cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An investigation into the use of a keypad-isomorphic symbolism as a method to increase the speed of human-computer interaction

This paper introduces a new human-computer interface concept based on the use of keypad-isomorphic symbols. These symbols form the basis of a methodology, referred to as "binagraphics," that is designed to significantly reduce the time required for humans to enter discrete commands to the computer. Additionally, this symbol-based methodology enables a particular one-handed six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) control device to be used for object and viewpoint manipulations in virtual 3-dimensional space. In total, the symbols of the methodology can be thought of as the isomorphisms of all keyswitch combinational input possibilities of the standardized telephone numeric keypad. The symbols, as well as the keypad combinations, are combinations of binary elements. The binary symbols of the methodology will be called "binagrams" for convenience, and they are displayed on the computer display to provide a one-to-one mapping between human control space and computer display space. The keypad of the control device is not used in the conventional manner; rather, it is positioned upright and operated from reverse.
Between Accommodation and Resistance: Pingtan Storytelling in 1960s Shanghai

This paper examines the resistance of pingtan storytellers to Communist political domination and economic exploitation on the eve of the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). In the early and mid-1960s, storytellers rarely mounted resistance through direct confrontations with the political authorities, but often in ‘everyday forms’ such as by libelling cadres, asking for sick-leave, refusing to conform to the dress code during performances, and threatening to withdraw from troupes. In order to vent their disappointment at the economic hardships following the Great Leap Forward (1958–1961), storytellers resorted to the flexible ways of narrating and performing pingtan stories to manipulate the storylines and characterizations in their stage performances. Hence storytellers engaged in counter-propaganda by telling ribald jokes and distorting stories that were originally designed to praise Communist revolutions. This investigation of the resistance of storytellers, both on and off stage, is intended not merely to raise a long overlooked history of the 1960s from oblivion, but also to highlight the Party-state's inability to ideologically transform Chinese artists prior to the Cultural Revolution.
Anesthesia Case of the Month

A 2.6-kg (5.72-lb) 10-year-old neutered male Yorkshire Terrier with a 6-month history of tracheal collapse was evaluated at the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital. The dog had been previously treated by the referring veterinarian with theophylline and butorphanol, but had recently been reevaluated because of increased coughing and signs of respiratory distress, for which it received additional treatment with dexamethasone sodium phosphate (0.23 mg/kg [0.104 mg/lb], IM), acepromazine (0.038 mg/kg [0.017 mg/lb], IM), and oxygen therapy via an oxygen cage. Despite additional treatment, there was no noticeable change in the patient’s condition. Initial physical examination on referral revealed a grade 2 of 6 left systolic heart murmur, coughing, dyspnea, cyanosis, and a palpably enlarged liver. Results of a CBC and serum biochemical analysis were within reference limits. Thoracic radiography revealed extraand intrathoracic tracheal collapse with collapse of the principal bronchi, mild right-sided cardiomegaly, and generalized hepatomegaly (Figure 1). Fluoroscopic examination of the thorax revealed severe, dynamic extraand intrathoracic tracheal, principal bronchial, and caudal lobar bronchial collapse. The patient was placed in an oxygen cage set to deliver 40% oxygen in the intensive care unit overnight and received acepromazine (0.02 mg/kg [0.009 mg/lb], IV) and butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg [0.09 mg/lb], IV) every 2 hours or as needed. Food was withheld overnight, and the following morning, the patient was anesthetized for tracheal stent placement. The dog was premedicated with butorphanol (0.19 mg/kg [0.086 mg/lb], IV), and induction of anesthesia with propofol (6 mg/kg [2.7 mg/lb], IV, to effect) immediately followed. The patient was orotracheally intubated with a 6.0-mm (internal diameter) sterile endotracheal tube. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen (3 L/min) delivered via a Bain (nonrebreathing) system. Lactated Ringer’s solution was administered IV during anesthesia (7 mL/kg/h [3.2 mL/lb/h]). A multiparameter monitor, including a lead II ECG for heart rate and rhythm, was used, and oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry, end-tidal PCO 2 , respiratory rate, and blood pressure (noninvasive Doppler method) were recorded. The patient breathed spontaneously, and all monitored physiologic parameters were determined by the attending anesthesiologist to be within acceptable limits throughout induction and prior to stent deployment. The patient was transported under general anesthesia to the diagnostic imaging suite where, prior to
Polymer optical couplers for applications in multi-chip modules

Polymer optical waveguides are being used in next generation mixed signal transmitter/receiver module combining photonic and MMIC technologies. Polymer optical couplers have the advantages of flexible chip-to-chip interconnection, low loss, small size, and easy fabrication. A center-fed mode mixing coupler and a hybrid Y-junction coupler are demonstrated and compared. Both types of couplers can be fabricated on low temperature co-fired ceramic incorporating Si and GaAs components as found in standard multi-chip modules.
Improving Education in the Developing World: What Have We Learned from Randomized Evaluations?.

