cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Condemned to Repetition: The United States and Nicaragua

Condemned to Repetition: The United States and Nicaragua. Robert A. Pastor. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1987. 420 pp. $12.95 (paper). ISBN 0-691-02291-7
Uncovering phonological regularity in neologisms: Contributions of sonority theory.

The sonority sequencing principle suggests that the relative sonority rank among sounds can explain intrasyllabic phoneme ordering patterns in words produced by normal speakers. Some investigators have incorporated sonority into explanations of the phonemic paraphasias and syllable structure deficits often seen in aphasic language. However, little is known about the role of sonority in constructing the bizarre words characteristic of neologistic jargonaphasia. This study examined the syllabic structure of the neologistic (and legitimate) utterances produced by three English-speaking jargonaphasics in order to determine if sonority constraints governed construction of neologisms at the level of core phonology. Results revealed that the demisyllable shapes and intrasyllabic sonority profiles of the subjects' target-related neologisms, abstruse neologisms and English words were similar to those produced by normal English speakers, as described by the theory. Results suggest that (1) sonority may be a well-di...
Investigation of long-term reproducibility of intrinsic connectivity network mapping: a resting-state fMRI study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Connectivity mapping based on resting-state fMRI is rapidly developing, and this methodology has great potential for clinical applications. However, before resting-state fMRI can be applied for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring treatment for an individual patient with neurologic or psychiatric diseases, it is essential to assess its long-term reproducibility and between-subject variations among healthy individuals. The purpose of the study was to quantify the long-term test-retest reproducibility of ICN measures derived from resting-state fMRI and to assess the between-subject variation of ICN measures across the whole brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal resting-state fMRI data of 6 healthy volunteers were acquired from 9 scan sessions during >1 year. The within-subject reproducibility and between-subject variation of ICN measures, across the whole brain and major nodes of the DMN, were quantified with the ICC and COV. RESULTS: Our data show that the long-term test-retest reproducibility of ICN measures is outstanding, with >70% of the connectivity networks showing an ICC > 0.60. The COV across 6 healthy volunteers in this sample was >0.2, suggesting significant between-subject variation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that resting-state ICN measures (eg, the correlation coefficients between fMRI signal-intensity profiles from 2 different brain regions) are potentially suitable as biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and treatment effects in clinical trials and individual patients. Because between-subject variation is significant, it may be difficult to use quantitative ICN measures in their current state as a diagnostic tool.
Deconvolution of VNIR spectra using modified Gaussian modeling (MGM) with automatic parameter initialization (API) applied to CRISM

Reflectance spectroscopy is a powerful tool for determining mineralogy in both laboratory and field experiments. Several studies indicate that reflectance spectra can be modeled as a sum of modified Gaussian functions and a continuum, which is called the modified Gaussian model (MGM). In this study, a method for automatic parameter initialization (API) for the MGM is proposed that is based solely on the spectrum being modeled. The API determines the number of Gaussians to model and their initial parameter estimates. The MGM with API has been tested with artificial, laboratory, and CRISM spectra. Initial results indicate that the method is successful on a variety of mineral spectra.
Anisotropic parametrized post-Newtonian gravitational metric field

The anisotropic generalization of the parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) gravitational metric field is made for the case of theories with energy and momentum conservation laws. Such an anisotropic metric field will generally result in two-tensor or bimetric theories of gravity in an anisotropic universe. New anisotropic 3 x 3 spatial PPN matrices are introduced into the general metric expansion. Earth gravimeter measurements strongly restrict some anisotropies, while anisotropic inertial and gravitational mass for celestial bodies result from other combinations of the PPN matrices.
Simulating heat transport of harmonic temperature signals in the Earth's shallow subsurface: Lower-boundary sensitivities

across the bottom boundary, at depths that usually range between 2 and 10 m. Boundary conditions at these depths, however, change the behavior of propagating temperature signals in a way that is not representative of the actual behavior in the Earth’s subsurface. Here we explore how the choice and depth of a lower-boundary condition influences the subsequent evolution of subsurface temperatures, given a simple harmonic surface temperature function. [3] Two studies that have investigated how the depth of the lower-boundary condition affects subsurface temperature evolution are Lynch-Stieglitz [1994] and Sun and Zhang [2004]. Lynch-Stieglitz [1994] investigated the behavior of annual signals in a land-surface model with a zero-flux lower-boundary condition imposed at 2.3 m and noted that the annual signal was attenuated less and phase shifted more with depth than what was expected; that is, the model formulation yielded subsurface temperatures that were warmer in summer and colder in winter, with maximums occurring later in the year, than what was expected in realworld conditions. Sun and Zhang [2004] provided an additional investigation of the finite-boundary effect, again focusing on the annual signal. They demonstrated behavior similar to that noted by Lynch-Stieglitz [1994] and concluded that land-surface models should place lower boundaries between 6 and 15 m, depending on the thermophysical properties of the modeled subsurface. [4] Both of the above mentioned studies used numerical land-surface models to elucidate the impact of the lowerboundary condition on simulations of subsurface heat transport and focused only on the annual signal. We take an alternative approach to this problem and employ analytic solutions of the one-dimensional thermal diffusion equation. This approach allows a more general and transparent understanding of how the depth of the lower-boundary condition impacts simulations of heat transport across a wide range of frequencies.
Soil Erosion and the Global Carbon Budget

