cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards the Security of Motion Detection-based Video Surveillance on IoT Devices

Video surveillance enabled by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smart cameras, has become a popular set of applications recently with the trend of adopting IoT in multimedia signal processing and smart home use cases. Despite its intelligence and convenience, the video motion detection module deployed on the IoT devices poses security challenges due to the sensitive nature of the captured surveillance video and the motion detection operation. In this paper, we investigate the security vulnerabilities of IoT video surveillance from the hardware system point of view. We first develop a proof-of-concept prototype demonstrating video replay attacks, in which the compromised surveillance device hides the chosen suspicious motion by overwriting the corresponding frames with pre-recorded normal frames under the control of the attacker. To address the security concerns, we develop a hardware-based IoT security framework that creates a trusted execution environment and physically isolates the security sensitive components, such as the motion detection module, from the rest of the system. We implement the security framework on an ARM system on chip (SoC). Our evaluations on the real hardware reveal superior security and low performance/power overhead in IoT video surveillance applications.
Will the Illinois chorus frog (Pseudacris streckeri illinoensis) survive in Arkansas? A case study of a secretive species In need of protection

The range of the Illinois chorus frog (Pseudacris streckeri illinoensis) in Arkansas is restricted to the eastern quarter of Clay County. Nearly 100% of this species' native sand-prairie habitat has been converted to agricultural fields. The original range of the Illinois chorus frog encompassed at least 9,982 ha. Although two new localities were identified in 2002, the current range is only 4,399 ha in 2002. This represents a 56% range contraction since 1992. Calling was heard in only 44.5% of its original range. This species may be experiencing a severe range contraction. Decay models predict the extirpation of the Illinois chorus frog in Arkansas within 17.5 to 101 yr. Suggested factors contributing to this range contraction may include drought, pesticide use, changes in surface water hydrology, U.S. E.P.A. Best management practices, and this species' limited ability to recolonize extirpated sites.
Increased expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E during growth of neonatal rat cardiocytes in vitro

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) is rate limiting for translational initiation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether eIF-4E levels are increased during cardiocyte growth produ...
Dispersion characteristics of clay from Mushroom Cave, Meramec Park Lake Project, Meramec river, Missouri

The results of a laboratory study to assess the dispersion characteristics of a plastic clay (CH) from Mushroom Cave, Meramec Park Lake Project, Missouri, are presented. The sedimentary characteristics of the clay were investigated by X-ray radiography, neutron scanning, and microscopic examination of selected specimens. The mineralogy and chemical properties of the clay and the chemical properties of the natural eroding water (Meramec River water) were determined. Pinhole erosion tests conducted on undisturbed soil specimens, using both distilled water and natural water as the eroding fluid, indicated the clay was nondispersive. The results from the soil pore water chemistry tests plotted in the nondispersive zone on Sherard's relationship between dispersion and soil pore water chemistry, thus confirming the results of the pinhole erosion tests.
A Temperature-Compensated LC-VCO PLL and a Power-Efficient Decision Feedback Equalizer for Multi-Standard Serial Links

This paper presents a temperature-compensated wideband LC-VCO phase-locked loop (PLL) and a power-efficient decision feedback equalizer (DFE) for multi-standard serial link applications. The PLL adopts a new temperature compensation scheme to reduce the LC-VCO temperature frequency drift without sacrificing frequency tuning range. The DFE utilizes a half-rate speculative architecture with a non-50% duty cycle clocking scheme, achieving 20% faster speed compared with the conventional solutions. Designed in a 130 nm CMOS technology, the PLL achieves a 5.6GHz to 13.4GHz tuning range by using two VCO cores while remaining locked from -40°C to 85°C. At 25°C, the PLL has a random jitter (RJ rms ) of 0.37pS at 11.44GHz and consumes 50.88mW of power. Designed in a digital 65nm CMOS process, the DFE operates up to 21Gb/s over a 25dB loss channel, consuming 20.8mW of power.
Development of Longwave Infrared Tunable Notch Filters

Spectrally tunable micro-engineered metamaterial notch filters operating from 8 to 12 micron were developed based on the guided mode resonance phenomenon using a subwavelength germanium grating and planar waveguide grown on a zinc selenide substrate. © 2019 The Author(s)
BLANT-fast graphlet sampling tool.