Across a range of contexts, reductions in education costs and provision of subsidies can boost school participation, often dramatically. Decisions to attend school seem subject to peer effects and time-inconsistent preferences. Merit scholarships, school health programs, and information about returns to education can all cost-effectively spur school participation. However, distortions in education systems, such as weak teacher incentives and eliteoriented curricula, undermine learning in school and much of the impact of increasing existing educational spending. Pedagogical innovations designed to address these distortions (such as technology-assisted instruction, remedial education, and tracking by achievement) can raise test scores at a low cost. Merely informing parents about school conditions seems insufficient to improve teacher incentives, and evidence on merit pay is mixed, but hiring teachers locally on short-term contracts can save money and improve educational outcomes. School vouchers can cost-effectively increase both school participation and learning.
Periodical Prestige in Criminology and Criminal Justice

* * * Journals in criminology and criminal justice have been ranked using subjective techniques to assess journal presitige as well as objective measures intended to assess journal eminence. Two recent studies have resulted in somewhat similar rankings of professional journals although each used distinct methods of data analysis and asked different research questions. This finding suggests that there is a consensus among professionals in the field concerning the importance of particular journals.
Needs-Centric Searching and Ranking Based on Customer Reviews

Online retailers have associated the introduction of user-generated product reviews with increased customer sales and decreased product returns. For all of the perceived value conveyed by customer reviews, however, little effort has been directed towards leveraging user-generated content beyond a product centric focus: customers first select a product in order to read from prior users of that product. In this paper, we integrate traditional information retrieval relevance ranking with database aggregation to model the knowledge within online product reviews and product descriptions. Customers search the knowledge base of reviews by querying on specific needs or interests. The result is a customized ranking of products, a recommendation list that is based upon and explained by the text of reviews written by prior users expressing similar needs or interests. We evaluate the approach using a knowledge base of online reviews from Epinions.com and compare results to expert recommendations from Consumer Reports.
Vehicle classification and accurate speed calculation using multi-element piezoelectric sensor

Vehicle monitoring and classification is a necessary Intelligent Transportation System ITS activity, as nationwide departments of transportation (DOT) use the information to effectively design safe and durable roadways. Because over 70% of the weight of goods shipped in the U.S. are trucked, substantial pavement damage is becoming more and more problematic [1]. Thus, an accurate classification system for estimating vehicle parameters is sorely needed. Currently, the most widely used classification solution consists of a combination of inductive loops and piezoelectric sensors. Installing these systems causes pavement damage. Even more challenging is that current systems greatly under-classify class 1 motorcycle vehicles. In this paper we present a novel system for classifying vehicles and determining track width and speed. The system employs a multi-element piezoelectric sensor positioned diagonally across a single traffic lane; a data acquisition unit; and a processing and classification algorithm operating on a computing device. Vehicle front axle tires distinctively impact different element sensors, which aids in calculating track width, speed and axle spacing. Given these factors, a classification decision can be made using vehicle axle spacing. The developed system was tested on highway conditions. Classification accuracy was 86.9% overall and even better for class 1 motorcycles (100%) and passenger vehicles (98.9%).
Letting Go of the Rope — Aggressive Treatment, Hospice Care, and Open Access

More Americans are choosing hospice for end-of-life care, but ironically, hospice patients increasingly are forced to give up effective palliative treatments along with aggressive medical intervention. Drs. Alexi Wright and Ingrid Katz discuss open-access care, which allows patients to add hospice care to their current medical treatment.
An Odontoid Fracture Causing Apnea, Cardiac Instability, and Quadriplegia

Odontoid fractures are typically associated with low rates of acute neurologic deficit and morbidity/mortality in nonelderly patients. In the patient in this case, traumatic injury triggered by a syncopal event led to a combined C1-C2 fracture and a fatal spinal cord injury with apnea, quadriplegia, and cardiovascular instability. We briefly review the anatomical basis for the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction following high-cervical spine injury and present an example of a worst-case scenario.
EFFECTS OF MANAGED IMPOUNDMENTS AND HERBIVORY ON WETLAND PLANT PRODUCTION AND STAND STRUCTURE

