cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Airgap Curvature on the Flux Distribution in Saturated Homopolar Alternators

The two dimensional, non-linear potential equation for saturated homopolar generators is established in circular cylindrical coordinates. The boundary conditions are discussed. The partial differential equation and the boundary conditions are transformed into difference form as preparation for a computer program. A non-uniform polar system of meshes is described and the difference formulae for these is given. The flow chart of a computer program applicable to an IBM 7090 computer is diagrammed. Over-relaxation and alternating direction relaxation techniques are explained. The flux distribution at no-load in a 95 KVA, 115/200 V, 3,400 cps three phase alternator is found with this program. Computed results compare very closely with test results.
Speculations on real sea-level changes and vertical motions of continents at selected times in the Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods

Percentages of continental areas that were flooded during a transgression plotted on the corresponding hypsometric curves may be used to distinguish between (1) substantial posttransgressive change in continental hypsometries and (2) a transgression caused by a sea-level rise followed by little change in continental hypsometries. The method, applied to percentages of flooding during Albian, late Campanian to early Maestrichtian, Eocene, and Miocene time intervals, reveals substantial changes in continental hypsometries, especially in Africa, North America, Australia, and Europe. The data also appear to give a rough approximation of the real elevation of sea level for the same four time intervals.
Doppler Echocardiography of Normal Starr-Edwards Mitral Prostheses: A Comprehensive Function Assessment Including Continuity Equation and Time-velocity Integral Ratio

The purpose of this study was to provide comprehensive Doppler echocardiographic assessment of the function of the normal Starr-Edwards mitral valve prosthesis using all the Doppler hemodynamic variables described to date, including the mitral valve prosthesis time-velocity integral (TVI)/left ventricular outflow tract TVI ratio and the prosthesis performance index. All patients had a peak early mitral diastolic velocity of no more than 2 m/s or a pressure half-time that was less than 130 milliseconds. All but one patient had either a peak early mitral diastolic velocity of no more than 2 m/s or a mitral valve prosthesis TVI/left ventricular outflow tract TVI ratio of less than 2.2, regardless of prosthesis size or left ventricular systolic function. There was a trend of decreasing prosthesis performance index with increasing prosthesis valve size that was not statistically significant, however.
Irradiation Effects on the Ripening of Kent Mangoes

SUMMARY— Kent mango fruit irradiated with 0, 100, 200, and 300 Krad were ripened at 20°C for 0, 4, and 8 days. Irradiated mangoes were less firm than control fruit immediately after irradiation, but fruit softening due to ripeness was more pronounced than softening induced by irradiation. Irradiated fruit contained higher water-soluble and lower Versene-vinsoluble pectic fractions as compared to unirradiated fruit. NO differences were observed in the content of the Versene-soluble fraction among all irradiation dosages. Higher PE activities were exhibited by the irradiated fruit throughout the ripening period. Irradiated fruit contained higher AIS and lower soluble solids than control fruit. No differences in sucrose content due to irradiation were observed, but there were less reducing and total sugars at the 300 Krad dose as compared to other dosages. Changes in pectic fractions and PE activity were more pronounced immediately following irradiation in comparison to those occurring during ripening. The increase in soluble solids as well as sucrose, and the decrease in AIS, titratable acidity, reducing sugars and firmness during ripening proceeded at faster rates in control fruit than in the irradiated fruit. These variable rates of change were reflected by the significant irradiation dose and storage duration interactions. Results suggest that irradiation induces a delay in ripening of Kent mangoes.
Vaginal cuff dehiscence with adnexal mass evisceration after abdominal hysterectomy

Abstract INTRODUCTION More commonly, a vaginal cuff dehiscence is a complication of robotic or laparoscopic hysterectomy while dehiscence is less commonly observed following total abdominal or vaginal hysterectomies. PRESENTATION OF CASE Three years after an uncomplicated total abdominal hysterectomy for fibroid uterus, a 50 year old female with a known, large adnexal mass presented with vaginal cuff dehiscence and prolapse of the adnexal mass through the vaginal cuff. DISCUSSION We discuss surgical risk factors including route of hysterectomy, method of colpotomy and vaginal cuff closure as contributing factors for vaginal cuff dehiscence in our patient. CONCLUSION Any large pelvic mass that may potentially exert pressure necrosis on the vaginal cuff, even remote from hysterectomy may result a vaginal cuff dehiscence. Emergent surgical intervention is warranted.
Binary image algebra and optical cellular logic processor design

Abstract Techniques for digital optical cellular image processing are presented. A binary image algebra (BIA), built from five elementary images and three fundamental operations, serves as its software and leads to a formal parallel language approach to the design of parallel binary image processing algorithms. Its applications and relationships with other computing theories demonstrate that BIA is a powerful systematic tool for formalizing and analyzing parallel algorithms. Digital optical cellular image processors (DOCIPs), based on cellular automata and cellular logic architectures, serve as its hardware and implement parallel binary image processing tasks efficiently. An algebraic structure provides a link between the algorithms of BIA and architectures of DOCIP. Optical computing suggests an efficient and high-speed implementation of the DOCIP architectures because of its inherent parallelism and 3D global free interconnection capabilities. Finally, the instruction set and the programming of the DOCIPs are illustrated.
Trapping waves in Earth's plasmasphere

