cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Left atrial appendage function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation:a transesophageal pulse tissue Doppler study

Objective:The left atrial appendage(LAA) function was evaluated in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by pulse tissue Doppler echocardiographic examinations.Methods:One hundred and seventy-six patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were enrolled.Twenty-six patients having LAA thrombus or spontaneous echo contrast were selected as group Ⅰ and other 150 patients formed group Ⅱ.Thirty healthy subjects served as the control group(group Ⅲ).Transthoracic echocardiographic parameters included left atrial diameter(LAd),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left atrial ejection fraction(LAEF) and E/E'.In order to determine the LAA function,LAA peak filling flow velocity(LAAPFV),LAA peak emptying flow velocity(LAAPEV) and percentage of LAA area change(LAAAC) were measured.Pulse tissue Doppler of LAA wall parameters included LAA late systolic wave(LSW) and late diastolic wave(LDW).Results:Compared to group Ⅱ and Ⅲ,LAAPFV,LAAPEV were lower in group Ⅰ(P0.05);LAAAC and LAEF was also reduced in group Ⅰ(P0.05);Pulse tissue Doppler LSW and LDW were found to be quite reduced in group Ⅰ(P0.05);LAd and E/E' increased in group Ⅰ(P0.05).The study parameters were statistically similar in patients between group Ⅱ and Ⅲ(P0.05).Conclusion:Pulse tissue Doppler may be a complement to flow velocities in evaluating LAA function for risk assessment of thromboembolism.
Dynamic phase transitions in Korteweg fluids

We describe the qualitative behavior of traveling wave solutions for thermodynamic phase transitions under Landau equation of state and Korteweg's theory of capillarity.
Approach to the Patient with Mild Crohn’s Disease: a 2016 Update

Mild Crohn's disease (CD) is classified as those patients who are ambulatory, with <10 % weight loss, are eating and drinking without abdominal mass, tenderness, obstructive symptoms, or fever, and endoscopically they have non-progressive mild findings. Initial evaluation of mild CD should focus on assessment for high-risk features requiring more aggressive therapy. In contrast to moderate-to-severe disease, where therapy is focused on mucosal healing, the management of mild CD is focused on symptom management, while exposing the individual to minimal therapeutic risks. Budesonide is the most commonly used medication for mild CD given its safety profile. Assessment of inflammatory markers, in concert with computed-tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) enterographies and endoscopic studies, should be considered in clinical remission to ensure that mucosal inflammation is not present. Endoscopic inflammation can precede clinical recurrence. Individuals with mild CD require routine vaccination, monitoring for iron-deficiency anemia and vitamin D deficiency, and colorectal cancer screening when appropriate.
The effects of satiation on the operant control of response variability

The effects of satiation on the control of response variability under free-operant and discrete-response procedures were investigated. Four pigeons received food only if their pattern of four pecks on two response keys differed from the patterns emitted on the two immediately preceding trials. Consistent with previous research, the discrete-response procedure (key lights off after each peck) produced greater variability than the free-operant procedure. Variable responding was increased under the free-operant procedure for three pigeons as satiation was approached. Although the satiation effect was small compared to the variability produced by the discrete-response procedure, the results supported the hypothesis that the free-operant procedure contains respondent influences that interfere with the operant control of response variability.
Using Parkour for Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility: Implications for Practitioners

The purpose of this article is to explore the advantages of engaging youth in the sport of parkour and to provide physical education teachers and after-school club coaches with strategies to integrate personal and social responsibility lessons while practicing parkour.
Recent H3N2 Viruses Have Evolved Specificity for Extended, Branched Human-type Receptors, Conferring Potential for Increased Avidity

Human and avian influenza viruses recognize different sialic acid-containing receptors, referred to as human-type (NeuAcα2-6Gal) and avian-type (NeuAcα2-3Gal), respectively. This presents a species barrier for aerosol droplet transmission of avian viruses in humans and ferrets. Recent reports have suggested that current human H3N2 viruses no longer have strict specificity toward human-type receptors. Using an influenza receptor glycan microarray with extended airway glycans, we find that H3N2 viruses have in fact maintained human-type specificity, but they have evolved preference for a subset of receptors comprising branched glycans with extended poly-N-acetyl-lactosamine (poly-LacNAc) chains, a specificity shared with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (Cal/04) hemagglutinin. Lipid-linked versions of extended sialoside receptors can restore susceptibility of sialidase-treated MDCK cells to infection by both recent (A/Victoria/361/11) and historical (A/Hong Kong/8/1968) H3N2 viruses. Remarkably, these human-type receptors with elongated branches have the potential to increase avidity by simultaneously binding to two subunits of a single hemagglutinin trimer.
Peripheral Blood γδ T Cell Response to High-Grade Glioma: Implications for Localized Adoptive Immunotherapy