Managed impoundments, a form of structural marsh management, have been used to enhance plant production in the rapidly-eroding marshes of coastal Louisiana, USA, yet few studies have quantified their effects by measuring plant production before and after impoundment construction. We tested the effects of structural marsh management on the annual aboveground production and plant stand structure (stem density and stem height) of Spartina patens and Schoenoplectus americanus by collecting measurements before and after the construction of two shallow impoundments. We manipulated the water level in each impoundment by adjusting a single flap-gated culvert fitted with a variable crest weir. Because nutria herbivory also seemed to have a strong influence on plant production in these marshes, we tested the effects of nutria herbivory on the annual aboveground production and plant stand structure of both plant species by collecting data from fenced (ungrazed) and unfenced (grazed) plots located in both managed and unmanaged areas. There were no significant differences in Spartina annual production, stem density, and stem height between managed and unmanaged areas, and Schoenoplectus annual production, stem density, and stem height were greater in unmanaged marsh, indicating that the management method used in this study was not effective in promoting plant production in the rapidly-eroding, brackish, deltaic marshes of coastal Louisiana. Nutria herbivory dramatically reduced the annual aboveground production, stem density, and stem, height of Schoenoplectus, a preferred forage species, and thus altered the structure of the mixed species stand. Herbivory had no significant effect on the annual aboveground production and stem density of Spartina. In the absence of herbivory, the stem height of Spartina increased significantly and coincided with significant increases in the stem density and height of Schoenoplectus. The changes in plant stand structure caused by nutria herbivory may facilitate marsh erosion and ultimately contribute to wetland loss.
SWIFT burst alert telescope loop heat pipe thermal system characteristics and flight operation procedure

Loop heat pipe (LHP) startup procedure is required after the spacecraft checkout phase, which follows the launch, ascent and early orbit phase, and after a safehold mode. This procedure will be verified during the BAT (burst alert telescope) instrument thermal vacuum and thermal balance test. The startup procedure and the LHP components in the normal flight operation mode are discussed in detail. The BAT power convertor box is used to contain power switches for the TCS normal operation mode heaters. It is required to supply voltage to the electronic heater controllers to power heaters, and adjustable voltage signals to the heater controllers to change the temperature set points in flights. It is also required to supply voltage to the startup heaters of the LHP.
The Potential of 13C NMR in Coal Research

Since the first published report of successful proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) measurements of the hydrogen distribution in a coal derivative(1) and the first determination of a high-resolution 1H NMR spectrum of a coal extract,(2) proton magnetic resonance spectrometry has been used by many authors to aid in the elucidation of the structure of coal. (For a review and major references, see Tschamler and de Ruiter.(3)) Other nuclei, such as 14N, 33S, 13C, and 17O, all of which have nonzero magnetic moments and are present to some extent in coal, have received little or no attention in coal-structure research utilizing NMR. Brown and Ladner(4) developed a method for applying the hydrogen-distribution data obtained by 1H NMR to the analysis of carbon structure, with particular emphasis on estimating three important structural parameters: f a , the aromaticity; σ the degree of aromatic ring substitution; and Haru/Car a parameter used to indicate the size of the polynuclear condensed aromatic ring system. Unfortunately, the calculated values of these parameters depend strongly upon a number of a priori, though generally reasonable, assumptions concerning the coal structure. The first reports(5,6) of successful determination of nuclear magnetic resonance of 13C in natural abundance prompted us to explore the use of high-resolution 13C NMR in coal research.(7,8) High-resolution 13C NMR offers a means by which f a can be measured directly and realistic limiting values can be placed on σ and Haru/Car. The routine laboratory applications of 13C NMR are hampered by the low natural abundance of 13C nuclei and by the inherently low NMR sensitivity of 13C as compared to other, more receptive nuclei. Recent advances in instrumentation, particularly the use of spectral time-averaging,(9) are rapidly improving this situation.
Teamlets in Primary Care: Enhancing the Patient and Clinician Experience

Many primary care practices have created a team structure in which a clinician and medical assistant "teamlet" form the core of a larger team. The larger team comprises a few teamlets supported by other clinical personnel. Patients are empaneled to a particular teamlet. The teamlet structure, which turns large practices into small units, is attractive to patients, most of whom prefer small rather than large practices. Clinicians working in stable teamlets, with the same medical assistant every day, have less burnout than clinicians working with different medical assistants on different days. The teamlet model can thus create positive experiences for clinicians and patients alike.
The role of nanoaggregate domains in the exciton dynamics of poly(p-phenylene vinylene)

The photophysics of conjugated polymers have been intensely studied in the hope that they will provide insight into the electronic structure and dynamics of these materials. Conjugated polymers are often considered as an inhomogeneous collection of weakly-coupled chain segments, among which energy can be transferred via a Forster mechanism [1]. In this model, aggregation leads primarily to nonradiative traps for the luminescent Frenkel excitons. We have made a detailed study of the photodynamics of the prototypical conjugated polymer poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and have found that the effects of aggregation are more complex, and not as detrimental as previously thought [2]. In the disordered environment of a polymer film, there is a mix of species, from amorphous regions of isolated molecules to aggregates consisting of hundreds of molecules. Both powder x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirm the existence of these different domains in PPV. Our experimental data indicates that it is the nanocrystalline aggregates that are largely responsible for PPV’s luminescence properties.
“Utility Functions”, Hans U. Gerber and Gérard Pafum, July 1998

(1998). “Utility Functions”, Hans U. Gerber and Gerard Pafum, July 1998. North American Actuarial Journal: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 95-96.
Modification of Carbaryl Metabolism in Rats with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