Earth's magnetic field traps donut-shaped bands of radiation in a belt around the planet that react to solar eruptions by growing and shrinking. The Van Allen belts consist of two rings filled with particles from the solar wind and cosmic rays. Within the outer ring of the Van Allen belt sits the plasmasphere, which is the innermost part of the planet's magnetic field and home to low-energy charged particles.
Micromechanical deformation analysis of beta alloy titanium in elastic and elastic/plastic tension

An experimental analysis was conducted to document micromechanical behavior of a large grain beta alloy titanium in elastic and elastic/plastic tension. The deformation associated with individual grains was measured by microscopic moire interferometry. After subtracting uniform strains, the multiplied fringe patterns revealed strong anomalies. The anomalous deformation was documented even at the early stage of loading. Slip along grain boundaries was not observed, but strong shear strains developed within the grains near grain boundaries.
TRACKING RESPONDENTS IN LONGITUDINAL SURVEYS

Many of the problems social scientists are called upon to address require information best obtained through longitudinal research. Whether the emphasis of the investigation is practical or theoretical, applied or basic, data on the same people across time are important for understanding the causes or conditions out of which present situations arose and the effects of these situations on future events., However, a relatively small number of reported studies has utilized true time-series information. Instead, investigators usually infer the effects of changes over time from data which are not strictly longitudinal. Several methods are commonly used, including cross-sectional information, aggregate analysis of census cohorts, and respondent-recall data.2 Each of these methods is intrinsically weak. The first two do not follow the same people or else have no way of identifying individual sample members and their specific changes over time. The third, dependent on memory, may be inadvertently or deliberately selective. If these techniques are unsatisfactory, why are true longitudinal studies so rare? Among other reasons, maintaining contact with respondents over a period of years is difficult, costly, and time-consuming. Moreover, almost nothing has been offered in the social science literature concerning the relative effectiveness of different techniques for retrieving respondents.3 The purpose of the study reported here was to assess empirically a variety of tracking procedures and to arrive
Interaction of a high-affinity heparin subfraction with low-density lipoprotein stimulates cholesteryl ester accumulation in mouse macrophages

Abstract A high-affinity heparin subfraction accounting for 8% of whole heparin from bovine lung was isolated by low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-affinity chromatography. When compared to whole heparin, the high-affinity subfraction was relatively higher in molecular weight (11 000 vs. 17 000) and contained more iduronyl sulfate as hexuronic acid (76% vs. 86%), N -sulfate ester (0.75 vs. 0.96 mol/mol hexosamine), and O -sulfate ester (1.51 vs. 1.68 mol/mol hexosamine). Although both heparin preparations formed insoluble complexes with LDL quantitatively in the presence of 30 mM Ca 2+ , the concentrations of NaCl required for 50% reduction in maximal insoluble complex formation was markedly higher with high-affinity subfraction (0.55 M vs. 0.04 M). When compared to complex of 125 I-LDL and whole heparin (H- 125 I-LDL), complex of 125 I-LDL and high-affinity heparin subfraction (HAH- 125 I-LDL) produced marked increase in the degradation of lipoproteins by macrophages (7-fold vs. 1.4-fold over native LDL, after 5 h incubation) as well as cellular cholesteryl ester synthesis (16.7-fold vs. 2.2-fold over native LDL, after 18 h incubation) and content (36-fold vs. 2.7-fold over native LDL, after 48 h incubation). After a 5 h incubation, macrophages accumulated 2,3-fold more cell-associated radioactivity from HAH- 125 I-LDL complex than from [ 125 I]acetyl-LDL. While unlabeled HAH-LDL complex produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the degradation of labeled complex, native unlabeled LDL did not elicit any effect even at a 20-fold excess concentration. Unlabeled particulate LDL aggregate completed for 33% of degradation of labeled complex; however, cytochalasin D, known inhibitor of phagocytosis, did not effectively inhibit the degradation of labeled complex. Unlabeled acetyl-LDL produced a partial (33%) inhibition of the degradation of labeled complex. These results indicate that (1) the interaction of high-affinity heparin subfraction with LDL leads to scavenger receptor mediated endocytosis of the lipoprotein, and stimulation of cholesteryl ester synthesis and accumulation in the macrophages; and (2) with respect to macrophage recognition and uptake, HAH-LDL complex was similar but not identical to acetyl-LDL. These observations may have implications for atherogenesis, because both mast cells and endothelial cells can synthesize heparin in the arterial wall.
Multispectral-based leaf detection system for spot sprayer application to control citrus psyllids

