cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DirectPath: high performance and energy efficient platform I/O architecture for content intensive usages

With the widespread development of cloud computing and high speed communications, end users store or retrieve video, music, photo and other contents over the cloud or the local network for video-on-demand, wireless display and other usages. The traditional I/O model in a mobile platform consumes time and resources due to excessive memory access and copying when transferring content from a source device, e.g., network controller, to a destination device, e.g., hard disk. This model introduces unnecessary overhead and latency, negatively impacting the performance and energy consumption of content-intensive uses. In this paper, we introduce DirectPath, a low overhead I/O architecture that optimizes content movement within a platform to improve energy efficiency and throughput performance. We design, implement and validate the DirectPath architecture for a network-to-storage file download usage model. We evaluate and quantify DirectPath's energy and performance benefits on both laptop and small form-factor SoC based platforms. The measurement results show that DirectPath reduces energy consumption by up to 50% and improves throughput performance by up to 137 %.
Dogmatism and Individual Differences in Reduction of Dissonance

The relation between individual differences in amount of dissonance reduction and open-closed mindedeness as indexed by Dogmatism score was determined. In line with expectation, a significant correlation was obtained between these variables (r = .39, p < .01), the more dogmatic Ss showing greater tendency to dissonance reduction. However, a correlation coefficient of comparable size was also obtained in a control condition. Consideration of some features of the control condition led to the suggestion that this too might well be considered a dissonant situation, from the standpoint of S.
Cytolysis by surfactants. I. Human erythrocytes

Studies have been made of the interaction of a number of ionic surfactants with human red blood cells in order to measure the rate at which the surfactant brings about rupture of the red cells and the enthalpy change associated with rupture. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the primary function of the surfactant is to penetrate a lipid monolayer and bring about its collapse. Enthalpy changes associated with hemolysis are estimated to lie in the region −2×104 to −5×104 Joules per mole of surfactant.
The logical choice of muscles for the needle-electromyography evaluation of cervical radiculopathy.

Abstract Yaar I. The logical choice of muscles for the needle-electromyography evaluation of cervical radiculopathy. Objective To find the theoretically smallest subsets of muscles for needle-electromyography screening of cervical radiculopathies that meet or exceed the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AAEM) guideline: ascertaining that each root and its adjacent roots are represented by at least 2 muscles each, innervated by those roots via different peripheral nerves. Design Twenty-two and 36 muscle sets and their myotomal innervation were derived from the literature, and rearranged into 15 and 23 unique muscle groups by root and peripheral nerve innervation. All 2^15 and 2^23 subsets thereof were respectively identified. The best approximations that met or exceeded the AAEM criteria were computed for each subset and the smallest subsets that qualified were retained. Setting Electromyography laboratory. Participants None. Intervention Not applicable. Main outcome measures Compliance with or exceeding the AAEM guideline in the number of muscles sampled per damaged root and the number of muscles sampled per adjacent normal roots. Results The smallest subsets satisfying or exceeding the AAEM guideline are of 8, 9, and 10 muscles each, and are enumerated in tables 3 and 4 in this article. Conclusions Electromyographers may choose a set or sets from tables in this article that best suits them, with confidence that they comply with or exceed the AAEM guideline while causing minimal pain to their patients and using the shortest possible procedure. All the roots can be screened at once to best differentiate between normal and damaged roots, and, in most cases, to reach a final diagnosis. Nonetheless, when needed, each set may be the basis for a more extensive workup.
Effects of sleep and sleep stage on epileptic and nonepileptic seizures

Summary: Purpose: Previous studies of patients with epilepsy and animal models of epilepsy suggest that sleep increases the frequency, duration, and secondary generalization of seizures. This information is, however, incomplete. Methods: We retrospectively examined video-EEG monitoring reports from our comprehensive epilepsy center. We recorded seizure type, site of onset (for partial seizures), sleep state at onset, and whether partial seizures secondarily generalized. Seizures arising from sleep were then reviewed to determine sleep state. Results: We analyzed 1,116 seizures in 188 patients. Thirty-five percent of complex partial seizures (CPSs) starting during sleep underwent secondary generalization compared with 18% in wakefulness (p < 0.0001). Frontal lobe CPSs secondarily generalized at equal rates during sleep (22%) and wakefulness (20%), but temporal lobe CPSs generalized much more frequently during sleep (45%) than in wakefulness (19%; p < 0,0001). Frontal lobe seizures were more likely to occur during sleep (37%) than were temporal lobe seizures (26%; p = 0.0068). CPSs were more frequent in stages 1 and 2 and occurred rarely during REM. Seizures starting during slow-wave sleep were significantly longer than seizures starting during wakefulness or stage 2 sleep. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) were rare between midnight and 6 a.m. and never occurred during sleep. Conclusions: Sleep has a pronounced effect on secondary generalization of partial seizures, especially those of temporal lobe origin. Frontal lobe seizures occur more often during sleep than do temporal lobe seizures, and occurrence during sleep helps to distinguish PNESs from CPSs.
Salt-deficient diet and early weaning inhibit DNA synthesis in immature rat proximal tubular cells

