bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Congenitally decorticate children’s potential and rights
Authors: Andersson Anna-Karin Margareta
Published: September 2020

This article is the first indepth ethical analysis of empirical studies that support the claim that children born without major parts of their cerebral cortex are capable of conscious experiences and have a rudimentary capacity for agency. Congenitally decorticate children have commonly been classified as persistently vegetative, with serious consequences for their well-being and opportunities to flourish. The paper begins with an explication of the rights-based normative framework of the argument, including conceptual analysis of the terms ‘agency’, ‘potentiality for agency’ and ‘gradual approach of agency’. It critically examines Alan Gewirth’s account of the criteria for being a rights bearer and principles for settling rights conflicts between agents and potential agents. It then applies the rights-based normative framework to the ethical challenges associated with care for congenitally decorticate children. It argues that recent empirical studies support the claim that the concepts ‘potential for agency’ and ‘capacity for rudimentary agency’ apply to children who are born without major parts of their cerebral cortex. The article finally discusses important medical ethical implications of these results. It specifically focuses on congenitally decorticate children’s preparatory rights to a stimulating intellectual and social environment.
Preperiodicity and systematic extraction of periodic orbits of the quadratic map
Authors: Gallas Jason A. C.
Published: September 2020

Iteration of the quadratic map produces sequences of polynomials whose degrees explode as the orbital period grows more and more. The polynomial mixing all 335 period-12 orbits has degree [Formula: see text], while for the [Formula: see text] period-20 orbits the degree rises already to [Formula: see text]. Here, we show how to use preperiodic points to systematically extract exact equations of motion, one by one, without any need for iteration. Exact orbital equations provide valuable insight about the arithmetic structure and nesting properties of towers of algebraic numbers which define orbital points and bifurcation cascades of the map.
Electron propagator solution for an inhomogeneous magnetic field in the momentum space representation
Authors: Hamdi H. , Benzair H.
Published: September 2020

The relativistic quantum mechanics of the electron in an inhomogeneous magnetic field problem is solved exactly in terms of the momentum space path integral formalism. We adopt the space–time transformation methods, which are [Formula: see text]-point discretization dependent, to evaluate quantum corrections. The propagator is calculated, the energy eigenvalues and their associated curves are illustrated. The limit case is then deduced for a small parameter.
Object Tracking in Satellite Videos Based on a Lightweight Network
Authors: Sui Bing , Xu Meng , Li Dongdong
Published: September 2020

Object tracking is a hot topic in computer vision. The significantly developed satellite video technology makes object tracking in satellite videos possible. In recent years, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based trackers have achieved satisfying performance in the visual object tracking field. However, CNN cannot be directly applied to object tracking in satellite videos due to the following two reasons. First, the feature map size generally decreases as the network layer deepens, which is unsuitable for the small targets in satellite videos. Second, CNN-based trackers commonly need extensive data to train the network parameters, while few labeled satellite videos are available. Therefore, in this paper, we design a lightweight network for the satellite video tracking task. On one hand, the network generates a response map with the same size as the input image and reserves the spatial resolution of targets. On the other hand, the network parameters are transferred from an existing network and trained with the initial annotated frame, thus no extra data are needed. To make a fair comparison between existing trackers, we further propose a simulated benchmark based on the UAV123 dataset according to the imaging characteristics of satellite videos. Experiments are conducted to compare our method with other state-of-the-art trackers on both the simulated benchmark and real satellite videos and experimental results demonstrate the superiority of our proposed algorithm.
An Ultra-Wideband 0.1–6.1 GHz Low Noise Amplifier in 180 nm CMOS Technology
Authors: Bidabadi Farshad Shirani , Mir-Moghtadaei Sayed Vahid
Published: September 2020

In this paper, an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) low noise amplifier (LNA) with low power consumption and high-power gain in 180[Formula: see text]nm CMOS technology is presented. An innovative combination of conventional methods to design UWB-LNA, i.e., resistive-feedback, inductive-series peaking, noise cancelling and inductive degeneration techniques is described here. The proposed LNA consists of two common source amplifiers with resistive feedback in which the noise and power consumption have been reduced by using the noise cancelling and current reuse techniques, respectively. Also, resistive feedback in the first stage reduces input resistance, hereby improving input impedance matching. In the second stage, which is used to increase the power gain, a common source structure with inductive-series peaking and noise cancellation techniques is used. The analytical results agree well with the post layout simulation results. The post-layout simulation shows a gain of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]dB and noise figure (NF) of 2.3[Formula: see text]dB in the whole [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]dB bandwidth of 0.1[Formula: see text]GHz to 6.1[Formula: see text]GHz, while the S11 and S22 are less than [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]dB. The proposed circuit has a figure of merit of 9.9 which is significantly improved compared to the previous works. The total power dissipation is only 7.3[Formula: see text]mW, and the active area is less than 0.7[Formula: see text]mm2.
Distance-Based Consistency Measure and Priority Weights of Best-Worst Multi-Criteria Decision Making Method
Authors: Feng Xiang-Qian , Pang Xiao-Dong , Wei Cui-Ping
Published: September 2020

