cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Restructuring reward processing with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: novel therapeutic mechanisms to remediate hedonic dysregulation in addiction, stress, and pain

Though valuation processes are fundamental to survival of the human species, hedonic dysregulation is at the root of an array of maladies, including addiction, stress, and chronic pain, as evidenced by the allostatic shift in the relative salience of natural reward to drug reward observed among persons with severe substance use disorders. To address this crucial problem, novel interventions are needed to restore hedonic regulatory processes gone awry in persons exhibiting addictive behaviors. This article describes a theoretical rationale and empirical evidence for the effects of one such new intervention, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), on top-down and bottom-up mechanisms implicated in cognitive control and hedonic regulation. MORE is innovative and distinct from extant mindfulness-based interventions in that it unites traditional mindfulness meditation with reappraisal and savoring strategies designed to reverse the downward shift in salience of natural reward relative to drug reward, representing a crucial tipping point to disrupt the progression of addiction-a mechanistic target that no other behavioral intervention has been designed to address. Though additional studies are needed, clinical and biobehavioral data from several completed and ongoing trials suggest that MORE may exert salutary effects on addictive behaviors and the neurobiological processes that underpin them.
Prototype of an Egg Collection System with Semiautomated, Computerized Data Recording

Abstract A low-cost prototype of a microcomputer system for recording egg collection has been constructed. The computer is interfaced through the game input-output port to a series of microswitches. Rubberized cleats, implanted crosswise on the egg collection belt opposite individual cage boundaries, activate one microswitch to permit the BASIC computer program to associate sectors of the moving belt with contiguous cages. A second microswitch is situated to sense the presence or absence of an egg in each belt sector and thereby provide a data value for each cage. The data file, generated in real time by the computer and containing cage identifications and egg counts, can be simultaneously displayed on video screen, routed to a printer, and written to a disk file.
Comparative Study of Single-, Few-, and Multilayered Graphene toward Enzyme Conjugation and Electrochemical Response

Graphene, with its exceptional mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, and electronic properties may exist as single-, few-, or multilayered thin sheets. Though the number of layers may affect co...
Low temperature oxidation of silicon after copper ion implantation

Silicon oxide films (> 1 {micro}m) were grown at room-temperature after low-energy copper-ion implantation of Si(100) substrates. The structural properties of the silicon oxide layer and the implanted silicon were characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and transmission-electron microscopy. During room temperature oxidation a portion of the implanted copper resided on the surface and a portion moved with the advancing Si/SiO{sub x} interface. This study revealed that the oxide growth rate was dependent on the amount of Cu present at the moving interface. The resulting oxide formed was approximately stoichiometric silicon dioxide.
Utilizing Viral Nanoparticle/Dendron Hybrid Conjugates in Photodynamic Therapy for Dual Delivery to Macrophages and Cancer Cells

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising avenue for greater treatment efficacy of highly resistant and aggressive melanoma. Through photosensitizer attachment to nanoparticles, specificity of delivery can be conferred to further reduce potential side effects. While the main focus of PDT is the destruction of cancer cells, additional targeting of tumor-associated macrophages also present in the tumor microenvironment could further enhance treatment by eliminating their role in processes such as invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression. In this study, we investigated PDT of macrophages and tumor cells through delivery using the natural noninfectious nanoparticle cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV), which has been shown to have specificity for the immunosuppressive subpopulation of macrophages and also targets cancer cells. We further explored conjugation of CPMV/dendron hybrids in order to improve the drug loading capacity of the nanocarrier. Overall, we demonstrated effective elimination of both macrophage and ...
Inputting and Disseminating Risk of Poliomyelitis Wild Virus in Chengdu

Objective To analyze inputting and disseminating risk of wild polio virus in Chengdu,in order to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of poliomyelitis.Methods Data of the population immunity,AFP cases monitoring,and population mobilization in Chengdu was collected and analyzed.Results The reported polio vaccine inoculation rate was over 94%,but there was immunization blank for 1 211children.and the sensitivity,timeliness,and complicity of AFP surveillance system is higher than usual standard.Conclusion Chengdu's immunization rate is high and monitoring system was operated well.However,there is always the risk that wild polio virus spreads into Chengdu and causes infection due to current condition with immunization blank and systematic report failure.
Security Theories and Practices for Big Data

Big data applications usually require flexible and scalable infrastructure for efficient processing. Cloud computing satisfies these requirements very well and has been widely adopted to provide big data services. However, outsourcing and resource sharing features of cloud computing lead to security concerns when applied to big data applications, e.g., confidentiality of data/program, and integrity of the processing procedure. On the other hand, when cloud owns the data and provides analytic service, data privacy also becomes a challenge. Security concerns and pressing demand for adopting big data technology together motivate the development of a special class of security technologies for safe big data processing in cloud environment. These approaches are roughly divided into two categories: designing new algorithms with unique security features and developing security enhanced systems to protect big data applications. In this chapter, we review the approaches for secure big data processing from both categories, evaluate and compare these technologies from different perspectives, and present a general outlook on the current state of research and development in the field of security theories for big data.
Alternative Therapy: Dehydroepiandrosterone for Menopausal Hormone Replacement