A maturational gradient exists between the inner and the outer cortical nephrons in infant rats. This study compares the putative growth-retarding effects of early weaning (EW) and a salt-deficient (SD) diet in proximal tubule (PT) cells in the inner and the outer cortex. The mitotic response was measured as tritiated-thymidine incorporation in PT cells from 18- to 22-day-old rats. Under basal conditions the mitotic index is the same in the inner and the outer cortex. EW retarded body growth, but had no significant effect on the kidney/body weight (KW/BW) ratio. EW caused a significant decrease in DNA synthesis in both the outer and the inner cortical PT cells, but the effect was significantly more pronounced in the outer cortex. The SD rats had significantly lower levels of serum sodium, lower urinary sodium excretion, slightly decreased BW, but no differences in KW/BW ratio or in dry/wet KW. SD caused a decrease in DNA synthesis in the PT cells in the outer cortex, but not in the inner cortex. In conclusion, two manipulations that can retard proliferation of PT cells, i.e. EW and a SD diet, have a more pronounced effect in immature than in mature PT cells.
Magnetisation of comets

Construction of a model explaining the means by which the interplanetary magnetic field could mix with the plasma of a comet tail. It is suggested that the magnetic fields in comet tails derive from the hydromagnetic conversion of kinetic energy into magnetic energy in the nuclear region of the comet. In particular, it is shown that, if the nuclear region consists of a supplementary distributed source for the coma gases, a turbulent flow with maximum velocities of the order of thermal velocity may be expected in this region, with the necessary ordering in the turbulent velocity field provided by the rotation of the nuclear region. It is concluded that a comet, when sufficiently close to the sun, may be able to generate an appreciable magnetic field and that the magnetic fields observed in the tail may then result from processes analogous to those producing the earth's magnetotail.
Secret sharing made short

A well-known fact in the theory of secret sharing schemes is that shares must be of length at least as the secret itself. However, the proof of this lower bound uses the notion of information theoretic secrecy. A natural (and very practical) question is whether one can do better for secret sharing if the notion of secrecy is computational, namely, against resource bounded adversaries. In this note we observe that, indeed, one can do much better in the computational model (which is the one used in most applications).We present an m-threshold scheme, where m shares recover the secret but m - 1 shares give no (computational) information on the secret, in which shares corresponding to a secret S are of size |S|/m plus a short piece of information whose length does not depend on the secret size but just in the security parameter. (The bound of |S|/m is clearly optimal if the secret is to be recovered from m shares). Therefore, for moderately large secrets (a confidential file, a long message, a large data base) the savings in space and communication over traditional schemes is remarkable.The scheme is very simple and combines in a natural way traditional (perfect) secret sharing schemes, encryption, and information dispersal. It is provable secure given a secure (e.g., private key) encryption function.
Toxoplasma gondii: A Family of Apical Antigens Associated with the Cytoskeleton

Abstract Morrissette, N. S., and Roos, D. S. 1998. Toxoplasma gondii: A family of apical antigens associated with the cytoskeleton. Experimental Parasitology 89, 296–303. Antigens associated with the conoid and apical pellicle in Apicomplexan parasites have previously been defined by a panel of monoclonal antibodies that recognize distinct but overlapping protein subsets (Morrissette et al. 1994). To probe the association of these antigens with the apical membrane skeleton of Toxoplasma gondii , we examined their distribution in detergent-extracted tachyzoites and in intracellular parasites treated with drugs that disrupt microtubules. Although intact parasites are labeled only at their extreme apex, immunogold localization in detergent-extracted tachyzoites indicates that the antigens under study are associated with the subpellicular microtubules along their full length. Brief treatment with oryzalin, which results in dissociation of subpellicular microtubules from the pellicle, permits identification of the apical antigens farther along the length of the parasite. Longer dinitroaniline treatment completely eliminates the subpellicular microtubules, after which the apical antigens are found as insoluble patches associated with the parasite pellicle. Taken together, these observations argue that the apical antigens under study are present along the entire microtubule in intact parasites but are inaccessible to antibody binding. In turn, this suggests that these antigens may play a role in the close association of microtubules with the parasite pellicle.
Permissible line lengths of up to 15 kV lines for microcomputer based selective control of UHV lines; digital simulation and results