Abstract Abstract 4114 Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains impervious to existing therapy. We have recently established that GBM is vulnerable to recognition and lysis by γδ T cells using in vitro cytotoxicity testing and in a treatment model based on human γδ T cell therapy of intracranial xenografted human glioma cell line tumors in immunodeficient mice. We have also shown that circulating γδ T cell counts and function are significantly reduced in GBM patients at the time of diagnosis. In this study, we sought to resolve the paradox between these findings with a working hypothesis that γδ T cells are depleted by activation-induced cell death following an unsuccessful immune response to GBM. We monitored peripheral and tumor immune responses over time in a C57BL/6 mouse model after intracranial placement of 1 × 105 syngeneic GL261 glioma cells, methylcellulose carrier alone, or no treatment (n=10/group). Tumor-bearing mice uniformly develop aggressive infiltrating gliomas with pseudopalisading morphology and necrotic centers that are uniformly fatal within 30 days. At 11 days following tumor placement, mice were asymptomatic. Brain sections revealed the presence of small infiltrating gliomas in 100% of mice. Peripheral blood expansion of γδ T cells was significantly increased compared to mice that received only the methylcellulose vehicle (p=0.0003). T cell proliferation was specific only to the γδ T cell compartment and did not involve other T cell subtypes, A significant proportion of γδ T cells expressed Annexin-V (20%-45%) in contrast to 2–5% in controls (p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Protein Aging: Loss of Folding Contraction due to Oxidation of Cryptic Side Chains

Tensegrity is the property of tissues that allows them to regain their shape after a mechanical deformation. Constituent proteins support tensegrity by being able to generate a restoring force at any length. A salient feature of tissue aging is the oxidative modification of its proteins, thus compromising the tensegrity of the system (e.g. sagging skin). Here, we use magnetic tweezers to monitor the folding dynamics of single protein L molecules under force over times scales from hours to days. Mechanically unfolded proteins that are maintained extended for 22 hours entirely lose their ability to fold. This loss of folding is triggered by the exposure of the cryptic side chains to the oxidative environment, as it can be greatly slowed by adding an antioxidant to the solution. This phenomenon compromises the tensegrity of the protein by reducing its extensibility by 40%. We provide an analytical expression that describes the extensibility of a protein under force, combining the entropic elasticity of the polypeptide and the folding collapse. By incorporating an aging factor measured from the loss of protein folding over time, we can predict the loss of tensegrity. Our ability to accurately keep a single protein unfolded for hours to days presents a novel assay for accelerating aging. We anticipate that this will become a useful tool to discern the role of environmental contaminants to understand the loss of tensegrity in exposed tissues.
Staging of gastric cancer.

The TNM system for classification of tumors has become the principal method for determining prognosis for cancer patients and providing a reliable means for reporting results of treatments. Progress in the treatment of stomach cancer required the development and unification of the TNM system for tumor classification. Although a system had already been developed more than 40 years ago, attempts were made to unify and improve the various later emerging ones through a series of international meetings. Through this process of evolution, a unified international system for classification of stomach cancer was developed. It is to be expected that small variations in the classification system may occur that will result from additional data and improvements in technology in the future.
Effects of sulfuric acid dosage on the baking of an enargite concentrate

An acid bake-leach process has been identified and applied to an enargite concentrate containing ∼67% enargite, ∼27% pyrite (FeS2), ∼3% chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), ∼6% sphalerite (ZnS) and <1% galena (PbS). Sulfuric acid baking of this concentrate resulted in the transformation of the concentrate to S8 As2O3 HFe(SO4)2•4H2O, PbSO4 and Cu0.47Fe0.53SO4•H2O, all of which (except elemental sulfur and PbSO4) dissolved during the water leaching step. More than 87% Cu and 64% As were leached when the concentrate was baked at 200°C over 7 hours with a sulfuric acid-to-concentrate weight ratio of 1.6. Less than 1% As was lost to the gas phase. Upon water leaching, copper and arsenic were released to the solution at a concentration ratio of about 3:1. While enargite is very reactive during the sulfuric acid baking reaction, other minerals present in the concentrate such as pyrite, galena and sphalerite may compete to consume sulfuric acid and be converted into their corresponding sulfates at different concentrations. The purpose of this paper is to present our examination of the effects of sulfuric acid dosage on the extractions of Cu, Fe, and As from an enargite concentrate. In this regard, the concentrate, baked concentrate, and the leach residues are characterized and a conceptual process flowsheet is described for the acid bake-leach process for the treatment of enargite concentrates.
Kansas Universities' Technology Evaluation Satellite Program

Abstract The KUTESat Program tests miniature technologies using pi co-class (one kg) satellites. The program consists of three phases involving two satellite missions in low Earth orbit and an engineering prototype using an aircraft. A balloonsat system tests components of the satellites in flights to the near-space conditions of about 30 km altitude. The first phase's objective is to develop and operate a simple pico-satellite and is scheduled for launch on a Onepr rocket in 2004. The fmal phase has three autonomous satellites fly simultaneously. One is an inspector, another senses space environment, and the third is a target and relay satellite.
Modeling and Analysis of Power Consumption in Live Video Streaming Systems