The rate of carbaryl metabolism by rats was decreased by simultaneously administering drugs commonly referred to as monoamine oxidase inhibitors and by prolonged exposure of the animals to one of the drugs in the drinking water. Conjugative mechanisms of metabolism were affected most by the drugs although oxidative and hydroxylative metabolism rates were reduced to some degree. Decreasing the rate of metabolism resulted in a slower rate of excretion of the carbamate from rats treated with the drugs. Tranylcypromine at 50 mg/kg, e.g., reduced excretion of carbaryl-14C equivalents from rats by 50% during the 1st 48 hours after treatment. A rat intestine enzyme system, fortified with UDPGA, conjugated 1-naphthol but did not metabolize carbaryl. This in vitro conjugating system was inhibited by the monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The effect of these drugs on conjugation was not sufficient to suggest that they might enhance the action of pesticides under practical conditions. However, the data do demonstrate that conjugation enzyme systems are sensitive to certain foreign chemicals and that more effective inhibitors of conjugation could be important in the safety and efficacy of chemicals used to control insect pests.
Tracheal Diverticulum Following Paratracheal Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in the Setting of Prior and Subsequent Bevacizumab

We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with limited metastatic colorectal cancer to the lungs and liver treated with FOLFIRI-bevacizumab, followed by consolidative hypofractionated radiotherapy to right paratracheal metastatic lymphadenopathy. We treated the right paratracheal site with 60 Gy in 15 fractions (70 Gy equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions). The patient tolerated the treatment well, and six months later started a five-month course of FOLFIRI-bevacizumab for new metastatic disease. She presented to our clinic six months after completing this, complaining of productive cough with scant hemoptysis, and was found to have localized tracheal wall breakdown and diverticulum in the region of prior high-dose radiation therapy, threatening to progress to catastrophic tracheovascular fistula. This was successfully repaired surgically after a lack of response to conservative measures. We urge caution in treating patients with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors in the setting of hypofractionated radiotherapy involving the mucosa of tubular organs, even when these treatments are separated by months. Though data is limited as to the impact of sequence, this may be particularly an issue when VEGF inhibitors follow prior radiotherapy.
Another piece to the intracellular FGF/Na+ channel puzzle.

Neuronal communication requires the propagation of precisely regulated action potentials. Although a myriad of ion channels and modulatory proteins contribute to the action potential waveform and firing properties of each neuron, voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels typically generate the crucial depolarizing event. Early Nav channel biochemistry identified two beta subunits (1), thus generating excitement over how accessory proteins might be involved in Nav channel physiology. In recent years, Nav channel interactors have grown to include intracellular fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (iFGFs) (for a recent review of this subject, see ref. 2). Although the majority of FGFs are secreted growth factors, a four-member subfamily now designated FGF11-14 is distinguished by generating nonsecreted proteins that do not interact with FGF receptors. Pioneering efforts by Waxman and colleagues (3, 4) demonstrated that these noncanonical FGFs directly bind the C terminus of Nav channels and influence both current density and gating properties. The current literature includes reports of numerous FGF12-14 interactions with various Nav alpha subunits. The picture is far from complete, however, as expression and functional effects vary not only depending on the FGF and Nav isoform partners but also on the FGF splice variant and cell background (2). Although this diversity has clearly complicated the field, FGFs’ role as Nav channel interacting proteins has been solidified by the discovery of a highly conserved Nav interaction site within the FGF core domain that interacts with specific amino acids within the Nav C termini (2). FGF14 and Nav channels are enriched at the axon initial segment (AIS) of several neuronal types, whereas FGF13 colocalizes with Nav1.6 at nodes of Ranvier of dorsal roots of primary afferents (5). Of note is that nodal localization was seen using a pan FGF13 antibody, … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: michael.tamkun{at}colostate.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Review of the Cosmopolitan First Amendment

International freedom of expression scholars face a potentially intractable problem. Sovereignty defines jurisdiction; territorial borders thus set the bounds of the law’s reach. In The Cosmopolitan First Amendment, Timothy Zick, the legal academy’s foremost theorist of the relationship between speech and place, provides a path for reconciling a global orientation to protecting speech and religion with law’s geography-based limits.
The methods in the parametric design of nonzero spiral bevel gear CAD graphic system

The methods and skills in the process of the parametric design of nonzero spiral bevel gear CAD graphic system is introduced in this paper. The characters and merits of this software is also discussed in thispaper. This system has been successfully tested with many spiral bevel gears.It is concluded that these methods are right and useful and can be referenced by the designers who want to make CAD exploit of spiral bevel gears.
ERE:Entity Relationship Extraction System Based on Semi-structured Web Pages

