs and departure times with the use of available time-varying link flow observations. This paper presents a distributed algorithm for estimating the dynamic O-D tables for urban transportation networks. The new algorithm supports the deployment of systems for real-time traffic network management that adopt dynamic traffic assignment methodology for network state estimation and prediction. It encapsulates available link information and reduces the data size required by conventional algorithms for O-D demand estimation. The algorithm adopts a two-stage approach. In the first stage, the study area under consideration is divided into a number of subareas, and an O-D demand table is estimated independently for each subarea. These local O-D tables are then integrated to construct an O-D table for the entire study area. An application of the new algorithm for a typical freeway network is ...
A project oriented course on software engineering

This paper makes an attempt to outline Software Engineering course with particular attention on the administration of the project.Section II describes the type of students taking the course, and a general description of the topics covered in the course. In section III the project itself is discussed with attention focused on the need for a project, what is expected of the students and the administration of the project. Section IV describes how parts of the course have been automated to relieve some of the problems of administration. Finally, the last section of the paper summarizes the impact of this course on the students and their employers.
Elitism, fitness, and growth

Bloat may occur when evolution allows chromosome growth. Recently it has been shown that elitism can inhibit bloat. Here we study interactions between growth, elitism, and fitness landscapes. Our results show that in some cases elitism neither constrains growth nor increases the rate of fitness accumulation, and when elitism does constrain growth it may stall the search completely.
The pace of life and suicide.

Sutnmary.-The pace of life was not associated with the suicide rate in 25 nations of the world in he early 1990s. Levine (1997) measured the pace of life in 31 nations in the early 1990s using pedestrians' walking speed for 60 feet, postal service workers' speed, and accuracy of public clocks, all measured in minutes. Levine also hypothesized that a fast pace of life "casts its shadow on the physical and psychological health of individuals and upon the social well-being of communities" (p. 154). To explore this, suicide rates for 1990 were available for 25 of these nations (Lester, 1997). A Spearman correlation coefficient between the overall pace of Me and the suicide rate was .15 (not statistically significant). Thus, the pace of Me in nations as measured by Levine was not associated with the selected measure of the psychological health of the nations, namely, as indicated by their suicide rates.
Low-sidelobe weighted-coupled integrated acoustooptic tunable filter using focused surface acoustic waves

A single-stage low-sidelobe weighted-coupled integrated acoustooptic tunable filter (IAOTF) operating at the optical wavelength of 1.31 mu m has been realized on a Y-cut X-propagating LiNbO/sub 3/ substrate for the first time. The weighted-coupling, which enabled the achievement of low-sidelobe levels, was facilitated by focused surface acoustic waves generated by a curved interdigital transducer. First sidelobe levels as low as -17.6 dB have been obtained. Optical bandwidth of 4 nm and tuning range of 170 nm for an interaction length of 6 mm were also accomplished. >
Structure and formation of the highly stable marine boundary layer over the Gulf of Maine

[1] A shallow, stable boundary layer is ubiquitous over the cool waters of the Gulf of Maine in summer. This layer affects pollutant transport throughout the region by isolating overlying flow from the surface. In this paper, we explore how the stable boundary layer is formed and describe its characteristics. The temperature profile of the lowest 1–2 km of the atmosphere over the Gulf of Maine is remarkably similar regardless of transport time over water or the time of day when the flow left the land, provided only that the flow is offshore. This similarity is forced by the (roughly) constant water temperature and the (roughly) constant temperature of the free troposphere over the continent. However, the processes leading to the similar profiles are quite different depending on the time of day when the flow crosses the coast. Air leaving the coast at night already has a stable profile, whereas air leaving the coast at midday or afternoon has a deep mixed layer. In the latter case, the stable layer formation over the water is of interest. Using observations of surface fluxes, profiles, and winds on the NOAA Research Vessel Ronald H. Brown from the 2004 International Consortium for Atmospheric Research in Transport and Transformation (ICARTT)/New England Air Quality Study, we show that the formation of the stable layer, which involves cooling a roughly 50- to 100-m-deep layer by 5–15 K, occurs within 10 km and a half hour after leaving the coast. The internal boundary layer near shore is deeper than predicted by standard relationships. Historical data are explored and also show deeper internal boundary layers than predicted. We also describe one exceptional case where a 200-m-deep neutral layer was observed and discuss the degree of isolation of the stable boundary layer and its duration.
Effect of diazoxide on regulation of vesicular and plasma membrane GABA transporter genes and proteins in hippocampus of rats subjected to picrotoxin-induced kindling