Soil erosion is the most widespread form of soil degradation. Land area globally affected by erosion is 1094 million ha (Mha) by water erosion, of which 751 Mha is severely affected, and 549 Mha by wind erosion, of which 296 Mha is severely affected. Whereas the effects of erosion on productivity and non-point source pollution are widely recognized, those on the C dynamics and attendant emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are not. Despite its global significance, erosion-induced carbon (C) emission into the atmosphere remains misunderstood and an unquantified component of the global carbon budget. Soil erosion is a four-stage process involving detachment, breakdown, transport/ redistribution and deposition of sediments. The soil organic carbon (SOC) pool is influenced during all four stages. Being a selective process, erosion preferentially removes the light organic fraction of a low density of <1.8 Mg/m 3 . A combination of mineralization and C export by erosion causes a severe depletion of the SOC pool on eroded compared with uneroded or slightly eroded soils. In addition, the SOC redistributed over the landscape or deposited in depressional sites may be prone to mineralization because of breakdown of aggregates leading to exposure of hitherto encapsulated C to microbial processes among other reasons. Depending on the delivery ratio or the fraction of the sediment delivered to the river system, gross erosion by water may be 75 billion Mg, of which 15–20 billion Mg are transported by the rivers into the aquatic ecosystems and eventually into the ocean. The amount of total C displaced by erosion on the earth, assuming a delivery ratio of 10% and SOC content of 2–3%, may be 4.0–6.0 Pg/year. With 20% emission due to mineralization of the displaced C, erosioninduced emission may be 0.8–1.2 Pg C/year on the earth. Thus, soil erosion has a strong impact on the global C cycle and this component must be considered while assessing the global C budget. Adoption of conservation-effective measures may reduce the risks of C emission and sequester C in soil and biota. D 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Plemmyradytes shintoni, gen. et sp. nov., an Early Permian amphibamid (Temnospondyli: Dissorophoidea) from the Eskridge Formation, Nebraska

ABSTRACT The fossil vertebrate localities near Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska, have produced a diverse assemblage of amphibians from near the Permo-Carboniferous (C-P) boundary, including at least one species of dissorophoid (described here), a trimerorhachid, juvenile and adult specimens of the dvinosaur Acroplous vorax, gymnarthrid microsaur material, numerous skeletons, skulls, and isolated vertebrae assignable to two species of the lysorophian Brachydectes, and diadectid teeth. A new genus and species of amphibamid dissorophoid, Plemmyradytes shintoni, is described from the lower half of the Permian-aged Eskridge Formation (early Asselian) near Humboldt. P. shintoni is only the second amphibamid species described from the Permo-Carboniferous midcontinent sequence in the Kansas- Nebraska region. Among amphibamids, it is set apart by the following suite of characters: (1) reduction of the lateral exposure of the palatine, (2) a long, narrow supratemporal (at least twice as long as broad) roofing ...
Carl Wernicke, The Breslau School and The History of Aphasia

This and the next chapter represented my first ventures into medical history, as did another paper which appears later in this volume, ‘Wernicke’s contribution to the study of aphasia’. I did not then nor do I now consider myself a medical historian, or a historian or philosopher of science. It seemed to me, however, even as an amateur that it was important to apply some corrective views to what seemed to me to be grossly incorrect views as to the historical events, and as to the importance of certain key figures. Wernicke, like Liepmann, was a neglected figure, and Goldstein widely misinterpreted, a fact for which he was himself in good part responsible.
Did You Forget Your Password

A quantitative research surveying 390 people with different levels of expertise in computer usage was conducted to understand user behavior from three perspectives: How users make sure that the sites they are using are safe, How users deal with forgotten passwords, How secure is the “security questions”. The finding shows users’ pattern of behavior in checking security when viewing a web application, the way they deal with numerous passwords and retrieval of the forgotten password by using the security question. The research concludes that most people would be able to answer a variety of security questions for other people in their entourage. Users seem to have significantly different behaviors statistically by age group and level of expertise.
Spectrum of Ovine Immunoglobulins

SummaryThe presence of three distinct ovine Ig (IgG1, IgG2, and IgM) reported by others was confirmed and the presence of an additional Ig class, presumably IgA, was demonstrated. A fifth Ig class, possibly analogous to human IgE, was indicated by the detection of homocytotropic antibody activity which did not appear to be attributable to any of the other classes.
The influence of time and distance traveled by bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, on permethrin uptake from treated mattress liners.