This article develops an aggregate power consumption model for live video streaming systems, including many-to-many systems. In many-to-one streaming systems, multiple video sources (i.e., cameras and/or sensors) stream videos to a monitoring station. We model the power consumed by the video sources in the capturing, encoding, and transmission phases and then provide an overall model in terms of the main capturing and encoding parameters, including resolution, frame rate, number of reference frames, motion estimation range, and quantization. We also analyze the power consumed by the monitoring station due to receiving, decoding, and upscaling the received video streams. In addition to modeling the power consumption, we model the achieved bitrate of video encoding. We validate the developed models through extensive experiments using two types of systems and different video contents. Furthermore, we analyze many-to-one systems in terms of bitrate, video quality, and the power consumed by the sources, as well as that by the monitoring station, considering the impacts of multiple parameters simultaneously.
Abstract P171: Superoxide via Transcription Factor Sp3 Up-regulates Renal Angiotensin II Receptor Function

Oxidative stress is linked to the up-regulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) function and hypertension. Here we tested the mechanism of oxidative stress-associated up-regulation of AT1 receptor function in human kidney HK2 cells. Diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC), a superoxide dismutase inhibitor, and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) increased DHE and DCFHDA fluorescence respectively [DHE fluorescence (Control vs DETC vs DETC + tempol vs H 2 O 2 : 0.5397 ± 0.07057, 1.463 ± 0.1671, 0.2661 ± 0.01776, 0.6406 ± 0.04821); DCFH fluorescence (Control vs H 2 O 2 vs 3-AT vs DETC: 555.9 ± 21.22, 673.5 ± 37.05, 736.1 ± 33.79, 427.7 ± 22.17)]. DETC increased nuclear levels of Sp3 protein that were attenuated with tempol (Control vs DETC, vs DETC + tempol: 0.50 ± 0.08, 1.28 ± 0.21, 0.52 ± 0.12 densities). However, H 2 O 2 had no significant effect on nuclear Sp3 (Control vs H 2 O 2, vs H 2 O 2 + tempol: Sp3, 0.50 ± 0.08, 0.68 ± 0.14, 1.04 ± 0.30 densities). In transfection studies, Sp3 plasmid increased (Control vs Sp3: 0.1165 ± 0.01, 0.3810 ± 0.03, densities) while Sp3 siRNA decreased (Control siRNA vs Sp3 siRNA: 1.11 ± 0.25, 0.64 ± 0.06, densities) the levels of AT1R protein in cell lysate. DETC increased AT1R protein expression that was attenuated by tempol, measured by immunoblotting (Control vs DETC vs DETC + tempol: 0.3535 ± 0.99, 0.9975 ± 0.19, 0.3250 ± 0.02 densities). Furthermore, DETC increased cell membrane levels of AT1R protein as measured by biotinylation and immunoblotting. This effect was attenuated by tempol. (Control vs DETC vs DETC + tempol: 100 ± 0.0, 189.8 ± 0.34.60, 102.3 ± 10.77 densities, percent change). Moreover, DETC increased PKC activity in response to angiotensin II, an indicator of AT1R function. This effect was attenuated with candesartan and tempol. (Control vs Ang II vs DETC + AngII vs DETC + Cand + AngII vs DETC + tempol: 100.0 ± 0.0, 162.0 ± 12.97, 224.9 ± 52.97, 126.0 ± 6.133, 73.32 ± 35.01 percent change) These results suggest that superoxide but not H 2 O 2 increase nuclear Sp3 protein that up-regulates renal AT1R expression and function.
Comparative Effectiveness of Preoperative Paravertebral Block for Post-Mastectomy Reconstruction: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Paravertebral block (PVB) has emerged as a viable strategy for improving postoperative outcomes in breast surgery; however, it is unclear whether these benefits extend to recipients of post-mastectomy reconstruction (PMR). A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library electronic databases was conducted for all studies matching the a priori inclusion criteria (inception to 1 March 2017). Independent assessment by two reviewers, in stages, of the title/abstract and full text was performed. Data relating to study design, patient characteristics, PVB medications and technique, and outcomes, including pain, opioid consumption, length of stay (LOS), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and PVB-related complications was abstracted. Of the 1243 identified articles, nine met the inclusion criteria, accounting for 936 patients (PVB, n = 518; non-PVB, n = 418) in two randomized controlled trials (RCT) and seven retrospective cohort studies. Of these studies, six described PVB for prosthetic PMR, and three described PVB for autologous PMR. Overall, there is a subtle trend towards improved pain control, less opioid requirement and shorter LOS, while PONV was largely unchanged in patients receiving PVB for PMR. In two studies, technical failure was reported at 7.4 and 10%, although no study reported a PVB-related complication. Study quality varied, and risk of bias in the included studies was high. Heterogeneity precluded a meta-analysis. Although recent reports and RCTs advocate for PVB use in PMR, our review highlights significant heterogeneity and knowledge gaps that must be addressed in order for PVB to become part of the optimal anesthetic protocol in PMR.
The role of meaning in word recognition.