In traditional methods,researchers use extraction pattern to extract entity relationships in text fragments that have complete semantic information.And they use heuristic algorithms or probabilistic models to choose the extracted candidate relationships.As for the semi-structured web pages,these methods become less applicable because the information of the entities is shown in some html modules where the semantic information is not complete.In this paper,an entity relationship extraction system that can solve the problem perfectly is propsoed.The system is composed of four functional modules:data extraction rule learning module,data extraction module,entity relationship compute module and entity relationship base query module.Firstly,users give a key word and choose a matching type.And the system will query the entity information base and find some entities that meet the conditions.Then the system will query the entity relationship base with the entities founded previously.Finally,the relationships that contain the entities will be returned to users.
The functions of electron donors in the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system for polypropylene

The functions of electron donors in the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system for polypropylene were discussed in this paper, mainly from the aspects of the effect of internal electron donors, external electron donors and the synergistic effect of internal donors and external donors.
Antihypertensive Medication Use in Older Patients Transitioning from Chronic Kidney Disease to End-Stage Renal Disease on Dialysis

Background and objectives The transition from CKD to ESRD can be particularly unstable, with high rates of death and hospitalizations. Few studies have examined medication use during this critical period. We examined patterns of antihypertensive medication use from the four quarters before and eight quarters after incident ESRD treated with maintenance dialysis. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We used the US Renal Data System to identify patients aged ≥67 years initiating dialysis for ESRD between January 2008 and December 2010 with Medicare Part D and a low-income subsidy. We ascertained the incidence of AKI and hyperkalemia during each quarter on the basis of having at least 1 payment claim for the condition. We used Poisson regression with robust SEMs to formally test for changes in the trend and level of antihypertensive medication use in a series of intervention analyses. Results The number of antihypertensive drugs used increased as patients neared ESRD, peaking at an average of 3.4 in the quarter immediately preceding dialysis initiation, then declining to 2.2 medications by 2 years later. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker use was stable at approximately 40%, even among patients with coronary disease and systolic heart failure, and did not correlate with AKI or hyperkalemia. Dialysis initiation was associated with a 40% (95% confidence interval, 38% to 43%) lower adjusted level of diuretic use, which continued to decline after ESRD. Three- and four-drug combinations that included a diuretic were most common before ESRD, whereas after ESRD, one- and two-drug β -blocker or calcium-channel blocker–based combinations were most common. Conclusions The use of antihypertensive medications, particularly angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blockers and diuretics, may be suboptimal during the transition from CKD to ESRD, especially in patients with coronary disease or systolic heart failure. Future studies are needed to identify strategies to increase the appropriate use of antihypertensive medications during this critical transition period.
MO‐AB‐204‐04: Connectathons and Testing

You've experienced the frustration: vendor A's device claims to work with vendor B's device, but the practice doesn't match the promise. Getting devices working together is the hidden art that Radiology and Radiation Oncology staff have to master. To assist with that difficult process, the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) effort was established in 1998, with the coordination of the Radiological Society of North America. Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) is a consortium of healthcare professionals and industry partners focused on improving the way computer systems interconnect and exchange information. This is done by coordinating the use of published standards like DICOM and HL7. Several clinical and operational IHE domains exist in the healthcare arena, including Radiology and Radiation Oncology. The ASTRO-sponsored IHE Radiation Oncology (IHE-RO) domain focuses on radiation oncology specific information exchange. This session will explore the IHE Radiology and IHE RO process for; IHE solicitation process for new profiles. Improving the way computer systems interconnect and exchange information in the healthcare enterprise Supporting interconnectivity descriptions and proof of adherence by vendors Testing and assuring the vendor solutions to connectivity problems. Including IHE profiles in RFPs for future software and hardware purchases. Learning Objectives: 1.Understand IHE role in improving interoperability in health care. 2.Understand process of profile development and implantation. 3.Understand how vendors prove adherence to IHE RO profiles. S. Hadley, ASTRO Supported Activity
Ethische Probleme im Zusammenhang mit Organspenden

Obwohl Organ- und Gewebetransplantation bereits in der Geschichte und in der Mythologie erwahnt werden, sind sie eigentlich erst in diesem Jahrhundert durchgefuhrt worden. Transplantation von Organen oder Geweben als ein „wunderbares Geschehen“ wird in mittelalterlichen Legenden erwahnt, und ein Bild, das im Prado hangt, zeigt einen Sa&istan, der ein von einem Neger abgenommenes Bein als Austausch fur sein eigenes gangranoses bekommt [1]. Wenn man uber Transplantation spricht, mus man sich erstens daruber klar sein, das Bluttransfusionen eine Art Gewebetransplantation darstellen und die Geschichte der Transplantation mit der Praxis der Blutubertragung beginnt. Eine nicht unbedingt unwahre Geschichte erzahlt, das Papst Innozenz III. Ende des 13. Jahrhunderts von zwei zu diesem Zweck geopferten Knaben eine Blutspende empfangen hat, die sich als nutzlos erwies [2]. Im 17. Jahrhundert ubertrug Richard Lower in England das erste Mal Blut von einem Tier in ein anderes [3], und kurz nachher Denys in Paris Tierblut versuchsweise an Menschen [4]. Der Versuch, das Blut eines Menschen einem anderen zu geben, wurde anfangs des 19. Jahrhunderts von Blundell in London gemacht. Manchmal ging das gut, manchmal (aus Grunden, die man damals nicht verstand) gelang es nicht.
Optical Beamforming of Multiple Independent-Simultaneous RF Beams for Secure Communications