The use of microprocessor technology to implement comprehensive control schemes such as microcomputer-based selective control of EHV/UHV lines is suggested. The permissible line lengths for single and selective phase switching, which depend on the residual fault arc currents and recovery voltages of the switched phases, are determined for UHV lines ranging from 345 kV through 1500 kV, for the first time, by simulating these lines on a digital computer. A computer-based method utilizing generalized ABCD line constants has been developed and mathematical expressions deduced for computing the residual fault current and recovery voltages. The results include the effect of line length, line voltage level, swing angle, fault location, and shunt inductive compensation on the recovery voltage and residual fault arc current. >
Neighborhood socioeconomic status and Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence in California

Hodgkin's lymphoma occurrence has long been noted to associate with higher socioeconomic status (SES). However, the Hodgkin's lymphoma-SES association has not been examined recently or across important, possibly etiologically distinct, patient subgroups. In approximately 150 million person-years of observation in the multiethnic population of California, we examined the association of Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence with a composite measure of neighborhood-level SES in patient subgroups defined by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and Hodgkin's lymphoma histologic subtype. Using population-based cancer registry data on 3,794 Hodgkin's lymphoma patients diagnosed 1988 to 1992 and 1990 census data, we assigned a previously validated, multidimensional SES index to census block groups of patient residence. We then calculated neighborhood SES-specific incidence rates and estimated rate ratios using Poisson regression. Positive neighborhood SES gradients in Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence were observed only in young adults (ages 15-44 years at diagnosis) with nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma and older adult (ages > or =45 years) White and Hispanic males with mixed cellularity Hodgkin's lymphoma. For young adults, associations were marked in Hispanic and Asian women, weaker in Hispanic and White men and White women, and subtle to nonexistent in Blacks and Asian men. Neighborhood SES gradients in Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence varied by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and histologic subtype, underscoring etiologic complexity in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Racial/ethnic gradients were not entirely explained by neighborhood SES. In California, etiologically relevant exposures for young adult Hodgkin's lymphoma, the most common form, could associate more with race/ethnicity or foreign birthplace than neighborhood SES and may be modified by reproductive or other sex-specific factors.
Masamune: a tool for automatic dynamic PET data processing, image reconstruction and integrated PET/MRI data analysis

We describe a novel semi-automated pipeline which integrates advanced data analysis tools for MR and PET with advanced PET reconstruction correction methods (partial volume effect correction [PVC], motion correction [MC], attenuation correction [AC]) in a user-friendly Matlab graphical user interface (GUI). The reconstruction and analysis GUI is written in Matlab. Computationally intensive tasks in the pipeline are automatically transferred to a high-performance computing cluster and retrieved. Descriptions of the commercial packages used can be found in their corresponding references. SPM8 [1] is used in MC and AC processing. Comkat [2] and PMOD [3] are used for kinetic modeling. FSL [4] and SPM8 are used for group analysis. Freesurfer [5] is used for regions-of-interest (ROI) definition and smoothing. Data preprocessing: Head-motion is derived from a number of sources: echo-planar MR images, MR-based motion navigators, and directly from the PET data when MR data is unavailable (e.g. during shimming). Subsequently, the ME-MPRAGE is reoriented to the reference position. Cortical and subcortical ROIs are labeled using FreeSurfer; similarly, the MPRAGE is registered to MNI-space for generating subject-specific atlases. Image reconstruction: An OP-OSEM algorithm is used for PET reconstruction [6]. MC [7] and PVC [8] can be performed using the results from data preprocessing. AC can be imported directly from CT, using MR-images [9], or through atlas-based methods. Automated Bolus Arrival Time (BAT) & Image-Derived Input Function: The singles count rate is recorded during PET acquisition. The BAT is determined by fitting a trilinear piecewise function and used as the reference time. Time-of-Flight MR can then be used to segment the arteries of the head and an image-derived input function can be determined using short frames. We presented a novel pipeline which interfaces with a number of different commercial software to provide improved PET data quantification.
Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching and the Mathematical Quality of Instruction: An Exploratory Study

This study illuminates claims that teachers' mathematical knowledge plays an important role in their teaching of this subject matter. In particular, we focus on teachers' mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT), which includes both the mathematical knowledge that is common to individuals working in diverse professions and the mathematical knowledge that is specialized to teaching. We use a series of five case studies and associated quantitative data to detail how MKT is associated with the mathematical quality of instruction. Although there is a significant, strong, and positive association between levels of MKT and the mathematical quality of instruction, we also find that there are a number of important factors that mediate this relationship, either supporting or hindering teachers' use of knowledge in practice.
Identifier-Based Discovery Mechanism Design in Large-Scale Networks