The goal of the present discussion is to bring into focus a number of implicit assumptions in the area of word recognition research (see also Seidenberg, this volume). These assumptions revolve around what will here be referred to as the magic moment in word processing. The magic moment refers to that point in time where the subject has recognized the word but has yet to access meaning. Researchers have argued that they can both collect data and develop adequate models of this crucial point in word processing. The outline for this chapter is as follows: First, the empirical support for a magic moment is evaluated. The thrust of this discussion is that the major tasks used to provide data regarding the magic moment entail characteristics that question their utility as pure reflections of this crucial point in word processing. Second, an alternative framework is presented that emphasizes the functional utility of words in language processing, that is, to convey meaning. Third, empirical evidence is presented that suggests that meaning can contribute to components involved in early word processing. Finally, there is a brief discussion of how meaning might be incorporated into the current theoretical accounts of word processing.
Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Associated with Barrett's Esophagus: Long‐term Management with Laser Ablation

We report the use of neodymium :yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd :YAG) laser ablation to treat high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma associated with Barrett's esophagus in a patient who refused surgery. Throughout laser therapy, the patient received omeprazole 40 mg/day. After 1 1/2 yr, five laser treatments totaling 22,055 J given over a period of 13 months achieved squamous reepithelialization and absence of malignant transformation in the first area in which carcinoma was diagnosed. Squamous reepithelialization was maintained 1 yr later, confirming recent reports that photoablation plus omeprazole can achieve regression of Barrett's esophagus. During the last year of follow-up, a second contiguous area discovered to contain carcinoma was treated three times by photoablation, with a total of 13,164 J ; biopsy showed only low-grade dysplasia in this area after two laser treatments totaling 8,108 J. No complications were seen during or after any of the laser sessions, and the patient remained asymptomatic 2 1/2 yr after the first photoablation and 3 yr after presentation.
YVON'S METHOD FOR SLABS

The method of half-range polynomials is applied to neutron transport theory. The specific applicability of this method to problems having discontinuities in the nuclear parameters at the boundaries or interfaces is discussed. Half-range polynomial expansions are used to obtain solutions for both finite and semi-infinite slabs, which consist of isotropically scattering media. The results indicate that the half-range approximations compare favorably with higher approximations obtained from the full-range spherical harmonic or several discrete ordinate methods. In particular, the poor convergence, found in the full-range methods in regions close to the discontinuity, is not present in the halfrange method. The latter method is used to obtain a pair of second-order coupled differential equations, as in diffusion theory. (auth)
Surface finish and diamond tool wear when machining PMMA and PC optics

Optical devices are extremely important since they play a critical role in optical recording and display. Single point diamond turning is one of the most common methods to create plastic optics. Diamond turning of plastics is influenced by a wide variety of factors such as the glass transition temperature of the polymer, other material properties and operator controlled cutting conditions. Since diamond is one of the hardest materials in nature and polymers are relatively soft, little tool wear is expected. But the optics industry claims that tool wear is a major problem. Most of the optical industry uses Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and Polycarbonate (PC) for creating optics. The objective of this research is to optimize machining parameters (such as feed, depth of cut, cutting speed and rake angle) to produce optical surface quality (RMS Surface finish < 10 nm) while minimizing tool wear for the two materials. A wide range of experiments were performed on the two materials by varying machining parameters and measuring worn tools using the Electron Beam Induced Deposition (EBID) technique in the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). In the experimental conditions used, PMMA was found to have better surface finish than PC when machined with a zero-rake angle diamond tool. Polycarbonate was found to wear the tool more than PMMA under similar cutting conditions. It was also found that Polycarbonate is more sensitive to chip management and chip geometry than PMMA. Detailed effects of all machining parameters for the two materials were studied.
Diagnostic dilemma in prosthetic valve endocarditis: Computed tomography to the rescue

A 58-year-old man with multiple myeloma, prior bioprosthetic valve, spinal hardware and multiple episodes of Corynebacterium amycolatum bacteremia was found to have a well-seated valve without vegetations, paravalvular leak, abscess or degeneration over a period of 6 months on five separate transesophageal echocardiographic studies. Computed tomography angiography was performed which revealed vegetation at the level of the left ventricular outflow tract. Reoperative sternotomy and interrogation of the valve confirmed a 1.5-cm vegetation with the same bacterium. The patient underwent a redo aortic valve replacement and recovered without any complications. He has been asymptomatic and culture negative on surveillance.
BROMOCRIPTINE AS AN ADJUVANT TO LEVODOPA

Bromocriptine yielded beneficial effects ranging from minimal to marked in 36 of 51 patients with parkinsonism in whom it was given as an adjuvant to levodopa. The major benefits were a reduction of the on-off effect, relief of painful muscle cramps and end-of-dose dystonia. Side effects included mental disturbances, digital vasospasm and activation of peptic ulcer disease as well as nausea, vomiting and enhancement of levodopa induced dyskinesia.
Is female genital mutilation/cutting associated with adverse mental health consequences? A systematic review of the evidence.