BACKGROUND Residual insecticides interrupt the dispersal of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius, L.), but one of the issues encountered with residual applications is understanding the uptake of active residues by the insect. This study determined permethrin uptake by bed bugs walking on the ActiveGuard® Mattress Liner product, via a combination of video recording in arenas and gas chromatography analyses. RESULTS The best model for estimating permethrin uptake utilized a covariance model (r2 = 0.469) with two factors: time of exposure (F1,55 = 2.44, P < 0.001) and distance traveled (F1,55 = 0.30, P = 0.0460). Bed bug permethrin uptake was 15.1 (95% CI: 10.3–22.1) ng insect−1 within 1 min exposure, 21.0 (15.0, 31.0) ng insect−1 within 10 min and ≈ 42 (29.8, 60.6) ng insect−1 within ≥50 min exposure. Correcting for percentage recovery, these values would be increased by a factor of 1.21. CONCLUSION This permethrin-treated fabric provides a surface from which bed bugs begin rapidly to absorb permethrin on contact and within the first 1 cm of travel. Variability in uptake was likely a result of grooming and thigmotaxis, and future work should use quantitative methods to study behaviors and formulations that increase exposure to the toxicant. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Worthy of a Nobel: An Appreciation of John H. Jackson

If Nobel Prizes were awarded to lawyers, John Jackson would certainly have been a winner and he might have taken more than one trip to Stockholm for his landmark contributions. The first occasion would have celebrated World Trade and the Law of GATT, published in 1969, when John was a professor of law at the University of Michigan. This remarkable and even monumental treatise did several things. First, it organized in a coherent way hundreds of agreements and decisions interpreting and amending the GATT articles in the 20 years since the Protocol or Provisional Application in 1947. Second, it effectively created the law of the GATT, in the sense that legal precedents were thereafter given equal footing as political exigencies when national governments passed statutes and crafted regulations. Third, it established a framework in which small and poor countries, such as Antigua, could challenge large and rich countries, such as the USA. Fourth, World Trade and the Law of GATT gave a major boost to the discipline of international economic law, initially in US and European law schools and eventually across the globe. Fifth and finally, the treatise paved the way for GATT membership to expand—from some 40 countries at the end of the Kennedy Round in 1967, to 162 countries in the World Trade Organization (WTO) of 2015—by giving trade officials in acceding countries a comparatively quick guide to the obligations they would be undertaking. John’s second Nobel occasion might have celebrated his intellectual inspiration and unofficial diplomacy that led to the creation of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in the WTO. The creation of the DSB in 1995 was itself remarkable because the USA, and to a lesser extent, the European Union (EU), harbor an historical allergy to international courts—fearing that they might circumscribe the powers of Congress or the European Parliament. John maneuvered around these obstacles by persuading the Canadian government to propose the DSB, and by convincing Europe and the USA that their international commercial rights would enjoy greater respect under the new system. Moreover, to allay US and EU concerns, John wisely shied away from such terms as ‘court’ and ‘judges’, and instead spoke of ‘dispute
Study on ethanol fermentation from green alga

The feasibility of using green alga as the substrate to ferment ethanol is discussed in this study by investigating the effect of alga type,acid concentration and ion concentration on ethanol yield. The results demonstrated that green alga Ulva sp. was rich of glucose which had great potential to be the substrate of ethanol fermentation. The maximum ethanol concentration was up to 30 g / L and ethanol production rate reached 0. 63 g /( L·h) and ethanol yield was 37 g / kg,which were obtained when green alga was hydrolyzed with 2% sulfuric acid and p H was adjusted to 5. 5 with calcium hydroxide. In presence of enzyme,higher acid concentration practically had no help on dissolution of glucose,but had certain impact on dissolution of pentose. The concentration of sodium ion had significant effect on ethanol fermentation. A high concentration of sodium ion could inhibit ethanol production and ethanol production rate; low concentration of sodium ion could seriously inhibit ethanol production with the presence of chlorion.
Fluconazole therapy for three days interval vulvovaginal,vaginitis Clinical Observation

Objective Study the effects of fluconazole by third-day interval treatment on the vulvovaginitis and vaginitis.Methods 110 cases were randomly divided into two groups:for the treatment group,60 cases were treated by fluconazole using the third-day interval treatment(150 mg fluconazole was taken orally on the day 1,day 4 and day 7 respectively);for the control group(50 cases),150 mg fluconazole was taken orally just on the first day.Results Treatment group and control group was 86.67%,respectively,72.00%,the difference was significant(χ2=9.46,P0.05).Conclusion Third-day interval treatment of fluconazole is more efficacy and safety for the vulvovaginitis and vaginitis.
Biogeography of Vertebrates