We propose and demonstrate a novel architecture for processing simultaneous independent RF beams. The proposed optical processor technology employs wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) encoding and technologies that enhances secure communications for a wide bandwidth of operation. In our example of two-channel approach, four adjacent ITU optical WDM channels are used as optical carriers. Each pair of optical carriers directs RF information of one receive/transmit beam. The optical channels feed a 3-bit programmable dispersion matrix (PDM), which performs true-time delay processing. The PDM is based on three optical delay lines, arranged in a binary or ternary configuration. Each delay line consists of four fiber-Bragg gratings (FBG). The separation between FBG increases by multiples of two for each delay line. Beampatterns are characterized in receive and transmit modes for RF signals in 0.5-1.5 GHz range and are obtained for target angles of plusmn70deg. The measurement results demonstrate the simultaneous processing of two RF-beams and the squint free nature of the beamformer. The scaled up version of beamformer to large array size and its simultaneous multiple-beam processing will be presented. We would also describe a potential architecture of an all-optical delta-sigma modulator that can be implemented in a digital transmit/receive beamformer
Natural products, their derivatives, mimics and synthetic equivalents: role in agrochemical discovery

Natural products (NPs) have a long history as a source of, and inspiration for, novel agrochemicals. Many of the existing herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides have their origins in a wide range of NPs from a variety of sources. Owing to the changing needs of agriculture, shifts in pest spectrum, development of resistance, and evolving regulatory requirements, the need for new agrochemical tools remains as critical as ever. As such, NPs continue to be an important source of models and templates for the development of new agrochemicals, demonstrated by the fact that NP models exist for many of the pest control agents that were discovered by other means. Interestingly, there appear to be distinct differences in the success of different NP sources for different pesticide uses. Although a few microbial NPs have been important starting points in recent discoveries of some insecticidal agrochemicals, historically plant sources have contributed the most to the discovery of new insecticides. In contrast, fungi have been the most important NP sources for new fungicides. Like insecticides, plant-sourced NPs have made the largest contribution to herbicide discovery. Available data on 2014 global sales and numbers of compounds in each class of pesticides indicate that the overall impact of NPs to the discovery of herbicides has been relatively modest compared to the impact observed for fungicides and insecticides. However, as new sourcing and approaches to NP discovery evolve, the impact of NPs in all agrochemical arenas will continue to expand. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Hybrid Memory Allocation for Content-Centric Networking

In this work, we study the problem of allocating two types of memory, which have different access speeds, to a set of routers in a single content-centric network. Total network delay is adopted as the performance metric. We first formulate the allocation problem and show that it is NP-hard. Then we prove that this problem is monotone submodular with a matroid constraint. Hence, we are able to derive a guaranteed (1-1/e)- approximation solution when the network is originally stable. We consider tree-structured networks with variable hierarchies under the widely used En-route caching assumption. Simulation results show that the developed algorithm performs well compared to the optimal solution, and only a limited fraction of nodes becomes hybrid regardless of the network size. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first theoretical work on quantitative analysis and algorithm development for hybrid memory allocation for content- centric networking (CCN).
Production of Xylaria nigripes-fermented grains by solid-state fermentation and an assessment of their resulting bioactivity

Abstract Solid-state fermentation was applied to achieve synergistic effects between the bioactivities of Xylaria nigripes ( XN ) mycelium and whole grains, including brown rice, red beans, mung beans and soybeans. After culturing in cooked grains for 30 days, the XN -mycelium becomes intertwined with the grains. The scavenging activity on DPPH (α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl) radicals, inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation and reduction potential were determined to evaluate the antioxidant activities. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by measuring the concentration of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells and by assessing the cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) activity with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Compared to unfermented grains, XN- fermented grains exhibited greater antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential. XN- fermented red beans exhibited the highest bioactivities. Ethanol (70%) was a more effective solvent than hot water to extract bioactive compounds. The IC 50 for ethanol extract of the XN- fermented and unfermented red beans on DPPH scavenging activity were 2.0 ± 0.1 and 2.7 ± 0.1 mg/ml, respectively, and on lipid peroxidation inhibition were 0.97 ± 0.1 and 3.44 ± 0.1 mg/ml, respectively. For Cox-2 inhibition and PC12 protection, ethanol extract of the XN- fermented red beans showed 36.5 ± 0.5% and 27.2 ± 1.1%; while ethanol extract of the unfermented red beans were 24.9 ± 1.5% and 25.4 ± 2.2%.
A review of the atrial upper rate algorithms of St. Jude Medical (Abbott) cardiac implantable electronic devices