Abstract Epileptiform discharges and behavioral seizures may be the consequences of excess excitation from inadequate inhibitory effects associated with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is taken up and accumulated in synaptic vesicles by the action of vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) before its release into the synaptic cleft, and removed from synaptic regions by the action of transporter proteins GABA transporter-1 (GAT-1) and GABA transporter-3 (GAT-3). In this experiment, the effects of diazoxide (DIZ) on the VGAT, GAT-1 and GAT-3 mRNA and protein levels in hippocampus, and on the seizure activities of picrotoxin (PTX)-induced kindling rats were observed. DIZ caused increase in the quantity of VGAT mRNAs and proteins, and down regulation of GABA transporters GAT-1 and GAT-3 mRNAs and proteins after the PTX re-kindling. Furthermore, DIZ produced not only a prompt but also a later suppression of PTX-induced seizures. Although DIZ has effects on ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels when measured in vitro, our study suggests that additional mechanisms of action may involve the regulation of GABA transporters, which may aid in understanding epileptogenesis and inform investigators about future design and development of KATP channel openers to treat epilepsy.
A novel secretion apparatus for the assembly of adhesive bacterial pili

The biogenesis of most types of bacterial pili requires two specialized proteins: a chaperone that caps the pilus subunits in the periplasm, and an outer membrane usher that receives the subunits and serves as an assembly platform. This secretion and assembly machinery is proposed to be a novel export apparatus found widely in Gram-negative pathogens.
Constraints on the redshift dependence of the dark energy potential

We develop a formalism to characterize the shape and the redshift evolution of the dark energy potential. Our formalism makes use of quantities similar to the horizon-flow parameters in inflation and is general enough that can deal with multiscalar quintessence scenarios, exotic matter components, and higher-order curvature corrections to General Relativity. We show how the shape of the dark energy potential can be recovered nonparametrically using this formalism and we present approximations analogous to the ones relevant to slow-roll inflation. Since presently available data do not allow a nonparametric and exact reconstruction of the potential, we consider a general parametric description. This reconstruction can also be used in other approaches followed in the literature (e.g., the reconstruction of the redshift evolution of the dark energy equation of state $w(z)$). Using observations of passively evolving galaxies and supernova data we derive constraints on the dark energy potential shape in the redshift range $0.1lzl1.8$. Our findings show that at the $1\ensuremath{\sigma}$ level the potential is consistent with being constant, although at the same level of confidence variations cannot be excluded with current data. We forecast constraints achievable with future data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope.
A charge-coupled device observation of Charon

Images of Pluto which were obtained with a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector show an elongation caused by its satellite, Charon. Analysis of these images separates the planet and satellite components, and yields a Pluto/Charon brightness ratio of 5.5.
NMR solution structure of Cu(I) rusticyanin from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans: structural basis for the extreme acid stability and redox potential.

The solution structure of the Cu(I) form of the rusticyanin fromThiobacillus ferrooxidanshas been calculated from a total of 1979 distance and dihedral angle constraints derived from1H,13C and15N NMR spectra. The structures reveal two β-sheets, one of six strands and one of seven strands that are tightly packed in a β-barrel or β-sandwich arrangement, and a short helix that extends on the outside of one of the sheets to form a second hydrophobic core. The copper coordination sphere is composed of the standard type I ligands (His2CysMet) in a distorted tetrahedral arrangement. The copper-binding site is located within a hydrophobic region at one end of the molecule, surrounded by a number of aromatic rings and hydrophobic residues. This configuration probably contributes to the acid stability of the copper site, since close association of the aromatic rings with the histidine ligands would sterically hinder their dissociation from the copper. An electrostatic analysis based on a comparison of the structures of rusticyanin and French bean plastocyanin shows that factors determining the high redox potential of rusticyanin include contributions from charged side-chains and from the disposition of backbone peptide dipoles, particularly in the 81 to 86 region of the sequence and the ligand cysteine residue. These interactions should also contribute to the acid stability by inhibiting protonation of His143.
Stretching DNA with optical tweezers