Introduction The adverse physical consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) have been thoroughly investigated and documented. Yet, we know little about the adverse mental health consequences of the practice. To fill this research gap, we systematically reviewed studies that assessed any adverse mental health consequences related to FGM/C. Methods We searched four databases from inception to 21 December 2018. We then reviewed all titles and abstracts for relevant studies. We used the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool to appraise the quality of each study and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to rate the risk of bias within studies. Results We included 16 studies in this review; only six studies examined the association between FGM/C and adverse mental health outcomes as the sole research question. Among the included studies, 10 were conducted at the participants’ country of origin. The sample size of the populations studied ranged from 3 to 4800 participants. Only one study received a rating of ‘good’ methodological quality. Fourteen of the 16 studies reported an association between FGM/C and at least adverse mental health outcome. These included eight studies that reported a higher burden of adverse mental health outcomes among women who underwent FGM compared with women who did not undergo FGM/C. Four studies reported a correlation between the severity of FGM/C and the severity of adverse mental health outcomes. Conclusion This systematic review documents an association between FGM/C and adverse mental health outcomes. Importantly, our review demonstrates the need for more rigorous research on the topic.
Detection of fusion transcripts in the serum samples of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most lethal cancers in the United States. Early detection of the disease is crucial for reducing the mortality of this malignancy. Recently, we identified a panel of fusion genes present in several types of human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Among 8 fusion genes, MAN2A1-FER, TRMT11-GRIK2 and CCNH-C5orf30 appear most frequently in hepatocellular carcinoma samples. In this study, we showed that the fusion transcripts of MAN2A1-FER, CCNH-C5orf30 and SLC45A2-AMACR were detected in the serum samples of liver cancer patients as circulating cell-free RNA. The distributions of these gene fusion RNA fragments largely matched those of the primary HCC samples. In contrast, the sera of all healthy individuals free of human malignancies were shown to be negative for these fusion genes. These results suggest that gene fusion RNA is frequently shed from liver cancer cells. The detection of serum cell-free fusion transcripts may provide a new approach to aid in the diagnosis, follow-up or therapy of liver cancers.
The Future of Security Validation and Verification

Trustworthy System-on-Chip (SoC) design is vital to provide the hardware root-of-trust to enable a truly secure cyberspace. This book presented a wide variety of state-of-the-art SoC security validation and verification techniques for designing trustworthy SoCs. This chapter concludes the book with a summary of ideas presented in the previous chapters, and outlines the road map of future security validation challenges and opportunities.
Untold secrets of the slowly charging capacitor

The slowly charging capacitor is the standard example used to illustrate that the displacement current density is needed in Ampere's law if we want to correctly determine the magnetic field between capacitor plates. However, in any quasi-static situation the magnetic field can also be determined using the Biot-Savart law including only the real current densities. In this work, we will numerically calculate the magnetic field due to the surface currents on the capacitor plates and add it to the magnetic field due to the charging wire and show how they combine to create the correct magnetic field thoughout all space. For regions to the left or right of the capacitor, we find the surprising result that the surface currents replicate the magnetic field that would have been created by the missing section of the charging wire between the plates. For points between the capacitor plates, the magnetic field due to the surface currents mostly cancels the magnetic field from the near-infinite length charging wire, resulting in the well-known reduced field in that interior region. We will also illustrate the impact of finite capacitor plates on these results and briefly comment on how textbook and/or classroom discussions could be improved by carefully discussing these details.
Unattended Mental Health Needs in Primary Care: Lebanon’s Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp:

Aims:This study examines factors potentially contributing to unattended mental health needs among primary care patients in Lebanon’s Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp in order to understand the prev...
Life Course Criminology

The life-course perspective on crime recognizes it is essential that we view the causes and consequences of criminal behavior throughout individuals' developmental stages. In this article, we review the general conceptual foundation of the life-course perspective. We illustrate the use of this perspective by briefly reviewing four specific theories. Analytical tools to examine intraindividual trajectories are also reviewed. We conclude by suggesting future conceptual and methodological directions to advance the life-course perspective.
Maternal stress during pregnancy affects activity, exploration and potential dispersal of daughters in an invasive fish

Stress experienced by mothers can affect offspring phenotype, with some of these modifications potentially preparing offspring for the environment they will likely encounter. Many maternal stressors, including encounters with predators, can influence how offspring respond to risk and cues of danger later on. Using the live-bearing, highly invasive western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, we examined how repeated brief (
Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Social Network Systems