A leaf detection module was developed for integration with a spot-sprayer system for controlling citrus psyllids. Since psyllids feed only on young citrus leaves, the module was designed to detect young leaves for selective spraying. The module comprised a four-band (570, 670, 750, and 870 nm) active optical sensor, a control box, and a data logger. Commands for operating the sensor and classifying leaves were embedded in a Java program run from a computer. The classification algorithm involved calculating different vegetation indices (using the sensor's spectral reflectance data) and implementing either the Euclidean Distance (ED) or the Matching Measures (MM) classifier. The module was tested under dynamic conditions using young-leaf-detection efficiency (ηYLD) and leaf-discrimination efficiency (ηLD) as performance criteria. ED classifier performed better than MM. Both ηYLD and ηLD decreased, with increasing variability, as target distance (TD) increased from 55 to 85 cm. TD of 55 cm gave the best performance (ηYLD = 100%, ηLD = 96.1%, and repeatability error, %eRmax = 0%). The system test comparing target length at three travel speeds for a leaf target, 15-cm long across the sensor's scanning path, confirmed that detected target length increased with travel speed. This was attributed to the diverging angle of the light beamed on the target, the effective sensing area, and the processing time difference between readings when the target first enters the sensor's field of view and when it has left. Overall, these results show good potential for the leaf detection module to be coupled with a spot sprayer.
Photonic security system using spatial codes and remote coded coherent optical communications

A novel photonic security system is described using 2-D spatial codes based on both optical phase and amplitude information. This security system consists of an optical interferometric encoding subsystem that rapidly reads and encodes the 2-D complex-valued spatial code, forming a wideband frequency modulated optical beam and a colinear optical reference beam. After appropriate coherence coding of this beam pair, the light is launched into a low probability of intercept communication channel such as an optical fiber or a narrow beamwidth free-space optical link. At the remote code receiving and data processing site, the received light beam pair is first coherently decoded. Then, a high speed photodetector via optical heterodyne detection generates an encoded wideband radio frequency signal that contains the original 2-D code. Decoding is implemented in parallel via two independent systems. One decoder uses a Fourier transforming lens to reconstruct an electronic image interferogram of the complex-valued user code. This image interferogram is sent to a high speed electronic image processor for verification purposes. The other decoder is a high speed coherent acousto-optic time integrating correlator that optically determines matchmismatch between the received encoded signal and the code signal generated by the electronic database. Improved security to the overall communication network is added by using various keycodes such as a time varying keycode that determines the exact spatial beam scanning sequence required for both proper encoding and decoding of the 2-D code information. This paper describes preliminary experiments using a simple 1-D amplitude modulated spatial code.
Phytophthora sojae: root rot pathogen of soybean and model oomycete

SUMMARY Phytophthora sojae is an oomycete pathogen of soybean, classified in the kingdom Stramenopiles. It causes ‘damping off’ of seedlings and root rot of older plants, with an annual cost worldwide of $1–2 billion. Owing to its economic importance, this species, along with P. infestans, has been developed as a model species for the study of oomycete plant pathogens. It is readily transformed with DNA enabling over-expression and silencing of selected genes, genetic maps have been constructed and large expressed sequence tag sequence libraries have been developed. A draft genome sequence has recently been completed. This review briefly summarizes current information about the pathogenicity, evolution, molecular biology and genomics of P. sojae. Taxonomy: Phytophthora sojae (Kaufman & Gerdman): superkingdom Eukaryota; kingdom Stramenopila; phylum Oomycota; class Peronosporomycetidae; order Pythiales; family Pythiaceae; genus Phytophthora. Host range: Soybean is the only economically important host. Several species of lupins have also been reported as hosts. Disease symptoms and signs: All parts of the soybean plant are susceptible to infection by P. sojae, from germinating seedlings to mature plants. In the field, P. sojae causes damping off of soybean seedlings and a root and stem rot of established plants. Leaves can be infected in the field as a result of rain splash or by deliberate inoculation in the laboratory. Damping off can affect germinating seeds or emerged seedlings and is most severe when the spring is very wet and warm (25–30 °C). Established plants can become infected when the soil is wet for extended periods, especially if the soil is poorly drained. Both the cortex and the vascular tissue are colonized by P. sojae, and the infection can spread rapidly along the vascular tissues in susceptible cultivars. Useful websites: http://pmgn.vbi.vt.edu, http://phytophthora.vbi.vt.edu, http://www.jgi.doe.gov/Psojae, http://www.jgi.doe.gov/Pramorum, http://www.pfgd.org, http://pamgo.vbi.vt.edu, http://soy.vbi.vt.edu, https://www.vbi.vt.edu/article/articleview/78, http://plantpath.osu.edu/faculty/dorrance.php
The strategic management of workplace diversity initiatives: Public sector implications

Diversity initiatives have been and continue to be one of the most popular trends in contemporary management practice. Motivations of key decision makers in organizations for diversity initiatives run the gamut from a sincere desire to be socially responsible to reluctant compliance with employment discrimination laws. However, even the most well-intentioned, well-designed diversity programs can run into unanticipated problems. This paper utilizes two actual case studies to explore some of the controversies managers can expect when dealing with diversity and provides recommendations for the strategic conceptualization and management of diversity.
IQ tests: Throwing out the bathwater, saving the baby