Best-Worst method (BWM) is a new multi-criteria decision-making method based on pairwise comparisons, but only the comparisons concerning the best and the worst alternatives or criteria. This method shows some significant advantages in the simplicity with a less requirement of comparison data and reliability with better consistency. This paper proposes a new consistency measure method based on the distance of the vectors of reference comparisons in BWM because the difference of the preference in two vectors directly affects the reliability of results. Through the establishment of the threshold of consistency ratio, we supplement the definition of satisfactory consistency of the comparisons in BWM. With comparisons satisfying the acceptable consistency, we use linear programming models to find all possible priority weights between the preferences given by decision maker and derive interval weights. For comparisons with unacceptable consistency, another approach is presented to find the interval weights meeting the consistent requirement. At last, several examples are used to illustrate the details of process.
SURFACE MODIFICATION BY ELECTRO-DISCHARGE MACHINING USING POWDER METALLURGY ELECTRODE: A REVIEW
Authors: RAO S. V. V. N. SIVA , BHAVANI THARRA , NATH RAHUL KANTI , MAJI PABITRA , GHOSH SUBRATA KUMAR , BARMA JOHN DEB
Published: September 2020

Since the last two decades, many novel techniques have evolved from electro-discharge machining (EDM). Among them, surface modification is one of the rigorously growing technologies by which surface properties can be enhanced by providing a layer having a thickness up to some microns on the workpiece. Existence of tool material on the machined surface after EDM was observed previously. This attribute of EDM makes it a benchmark in surface modification technology. Surface modification in EDM can be done by using different types of electrodes like solid, powder metallurgy (P/M), brush type, etc. This phenomenon can also be acquired by suspending powder particles into dielectric media. However, P/M electrode gives superior results with less effort and also proves to be economical. In this paper, a review has been made on using P/M electrode in surface modification during EDM. The different types of electrodes for surface modification, development of P/M electrode, types of layers generated and surface roughness improvement are critically analyzed. Also, some scope for future works is suggested here.
CLASSIFICATION OF IMMUNE SUBSETS IN SYNOVIAL FLUID OF ADVANCED OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS
Authors: Sekar Molly G. , Lawrence Kiley A. , Essman Matthew T. , Valente Thomas , Hurst Katie E. , Barfield William , Leddy Lee R. , Walton Zeke J. , Thaxton Jessica E.
Published: September 2020

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of morbidity affecting 54 million Americans per year at an annual cost of 304 billion dollars to the US healthcare system. OA is characterized as a disease of joint wear and tear, but mounting evidence suggests a role for aberrant activation of immunity to contribute to disease progression. Methods: We hypothesized that OA patients have differential profiles of immunity between peripheral and synovial compartments as an indication that in situ immunity is affected by OA or vice versa. We used FACS analysis to phenotype T cell and myeloid populations between peripheral and synovial compartments from 16 patients undergoing total joint replacement due to advanced OA. Results: Our finding that Foxp3[Formula: see text] T regulatory (Tregs) increasingly comprise SF immunity of OA patients is novel ([Formula: see text]). Though the periphery harbored greater numbers of lymphocyte and myeloid cells compared to synovial fluid ([Formula: see text]), the synovial fluid revealed elevated percentages of myeloid (Cd11b[Formula: see text]) cells that comprised the CD45[Formula: see text] population ([Formula: see text]). Further, characterization elucidated that CD45/CD11b/CD14[Formula: see text]/CD15- cells upregulated HLADR in the affected synovial fluid ([Formula: see text]) and that these cells increase expression of CD68 ([Formula: see text]). Conclusions: Our data indicate that the affected joint space in OA patients harbors phenotypically distinct T-cell and myeloid populations compared to autologous-matched peripheral immunity. The contribution of aberrant immune populations to development and progression of OA is of interest for novel immunotherapies.
A Digital Beamformer for the PHAROS2 Phased Array Feed
Authors: Melis A. , Chiello R. , Comoretto G. , Concu R. , Magro A. , Naldi G. , Navarrini A. , Poddighe A. , Pupillo G. , Schilliro F. , Adami K. Zarb
Published: September 2020