Force-extension (F-x) relationships were measured for single molecules of DNA under a variety of buffer conditions, using an optical trapping interferometer modified to incorporate feedback control. One end of a single DNA molecule was fixed to a coverglass surface by means of a stalled RNA polymerase complex. The other end was linked to a microscopic bead, which was captured and held in an optical trap. The DNA was subsequently stretched by moving the coverglass with respect to the trap using a piezo-driven stage, while the position of the bead was recorded at nanometer-scale resolution. An electronic feedback circuit was activated to prevent bead movement beyond a preset clamping point by modulating the light intensity, altering the trap stiffness dynamically. This arrangement permits rapid determination of the F-x relationship for individual DNA molecules as short as -1 micron with unprecedented accuracy, subjected to both low (approximately 0.1 pN) and high (approximately 50 pN) loads: complete data sets are acquired in under a minute. Experimental F-x relationships were fit over much of their range by entropic elasticity theories based on worm-like chain models. Fits yielded a persistence length, Lp, of approximately 47 nm in a buffer containing 10 mM Na1. Multivalent cations, such as Mg2+ or spermidine 3+, reduced Lp to approximately 40 nm. Although multivalent ions shield most of the negative charges on the DNA backbone, they did not further reduce Lp significantly, suggesting that the intrinsic persistence length remains close to 40 nm. An elasticity theory incorporating both enthalpic and entropic contributions to stiffness fit the experimental results extremely well throughout the full range of extensions and returned an elastic modulus of approximately 1100 pN.
Verification and Validation Studies for Laminar Hypersonic Flow Over a Blunted Cone and a Flat Plate

In this paper, verification and validation analysis for laminar hypersonic flow fields is presented. The simulations include a Mach 8 flow of calorically perfect gas over a spherically blunted cone and a Mach 14 flow over a flat plate. Numerical results were obtained using the finite volume method on structured grids. The verification of the numerical solutions was performed by calculating the Grid Convergence Index (GCI) for both test cases. A set of three different grids is used to calculate the discretization uncertainty, where each grid was generated by doubling the number of cells in each direction of the coarser grid. The value of GCI allows calculating the observed order of accuracy of the numerical method for local values of surface pressure at various points and the net drag force for the blunted cone case and for the local heat transfer coefficient for the flat plate case. The error band was observed to be 2.4% for the surface pressure in the blunted cone problem and 0.5% for the heat transfer coefficient in the flat plate problem. Finally the numerical results were validated with experimental data using the local surface pressure measurements for the hypersonic cone and the local heat transfer coefficient measurements for the hypersonic flat plate.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
A note on the computational efficiency of the FIR multistage implementations of fractional sampling rate conversion

The question of whether computational savings can generally be achieved in the FIR multistage implementations of fractional sampiing rate conversion over a single-stage implementation is not well answered in the literature. In this correspondence, it is pointed out that there exists a class of fractional sampling rate conversion problems for which FIR multistage implementations have no computational advantage over single-stage implementations. This result is uncommon multistage implementations of integer factor sampling rate conversion. It is important to weigh more carefully the tradeoffs involved in such cases before making a choice between the single-stage and multistage implementations.
Organizing knowledge spillovers when basic and applied research are interdependent: German biotechnology policy in historical perspective

The German biotechnology lag illuminates the difficulties of finding appropriate organizational forms of R&D for “embryo” innovations requiring the continued involvement of basic research scientists even after innovation has advanced to the stage of commercial product development. The analysis charts the German policy shift from largely unsuccessful “corporatist” networks (1970s and 1980s) to more promising “emergent” networks (1990s) as organizational vehicles for conducting biotechnology innovation. A constant of German R&D policy for most of the 20th century, and one underlying the initial reliance on corporatist networks in biotechnology, was the tendency to exclude universities from major R&D initiatives and rely instead on specialized research institutes. The structural inflexibilities of universities, combined with the early successes of many specialized research institutes from the 1880s on, led to path-dependent reliance on the latter for 20th-century reforms of the German national innovation system.
Digital Infrastructure Development within a Nonprofit Polymer Science Library: An Analysis of the Transition to Digital Serials at the Michigan Molecular Institute

The authors analyze the issues that the Michigan Molecular Institute Library (MMI) will face in the transition from print to digital serials. The library supports a specialized research institute with sixty-eight serial subscriptions from forty-two publishers. Its specialized nature limits the number of potential consortia partners. Strengths include a user community of skilled researchers in a well-defined research area. In this transition, MMI will encounter both similar and different issues than those found in larger academic and research libraries. Topics include current access, planning, licensing, archival concerns, interlibrary loan (ILL), interoperability, and emerging trends. The authors recommend that the MMI librarian periodically evaluate the collection strategy in keeping with changing trends.
A predicative model for certain directed metalations, II; application to the behavior of p-fluoroanisole