This paper advances the argument that, despite their limitations and a history of abuse, IQ tests should play a significant role in programs for gifted students in the schools. In order to put the current IQ controversy into historical perspective, the substance of the Lippmann‐Terman debates of the 1920's is examined. This is followed by an acknowledgment of major limitations of IQ tests as they pertain to programs for gifted children and a discussion of rationales for special programs for the gifted. Finally, an argument is made for the use of IQ tests in an informed manner.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease in noncardiac chest pain

Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) affects up to 23% of the general population. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common cause of NCCP and may be present in up to 60% of the patients with NCCP. The pathophysiology of GERD-related NCCP remains poorly understood. Possible explanations include sensitization of the esophageal mucosa by prior reflux events, volume distention, disturbances of visceral neural function, and longer duration of esophageal muscle wall contractions. Chest pain associated with GERD can mimic cardiac angina. In most cases, patients with GERD-related NCCP have typical symptoms of reflux. These patients are unlikely to have complications of GERD (eg, Barrett's esophagus, strictures, and ulceration). The diagnostic test of choice is the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) test; however, in certain situations, 24-hour pH esophageal monitoring is indicated. Once GERD is diagnosed, patients require proton pump inhibitor therapy that involves high doses initially and continued long-term maintenance treatment.
Trends in maxillofacial cone-beam computed tomography usage

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is making inroads into dental practice worldwide, both in terms of adding the third dimension to diagnosis, and also in terms of enabling image-guided treatment strategies. This article reports trends in the early referral pattern of patients to a CBCT facility in the United States. With institutional review board approval, a retrospective study was made of sequential CBCT radiographic reports made by a specialist oral and maxillofacial radiology service from May 2004 through January 2006 (n = 329). Demographic and referral data were extracted from the reports. Descriptive statistics identified referral patterns, trends, and indications for CBCT. Comparisons were made with the Rogers' Product Innovation Adoption curve. The mean age of referred patients was 45 ± 21 years, and there was a predominance of women (62%). Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (51%) and periodontology specialists (17%) made most patient referrals. The listed reasons for CBCT referrals were dental implant planning (40%), suspected surgical pathology (24%), and temporomandibular joint analysis (16%). Other uses included planning extraction of impacted teeth and orthodontic assessment. Over the period of the study, the numbers of pathology diagnosis cases remained relatively constant, while adoption of CBCT for dental implant planning followed closely the first three stages of the Rogers' Product Innovation Adoption curve. Alongside this increased CBCT adoption for dental implant planning, there was an associated increased demand for use of DICOM image sets for laser modeling and provision of surgical guides. Diagnosis will probably remain a constant source of referral for CBCT examination by oral and maxillofacial radiologists. Nevertheless, more specialized applications such as laser-guided model fabrication and image-guided surgery are expanding indications for CBCT referrals by dentists and also expanding the horizons of clinical dental practice.
On the derivatives of the principal invariants of a second-order tensor

The main purpose of this note is to provide a basis-free derivation of the expression for the derivative of the determinant of an arbitrary second-order tensor. The modern treatments in the literature known to the authors (see, e.g., [1,§9] or [2,§3]) assume that the tensor is invertible. The older deductions based on components did not rest on invertibility, but they did take the tensor to be symmetric (see [3,§38] for an account of these investigations). Incidently, our method supplies expressions for the derivatives of all of the principal invariants. After disposing of a few mathematical preliminaries in Section 2, we give an independent and concise treatment of the three-dimensional case in Section 3. The general n-dimensional case is worked out in Section 4.
More Daughters in Child Care? Child Gender and the Use of Nonrelative Child Care Arrangements*

Objectives. This article examines whether families with white mothers make different child care decisions for sons than for daughters before the children start school. Methods. We estimate logistic regressions of the use of nonrelative child care for the youngest child in the family six years old or younger with data from the 1990 National Child Care Survey. Results. We find that girls are significantly more likely than boys to be in regular, nonrelative care when they are between three and six years old. Conclusions. Recent evidence from the United States indicates that child gender influences various aspects of family dynamics. These differences tend to put boys at an advantage. Our findings add to this literature by showing that child care decisions are also related to child gender. Gender differences in the use of child care may reflect appropriate responses to children's developmental needs. However, they may contribute to gender differences in children's well-being.
A system approach to real world multi-sensor data fusion

Theoretically, fusion of measurements is optimal, and fusion of tracks is suboptimal. However, in the real world it frequently turns out that track fusion is superior to measurement fusion. The purpose of this paper is to explain the main reasons for this and to describe a measurement fusion algorithm that is robust in the real world. The two major reasons that measurement fusion fails to perform as well as expected in the real world are: (1) limited sensor resolution, and (2) residual sensor bias errors. Designing robust multi-sensor data fusion algorithms that work well in the real world requires understanding the physics of both sensor resolution and sensor bias errors.
Detection and identification of potential faults via multi-level hypotheses testing