PHased Arrays for Reflector Observing Systems (PHAROS) is a C-band (4–8[Formula: see text]GHz) Phased Array Feed (PAF) receiver designed to operate from the primary focus of a large single-dish radio astronomy antenna. It consists of an array of 220-element Vivaldi antennas ([Formula: see text] polarization), cryogenically cooled at roughly 20[Formula: see text]K along with low noise amplifiers (LNAs), and of analogue beamformers cryogenically cooled at roughly 80[Formula: see text]K. PHAROS2, the upgrade of PHAROS, is a PAF demonstrator developed in the framework of the Square Kilometer Array Advanced Instrumentation Program (SKA AIP) with the goal of investigating the potential of the PAF technologies at high frequencies in view of their possible application on the SKA dish telescopes. The PHAROS2 design includes new cryogenically cooled LNAs with state-of-the-art performance, a digital beamformer capable of synthesizing four beams from a sub-array of 24 single-polarization antenna elements, and a C-band multi-channel Warm Section receiver capable of analogue filtering and down-converting the signals from the antennas to a suitable frequency range at the input of the digital backend, providing an instantaneous bandwidth of 275[Formula: see text]MHz for each signal. In this paper, we describe the design and performance of the PHAROS2 digital backend/beamformer, based on the Italian Tile Processing Module (ITPM) hardware, which was initially developed for the SKA Low Frequency Aperture Array (LFAA). The backend was adapted to perform the beamforming for our PAF application. We describe the implementation of the beamformer on the Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) of the ITPM and how the backend was successfully used to synthesize four independent beams, both in the laboratory (across the entire 275[Formula: see text]MHz instantaneous bandwidth) and during on-field observations at the BEST-2 array (across 16[Formula: see text]MHz instantaneous bandwidth), which is a subset of the Northern Cross Radio Telescope (located in the district of Bologna, Italy). The beamformer design allows re-scaling to a greater number of beams and wider bandwidths.
A Tour through the Visualization Zoo
Authors: Heer Jeffrey , Bostock Michael , Ogievetsky Vadim
Published: September 2020

Thanks to advances in sensing, networking, and data management, our society is producing digital information at an astonishing rate. According to one estimate, in 2010 alone we will generate 1,200 exabytes - 60 million times the content of the Library of Congress. Within this deluge of data lies a wealth of valuable information on how we conduct our businesses, governments, and personal lives. To put the information to good use, we must find ways to explore, relate, and communicate the data meaningfully.
How Will Astronomy Archives Survive the Data Tsunami?
Authors: Berriman G. Bruce , Groom Steven L.
Published: September 2020

Astronomy is already awash with data: currently 1 PB of public data is electronically accessible, and this volume is growing at 0.5 PB per year. The availability of this data has already transformed research in astronomy, and the STScI now reports that more papers are published with archived data sets than with newly acquired data. This growth in data size and anticipated usage will accelerate in the coming few years as new projects such as the LSST, ALMA, and SKA move into operation. These new projects will use much larger arrays of telescopes and detectors or much higher data acquisition rates than are now used. Projections indicate that by 2020, more than 60 PB of archived data will be accessible to astronomers.
Browser Security Case Study: Appearances Can Be Deceiving
Authors: Grossman Jeremiah , Livshits Ben , Bace Rebecca , Neville-Neil George
Published: September 2020

It seems every day we learn of some new security breach. It’s all there for the taking on the Internet: more and more sensitive data every second. As for privacy, we Facebook, we Google, we bank online, we shop online, we invest online& we put it all out there. And just how well protected is all that personally identifiable information? Not very.
The Antifragile Organization
Authors: Tseitlin Ariel
Published: September 2020

Failure is inevitable. Disks fail. Software bugs lie dormant waiting for just the right conditions to bite. People make mistakes. Data centers are built on farms of unreliable commodity hardware. If you’re running in a cloud environment, then many of these factors are outside of your control. To compound the problem, failure is not predictable and doesn’t occur with uniform probability and frequency. The lack of a uniform frequency increases uncertainty and risk in the system. In the face of such inevitable and unpredictable failure, how can you build a reliable service that provides the high level of availability your users can depend on?
Best Practices on the Move: Building Web Apps for Mobile Devices
Authors: Nicolaou Alex
Published: September 2020

If it wasn’t your priority last year or the year before, it’s sure to be your priority now: bring your Web site or service to mobile devices in 2013 or suffer the consequences. Early adopters have been talking about mobile taking over since 1999 - anticipating the trend by only a decade or so. Today, mobile Web traffic is dramatically on the rise, and creating a slick mobile experience is at the top of everyone’s mind. Total mobile data traffic is expected to exceed 10 exabytes per month by 2017.
Toward Software-defined SLAs
Authors: Lango Jason
Published: September 2020

The public cloud has introduced new technology and architectures that could reshape enterprise computing. In particular, the public cloud is a new design center for enterprise applications, platform software, and services. API-driven orchestration of large-scale, on-demand resources is an important new design attribute, which differentiates public-cloud from conventional enterprise data-center infrastructure. Enterprise applications must adapt to the new public-cloud design center, but at the same time new software and system design patterns can add enterprise attributes and service levels to public-cloud services.
Design Exploration through Code-generating DSLs
Authors: Svensson Bo Joel , Sheeran Mary , Newton Ryan
Published: September 2020

DSLs (domain-specific languages) make programs shorter and easier to write. They can be stand-alone - for example, LaTeX, Makefiles, and SQL - or they can be embedded in a host language. You might think that DSLs embedded in high-level languages would be abstract or mathematically oriented, far from the nitty-gritty of low-level programming. This is not the case. This article demonstrates how high-level EDSLs (embedded DSLs) really can ease low-level programming. There is no contradiction.
Outsourcing Responsibility
Authors: Neville-Neil George
Published: September 2020