Publisher Summary A cause-effect relationship between decreasing Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and accelerated aging, although intriguing, remains unproven. However, some animal and many epidemiologic studies are promising. Together they drive a continued quest to develop a physiologic, nonoral delivery system. Oral Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) undergoes significant first-pass metabolism, which requires high doses, placing individuals at risk for side effects. Continued investigation of transdermal DHEA is needed. DHEA cream restores a hormonal milieu similar to that seen in the late follicular phase of a reproductive-age woman. Although effective, these creams require cumbersome regimens to attain adequate serum levels. Likewise, a patch is not practical, as the doses necessary would require an unacceptably large surface area. Consequently, a gel-based delivery system or a spray is the likely future solution. Oral DHEA cannot be recommended as an alternative treatment for menopausal women. Therapeutic nonoral DHEA, however, continues to hold substantial promise and is in great need of future investigation.
Modeling of Vehicle Propulsion Systems

Designers cannot build and test prototypes for all the possible vehicle configurations prior to initiation of production due to time and cost constraints. Therefore, developing advanced vehicle propulsion systems requires accurate and flexible modeling methods or tools for feasibility analysis ahead of building prototypes. In this chapter, methodologies involved in accurate modeling of the main components existing in conventional, pure electric, and hybrid electric vehicle propulsion systems are discussed. It should be noted that the modeling representations established here for energy converters (e.g., internal combustion engine, fuel cell, etc.), energy storage systems (ESS, e.g., battery, ultracapacitor, flywheel, etc.), electric machines (i.e., generator and traction motor) and mechanical devices (e.g., gearbox, continuously variable transmission, etc.) can be used individually or collectively for various types of vehicle system configurations, as well as for other propulsion systems. Detailed parameters, mathematical expressions, and characteristics analysis provided in this chapter should be useful for readers to set up effective models in simulation research, early design phase or operation performance analysis of vehicle propulsion systems.
Microsporidial stromal keratitis and endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent patient.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to report a case of microsporidial endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty in a healthy patient and discuss the management.
Numerical Analysis of Stress/Strain Fluctuations in Coiled Tubing During Deepwater Deployment

Conventional coiled tubing experiences a set of bending and straightening cycles during deployment into and out of a well bore. The severe bending strains that must be imposed on the tubing can be up to 3 % and are therefore well above the yield strength of the material. This leads to fatigue failure at extremely short lives.
How MAIT cells get their start.

By taking advantage of an MR1 tetramer to accurately detect mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in both mice and humans, researchers defined the thymic development of MAIT cells.
Combinatorial immunotherapy for melanoma

Melanoma has been a long-standing focal point for immunotherapy development. In this review, we explore the evolution of melanoma treatments with particular attention to the history and recent advances in melanoma immunotherapy. We also discuss novel combinations of these modalities and their potential to offer novel therapeutic options for patients with advanced melanoma.
Research on Social Networking Sites and Social Support from 2004 to 2015: A Narrative Review and Directions for Future Research

Abstract The article presents a narrative review of scholarship on social support through social networking sites (SNSs) published from 2004 to 2015. By searching keywords related to social support and SNSs in major databases for social sciences, we identified and content analyzed directly relevant articles (N = 88). The article summarizes the prevalence of theory usage; the function of theory usage (e.g., testing a theory, developing a theory); major theories referenced; and methodologies, including research designs, measurement, and the roles of social support and SNS examined in this literature. It also reports four themes identified across the studies, indicating the trends in the current research. Based on the review, the article presents a discussion about study sites, conceptualization of social support, theoretical coherence, the role of social networks, and the dynamic relationships between SNS use and social support, which points out potential avenues for shaping a future research agenda.
A randomized trial of heart failure disease management in skilled nursing facilities (SNF Connect): Lessons learned

Background/Aims:Conducting clinical trials in skilled nursing facilities is particularly challenging. This manuscript describes facility and patient recruitment challenges and solutions for clinical research in skilled nursing facilities.Methods:Lessons learned from the SNF Connect Trial, a randomized trial of a heart failure disease management versus usual care for patients with heart failure receiving post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities, are discussed. Description of the trial design and barriers to facility and patient recruitment along with regulatory issues are presented.Results:The recruitment of Denver-metro skilled nursing facilities was facilitated by key stakeholders of the skilled nursing facilities community. However, there were still a number of barriers to facility recruitment including leadership turnover, varying policies regarding research, fear of litigation and of an increased workload. Engagement of facilities was facilitated by their strong interest in reducing hospital read...
Circulating MiRNAs as biomarkers of gait speed responses to aerobic exercise training in obese older adults