This paper introduces identifier-based discovery mechanisms in large-scale networks and presents a taxonomy of discovery schemes and proposals based on their business model. The paper poses several questions that are becoming increasingly important as we proceed to design the inter-network of the future. We first define and motivate a multi-level discovery problem that accounts for discovery service differentiation and we present an architecture that provides differentiated services. We then proceed to present an economic framework that accounts for the cost of discovery and for the players' valuations and to discuss the inherent challenges.
Phenological cues drive an apparent trade-off between freezing tolerance and growth in the family Salicaceae

With increasing concern about the ecological consequences of global climate change, there has been renewed interest in understanding the processes that determine species range limits. We tested a long-hypothesized trade-off between freezing tolerance and growth rate that is often used to explain species range limits. We grew 24 willow and poplar species (family Salicaceae) collected from across North America in a greenhouse common garden under two climate treatments. Maximum entropy models were used to describe species distributions and to estimate species-specific climate parameters. A range of traits related to freezing tolerance, including senescence, budburst, and susceptibility to different temperature minima during and after acclimation were measured. As predicted, species from colder climates exhibited higher freezing tolerance and slower growth rates than species from warmer climates under certain environmental conditions. However, the average relative growth rate (millimeters per meter per day) of northern species markedly increased when a subset of species was grown under a long summer day length (20.5 h), indicating that genetically based day-length cues are required for growth regulation in these species. We conclude that the observed relationship between freezing tolerance and growth rate is not driven by differences in species' intrinsic growth capacity but by differences in the environmental cues that trigger growth. We propose that the coordinated evolution of freezing tolerance and growth phenology could be important in circumscribing willow and poplar range limits and may have important implications for species' current and future distributions.
PI 4,5-P2 stimulates glucose transport activity of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane of 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake through GLUT4 plays a pivotal role in maintaining normal blood glucose levels. Glucose transport through GLUT4 requires both GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane and GLUT4 activation at the plasma membrane. Here we report that a cell-permeable phosphoinositide-binding peptide, which induces GLUT4 translocation without activation, sequestered PI 4,5-P2 in the plasma membrane from its binding partners. Restoring PI 4,5-P2 to the plasma membrane after the peptide treatment increased glucose uptake. No additional glucose transporters were recruited to the plasma membrane, suggesting that the increased glucose uptake was attributable to GLUT4 activation. Cells overexpressing phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase treated with the peptide followed by its removal exhibited a higher level of glucose transport than cells stimulated with a submaximal level of insulin. However, only cells treated with submaximal insulin exhibited translocation of the PH-domains of the general receptor for phosphoinositides (GRP1) to the plasma membrane. Thus, PI 4,5-P2, but not PI 3,4,5-P3 converted from PI 4,5-P2, induced GLUT4 activation. Inhibiting F-actin remodeling after the peptide treatment significantly impaired GLUT4 activation induced either by PI 4,5-P2 or by insulin. These results suggest that PI 4,5-P2 in the plasma membrane acts as a second messenger to activate GLUT4, possibly through F-actin remodeling.
High-average-power, quasi-three-level, diode-pumped solid-state lasers

Summary form only given. The physics, design principles, and implementing technologies of quasi three level (Q3L) diode pumped solid state lasers (DPSSLs) (Yb:YAG, Tm:YAG, Ho:YAG) are outlined, using Yb:YAG as the defining example. Three distinct Yb:YAG DPSSL architectures are in development: the axially pumped active thin disk, the transversely pumped multipass rod, and the end-pumped rod or zig-zag slab.
Responses of primate locus coeruleus and subcoeruleus neurons to stimulation at reinforcing brain sites and to natural reinforcers.