Dear KV, I’ve been assigned to help with a new project and have been looking over the admittedly skimpy documentation the team has placed on the internal wiki. I spent a day or so staring at what seemed to be a long list of open-source projects that they intend to integrate into the system they have been building, but I couldn’t find where their original work was described. I asked one of the project team members where I might find that documentation and was told that there really isn’t much that they need to document, because all the features they need are available in various projects on github.
Productivity in Parallel Programming: A Decade of Progress
Authors: Richards John T. , Brezin Jonathan , Swart Calvin B. , Halverson Christine A.
Published: September 2020

In 2002 DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) launched a major initiative in HPCS (high-productivity computing systems). The program was motivated by the belief that the utilization of the coming generation of parallel machines was gated by the difficulty of writing, debugging, tuning, and maintaining software at peta scale.
Model-based Testing: Where Does It Stand?
Authors: Binder Robert V. , Legeard Bruno , Kramer Anne
Published: September 2020

You have probably heard about MBT (model-based testing), but like many software-engineering professionals who have not used MBT, you might be curious about others’ experience with this test-design method. From mid-June 2014 to early August 2014, we conducted a survey to learn how MBT users view its efficiency and effectiveness. The 2014 MBT User Survey, a follow-up to a similar 2012 survey, was open to all those who have evaluated or used any MBT approach. Its 32 questions included some from a survey distributed at the 2013 User Conference on Advanced Automated Testing. Some questions focused on the efficiency and effectiveness of MBT, providing the figures that managers are most interested in. Other questions were more technical and sought to validate a common MBT classification scheme. A common classification scheme could help users understand both the general diversity and specific approaches. The 2014 survey provides a realistic picture of the current state of MBT practice. This article presents some highlights of the survey findings.
Go Static or Go Home
Authors: Vixie Paul
Published: September 2020

Most current and historic problems in computer and network security boil down to a single observation: letting other people control our devices is bad for us. At another time, I’ll explain what I mean by "other people" and "bad." For the purpose of this article, I’ll focus entirely on what I mean by control. One way we lose control of our devices is to external distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, which fill a network with unwanted traffic, leaving no room for real ("wanted") traffic. Other forms of DDoS are similar: an attack by the Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC), for example, might not totally fill up a network, but it can keep a web server so busy answering useless attack requests that the server can’t answer any useful customer requests. Either way, DDoS means outsiders are controlling our devices, and that’s bad for us.
Hadoop Superlinear Scalability
Authors: Gunther Neil , Puglia Paul , Tomasette Kristofer
Published: September 2020

We often see more than 100 percent speedup efficiency! came the rejoinder to the innocent reminder that you can’t have more than 100 percent of anything. But this was just the first volley from software engineers during a presentation on how to quantify computer system scalability in terms of the speedup metric. In different venues, on subsequent occasions, that retort seemed to grow into a veritable chorus that not only was superlinear speedup commonly observed, but also the model used to quantify scalability for the past 20 years failed when applied to superlinear speedup data.
More Encryption Means Less Privacy
Authors: Kamp Poul-Henning
Published: September 2020

When Edward Snowden made it known to the world that pretty much all traffic on the Internet was collected and searched by the NSA, GCHQ (the UK Government Communications Headquarters) and various other countries’ secret services as well, the IT and networking communities were furious and felt betrayed.
Should You Upload or Ship Big Data to the Cloud?
Authors: Date Sachin
Published: September 2020

It is accepted wisdom that when the data you wish to move into the cloud is at terabyte scale and beyond, you are better off shipping it to the cloud provider, rather than uploading it. This article takes an analytical look at how shipping and uploading strategies compare, the various factors on which they depend, and under what circumstances you are better off shipping rather than uploading data, and vice versa. Such an analytical determination is important to make, given the increasing availability of gigabit-speed Internet connections, along with the explosive growth in data-transfer speeds supported by newer editions of drive interfaces such as SAS and PCI Express. As this article reveals, the aforementioned "accepted wisdom" does not always hold true, and there are well-reasoned, practical recommendations for uploading versus shipping data to the cloud.
Standing on Distributed Shoulders of Giants
Authors: Helland Pat
Published: September 2020

If you squint hard enough, many of the challenges of distributed computing appear similar to the work done by the great physicists. Dang, those fellows were smart! Here, we examine some of the most important physics breakthroughs and draw some whimsical parallels to phenomena in the world of computing... just for fun.
Fresh Starts
Authors: Matsudaira Kate
Published: September 2020

I love fresh starts. Growing up, one of my favorite things was starting a new school year. From the fresh school supplies to the promise of a new class of students, teachers, and lessons, I couldn’t wait for summer to be over and to go back to school. The same thing happens with new jobs. They reinvigorate you, excite you, and get you going.
Research for Practice: Distributed Transactions and Networks as Physical Sensors
Authors: Zhang Irene , Adib Fadel
Published: September 2020