Gait speed is a useful predictor of adverse outcomes, including incident mobility disability and mortality in older adults. While aerobic exercise training (AEX) is generally an effective therapy to improve gait speed, individual responses are highly variable. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute to inter-individual changes in gait speed with AEX. We examined whether plasma miRNAs are associated with gait speed changes (dGaitSp) in 33 obese older adults (age: 69.3±3.6 years, BMI: 34.0±3.1 kg/m2, 85% white, 73% women) who performed treadmill walking, 4 days/week for 5 months. Gait speed (baseline: 1.02±0.19 m/s; range of response: -0.2 to 0.35 m/s) was assessed using a 400 meter-fast-paced walk test. Using Nanostring technology, 120 out of 800 miRNAs were found to be abundantly expressed in plasma and 4 of these were significantly changed after AEX: miR-376a-5p increased, while miR-16-5p, miR-27a-3p, and miR-28-3p all decreased. In addition, baseline miR-181a-5p levels (r=-0.40, p=0.02) and percent changes in miR-92a-3p (r=-0.44, p=0.009) associated negatively with dGaitSp. Linear regression combined baseline miR-181a-5p and miR-92a-3p levels showed even stronger associations with dGaitSp (r=-0.48, p=0.005). These results suggest that circulating miR-181a-5p and miR-92a-3p may predict and/or regulate AEX-induced gait speed changes in obese older adults.
Moral Identity Among Low–Socioeconomic Status Adolescents: Stressful Events and Family Relationships Considered:

The current study aimed to examine themes surrounding the moral identity of adolescents from two low-income communities in the United States using qualitative interviews. Based on previous conceptu...
Phonon Surface Scattering and Thermal Energy Distribution in Superlattices

Thermal transport at small length scales has attracted significant attention in recent years and various experimental and theoretical methods have been developed to establish the reduced thermal conductivity. The fundamental understanding of how phonons move and the physical mechanisms behind nanoscale thermal transport, however, remains poorly understood. Here we move beyond thermal conductivity calculations and provide a rigorous and comprehensive physical description of thermal phonon transport in superlattices by solving the Boltzmann transport equation and using the Beckman-Kirchhoff surface scattering theory with shadowing to precisely describe phonon-surface interactions. We show that thermal transport in superlattices can be divided in two different heat transport modes having different physical properties at small length scales: layer-restricted and extended heat modes. We study how interface conditions, periodicity, and composition can be used to manipulate the distribution of thermal energy flow among such layer-restricted and extended heat modes. From predicted frequency and mean free path spectra of superlattices, we also investigate the existence of wave effects. The results and insights in this paper advance the fundamental understanding of heat transport in superlattices and the prospects of rationally designing thermal systems with tailored phonon transport properties.
Understanding and Supporting Better Pairings for CS1 Students

Introduction to programming courses employ pair programming with benefits to both students and instructors. When selecting their own partners, students without extant support or social networks are at a significant disadvantage relative to well-connected students. The present work will use individual and pair programming activities to create a matching program to suggest effective programming partners to students, with the goal of improving the experience of partner work in introductory CS classes. In doing so, we will explore the relevant matching traits in productive pairs and gain a deeper understanding of (un)productive pair partnerships.
Following Trends to The Future

Twenty-One Trends of the twenty-first Century: Out of the Trenches into the Future was a working reference book for practitioners in government, business, community affairs, and education intereste...
Quality Improvement Initiative Reduces Door-to-Needle Time for Intravenous Thrombolysis (P4.250)

Objective: To investigate if the implementation of a Quality Improvement Initiative can reduce door-to-needle (DTN) time for stroke patients significantly. Background: Intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only FDA approved medical treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Its benefit is time-dependent. It is therefore essential to identify and treat eligible patients quickly. Design/Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients treated with IV tPA at our institution between January 2013 and September 2016. The Quality Improvement Initiative was implemented in January 2015, and included revising the stroke protocol to allow the Stroke team to manage hypertension, to give tPA in the CT suite, and to give tPA before obtaining routine laboratory results. Patients who were treated with IV tPA after implementation of the Quality Improvement Initiative served as the intervention group and those who were treated before served as the control group. Outcomes measured were DTN time, NIH Stroke Scale, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge. Statistical analysis of data was done with unpaired t-test. Results: The study included 213 patients who received IV tPA, 90 of whom presented prior to the Quality Improvement Initiative and 123 of whom presented after. The average age of both groups was 70 years old (p=0.96). Average DTN time was significantly reduced by 20 minutes, from 71 minutes to 51 minutes (P Conclusions: The Quality Improvement Initiative reduces DTN time for IV thrombolysis significantly and may potentially improve functional outcome at discharge. It is easy to implement and can be efficiently adapted in hospitals throughout the U.S. Disclosure: Dr. Tran has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stradling has nothing to disclose. Dr. Abcede has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shafie has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yu has nothing to disclose.
Literature, mystery, and truth

