cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Visualization Techniques in AEC-BIM More than Modeling

Technology is changing the way industry does business. The construction industry is going through similar changes with the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Visualization of the entire construction process and understanding each individual assembly of materials has become a standard requirement for individuals in the construction industry. It is this visualization or BIM technology of the structure that most of the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) companies are embracing or adopting currently. BIM is taking hold of a majority of projects across the nation and all over the world. Traditional ways of visualizing buildings limited the AEC professional to individual capabilities and usually took several years to develop and master. BIM is giving everyone in the construction industry that very mental visualization much quicker. Building Information Modeling not only helps the construction professional, but is also helping the clients visualize what their building will look like when done. Visualization is not the only change occurring in the AEC industry-productivity is undergoing a drastic change as well. The benefits of BIM are occurring across the entire Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.
An ongoing saga: Endemic branchiobdellidans (Annelida: Clitellata) on translocated commercial North American crayfish

Over the last 130 years demand for crayfish has exceeded regional supplies around the world, so stocks, primarily from North America, have been imported to satisfy this need. These demands are human based and include gastronomy, sport fishing bait, food for rearing animals, educational aides, ornamentation in waterbodies, and more recently a significant increase in pet crayfish sales. The three most common commercial species from North America are Pacifastacus leniusculus, Procambarus clarkii and Orconectes limosus, although four other species are increasing in importance as they become more widely distributed. All of these crayfish in their endemic range have been reported to carry branchiobdellidan annelids. Therefore, when the crayfish are translocated, their ectosymbionts likely accompany them. Eighty-six potentially transportable branchiobdellidans are recognized in this paper, along with the distribution of six species known to have been translocated. Moreover, branchiobdellidans endemic to the translocation regions have adopted introduced crustacean hosts, which demonstrates that branchiobdellidan host species specificity is not as restrictive as many researchers believe. On the evidence to date, these translocated branchiobdellidans appear to have the same relationship and cause the same amount of damage, if any, as those on their endemic crayfish hosts. The geographical distribution of endemic branchiobdellidan—crayfish species associations are unique to each of four disjunct regions as defined by Banarescu: Euro-Mediterranean, East Asian, western North American and eastern North American; the latter includes eastward drainages from Canada to Costa Rica.
The Association Between Fathers’ Depression and Children’s Socioemotional Development: Evidence from a Longitudinal Household Survey in China

Depression is highly prevalent among parents around the world. Although there has been substantial research on maternal depression, few studies have additionally considered paternal depression and examined the independent and potentially interactive influence between paternal and maternal depression on children’s development. The objectives of this study were to investigate the unique association between paternal depression and children’s later socioemotional development, and explore whether this association was moderated by maternal depression. We used data from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the China Family Panel Studies. We used multivariable linear regression models to examine the association between paternal depression, as measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, and children’s socioemotional development, as measured using the Positive Behaviors Scale. We also explored whether there was effect modification by maternal depression. The sample comprised of 1615 children (Mage = 7.38 years; 48.5% female) and their parents. Twenty-four percent of fathers and 33% of mothers were depressed. We found that paternal depression was negatively associated with children’s socioemotional development (β = − 0.18; 95% CI − 0.31, − 0.03), controlling for maternal depression and other sociodemographic covariates. Moreover, we found that the association was moderated by maternal depression, whereby the negative association was stronger when mothers were not depressed (β = − 0.30; 95% CI − 0.52, − 0.08) versus null when mothers were depressed (β = − 0.02; 95% CI − 0.24, 0.20). Parenting interventions should promote the mental health of fathers, in addition to mothers, as a more holistic and family-based approach for improving both the wellbeing of parents and behavioral development of children.
Toward a theory of musical intelligence

This article presents an effort toward a theory of musical intelligence through a somewhat novel combination of Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences with Robert J. Sternberg’s theory o...
Comparing Neospora caninum serology results with pregnancy success and subsequent congenital infection in a South Dakota commercial cow calf herd

A 300-cow spring-calving commercial beef herd in northeastern South Dakota experienced an unusually high rate of reproductive failure in a group of home-raised and-bred first-calf heifers during the 2015 spring calving season. In the course of a small-scale case-control investigation, Neospora caninum seropositivity was associated with reproductive loss in individual animals. As a result, the herd embarked upon a prospective serologic monitoring program to better understand the dynamics of Neospora infection in the herd, including incidence rates in replacement heifer groups, correlation with pregnancy, and incidence of congenital infection.
Keynes Versus Robertson in 1936–1937: Robertson’s Mathematical Illiteracy Prevented Him From Understanding Keynes’s Is-Lm(lp) Model in the General Theory