First, Irene Zhang delivers a whirlwind tour of recent developments in distributed concurrency control. If you thought distributed transactions were prohibitively expensive, Irene’s selections may prompt you to reconsider: the use of atomic clocks, clever replication protocols, and new means of commit ordering all improve performance at scale. Second, Fadel Adib provides a fascinating look at using computer networks as physical sensors. It turns out that the radio waves passing through our environment and bodies are subtly modulated as they do so. As Fadel’s selection shows, new techniques for sensing and interpreting these modulations allow us to perform tasks previously reserved for science fiction: seeing through walls, performing gesture recognition, and monitoring breathing.
Heterogeneous Computing: Here to Stay
Authors: Zahran Mohamed
Published: September 2020

Mentions of the buzzword heterogeneous computing have been on the rise in the past few years and will continue to be heard for years to come, because heterogeneous computing is here to stay. What is heterogeneous computing, and why is it becoming the norm? How do we deal with it, from both the software side and the hardware side? This article provides answers to some of these questions and presents different points of view on others.
The Calculus of Service Availability
Authors: Sloss Benjamin Treynor , Dahlin Mike , Rau Vivek , Beyer Betsy
Published: September 2020

Most services offered by Google aim to offer 99.99 percent (sometimes referred to as the "four 9s") availability to users. Some services contractually commit to a lower figure externally but set a 99.99 percent target internally. This more stringent target accounts for situations in which users become unhappy with service performance well before a contract violation occurs, as the number one aim of an SRE team is to keep users happy. For many services, a 99.99 percent internal target represents the sweet spot that balances cost, complexity, and availability. For some services, notably global cloud services, the internal target is 99.999 percent.
Network Applications Are Interactive
Authors: Alappatt Antony
Published: September 2020

The miniaturization of devices and the prolific interconnectedness of these devices over high-speed wireless networks is completely changing how commerce is conducted. These changes (a.k.a. digital) will profoundly change how enterprises operate. Software is at the heart of this digital world, but the software toolsets and languages were conceived for the host-based era. The issues that already plague software practice (such as high defects, poor software productivity, information vulnerability, poor software project success rates, etc.) will be more profound with such an approach. It is time for software to be made simpler, secure, and reliable.
Private Online Communication; Highlights in Systems Verification
Authors: Kwon Albert , Wilcox James
Published: September 2020

First, Albert Kwon provides an overview of recent systems for secure and private communication. Second, James Wilcox takes us on a tour of recent advances in verified systems design.
Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud
Authors: Neville-Neil George
Published: September 2020

Clearly, your management has never heard the phrase, "You get what you pay for." Or perhaps they heard it and didn’t realize it applied to them. The savings in cloud computing comes at the expense of a loss of control over your systems, which is summed up best in the popular nerd sticker that says, "The Cloud is Just Other People’s Computers." Some providers now have something called Metal-as-a-Service, which I really think ought to mean that an ’80s metal band shows up at your office, plays a gig, smashes the furniture, and urinates on the carpet, but alas, it’s just the cloud providers’ way of finally admitting that cloud computing isn’t really the right answer for all applications. For systems that require deterministic performance guarantees to work well, you really have to think very hard about whether or not a cloud-based system is the right answer, because providing deterministic guarantees requires quite a bit of control over the variables in the environment. Cloud systems are not about giving you control; they’re about the owner of the systems having the control.
Design Patterns for Managing Up
Authors: Matsudaira Kate
Published: September 2020

Challenges come up all the time at work. Spend time now thinking about how you want to be seen at work, and then think about how that version of you would respond to the challenges that you could encounter. When you have a plan in place, you are much more likely to succeed.
Achieving Digital Permanence
Authors: Blum Raymond , Beyer Betsy
Published: September 2020

Today’s Information Age is creating new uses for and new ways to steward the data that the world depends on. The world is moving away from familiar, physical artifacts to new means of representation that are closer to information in its essence. We need processes to ensure both the integrity and accessibility of knowledge in order to guarantee that history will be known and true.
Identity by Any Other Name
Authors: Helland Pat
Published: September 2020

New emerging systems and protocols both tighten and loosen our notions of identity, and that’s good! They make it easier to get stuff done. REST, IoT, big data, and machine learning all revolve around notions of identity that are deliberately kept flexible and sometimes ambiguous. Notions of identity underlie our basic mechanisms of distributed systems, including interchangeability, idempotence, and immutability.
Extract, Shoehorn, and Load
Authors: Helland Pat
Published: September 2020

It turns out that the business value of ill-fitting data is extremely high. The process of taking the input data, discarding what doesn’t fit, adding default or null values for missing stuff, and generally shoehorning it to the prescribed shape is important. The prescribed shape is usually one that is amenable to analysis for deeper meaning.
Demo Data as Code
Authors: Limoncelli Thomas A.
Published: September 2020