Abstract In alert rhesus monkeys the activity of 64 neurons was recorded in the locus coeruleus and subcoeruleus region, collectively referred to as coeruleus (C) neurons. C neurons were identified physiologically by antidromic activation from electrodes in the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) and medial septal nucleus which sustained intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) behavior, and/or anatomically by their proximity to microlesions at unit recording sites. The following results were obtained: (1) the current intensity that supported the highest rate of MFB and septal ICSS was similar to the current intensity for evoking antidromic responses in C neurons; (2) stimulation in the vicinity of the dopaminergic neurons of nucleus A10 did not activate C neurons; (3) C neurons were antidromically activated by ipsilateral and contralateral MFB shocks; (4) the C axons had slow estimated conduction velocities (1–5 m/sec), and a mean neural refractory period of 0.8 msec; (5) the behaviorally determined refractory period for MFB ICSS was also approximately 0.8 msec; and (6) mean firing rates while the monkey sat quietly were 15 ± 2Hz (S.D.) for subcoeruleus cells and 5 ± 3Hz for locus coeruleus cells, and activity of most cells changed negligibly during operant responding for apple-sauce reinforcement. These results suggest that the reinforcing effects of ICSS may be mediated by activation of coeruleus cells, but that these cells do not appear to be strongly involved in operant responding for natural reinforcers.
The Case for Foreign Exchange Intervention: The Government as a Long-term Speculator

This paper argues that major governments should act as long-term speculators by intervening to profit from floating exchange rates reversion to fundamentals. Such transactions would improve welfare by transferring risk from private agents to the risk-tolerant government. Interventions explicitly designed to profit the intervening authority would be more likely to be successful and, to the extent that they are, would reduce resource misallocation.
Delineating a Retesting Zone Using Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis on Serial QuantiFERON Tuberculosis Test Results in US Healthcare Workers.

Objective. To find a statistically significant separation point for the QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube (QFT) interferon gamma release assay that could define an optimal “retesting zone” for use in serially tested low-risk populations who have test “reversions” from initially positive to subsequently negative results. Method. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) to analyze retrospective data collected from 3 major hospitals, we searched for predictors of reversion until statistically significant separation points were revealed. A confirmatory regression analysis was performed on an additional sample. Results. In 575 initially positive US healthcare workers (HCWs), 300 (52.2%) had reversions, while 275 (47.8%) had two sequential positive tests. The most statistically significant (Kappa = 0.48, chi-square = 131.0, ) separation point identified by the ROC for predicting reversion was the tuberculosis antigen minus-nil (TBag-nil) value at 1.11 International Units per milliliter (IU/mL). The second separation point was found at TBag-nil at 0.72 IU/mL (Kappa = 0.16, chi-square = 8.2, ). The model was validated by the regression analysis of 287 HCWs. Conclusion. Reversion likelihood increases as the TBag-nil approaches the manufacturer's cut-point of 0.35 IU/mL. The most statistically significant separation point between those who test repeatedly positive and those who revert is 1.11 IU/mL. Clinicians should retest low-risk individuals with initial QFT results < 1.11 IU/mL.
Multiple stuck-open fault detection in CMOS logic circuits

It is shown that a test set based on two-pattern tests, which are designed to detect single stuck-open faults, can be found that detects all multiple stuck-open faults inside any CMOS gate in the circuit. The concept is extended to three-pattern tests, which are obtained for every single stuck-open fault at the checkpoints. If a certain condition is satisfied, then it can be shown that the resulting test set can detect any multiple stuck-open fault in the circuit. Even when this condition is not fully met, a very large percentage of the multiple stuck-open faults can still be guaranteed to be detected. For the special case of fan-out-free CMOS circuits, it is shown that a single stuck-open fault test set based on two-pattern tests can always be found that has 100% multiple stuck-open fault coverage. This test can also be guaranteed to be robust in the presence of arbitrary delays. >
Male mate choice and female response in relation to mating status and time since mating

Models of sperm allocation predict that male mating behavior will vary with a female’s reproductive condition and with information about her present and likely future status available to a male. Tests across a wide taxonomic range have shown that males allocate more sperm to previously mated females than to virgins but that in a minority of instances this allocation pattern is reversed. To investigate the basis for this discrepancy I ran sequential pairings of the crab spider Misumena vatia (Thomisidae), a species with several characteristics likely to provide insight into these conflicting results. Using duration of copulation and numbers of copulatory pedipalp movements as measures of male investment in a female, I evaluated male response to females. Males mated with a significantly higher probability, significantly longer, and produced significantly more pedipalp movements with virgin females than with previously mated females, although a minority of the subsequent males remained in copula long enough with nonvirgins for insemination to occur. Females mated with a second male at a higher probability than a third one, but length of genital contact did not differ between matings with second and third males. In this species with high first male sperm precedence, large sperm contributions to virgins enhance the possibility that they could replace a lost initial brood. The low availability of virgin females in this population may select for males that provide these females with extremely large sperm contributions, thus preventing the males from remating quickly. Key words: aggressive behavior, crab spider, life history, mating behavior, Misumena vatia, sperm allocation, sperm competition, spiderling, temporal change. [Behav Ecol]
Protocollagen Proline Hydroxylase in Normal Liver and in Hepatic Fibrosis