This review focuses on the manifestations of the three triggered atrial upper rate functions of St Jude Medical cardiac implantable electronic devices. The occurrence of repetitive nonreentrant ventriculoatrial synchrony (RNRVAS) is also evaluated as a basis for the development of automatic mode switching (AMS) and as a trigger for atrial tachycardia/atrial fibrillation (AT/AF) event recordings. RNRVAS is a common trigger for AMS because all the atrial events or intervals are used to calculate the filtered atrial rate interval (FARI). Once AMS is initiated, it will also effectively stop RNRVAS because entry into AMS also shortens the postventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP). Recent design developments to eliminate or minimize unusual upper rare responses include the following: (1) P waves in the PVARP are no longer counted towards the FARI if they are followed by an atrial paced event. (2) In new devices the AT/AF detection algorithm substitutes the Moving Average Interval (a relatively complex calculation) with the new FARI average. (3) Improved design of the rate-responsive PVARP with a far more aggressive response than in the past (enhanced atrial protection interval).
Are Second Person Needs ‘Burdened Virtues’?: Exploring the Risks and Rewards of Caring

This essay contributes to the ethics of vulnerability and to the tradition of feminist care ethics by introducing the notion of second-person needs. Employing the work of Annette Baier, who argues that we are all ‘second persons’ insofar as personhood arises through a childhood in the care of others, it draws attention to the needs that are illuminated when we approach ourselves and others as second persons, and makes a case for the moral import of second-person needs. In drawing from and critically responding to Lisa Tessman’s concept of ‘burdened virtues,’ it also adds to a growing field of ethical work on moral damage. In particular, this paper reminds readers of the benefits of the virtue of sensitivity and attention to other’s suffering, without ignoring the toll that it can extract.
Density functions for random matrix equations

The random cost matrix of an optimally controlled linear jump parameter system satisfies a stochastic matrix differential equation. Primary concern has centered on the mean value of the solution to this equation since this parameter of the cost is typically used as the primary performance index. In this paper, a partial differential equation for the density function of the solution to the matrix equation is derived. For a restricted class of systems, the solution to the partial differential equation is reduced to the solution of a set of associated ordinary differential equations. A scalar example is provided.
Undertreatment of Older Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma in the Era of Novel Therapies.

Abstract Background With the expanding armamentarium of therapeutic agents for multiple myeloma (MM), it is important to identify any undertreated patient populations to mitigate outcome disparities. Materials and Methods We extracted the data for all plasma cell myeloma cases (International Classification of Disease for Oncology, third revision [ICD-O-3] code 9732) in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results (SEER)–Medicare database from 2007 to 2011. The ICD-O-3 histologic code 9732 captures both active MM and smoldering/asymptomatic myeloma. We defined active MM as either claims indicating receipt of treatments approved for MM or ICD-9 codes for MM-defining clinical features, referred to as the CRAB criteria (calcium [elevated], renal failure, anemia, bone lesions). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the variables that were independently associated with receipt of no treatment. Results Of the initial 4187 patients included in the present study, 373 had no claims indicating receipt of treatments approved for MM and had no ICD-9 codes associated with the CRAB criteria and were excluded from the analyses. Of the 3814 patients with active MM, 1445 (38%) did not have any claims confirming that they had received systemic treatment. Older age, poor performance indicators, comorbidities, African-American race, and lower socioeconomic status, including enrollment in Medicaid, were statistically significant factors associated with the receipt of no systemic treatment. Conclusions In the present retrospective study of data from the SEER–Medicare database, we found that age, health status, race, and socioeconomic status were associated with receipt of MM treatment. These factors have previously been linked to reduced usage of specific treatments for MM, such as stem cell transplantation. To the best of our knowledge, however, ours is the first study to show their association with the receipt of any MM therapy.
Therapeutic antibiotic serum concentrations by two blood collection methods within the pediatric patient: A comparative effectiveness trial.

Repeated venipunctures and fingersticks to confirm serum drug concentrations cause pain and dissatisfaction for pediatric patients and their families. In many organizations, the standard of care to obtain therapeutic serum drug concentrations by peripheral venipuncture or capillary fingerstick, even when the patient has an existing peripheral intravenous catheter (PIV) or central venous catheter (CVC). The primary objective of this study was to assess agreement between serum tobramycin/vancomycin concentrations collected from a CVC or PIV, versus venipuncture or fingerstick. Among hospitalized pediatric patients (age 3 months to 22 years), 36 paired blood samples were collected. Serum trough vancomycin and random tobramycin concentrations were compared between peripheral intravenous or CVC samples, and venipuncture or fingerstick samples within the same patient. A strict sampling protocol for obtaining the samples was followed, that included collection of the CVC/PIV sample before the venipuncture or fingerstick, less than 2 min between collections of samples from the different sites, and a strict volume-based flush and waste protocol. Concordant correlation coefficients demonstrated substantial agreement between CVC/PIV and venipuncture/fingerstick concentrations for vancomycin (n = 17) and tobramycin (n = 19) (Rc = 0.982 for both). Bland-Altman analyses demonstrated good overall between-method agreement within subjects and minimal bias. Consequently, using a lumen volume-based flush and waste protocol, children with indwelling catheters may not require additional venipunctures and/or fingersticks for confirmation of drug concentrations while hospitalized, improving the quality of care and patient satisfaction.
Treatment of Macular Degeneration with Sildenafil: Results of a Two-Year Trial.