A casual request for a demo dataset may seem like a one-time thing that doesn’t need to be automated, but the reality is that this is a collaborative process requiring multiple iterations and experimentation. There will undoubtedly be requests for revisions big and small, the need to match changing software, and to support new and revised demo stories. All of this makes automating the process worthwhile. Modern scripting languages make it easy to create ad hoc functions that act like a little language. A repeatable process helps collaboration, enables delegation, and saves time now and in the future.
Write Amplification Versus Read Perspiration
Authors: Helland Pat
Published: September 2020

In computing, there’s an interesting trend where writing creates a need to do more work. You need to reorganize, merge, reindex, and more to make the stuff you wrote more useful. If you don’t, you must search or do other work to support future reads.
hsa_circRNA_001587 upregulates SLC4A4 expression to inhibit migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of pancreatic cancer cells via binding to microRNA-223
Authors: Zhang Xiutian , Tan Peng , Zhuang Yuan , Du Lei
Published: September 2020

Human circular (hsa_circ)RNA_001587 and solute carrier family 4 member 4 (SLC4A4) are poorly expressed, but microRNA (miR)-223 is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. hsa_circRNA_001587 binds to miR-223. Overexpression of hsa_circRNA_001587 inhibits PC progression. Overexpression of miR-223 downregulates the expression of SLC4A4 and promotes PC cell growth. hsa_circRNA_001587 may be a potential target for PC treatment.
A novel ex vivo protocol to mimic human walking gait: implications for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Bukovec Katherine E. , Hu Xiao , Borkowski Matthew , Jeffery Duane , Blemker Silvia S. , Grange Robert W.
Published: September 2020

A novel ex vivo mouse soleus protocol that mimics scaled length change and excitation profiles predicted by a mathematical model of human soleus during gait is presented. A custom stimulator was developed that enabled an innovative muscle stimulation technique to modulate voltage to closely match the excitation pattern of human soleus during gait. This ex vivo protocol provides assessment of simulated human movement in mouse muscle, including components of eccentric contractions.
The importance of lean mass and iron deficiency when comparing hemoglobin mass in male and female athletic groups
Authors: Goodrich Jesse A. , Frisco Dillon J. , Kim Sewan , Holliday Marissa , Rueda Miguel , Poddar Sourav , Byrnes William C.
Published: September 2020

Differences in hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) between groups and across sex are primarily due to differences in lean mass. Iron deficiency (ID) independently decreases Hbmass; this effect is best characterized with Hbmass relative to lean mass. ID is common in females and is associated with lower hepcidin and elevated erythroferrone but not with differences in inflammatory cytokines. Hbmass relative to lean mass accurately quantifies hematological alterations secondary to iron deficiency.
Investigation of the Effects of Steam Injection on Equilibrium Products and Thermodynamic Properties of Diesel and Biodiesel Fuels
Authors: Gram Shou Jean Paul , Obounou Marcel , Kofané Timoléon Crépin , Hassane Babikir Mahamat
Published: September 2020

The effects of steam injection on combustion products and thermodynamic properties of diesel fuel, soybean oil-based biodiesel (NBD), and waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCOB) are examined in this study by considering the chemical equilibrium. The model gives equilibrium mole fractions, specific heat of the exhaust mixtures of 10 combustion products, and adiabatic flame temperatures. The results show that the mole fractions of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) decrease with the steam injection ratios. Nitric oxide (NO) mole fractions decrease with the steam injections ratios for lean mixtures. The specific heat of combustion products increases with the steam injection ratios. The equilibrium combustion products obtained can be used to calculate the nonequilibrium values of NO in the exhaust gases using some existing correlations of NO kinetics.
Numerical-Computational Model for Nonlinear Analysis of Frames with Semirigid Connection
Authors: Souza Luiz Antonio Farani de , Vanalli Leandro , Luz Arthur Bueno de
Published: September 2020

A numerical-computational model for static analysis of plane frames with semirigid connections and geometric nonlinear behavior is presented. The set of nonlinear equations governing the structural system is solved by the Potra–Pták method in an incremental procedure, with order of cubic convergence, combined with the linear arc-length path-following technique. The algorithm pseudo-code is presented, and the finite element corotational method is used for the discretization of the structures. The equilibrium paths with load and displacement limit points are obtained. The semirigidity is simulated by a linear connection element of null length, which considers the axial, tangential, and rotational stiffness. Nonlinear analyses of 2D frame structures are carried out with the free Scilab program. The results show that the Potra–Pták procedure can decrease the number of iterations and the computing time in comparison with the standard and modified Newton–Raphson iterative schemes. Also, the simulations show that the connection flexibility has a strong influence on the nonlinear behavior and stability of the structural systems.
The Extension of the Massless Fermion Behaviour in the Cosmic String Spacetime
Authors: Çağatay Bengü , Yeşiltaş Özlem , Aygün Anıl L.
Published: September 2020