Author(s): Maharaj, Sridevi; Tracy, Brennan; Hayes, Wayne B | Abstract: SummaryBLAST creates local sequence alignments by first building a database of small k-letter sub-sequences called k-mers. Identical k-mers from different regions provide 'seeds' for longer local alignments. This seed-and-extend heuristic makes BLAST extremely fast and has led to its almost exclusive use despite the existence of more accurate, but slower, algorithms. In this paper, we introduce the Basic Local Alignment for Networks Tool (BLANT). BLANT is the analog of BLAST, but for networks: given an input graph, it samples small, induced, k-node sub-graphs called k-graphlets. Graphlets have been used to classify networks, quantify structure, align networks both locally and globally, identify topology-function relationships and build taxonomic trees without the use of sequences. Given an input network, BLANT produces millions of graphlet samples in seconds-orders of magnitude faster than existing methods. BLANT offers sampled graphlets in various forms: distributions of graphlets or their orbits; graphlet degree or graphlet orbit degree vectors, the latter being compatible with ORCA; or an index to be used as the basis for seed-and-extend local alignments. We demonstrate BLANT's usefelness by using its indexing mode to find functional similarity between yeast and human PPI networks.Availability and implementationBLANT is written in C and is available at https://github.com/waynebhayes/BLANT/releases.Supplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
ABSTRACT: Many Applications of Mobile Ad Hoc

In studying or designing parallel and distributedsystems one should have available a robust analyticalmodel that includes the major parameters thatdetermines the system performance. Jackson networkshave been very successful in modeling parallel anddistributed systems. However, Jackson networks havetheir limitations. In particular, the product-form solutionof Jackson networks assumes steady state andexponential service centers with certain specializedqueueing discipline. In this paper, we present aperformance model that can be used to study thetransient behavior of parallel and distributed systemswith finite workload. When the number of tasks to beexecuted is large enough, the model approaches theproduct-form of Jackson networks (steady state solution).We show how to use the model to analyze theperformance of parallel and distributed systems. Wealso use the model to show to what extent the product-formsolution of Jackson networks can be used.
From ideas to action: The prefrontal-premotor connections that shape motor behavior.

Abstract The prefrontal cortex serves a critical role in the coordination and execution of motor actions via its involvement in goal setting, decision-making, motivation, and cognitive control. Using the macaque connectome, the anatomic pathways from prefrontal cortex to motor circuitry are summarized, revealing a remarkably limited set of direct connections. A highly similar connectivity pattern is inferred from human neuroimaging. The results motivate the prefrontal–premotor connector hub model, which highlights both functional segregation and a limited set of connector hub regions that provide a direct linking of prefrontal cortex to the (pre-)motor network. Moreover, the macaque connectome reveals a set of motor translator regions that provide the most direct projection from premotor to prefrontal areas. The connector hub model leads to important functional implications: Neural activation or disruption in connector hubs should lead to functional deficits that undermine integration between higher cognitive action control and motor performance ranging from response selection and inhibition to perceived agency of actions. Segregation of prefrontal–premotor networks challenges hierarchical models of motor control and underscores the critical role of the indirect pathway from prefrontal to premotor areas via the parietal cortex. The model provides a predictive framework to design neurostimulation paradigms for modulating skill learning or recovery in both healthy subjects and patient cohorts.
THE ROLE OF PRINT EXPOSURE IN SUPPORTING COGNITIVE ABILITY AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Reading is an activity that has long been thought to have beneficial effects on cognitive ability, however, little is known about the effects of long-term reading engagement on cognition among older adults. Pre-test data are reported from an ongoing study of the effects of a literacy-based intervention on cognition among older adults. Participants (66.7% female) ranging from 60 to 79 years of age with education ranging from 11 to 19 years were administered a battery of measures, including print exposure checklists, which are objective indices for assessing long-term reading-related activities, as well as cognitive assessments. A composite measure of print exposure was based on the Author Recognition Test, Magazine Recognition Test, Non-fiction Author Recognition Test, and Fiction Recognition Test (alpha=.92). Cognition was assessed in a comprehensive battery, including measures of verbal ability, working memory, episodic memory, and verbal fluency (alpha=.83). Print exposure was marginally related to self-reported time spent reading (r=.27, p.4), suggesting criterion-related validity. Age-related declines were not evident for any of our cognitive measures in this sample, t(46)’s.8, and there was a modest increase in reading engagement with age (r=.36, p=.01). Controlling for verbal ability, print exposure had a significant positive influence on global cognition (standardized beta=0.38, p=.01); however, these effects were specific to episodic memory and verbal fluency, t(46)>2, p<.05. These preliminary findings are suggestive of selective cognitive benefits from continued literacy engagement in reading in later life.
Dyson Orbitals and Double Rydberg Anions: Methylated, Annulated, and Paramagnetic

A double Rydberg anion (DRA) consists of a saturated, closed-shell, molecular cation and two electrons that occupy diffuse orbitals. Techniques of ab initio electron propagator theory (EPT) predict the existence and spectra of three new classes of DRAs. The first, with the formula NH4-n(CH3)n-, has vertical electron detachment energies (VEDEs) that vary between 0.24 and 0.39 eV and corresponding Dyson orbitals that accumulate near the periphery of N-H bonds. An internal hydrogen bond that forms a ring with five members occurs in the second class. In paramagnetic DRA isomers, electrons are assigned to two, diffuse, triplet-coupled spin-orbitals that localize outside the N-H bonds of a cationic, tetrahedral center or outside bonds on a nearby amide or methyl group. Effects of delocalization, dispersion, and radial correlation between diffuse electrons on VEDEs are described in terms of Dyson orbitals and their pole strengths. These concepts of EPT connect ground-state and spectral properties to each other and provide a rigorous, systematic, and insightful approach to predicting and characterizing novel patterns of chemical bonding and molecular electronic structure.
Trends in Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Admissions for Hyperglycemic Crises in Adults With Diabetes in the U.S., 2006–2015