J. M. Keynes versus D. Robertson in 1936-37 pits two opponents, one, J. M. Keynes, a highly skilled, sophisticated, mathematically advanced thinker against another, D. Robertson, who doesn’t have even an elementary background in mathematics at the grammar school level. Basically, the intellectual exchanges that take place are so completely one sided in Keynes’s favor that it is questionable whether anything written by Robertson about Keynes should even be considered worth reading. However, the exchanges do give complete support to Paul Samuelson’s long-range goal of greatly increasing the mathematical sophistication and knowledge of the average economist. Robertson’s performance is simply intellectually horrid. Robertson demonstrates repeatedly in his exchanges with Keynes that he is not able to grasp any type of mathematical analysis involving any mathematical function except a mathematical function with one independent variable and one dependent. Robertson found Keynes’s mathematical analysis to be incomprehensible. He could not understand Keynes’s IS-LM (LP) model because it involved a set of simultaneous mathematical equations in r and Y that he had no capacity to grasp because he was a Marshallian used to using the ceteris paribus assumption at both the micro and macro levels. It was impossible for Robertson to follow Keynes’s theory, even though he constantly sought the mathematical advice and help of first AC Pigou and then Harry Johnson.
Simultaneous Multislice for Accelerating Diffusion MRI in Clinical Neuroradiology Protocols

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion MR imaging sequences essential for clinical neuroradiology imaging protocols may be accelerated with simultaneous multislice acquisitions. We tested whether simultaneous multislice–accelerated diffusion data were clinically equivalent to standard acquisitions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, clinical diffusion sequences obtained before and after implementation of 2-slice simultaneous multislice acceleration and an altered diffusion gradient sampling scheme using the same 3T MRI scanner and 20-channel coil (n = 25 per group) were independently and blindly evaluated by 2 neuroradiologists for perceived quality, artifacts, and overall diagnostic utility. Diffusion tractography was performed in 13 patients both with and without 2-slice simultaneous multislice acceleration (b = 0, 1000, 2000 s/mm2; 60 directions). The corticospinal tract and arcuate fasciculus ipsilateral to the lesion were generated using the same ROIs and then blindly assessed by a neurosurgeon for anatomic fidelity, perceived quality, and impact on surgical management. Tract volumes were compared for spatial overlap. RESULTS: Two-slice simultaneous multislice diffusion reduced acquisition times from 141 to 45 seconds for routine diffusion and from 7.5 to 5.9 minutes for diffusion tractography using 3T MR imaging. The simultaneous multislice–accelerated diffusion sequence was rated equivalent for diagnostic utility despite reductions to perceived image quality. Simultaneous multislice–accelerated diffusion tractography was rated clinically equivalent. Dice similarity coefficients between routine and simultaneous multislice–generated corticospinal tract and arcuate fasciculus tract volumes were 0.78 (SD, 0.03) and 0.71 (SD, 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Two-slice simultaneous multislice diffusion appeared clinically equivalent for standard acquisitions and diffusion tractography. Simultaneous multislice makes it feasible to acquire higher angular and q-space-resolution diffusion acquisitions required for translating advanced diffusion models into clinical practice.
A randomised, controlled trial to determine the effect of levothyroxine on Standardbred racehorses.

BACKGROUND The use of thyroid supplement is pervasive in athletic horses although its effects on measures of performance are not known. OBJECTIVES One purpose of this study was to determine whether supra-physiologic doses of levothyroxine affect the velocities at which blood lactate was greater than 4 mmol/L (VLa4 ) and heart rate was over 150 (V150 ) and 200 (V200 ) beats per minute respectively. Additionally, a survey of post-race blood samples was also conducted to determine whether high thyroxine concentrations were common in racehorses. STUDY DESIGN A randomised, crossover, trial was performed in six healthy Standardbred racehorses. METHODS Study 1: T4 was determined in 50 post-race samples from a single Standardbred meet. Study 2: Research horses were trained to fitness and then randomised to one of three treatments: carrier, 0.1 mg/kg thyroxine or 0.25 mg/kg thyroxine for 2 weeks. Horses completed a standardised exercise treadmill test (SET) to fatigue on the last day of treatment. Serum free and total thyroxine and triiodothyronine were determined on the day of SET testing. Blood lactate and ECG data were collected during the SET at 6, 8, 10, 11, and 12 m/s and during recovery. The effect of treatment and SET on heart rate and blood lactate was examined using generalised linear mixed models. Post hoc analysis was adjusted for multiple comparisons using Tukey's Test. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS Study 1: The median T4 value in this population of horses was 2.00 µg/dL (laboratory's normal range 1.5-4.5 µg/dL) and 3 of 50 racehorses had values above the laboratory reference range. Study 2: Levothyroxine at 0.25 mg/kg resulted in higher heart rates during SET (199 ± 30, 223 ± 17 and 239 ± 9 bpm at 6, 8 and 10 m/s respectively) and recovery (144 ± 20 and 119 ± 15 at 5 and 15 min) as compared to placebo (176 ± 18, 203 ± 10 and 219 ± 6 bpm at 6, 8, and10 m/s and 126 ± 5, 102 ± 11 at 5-15 minutes respectively). Three of six horses developed cardiac arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation. MAIN LIMITATIONS A relatively small number of animals were used and a SET is not identical to actual racing conditions. CONCLUSIONS Supra-physiologic thyroxine supplementation caused a decreased V200 during a standard exercise test and may result in cardiac arrhythmias.
Painful chronic pancreatitis - new approaches for evaluation and management.