The first vertebrates date back more than 500 million years ago, during the Cambrian explosion, and had cartilaginous internal skeletons, no functional jaws, and bony external shields. True fish with bony internal skeletons evolved more than 450 million years ago in the Ordovician and diversified further in the Devonian. Vertebrates invaded land at about 350 million years ago, giving rise to the many forms we know from extant lineages and extinct fossils. Because of the timing of their initial diversification on land, terrestrial vertebrate diversification was initially impacted by the break of Pangaea, Laurasia, and Gondwana, a process that resulted in isolation and unique early radiations of land vertebrates on individual landmasses. At the same time, clues indicating intercontinental dispersal and subsequent diversification became apparent in the fossil record; they are also now apparent in today’s time-calibrated phylogenetic analyses of extant taxa. With increased fragmentation of landmasses, isolated islands, archipelagos, and island chains became influential for determining the biogeographic patterns of terrestrial vertebrates. Insular habitat systems have disproportionately contributed to the evolutionary process of diversification of land animals. Many of the Earth’s most spectacular land vertebrate evolutionary radiations are attributed to the unique evolutionary opportunity presented by island archipelagos.
Bifurcation analysis of nonlinear retinal horizontal cell models. I. Properties of isolated cells

1. Bifurcation theory is used to study properties of nonlinear analytical and computational models of isolated retinal horizontal cells. The analytical model is based on the published data of Shingai and Christensen describing steady-state I-V characteristics of horizontal cells isolated from catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) retina. The computational model is based on I-V characteristics of distinct macroscopic membrane currents observed in horizontal cells isolated from goldfish (Carassius auratus) retina. Slow-model dynamics are analyzed assuming that excitatory processes occur rapidly with respect to the time course of inactivation of the inward Ca2+ and outward K+ currents. 2. A global bifurcation diagram plotting the location and stability properties of critical points as a function of photoreceptor-evoked horizontal-cell postsynaptic membrane conductance Gsyn is derived for the analytical model. The automated bifurcation analysis software AUTO is used to compute global bifurcation diagrams for the computational model. Bifurcation diagrams exhibit a bistable regime at small Gsyn values characterized by two stable and one unstable critical point and a monostable regime at larger Gsyn values characterized by a single globally attracting stable critical point. The transition between bistable and monostable behavior occurs at a Gsyn value of roughly 0.9 nS for the computational model and 1.7 nS for the analytical model. Estimates of horizontal-cell glutamate-channel conductance suggest that this transition corresponds to the activation of as few as 400-700 glutamate channels. Dark-evoked release of neurotransmitter from photoreceptors may therefore set horizontal-cell synaptic conductance Gsyn to a value within the monostable regime. 3. Photoreceptor-evoked horizontal-cell membrane conductance, total Ca2+ channel conductance, and inactivation of the inward Ca2+ current are shown to be the major factors controlling the bifurcation structure of the computational model. Inactivation of the inward Ca2+ current is required to account for the dark resting potential of horizontal cells as well as light-evoked hyperpolarizing responses. Inactivation of the outward K+ current has little effect on model properties. 4. Isolated horizontal cells generate Ca2+ action potentials whereas cells in the intact retina normally do not. Simple procedures for modeling the slow dynamics of isolated horizontal-cell Ca2+ action potentials are described.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Inherited Gene Mutations in Melanoma

The future of melanoma prevention and early diagnosis lies in personalized medicine. Patient-tailored management should target processes of initiation, uncontrolled proliferation, and invasion of melanocytes to abort progressive and incurable disease. Our growing knowledge of the somatic mutations in melanogenesis and the hereditary melanoma susceptibility genes is enabling clinicians to manipulate the neoplastic genotypes and develop effective treatments and raise the potential for a cure. Genomic analyses using high-throughput sequencing and comparative genomic hybridization have been instrumental in identifying these key molecules in melanomagenic pathways.
Day Habilitation Services for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers

Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) waivers are one of the largest providers of long-term services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID...
Weld Cracking Susceptibility of Alloy C-22 Weld-Metal

Presented here are results and discussion for weldability testing on Alloy C-22 weld-metal. The Transvarestraint test was used to determine the solidification cracking susceptibility of the alloy; results indicate that Alloy C-22 is resistant to solidification cracking. The STF test demonstrated that Alloy C-22 weld metal is susceptible to ductility-dip-cracking (DDC); no recovery of cracking resistance was observed at the upper end of the testing temperature range. The hot-ductility test revealed intermediate temperature ductility dips in the ductility signature of Alloy C-22. These solid-state cracking results were surprising considering the fact that Alloy C-22 is known throughout industry to be a very weldable alloy. Discussions are presented regarding the low threshold strain of the alloy, the unique manner in which the alloy does not recover cracking resistance at the upper end of the testing temperature range, and methods through which the elevated temperature ductility of the alloy might be improved.
Devaluation of Outcomes Due to Their Cost: Extending Discounting Models Beyond Delay.