In the past couple of years, websites such as Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube have rocketed to the top of web popularity. These sites are instances of what is known as "Web 2.0". Notably, and in contrast to the more traditional popular sites such as portals, search engines, or news aggregators, these sites are organized around user identities and a social network (or graph) of links between identities. The social network gives users a new basis for forming and maintaining relationships and locating, consuming, filtering, and publishing content. Since the social network is expressed in a formal way, it can also be used by non-user system components to improve performance, security, or other objectives based on assumptions about trust or shared interests. A social network system is a software system organized around a dynamic social network core. The study and understanding of these systems is highly relevant to the systems community. Surprisingly, despite both their exciting possibilities and their amazing popularity growth, social network systems have been largely neglected by researchers. To begin to remedy this, we have organized this workshop; the First Workshop on Social Network Systems (SocialNets'08). As a first-year workshop, we were pleasantly surprised to receive sixteen high-quality submissions. We accepted eight into the workshop, for an acceptance rate of exactly 50 percent. A tight reviewing schedule gave the program committee just over one week to complete and submit reviews. However, we are happy to report that all papers received at least three reviews from program committee members. The workshop papers cover a range of topics on social network systems. The presentations are organized into three broad sessions; the measurement and analysis of existing social networks, issues of security and privacy in social network systems, and new applications that leverage social networks. Many of the papers are likely to spark lively discussion at the workshop.
Patient-level dose monitoring in computed tomography: tracking cumulative dose from multiple multi-sequence exams with tube current modulation in children.

In children exposed to multiple computed tomography (CT) exams, performed with varying z-axis coverage and often with tube current modulation, it is inaccurate to add volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) to obtain cumulative dose values. To introduce the patient-size-specific z-axis dose profile and its dose line integral (DLI) as new dose metrics, and to use them to compare cumulative dose calculations against conventional measures. In all children with 2 or more abdominal-pelvic CT scans performed from 2013 through 2019, we retrospectively recorded all series kV, z-axis tube current profile, CTDIvol, dose-length product (DLP) and calculated SSDE. We constructed dose profiles as a function of z-axis location for each series. One author identified the z-axis location of the superior mesenteric artery origin on each series obtained to align the dose profiles for construction of each patient’s cumulative profile. We performed pair-wise comparisons between the peak dose of the cumulative patient dose profile and ΣSSDE, and between ΣDLI and ΣDLP. We recorded dose data in 143 series obtained in 48 children, ages 0–2 years (n=15) and 8–16 years (n=33): ΣSSDE 12.7±6.7 and peak dose 15.1±8.1 mGy, ΣDLP 278±194 and ΣDLI 550±292 mGy·cm. Peak dose exceeded ΣSSDE by 20.6% (interquartile range [IQR]: 9.9–26.4%, P<0.001), and ΣDLI exceeded ΣDLP by 114% (IQR: 86.5–147.0%, P<0.001). Our methodology represents a novel approach for evaluating radiation exposure in recurring pediatric abdominal CT examinations, both at the individual and population levels. Under a wide range of patient variables and acquisition conditions, graphic depiction of the cumulative z-axis dose profile across and beyond scan ranges, including the peak dose of the profile, provides a better tool for cumulative dose documentation than simple summations of SSDE. ΣDLI is advantageous in characterizing overall energy absorption over ΣDLP, which significantly underestimated this in all children.
Intensity of Preferences and Cardinal Utility

The issue of the existence of utility as a cardinal magnitude and of its meaning is closely related to the issue of precisely defining the notion of intensity of preference and of its meaning. This chapter will be mainly devoted to the discussion and illustrations, in an informal way and by means of simple examples, of both issues.
Scanning And Detection Of Static And Moving Pedestrians By Drivers With Hemianopia In A Simulator

PURPOSE: In our previous simulator study of drivers with hemianopia (Bowers et al., 2009), we reported large detection deficits for stationary pedestrians that appeared in the blind hemifield. Using a more realistic hazard, we are now evaluating detection of pedestrians that move on a collision course toward the car’s heading direction. We predicted that blindside detection rates would be higher for moving pedestrians (as they maintain an approximately constant eccentricity with respect to the car) than for static pedestrians (eccentricity of the pedestrian increases rapidly as the car approaches, thus moving the hazard further into the blind hemifield). In addition, we are evaluating the relationship between gaze behaviors and detection performance.
Freedom of Association in West Indian Labour Law