Purpose of review Management of abdominal pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis is often suboptimal. We review recent data on the epidemiology and new approaches for managing pain in chronic pancreatitis. Recent findings Chronic pancreatitis duration does not appear to affect the pain experience. Pain pattern in chronic pancreatitis patients frequently changes and is not related to traditional patient and disease-related factors. Psychologic comorbidities, i.e. anxiety and depression, are frequent in patients with chronic pancreatitis, and are associated with more severe pain and pain interference. Adjunctive treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, may positively influence pain management in chronic pancreatitis. Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) is an increasingly adopted treatment option in painful chronic pancreatitis. Ongoing multicenter studies will help define optimal candidates, predictors of successful pain remission and diabetes outcomes after TPIAT. Pancreatic quantitative sensory testing, a promising technique to interrogate nociception and sensory response, holds promise to identify patients with central sensitization. Initial studies show feasibility to stratify patients into defined pain profiles, and future studies will explore if these can help in prognostication of pain therapy. Summary Several lines of investigations currently under evaluation are likely to have a positive impact on the management of pain in chronic pancreatitis.
Leflunomide-induced interstitial pneumonitis: A rare occurrence in a case without underlying lung disease.

Abstract Pneumonitis from leflunomide is uncommon due to leflunomide's relatively favorable drug profile. Leflunomide-induced pneumonitis (LEIP) is a rare condition reported mainly in Asia. We present a case of LEIP from an accidental leflunomide overdose in the setting of concomitant methotrexate use and no underlying lung disease. Our patient was treated successfully with cholestyramine and steroids. Due to its high mortality, clinicians should be aware of this condition and its treatment.
Methods for dissociation, fractionation, and selective reconstitution of chromatin.

Publisher Summary Chromatin reconstitution provides a direct approach for assaying the contribution of various genome-associated macromolecules to defining the availability of specific genetic sequences for transcription. While there are several modifications of the technique, chromatin is generally dissociated in the presence of high salt-urea and then reconstituted by gradually removing the salt, followed by removal of the urea. The procedures employed for the isolation of chromatin have a very direct bearing on the final product. Chromatin could be appropriately defined by the isolation protocol. It therefore follows that the validity of chromatin as representative of the genome found in the nucleus of intact cells and the feasibility of dissociating, fractionating, and reconstituting chromatin are dependent on the method used for chromatin isolation. The chapter discusses the method used in laboratories for chromatin dissociation and reconstitution and illustrates evidence for the level of fidelity attained by the procedure.
Indoor and Outdoor Air Sampling

This chapter aims to provide information on the selection and deployment of air sampling systems for detecting biological agents in both indoor and outdoor settings. In the first half of the chapter, the most widely used collection techniques and classes of currently available instrumentation are presented along with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each. The second half of the chapter addresses field deployment and use of aerosol collection systems, including methods of choosing appropriate sites and ensuring proper sampler placement. Air sampling is performed to document the concentration and composition of airborne biocontaminants. The most important property of aerosol-dispersed biocontaminants to be considered in air sampling is their tendency to settle onto surfaces and be redispersed as a result of air movement and physical disturbance. The process of settling and reaerosolizing continues until the airborne microorganisms are removed from the environment. A wide variety of aerosol samplers and methods have been used to collect airborne biological materials in indoor and outdoor environments. Impaction is the process of forcing particles from the air onto a solid or semisolid surface. Impaction samplers are widely used for the collection of culturable airborne microorganisms. Ideally, air samplers should collect all airborne microorganisms without affecting their ability to be detected. The sampler should be well separated from nearby structures such as walls or pillars. A general rule of thumb is that the sampler should be placed at a distance of twice the height of an obstruction away from the obstruction.
The differential effects of heat‐shocking on the viability of spores from Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus subtilis, and Clostridium sporogenes after treatment with peracetic acid‐ and glutaraldehyde‐based disinfectants