OBJECTIVE To report U.S. national population-based rates and trends in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) among adults, in both the emergency department (ED) and inpatient setting. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We analyzed data from 1 January 2006 through 30 September 2015 from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample and National Inpatient Sample to characterize ED visits and inpatient admissions with DKA and HHS. We used corresponding year cross-sectional survey data from the National Health Interview Survey to estimate the number of adults ≥18 years with diagnosed diabetes to calculate population-based rates for DKA and HHS in both ED and inpatient settings. Linear trends from 2009 to 2015 were assessed using Joinpoint software. RESULTS In 2014, there were a total of 184,255 and 27,532 events for DKA and HHS, respectively. The majority of DKA events occurred in young adults aged 18–44 years (61.7%) and in adults with type 1 diabetes (70.6%), while HHS events were more prominent in middle-aged adults 45–64 years (47.5%) and in adults with type 2 diabetes (88.1%). Approximately 40% of the hyperglycemic events were in lower-income populations. Overall, event rates for DKA significantly increased from 2009 to 2015 in both ED (annual percentage change [APC] 13.5%) and inpatient settings (APC 8.3%). A similar trend was seen for HHS (APC 16.5% in ED and 6.3% in inpatient). The increase was in all age groups and in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS Causes of increased rates of hyperglycemic events are unknown. More detailed data are needed to investigate the etiology and determine prevention strategies.
Bone Disease in Patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes.

To summarize the bone findings, mainly bone mass and fracture risk, in Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS). Low bone mineral density and fractures seem to be frequent in some of the rare EDS types (kyphoscoliotic, arthrochalasia, spondylodysplastic, and classic-like EDS). For the more prevalent hypermobile and classic EDS types, some case–control studies found mildly decreased bone mineral density, but it was not clear that fracture rates were increased. Nevertheless, abnormalities in vertebral shape seem to be common in classical and hypermobile EDS types. In a cohort of individuals with EDS followed since birth, no fractures were observed during infancy. Bone mineral density varies widely among the different types of EDS, and vertebral abnormalities seem to be common in classical and hypermobile EDS. It might be justified to perform spine radiographs and bone mineral density assessments in newly diagnosed EDS.
Remote Ischemic Conditioning Reduced Acute Lung Injury After Traumatic Brain Injury in the Mouse.

ABSTRACT Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can induce acute lung injury (ALI). The exact pathomechanism of TBI-induced ALI is poorly understood, limiting treatment options. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) can mitigate detrimental outcomes following transplants, cardiac arrests, and neurological injuries. In this study, we hypothesized that RIC would reduce TBI-induced ALI by regulating the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-dependent pathway, a central regulator of endothelial barrier integrity, lymphocyte, and myokine trafficking. Male mice were subjected to either diffuse TBI by midline fluid percussion or control sham injury and randomly assigned among four groups: sham, TBI, sham RIC, or TBI RIC; RIC was performed 1 h prior to TBI. Mice were euthanized at 1-h postinjury or 7 days post-injury (DPI) and lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and blood were collected. Lung tissue was analyzed for histopathology, irisin myokine levels, and S1P receptor levels. BAL fluid and blood were analyzed for cellularity and myokine/S1P levels, respectively. One-hour postinjury, TBI damaged lung alveoli and increased neutrophil infiltration; RIC preserved alveoli. BAL from TBI mice had more neutrophils and higher neutrophil/monocyte ratios compared with sham, where TBI RIC mice showed no injury-induced change. Further, S1P receptor 3 and irisin-associated protein levels were significantly increased in the lungs of TBI mice compared with sham, which was prevented by RIC. However, there was no RIC-associated change in plasma irisin or S1P. At 7 DPI, ALI in TBI mice was largely resolved, with evidence for residual lung pathology. Thus, RIC may be a viable intervention for TBI-induced ALI to preserve lung function and facilitate clinical management.
Association of Hospital-Level Intensive Care Unit Use and Outcomes in Older Patients With Isolated Rib Fractures.