Abstract A model whereby the relative ability of the methoxy group to direct metalations in aromatic systems is described. Evidence is presented for a dramatic acceleration of the rate of metalation of anisole provided by the presence of TMEDA resulting in the largest yield of ortho-metalation (95%) heretofore reported. Lastly, significant acceleration of the rate of metalation of anisole has been found using a catalytic amount of TMEDA.
STRUCTURAL OPTIMIZATION WITH FATIGUE LIFE CONSTRAINTS

Abstract This paper presents a method for considering fatigue life requirements in the optimal design of structures. The basic concept is to use the load history data combined with the finite element stresses of the structure and the material fatigue properties to calculate the fatigue life during the optimization process. The life requirement is considered as side constraints and the structure weight as the objective function. To demonstrate the concept, the optimization task with fatigue life constraints and the fatigue life calculation, based on the contemporary approach, are discussed. Some optimum design test cases, using the SAE keyhole specimen experimental fatigue data, are presented.
Inhibition of the CD40-CD40ligand pathway prevents murine membranous glomerulonephritis

Inhibition of the CD40-CD40ligand pathway prevents murine membranous glomerulonephritis. Several forms of glomerulonephritis are induced by antibodies against self or foreign antigens. Normal B lymphocyte antibody production requires T cell costimulatory signals provided in part by T cell surface expression of gp39/CD401igand (CD40L) that engages the B cell receptor CD40 and induces B cell differentiation and immunoglobulin class switching. We assessed the effect of disrupting the CD40L-CD40 costimulatory pathway, using a CD40-Ig fusion protein, on the development of membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in the mouse. MGN is induced by mouse antibodies that recognize and bind to exogenously administered rabbit anti-mouse renal tubular brush border (RbAMBB) IgG immobilized in the glomerular capillary wall. MGN did not occur in nude mice, showing the need of the T cell function. C57Bl/10 mice immunized with RbAMBB and treated with CD40-Ig fusion protein displayed a delayed autologous response and absence of MGN lesions, while control fusion proteins failed to prevent the development of the disease. These observations provide evidence that disruption of the CD40-CD40L costimulatory pathway can prevent the development of MGN by suppressing T cell-dependent antibody production.
Resisting body dissatisfaction: fat women who endorse fat acceptance☆

Fat women who endorsed fat acceptance (N=128) were recruited from Radiance Magazine. Relationships between objectified body consciousness (OBC), body esteem, and psychological well-being for the mostly European American sample were similar to those found in other samples. OBC was independently related to body esteem when weight dissatisfaction was controlled. Those who endorsed the need for social change in attitudes towards fat people had higher body esteem and self-acceptance, and lower body shame, than those who endorsed personal acceptance of body size only.
Use of Acute Toxicity to Estimate Carcinogenic Risk

Data on the effects of human exposure to carcinogens are limited, so that estimation of the risks of carcinogens must be obtained indirectly. Current risk estimates are generally based on lifetime animal bioassays which are expensive and which take more than two years to complete. We here show how data on acute toxicity can be used to make a preliminary estimate of carcinogenic risk and give an idea of the uncertainty in that risk estimate. The estimates obtained are biased upwards, and so are useful for setting interim standards and determining whether further study is worthwhile. A general scheme which incorporates the use of such estimates is outlined, and it is shown by example how adoption of the procedures suggested could have prevented regulatory hiatus in the past.
Ideology, Consciousness, and Inner‐city Redevelopment: The Case of Stephen Goldsmith's Indianapolis

This article examines the impact of a mayor's ideology in shaping the political consciousness of prominent actors associated with community development and revitalizing distressed neighborhoods. Deviating from the pragmatic approaches to governing of many other recent mayors, Mayor Stephen Goldsmith of Indianapolis advocated a populist ideology based on limited government and citizen empowerment. Close inspection of Goldsmith's community development policies, however, reveals a surprisingly extensive deployment of public power and resources along with efforts to empower neighborhood organizations. Goldsmith's mixture of populist rhetoric and progressive behavior produced a contradictory consciousness among community leaders. Although virtually all applauded the mayor's emphasis on popular empowerment, some developed a populist distrust of government while others came to insist on aggressive government intervention as the key to neighborhood revitalization. Such conflicted perceptions about the role of government have simultaneously inhibited revitalization efforts while laying a cultural foundation for future activism within Indianapolis's neighborhoods.
α-Oxocarboxylic Acids