In this essay I will make use of a procedure and concept of truth that emerged from the work of Brentano and Husserl that runs against the currents and idols of our age. In its most recent articulation in the work of Heidegger, truth asaletheiais an attempt to see the truth of Being as it discloses itself to understanding. In this way, truth is an activity of disclosure that has two moments: coming to light and bringing to light. Its notion is that of allowing things, as it were, to come into presence, to speak for themselves. Rather than construct an artifice of propositional reference for external verification, phenomenological analysis allows for disclosure of meaning through a natural form of life in which a question at issue is at home. A hermeneutical circle of interpretation surrounds a concept – in this case ‘mystery’ – with a network of sense natural to its occurrence, and so brings understanding into a space in which the whole meaning of the moment is revealed.
The Effect of Partner Serostatus and Relationship Duration on HIV Medication Adherence

High adherence rates to antiretroviral medications are necessary for people living with HIV/AIDS. The current study focuses on relationship-level predictors of HIV medication adherence by testing whether adherence rates differ by dyadic serostatus (seroconcordant vs. serodiscordant couples) among individuals with HIV in romantic relationships. Results showed a significant interaction between dyadic serostatus and relationship duration on adherence, such that individuals in long-term serodiscordant relationships reported better adherence than short-term serodiscordant relationships or seroconcordant partners in long-term relationships. Future research is needed to understand what relationship dynamics explain differences in adherence rates based on dyadic serostatus.
Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis: Literature Review and Recent Updates

This paper will review the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of exercise-induced anaphylaxis and food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis with an emphasis on novel studies published in the past several years. Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIAn) is a clinical syndrome characterized by anaphylaxis during or shortly after physical exertion. The syndrome is broadly grouped into two categories: exercise-induced anaphylaxis and food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIAn). Recent literature indicates that FDEIAn is a primary IgE-mediated food allergy which is augmented by several cofactors. Cofactors such as exercise, NSAIDs, and alcohol increase intestinal permeability and allow increased antigen uptake, thereby causing symptoms. The pathophysiology of EIAn is still under investigation. EIAn and FDEIAn are rare clinical syndromes characterized by symptoms during or shortly after exercise. Despite recent advances in the understanding of EIAn and FDEIAn, the pathophysiology of both conditions is not fully understood.
Incentivizing Relay Participation for Securing IoT Communication

Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a new computing paradigm that promises to offer a fully connected “smart” world. However, due to the open nature of wireless medium, the information sensed, collected, and transmitted by IoT devices can be easily intercepted by adversaries, which becomes a serious concern in most IoT applications requiring sensitive data. In practice, cooperative communication approaches can effectively improve the security level for wireless communication under the presence of eavesdroppers with unbounded computational ability. In this paper, we apply the amplify-and-forward (AF) cooperative communication to increase the secrecy capacity of IoT systems by incentivizing relay IoT devices. Specifically, a Stackelberg game is designed to motivate the participation of the relay IoT devices for security enhancement. Extensive experimental results have demonstrated the feasibility and security of the proposed mechanism under both unknown and known channel state information (CSI) models.
Exchange rate volatility and domestic investment in G7: are the effects asymmetric?

One strand of the literature in exchange rate economics argues and demonstrates that exchange rate uncertainty could affect domestic investment in either direction. In this paper, we argue and demonstrate that the effects of exchange rate volatility on domestic investment could be asymmetric, meaning that increased uncertainty may have different effect in size or direction than decreased uncertainty. We use data from each of the G7 countries and how those effects are asymmetric in the short run in almost all seven countries. However, short-run asymmetric effects translate into the long-run only in Germany and the U.S. While in the U.S., long-run effects are asymmetric, in Germany they are not.
Towards a Multi-purpose Robotic Nursing Assistant.