The factors and mechanisms associated with choices between small rewards available immediately and larger rewards available following a delay have been the focus of research across several disciplines, due to the ubiquitous nature of these types of choice and the systematic effects of psychopathology on preferences. This chapter discusses practical issues associated with assessing this phenomenon, “temporal discounting”, including the use of rating procedures to assess the value of the delayed alternative, and conceptual issues such as the role of the possibility of nondelivery of the delayed reward. Building on the framework of temporal discounting, recent interest has been growing in effort discounting: the choice between a small, easily obtained reward and a larger, but more difficult to earn reward. The chapter describes early literature on the Principle of Least Effort, behavioral economics, and foraging theory, to demonstrate the different conceptualizations and measures of effort used in studies of effort discounting. Procedures to examine effort discounting are critically evaluated for human and nonhuman animal studies, and the distinction between cognitive effort discounting and physical effort discounting is explored. The discussion seeks both to define best practices for effort discounting tasks and to identify the knowledge gaps in this emerging field of research.
Effect of FLOWERING LOCUS C on seed germination depends on dormancy

FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) has a major regulatory role in the timing of flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. and has more recently been shown to influence germination. Here, we investigated the conditions under which FLC influences germination, and demonstrated that its effect depends on the level of primary and secondary dormancy and the temperature of seed imbibition. We tested the germination response of genotypes with different degrees of FLC activity over the course of after-ripening and after secondary dormancy induction by hot stratification. Genotypes with high FLC-activity showed higher germination; this response was greatest when seeds exhibited primary dormancy or were induced into secondary dormancy by hot stratification. In this study, which used less dormant seeds, the effect of FLC was more evident at 22°C, the less permissive germination temperature, than at 10°C, in contrast to prior published results that used more dormant seeds. Thus, because effects of FLC variation depend on dormancy, and because the range of temperature that permits germination also depends on dormancy, the temperature at which FLC affects germination can also vary with dormancy. Finally, we document that the effect of FLC can depend on FRIGIDA and that FRIGIDA itself appears to influence germination. Thus, pleiotropy between germination and flowering pathways in A. thaliana extends beyond FLC and involves other genes in the FLC genetic pathway.
Fugi - Part of a Global Early Warning System for National and International Conflicts

Abstract The new generation of FUGI global macroeconomic model (Type V) can be used as a part of a global early warning system for national and international conflicts. Using this model, three alternative future scenarios are discussed, namely (A) arms race between the US and the USSR and (B) trade conflicts between the US and Japan - West Germany (C) international cooperation. Based on comparative simulation analyses, it is expected that the world economic prospect from now to the year 2000 will be greatly improved by international cooperation as a means of international conflict resolution against aggravated trade conflicts and arms race.
Architecting Very Large, Complex Bayesian Network Simulations for Practical Airworthiness Risk Assessment Applications

Abstract While constructing practical Bayesian Networks (BN) of large, complex systems that are computationally tractable continues to be a significant challenge within the expanding BN modeling and simulation field, this paper advances methods that are changing the BN modeling paradigm from simplifying these models to reducing them by employing parent divorcing and generalized BN model development methods. We illustrate real world implementation of these concepts by reducing a large, complex cyber-physical risk assessment BN model into smaller, manageable ones able to be efficiently simulated, while identifying a newly structured approach toward appropriately weighting the integrating factors to be validated at the higher level. We apply d-connectedness techniques to maintain backpropagation and overall model integrity present in the larger, complex BN model, and use cause consequence and definitional/synthesis idioms to construct an Airworthiness BN risk assessment model, based on MIL-HDBK-516C, by implementing series and parallel networks of smaller models that simulate separately. Richer simulation results are enabled by extending the degree of model complexity able to be created and efficiently simulated within the practical capabilities of an existing commercial tool.
Counting and localizing targets with a camera network

Advances in CMOS fabrication have enabled low-cost camera nodes with limited communication and computation capabilities. By combining these capabilities within a small form-factor device, multi-camera networks can readily be built. However, cameras are high-data-rate devices, and many computer vision algorithms are computationally expensive, while these camera nodes are communication and computation constrained. In this dissertation, we present lightweight techniques for distributed scene analysis in such resource-constrained camera networks. We show that in this setting we can compute global aggregates from distributed local measurements. In particular we use the camera network to count and localize targets. Counting and localizing are useful in many applications in surveillance, security, and monitoring. Counting multiple objects is difficult because objects often occlude one another. A camera network with multiple views can resolve these ambiguities. To satisfy the resource constraints, only a subset of camera nodes can be selected to answer a query, and these nodes must perform lightweight processing and only communicate limited amounts of data. In this work, the local image processing is background subtraction and the communicated data is less than 1/10,000 of the original image size. A two-dimensional visual hull, representing the maximal spatial occupancy, is then inexpensively computed by aggregating this compressed data. The first part of the dissertation describes the counting algorithm which uses the visual hull. Upper and lower bounds for the number of objects are computed and updated under object motion, and an exact count is reached when the bounds converge. The second part describes how to select camera nodes to compute the visual hull. Selecting an optimal subset can be as effective as using all the cameras and both saves resources and increases scalability. The final part analyzes the best selection and placement of camera nodes for optimal target localization. The formulation is based on linear estimation. Uniform placement is shown to be optimal for cameras with identical noise. The analysis leads to an algorithm for camera selection. The performance of the target counting and localization algorithms is demonstrated in simulation and in real camera networks.
Maturing Religious Experience and the Postmodern Self