Importance The optimal level of care for older patients with rib fractures as an isolated injury is unknown. Objectives To characterize interhospital variability in intensive care unit (ICU) vs non-ICU admission of older patients with isolated rib fractures and to evaluate whether greater hospital-level use of ICU admission is associated with improved outcomes. Design, setting, and participants This cohort study included trauma patients aged 65 years and older with isolated rib fractures who were admitted to US trauma centers participating in the National Trauma Data Bank between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016. Patients were excluded if they had other significant injuries, were intubated or had assisted respirations in the emergency department (ED), or had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of less than 9 in the ED. Hospitals with fewer than 10 eligible patients were excluded. Data analysis was conducted from May 2019 through September 2020. Exposures Admission to the ICU. Main outcomes and measures Composite of unplanned intubation, pneumonia, or death during hospitalization. Results Among 23 951 patients (11 066 [46.2%] women; mean [SD] age, 77.0 [7.2] years) at 573 hospitals, the median (interquartile range) proportion of ICU use was 16.7% (7.4%-32.0%), but this varied from a low of 0% to a high of 91.9%. The composite outcome occurred in 787 patients (3.3%), with unplanned intubation in 317 (1.3%), pneumonia in 180 (0.8%), and death in 451 (1.9%). Accounting for the hierarchical nature of the data and adjusting for propensity scores reflecting factors associated with ICU admission, receiving care at a hospital with the greatest ICU use (quartile 4), compared with a hospital with the lowest ICU use, was associated with decreased likelihood of the composite outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.55-0.92). Conclusions and relevance In this study, admission location of older patients with isolated rib fractures was variable across hospitals, but hospitalization at a center with greater ICU use was associated with improved outcomes. It may be warranted for hospitals with low ICU use to admit more such patients to an ICU.
Truck Platooning to Minimize Load-Induced Fatigue in Steel Girder Bridges:

Truck platooning has been demonstrated to possess several advantages in relation to energy savings. To implement this technology in the future, a better understanding of the effects of truck platoo...
Acoustic simulation of J.S. Bach’s Thomaskirche in 1723 and 1539

This paper investigates an early acoustical theory of Hope Bagenal about the Leipzig Thomaskirche, where J.S. Bach composed and conducted from 1723 to 1750. Bagenal predicted that the church had a shorter reverberation time than previously in Bach’s time as a result of the Lutheran alterations to the space in the 16th century. This study uses on-site measurements to calibrate a geometric acoustical model of the current church. The calibrated model is then altered to account for the state of the church in 1723 and 1539. Simulations predict that the empty church in 1723 had a T30 value nearly one second lower than today, while the empty church in 1539 was much more reverberant than today. However, when the fully occupied church is simulated across all time periods, the difference in T30 is much smaller, with values at 1 kHz ranging from 2.7s in 1539, 2.5s in the present day, and 2.3s in 1723. These empirical data are crucial for understanding the historical setting of Bach’s music as heard by its original congregation and by its composer.
Detecting the Inverted-U in fMRI Studies of Schizophrenia: A Comparison of Three Analysis Methods.

Objective Cognitive tasks are used to probe neuronal activity during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect signs of aberrant cognitive functioning in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (SZ). However, nonlinear (inverted-U-shaped) associations between neuronal activity and task difficulty can lead to misinterpretation of group differences between patients and healthy comparison subjects (HCs). In this paper, we evaluated a novel method for correcting these misinterpretations based on conditional performance analysis. Method Participants included 25 HCs and 27 SZs who performed a working memory (WM) task (N-back) with 5 load conditions while undergoing fMRI. Neuronal activity was regressed onto: 1) task load (i.e., parametric task levels), 2) marginal task performance (i.e., performance averaged over all load conditions), or 3) conditional task performance (i.e., performance within each load condition). Results In most regions of interest, conditional performance analysis uniquely revealed inverted-U-shaped neuronal activity in both SZs and HCs. After accounting for conditional performance differences between groups, we observed few difference in both the pattern and level of neuronal activity between SZs and HCs within regions that are classically associated with WM functioning (e.g., posterior dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal association cortices). However, SZs did show aberrant activity within the anterior dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Conclusions Interpretations of differences in neuronal activity between groups, and of associations between neuronal activity and performance, should be considered within the context of task performance. Whether conditional performance-based differences reflect compensation, dedifferentiation, or other processes is not a question that is easily resolved by examining activation and performance data alone.
Comparison of oxidative treatments of polypropylene films and fibers to promote zinc oxide nanoparticle adhesion

Ozone, heating-in-air, and chromic acid treatments of polypropylene (PP) films and fibers were evaluated for their ability to promote ZnO nanoparticle (NP) adhesion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscop...
Polynuclear Carbonyls of Manganese, Technetium and Rhenium (1a)

Recently, polynuclear tetracarbonyls of the two heavier metals in the manganese sub -group have been discovered. The first was for technetium (2) as a major by-product during attempts to prepare the pentacarbonyl hydride, and more recently, for rhenium (3) by an analogous route. The dimetal deca — carbonyl is treated first with sodium amalgam in tetrahydrofuran solution. After a time, the solvent is evaporated and cyclohexane and phosphoric acid are added and the heterogeneous mixture is refluxed; desired product is found in the cyclohexane layer. It was later discovered that the use of sodium borohydride in the first step instead of sodium amalgam led to the same products, but in greatly increased yields (3). For the derivative of technetium, an analysis, IR spectrum and molecular weight have been obtained. This and additional data are now available for the derivative of rhenium and these will be reviewed briefly.
A Review of “Psychiatry and Law”