This short communication formulates a recursive algorithm of multi-level hypotheses testing for real-time detection and identification of potential faults from continuous sensor signals. The usage of the recursive algorithm is illustrated on a data set of temperature sensors, collected from the Instrumentation & Control system of an operating power plant.
High-Pressure Iron-Sulfur Compound, Fe3S2, and Melting Relations in the Fe-FeS System

An iron-sulfur compound (Fe3S2) was synthesized at pressures greater than 14 gigapascals in the system Fe-FeS. The formation of Fe3S2 changed the melting relations from a simple binary eutectic system to a binary system with an intermediate compound that melted incongruently. The eutectic temperature in the system at 14 gigapascals was about 400°C lower than that extrapolated from Usselman's data, implying that previous thermal models of Fe-rich planetary cores could overestimate core temperature. If it is found in a meteorite, the Fe3S2 phase could also be used to infer the minimum size of a parent body.
Atypical AV junctional reentrant tachycardia following AV nodal modification

The authors present a patient who initially underwent anterior approach atrioventricular (AV) nodal modification for treatment of typical AV junctional reentrant tachycardia (AVJRT) and subsequently developed clinical episodes of a previously undocumented type of supraventricular tachycardia. Findings during electrophysiologic studies suggest that this tachycardia is due to both anterograde and retrograde conduction in a slow AV nodal pathway. A "slow pathway" potential was identified and dissociated from the local atrial and ventricular depolarizations. Posterior approach AV nodal modification was successfully used to ablate this tachycardia. These findings suggest that atypical AVJRT occurring after AV nodal modification may be "slow-slow" AVJRT.
The extirpation and current status of wild chinchillas Chinchilla lanigera and C. brevicaudata

Abstract The short-tailed chinchilla Chinchilla brevicaudata and the long-tailed chinchilla C. lanigera were once widely distributed along the central Andes and adjacent mountains. The high quality of their fur motivated the harvesting of chinchillas for the fur market. Commercial hunting, beginning in 1828, became a common and widespread activity in northern Chile. As market prices and the demand for skins increased in Europe and the United States, the number of pelts exported rose steadily. During 1900-09, the number of skins officially exported exceeded half a million per year. The continuous and intense harvesting rate, however, was not sustainable and the number of chinchillas hunted declined until the resource was considered economically extinct by 1917. Concurrently, market prices for the skins increased exponentially over time. A ban against chinchilla hunting in 1929 only increased the demand for skins. The last record for a short-tailed chinchilla sighting in the wild was c. 1953. The long-tailed chinchilla was also considered extinct in the wild, but was “re-discovered” in 1975. Currently, in two separate localities in north-central Chile a few scattered colonies of long-tailed chinchillas remain. Although chinchilla protection laws were enacted in 1929, they were not strictly enforced until 1983, with the establishment of the Chinchilla National Reserve. Chinchilla numbers continue to decline and possible causes are considered.
Evidence of nucleosomes in situ and their organization in chromatin and chromosomes of Chinese hamster cells

Abstract Freeze-fracture studies of intact metaphase Chinese hamster cells indicate that the chromosomes are composed of compactly aligned, flat and hexagonally shaped bipartite disks. The overall dimensions of a bipartite disk are about 140 ± 25 A in height, 100 ± 20 A in width, and 54 ± 4 A in thickness. The center-to-center distance of two units of a bipartite disk is about 34 ± 3 A . The core of a disk appears to contain four substructures that measure about 25 ± 5 A in diameter. Through the center of the disk core there is an axial structure measuring about 20 ± 5 A in diameter, which spans and interconnects similar bipartite disks to form a continuous linear array. A structure measuring 20 ± 4 A in diameter is wound around the edges of the disk core and interconnects with the next bipartite disk. The connecting strand is parallel to the axial structure. In addition, there appear to be bridgings between the curled structure and disk core. The chromatin of intact interphase cell nuclei shows similar bipartite disks with dimensions and features similar to those of metaphase chromosomes. The bipartite disks are aligned in a linear array in both chromatin and chromosomes.
The use of statistical methods in library and information science

This study compared the use of statistics in 99 journals from four subject areas: library and information science, education, social work, and business. It was found that journals in library and information science produced more articles making no use of statistics than did journals in the other three subject areas, and that only in library and information science were there more articles using descriptive techniques only than articles using inferential techniques. A comparison of the mean number of articles per journal using no statistics, descriptive statistics only, and inferential statistics indicated that the mean number of articles per journal using inferential statistics was much lower for library and information science than for the other subject areas. The only inferential technique not used significantly less in library and information science than in the other subject areas was correlation, one of the simplest of inferential techniques.
Phase IIA trial of 1% topical cidofovir for treatment of high-grade perianal squamous intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-infected men and women (AMC046)