Several α-oxocarboxylic acids play key roles in metabolism in plants and animals. However, there are inconsistencies between the structures as commonly portrayed and the reported acid ionization constants, which result because the acids are predominantly hydrated in aqueous solution; that is, the predominant form is RC(OH)2COOH rather than the nominal RCOCOOH. We urge that this structure be more accurately reflected in tabulations by use of appropriate nomenclature and clear explanation. The combination of hydration and acid−base equilibria in these compounds provides good material for teaching and testing these concepts. After reviewing the facts on these equilibria, we provide several related problems for use in general or organic chemistry courses in the supporting information.
Three-dimensional Iterative Inversion of the Marine Controlled-source Electromagnetic Data

We developed a novel method of full 3-D inversion of the marine controlled-source electromagnetic (MCSEM) data. Our approach employs the localized quasi-linear (LQL) approximation in the initial stage of inversion process, and integral equation (IE) based method in the final stage of the inversion. To ensure the convergence of the iterative process for complex system of equations for electric field in the inversion domain, we use the Complex Generalized Minimal Residual Method (CGMRM) (Zhdanov, 2002). The numerical modeling results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach for inversion of the synthetic MCSEM data simulated for the models of a sea-bottom petroleum reservoir.
The Impact of the Palliative Medicine Rotation On Housestaff Comfort Level With Death (765)

Background. There is an increasing importance placed on palliative care education and all internal medicine residencies are required to include this in the core curricula. Didactic lectures on end-of-life issues do not have a significant impact, instead the focus should be placed on clinical experiences. Many housestaff feel inadequately trained to provide end-of-life care. This study was conducted to assess the attitudes towards death of housestaff who have rotated through the palliative rotation compared with housestaff who have not.
Intracellular Signaling via ERK/MAPK Completes the Pathway for Tubulogenic Fibronectin in MDCK Cells

A classic in vitro model of branching morphogenesis utilizes the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line. MDCK Strain II cells form hollow monoclonal cysts in a three-dimensional collagen matrix over the course of 10 days and tubulate in response to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). We and our colleagues previously showed that activation of the extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK, aka MAPK) pathway is necessary and sufficient to induce tubulogenesis in MDCK cells. We also showed in a microarray study that one of the genes upregulated by HGF was the known tubulogene fibronectin. Given that HGF activates a multitude of signaling pathways, including ERK/MAPK, to test the intracellular regulatory pathway, we used two distinct inhibitors of ERK activation (U0126 and PD098059). Following induction of MDCK Type II cells with HGF, tubulogenic fibronectin mRNA was upregulated fourfold by real-time PCR, and minimal or no change in fibronectin expression was seen when HGF was added with either U0126 or PD098059. We confirmed these results using an MDCK cell line inducible for Raf, which is upstream of ERK. Following activation of Raf, fibronectin mRNA and protein expression were increased to a similar degree as was seen following HGF induction. Furthermore, MDCK Strain I cells, which originate from collecting ducts and have constitutively active ERK, spontaneously initiate tubulogenesis. We show here that MDCK Strain I cells have high levels of fibronectin mRNA and protein compared to MDCK Strain II cells. When U0126 and PD098059 were added to MDCK Strain I cells, fibronectin mRNA, and protein levels were decreased to levels seen in MDCK Strain II cells. These data allow us to complete what we believe is the first description of a tubulogenic pathway from receptor/ligand (HGF/CMET), through an intracellular signaling pathway (ERK/MAPK), to transcription and, finally, secretion of a critical tubuloprotein (fibronectin).
Cardiac muscle: Excitability and passive electrical properties☆

The field of cellular cardiac electrophysiology has made excellent progress in the last decade in its effort to understand the electrical properties of the heart. It has profited from progress in membrane electrophysiology that has increased our understanding of the basic ionic mechanisms. It has developed quantitative methods for study of these mechanisms, in spite of the geometrical complexity of the heart. Indeed this complexity has added a richness and challenge to this area. We have shared with skeletal muscle the problem of electromechanical coupling. This review has discussed the present state of our knowledge of basic membrane mechanisms of importance in understanding normal and pathological function of heart muscle. It is intended to lay the groundwork for the following articles dealing with special aspects of cardiac electrophysiology. There is a continual interchange of ideas and concepts between applied and basic electrophysiology, and, as a result of this interchange, we can expect both areas to grow greatly in the coming years.
Transfomation toughening of β″-alumina by incorporation of zirconia

It is shown that zirconia is chemically compatible with lithia-stabilized β″-alumina and that incorporation of tetragonal zirconia in the matrix of β″-alumina leads to an improvement in fracture toughness and four-point bend strength without significantly affecting ionic conductivity. Chemical compatibility is demonstrated by reacting α-alumina with sodium zirconate at 1250° C which leads to the formation of β″-alumina and free zirconia. The fracture toughness as measured using the indentation technique is found to increase with increasing crack length.
The Strength of Indecisiveness: Oscillatory Behavior for Better Cell Fate Determination

