cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic Detection of Deficient Video Log Images Using a Histogram Equity Index and an Adaptive Gaussian Mixture Model

Video log images are often used by transportation agencies to manually or automatically extract roadway infrastructure information, including roadway geometry, signs, etc. Poor-quality images, especially those having illumination-related deficiencies caused by color corruption with a plain-like grayscale histogram, sun glare, or darkness problems, are unacceptable and need to be identified. Manually reviewing the tens of millions of video log images for quality control is labor intensive and time-consuming, so there is a need to develop automatic video log image quality control procedures. The contribution of this article is that it formulates a new problem of roadway video log image quality control and then proposes a reasonable solution to address this problem in the hope that it will motivate the development of new algorithms by other researchers. For the first time, an algorithm using a Histogram Equity Index and an adaptive Gaussian Mixture Model is proposed to address the video log image quality issue by automatically detecting illumination-related deficiencies. The Alberta Department of Transportation provided 15,489 video log images to test the proposed algorithm. Test results show that the developed algorithm can detect illumination-related video log image deficiencies with a false positive rate of 4%, 3%, and 12%; a false negative rate of 15%, 17%, and 19% for plain-like color corruption, dark, and sun glare conditions, respectively; computation time is 0.1 second/image. The proposed algorithm could potentially be used to improve video log image data quality control.
A system identification technique based on neural networks

A system identification technique based on neural networks is presented. A feedforward-type neural network is trained using an extended Kalman filter, so as to capture the input-output characteristics of a dynamical system. The proposed technique can be enhanced to simultaneously obtain the estimates of the plant states and those of the neural network parameters. >
Deciphering flow cytometry electronics

This paper introduces flow cytometry electronics to the Electrical Engineering community and briefly explains critical electronics aspects which confuse biologists. Furthermore, this paper explains flow cytometry from an interdisciplinary point of view and points out open research opportunities in electronics.
Multiagent Coordination in Antiair Defense: A Case Study

This research addresses rational decision-making and coordination among antiair units whose mission is to defend a specified territory from a number of attacking missiles. The automated units have to decide which missiles to attempt to intercept, given the characteristics of the threat, and given the other units' anticipated actions, in their attempt to minimize the expected overall damages to the defended territory. Thus, an automated defense unit needs to model the other agents, either human or automated, that control the other defense batteries. For the purpose of this case study, we assume that the units cannot communicate among themselves, say, due to an imposed radio silence. We use the Recursive Modeling Method (RMM), which enables an agent to select his rational action by examining the expected utility of his alternative behaviors, and to coordinate with other agents by modeling their decision-making in a distributed multiagent environment. We describe how decision-making using RMM is applied to the antiair defense domain and show experimental results that compare the performance of coordinating teams consisting of RMM agents, human agents, and mixed RMM and human teams.
The Boston Massacre Trials: An Account

Although it has been over two centuries since the moonlit March night in 1770 when British soldiers killed five Bostonians on King Street, people still debate responsibility for the Boston Massacre. Does the blame rest with the crowd of Bostonians who hurled insults, snowballs, oysters shells, and other objects at the soldiers, or does the blame rest with an overreacting military that violated laws of the colony that prohibited firing at civilians? Whatever side one takes in the debate, all can agree that the Boston Massacre stands as a significant landmark on the road to the American Revolution.
Curious model-building control systems

A novel curious model-building control system is described which actively tries to provoke situations for which it learned to expect to learn something about the environment. Such a system has been implemented as a four-network system based on Watkins' Q-learning algorithm which can be used to maximize the expectation of the temporal derivative of the adaptive assumed reliability of future predictions. An experiment with an artificial nondeterministic environment demonstrates that the system can be superior to previous model-building control systems, which do not address the problem of modeling the reliability of the world model's predictions in uncertain environments and use ad-hoc methods (like random search) to train the world model. >
Investigating Clinical Benefits of a Novel Sleep-Focused Mind-Body Program on Gulf War Illness (GWI) Symptoms: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract : Subjects are being recruited for the proposed study and the study is still ongoing. There is no finding to report from the study as of 30/06/2013.
Molecular markers, fibrous cap rupture, and the vulnerable plaque: new experimental opportunities.