Phase IIA trial of 1% topical cidofovir for treatment of high-grade perianal squamous intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-infected men and women (AMC046) Elizabeth A Stier, Stephen E Goldstone, Mark H Einstein, Naomi Jay, J Michael Berry, Timothy Wilkin, Jeannette Lee, Lori Panther, David Aboulafia, Joel Palefsky From 12 International Conference on Malignancies in AIDS and Other Acquired Immunodeficiencies (ICMAOI) Bethesda, MD, USA. 26-27 April, 2010
Enhanced Optic Flow Speed Discrimination While Walking: Contextual Tuning of Visual Coding:

We tested the hypothesis that long-term adaptation to the normal contingencies between walking and its multisensory consequences (including optic flow) leads to enhanced discrimination of appropriate visual speeds during self-motion. In experiments 1 (task 1) and 2 a two-interval forced-choice procedure was used to compare the perceived speed of a simulated visual flow field viewed while walking with the perceived speed of a flow field viewed while standing. Both experiments demonstrated subtractive reductions in apparent speed. In experiments 1 and 3 discrimination thresholds were measured for optic flow speed while walking and while standing. Consistent with the optimal-coding hypothesis, speed discrimination for visual speeds near walking speed was enhanced during walking. Reduced sensitivity was found for slower visual speeds. The multisensory context of walking alters the coding of optic flow in a way that enhances speed discrimination in the expected range of flow speeds.
Chemotherapy strategies in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Traditionally, chemotherapy has been utilized in the palliation of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The introduction of more effective agents has spawned many new multi-drug protocols as the initial therapy of patients with previously untreated advanced cancers (Stages III and IV). The combination of cis-platinum and other active agents given in two to three courses has produced overall response rates of 80 to 90% with clinically complete response rates of 20 to 54%. Many of the complete responders were histologically negative for cancer at the time of resection. The number of courses, stage (T and N), and tumor morphology influenced the complete response rate to combination chemotherapy. Responders to chemotherapy had statistically improved survival as compared to nonresponders. Response to chemotherapy was an excellent predictor for subsequent response to radiotherapy. Utilizing the same combination of chemotherapy, we improved the overall response rate in those patients with recurrent and systemic cancer. Although the median survival is still poor, there is improvement of survival at 25 percentile level. Some of the important factors that may influence the response rate and the survival of these patients are performance status, previous radiotherapy, and whether the recurrence is localized or systemic.
Synthesis of bis(arylsuh'onyl)furoxans from aryl nitromethyl sulfones

The synthesis of some symmetrically substituted bis(arylsulfonyl)furoxans from aryl nitromethyl sulfones is reported.
Changing Strategies in Marketing Kenya's Tourist Art: From Ethnic Brands to Fair Trade Labels

This article explores recent changes in Kenya’s curio or handicrafts industry. In addition to a crisis in access to raw materials and a diversifying tourist market, the rise in the use of cell phones and the Internet during the early 2000s present unique challenges. Nonetheless, innovative Kenyan entrepreneurs are using these challenges to market and brand products in new ways—by representing modern global interconnectedness as “fair trade” or creatively promoting the authenticity of their products in other ways. Kenya’s artisans and traders have also adapted to diverse and complex tastes beyond the desire for an invented tradition of ethnic and “tribal” art. Cet article explore les changements recents observes dans le marche de l’artisanat au Kenya, appele aussi “curio.” En plus de la crise recente d’acces aux materiaux bruts et d’un marche touristique plus diversifie, l’utilisation de plus en plus intensifiee des telephones portables et de l’Internet depuis le milieu des annees 2000 presente des defis bien particuliers. Et cependant, certains entrepreneurs kenyans innovants contournent ces obstacles a leur profit en valorisant leurs produits de nouvelles facons. Ils utilisent la tendance de la globalisation et du concept d’inter- connectivite pour se declarer participants d’un “marche equitable,” ou pour promouvoir autrement et de maniere creative l’authenticite de leurs produits. Les artisans et les commercants du Kenya se sont egalement adaptes aux gouts plus complexes et plus diverses qui se dessinent, au dela de la simple attirance pour une tradition inventee d’un art ethnique ou “tribal.”
Analysis of Two Time-Sharing Algorithms Designed for Limited Swapping

The necessity for swapping in the operation of modern time-sharing systems constitutes the major reason for the latter's inefficiency compared to batch-processing systems. Time-sharing algorithms are discussed which are designed primarily for the reduction of swapping without intolerable changes in the waiting time distributions. A particular class of such algorithms in which conventional procedures are modified by making the quantum allocation dependent on input activity is given a more detailed treatment. In particular, queueing models corresponding to these algorithms are devised and then analyzed for the purpose of obtaining the mean waiting times conditioned on the service required. These results are then compared to those obtained for the conventional models and the comparison subsequently measured against the swapping requirements of the two classes of algorithms.
Modified Fourier‐Bessel series and finite spherical Hankel transform