Ralph Slovenko's Psychiatry and Law does not lend itself easily to evaluation. 736 pages of text, footnotes, appendixes, selected reading lists, and indexes clearly reflect an undertaking of heroic proportions. Every aspect of the interface of law and psychiatry is examined, from psychiatric evidence in tort liability to psychiatric evidence in criminal law. Issues are considered in terms of moral imperatives, legal practicalities, sociological implications, etc. To recognize the work and devotion invested in this massive textbook is to be overwhelmed.
Inhibition of tau fibrillization by oleocanthal via reaction with the amino groups of tau

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule assembly and stability. In Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies, tau fibrillizes and aggregates into neurofibrillary tangles. Recently, oleocanthal isolated from extra virgin olive oil was found to display non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activity similar to ibuprofen. As our unpublished data indicates an inhibitory effect of oleocanthal on amyloid beta peptide fibrillization, we reasoned that it might inhibit tau fibrillization as well. Herein, we demonstrate that oleocanthal abrogates fibrillization of tau by locking tau into the naturally unfolded state. Using PHF6 consisting of the amino acid residues VQIVYK, a hexapeptide within the third repeat of tau that is essential for fibrillization, we show that oleocanthal forms an adduct with the lysine via initial Schiff base formation. Structure and function studies demonstrate that the two aldehyde groups of oleocanthal are required for the inhibitory activity. These two aldehyde groups show certain specificity when titrated with free lysine and oleocanthal does not significantly affect the normal function of tau. These findings provide a potential scheme for the development of novel therapies for neurodegenerative tauopathies.
Inverting Bloom’s Taxonomy: The Role of Affective Responses in Teaching and Learning

The role that affective responses play in student learning has long been known, but many music history teachers are reluctant to incorporate emotional engagement into their pedagogy for fear that it is too “soft” a classroom goal. Recent research in the brain sciences, however, now offers us a physiological explanation for the role of affective responses in student learning, making clear that teachers should place emotion at the center of their teaching practice. This article proposes that teachers purposefully reunite the cognitive with the affective, offering a re-envisioned version of Bloom’s Taxonomy as one model. After examining the ways that students’ and teachers’ affective responses contribute to cognitive engagement with course material, some concrete strategies for incorporating affective responses into the music history classroom are proposed.
On the Expansion for Surface Displacement in the Neighborhood of a Crack Tip

For two-dimensional linear elasticity, Williams [1] has shown that the displacement field u = {u k }, k = 1, 2 in the vicinity of a crack tip is given by $$ {u_{k}}\left( {r,\theta } \right) = {a_{k}} + {b_{k}}\left( \theta \right){r^{{\frac{1}{2}}}} + {c_{k}}\left( \theta \right)r + {\rm O}\left( {{r^{{\frac{3}{2}}}}} \right) $$ (1) where, as illustrated by Figure 1, r and θ are polar coordinates at the tip. In this figure, the mathematical crack results when the interior angle occupied by the material is 2π, i.e., α = π, and the crack surfaces correspond to θ = ± π. In both finite and boundary element fracture analysis, the main approximation is in the representation of the displacement, and attention has appropriately focused on capturing the \( \sqrt r \) behavior in the approximation. This term leads to the corresponding \( 1/\sqrt r \) singularity in the stress field, and the characterization of the fracture in terms of stress intensity factors (SIF). The ‘quarter point’ element [2,3] is the dominant technique employed, and it is well known that use of special elements at the crack tip significantly improves the accuracy of SIF calculations [4].
The 1990 Reform of United Kingdom Local Authority Finance

In April 1990, the U.K. Government implemented the largest change to local authority finance in England and Wales since the postwar period. It involves the introduction of a poll tax on domestic residents, the centralization of local business taxes, and an overhaul of Central Government grants. This paper analyzes the effect of these reforms on local government and the wider economy.
Joint Mail-In Rebate Decisions in Supply Chains Under Demand Uncertainty

We study the joint decisions of offering mail-in rebates (MIRs) in a single-manufacturer–single-retailer supply chain using a game theoretic framework. Either party can offer an MIR to the end consumer if it is in his best interest. The consumer demand is stochastic and depends on the product price and the amount of MIRs. When the retail price is exogenous, we show the existence of a unique Nash equilibrium under both additive and multiplicative demand functions and characterize it completely. We show that any of the following four scenarios can be the equilibrium: both parties offer MIR, only one party offers MIR, none offers MIR. When the retail price is a decision variable for the retailer and the rebate redemption rate increases with the amount of MIR, we once again prove the existence of a unique Nash equilibrium where both the retailer and the manufacturer offer MIRs. Using a numerical study, we show that the average post-purchase price of the product is higher not only than the perceived pre-purchase price but also than the newsvendor optimal price without an MIR. This implies that an MIR makes a product look cheaper while the consumers actually pay more on average.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery

Summary Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery was invented in 1953. Since then, cardiac surgery has had a prosperous age for several decades. The introduction and evolution of percutaneous coronary intervention, however, was a great challenge to traditional coronary revascularization, one major part of cardiac surgical practices. In fact, the adoption of endoscopic techniques fundamentally changed several surgical disciplines. For the past 10 years, the concept and practice of minimally invasive cardiac surgery has gradually grown in popularity. The growth has been driven by multiple factors. From the patients' point of view, less surgical trauma, a higher margin of benefit/cost ratio, and speedy recovery to normalcy are all desirable. The outlook of less invasive incisions is well elucidated by the general population. From the surgeons' point of view, the adoption and evolution of new techniques and technologies fulfill the learning prospect of the profession, excel to excellence, and may contribute to the patient's welfare. From the viewpoints of health industries, new practices imply new innovation, investment, and business. However, surgeons face obstacles to the development of less invasive approaches. Initiatives are hindered by limited surgical exposure, unfamiliar environments, prolonged operative time, unexpected troubleshooting, etc. Nevertheless, with enabling technologies, refined instruments, and pioneers' lead, cardiac surgery is now heading toward less invasive approaches. More and more cardiac surgeons adopt these techniques and more and more evidence demonstrates the benefits of these approaches. In this article, several update approaches are reviewed.
Use of exercise technetiumtium-99m sestamibi SPECT imagina to detect residual ischemia and for risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction

The clinical presentation, electrocardiographic findings, and technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging results of 134 consecutive patients who underwent nuclear exercise testing within 14 days of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were correlated with cardiac events over a 15±10-month follow-up. Whereas only 23 patients (17%) had chest pain and 31 (23%) had ischemic ST-segment depression during exercise, 94 (70%) had ischemia on SPECT (p
Using credit ratings for capital requirements on lending to emerging market economies : possible impact of a new Basel accord

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has proposed linking capital requirements for bank loans to ratings by commercial credit rating agencies. Estimates for 20 emerging market economies show that sovereign ratings react procyclically to crisis indicators. Ratings deteriorate if the real effective exchange rate depreciates, in contrast with the positive effect on overall debt service capacity depreciations are normally supposed to have. Simulations show that linking capital requirements to ratings would have drastically increased these requirements during the crisis periods after decreasing them in the run up to the crises. Simulations suggest modest efficiency gains of using sovereign credit ratings for capital requirements on emerging market lending.
Thermodynamic modeling and cryomicroscopy of cell-size, unilamellar, and paucilamellar liposomes

Cryomicroscope studies of large unilamellar liposomes indicate that liposomes are an excellent model for studying membrane response to freezing and thawing. Liposomes are attractive for such use because they can be custom-manufactured for a particular investigation. In addition, liposome responses to freezing and thawing mimic real cell behavior in a number of significant ways. Analogous behavior includes osmotic shrinkage at slow cooling rates, internal ice formation at fast cooling rates, comparable nucleation temperatures, and a variety of comparable thawing responses. Experimental determination has been made of the equilibrium osmotic properties and the nonequilibrium water transport properties of the egg lecithin liposomes used in the freezing studies. These properties have been used in a computer model to simulate volume changes resulting from water transport during freezing and thawing. Comparison between computer model predictions and experimental data for the liposome volume response during freezing indicates reasonable agreement whereas computer simulations of volume response during thawing do not match experimental data well.
Nano-Scale Characterisation of Shale Caprock/Acidic Brine Interaction

Shale-caprock integrity is critical in ensuring that subsurface injection and storage of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) is permanent. The interaction of clay-rich rock with aqueous CO2 under dynamic conditions requires characterization at the nano-scale due to the low-reactivity of clay minerals. Geochemical mineral-fluid interaction can impact properties of shale rocks primarily through changes in pore geometry/connectivity. Several simulation results had predicted that influx-triggered mineral dissolution/precipitation reactions within clay-rich rock can continuously diminish micro-fracture networks, while pressure and effective-stress evolution initially increase then gradually constrict them. However, most of these studies have not investigated changes under experimental conditions and applying experimental techniques capable of detecting changes at nano-scale, which are ultimately representing pathways for molecular diffusion of fluids through porous media.The experimental work reported in this paper applied specific analytical techniques in investigating changes in surface/near-surface properties of crushed shale rocks after exposure (by flooding) to CO2-brine for a time frame ranging between 30 days to 92 days at elevated pressure and fractional flow rate. Initial capillary entry parameters for the shale were estimated from digitally acquired pressure data evolution. Flooding of the shale samples with CO2-brine was followed by Nano-scale measurement of changes in internal specific surface area, pore volume and linear/cumulative pore size distribution. The BET Technique showed that changes in the shale caprock occurred due to geochemical interaction with aqueous CO2 will impact petrophysical properties of the rock. The intrinsically low permeability in shale may be altered by changes in surface properties as the effective permeability of any porous medium is largely a function of its global pore geometry. Diffusive transport of CO2 as well as carbon accounting could be significantly affected over the long term. The estimation of dimensionless quantities such as Peclet (Pe) and Peclet-Damkohler (PeDa) Numbers that are associated with geochemical reactivity of rocks and acidic fluid transport through porous media gave insight into the impact of diffusion and reaction rate on shale caprock.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Anharmonic decay of optical phonon in diamond