Robotic nursing aid is one of the heavily researched areas in robotics nowadays. Several robotic assistants exist that only focus on a specific function related to nurses assistance or functions related to patient aid. There is a need for a unified system that not only performs tasks that would assist nurses and reduce their burden but also perform tasks that help a patient. In recent times, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is also an increase in the need for robotic assistants that have teleoperation capabilities to provide better protection against the virus spread. To address these requirements, we propose a novel Multi-purpose Intelligent Nurse Aid (MINA) robotic system that is capable of providing walking assistance to the patients and perform teleoperation tasks with an easy-to-use and intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI). This paper also presents preliminary results from the walking assistant task that improves upon the current state-of-the-art methods and shows the developed GUI for teleoperation.
How I Use SDM in My Own Life: SDM and Me:

This article is a discussion on how supported decision-making (SDM) affects the author personally and professionally. He explains how he uses SDM for himself and why he finds it to be helpful. Whil...
A Robust Control Scheme for Time Delay Switch Attacks

Modern manufacturing systems are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks with a high level of automation and connectivity. Given that sensors are widely dependent upon to control manufacturing processes, the sensor-controller loop becomes an easy target for attacks. In this paper, a novel robust control framework is developed for systems subject to time delay switch (TDS) attacks, where data transmission from sensors to controllers are maliciously delayed. The attackers intend to make controllers use noncurrent information about the system states in order to destabilize and sabotage the system. Particularly, to increase the effectiveness of delay detection and prediction as well as error bound estimation for control, a new state space model based on diffeomorphism is formulated. A Markov chain model is developed to represent the TDS attacks. The uncertainty of system states is quantified and the upper bounds of delays are estimated. With the estimated bounds, a sliding integral mode control is developed to adjust the system to converge to the sliding manifold. The new framework is demonstrated with a 3D printer thermal control example.
Impulsivity and sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance predict next-day mood symptoms in a sample at high risk for or with recent-onset bipolar spectrum disorder: An ecological momentary assessment study.

Abstract Background: Impulsivity and sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance are core features of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) that are antecedents to onset and persist even between mood episodes; their pervasive presence in BSD suggests that they may be particularly relevant to understanding BSD onset and course. Considerable research demonstrates bidirectional associations between impulsivity and sleep disturbance in healthy individuals; thus, it is important to examine how these features interact to impact BSD symptomatology. Methods: Young adults (N = 107, 55% female, M age = 21.82 years) at high risk for developing BSD (based on high self-reported reward sensitivity) or with recent-onset BSD participated in ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine relationships between impulsivity, sleep and circadian rhythm alterations, and mood symptoms in everyday life. Impulsivity was measured via self-report/behavioral task, sleep was measured via actigraphy, circadian rhythms were measured via dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) time, and mood symptoms were measured three times daily via self-report. Results: Multi-level modeling revealed that less total sleep time predicted increased next-day mood symptoms. Moreover, DLMO, total sleep time, and sleep onset latency moderated the relationship between impulsivity and EMA-assessed mood symptoms. Fewer minutes of sleep and later DLMO strengthened the positive relationship between impulsivity and mood symptoms. Limitations: Mood symptoms in our sample were mild; future studies should replicate findings in populations with more severe mood symptoms. Conclusions: This multi-method assessment of dynamic relationships revealed novel associations between impulsivity, sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance, and symptoms within individuals at high-risk for or with recent-onset BSD.
OPTN limits herpes stromal keratitis severity and demyelination through negative regulation of IL-17 and hyperinflammatory T-cell response

Herpes stromal keratitis (HSK) is a result of the inflammatory sequelae following primary and recurrent Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) infections. This pathology is known to be mediated by immunopathogenic T cell responses against viral antigens, however most individuals infected with HSV-1 never exhibit signs of this immunopathology. Recent studies have identified the host restriction factor, optineurin (OPTN), as an inhibitor of viral spread in the central nervous system, protecting hosts from viral encephalopathy. In an HSV-1 corneal infection mouse model on OPTN knockout mice, we assess the contribution of OPTN to ameliorating the clinical manifestations of HSK. We identify that OPTN protects the host from loss of ocular and whisker sensitivity and opacification of the cornea. scRNA-seq of the trigeminal ganglion (TG) reveals that transcription changes to the peripheral neurons and immune cell populations drive the expression of Il-17A in CD4 and CD8 T cells, as well as increased infiltration of T cells into the TG. This leads to demyelination and the observed HSK pathology.
Notes on Fairness and the Market Economy

The discussion begins with examination of why the problem of defining and attaining a fair outcome is intractable. Then it is argued that whatever income redistribution goals may be adopted, regulation of markets is a poor way to attain them. Since this book stresses regulation of markets, the second point is more critical here. The argument starts by recognizing the absence of clear rules of fairness. Ethical issues that have remained unresolved though millennia of effort are involved. The facts about prevailing conditions and the impacts of alternative policies are difficult and perhaps impossible to determine. Throughout, it is presumed that this view of income distribution dominates the economic literature.
High temperature inductive switching of SiC GTO and diode