The right of the individual worker to join a trade union or to collaborate with other employees or other persons in forming a trade union has been existent, albeit sub-silentio, in the Commonwealth Caribbean labour law since the Caribbean trade unions were accorded legal recognition during the first half of this century. As it has been pointed out,1 although the Trade Unions Acts brought about the legalisation of trade unions in the Caribbean, they left unanswered questions which arise from the practice of trade unionism and, for the present purpose, they did not state explicitly that the worker has the right to join a trade union. But by removing the legal disabilities2 which abound in workers' organisations in the history of trade unionism in the Caribbean, the worker's right to freely associate existed merely by implication. Since the right was not expressed in the Acts, it is then understandable that no protection was afforded the worker in the exercise of the said freedom. One clear instance of the existence of such right however, is the fact that organisations of workers always obtained registration as trade unions on satisfaction of the statutory requirements.3 Freedom of association and, especially, to form or to belong to a trade union is now articulated along with the other guaranteed freedoms4 in both the independence5 and quasi independence6 Constitutions of the Commonwealth Caribbean countries. The meaning of this guarantee remains, to a great extent, hidden in the maze of decided cases discussed below. Quite recently, legislation has been passed in various Caribbean countries and elsewhere expounding the concept of freedom of association and clarifying it further. This article explores the implications of these recent provisions.
Selection of features and evaluation of visual measurements for 3-D robotic visual tracking

An overview is presented of the vision techniques that are used in order to automatically select features, measure features' displacements, and evaluate measurements during 3-D robotic visual tracking. The most robust technique proves to be the sum-of-squared differences (SSD) optical flow technique. Several techniques for the evaluation of the measurements are presented. These techniques can also be used for the selection of features for tracking in conjunction with several numerical criteria that guarantee the robustness of the servoing. The results from the application of these techniques to real images are discussed. >
Lightning location using the slow tails of sferics

[1] Electromagnetic waves produced by lightning strikes, known as sferics, and their extremely low frequency components, known as slow tails, propagate across the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. The properties of the recorded time domain slow tail vary with the causative lightning strike's current moment, the waveguide's characteristics, and the distance of propagation. These variations allow us to approximate the location of a causal lightning strike by examining the corresponding sferic. Many methods require measurements from multiple stations; however, the goal of this work is to approximate the distance a sferic propagated using measurements from a single station. J. R. Wait developed an analytical model that describes the propagation of the slow tail along a uniform path in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. We examine different source functions and apply them to Wait's propagation model in order to ascertain a new and more accurate method for modeling slow tails while improving the accuracy of locating lightning using a single station. Further, we expand the model to include sferics propagating in a nonuniform ionosphere, i.e., crossing the day-night terminator. This new method provides improved correlation of computed slow tails to recorded ones, leading to a more accurate distance approximation for a larger set of sferics.
Characterization of molecular motions in 13C-labeled aortic elastin by 13C-1H magnetic double resonance.

Purified insoluble elastin samples labeled with [1-13C]valine, [1-13C]alanine, and [1-13C]-lysine were prepared from chick aorta in culture. The molecular mobility at the labeled sites was investigated using 13C-1H magnetic double-resonance spectroscopy. Linewidths, T1, and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) values of the labeled carbons alone were obtained from dipolar decoupled difference spectra. Analysis of these parameters together with signal intensity measurements showed that essentially all the valyl residues, ca. 75% of the alanyl residues, and ca. 60% of the lysyl residues were characterized by rapid backbone motions having τ = 65 nsec. Resonances due to the remaining alanyl and lysyl residues were detected in cross-polarization experiments, which enhance the signals of motionally restricted carbons. Since lysyl and alanyl residues are found in the crosslink regions of elastin, whereas valyl residues are not, we conclude that crosslinks rather than secondary structures in the extensible region of the protein are the main source of motional restrictions in the protein. Elastin chain mobility was monitored by linewidth measurements over the range −90 to +70°C. When the swelling solvent (0.15M NaCl) was fixed at 0.6 g/g of elastin, a rapid monotonic reduction in chain mobility was observed as the temperature was lowered from 50 to 5°C. Liquidlike mobility was completely lost at 5°C. In contrast, the same sample in contact with excess solvent retained its liquidlike molecular mobility until −13°C, where it abruptly became rigid. The molecular mobility of this sample was temperature insensitive in the physiologically interesting range, 20–40°C, as a consequence of the opposing influences of temperature and swelling. Taken together these nmr data indicate that under physiological conditions, elastin is a network of mobile chains whose motions are strongly influenced by protein–solvent interactions.
Multi-Pendulum Rig: Proof of Mode Localization and Laboratory Demonstration Tool

The development of the design and fabrication for a five degree of freedom rig of symmetrically coupled pendula for testing and corroborating mode localization theory is described. The background theory on mode localization and the theory of the modal responses of the test rig are briefly covered. Instrumentation and data-analysis techniques are discussed. Test results corroborating mode localization effects achieved by perturbing the system symmetry are presented. The serendipitous capability of the system to be used as a teaching device in vibration or dynamic system analysis classes, using TV tapes of the five separately excited natural modes (by initial conditions or forcing function frequency) is also demonstrated.
High performance SMILE arrays through an energy efficient multiplexer