Previous observations indicated that the hydroxyproline in collagen is synthesized by the hydroxylation of proline which has been incorporated into a large polypeptide precursor of collagen called protocollagen, and that the hydroxylation of protocollagen is one of the terminal reactions in the intracellular synthesis of collagen. Significant levels of protocollagen proline hydroxylase activity were demonstrated both in normal rat liver and in a single specimen of human liver. The enzymatic activity in rat and human liver was similar to protocollagen proline hydroxylase isolated from chick embryos in that it was inhibited by poly-L-proline II, and it required ascorbate, α-ketoglutarate, and ferrous iron. When hepatic fibrosis was produced in rats with carbon tetrachloride or with a choline-deficient diet, liver levels of protocollagen proline hydroxylase increased over 4-fold. In all of the experiments the increase in protocollagen proline hydroxylase activity occurred more promptly and it was more marked than the increase in collagen hydroxyproline.
The clinical usefulness of ACTH and cortisone in liver disease.

Summary It seems clear from the data presented that routine use of ACTH and cortisone is not indicated in any form of liver disease. The results to date with this therapy are unpredictable. From the present experience it seems likely that ACTH and/or cortisone are indicated in patients with acute hepatic disease of viral origin where jaundice is deep and sustained for several weeks. One can expect a rapid diminution of serum bilirubin in these patients. A trial of corticosteroid therapy is probably also indicated in patients with acute hepatitis who have suffered a spontaneous relapse of their disease. In the usual patient with viral hepatitis who remains jaundiced for 3 to 5 weeks, on the other hand, ACTH will probably not prove to be useful unless further studies demonstrate a significant shortening of the convalescent period by corticosteroids. The regular return of well-being and appetite and the continued improvement of liver function which have resulted from the use of ACTH and cortisone in certain cases of chronic viral hepatitis would seem to make a trial of these substances desirable, particularly in those cases where conservative therapy has failed. It should be remembered, however, that the sodium and water retention which result from the use of corticosteroids may complicate management to such a degree that one may be forced to withdraw the medication. Similarly in hepatic cirrhosis one may expect improvement of hepatic function under certain circumstances. In addition to the salt and water retention, the possibility of precipitating bleeding from esophageal varices should be considered. If it can be shown that the administration of large amounts of potassium will prevent sodium and water retention in patients with chronic liver disease, additional, perhaps more vigorous, trials of ACTH and cortisone will be warranted. A sudden withdrawal of corticosteroids may precipitate a relapse in any form of liver disease. On the other hand, administration of these substances has caused no demonstrable harm as far as the liver disease itself is concerned. The evidence favoring the use of ACTH and cortisone in hepatic coma has not been convincing. In view of the otherwise poor prognosis, however, the use of ACTH and cortisone as an adjunct to other measures may be indicated.
Lecture 1: Factor-Analytic Investigations of Cognitive Abilities

Much of what we know about intelligence and cognitive abilities derives from factor-analytic investigations using psychological tests, and occasionally, other kinds of observational data. The basic scientific questions motivating these studies have been: (a) what are the basic dimensions of cognitive abilities, and (b) what is the “structure” of these abilities, that is, in what way are they related, and can an understanding of this structure lead to a theory of intelligence and cognition? In the attempt to answer the first question, the responses have ranged all the way from Spearman’s (1927) initial proposal that there is only one basic cognitive ability, called “g”, to Guildford’s (1967) claim that there may be as many as 120 or more such abilities. To the outsider to the field, the multiplicity of answers seems overwhelming, puzzling and even suspect. Obviously, there is a need for clarity and resolution here.
Versatile Question-Answer Cards to Collect Personal Profiles from Seniors

Senior citizens often feel excluded from the digital world, leading to social isolation and preventing them from using personalized services to improve the quality of their lives. This can be caused by their limited skills with and passive attitudes towards the use of technologies. We tested a question-answer (Q&A) card interface to help senior citizens actively expose their personal experience, knowledge, and interests. A total of 50 senior participants answered 30,944 questions in six categories during the three months of our experiment, which indicated the Q&A interface effectively reduced the barriers for senior users to expose their profile information online. We also discuss some ways to analyze the collected data to investigate the profiles of senior citizens for the support of other new services.
Completely contactless structural health monitoring of real‐life structures using cameras and computer vision