Future US Army motor control applications will require power devices to operate for thousands of hours at case temperatures of 150/spl deg/C and higher. For reliable operation of silicon (Si)-base power electronic, the operational case temperature must be below 120/spl deg/C. Because of this temperature limitation of Si, new wide bandgap materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) are being investigated. The wide bandgap material allows SiC devices to operate at temperatures significantly greater than 150/spl deg/C. For high power and high voltage applications the gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) is the switch of choice. This paper presents the results of a SiC GTO and a SiC p-i-n diode both operating at case temperatures up to 150/spl deg/C. The GTO switches into an inductive load with currents up to 5 Amps, baseplate temperature up to 150/spl deg/C and switching frequency up to 10 kHz.
Semantic Analysis of E-Business Operations

An e-business infrastructure is comprised of a large number of business processes that are exposed through web services. To manage such an infrastructure, it is necessary for business managers to be able to observe their e-business operations in greater detail. In particular, a framework and a tool is required that allows business users to define qualitative and quantitative metrics, depending on their own (business or IT) goals. Once metrics have been defined, the tool should be able to measure them and support users in semantic analysis of the results, allowing them to quickly identify quality degradations as well as their causes.
The Misuse of History: Conspiracy and the Guantánamo Military Commissions

The Guantanmo military commissions, established to try suspected terrorists for violations of the law of war, have completed just seven cases in a decade of operation. All these cases included one or both of the charges “providing material support to terrorism” and “conspiracy,” even though experts widely agree that these are not recognized war crimes. Fighting to save these charges against critical appellate scrutiny, the government now argumes that these offenses can be prosecuted as part of a unique “American common law of war” regardless of whether they violate international law, and that past U.S. military commission practice provides historical support for their use. Focusing on the inchoate crime of conspiracy, this article argues that this logic is fatally flawed. First, past practices in criminal law are insufficient to establish a crime’s contemporary validity. Second, the very notion of an “American common law” contradicts the essential nature of the law of war, which has always been understood to comprise a subset of the larger body of international law. Third, careful scrutiny of the historical record shows that it does not support the conclusion that commissions prosecuted inchoate conspiracies as a war crime. Finally, judicial adoption of the government’s “American common law” argument will put U.S. military personnel at significant risk in future conflicts as other states will assert a counterpart authority to try Americans for violation of their own national laws.
Thin Film Technology For High And Low Tc Squids

This talk reviews recent advances in thin film technology for I ow4 em perat ure and hig h-t em perat u re SQUlDs and their associated coupling structures. SUMMARY For years, nearly quantum limited operation of low-Tc SQUIDs has been available in laboratory demonstrations, but only recently have practical devices that harness this sensitivity for useful measurements been put into operation. Mostly until now this has been done by specially configuring experiments that can be well coupled to the small inductance of nearly quantum limited SQUIDs. As an example, we have coupled a -2h SQUID operating at 290 mK to a pickup coil in a microsusceptometer configuration so as to achieve an equivalent spin sensitivity of -3~103 spinsfJHz. Future progress in lithography and the concomitant processes of fine feature reproduction will allow us to shrink the size of coupling structures and thereby extend the range of SQUID applications that can take advantage of the improved sensitivity available in low inductance SQUIDs.
Response of plant-colonizing pseudomonads to hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract Colonization of plant root surfaces by Pseudomonas putida may require mechanisms that protect this bacterium against superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide produced by the root. Catalase and superoxide dismutase may be important in this bacterial defense system. Stationary-phase cells of P. putida were not killed by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at concentrations up to 10 mM, and extracts from these cells possessed three isozymic bands (A, B, and C) of catalase activity in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Logarithmic-phase cells exposed directly to hydrogen peroxide concentrations above 1 mM were killed. Extracts of logarithmic-phase cells displayed only band A catalase activity. Protection against 5 mM H2O2 was apparent after previous exposure of the logarithmic-phase cells to nonlethal concentrations (30 to 300 μM) of H2O2. Extracts of these protected cells possessed enhanced catalase activity of band A and small amounts of bands B and C. A single form of superoxide dismutase and isoforms of catalase were apparent in extracts from a foliar intercellular pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. The mobilities of these P. syringae enzymes were distinct from those of enzymes in P. putida extracts.
Death certification of "suicide by cop".

Death certification of "suicide by cop" is controversial among some medical examiners and coroners. We present five such deaths that were certified as suicides and discuss the medico-legal issues involved with these certifications. To certify such a death as a suicide, certain criteria should be met. Suicide by cop is a circumstance that involves competing intentional acts that may result in dichotomous determinations of the manner of death. Despite the absence of direct self-infliction, there is overwhelming evidence that these five individuals intended to end their own lives. Their use of an unusual method to accomplish this goal may inappropriately result in a reflexive certification of homicide. All of the decedents possessed weapons or a facsimile of a weapon. We present five instances of suicide by cop and contend that these types of deaths are best certified as suicides. Language: en
A high-speed high-resolution oversampled A/D converter