The study by Faber et al1 in this issue of Circulation Research uses subtraction suppression hybridization (SSH) to identify genes specific to the ruptured atherosclerotic plaque. This article may represent the early days in the oncoming studies of advanced atherosclerosis, a surprisingly neglected area of study. Part of the reason for this neglect has been the confusion in the past several years over the term “vulnerable plaques”—lesions of atherosclerosis that are thought to be associated with a higher risk for thromboembolic complications. The American Heart Association (AHA), unfortunately, has encouraged the application of this term to a specific morphology.2 The problem is that the AHA classifications scheme implies that we can define critical early and “vulnerable” lesions based on morphology observed at autopsy. Virmani et al3 have offered a simpler, less dogmatic scheme that uses morphological terms without implying mechanism. As that article discusses, a purely descriptive, nonjudgmental approach leads to more focused questions about the specific processes and related morphologies that could be hypotheses for further study. Testing those hypotheses, as we will discuss, may now be possible depending on very new methods that permit noninvasive imaging of the evolving lesions. Faber et al,1 although using the AHA scheme, do a very good job of specifying the morphology of their lesions. In essence, the ruptured lesions they describe have thin fibrous caps, multiple areas of disruption of that cap, and evidence of acute rupture leading to thrombosis. Lesions with similar characteristics, lacking frank rupture, are the sort called types V and VI by the AHA criteria and asserted to be “vulnerable”.2 Unfortunately, autopsy data cannot determine whether such lesions are prodromal, causative, or merely coincidentally associated with the clinical events leading to death from coronary artery occlusion. Arbustini et al,4 for example, found …
Finite element simulation of viscoelastic flow

Abstract A finite element simulation has been carried out for a viscoelastic fluid of the single integral, memory type. In the current work, the memory kernel is chosen to be a single exponential in the time lapse (Maxwell model). However, the formulation is such that it can easily be generalized to more realistic models such as the BKZ theory. From the point of view of numerical analysis, differential models are appealing because they avoid the complexities of memory integrals. However, in these models the viscoelastic effect always enters through terms having the highest-order derivatives. The disadvantage of this situation for numerical analysis appears to be borne out in the experiences reported recently by several workers. In a memory integral formulation, the demand on differentiability of the velocity field is no greater than for the Newtonian fluid. The basic idea in the formulation is the approximation of the memory integral by a Laguerre numerical quadrature formula. The kinematical problem is the computation of the displacement vector from every node to the Laguerre points upstream along particle paths. Since this operation requires the velocity field to be known, the method is restricted to the calculation of non-linear effects as body forces. Thus, the equations being solved in any iteration are those of linear viscous flow with an arbitrary body force. In spite of this limitation, the method converges at dimensionless relaxation times greater than the largest values attained with formulations based on differential models. In the present paper, the method is illustrated with the die entry flow in which the fluid is forced through a four-to-one axisymmetric contraction.
Accessory nerve injury during carotid endarterectomy

Injury to the accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI) during carotid endarterectomy is rare; to date only three cases have been reported in the literature. Traction on the sternocleido-mastoid muscle was the proposed mechanism of injury in all three cases. Four cases of accessory nerve palsy occurred in 850 carotid endarterectomies performed between 1978 and 1986 at this institution, an incidence of 0.47%. All four patients had classic signs and symptoms of accessory nerve injury, which developed between 20 and 60 days after operation. The three most recent cases were examined specifically for accessory nerve injury in the immediate postoperative period and exhibited normal trapezius function. None had any other central nervous system dysfunction. Two of these patients regained full accessory nerve function and the most recent case is showing signs of reinnervation with conservative therapy. Isolated central nervous system and spontaneous accessory nerve palsies are exceptionally rare, and since any traction injury or transection should have been detected by postoperative examinations in three of four patients, we propose surgical scar formation as a mechanism of accessory nerve palsy after carotid endarterectomy. If such a palsy develops in the postoperative period, we recommend conservative therapy.
Lipid composition of the normal human brain: gray matter, white matter, and myelin

Gray matter, white matter, and myelin were isolated from the frontal lobes of humans aged 10 months, 6 yr, 9 yr, and 55 yr and the lipid compositions of each were determined. Myelin had a much higher lipid content (78–81% of the dry weight) than white matter (49–66%) or gray matter (36–40%). Myelin contained much higher molar percentages of cerebroside and cerebroside sulfate, slightly higher molar percentages of cholesterol, and lower molar percentages of ethanolamine glycerophosphatides and choline glycerophosphatides than gray matter. The molar percentages of serine glycerophosphatides and sphingomyelin were about the same in each tissue. The aldehyde content of glycerophosphatides, expressed as molar percentage of the total lipoidal residues in each lipid, were as follows: ethanolamine glycerophosphatides from myelin 40–50%; ethanolamine glycerophosphatides from gray matter 21–27%; serine glycerophosphatides from myelin 21–36%; serine glycerophosphatides from gray matter 0.3–3.8%. Choline glycerophosphatides from either tissue contained only traces of aldehydes. The extra-myelin portion of white matter had a lipid composition that was very similar to that of myelin, but quite different from that of gray matter. Assuming a molecular weight of 28,000 for myelin protein(s), it was calculated that for each protein molecule in human myelin there are 186 lipid molecules, 111 of which are polar lipids and 75 of which consist of cholesterol. The over-all molar ratios of the polar lipids are phosphatidal ethanolamine:serine glycerophosphatides:choline glycerophosphatides:sphingomyelin:cerebroside:cerebroside sulfate:ceramide:uncharacterized lipids 25:9:20:9:29:7:3:9. It was calculated that the molar ratio of protein amino acids to polar lipids in human myelin is 2.38 to 1.
Dangling bond defects in SiC: the dependence on oxidation time