The width of the 1332-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ first-order Raman line in diamond, measured by Krishnan and by Solin and Ramdas from 15 to 970 K, varies with temperature as expected from the anharmonic interaction of the optical phonon with two phonons of half the frequency. The magnitude of the width agrees with a theoretical estimate by Klemens.
Nanophotonics: Interactions, Materials, and Applications

This article presents our comprehensive study in the new area of nanophotonics, which deals with optical processes at the nanoscale, much smaller than the wavelength of optical radiation. Nanoscale...
Effects of electroweak instantons in high-energy neutrino telescopes

We demonstrate that next generation high-energy neutrino telescopes may reveal the existence of interactions induced by standard model electroweak instantons. The energy spectrum, the angular distribution, and the quark and lepton multiplicity of events in the detector each provide signatures which can indicate the presence of these interactions. High-energy neutrino telescopes may be capable of searching for signals at energies far beyond the reach of the next generation colliders.
Regenerative electric power for More Electric Aircraft

The More Electric Aircraft (MEA) emphasizes the utilization of electrical power as opposed to hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical power for optimizing aircraft performance and life cycle cost. The main sources of regenerative energy in the more electric aircraft power distribution system are the aircraft actuation systems: ailerons, rudder, flaps, spoilers, horizontal stabilizers and others. Instead of dissipating the energy as heat, the regenerative electric energy from the motor drives can be stored in energy storage elements such as flywheels, ultra-capacitors and batteries. Using the Simcaps toolbox, an aileron model with the electro-mechanical actuator (EMA) is developed in Matlab/Simulink. This regenerative power system consisting of a synchronous generator, three-phase-to dc boost rectifier, EMA including an input filter, ESE and a bidirectional dc-dc converter interfacing with ESE is presented. A single-phase half-bridge bidirectional dc-dc converter is used in this configuration. Two power management control strategies are applied in this simulation study, load-leveling and load-following procedures. In both strategies, ESE compensates for the difference between the electric drive requirements and the power provided by power distribution bus. Considering some important factors, such as weight, size and durability of the ESE, the load-following control strategy appears to be the most suitable for a regenerative power system in the more electric aircraft.
RETHINKING FLORIDA'S STATE PARKS: STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVING IN THE "NEW NORMAL" ECONOMY

The Florida Park Service manages the sites of fifteen plantations in the area once known as East Florida, including the United States-Territorial-Period sugar plantation known as Bulow Plantation. The plantation is now located within the Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, located in Flagler County approximately two miles north of the Volusia County line and two miles from the Atlantic Coast. Current interpretations at the park are limited in scope, visitation is considered to be relatively low, and the mill structure and associated buildings pose a variety of management issues. The development of solutions for the Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park will be applicable not only to other plantation sites managed by the Florida Park Service, but any state park in Florida and to site managers beyond Florida's boundaries.
Otological manifestations of Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Objectives/Hypothesis To describe the clinical features, pathogenesis, and management of the otological complications in Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). Study Design Retrospective review of five patients with documented CSS who had otological manifestations in the later stages of CSS. Methods The history, treatment, and outcome were evaluated using office and hospital chart data in these five cases. Results In all cases, otological manifestations occurred during an advanced stage of CSS and was characterized by the presence of dense aural discharge, granulomatous eosinophilic infiltration into mastoid and middle ear, and subacute severe to profound hearing loss. In all cases, the recurrent aural discharge and granulomatous infiltrate was unresponsive to conventional treatment including repeated myringotomies and aggressive antibiotics. Systemic steroid administration resulted in a rapid, complete cessation of aural discharge and reversal or stabilization of hearing loss. Otological manifestations have been stable over a range of follow-up from 1 to 20 years on a maintenance regimen of steroids. Conclusions Temporal bone involvement in CSS is rare. Surgical intervention of the temporal bone is relegated to complications that may include infectious mastoiditis and intracranial involvement. Recognition of the association between CSS and otological disease is important because it is highly responsive to systemic steroids, and early steroid treatment may prevent progression to irreversible hearing loss, infectious otomastoiditis, or intracranial complications.
Chaos in quantum optics

Abstract We describe how chaotic dynamics may appear in some fundamental as well as practical problems of quantum optics. This essay is intended for researchers in the general areas of quantum optics and laser physics, especially those unfamiliar with the basic ideas and implications of “chaos” . Our aim is to describe what chaos is, how it may be identified, and why it may be important. We suggest that quantum optics offers an attractive arena for the study of chaotic behavior. To support this suggestion we consider several examples involving Maxwell-Bloch equations, lasers, nonlinear optics, and infrared laser-molecule interactions.
Regeneration of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants from shoot apical meristems