This study investigated (1) the susceptibility of Bacillus anthracis (Ames strain), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 19659), and Clostridium sporogenes (ATCC 3584) spores to commercially available peracetic acid (PAA)- and glutaraldehyde (GA)-based disinfectants, (2) the effects that heat-shocking spores after treatment with these disinfectants has on spore recovery, and (3) the timing of heat-shocking after disinfectant treatment that promotes the optimal recovery of spores deposited on carriers. Suspension tests were used to obtain inactivation kinetics for the disinfectants against three spore types. The effects of heat-shocking spores after disinfectant treatment were also determined. Generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate 6-log reduction times for each spore type, disinfectant, and heat treatment combination. Reduction times were compared statistically using the delta method. Carrier tests were performed according to AOAC Official Method 966.04 and a modified version that employed immediate heat-shocking after disinfectant treatment. Carrier test results were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. PAA-based disinfectants had significantly shorter 6-log reduction times than the GA-based disinfectant. Heat-shocking B. anthracis spores after PAA treatment resulted in significantly shorter 6-log reduction times. Conversely, heat-shocking B. subtilis spores after PAA treatment resulted in significantly longer 6-log reduction times. Significant interactions were also observed between spore type, disinfectant, and heat treatment combinations. Immediately heat-shocking spore carriers after disinfectant treatment produced greater spore recovery. Sporicidal activities of disinfectants were not consistent across spore species. The effects of heat-shocking spores after disinfectant treatment were dependent on both disinfectant and spore species. Caution must be used when extrapolating sporicidal data of disinfectants from one spore species to another. Heat-shocking provides a more accurate picture of spore survival for only some disinfectant/spore combinations. Collaborative studies should be conducted to further examine a revision of AOAC Official Method 966.04 relative to heat-shocking.
Oona: an intelligent DSS for the US Coast Guard

The authors describes Oona, an intelligent decision support system (DSS) developed at the University of Pennsylvania for the US Coast Guard in conjunction with the Coast Guard R&D Center. As a DSS, Oona is a software tool that integrates data and models into a coherent system, thereby permitting more effective and economical use of application data and models. Data and models for support of vessel acquisition decisions are the primary application models currently available in Oona. These data and models are useful for cost analysis, performance analysis, and for forecasting costs and requirements. Although Oona was built with extensive use of artificial intelligence programming techniques, it is, in many ways, traditional in concept for a DSS. The authors describe some of the central model management system (MMS) design concepts implemented and/or planned for Oona. >
Ensemble, water isotope–enabled, coupled general circulation modeling insights into the 8.2 ka event

[1] Freshwater forcing has long been postulated as a catalyst for abrupt climate change because of its potential to interfere with thermohaline circulation (THC). The most recent example may have occurred about 8.2 ka ago with the sudden drainage of glacial lakes Agassiz and Ojibway into the Hudson Bay. We perform an ensemble of simulations for this freshwater release using the fully coupled atmosphere ocean general circulation model, Goddard Institute for Space Studies ModelE-R. In all cases, simulated effects include reduced ocean heat transport and enhanced atmospheric heat transport in the Atlantic, increased surface albedo (through greater low cloud and sea ice cover), and local cooling of up to 3°C. Our suite of ensemble experiments allows us to examine the importance of the initial ocean state, in particular the presence or absence of Labrador Sea Water, in controlling the magnitude and length of the climate response. Water isotope tracers included in this model provide an improved means for direct comparisons of the modeled tracer response to water isotope–based, climate proxy data. Comparison of model simulations to data implies that there was an abrupt approximate halving of Atlantic THC, hence providing strong support for the hypothesis that the 8.2 ka event was caused by an abrupt release of fresh water into the North Atlantic.
Characterization of state estimation biases

Control and operation of electric power system is based on the ability to determine the state of the system in real time. State estimation (SE) has been introduced in the 60s to achieve this objective. The initial implementation was based on single phase measurements and a power system model that is assumed to operate under single frequency, balanced conditions and symmetric system model. These assumptions are still prevalent today. The single frequency, balanced and symmetric system assumptions have simplified the implementation, but have generated practical problems. The experience is that the state estimation problem does not have 100% performance, i.e. there are cases and time periods that the SE algorithm will not converge. There are practical and theoretical reasons for this and they are explained in the paper. Recent mergers and mandated RTOs as well as recent announcements for formation of mega RTOs will result in the application of the SE in systems of unprecedented size. We believe that these practical and theoretical issues will become of greater importance. There are scientists that believe that the SE problem is scalable meaning that it will work for the mega RTOs the same way as it performs now for medium-large systems. There are scientists that they believe this is not true. The fact of the matter is that no-one has investigated the problem, let alone perform numerical experiments to prove or disprove any claims. This paper identifies a number of issues relative to SE of mega RTOs and provides some preliminary results from numerical experiments for the relation between the SE algorithm performance and the power system size.
Observations on the renal tubular reabsorption of uric acid. I. Normal pregnancy and abnormal pregnancy with and without pre-eclampsia.