In this work, we have obtained the solutions of a massless fermion which is under the external magnetic field around a cosmic string for specific three potential models using supersymmetric quantum mechanics. The constant magnetic field, energy-dependent potentials, and position-dependent mass models are investigated for the Dirac Hamiltonians, and an extension of these three potential models and their solutions is also obtained. The energy spectrum and potential graphs for each case are discussed for the

α

deficit angle.
The Nonsteady Boussinesq System with Mixed Boundary Conditions including Conditions of Friction Type
Authors: Kim Tujin
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we are concerned with the nonsteady Boussinesq system under mixed boundary conditions. The boundary conditions for fluid may include Tresca slip, leak and one-sided leak conditions, velocity, static (or total) pressure, rotation, and stress (or total stress) together, and the boundary conditions for temperature may include Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin conditions together. Relying on the relations among strain, rotation, normal derivative of velocity, and shape of the boundary surface, we get variational formulation. The formulations consist of a variational inequality for velocity due to the boundary conditions of friction type and a variational equation for temperature. For the case of boundary conditions including the static pressure and stress, we prove that if the data of the problem are small enough and compatibility conditions at the initial instance are satisfied, then there exists a unique solution on the given interval. For the case of boundary conditions including the total pressure and total stress, we prove the existence of a solution without restriction on the data and parameters of the problem.
Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Cervix: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Diakosavvas Michail , Fasoulakis Zacharias N. , Kouroupi Maria , Theodora Marianna , Inagamova Lola , Tsatsaris Georgios , Nikolaou Panagiotis , Frangia-Tsivou Konstantina , Giatromanolaki Alexandra , Kontomanolis Emmanuel N.
Published: September 2020

Background. Gynecologic melanomas are extremely rare malignancies, and primary malignant melanoma of the cervix (PMMC) is the rarest among them all, with less than 100 cases reported so far. Although some conditions have been correlated with the pathogenesis of this entity, no specific risk factor has been yet identified, with vaginal bleeding being the most common symptoms. The diagnosis is based on physical examination with speculum assessment and cytologic and histopathologic findings accompanied with immunohistochemical staining of lesion’s biopsies. Case Presentation. We report a case of PMMC in a 34-year-old para-2 patient, among the youngest cases of PMMC reported, that presented to our clinic for routine examination. Gynecologic examination demonstrated a dark, heavily fully pigmented cervical growth completely covering the entire external cervical os. Biopsy obtained and showed malignant melanoma. She underwent radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The pathological diagnosis was FIGO stage IB1 PMMC. Despite 2 courses of anti-PD-1 antibody (Nivolumab) treatment, the patient passed away 13 months after diagnosis (12 months after surgery). Conclusions. Early diagnosis and subsequently early treatment are of high importance regarding patients’ prognosis and survival. No standardized protocols or treatment guidelines specific for this rare cancer have been issued; thus, clinicians are called to assess each case individually. Current treatment options are based on surgical excision mostly with radical hysterectomy, but in advanced or recurrent state of the disease, other treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, can be employed. Prognosis for these patients is very poor, and survival rate remains extremely low, with the median OS reported being less than 2 years. Reporting and publishing of such cases are both of paramount importance for the better understanding of this uncommon cervical malignancy, and further biological and clinical investigations are required for more suitable and effective therapies to be determined. A new staging system, specific to PMMC, could be of great use for the better correlation of the disease’s stage and prognosis of these patients.
Effect of Landslide Surge on Pile Foundation of Overhead Vertical Wharf
Authors: Zhang Xiaolong , Mu Junshuai , Wang Chengzhi , Wang Duoyin
Published: September 2020

Waves generated by landslides into water cause great harm to wharfs. Hence, the surge wave pressure generated by the landslide serves as an important reference for the structural design of wharfs in reservoir areas. In this study, a series of hydraulic model tests were performed to study the energy and wave pressure produced by the surge. According to wave pressure‐time curves, the extreme values of sudden transient changes in wave pressure are obtained. The mechanism and influencing factors of surge wave pressure on vertical wharf buildings are expounded. On this basis, a formula to calculate the wave pressure exerted by landslide surge on the pile foundation of an overhead vertical wharf is developed. A large number of experiments show that the empirical formula is in good agreement with the experimental data.
GA-Based Early Warning Method for Rock Burst with Microseismic and Acoustic Emission in Steeply Inclined Coal Seam
Authors: Xue Yarong , Song Dazhao , Li Zhenlei , Chen Jianqiang , He Xueqiu , He Shengquan , Li Donghui
Published: September 2020