Abstract Electron paramagnetic resonance is used to study a near surface defect in oxidized 4H 6H SiC substrates and 3C SiC epitaxial layers. The defect is observed after wet oxidation and a 900° C dry thermal treatment, but the defect is not located in the oxide. The heat treatment activates the EPR center by removing a hydrogen-related species from a C bond. Oxidation studies suggest that reaction of H 2 O with SiC creates the defect. However, an alternative theory in which the defect is intrinsic to SiC cannot be disregarded.
Deletion 22q11: A Newly Recognized Cause of Behavioral and Psychiatric Disorders

Background Chromosome 22q11 deletion (del22q11), the most common microdeletion syndrome, causes a wide spectrum of clinical disorders. Recent studies have suggested that significant psychiatric and behavioral disturbances occur in up to 60% of these individuals. Objective To illustrate the spectrum of behavioral and psychiatric abnormalities associated with del22q11 and the subtle nature of its associated physical findings. Patients and Methods Case series describing psychiatric and behavioral findings in 3 patients with del22q11. Results and Conclusions Behavioral and psychiatric problems are common in patients with del22q11 syndrome. Because the physical manifestations of the disorder are so variable and may be subtle, the behavioral and psychiatric manifestations may be the presenting problem. Providers must therefore consider del22q11 as a potential diagnosis in children and adults with behavioral and psychiatric problems. Furthermore, behavioral and psychiatric problems need to be looked for when caring for children and adolescents with a known diagnosis of del22q11.
Reducing port-related truck emissions: The terminal gate appointment system at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

Growth in international trade and changing patterns of production have resulted in greatly increased volumes of freight traffic in urban areas. Metropolitan areas serving as major nodes within the international trade network are particularly affected. In California, state regulation was imposed on port operations in an effort to mitigate congestion and air pollution associated with increased port-related trade. This paper presents an evaluation of the outcomes of California Assembly Bill (AB) 2650 at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The legislation permitted terminals to adopt either gate appointments or off-peak operating hours as a means of reducing truck queues at gates. There is no evidence of reduced queuing or transaction times, and hence that AB 2650 did not result in reduced truck emissions.
Evidence for separate representations for action and location in implicit motor sequencing

We examined sequential learning of actions in an experiment in which four different actions (push, twist, pinch, switch) were placed at four horizontal locations. At transfer, participants responded to a sequence that required performing the same sequence of actions at different locations and to a different sequence of actions at the same sequence of locations. Participants with explicit knowledge demonstrated only learning the sequence of response locations. However, participants with implicit knowledge learned the sequence of actions just as well as the sequence of locations, and performance on individual sequences was just as good as performance when both sequences were presented. These results demonstrated that two types of sequences, one of actions and another of response locations, can be learned simultaneously, suggesting that parallel representations are involved in implicit motor skill acquisition.
UV-Enhanced Exchange of O2with H2O Adsorbed on TiO2

Abstract Ultraviolet light dramatically increases the rate of isotope exchange between gas-phase O 2 and water adsorbed on TiO 2 at room temperature, but it does not affect the rate of CO 2 –water exchange. Both ethanol and acetaldehyde, when coadsorbed with H 2 18 O, dramatically decrease the rate of O 2 exchange, but not CO 2 exchange, with adsorbed H 2 18 O. This decrease is attributed to a combination of competition for adsorbed oxygen between exchange and photocatalytic oxidation of the adsorbed organic and blocking of the oxygen adsorption sites by the organic. The same oxygen species participate in O 2 -H 2 18 O exchange and photocatalytic oxidation.
Real-time changes in 1H and 31P NMR spectra of malignant human mammary epithelial cells during treatment with the anti-inflammatory agent indomethacin.