Abstract 1. 1. The average plasma urate concentration and the average glomerular filtration rate of patients with mild acute toxemia are within normal limits. 2. 2. Uric acid clearance in these patients is reduced as the result of excessive tubular reabsorption of urate. 3. 3. Regardless of the severity of the toxemia, patients with pre-eclampsia commonly manifest excessive tubular reabsorption of urate.
Warfare, from Cold to Cyber

Today’s duel specters of sophisticated psychoterror and cyber warfare imperil our right to privacy and freedom. Experts warn that the cyberscape threatens to become the new war front among rival powers. Will our technology outflank our technical capacity—and our moral will—to safeguard civil liberties?
The Receptor for the Complement C3a Anaphylatoxin (C3aR) Provides Host Protection against Listeria monocytogenes–Induced Apoptosis

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive intracellular bacterium that is acquired through tainted food and may lead to systemic infection and possible death. Despite the importance of the innate immune system in fighting L. monocytogenes infection, little is known about the role of complement and its activation products, including the potent C3a anaphylatoxin. In a model of systemic L. monocytogenes infection, we show that mice lacking the receptor for C3a (C3aR −/− ) are significantly more sensitive to infection compared with wild-type mice, as demonstrated by decreased survival, increased bacterial burden, and increased damage to their livers and spleens. The inability of the C3aR −/− mice to clear the bacterial infection was not caused by defective macrophages or by a reduction in cytokines/chemokines known to be critical in the host response to L. monocytogenes , including IFN-γ and TNF-α. Instead, TUNEL staining, together with Fas, active caspase-3, and Bcl-2 expression data, indicates that the increased susceptibility of C3aR −/− mice to L. monocytogenes infection was largely caused by increased L. monocytogenes –induced apoptosis of myeloid and lymphoid cells in the spleen that are required for ultimate clearance of L. monocytogenes , including neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells. These findings reveal an unexpected function of C3a/C3aR signaling during the host immune response that suppresses Fas expression and caspase-3 activity while increasing Bcl-2 expression, thereby providing protection to both myeloid and lymphoid cells against L. monocytogenes –induced apoptosis.
Cosmic Order and Human Disorder

Being neither cosmologist nor theologian nor historian, I may be the complete expert generalist for this conference. I had better initiate my remarks with a bit of a confession—which I take to be acceptable for this audience and our readers. I was a physicist and continued my work as a philosopher. I add that I am a Jewish atheist, which should set the context of my remarks as clearly as those of our colleagues who spoke from their religious positions. My being a Jewish atheist may raise a question, since I do mean I am a Jew and not merely by origin. Is to be a Jew inconsistent as a religious tradition with being an atheist? Not so, as we shall see. Now these autobiographical remarks are relevant, so let me go on a little more.
Meta-level reasoning in deliberative agents

Deliberative agents operating in open environments must make complex real-time decisions on scheduling and coordination of domain activities. These decisions are made in the context of limited resources and uncertainty about the outcomes of activities. We describe a reinforcement learning based approach for efficient meta-level reasoning. Empirical results showing the effectiveness of meta-level reasoning in a complex domain are provided.
Mediating Risk through the International Health Regulations and Bio-Political Surveillance

The International Health Regulations (IHR) remain the primary international legal treaty specifically focused on infectious disease control. In the mid-1990s, international public health officials recognised the need to overhaul the IHR to make them more relevant to the modern world. In revising the IHR, the treaty vastly expanded the scope of reportable conditions, strengthened and widened reporting requirements, and sought explicitly to incorporate human rights considerations – all in the name of reducing transborder risks associated with infectious disease. In this article, I trace the development of the IHR as a tool for mitigating infectious disease risk and examine how well the revised version of the IHR responds to contemporary infectious disease concerns. In particular, I focus on how the IHR have expanded surveillance requirements while also recognising the need to respect international human rights.
Line-of-sight control of the CSI evolutionary model: μ control

The design, analysis, and simulation of a control law that guarantees a fine pointing performance under external disturbances and model uncertainties is investigated. This paper examines the achievable performance and modeling errors for the CSI evolutionary model structure and highlights the importance of accurate knowledge of structural frequencies and damping values for very lightly damped structures. Numerical results indicate that a limited but significant line-of-sight pointing performance robustness can be attained in spite of modeled structured and unstructured uncertainties in the system.
Distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection: what are the added risks?