In this article, the concept of modified Fourier‐Bessel series and finite spherical Hankel transforms are introduced, The application of finite spherical Hankel transforms to heat conduction is discussed.
A PROPOSAL FOR REDUCING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES WITH ECONOMICAL DIETS

Current food assistance programs are not designed to reduce a family's specific nutrient deficiencies. Consequently, the diets of families on food assistance are often no belter than the diets of low-income families not on food assistance. This paper proposes a method for reducing dietary deficiencies for low-income families that combines information about nutritious economical diets with food assistance. Under the proposed method a diet or diet supplement is computed for a family by minimizing food expenditure subject to pre-established dietary constraints. Food assistance is then used to help the family achieve the formulated diet or diet supplement. Les programmes qui distribuent des produits comestibles aux classes pauvres ne sont pas faites pour diminuer les deficiences nutritives des families. Par consequent, les regimes des families qui regoivent l'aide de ces programmes souvent ne sont pas mieux que les regimes des families qui ne recoivent pas d'aide. Ce bulletin propose un moyen de diminuer ces deficiences nutritives des classes pauvres eh donnant des renseignements a ce sujet. Un regime complet ou supplementaire est mis sur pied ou analyse pour ces families. II s'agit de minimiser les depenses alimentaires des regimes. Ces programmes sont utilisees pour aider la famille a completer le regime formule ou le regime supplementaire. Summary This paper proposes and analyzes a method for reducing nutrient deficiencies in family diets that combines nutritious economical diets and food assistance. A diet choice model is developed to explain how families select the foods in their diet. This model is transformed to a more empirically useful form in which food expenditure is minimized subject to dietary constraints. The reformulated model permits the computation of minimum-cost diets and minimum-cost diet supplements. Various types of food assistance can be used with the minimum-cost diet or diet supplements to help low-income families achieve a more nutritious and satisfying diet. A food program based on this method is likely to yield higher benefits (in terms of dietary improvements) to participating families but somewhat higher costs. In order to more accurately determine benefits and costs, it is suggested that the program be administered on an experimental basis and the benefits and costs closely monitored.
Spinoza and necessary existence

Distinguant trois sortes de problemes lies a la demonstration de l'existence de Dieu dans l'«Ethique» de Spinoza, l'A. se propose de repondre aux deux premiers concernant la difference entre l'existence necessaire de Dieu et celle de la substance, d'une part, concernant la signification et la force logique de la doctrine de l'infinite des attributs, d'autre part. Dans un troisieme temps, l'A. developpe une interpretation plausible et presente une lecture interne de la proposition 11 de Spinoza qui evite l'objection de la forme lineaire de l'argument ontologique propre a Duns Scot et a Leibniz
Inelastic scattering of low-energy electrons by spin excitations on ferromagnets.

We develop a multiple-scattering description of the inelastic scattering by spin excitations of low-energy electrons reflected from the surface of a ferromagnetic material. The scattering efficiency per unit solid angle is expressed in terms of an appropriately defined frequency- and wave-vector-dependent susceptibility of the near surface region of the crystal. The formalism may thus be applied to the scattering by either Stoner excitations, or spin waves, provided the appropriate dynamic response functions are available. We report quantitative studies of the excitation cross sections for spin waves on the Fe(100) surface, and on the Ni(110) surface. The scattering efficiencies we calculate are compared to those for exciting (short-wavelength) surface phonons on such surfaces, in electron-loss studies in the impact regime. We then comment on possible application of electron-loss spectroscopy to the study of spin excitations on magnetic surfaces, and in ultrathin films.
Error-correcting training for phoneme spotting

Error-correcting training is extended to spotting algorithms. An error measure for spotting tasks is defined, and the derivatives of that error with respect to the parameters of the spotter are derived. The derivatives are computed by modifying the backward pass of the forward-backward algorithm. The training algorithm is applicable to any hidden Markov model (HMM)-based classification task in which a frame-by-frame classifier error can be defined. Here it is applied to phoneme spotting. Preliminary experimental results have been obtained for spotting the phonemes mod r mod , mod s mod , mod t mod in the TIMIT database. Error-correcting training generally improved the spotter accuracy, reducing the miss rate by up to 30%. >
The use of neutron tomography for the structural analysis of corn kernels

Neutron tomography was studied as a technique for non-destructively analyzing the internal structure of dried corn kernels. The study had two goals: first, to determine if the analysis could identify well-known anatomical features of the kernels; and second, to determine if it could distinguish between different types and treatments of kernels. Specifically, kernels which were infected vs. uninfected with the aflatoxin-producing fungus Aspergillus flavus were analyzed. Two different varieties of corn were used: VA35 (susceptible to A. flavus infection) and GT-MAS:gk (resistant). It was found that many anatomical features of the kernels could be identified using neutron tomography, including the scutellum, endosperm, aleurone, pericarp, pedicel, coleorhizae, radical, plumule, and coleoptile. Furthermore, differences were detected between susceptible kernels that had been inoculated and those that had not. Infected kernels were found to have lower neutron attenuation in the scutellum and embryo regions, possibly caused by lower hydrogen concentrations due to fungal degradation. No systematic structural differences were detected between resistant inoculated and resistant uninoculated kernels, as expected. This study indicated that neutron tomography could be a useful technique for the structural analysis of corn, and possibly other grains or small biological objects.
Endometrial histology during use of a low-dose estrogen-desogestrel oral contraceptive with a reduced hormone-free interval.