Past attempts to define “mature religion” have been rooted in a modernist theological anthropology which assumes an atomistic, universal, rational, and stable human self. Yet postmodernists resist universal statements about humanity and understand the “self” as an ever-changing social construct. This paper suggests a theological anthropology more adequate to the postmodern world, examines “maturing religious experience” from this perspective, and considers ways pastoral care/counseling can nurture healthy, integrative, and maturing Christian faith in postmodern culture.
Utilization of National Health Services for Maternity Care in the District of Kouande

Whereas preceding discussion has focused primarily on home deliveries, this chapter will provide a consideration of the factors influencing women to select a national health service delivery rather than a home delivery. Social characteristics of patients and health service utilization patterns will be examined in the context of the Pehunko dispensary and the 32-bed maternity clinic of Kouande. In addition I will compare mortality and morbidity in home deliveries and clinic deliveries and consider related implications for selection of birth assistance.
An Agglomerative Algorithm of Overlapping Clustering

Cluster analysis is especially concerned in algorithms for computing partitions or hierarchies on given object sets. For several economic problems and other areas however the determination of partitions representing the classification structure of data is too specific and narrow. In opposition to that given natural overlap-pings should not be suppressed. Doing so we obtain the problem how to limit overlappings.
Protein Intake and Bone Mineral Density- a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of protein intake on bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy adults, as well as its synergistic effects with calcium o...
Hardgrove grindability study of Powder River Basin and Appalachian coal components in a Midwestern power station blend

Five coals blended at a Midwestern United States power station were subjected to detailed analysis of their Hardgrove grindability. The coals, representing four distinct coal beds, are a low-sulfur, high-volatile A bituminous Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal (Pike County, Kentucky); a medium-sulfur, high-volatile A bituminous Pittsburgh coal (southwestern Pennsylvania); a low-sulfur, subbituminous coal from the northern Powder River Basin (Montana); and two low-sulfur, subbituminous Wyodak coals from two different mines located in the eastern Powder River Basin (Campbell County, Wyoming). All samples that were processed in the Hardgrove grindability tests were also analyzed for their maceral and microlithotype content. The high-vitrinite Pittsburgh coal and the relatively petrographically complex Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal exhibited different grindability behavior. The petrographic compositions of the Pittsburgh raw feed, the 16 × 30-mesh fraction (HGI test fraction) and the -30-mesh fraction (HGI test reject) are similar, suggesting that the HGI test fraction typifies the whole feed. The eastern Kentucky test sample is not as representative of the whole feed, with the HGI test fraction having lower vitrinite amounts than the rejected -30-mesh fraction. The Powder River Basin coals are high in vitrinite content and show behavior similar to the Pittsburgh coal.
A Tool for Coil Sensitivity Analysis for an Arbitrary Surface Coil near Arbitrary Spherical Sample

In this paper we provide a tool to quickly estimate the coil sensitivity of a surface coil near an arbitrary spherical sample. The tool is very fast because it relies on analytical solutions to estimate the B_1 field distribution in the sample, and the power P_c dissipated by the coil resistance and the power P_s dissipated by the induced electric fields in the sample. We have provided plots of the coil sensitivity and of the ratio P_s/P_C for several parameters such as operating frequency, coil radius, distance of the coil from the sample.
The relationship between perceived severity of stressful life events and preoperative anxiety in women undergoing surgery for suspected endometrial malignancy.

e20563 Background: Anxiety is a prominent symptom in the cancer experience. Researchers have examined the relationship between anxiety and life stress, highlighting coping style, social support, or...
Designing, Building, and Testing of a Hybrid Wavefront Sensor for Adaptive Optics

A benchtop hybrid wavefront sensor is designed and built. Running a selective operation mode routine, the wavefront sensor will be tested in the laboratory for high dynamic range and high sensitivity performance while remaining linear.
A Sparse Probabilistic Code Underlies the Limits of Behavioral Discrimination.