Abstract Background Reported series of a distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (DP‐CAR) are either small or not adequately controlled. The aim of this analysis was to report a multicentre series of modified Appleby procedures with a comparison group to determine the relative operative risk. Methods Data were gathered through the American College of Surgeons‐National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS‐NSQIP) Pancreatectomy Demonstration Project. Over 14 months, 822 patients underwent a distal pancreatectomy at 43 institutions. Twenty of these patients (2.4%) also underwent a celiac axis resection. DP‐CAR patients were matched by age, gender, BMI, serum albumin, ASA class, gland texture, duct size and pathology to 172 patients undergoing DP alone. Results The majority of DP and DP‐CAR patients had adenocarcinomas (61% and 60%). The median operative time for a DP alone was shorter than for a DP‐CAR (207 versus 276 min, P P P Conclusion A distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection is associated with increased operative time, post‐operative acute kidney injury and a 10% operative mortality. The decision to offer a modified Appleby procedure for a body of pancreas tumour should be made with full disclosure of the increased risks.
Infrared stereo camera for human machine interface

Improved situational awareness results not only from improved performance of imaging hardware, but also when the operator and human factors are considered. Situational awareness for IR imaging systems frequently depends on the contrast available. A significant improvement in effective contrast for the operator can result when depth perception is added to the display of IR scenes. Depth perception through flat panel 3D displays are now possible due to the number of 3D displays entering the consumer market. Such displays require appropriate and human friendly stereo IR video input in order to be effective in the dynamic military environment. We report on a stereo IR camera that has been developed for integration on to an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). The camera has auto-convergence capability that significantly reduces ill effects due to image doubling, minimizes focus-convergence mismatch, and eliminates the need for the operator to manually adjust camera properties. Discussion of the size, weight, and power requirements as well as integration onto the robot platform will be given along with description of the stand alone operation.
YBCO X-band microstrip linear resonators on (1

YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// (YBCO) films on sapphire substrates have been tested for planar microwave applications such as filters and resonators. We have measured the unloaded quality factors (Q/sub 0/) of X-band microstrip linear resonators patterned into YBCO films on R-plane (1. >
An Historian’s Critique of Sustainability

The most common word-based image of sustainability is a balanced three-way relationship between the environment, society and the economy, sometimes portrayed as a triangle, sometimes as a Venn diagram. The idea is that if you consider all three equally you will have a sustainable outcome. After twenty years of use, however, it has yet to yield a radically different approach to policy, planning or business. The combination of abundant and cheap energy and an emphasis on production has resulted in the separation of economics from both social and biophysical worlds. The long-established practice of isolating the three elements makes re-associating them difficult. Even if it were possible, a more holistic approach to human welfare, both in relation to the natural and social worlds, is likely to bring societies closer to sustainability. The suggestion is that a framework that starts from the premise of providing meaningful work and meaningful lives will support the flourishing of other species as well as the human species.
Evidence for dosage compensation in parthenogenetic Hymenoptera.

Amount of DNA-Feulgen staining in individual somatic nuclei and mature sperm of the parthenogenetic wasps, Habrobracon juglandis, H. serinopae, and Mormoniella vitripennis, were determined with a scanning microdensitometer. The haploid genome for both species of Habrobracon was estimated to be 0.15–0.16×10−12 g DNA, corresponding to a molecular weight of roughly 10×1010 daltons. The haploid genome of M. vitripennis is approximately twice this value, 0.33–0.34×10−12 g, or about 20×1010 daltons. Measurements made on dividing nuclei from syncytial preblastoderm embryos of H. juglandis and M. vitripennis showed that the chromosomes of impaternate males were present in the haploid number and contained the C amount of DNA; whereas nuclei from female preblastoderm embryos contained the diploid number of chromosomes and the 2C amount of DNA. However, hemocyte and brain cell nuclei from either male or female adult wasps contained 2C and 4C amounts of DNA. Both sexes also showed equivalent levels of polyploidy (8C, 16C, or 32C) in Malpighian tubule nuclei. Therefore, in these parthenogenetic species, a mechanism must exist that compensates during later development for the initial two-fold difference in the chromatin content of somatic nuclei in haploid male and diploid female embryos. Hemocytes from impaternate Mormoniella diploid males and triploid females contain the 2C and 3C amounts of DNA, respectively. Therefore dosage compensation involves an additional cycle of DNA replication only in haploid cells, and it insures that a certain minimum quantity of DNA is received by each somatic cell.
Surgical treatment for cardiac rhabdomyomas in children

Cardiac rhabdomyomas are the most common cardiac tumor in children. These tumors may cause obstruction to blood flow, valvular insufficiency, and cardiac arrhythmias. We present two cases of cardiac rhabdomyomas in infants that were managed surgically and review the literature. Without surgical intervention, the prognosis for symptomatic cardiac rhabdomyomas is dismal, with eventual death likely due to heart failure or arrhythmias. As our two cases indicate, surgical treatment may improve this prognosis. Pediatric cardiac rhabdomyomas should be resected when the tumors cause hemodynamic compromise or cardiac arrhythmias.
Dual-Function Neuron-Based External Controller for a Static Var Compensator