Choline metabolites in malignant human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) are significantly altered compared to normal HMECs. (1)H NMR studies of cell extracts have shown that treatment of malignant HMECs with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, indomethacin, results in a distribution of choline compounds more typical of nonmalignant HMECs. To follow the time course of these changes, in this study real-time monitoring of choline compounds of malignant MDA-MB-231 cells was performed during treatment with indomethacin. The contribution of changes in intra- and extracellular pH to changes in choline compounds was also examined. Changes in water-soluble choline phospholipid metabolites, such as phosphocholine (PC), glycerophosphocholine (GPC), and total choline, as well as intracellular pH, were monitored by (31)P and diffusion-weighted (1)H NMR spectroscopy of living cells using an NMR-compatible perfusion system. An accumulation of GPC and a decrease of PC, resulting in an increased [GPC]/[PC] ratio, were detected within 2 hr of treatment with 200 microM indomethacin. Since a decreased [GPC]/[PC] ratio is associated with increased malignancy, these data demonstrate that nonspecific cyclooxygenase inhibition by indomethacin alters the choline metabolite profile of malignant cells towards a less malignant phenotype. These changes were not related to alterations of intra- or extracellular pH.
Prevention and Management of Complications in Intracranial Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery

Development of minimally invasive approaches has become a significant driver across surgical specialties in recent years. Purely endoscopic resections with proper attention to oncologic margins are now possible, with the potential benefit of decreased perioperative morbidity and improved cosmesis compared with traditional open transfacial or craniofacial approaches. Efforts to reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality have been applied with increasing sophistication in the most complex anatomic regions of the human body, including the head and neck. These efforts have resulted in an expanded role of purely endoscopic approaches to the paranasal sinuses, the anterior skull base, and the anterior cranial fossa. This article reviews the current understanding and available literature regarding the diagnosis and management of complications associated with endoscopic anterior skull base surgery.
TH-C-224C-02: MicroRT/microRTP: A Conformal Small Animal Planning and Irradiation System

Purpose: We have developed a novel small animal radiation therapy device (microRT), which integrates multi‐modality imaging,radiation treatment planning, and conformal radiation therapy. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of the treatment planning and positioning systems of the microRT device. Method and Materials: The microRT system utilizes a clinical 192Ir HDR source collimated via machined tungsten inserts to deliver photon beams at a source to target distances of 1–8cm at four angles (0, 90, 180, and 270). Beams were modeled using Monte Carlo and a parameterized analytic dose engine was created. Radiochromic film (5mm steps) in a solid water phantom was used to evaluate actual delivered doses in multiple planes. Treatment plans using these beams were created by a custom treatment planning system (microRTP) based on imported fiducial‐registered imaging (CT, MR, PET) of animals immobilized in the treatment position. A three‐axis computer‐controlled stage supports and positions animals in the beams according to the microRTP plan. Validation of the positioning system was performed using a phantom and images of phantom and collimator via a kV C‐arm. Results: The analytic dosemodel agreed with the Monte‐Carlo predicted dose within 5% and 10% outside and inside the 1 mm deep build‐up regions, respectively. Film dosimetry agreed with the analytic model within 10% and also demonstrated an effective field diameter of 8mm at 17mm from the source. The 192Ir line source geometry caused a radial anisotropy of up to 12% at 17 mm depth from the source. The positioning accuracy of the animal support hardware was sub‐millimeter. Conclusions: The microRT system provides conformal radiation therapy based on pre‐treatment imaging and planning for small animal models of cancer and tissue injury. This work supported in part by NIH R21 CA108677 and by a grant from Varian, Inc.
Three-Dimensional Shear Driven Thin Liquid Film in a Duct

Measurements and predictions of three-dimensional shear driven thin liquid films by turbulent air flow in a duct are reported. FLUENT - CFD code is used to perform the numerical simulations and the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes and continuity equations along with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model and the realizable k-e turbulence model are implemented for this task. Film thickness and width are reported as a function of air flow rate, liquid film volume flow rate and surface tension, and a comparison with preliminary measured results is made. The thickness of the shear driven liquid film is measured using an interferometric technique that makes use of the phase shift between the reflection of incident light from the top and bottom surfaces of the thin liquid film. The spatial resolution is determined based on the spot size of the incident light, which for the current configuration of the transmitting optics is approximately 10 microns. The resulting fringe pattern is imaged using a high-speed imaging camera operating at 2000 frames per second. The technique has proved successful in measuring thickness between 100 and 900 microns in these shear driven films. Simulation results reveal that higher gas flow velocity decreases the film thickness but increases its width, while higher liquid film flow rate increases the film thickness and increases its width. Reasonable comparison appears to exist between preliminary measured and simulated results.© 2006 ASME
Synthesis and Applications of Molecular Sieve Layers and Membranes