Oscillatory behavior is very common in many cellular responses. Recently, two pathways involved in response to cell stress, the p53 and nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathways, have been found to show oscillatory behavior. At first sight, there would seem to be no reason for signaling pathways of this type to require oscillations. Recent single-cell studies indicate that oscillatory behavior may be used to allow repeated testing for the continued existence of a signal. I argue that oscillations increase cellular response sensitivity and flexibility by allowing the cell to integrate the results of many periodical evaluations of the signal before making an eventual decision about cell fate, thus reducing the risk of premature commitment.
Midterm results of the edge-to-edge technique for complex mitral valve repair.

Background The edge-to-edge technique (E2E) has been advocated for the complex repair of myxomatous mitral valves. We compared outcomes of E2E performed in patients at risk for systolic anterior motion (SAM) versus outcomes in patients with residual mitral regurgitation (MR) after repair completion. Methods A total of 1,612 patients had repair of myxomatous mitral valves between June 1997 and December 2003 at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The E2E was used in 72 (4.5%) patients. Fifty-two patients (52/72; group I) had E2E for persistent MR after complex repair. Twenty patients (20/72; group II) had E2E for high risk of post-repair SAM and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Mean age of the patients was 61 ± 14 years; 47 were male, average New York Heart Association class at admission was 2.4 ± 0.6, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 56 ± 12%. Results The operative mortality was zero. Immediate postoperative MR was significantly improved in all patients compared with the preoperative grade ( p value Conclusions This study suggests that E2E eliminates SAM and long-term MR in patients with pre-repair echocardiographic predictors of SAM. The E2E is not efficacious in preventing long-term recurrent MR if performed for residual MR after complex mitral repair.
Exciton droplets in zero dimensional systems in a magnetic field

Abstract The emission spectrum of self-assembled InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots filled with up to 10 excitions is measured in magnetic fields up to 13 Tesla. The spectrum shows a number of peaks which split and rearrange with the magnetic field. The behaviour of the spectrum with carrier density and magnetic field is compared with detailed calculations. The model allows us to interpret our results in terms of coherent many-exciton states and their destruction by the magnetic field. The level structure of the spectra is related to the shell structure and collective excitations of many-excition droplets in these artificial atoms.
A 1800 V, 300 A nondestructive RBSOA tester for bipolar transistors

The design and fabrication of a 1800 V, 300 A nondestructive transistor reverse-bias second breakdown (RBSB) tester are reported. An innovative MOSFET shunt circuit is the key to the high power capability of the tester. Its operation is described and comprehensive test results are presented. >
Racial differences in predictors of college women's body image attitudes.

African-American and Euro-American women from three predominantly Euro-American colleges in the southeast U.S. between 17 and 23 years of age completed instruments assessing body image attitudes, social competence, sex-role attitudes, racial identity, and a measure of family and personal characteristics. Analyses revealed race differences on all body image measures with the exception of appearance evaluation which was influenced by family income and race. Specifically, African-American women reported more satisfaction with and positive feelings towards their bodies and less dissatisfaction than Euro-American women. Unlike Euro-Americans, African-American women attached importance to fitness and health. The relationship between personal/physical factors and body image was stronger for African-American than Euro-American women. Additionally, personal/physical characteristics were the best model of appearance evaluation for African-American women, whereas personal/physical and sociodemographic factors best predicted this measure for Euro-American women. The results are discussed in relation to body image norms and standards of the African-American subculture and middle-class, Euro-American mainstream culture.
Undergraduate Summer Research in Structural Engineering

For the last seven years, a summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates site in structural engineering, funded by the National Science Foundation, has operated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During this time, 33 students from 22 colleges and universities have participated in the site. Participants are recruited nationally and have come from as far away as California and Puerto Rico. The program is intended to provide students interested in graduate studies with an introduction to research methods, and to provide students who will not continue their studies past a bachelor of science in civil engineering with a better understanding of how research provides the theoretical foundation of engineering practice. Students work individually with faculty on literature reviews, computer modeling, laboratory testing, and field research. Three students have researched structural failure case studies and the technical and ethical lessons to be learned from them. Participants also have the opportunity to tour construction sites and construction material manufacturers’ and fabricators’ facilities. During the past three years, an ethics seminar series has been added. At the end of the program, students prepare research papers and Web pages documenting their work and present their results to faculty, students, and other participants.
The use of inhaled corticosteroids during childhood: plus ça change…