Abstract The object of the study was to determine the effect of a new low-dose ethinyl estradiol–desogestrel oral contraceptive on endometrial histology. The oral contraceptive regimen contained fixed doses of ethinyl estradiol (20 μg) and desogestrel (150 μg) for days 1–21, placebo on days 22 and 23, and ethinyl estradiol alone (10 μg) on days 24–28. Endometrial histology was assessed in tissue samples obtained during treatment cycles 13 and 14. All endometrial samples were sent to a central laboratory for processing and evaluation. No endometrial hyperplasia or metaplasia was found in the endometrial biopsy specimens obtained during cycles 13 and 14 in a subset of 12 women participating in a multicenter efficacy and safety study. These results suggest that this oral contraceptive regimen, which includes 5 days of unopposed ethinyl estradiol, is not associated with endometrial hyperplasia or metaplasia. The endometrial histologic findings observed in this study were similar to those observed during the use of 21-day combination oral contraceptive regimens.
Instruction Scheduling for Low Power

Reducing energy consumption has become an important issue in designing hardware and software systems in recent years. Although low power hardware components are critical for reducing energy consumption, the switching activity, which is the main source of dynamic power dissipation in electronic systems, is largely determined by the software running on these systems. In this paper, we present and evaluate several instruction scheduling algorithms that reorder a given sequence of instructions taking into account the energy considerations. We first compare a performance-oriented scheduling technique with three energy-oriented instruction scheduling algorithms from both performance (execution cycles of the resulting schedules) and energy consumption points of view. Then, we propose three scheduling algorithms that consider energy and performance at the same time. Our experimentation with these scheduling techniques shows that the best scheduling from the performance perspective is not necessarily the best scheduling from the energy perspective. Further, scheduling techniques that consider both energy and performance simultaneously are found to be desirable, that is, these techniques are quite successful in reducing energy consumption and their performance (in terms of execution cycles) is comparable to that of a pure performance-oriented scheduling. We also illuminate the inherent approximations and difficulties in building energy models for enabling energy-aware instruction scheduling and explore alternative options using cycle-accurate energy simulator. The simulation results show that the energy-oriented scheduling reduces energy consumption by up to 30% compared to the performance-oriented scheduling.
Smart Phones: Platform Enabling Modular, Chemical, Biological, and Explosives Sensing

Reliable, robust, and portable technologies are needed for the rapid identification and detection of chemical, biological, and explosive (CBE) materials. A key to addressing the persistent threat to U.S. troops in the current war on terror is the rapid detection and identification of the precursor materials used in development of improvised explosive devices, homemade explosives, and bio-warfare agents. However, a universal methodology for detection and prevention of CBE materials in the use of these devices has proven difficult. Herein, we discuss our efforts towards the development of a modular, robust, inexpensive, pervasive, archival, and compact platform (android based smart phone) enabling the rapid detection of these materials.
Recognizing the Need for Prisoner Input in Correctional Research Observations from an In-Prison Driving While Intoxicated Reduction Program Evaluation

Although evaluation has become a common component of substance abuse treatment programs in correctional settings, few evaluation designs use a mixed-methodological approach and even fewer incorporate participant interviews in the data collection process. This oversight is problematic for a number of reasons, one of which is the uniquely disadvantaged position of the subjects under study (i.e., prisoners). Using data from an evaluation of an in-prison alcohol treatment program, this article illustrates the utility of the qualitative interview in correctional research. Findings suggest that interviews are capable of providing information otherwise inaccessible through quantitative designs and identifying process and management barriers to optimal program operation. Discussion centers on implications for policy and practice enhancement.
THE ANTI-SIGMA FACTORS

▪ Abstract A mechanism for regulating gene expression at the level of transcription utilizes an antagonist of the sigma transcription factor known as the anti-sigma (anti-σ) factor. The cytoplasmic class of anti-σ factors has been well characterized. The class includes AsiA form bacteriophage T4, which inhibits Escherichia coli σ70; FlgM, present in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, which inhibits the flagella sigma factor σ28; SpoIIAB, which inhibits the sporulation-specific sigma factors, σF and σG, of Bacillus subtilis; RbsW of B. subtilis, which inhibits stress response sigma factor σB; and DnaK, a general regulator of the heat shock response, which in bacteria inhibits the heat shock sigma factor σ32. In addition to this class of well-characterized cytoplasmic anti-sigma factors, a new class of homologous, inner-membrane–bound anti-σ factors has recently been discovered in a variety of eubacteria. This new class of anti-σ factors regulates the expression of so-called extracytoplasmic fun...