Strategies for the preparation of zeolite molecular sieve membranes and layers on different substrates are reviewed. Membranes (and continuous thin films) have been synthesized with ZSM-5 (MFI) type molecular sieves and other zeolites, either as free-standing specimens, grown on various supports according to several schemes, or embedded in polymer matrices. The membranes have been studied for molecule-selective separations and for catalytic reactions. Layers of presynthesized molecular sieves have been deposited by means of sol−gel matrixes and other bonding agents, molecular attachment layers, and via sputtering or laser ablation techniques. The resulting nanoporous layers have been applied in highly selective sensors, for the alignment of NLO chromophores and for molecular separations. Finally, oriented molecular sieve layers have been grown on self-assembled organic mono- and multilayers presenting phosphonate groups at the interface. Mixed phosphonate/alkyl films show profound effects on the surface c...
Predictors of kidney biopsy complication among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Kidney biopsy is essential for the diagnosis and management of lupus nephritis. The risk of bleeding complication, however, is not defined in the systemic lupus erythematosus population. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine predictors of major and minor complications among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus undergoing percutaneous ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy. Major complications included bleeding necessitating intervention, hypotension requiring vasopressors or higher level of care or death. Minor complications included moderate or large (≥ 4 cm in largest diameter) perinephric hematoma, gross hematuria or voiding difficulties. All patients were observed for at least 23 h post-procedure. The overall incidence of bleeding was 10.5% (2.7% major, 7.8% minor). Adjusted logistic regression showed that for every 10,000 cells/mm3 decrease in platelet count, risk for major and any complication increased by 27% (odds ratio 1.27; 95% confidence intervals 1.06–1.51; p = 0.01) and 8% (o...
Incentives in interdependent escape as affecting the degree of group incoordination

Abstract Subjects in groups of six were placed in a situation involving: (a) alleged threat; (b) a narrow escape channel allowing only one person at a time to escape. The measures of incoordination during escape were: (1) the amount of time the members of a group obstructed one another in use of the escape channel; (2) percentage of successful escapes in a group. It was found that given the presence of high threat introduction of high incentive to delay escape decreased incoordination. Similarly, with low incentive to delay escape increase in threat enhanced incoordination. The discussion relates the magnitudes of threats for failing to escape and rewards for delaying escape to the probability of escape. In addition it considers some theoretical mechanisms possibly mediating the reduction in incoordination under threat observed with the increase in the incentive to delay escape.
Probing the Mechanism of Electroless Gold Plating Using an Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance I. Elucidating the Nature of Reactive Intermediates in Dimethylamine Borane

This work shows that the coupling of voitammetry with an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance firm evidence of the formation and reduction of a surface gold oxide layer which is accompanied by the adsorption of a reactive intermediate from dimethylamine borane (DMAB) solutions The purpose of this study is to provide further insights into the identity and role of the reactive intermediate assumed in the mechanism of electroless gold in the DMAB bath. It was found that alkaline DMAB solutions exhibit a rapid mass increase at 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which is accompanied by the reduction of the gold oxide in hydroxide media. The anodic current and mass increase associated with gold oxide reduction is attributed to reactivation of DMAB oxidation. On the contrary, a frequency increase is observed at this potential in the absence of DMAB. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements further indicate that the adsorption/desorption of a borane-containing reactive intermediate onto the gold surface is short-lived. The intermediate is consequently eliminated from the surface after interaction with the gold oxide layer.
Gpc-Based Stable Reconfigurable Control

This paper presents development of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) Generalized Pre-dictive Control (GPC) law and its application to reconfigurable control design in the event of actuator saturation. A Controlled Auto-Regressive Integrating Moving Average (CARIMA) model is used to describe the plant dynamics. The control law is derived using input-output description of the system and is also related to the state-space form of the model. The stability of the GPC control law without reconfiguration is first established using Riccati-based approach and state-space formulation. A novel reconfiguration strategy is developed for the systems which have actuator redundancy and are faced with actuator saturation type failure. An elegant reconfigurable control design is presented with stability proof. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the application of various results.
Statistical quantification of the uncertainty in transmissibility feature for structural condition binary classification