High resolution, high-speed analog-digital (A/D) converters are used in instrumentation and imaging applications. Oversampled A/D converters are alternative to the traditional Nyquist rate converters. It is possible to achieve a higher resolution than with Nyquist rate converters at comparable circuit complexities. The design issues of a 7th-order two-stage pipelined oversampled A/D converter are discussed. Simulation results show a resolution greater than 16 bits at a throughput rate of 1.5 Msample/s. This design is implemented using a 1-/spl mu/m CMOS process. >
Ribonucleotide Reductase Gene in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 and Virus Pathogenicity

The large subunit of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) ribonucleotide reductase (RR; ICP10) is a chimera that consists of a Ser/Thr-specific protein kinase (PK) localized at the N terminus and the large subunit of RR (RR1) localized at the C terminus. The product of the PK minigene is myristylated and has features of a signal peptide and a transmembrane (TM) helical segment followed by a basic residue (Arg107) such as described for growth factor receptor kinases (GFR). Membrane immunofluorescence of ICP10-transformed cells with antibodies to synthetic peptides upstream and downstream of the TM indicates that ICP10 is a membrane-spanning protein. PK-catalytic motifs I (nucleotide binding) and II (invariant Lys) are not required for ICP10 kinase activity, but the TM segment is essential. A leucine zipper located at the PK and RR junction and the 50 C-terminal residues are involved in stable complex formation with the small subunit of RR (RR2). The ICP10 promoter contains an Oct-1/TAATGARAT, two AP-1, and two HPV E2 binding motifs. ICP10 expression is regulated as an immediate-early (IE) gene and is enhanced by HPV 16 E2. The PK minigene causes neoplastic transformation of immortalized cells, and its expression is required for virus growth and neoplastic transformation. Sequences homologous to a segment of the PK minigene were amplified and cloned from human DNA, and a 60 kDa protein antigenically and structurally similar to ICP10-PK, was identified in human cervical cancer tissues. A model for PK-minigene linked carcinogenesis is proposed.
Practical implementation of incretin-based therapy in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes.

AbstractHyperglycemia in patients with and without a prior history of diabetes is an independent marker of morbidity and mortality in critically and noncritically ill patients. Improvement of glycemic control with insulin therapy has been shown to reduce hospital complications in patients with diabetes, but also results in increased rates of hypoglycemia, which have been linked to poor outcomes. Thus, alternative treatment options that can normalize blood glucose levels without undue hypoglycemia are being sought. Incretin-based therapies, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, stimulate insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent fashion, thus not causing hypoglycemia. Alternative points of view exist regarding insulin versus incretin therapy for the care of these patients. We have brought together the authors on the opposite sides of this discussion with the objective of providing a rational synthesis on how to achieve the best possible control of glycemia ...
An Approach to Robust Resource Allocation in Large-Scale Systems of Systems

Resource allocation, in terms of balancing supply and demand, is a common problem in many mission-critical systems, such as smart grids. If the participants' contribution is subject to inertia, they have to solve the problem for a specific time span in advance, that is, create schedules on the basis of demand predictions. To improve the system's stability, the participants not only have to anticipate the predictions' inherent uncertainties, but also provide an appropriate amount of degrees of freedom, i.e., Reserves, that enable reactive contribution adjustments. Reserves are of particular interest because the problem's complexity and uncertainty call for rather coarse grained schedules and an anticipation can turn out to be wrong. In this paper, we present an approach to robust resource allocation in self-organizing hierarchical systems that is flanked by an auction-based algorithm. To deal with uncertain demand, agents learn characteristic prediction errors and create schedules for different possible developments of the demand. This allows the agents to choose the most suitable schedule at runtime. Further, they schedule feedback-driven reserves to be able to cope with unforeseen situations. Based on the example of creating power plant schedules in decentralized autonomous power management systems, we show that our auction-based algorithm clearly outperforms a regio-central approach.
In Defense of Cultural Competency in Psychotherapy and Treatment.

Cultural competency guidelines and policies are being widely established. Yet some critics have challenged the evidence for cultural competency and the lack of efficacy studies that demonstrate its outcomes. Various positions are examined that discuss cultural competency research. They include the need for more resources for research, scientific practices that overlook ethnic research findings, fruitfulness of theory-driven rather than population-based research, problems in defining cultural competency as a technique, and development of policies in the absence of research. Implications of these positions are discussed.
Prony based methods for simultaneous identification of transfer functions and initial conditions