The use of wide-area measurements for power system stabilization has recently been given a lot of attention by researchers and the power industry to avoid cascading failures and blackouts, such as the one in North America in August 2003. This paper presents the design of a nonlinear external damping controller based on wide-area measurements as inputs to a single dual-function neuron (DFN)-based controller. This DFN controller is specifically designed to enhance the damping characteristics of a power system over a wide range of operating conditions using an existing static var compensator (SVC) installation. The major advantage of the DFN controller is that it is simple in structure with less development time and hardware requirements for real-time implementation. The DFN controller presented in this paper is realized on a digital signal processor and its performance is evaluated on the 12-bus flexible ac transmission system benchmark test power system implemented on a real-time platform-the real-time digital simulator. Experimental results show that the DFN controller provides better damping than a conventional linear external controller and requires less SVC reactive power. The damping performance of the DFN controller is also illustrated using transient energy calculations.
CROSS-SECTION PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS

The notion of cross-section probability distributions is introduced as a natural extension of the optical model concept. The example chosen to clarify this motion is that of the completely soluble picket fence'' model in which the ings between the widths of flne structure levels are assumed to be constant. The discussion is confined to S waves. The differential cross section probability distribution is shown for various parameter values. From the plot, it is highly probable that the cross section takes on either a minimum or maximum value and not so probable that it will be found between the minimum or maximum values. (H.D.R.)
Trade, taxes, and tribute: Market liberalizations and the new importers in West Africa

This paper examines dynamics of state-business relations in the era of trade liberalization in Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire. It challenges the orthodox view that replacing nontariff barriers (such as licenses and quotas) with tariffs depoliticizes trade, reduces commercial rent-seeking activities, and creates a level playing field which will encourage underground activities to surface, allowing the state to capture more revenue. The paper illustrates that liberalization failed to suppress commercial rent-seeking, helped to encourage the ascendancy of new politically connected merchant groups (the Mourides in Senegal and the Lebanese in Cote d'Ivoire), and to some degree increased tax evasion leading to the further erosion of state revenue flows. The cases show that trade-centered rentierism is rooted in structural features of these West African economies.
Differential transmission of strains of cucumber mosaic virus by aphids.

Abstract Four strains of cucumber mosaic virus were studied in an attempt to determine the reasons for differences in efficiency of their transmission by Myzus persicae . Two strains, Wis. 102 and C-1, were transmitted efficiently from tobacco to tobacco, while strains MCJ and Wis. 14 were rarely transmitted. Wis. 14 was always present in lower concentrations in the plant than the other strains. Strain MCJ was present in as high a concentration as Wis. 102 and C-1, in both epidermal and whole leaf tissue. Tests with leaves systemically infected for different periods showed different trends in transmissibility of virus by aphids. For the two readily transmissible strains, transmission rose rapidly and remained at a relatively constant level. The MCJ strain showed either of two patterns. In some experiments no transmission or extremely low transmission occurred at any time. In others, the virus was transmitted efficiently for a period of 1–3 days, after which it was not transmitted at all. There was no correlation between virus concentration and aphid transmissibility. Wis. 14 was either not transmitted, or was transmitted at an extremely low level. Purified MCJ was transmitted as efficiently as purified Wis. 102 and C-1, indicating that the virus itself is intrinsically transmissible.
L/sub p/ stability and delay robustness of network flow control

This paper studies robustness of Kelly's source and link control laws with respect to disturbances and time-delays. This problem is of practical importance because of unmodeled flows, and propagation and queueing delays, which are ubiquitous in networks. We first show L/sub p/-stability, for p /spl isin/ [l,/spl infin/], with respect to additive disturbances. We pursue L/sub /spl infin//-stability within the input-to-state stability (ISS) framework of Sontag which makes explicit the vanishing effect of initial conditions. Next, using this ISS property and a loop transformation, we prove that global asymptotic stability is preserved for sufficiently small time-delays in forward and return channels. For larger delays, we achieve global asymptotic stability by scaling down the control gains as in Paganini et al.
Emulsion Polymerization in a Hybrid Carbon Dioxide/Aqueous Medium

The development of a new reaction medium is reported, based on a biphasic mixture of carbon dioxide and water for emulsion polymerizations: a surfactant-free aqueous emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate using potassium persulfate under a varying head pressure of CO2 (0−350 bar) at 75 °C. The resulting polymer is a stable latex with particles of submicron size. The effect of CO2 on polymerization is relatively small, until there is a significant change at high CO2 pressure. This is seen by examining the molecular weight distribution in the form of the log(number distribution), P(M) (readily obtained by GPC). At pressures of 140 bar and below, the P(M) show the form expected for chain-stopping events dominated by transfer and by diffusion-controlled termination. At 280 bar, ln P(M) is significantly steeper than its lower-pressure counterpart at relatively low conversion (45%). This is attributed to swelling by supercritical CO2 reducing the viscosity of the particles, allowing more rapid termination.
ERBIUM FIBER LASER AMPLIFIER AT 1.55µm WITH PUMP AT 1.49µm AND Yb SENSITIZED Er OSCILLATOR