Transmissibility-related features are one class of indicators used to detect structural defects, especially because of their sensitivity to local changes. In this paper, we consider a SIMO identification model and regard the change in transmissibility as a feature indicating damage occurrence. Both inherent randomness in the system identification process and the noise contamination (or other types of measurement/sampling/quantization variabilities) are included as the sources of transmissibility uncertainty. The uncertainty quantification is necessary to group-classify the measurements into either undamaged or damaged (binary) conditions with a better understanding of Type I/II trade-offs. A sensitivity research is deployed in this paper, where Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves for individual frequency lines are given with different damage levels and extraneous noise levels, and Area Under Curve (AUC) will be evaluated as the key performance metric across the entire frequency domain. The paper concludes that regions near resonance will have the best hypothesis test performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity.
A linguistic study of patient-centered interviewing: Emergent interactional effects

Abstract Objectives To evaluate interactional effects of patient-centered interviewing (PCI) compared to isolated clinician-centered interviewing (CCI). Methods We conducted a pilot study comparing PCI ( N =4) to CCI ( N =4) for simulated new-patient visits. We rated interviews independently and measured patient satisfaction with the interaction via a validated questionnaire. We conducted interactional sociolinguistic analysis on the interviews and compared across three levels of analysis: turn, topic, and interaction. Results We found significant differences between PCI and CCI in physician responses to patients' psychosocial cues and concerns. The number and type of physician questions also differed significantly across PCI and CCI sets. Qualitatively, we noted several indicators of physician–patient attunement in the PCI interviews that were not present in the CCI interviews. They spanned diverse aspects of physician and patient speech, suggesting interactional accommodation on the part of both participants. Conclusions This small pilot study highlights a variety of interactional variables that may underlie the effects associated with patient-centered interviewing (e.g., positive relationships, health outcomes). Question form, phonological accommodation processes, and use of stylistic markers are relatively unexplored in controlled studies of physician–patient interaction. Practice implications This study characterizes several interactional variables for larger scale studies and contributes to models of patient-centeredness in practice.
Vicarious grief: An intergenerational phenomenon?

Abstract A phenomenon that might be termed “vicarious grief” was unexpectedly observed during a time perspective interview study conducted in the Sun Cities (Arizona) area. Some of the elderly respondents spontaneously expressed sorrow for the loss suffered by another person. These expressions of grief were comparable with those often seen in direct grief, although there may be important differences as well (such as duration of response). The vicarious grief phenomenon is illustrated with excerpts from tape recorded interviews. It is possible that experiences gained over the course of a long life sensitize some older adults (mainly women in this study) to the emotional implications of bereavements suffered by the young. Attention to vicarious grief might prove a useful key to learning more about empathy and compassion in later life and to sorrows thai seldom come to light.
Minimum outage routing in cooperative multi-hop networks

We consider the joint routing and cooperation diversity problem in multi-hop networks, for which we seek to optimize the end-to-end outage. Simplifying the network structure via partitioning and identifying a set of nodes in each partition, we devise a routing strategy based on cooperative relays in decode-and-forward mode. In particular, this sub-optimal routing algorithm yields the best possible path between the source and destination pragmatically considering the outage probability as the optimization metric. To reduce the amount of required channel state information and the path computation complexity, we introduce a simplified realization, referred to as L-relay ad-hoc, in which a relay selection method based on channel gains is applied at each hop. We evaluate the performance of the proposed methods under practical conditions. Simulation results show that the proposed sub-optimal strategy can perform very closely to the optimal strategy with less channel information requirement, and the L-relay ad-hoc method can also demonstrate a good performance with significantly reduced complexity.
Single-particle tracking: effects of corrals

Structural proteins of the membrane skeleton are thought to form "corrals" at the membrane surface, and these corrals may restrict lateral diffusion of membrane proteins. Recent experimental developments in single-particle tracking and laser trapping make it possible to examine the corral model in detail. Techniques to interpret these experiments are presented. First, escape times for a diffusing particle in a corral are obtained from Monte Carlo calculations and analytical solutions for various corral sizes, shapes, and escape probabilities, and reduced to a common curve. Second, the identification of corrals in tracking experiments is considered. The simplest way to identify corrals is by sight. If the walls are impermeable enough, a trajectory fills the corral before the diffusing particle escapes. The fraction of distinct sites visited before escape is calculated for corrals of various sizes, shapes, and escape probabilities, and reduced to a common curve. This fraction is also a measure of the probability that the diffusing species will react with another species in the corral before escaping. Finally, the effect of the sampling interval on the measurement of the short-range diffusion coefficient is examined.
The Rhetoric of the Body from Ovid to Shakespeare