Summary A procedure has been developed to obtain complete plants from meristems of three cultivars of Pisum sativum L., namely «Century», «Laxton's Progress» and «Afghanistan». Benzyladenine (BA) alone or in combination with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at molar concentrations of 5 × 10 −7 and 10 −6 , respectively, induced shoot differentiation in meristems cultured on B5 medium at 26° C, 60 % relative humidity and exposed to fluorescent light (4000 lux, photoperiod 18 hrs). When applied alone, NAA induced complete plant formation. Root formation, on the shoots produced by culturing meristems, was induced by reculturing the shoots, 2 cm long, on half strength B5 medium supplemented with NAA at a concentration of 10 −6 M.
Martín de Roa, S.J. (1559–1637) and the Consolidation of Catholic Literary Culture in Spain:

The article traces the life and work of Martin de Roa, S.J. (1559–1637). It argues that he occupied an important place in the formation of seventeenth-century Catholic literary culture in Spain.1 H...
Measurement of Transistor Thermal Resistance

A method of measuring the thermal resistance of transistors using the collector cutoff current as an indicator is described. The author uses a series of two steps to determine the overall junction-to-ambient thermal resistance. This type of arrangement is most accurate and less time consuming than the one-step over-all junction-to-ambient measurement.
SLAM: simulation language for alternative modeling

This paper introduces the new simulation language SLAM, which has the features of network-oriented, discrete-event, and continuous simulation languages. Emphasis is given to the use of networks and...
A rare case of primary extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the ovary, fallopian tube, and appendix in the setting of endometriosis

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas are uncommon. Most occur in the gastrointestinal tract. Marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of the female genital tract are rare, and few cases exist of marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of the uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes. We report the first marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the ovary, fallopian tube, and appendix arising in endometriosis.
A survey of clinical factors and patient dose in mammography

A survey was conducted to estimate the mean glandular dose (MGD) for women undergoing mammography and to report the distribution of doses, compressed breast thickness, glandular tissue content, and mammographic technique factors used. From 24,471 mammograms, of 6,006 women, clinical data were collected. The survey data included mammograms from seven modern units using a molybdenum (Mo) anode and either Mo or rhodium (Rh) filter. Exposure factors for each mammogram were recorded automatically onto a floppy disk on each unit. All mammography units were calibrated individually using breast tissue equivalent attenuation slabs of varying glandular content, so the breast glandular content could be estimated on the basis of exposure factors and compressed breast thickness. The MGD was estimated for each mammogram based on the normalized glandular dose and calculated entrance exposure in air. The survey found a median MGD of 2.6 mGy. The median breast glandular tissue content was 28% and the median compressed breast thickness was 5.1 cm. Also, patient attenuation data were converted to equivalent BR-12 and acrylic thickness to help determine appropriate phantom thicknesses required for mammography unit automatic exposure control performance assessment.
CHD: a major burden in type 2 diabetes.

Patients with type 2 diabetes have a two- to four-fold greater risk of cardiovascular mortality than non-diabetic individuals. In order to prevent coronary events in the diabetic population, it is important to treat modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Data from the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) show that serum cholesterol level, systolic blood pressure level and cigarette smoking were significant predictors of cardiovascular disease mortality in men with and without diabetes. At every risk factor level, the absolute risk of age-adjusted coronary death rate was three times greater for diabetic men than non-diabetic men (p<0.0001). Patients with diabetes have an abnormal (dyslipidaemic) lipoprotein profile with high levels of very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, and a low level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Although levels of total cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol do not differ significantly between patients with and without diabetes, those with diabetes have higher levels of atherogenic small dense LDL particles. MRFIT data show that at any serum cholesterol level, diabetes confers two-three times the risk for a coronary event. These findings constitute the rationale for considering hypolipaemic therapy, e.g. with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), in diabetic patients with dyslipidaemia, particularly in those with evidence of coronary heart disease. Evidence shows that statins significantly lower cholesterol, exhibit beneficial effects on many components of atherosclerosis, and can significantly reduce the incidence of stroke.
Blood contact and exposures among ambulatory surgery personnel

Abstract This paper describes the risks of blood exposure to healthcare workers in ambulatory surgery. Circulating nurses observed and asked personnel about blood contact and exposure, and recorded data on 376 consecutive ambulatory surgery cases in a community hospital. Contact with blood occurred in 11 cases (2.9%); two punctures occurred (0.5%). Orthopaedic surgery was associated with blood contact (odds ratio 5.9, 95% confidence interval 1.4–24). Punctures occurred during injecting or suturing. Contact with intact skin was most commonly to legs and feet, through protective clothing strikethrough. Rates of exposure are lower than those in studies of inpatient surgeries, but this remains an area of risk to healthcare workers and needs further study.