The spatial multiplexing of local elements (SMILE) technique is a simplified array architecture which uses one RF channel to carry information from multiple RF channels by using multiplexing. Existing SMILE approaches with ordinary multiplexers offer similar performance to a regular array in an interference limited scenario. The performance degrades in a receiver noise limited environment as less signal power is captured. A distinct pulse compression technique based on a switched resonator concept is introduced. Because the circuit can compress the time duration of a modulated RF pulse without changing the phase information and without incurring significant energy loss, it is ideal to be applied as a high performance multiplexer in SMILE arrays. The pulse compression technique is demonstrated in both simulation and experiment. The SMILE array based on this novel pulse compression technique is studied in simulation, which shows superior performance to existing SMILE techniques.
A Computerized Operator Support System Prototype

A computerized operator support system (COSS) is proposed for use in nuclear power plants to assist control room operators in addressing time-critical plant upsets. A COSS is a collection of technologies to assist operators in monitoring overall plant performance and making timely, informed decisions on appropriate control actions for the projected plant condition. A prototype COSS was developed in order to demonstrate the concept and provide a test bed for further research. The prototype is based on four underlying elements consisting of a digital alarm system, computer-based procedures, piping and instrumentation diagram system representations, and a recommender module for mitigation actions. The initial version of the prototype is now operational at the Idaho National Laboratory using the Human System Simulation Laboratory.
R&D production in the United States: Rethinking the Snowbelt–Sunbelt shift

Abstract The Frostbelt–Sunbelt shift in the US, which is thought to have accelerated during the 1970s, corresponds with recent findings that invention and innovation in the Southern and Western parts of the country have come to rival the traditional manufacturing belt. Whether research and development (R&D), a key input to new technology, shows a similar pattern is the focus of this study. It is found, that there was a shift in R&D activity to the Sunbelt during some decades, but not all, and that the manufacturing belt has maintained a slight R&D lead in the country. Still, parts of the Sunbelt rivalled the Northeast for R&D already in 1963. Thus, any national shift in the location of R&D must have occurred prior to the 1960s and before it might be thought to have happened. In the US, R&D production associates well with places that have an educated, professional, and technically specialized labor force. Those states that continue to build on these and similar techno-societal conditions will arguably be in a better position to grow.
Limits of single-cell autonomy in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master circadian pacemaker in the mammalian brain, responsible for coordinating circadian (ca 24 h) rhythms throughout the body. When individual SCN neurons are dispersed in low density culture, they generate independent circadian oscillations in neuronal firing rate. This observation has led to the widely accepted conclusion that single SCN neurons are autonomous circadian oscillators. More recent studies using bioluminescence imaging to monitor rhythms of clock gene expression have indicated that fibroblasts, too, are autonomous circadian oscillators. But does this mean that the fibroblast should “replace the SCN as the in vitro model of choice”? On the contrary, the SCN is much more than a population of independent cellular oscillators. SCN function depends on important network interactions that allow for cell synchrony, enhanced pacemaker precision, reinforcement of rhythm amplitude, and robustness against genetic perturbations. The distribution of phases of cells within the SCN network also permits variously phased rhythmic output signals, as well as the encoding of seasonal changes in photoperiod and other features of environmental lighting history. Thus, unlike fibroblasts, SCN neurons are designed to be “team players,” and SCN network interactions are integral to the normal function of the SCN as a circadian pacemaker.
Albert Schweitzer’s Legacy for Education: Reverence for Life

A.G. Rud explains, develops and advocates Albert Schweitzer’s ethics of reverence for life as it is relevant to contemporary education. In the first half of the book he provides a clear and illumin...
Evidence for rapid histamine turnover and loss of histamine from immature rat mast cells.

Abstract Histamine synthetic activity which is high in young mast cells decreases as the cells mature [Beaven et al ., J. Pharmac. exp. Ther . 224 , 620 (1983)]. In this study we show that a substantial proportion of newly formed histamine in young mast cells leaked to the extracellular environment. The cells acquired the full ability to sequester newly formed histamine once the numbers of intracellular granules and the supply of sulfated mucopolysaccharide material within them had increased. Rat peritoneal mast cells were separated into successive fractions of increasing size and maturity by counter current elutriation. Loss of histamine from fractions of immature cells was demonstrated by a progressive accumulation of histamine in the medium without any decrease in intracellular histamine content. The estimated turnover time of histamine was less than 10 hr. In fractions of more mature cells, the proportion of cellular histamine released into the medium was substantially lower, giving estimated turnover times of 20 hr or longer. Studies with radiolabeled histidine also indicated that little, if any, newly formed histamine was lost from fractions of mature cells. Both release of endogenous histamine and formation of radiolabeled histamine from labeled histidine were inhibited by the histidine decarboxylase inhibitor α-fluorotnethylhistidine (10 μM). Histamine turnover times were similar in the presence or absence of external histidine, a possible indication that the supply of intracellular histidine was sufficient to maintain normal histamine synthetic activity.