Abstract This work extends previous results on transfer function identification using methods based on Prony signal analysis. With the Prony based method of this paper, input signals are piecewise continuous and are characterized by sets of input eigenvalues between points of discontinuity. Previously developed Prony based methods for transfer function identification are limited in terms of the class of input signals considered. The advantage of the more general input form of this paper is that it can be tailored to excite system modes in frequency ranges of interest. In addition to generating system eigenvalues and transfer function residues, the approach also can be used to obtain a feedthrough gain and initial condition residues. In the first phase of the solution, system eigenvalues are estimated; and in the second phase, transfer function residues and initial condition residues are estimated. Methods of model order selection also are described, and a detailed example with noise included is given to illustrate the approach.
Biosynthesis of diosgenin from 26-hydroxycholesterol in dioscorea floribunda

Abstract 26-Hydroxycholesterol-26- 14 C was converted by a Dioscorea floribunda plant to diosgenin. This result suggests that oxygenation at C-26 may be the first step in the biosynthesis of diosgenin from cholesterol. No diosgenin was formed from kryptogenin-26- 14 C by D. composita , nor was diosgenin-26- 14 C converted to its C-25 epimer, yamogenin, by the latter plant.
Cross-desensitization of responses of rat trigeminal subnucleus caudalis neurons to cinnamaldehyde and menthol

Most cold-sensitive subnucleus caudalis (Vc) neurons are also excited by the TRPM8 agonist menthol and the TRPA1 agonist cinnamaldehyde (CA). We investigated how interactions among menthol, CA and noxious cooling and heating of the tongue affected responses of superficial Vc units recorded in thiopental-anesthetized rats. Units responded to 1% CA which enhanced cold- and heat-evoked responses 5 min later. They responded more strongly to 10% CA which initially depressed cold responses, followed by enhancement at 5 min without affecting responses to heat. Following 10% CA, the mean response to 1% menthol was significantly lower than when menthol was tested first. After menthol, the subsequent response to CA was significantly weaker compared to the mean CA-evoked response when it was tested first. These results demonstrate mutual cross-desensitization between CA and menthol. The response to CA was enhanced following prior application of 10% ethanol (menthol vehicle). Prior application of menthol did not prevent the biphasic effect of 10% CA on cold-evoked responses, nor did prior application of CA prevent menthol enhancement of cold-evoked responses. Responses to noxious heat were unaffected by 10% CA and menthol regardless of the order of chemical presentation. These data indicate that superficial Vc neurons receive convergent input from primary afferents expressing TRPM8 and TRPA1. The mutual cross-desensitization between CA and menthol, and differential modulation of cold- vs. heat-evoked responses, suggests a direct inhibition of TRPM8 and TRPA1 expressed in peripheral nerve endings by CA and menthol, respectively, rather than a central site of interaction.
GENETIC BASIS OF DIFFERENCES IN GENITAL MORPHOLOGY AMONG THREE SIBLING SPECIES OF DROSOPHILA.

There is currently a debate about the relevance of microevolutionary studies to understanding macroevolutionary patterns. The classical view (e.g., Harland, 1936; Dobzhansky, 1970; Charlesworth et al., 1982) is that macroevolutionary phenomena such as adaptive radiation represent simple extrapolations of processes which can be studied in the field and laboratory. An alternative idea is that microand macroevolutionary events have qualitatively different causes and genetic underpinnings (Goldschmidt, 1933; Stanley, 1979; 1982; Gould, 1980; Vrba, 1980). Much of the controversy is about genetic change during speciation. The classical neo-Darwinian view maintains that the genetic basis of phenotypic differences among populations and individuals within a species is similar to that among species
Hyperspectral imaging for food processing automation

This paper presents the research results that demonstrates hyperspectral imaging could be used effectively for detecting feces (from duodenum, ceca, and colon) and ingesta on the surface of poultry carcasses, and potential application for real-time, on-line processing of poultry for automatic safety inspection. The hyperspectral imaging system included a line scan camera with prism-grating-prism spectrograph, fiber optic line lighting, motorized lens control, and hyperspectral image processing software. Hyperspectral image processing algorithms, specifically band ratio of dual-wavelength (565/517) images and thresholding were effective on the identification of fecal and ingesta contamination of poultry carcasses. A multispectral imaging system including a common aperture camera with three optical trim filters (515.4 nm with 8.6- nm FWHM), 566.4 nm with 8.8-nm FWHM, and 631 nm with 10.2-nm FWHM), which were selected and validated by a hyperspectral imaging system, was developed for a real-time, on-line application. A total image processing time required to perform the current multispectral images captured by a common aperture camera was approximately 251 msec or 3.99 frames/sec. A preliminary test shows that the accuracy of real-time multispectral imaging system to detect feces and ingesta on corn/soybean fed poultry carcasses was 96%. However, many false positive spots that cause system errors were also detected.
Failure of the Boltzmann equation for nonlinear resistivity

The role of energy dependence of electronic parameters is given a more accurate formulation than previously. Explicit calculations for Nb show that the anomalous high-T resistivity cannot be explained in this way. (AIP)