Aiming at problem of low efficacy of early warning of rock burst in coal mine, a multisystem and multiparameter integrated early warning method based on genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed. In this method, firstly, the temporal-spatial-intensity information of energy incubation process of rock burst is deeply mined, and the multidimensional precursory characteristic parameter system of rock burst is constructed. Secondly, the genetic algorithm is used to train the historical monitoring data to obtain the optimal critical value and fitness value of each precursory characteristic parameter, and then the early warning index WC of each monitoring system is calculated. Finally, the integrated rock burst early warning index IC is obtained by synthesizing the early warning index WC of each system. The value of IC corresponds to the specific rock burst risk level of the mine. This method is applied to Wudong coal mine in Xinjiang, China. Based on the actual situation of the mine, a multidimensional precursory characteristic parameter system of rock burst is constructed, which includes energy deviation (DE), frequency ratio (Fr), frequency deviation (DF), degree of dispersion (DS), and total high value of energy deviation (DH). After analyzing the rock burst danger status and risk level in the monitoring area, the early warning capability of this method is found to reach 0.896. Combining with the specific prevention and control measures corresponding to different rock burst risk levels, it can provide effective guidance for the field work.
Comparison of Preoperative Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography with Panscopy and Ultrasound in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Salehi Amir M. , Norberg-Spaak Lena , Vallin Simon , Sgaramella Nicola , Nylander Karin
Published: September 2020

Introduction: To compare data from preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with results of panscopy with biopsy and ultrasound with fine needle aspiration cytology (US-FNAC) on the same patients. Methods: In this retrospective (2014–2016) study, we compared PET/CT results with the results from panscopy with biopsy and US-FNAC in patients suspected of head and neck malignancy treated at the University Hospital in Umeå, Sweden. Results: A 91.3% concordance was seen between results from PET/CT and panscopy with biopsy, whereas between PET/CT and US-FNAC the concordance was 89.1%. Conclusions: The present data show the usefulness of PET/CT in the diagnosis of head and neck malignancies.
Clinician’s Subjective Experience in the Cross-Cultural Psychiatric Encounter
Authors: Fonzi Laura , Picardi Angelo , Monaco Valentina , Buonarroti Matteo , Prevete Elisabeth , Biondi Massimo , Pallagrosi Mauro
Published: September 2020

Introduction: The clinical encounter is still at the core of the psychiatric evaluation. Since the diagnostic process remains basically clinical in nature, several authors have addressed the complexity of the clinical reasoning process and highlighted the role played by intersubjective phenomena and clinician’s feelings. Some recent studies have supported the view of a significant link between the clinician’s subjective experience during the assessment and the diagnosis made. In a globalized world, this issue requires a careful reflection, since cultural differences may affect the intersubjective atmosphere of the encounter, which may indirectly influence the clinician’s thinking. Methods: We used a previously validated instrument, named Assessment of Clinician’s Subjective Experience (ACSE), to compare the clinician’s subjective experience during the evaluation of Italian patients with the subjective experience of the same clinician during the assessment of foreign patients. The 2 patient groups (n = 42 each) were individually matched for known potential confounders (age, sex, categorical diagnosis, and clinical severity). Results: We found no significant differences in mean scores on all ACSE dimensions (tension, difficulty in attune­ment, engagement, disconfirmation, and impotence), which suggests that cultural diversity did not substantially affect the clinician’s subjective experience. However, the lack of information about the native country and linguistic proficiency of about a quarter of foreign patients may have limited the possibility to detect subtle or specific differences, especially with regard to the clinician’s empathic attunement. Conclusions: Although further investigation is needed, our preliminary findings may have significant implications for the reflection upon the clinician’s empathic experience as well as pragmatic consequences for the act of psychiatric diagnosis in the cross-cultural encounter.
Cascade Screening for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in South Africa
Authors: Raal Frederick J. , Bahassi El Mustapha , Stevens Belinda , Turner Traci A. , Stein Evan A.
Published: September 2020

Objective:

Due to gene founder effects, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) has a prevalence of ≈1:80 in populations of Afrikaner ancestry and is a major contributor to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in South Africans of Jewish and Indian descent. No systematic program exists to identify these families. Furthermore, information regarding FH prevalence in Black Africans is sparse. The Wits FIND-FH program was initiated in late 2016 to address these issues.

Approach and Results:

Based on index subjects with definite or probable FH, first-degree relatives were contacted, informed consent obtained, and targeted medical history, physical examination, and blood samples collected. In patients with likely FH using the Simon Broome criteria, DNA analysis for LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor), APOB (apolipoprotein B), PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9), and LDLRAP1 (LDLR adaptor protein 1) variants was analyzed by next-generation sequencing.

Of the initial 700 subjects screened of whom 295 (42%) were index cases, 479 (68.4%) were clinically diagnosed with probable or definite FH. Genetic analysis confirmed 285 of 479 (59.5%) as having variants consistent with FH. Three subjects met the clinical diagnosis for homozygous FH, but DNA analysis revealed a further 34 patients, including 4 Black African subjects, with ≥2 FH-causing variants.

Conclusions:

Using phenotype cascade screening, the Wits FIND-FH program has screened an average of 30 subjects monthly of whom 68% had a clinical diagnosis of FH with ≈60% genetically confirmed. The program is identifying a small but growing number of Black South Africans with FH. Interestingly, 37 subjects (7.7%) who underwent DNA testing were found to have ≥2 FH-causing variants.