The first erbium glass lasers at 1.54μm were made from alkali, alkaline earth silicates with ytterbium added as a sensitizer.1 They were used primarily as Q-switched oscillators for eye safe range finders.2,3 With the demonstration of CW fiber lasers doped with Nd in low loss glass,4 there followed considerable activity with CW fiber lasers with the rare earths that had lased.
Intrinsic 1/f noise in a superconductor strip

Abstract A widely used configuration in superconductivity-based electronics is a thin superconductor strip in the presence of a normally incident magnetic field. For a weak magnetic field, close to the vortex-penetration threshold field, the vortex-penetration potential consists of a moderate ridge near the mid-strip line and two minima along the strip edges. The low-frequency electric-field noise generated by thermally activated vortex hops between these two minima is derived for the case where the minima extensions substantially exceed that of the vortex core. The ensuing noise shape spectrum is approximately `1/ f ' for a `wide' strip, and a plateau followed by a drop at higher frequencies for a `narrow' strip. Corresponding flux noise is estimated in two instances. Since this noise is a consequence of the strip geometry and not depending on material defects, it is predicted to be omnipresent and its magnitude constitutes a lower noise-level limit.
Thin‐layer Drying of Parboiled Rice at Elevated Temperatures

Experiments were conducted to dry thin layers of long-grain parboiled rice at air temperatures ranging from 38–158°C and relative humidities from 0.3–80%. A series solution of the diffusion equation, considering long-grain rice as infinite cylinder, was used to express the moisture ratio. During thin-layer drying experiments it was necessary to develop a computational method to determine the relative humidity of air above 100°C without the use of wet bulb temperature measurements. An empirical exponential expression for moisture ratio gave the best fit to the drying data at all conditions. Parboiled rice was found to have higher values of effective diffusivity than raw rice.
Change Through Empowerment Processes: Women's stories from South Asia and Latin America

Using two case studies, one of a woman in South Asia, the other, a Latin American woman now living in the USA, the paper identifies both obstacles and facilitators that have shaped their lives and their paths to empowerment. The authors present a model for understanding the processes of empowerment and change, especially change facilitating gender equity. This model recognises a dialectic process involving people's subjective perspectives and the ideologies, policies, structures and institutions in their public environments. It extends and problematises discussion of empowerment and change that can create more gender equity. Data for the two case studies were gathered through qualitative strategies, informed by critical feminist theory, as part of two broader research projects.
Growth, Yield, Quality, and Economics of Corn Silage under Different Row Spacings

Corn (Zea mays L.) silage in the northeastern USA yields more in narrow (0.38 m) than conventional (0.76 m) rows. Dairy producers, however, have considered converting from conventional to twin rows (0.19 m on 0.76 m centers) because twin rows are more compatible than narrow rows for herbicide application on glyphosate-resistant corn. Two hybrids were planted in field-scale studies in New York in 2003 and 2004 to evaluate growth, yield, quality, and economics of corn silage under conventional, narrow, and twin row production systems. Narrow rows had greater dry matter yield (17.6 Mg ha -1 ) than twin (17.2 Mg ha -1 ) and conventional rows (16.6 Mg ha -1 ). Row spacing did not affect in vitro true digestibility. Narrow and twin rows had greater fixed and variable costs associated with equipment requirements. Partial budget analyses indicated greater expected increases in annual profit with the conversion from conventional to narrow rows for 262 ($18 201) and 525 ha ($38 317) or to twin rows for 262 ($8246) and 525 ha ($17 584) of corn silage. The use of glyphosate-resistant corn in twin rows may provide an advantage by delaying herbicide application until mid-June, thereby increasing the probability of a timely first harvest of perennial forages. Dry matter content at harvest averaged 326 g kg -1 in narrow versus 314 g kg -1 in twin rows, increasing the probability of corn silage harvest before a fall frost. Dairy producers should consider economics and timely harvests when considering corn silage row-spacing systems.
Psychological aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Research on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has not identified a definitive cause or treatment but psychological aspects have been noted.
Impact wear phenomena in thin polymer films

Abstract Impact wear testing of a variety of thin polymers has shown the wear process to be governed either by thermal effects during hammer contact or by a state of “overstress”. Considering the former, a semiquantitative approach showed the major heat source to be fretting motion during contact. Considering the latter, the impact stress distribution appears to be greatly influenced by plasticity in the polymer. Laminar wear often contributes to the initial scar formation.