Commentary on the paper by Masoli et al (see page 902) Inhaled corticosteroid therapy (ICT) has a long and for the most part honourable history in the management of asthma. Introduced in an attempt to minimise the side effects associated with systemic treatment, early trials with nebulised hydrocortisone showed little if any added benefit,1 but with the introduction of beclomethasone dipropionate,2 ICT rapidly assumed a central role in the management of asthma, transforming the lives of millions of sufferers. Early studies were reassuring, but it soon became apparent that ICT did have measurable systemic effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis,3 although there was little evidence that these translated into clinically significant problems, overt corticosteroid toxicity being a rare and apparently idiosyncratic reaction.4 Worries about the very real effects of ICT on growth5 have been largely banished by the demonstration of normal adult height at follow up.6 Posterior subcapsular cataract formation has been reported in children on ICT, but mainly in children who have also received systemic corticosteroids.7,8 Local reactions such as oral candidiasis and hoarseness occur on ICT,9,10 but usually respond to simple measures such as mouth washing and the use of a spacer. Thus, in recommended doses, ICT has had an excellent safety record,11 but encouraged by reports of the apparent safety of high dose ICT in adults,12 paediatricians became increasingly bold in ignoring the manufacturers’ dosage recommendations, sometimes using doses that might have been more appropriate in the stable than the paediatric ward. Alas, it was all to end in tears. Several alarming reports of symptomatic adrenal insufficiency in children receiving high dose inhaled corticosteroid therapy appeared in the literature, including two in Archives .13,14 The second of these reported the results of a …
Wide Band Single Polarization and Polarization Maintaining Fibers

We propose a new fiber structure using both stress rods and air holes for making wide band single polarization fibers as well as polarization maintaining fibers, and illustrate the results through finite element modeling.
Strategic Path Planning by Sequential Parametric Bayesian Decisions

The objective of this research is to generate a path for a mobile agent that carries sensors used for classification, where the path is to optimize strategic objectives that account for misclassification and the consequences of misclassification, and where the weights assigned to these consequences are chosen by a strategist. We propose a model that accounts for the interaction between the agent kinematics (i.e., the ability to move), informatics (i.e., the ability to process data to information), classification (i.e., the ability to classify objects based on the information), and strategy (i.e., the mission objective). Within this model, we pose and solve a sequential decision problem that accounts for strategist preferences and the solution to the problem yields a sequence of kinematic decisions of a moving agent. The solution of the sequential decision problem yields the following flying tactics: “approach only objects whose suspected identity matters to the strategy”. These tactics are numerically ill...
Uncertainty Quantication in Surrogate Models Based on Pattern Classication of Cross-validation Errors

This paper advances the Domain Segmentation based on Uncertainty in the Surrogate (DSUS) framework which is a novel approach to characterize the uncertainty in surrogates. The leave-one-out cross-validation technique is adopted in the DSUS framework to measure local errors of a surrogate. A method is proposed in this paper to evaluate the performance of the leave-out-out cross-validation errors as local error measures. This method evaluates local errors by comparing: (i) the leave-one-out cross-validation error with (ii) the actual local error estimated within a local hypercube for each training point. The comparison results show that the leave-one-out cross-validation strategy can capture the local errors of a surrogate. The DSUS framework is then applied to key aspects of wind resource assessment and wind farm cost modeling. The uncertainties in the wind farm cost and the wind power potential are successfully characterized, which provides designers/users more condence when using these models.
Fibrous hamartoma of infancy: a case report with associated cytogenetic findings.

Abstract A 2-month-old male infant presented with a subcutaneous mass on the left middle finger; the mass had been present since birth. This was treated with local excision, and there has been no recurrence. Histology revealed the typical features of a fibrous hamartoma. Cytogenetic studies revealed a reciprocal translocation, t(2;3)(q31;q21), as the sole abnormality. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the cytogenetic findings in fibrous hamartoma, and it suggests that this lesion represents a benign neoplasm.
Element-Free Elastic Models for Volume Fitting and Capture