Objective To evaluate PDE5/6 inhibition with sildenafil to reduce choroidal ischemia and treat age-related macular degeneration. Methods Sildenafil was prescribed to treat participants with macular degenerations or macular dystrophies measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, color fundus photography, enhanced depth imaging, and best-corrected visual acuity. Results No change in calcified drusen was noted. Vitelliform-type soft drusen were not substantially changed. A participant with Best vitelliform macular dystrophy had a significant improvement in vision as well as in photoreceptor and ellipsoid layers. Conclusions Our research supports sildenafil as a safe treatment for age-related and vitelliform macular degenerations. Thickened Bruch's membrane reduces the beneficial effect of perfusion increase, but all eyes appear to benefit from PDE6. Notably, maintenance or improvement in the photoreceptor layer may be the most significant result of sildenafil and is consistent with PDE6 inhibition. Thus, sil-denafil treatment of macular degeneration offers significant potential for vision retention and recovery.
From enumerative geometry to solving systems of polynomial equations

Solving a system of polynomial equations is a ubiquitous problem in the applications of mathematics. Until recently, it has been hopeless to find explicit solutions to such systems, and mathematics has instead developed deep and powerful theories about the solutions to polynomial equations. Enumerative Geometry is concerned with counting the number of solutions when the polynomials come from a geometric situation and Intersection Theory gives methods to accomplish the enumeration.
ToxoDB: An Integrated Functional Genomic Resource for Toxoplasma and Other Sarcocystidae

Abstract The genomics era has been succeeded by the “Omics” era, making public databases an essential tool for all investigators. The ToxoDB team works closely with the Toxoplasma scientific community to organize genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics and other high throughput data for the scientific community. This chapter introduces the resources of the www.toxodb.org website as well as providing a brief overview as to bioinformatics functions and queries available to Toxoplasma investigators seeking to interrogate genome-scale datasets.
Medical image segmentation using a genetic algorithm

Advances in medical imaging technology have led to the acquisition of large number of images in different modalities. On some of these images the boundaries of key organs need to be accurately identified for treatment planning and diagnosis. This is typically performed manually by a physician who uses prior knowledge of organ shapes and locations to demarcate the boundaries of organs. Such manual segmentation is subjective, time consuming and prone to inconsistency. Automating this task has been found to be very challenging due to poor tissue contrast and ill-defined organ/tissue boundaries. This dissertation presents a genetic algorithm for combining representations of learned information such as known shapes, regional properties and relative location of objects into a single framework in order to perform automated segmentation. The algorithm has been tested on two different datasets: for segmenting hands on thermographic images and for prostate segmentation on pelvic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images. In this dissertation we report the results of segmentation in two dimensions (2D) for thermographic images; and two as well as three dimensions (3D) for pelvic images. We show that combining multiple features for segmentation improves segmentation accuracy as compared with segmentation using single features such as texture or shape alone.
Frequency of the ocular choroid blush during arteriography.

Three hundred unselected, lateral arteriograms of internal carotid arteries and 100 unselected, lateral arteriograms of common carotid arteries were examined for presence of ocular choroid blush. It was identified in 100% of the arteriograms of normal common carotid arteries and 98% of those demonstrating normal internal carotid arteries. Absence of choroid blush on internal carotid arteriograms may be due to anomalous ophthalmic artery origin from an external carotid artery branch. Otherwise, absence of choroid blush indicates intracranial or orbital disease. In 7 of 11 additional patients with severe stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery, choroid blush was absent.
How experiencing and anticipating temporal landmarks influence motivation.

Temporal landmarks, or moments that stand out in time, structure people's perceptions and use of time. We highlight recent research examining how both experiencing and anticipating temporal landmarks impact motivation and goal pursuit. Experiencing a temporal landmark may produce a ‘fresh start effect’, making people feel more motivated to pursue their goals right after the landmark. Anticipating a future landmark may also increase people's current motivation if they are reminded of an ideal future state. We review one prominent explanation underlying these findings: temporal landmarks can create a psychological separation between past, current, and future selves. We also propose other possible explanations and discuss circumstances under which experiencing and anticipating temporal landmarks may cease to be motivating, or even harm motivation.