The cortical code that underlies perception must enable subjects to perceive the world at time scales relevant for behavior. We find that mice can integrate visual stimuli very quickly (<100 ms) to reach plateau performance in an orientation discrimination task. To define features of cortical activity that underlie performance at these time scales, we measured single-unit responses in the mouse visual cortex at time scales relevant to this task. In contrast to high-contrast stimuli of longer duration, which elicit reliable activity in individual neurons, stimuli at the threshold of perception elicit extremely sparse and unreliable responses in the primary visual cortex such that the activity of individual neurons does not reliably report orientation. Integrating information across neurons, however, quickly improves performance. Using a linear decoding model, we estimate that integrating information over 50-100 neurons is sufficient to account for behavioral performance. Thus, at the limits of visual perception, the visual system integrates information encoded in the probabilistic firing of unreliable single units to generate reliable behavior.
Comparison of Respiratory Specimen Collection Methods for Detection of Influenza Virus Infection by Reverse Transcription-PCR: a Literature Review.

ABSTRACT The detection of influenza virus in respiratory specimens from ill individuals is the most commonly used method to identify influenza virus infection. A number of respiratory specimen types may be used, including swabs, brush, aspirate, and wash, and specimens may be collected from numerous sites, including the anterior and posterior nasopharynx, oropharynx, and nares. Traditionally, respiratory specimens from the nasopharynx have been considered to have the highest sensitivity for viral detection. However, as molecular assays such as reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) have increased the sensitivity of viral detection from respiratory specimens, the use of less-invasive and easier-to-obtain specimens has increased for the detection of influenza virus. This review presents and evaluates the sensitivities of respiratory specimen methods used in epidemiologic studies that used RT-PCR to detect influenza virus in respiratory specimens from ill patients. This literature review suggested that a combination of two less-invasive swabbing methods, such as nasal and oropharyngeal swabs, had about the same sensitivity as did nasopharyngeal specimens for influenza virus detection by RT-PCR. By combining two less-invasive collection methods, it may be possible to reduce barriers to enrollment without compromising influenza virus detection sensitivity.
Environmental Factors Influencing Physical Activity Among Latino Families: A Cross-country Comparison

This study seeks to compare and contrast barriers to engage in physical activity (PA) among Latino parents in the USA and Mexico given different cultural and environmental contents. Four bilingual and bicultural trained research assistants conducted focus groups in Mexico and the USA There were 33 total participants. Twenty-one mothers were married; most participants had not completed above a high school education. Most participants were full-time stay-at-home mothers (59%). Analyses revealed several topics of discussion related to beliefs and barriers that contributed to family PA engagement: (1) walking is the most common form of PA for families in both countries; (2) parents believe people of all ages and genders can and should be physically active, but there are differences in access, opportunity, and ability; (3) major barriers to engaging in PA are different for those living in Mexico (safety concerns) than in the USA (weather constraints). These findings have implications for behavioral interventions and understanding how environmental concerns impact Latino families trying to manage healthier lifestyles. Engaging community networks and resources can be a way to combat these barriers to promote PA in all contexts.
Thermal atomic layer etching of metallic tungsten via oxidation and etch reaction mechanism using O2 or O3 for oxidation and WCl6 as the chlorinating etchant

Atomic layer etching (ALE), offering highly controlled removal of thin film materials, is considered as an enabling process technology for future development of transistor devices. The authors previously reported a thermal tungsten (W) ALE process using WF6 and O2 for temperatures ≥275 °C, and they recently discovered the opportunity for low-temperature W etching using WCl6 as the etchant instead of WF6. This article demonstrates a two-step, thermal W ALE process viable for temperatures ≥200 °C, consisting of an oxidation half-reaction with O2 or O3 and an etch half-reaction using WCl6 as the chlorinating etchant. In situ quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) analysis reveals that W ALE using O2 and WCl6 is self-limiting and proceeds at an etch rate of ∼7.3–8.2 A/cycle for temperatures between 205 and 235 °C. QCM analysis further reveals a surface dependence in the etch rate of the O2/WCl6 process, where the etch rate is the largest during the first cycle and decreases to a smaller value in later cycles. In addition, the authors show that O3 is a more effective oxidant than O2 for W ALE at lower temperatures; saturation is achieved with a much shorter exposure. Etching of W films on silicon substrates was confirmed using ex situ techniques. Overall, this study increases the understanding of surface reactions in thermal ALE and expands the range of etchants and coreactants that are useful for thermal etching of metallic thin films.Atomic layer etching (ALE), offering highly controlled removal of thin film materials, is considered as an enabling process technology for future development of transistor devices. The authors previously reported a thermal tungsten (W) ALE process using WF6 and O2 for temperatures ≥275 °C, and they recently discovered the opportunity for low-temperature W etching using WCl6 as the etchant instead of WF6. This article demonstrates a two-step, thermal W ALE process viable for temperatures ≥200 °C, consisting of an oxidation half-reaction with O2 or O3 and an etch half-reaction using WCl6 as the chlorinating etchant. In situ quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) analysis reveals that W ALE using O2 and WCl6 is self-limiting and proceeds at an etch rate of ∼7.3–8.2 A/cycle for temperatures between 205 and 235 °C. QCM analysis further reveals a surface dependence in the etch rate of the O2/WCl6 process, where the etch rate is the largest during the first cycle and decreases to a smaller value in later cycles. In a...
Robotics Enabled Autonomous and Closed Loop Trauma Care in a Rucksack

Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a critical role across all military programs of the department of defense (DoD) and is a key strategy to maintain technical superiority to peer and near-peer adve...
Vestibular Test Results of a Patient with Cerebral Microangiopathy and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia

Background Cerebral microangiopathy (CM) is a general term for small ischemic changes related to small blood vessels in the brain. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare acquired autoimmune disease that is characterized by low platelet count and increased risk of hemorrhage. We describe vestibular testing completed on a 64-year-old patient with CM and ITP presenting with complaints of general instability and listing while walking, decreased stability in dark environments, and blurred vision with head movement. Results indicated a severe loss of horizontal semicircular canal function bilaterally with a somatosensory-dependent pattern of postural instability. Purpose This case emphasizes the importance of vestibular testing to determine the level of involvement of the vestibular system in the patient's symptomatology with known CM. Due to the increased risk of severe injury in those with ITP and the unknown effects this may have on the vestibular and balance systems, what is known about the pathophysiology of ITP and possible implications are reviewed. Research Design Case report. Data Collection and Analysis Previous audiological and medical records were obtained. Vestibular testing included videonystagmography; video head impulse test (vHIT); rotational chair including sinusoidal harmonic acceleration (SHA), step velocity, SHA with fixation, and visual vestibular SHA; computerized dynamic posturography battery including sensory organization test (SOT), motor control test, and adaptation test. Results Audiological evaluation indicated a mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss bilaterally. Ocular motor evaluation results indicated abnormal “cog-wheel” like tracings in smooth pursuit, hypometric saccades with abnormally increased latencies and reduced optokinetic gain. The patient also demonstrated apogeotropic nystagmus during head/body right and head/body left positions when fixation was denied. Bilateral bithermal calorics indicated a bilateral hypofunction. Horizontal vHIT results indicated reduced gain bilaterally. SHA results confirmed significant gain reductions at all frequencies tested and step velocity results indicated reduced gain and reduced time constants during all prerotary and postrotary measures. SOT results indicated a somatosensory-dependent pattern (i.e., reduced equilibrium index scores and falls in conditions 4, 5, and 6). Conclusions These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive vestibular evaluations of patients with CM, ITP, and complaints of instability. Identification and quantification of residual peripheral vestibular function as well as central system involvement can provide significant information pertinent to falls risk reduction and vestibular rehabilitation strategies, outcomes, and goals.
Large Vessel Occlusion with Underlying Atherosclerosis: Approach and Strategy

Introduction: The majority of acute large vessel occlusions (LVOs) are typically embolic clot; however, some patients have in situ thrombosis of an underlying intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Large vessel occlusion with underlying ICAS is estimated to be approximately 10% of cases in the United States and over 30% of cases in Asia.
A social systems approach to sustainable waste management: leverage points for plastic reduction in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Global plastic production continues to increase at an exponential pace, and global waste projections show waste generation rising by 70% by 2050. Plastic waste connects to all social processes, esp...
Vaccines, Resource Allocation, and Unproven Treatments

So far, this text has examined the foundations of ethical practice in history and professionalism. We then considered several specific topics: reproductive ethics, end of life, and conscience rights. This chapter will focus on certain specific additional topics not previously discussed. We’ll begin with the fascinating subject of vaccines and their ethical controversies. We’ll then discuss ethical controversies arising during a pandemic crisis, followed by the ethics of unproven treatments.
Individual and Relationship-Level Correlates of Transactional Sex Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Malawi: A Multilevel Analysis.

Transactional sex increases HIV risk among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Understanding the individual and dyadic nature of transactional sex may provide evidence for risk reduction interventions. Multilevel logistic regression was used to cross-sectionally examine correlates of transactional sex among AGYW in Lilongwe, Malawi. Participants (N = 920) reported 1227 relationships. Individual-level associations were found between being divorced/widowed (AOR 5.07, 95% CI 1.93, 13.25), married (AOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09, 0.72), or unstably housed (AOR 7.11, 95% CI 2.74, 18.47) and transactional sex. At the relationship-level, transactional sex occurred in relationships with: non-primary primary partners (AOR 4.06, 95% CI 2.37, 6.94), perceived partner concurrency (AOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.11, 3.08), and feared violence with couples HIV testing (AOR 2.81, 95% CI 1.26, 6.29), and less likely to occur in relationships with children (AOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.06, 0.38). Multiple co-occurring social and structural vulnerabilities increase transactional sex engagement warranting the need for social protection and gender transformative approaches.