We present a new method of fitting an element-free volumetric model to a sequence of deforming surfaces of a moving object. Given a sequence of visual hulls, we iteratively fit an element-free elastic model to the visual hull in order to extract the optimal pose of the captured volume. The fitting of the volumetric model is acheived by minimizing a combination of elastic potential energy, a surface distance measure, and a self-intersection penalty for each frame. A unique aspect of our work is that the model is mesh free - since the model is represented as a point cloud, it is easy to construct, manipulate and update the model as needed. Additionally, linear elasicity with rotation compensation makes it possible to handle local deformations and large rotations of body parts much more efficiently than other volume fitting approaches. Our experimental results for volume fitting and capture in a multi-view camera setting demonstrate the robustness of element-free elastic models against noise and self-occlusions.
Early American baby rattles. II. "Wooden and tin"

Part I of these descriptions of Early American Baby Rat tles appeared in last month's CLINICAL PEDIATRICS.
Politics or Policy? How Rhetoric Matters to Presidential Leadership of Congress

In this article, we examine the linkage between presidential policy proposal messages and legislative success. Employing a data set on presidential legislative proposals that covers the years 1949-2010, we find that politics matters less than policy. Purely political messages that reference the electoral logic of mandates or appeal to a sense of bipartisanship appear to have no impact on presidential legislative success, nor does policy signaling, though highlighting the role of agency-based policy experts in crafting legislation does. From these results, we conclude that although the way presidents communicate their messages to Congress represents an important component of presidential-legislative relations, it is instead the perceived quality of the legislation that more strongly shapes congressional support of presidential policy efforts.
Women's Health, Economic Health: A Cross-National Study of Nine sub-Saharan Countries

This article analyzes whether a country's investment in comprehensive women's healthcare translates into increased economic growth and economic output. Very few studies consider the possible direct correlation between the physical health of a country's women and a country's economic productivity. This study fills part of this gap by examining the health status of women in nine sub-Saharan African countries, using World Health Organization data over various time periods dependent on data availability. Health status was then compared to each country's economic growth, derived from measures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross National Income (GNI), and the Human Development Index (HDI). The data show that where women's health status is high, economic growth is high, and where women's health status is low, economic growth is low. In conclusion, we must ensure women's health, not only for the sake of ethics, but also for the sake of building economically strong countries where all people can thrive.
WitchDoctor: IDE support for real-time auto-completion of refactorings

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) have come to perform a wide variety of tasks on behalf of the programmer, refactoring being a classic example. These operations have undeniable benefits, yet their large (and growing) number poses a cognitive scalability problem. Our main contribution is WitchDoctor -- a system that can detect, on the fly, when a programmer is hand-coding a refactoring. The system can then complete the refactoring in the background and propose it to the user long before the user can complete it. This implies a number of technical challenges. The algorithm must be 1) highly efficient, 2) handle unparseable programs, 3) tolerate the variety of ways programmers may perform a given refactoring, 4) use the IDE's proven and familiar refactoring engine to perform the refactoring, even though the the refactoring has already begun, and 5) support the wide range of refactorings present in modern IDEs. Our techniques for overcoming these challenges are the technical contributions of this paper. We evaluate WitchDoctor's design and implementation by simulating over 5,000 refactoring operations across three open-source projects. The simulated user is faster and more efficient than an average human user, yet WitchDoctor can detect more than 90% of refactoring operations as they are being performed -- and can complete over a third of refactorings before the simulated user does. All the while, WitchDoctor remains robust in the face of non-parseable programs and unpredictable refactoring scenarios. We also show that WitchDoctor is efficient enough to perform computation on a keystroke-by-keystroke basis, adding an average overhead of only 15 milliseconds per keystroke.
Impact of Health Perception, Balance Perception, Fall History, Balance Performance, and Gait Speed on Walking Activity in Older Adults

Background and Purpose: Disagreement currently exists regarding the contributions of various factors to physical activity in older adults. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the simultaneous impact of psychological (health perception and balance perception) and physiological (gait speed, fall history, and balance performance) factors on walking activity in older adults. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional secondary data analysis included 2,269 community-dwelling older adults from the Cardiovascular Health Study. A series of simultaneous linear regression models were constructed to examine the association of walking activity with health and balance perception, gait speed, fall history, and balance performance after controlling for potential confounding factors. Results: Health and balance perception and gait speed were significantly related to walking activity after controlling for potential confounding factors. Participants who perceived both their health and their balance to be good walked more blocks per week than those who reported a discordant perception, who walked more than those who perceived both their health and their balance to be poor. Participants who walked at a normal speed walked more blocks per week than those who walked at a slow speed. Discussion and Conclusion: The measure of physical activity used in this study included only walking, not other low- to moderate-intensity activities that are common in older adults. Health and balance perception and gait speed were associated with walking activity more so than fall history or balance performance after controlling for potential confounding factors.