This persuasive book analyses the complex, often violent connections between body and voice in Ovid's Metamorphoses and narrative, lyric and dramatic works by Petrarch, Marston and Shakespeare. Lynn Enterline describes the foundational yet often disruptive force that Ovidian rhetoric exerts on early modern poetry, particularly on representations of the self, the body and erotic life. Paying close attention to the trope of the female voice in the Metamorphoses, as well as early modern attempts at transgendered ventriloquism that are indebted to Ovid's work, she argues that Ovid's rhetoric of the body profoundly challenges Renaissance representations of authorship as well as conceptions about the difference between male and female experience. This vividly original book makes a vital contribution to the study of Ovid's presence in Renaissance literature.
Design and implementation of a 3-D mapping system for highly irregular shaped objects with application to semiconductor manufacturing

The basic technology for a robotic system is developed to automate the packing of polycrystalline silicon nuggets into fragile fused silica crucible in Czochralski (melt pulling) semiconductor wafer produc- tion. The highly irregular shapes of the nuggets and the packing con- straints make this a difficult and challenging task. It requires the delicate manipulation and packing of highly irregular polycrystalline silicon nug- gets into a fragile fused silica crucible. For this application, a dual optical 3-D surface mapping system that uses active laser triangulation has been developed and successfully tested. One part of the system mea- sures the geometry profile of a nugget being packed and the other the profile of the nuggets already in the crucible. A resolution of 1 mm with 15-KHz sampling frequency is achieved. Data from the system are used by the packing algorithm, which determines optimal nugget placement. The key contribution is to describe the design and implementation of an efficient and robust 3-D imaging system to map highly irregular shaped objects using conventional components in context of real commercial manufacturing processes. © 2002 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engi- neers. (DOI: 10.1117/1.1474438)
Correlation of cystographic bladder morphology and neuroanatomy in boys with posterior urethral valves.

Purpose. We have observed a difference in the radiographic appearance of the body of the bladder (trabeculated) and its base (smooth) in boys with severely obstructing posterior urethral valves. We wanted to determine if (1) this was a reproducible finding and (2) there was an anatomic and/or physiologic explanation for it. Materials and methods. We reviewed the initial voiding cystourethrogram in 47 boys with severe posterior urethral valves. The interureteric ridge was used as the division between the body and base of the bladder. The presence of trabeculation for each region was recorded. Results. Ages ranged from 1 day to 6 years at the time of initial cystographic evaluation (median 14 days). The body of the bladder was trabeculated and the base smooth in 72 % (34 patients). In the remaining patients, both the body and base were smooth. In no patient was the base trabeculated. Conclusions. The cystographic morphology of the urinary bladder in boys with posterior urethral valves can be explained by its neuroanatomy. The body of the bladder, which contracts during voiding because of parasympathetic (cholinergic) stimulation, becomes trabeculated. The bladder base relaxes during voiding due to sympathetic (alpha adrenergic) stimulation and remains smooth. Thus, this difference in the cystographic appearance of the two parts of the urinary bladder reflects the normal innervation and the mechanics of micturition in boys with urethral obstruction.
Wave-generated fractures in river ice covers

Abstract The breakup of the ice cover in northern rivers is a brief but crucial event in the life cycle of many aquatic species and can trigger extreme ice jam events with major socio-economic impacts and significant climate change implications. An important, but vaguely understood, breakup process is the fracture of the winter ice cover by low-amplitude water waves. Previous work on this subject has been based on the assumption of an infinitely long wave propagating under an infinitely long and “edgeless” ice cover. This configuration does not account for structural constraints imposed by the proximity of an ice edge or a transverse crack. Consequently, it only furnishes approximate values of bending stresses, and tells little about the spacing of cracks that may be generated by an advancing wave, which is the only visual evidence that can identify the relevant fracture mechanism in the field. Herein, edge proximity is taken into account by making plausible simplifications to the ice response equation, and using wave forms of limited extent. It is shown that such conditions generally produce higher bending stresses than does the infinite wave/edgeless cover configuration. The distance of the peak bending stress from the edge, which defines the spacing of cracks, varies with wavelength and is less than 100 ice thicknesses or so. This is comparable to that of high-amplitude, single waves (or surges) that result from ice jam releases, but much less than fractures generated by bending on horizontal planes, caused by the meandering river plan form. Comparison of the present results with the limited available evidence indicates that wave-generated fractures occur during the passage of ice jam release surges.
Horizontal gene transfer dynamics and distribution of fitness effects during microbial in silico evolution.

Background Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a process that facilitates the transfer of genetic material between organisms that are not directly related, and thus can affect both the rate of evolution and emergence of traits. Recent phylogenetic studies reveal HGT events are likely ubiquitous in the Tree of Life. However, our knowledge of HGT's role in evolution and biological organization is very limited, mainly due to the lack of ancestral evolutionary signatures and the difficulty to observe complex evolutionary dynamics in a laboratory setting. Here, we utilize a multi-scale microbial evolution model to comprehensively study the effect of HGT on the evolution of complex traits and organization of gene regulatory networks.
Large Scale Discharge -Pumped Excimer Laser Research At NRL

The Laser Physics Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory has been involved in research on excimer lasers since their inception, and has conducted research in both electron beam and discharge-pumped systems. For the past few years, a major interest has been an investigation of the scalability of discharge-pumped excimer lasers, which have advantages over electron beam systems in their demonstrated overall efficiency and operability at high repetition rates. With the use of x-ray preionization and long pulse driving circuitry, it became evident that discharge-pumped lasers had the potential for volumetric scaling well above the small aperture common to laboratory and commercial devices. Experimental demonstrations were necessary to confirm that appropriate discharges could be sustained in high pressure excimer gas mixtures over large apertures. This was done with the construction and operation of xenon chloride lasers with 10,15, and 20 cm electrode separations. Investigations were made into the feasibility of further scaling, resulting in new techniques to minimize the inductance while eliminating surface discharges.
Asking, witnessing, interpreting, knowing: conducting qualitative research in community psychology

We present a framework to describe the process of conducting community-based qualitative research. Qualitative research activities are presented as a series of interrelated acts called asking, witnessing, interpreting, and knowing. Each act in the research process is described in terms of current qualitative research practices, and illustrated with examples from our own research projects on families with schizophrenia and men's mutual support and batterer intervention groups. We critically examine the assumption that qualitative research serves to reveal or amplify the voices of participants. We examine connections between qualitative research and social change and describe the use of qualitative research to not only empower marginalized groups, but also to critique and transform privileged groups. The framework is intended to help community researchers to more fully conceptualize, understand, and engage in the practice of qualitative research.
Mr. Justice Brandeis and the Creation of the Federal Register

The creation of the Federal Register in 1935 was crucial in enhancing transparency in American national government and its accountability under law. This historic action during the troubled New Deal era established a core institutional framework that endures as the nation begins a new century and as public administration struggles with an era of new institutionalism. Drawing on archival records and interviews, this article examines the political, administrative, and legal factors that led to the Register's creation. In particular, it sheds light on the little known but pivotal role played by Justice Brandeis in an extrajudicial capacity in this process. Brandeis's actions derive, in part, from his lifelong concern for fostering government openness and ensuring accountability under law from government bureaucracy. Without his intervention, it is unlikely the Federal Register Act would have been enacted at the time and in its important institutional form.
An Empirical Study: To What Extent and In What Ways Does Social Foundations of Education Inform Four Teachers’ Educational Beliefs and Classroom Practices?

Within the state selected for this study, teacher preparation programs and state certification criterion require that educators examine the relationship between school and society within social foundations of education (SFE) coursework. Using observations and interviews, this study examines to what extent four experienced, urban classroom teachers both speak in belief and exhibit in classroom practice an understanding of SFE. Two sets of measures, rooted in the social foundations and curriculum traditions, were devised to examine the degree to which teachers’ beliefs and practices matched to the tenets of SFE. Inconsistencies were evident within each teacher's beliefs and practices. Also, among the four respondents, there was minimal uniformity. From this study, when teaching even with a limited understanding of SFE, instructors engendered practices essential for a democracy. Students composed critical works, combining academic content as well as skills essential for life in a self-representative governme...
ACCURACY OF MODELLING NON‐EQUILIBRIUM ELECTRON TRANSPORT IN SILICON USING HYDRODYNAMIC TRANSPORT EQUATIONS

Accuracy of hydrodynamic transport equations using the energy‐dependent relaxation times has been studied for electron transport in Si 〈100〉. The concept of the hydro‐kinetic transport model is used to describe non‐equilibrium electron transport phenomena and to examine the validity for the assumption of energy‐dependent relaxation times. It has been shown that under the influence of a drastic increase in field the relaxation times might also strongly depend on the average velocity near the peak of strong velocity overshoot. In addition, the velocity dependence is found to be more pronounced at lower temperatures in Si 〈100〉.
Endogenous Opiates and Behavior: 2008

This paper is the 31st consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2008 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (Section 2), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (Section 3); stress and social status (Section 4); tolerance and dependence (Section 5); learning and memory (Section 6); eating and drinking (Section 7); alcohol and drugs of abuse (Section 8); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (Section 9); mental illness and mood (Section 10); seizures and neurologic disorders (Section 11); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (Section 12); general activity and locomotion (Section 13); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (Section 14); cardiovascular responses (Section 15); respiration and thermoregulation (Section 16); and immunological responses (Section 17).