Summary A newly developed, completely contactless structural health monitoring system framework based on the use of regular cameras and computer vision techniques is introduced for obtaining displacements and vibrations of structures, which are critical responses for performance-based design and evaluation of structures. To provide contactless and practical monitoring, the current vision-based displacement measurement methods are improved by eliminating the physical target attachment. This is achieved by means of utilizing imaging key-points as virtual targets. As a result, pixel-based displacements of a monitored structural location are determined by using an improved detection and match key-points algorithm, in which false matches are identified and discarded almost completely. To transform pixel-based displacements to engineering units, a practical camera calibration method is developed because calibration standard on a physical target no longer exists. Moreover, a framework for evaluating the accuracy of vision-based displacement measurements is established for the first time, which, in return, provides users with the most crucial information of a measurement. The proposed framework along with a conventional sensor network and a data acquisition system are applied and verified on a real-life stadium during football games for structural assessment. The results obtained by the new method are successfully validated with the data acquired from sensors such as linear variable differential transformers and accelerometers. Because the proposed method does not require any type of sensor and target attachment, common field works such as sensor installation, wiring, maintaining conventional data acquisition systems are not required. This advantage enables an inexpensive and practical way for structural assessment, especially for real-life structures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Metamodeling Method Using Dynamic Kriging and Sequential Sampling

In engineering design, metamodeling has been widely applied to design problems by building a surrogate model for compute-intensive engineering models. Among metamodeling methods, the Kriging method has gained significant interest for developing the surrogate model. However, in traditional Kriging methods, the optimization methods applied to correlation parameter estimation do not provide a global optimum and the mean structure is fixed polynomials basis functions. In this paper, a new method, the so-called Dynamic Kriging (DKG) method is proposed to fit the true model more accurately. In this DKG method, a pattern search algorithm is applied to find the global optimum for the correlation parameter estimation, and the optimal mean structure is obtained using the basis functions that are selected by a genetic algorithm from the candidate basis functions based on a new accuracy criterion. In addition, a sequential sampling technique based on the prediction interval of the surrogate model is used and integrated with the DKG method. Numerical examples show that the DKG method shows significantly more accurate results compared with traditional Kriging methods and other metamodeling methods.
The Philosopher as Insider and Outsider

Philosophers may play the role of insider, e.g., serving as advisor to government commissions, or of outsider, commenting on the work of such commissions. Each role may raise dilemmas. It is argued that as insider the philosopher's primary duties should be to clarify and inform, as well as philosophize with the commissioners, and help them stay on a course in which moral considerations are given their proper weight. Fulfilling these duties means that the philosopher will sometimes have to help produce a weaker intellectual document than he would prefer, or lose a chance to directly promote the public good. The insider philosopher will also have to consider whether it is appropriate for a policy proposal from a commission to differ from much current government policy, and how morally appropriate compromise can be reached among commissioners. Given his understanding of how an insider philosopher should function and how commission reports are constructed, the outsider philosopher can comment both on how close a report comes to being perfect of its type, and how far short of an ideal philosophical analysis even a perfect government report is. It may be appropriate for him to give greater weight to the public good, if his comments are very likely to affect it, than the insider philosopher. Examples for discussion are drawn from government reports on organ transplantation, embryo research, terminating care, and compensation for research subjects.
Efficiency above the Shockley−Queisser Limit by Using Nanophotonic Effects To Create Multiple Effective Bandgaps With a Single Semiconductor

We present a pure photonic approach to overcome the Shockley–Queisser limit. A single material can show different effective bandgap, set by its absorption spectrum, which depends on its photonic structure. In a tandem cell configuration constructed from a single material, one can achieve two different effective bandgaps, thereby exceeding the Shockley–Queisser limit.
On validating remote sensing simulations using coincident real data

The remote sensing community often requires data simulation, either via spectral/spatial downsampling or through virtual, physics-based models, to assess systems and algorithms. The Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) model is one such first-principles, physics-based model for simulating imagery for a range of modalities. Complex simulation of vegetation environments subsequently has become possible, as scene rendering technology and software advanced. This in turn has created questions related to the validity of such complex models, with potential multiple scattering, bidirectional distribution function (BRDF), etc. phenomena that could impact results in the case of complex vegetation scenes. We selected three sites, located in the Pacific Southwest domain (Fresno, CA) of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). These sites represent oak savanna, hardwood forests, and conifer-manzanita-mixed forests. We constructed corresponding virtual scenes, using airborne LiDAR and imaging spectroscopy data from NEON, ground-based LiDAR data, and field-collected spectra to characterize the scenes. Imaging spectroscopy data for these virtual sites then were generated using the DIRSIG simulation environment. This simulated imagery was compared to real AVIRIS imagery (15m spatial resolution; 12 pixels/scene) and NEON Airborne Observation Platform (AOP) data (1m spatial resolution; 180 pixels/scene). These tests were performed using a distribution-comparison approach for select spectral statistics, e.g., established the spectra’s shape, for each simulated versus real distribution pair. The initial comparison results of the spectral distributions indicated that the shapes of spectra between the virtual and real sites were closely matched.
Intramedullary Sarcoidosis Presenting as Incomplete Paraplegia: Case Report and Literature Review

Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multisystem noncaseating granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Sarcoidosis typically presents clinically in individuals between the ages of 20 and 40 years. Although sarcoidosis most commonly affects the respiratory system, nearly any organ system can be involved. Spinal cord involvement by sarcoidosis is a rare event, occurring in less than 1% of patients with systemic disease. The case presented is that of a 29-year-old black male with benign past medical history who presented with a 6-week history of progressive incomplete paraplegia and bowel dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary mass at the T-4-T-5 levels. The patient underwent thoracic laminectomy and debulking of the mass. The pathology was consistent with granulomatous disease. Postoperatively, the patient was placed on prednisone. He subsequently received comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and at present is bowel and bladder continent and ambulating at community levels with a rolling walker. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis; potential treatment options, including debulking and long-term steroid use; and prognosis will be discussed.
List-mode data reconstruction via the finite Hilbert transform of the derivative of the backprojection

An exact analytical image reconstruction method is presented for two-dimensional (2D) imaging. The method performs backprojection, the derivative and finite Hilbert transforms. This method can be applied to many imaging geometries. The backprojection procedure is imaging- geometry dependent, while the differentiation and the finite Hilbert transform procedures are identical for all imaging geometries. This algorithm is applicable to list-mode data in nuclear medicine, while other filtered backprojection algorithms cannot be applied directly to the list-mode data.
People with MS are less physically active than healthy controls but as active as those with other chronic diseases: An updated meta-analysis

Abstract Background There has been remarkable growth in research examining physical activity behavior (any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscle contraction that results in energy expenditure) among people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) over the past decade. The current meta-analysis quantified physical activity participation levels in persons with MS compared with non-diseased and other clinical populations. Methods We searched PUBMED, PsycINFO and Web of Science using the keywords physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness in conjunction with MS. We conducted a quantitative synthesis of the difference in physical activity participation levels among persons with MS compared with non-diseased populations and other clinical populations and then examined moderators that might explain variation in the overall effect size (ES). Results 21 studies were included involving 5303 persons with MS and yielded a mean ES of −0.57 (95% CI=−0.76, 60.37). The weighted mean ES was heterogeneous (Q=443.811, df=31, p Conclusion The cumulative evidence reinforces that persons with MS are less physically active than non-diseased, but not clinical populations, and this observation supports the need for new efforts on promoting physical activity across the MS community.
The Agents of Democracy: Courts for the People

We commonly think of the federal judiciary as an undemocratic (counter-majoritarian) institution that enforces the Constitution over the will of the people, as that “democratic” will is expressed through the political branches and the states. This essay proposes that we consider the opposite, specifically, that we pause on the possibility that the judiciary, through its enforcement and development of the law of liberty and equality, is in fact an agent of democracy counterpoised against the counter-majoritarian political branches.
Food Safety Considerations for All Other Foods Sold at Farmers Markets

Value-added foods are a multibillion-dollar industry, where a vast array of products are being sold at farmers markets across the United States. The ingenuity of vendors has truly expanded the number of processed foods sold at farmers markets, but there are some staples that are more commonly found. This chapter’s focus has been placed on those items most commonly found at farmers markets such as jarred shelf-stable foods, breads, cookies, eggs, juice and cider. For each product category, a discussion of food safety concerns, intrinsic and processing controls commonly used and their linkage to food safety, pertinent U.S. regulations, and recommended processing guidelines to mitigate risk and control for foodborne pathogen growth are included.
Keratin nanofiber distribution and feather microstructure in penguins

ABSTRACT Penguins exhibit an array of derived feather features and color-producing mechanisms, including distinct melanosome morphologies and beta-keratin nanofibers that produce blue structural color. Several morphologies have been proposed to have hydrodynamic or insulatory functions. An understanding of the distribution of these morphologies over the body of a single penguin species may elucidate their evolution and function. We investigated feather microstructure and color production mechanisms in blue, black, and white barbs of feathers of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua). Light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that all feathers, regardless of color, are semi-lunate in cross section and lack, or show greatly reduced, air-filled compartments (central vacuoles) in feather barbs. Keratin nanofibers are present in all sampled feathers (including those of 8 other penguin species) but are surrounded by melanin in black barbs and disorganized in white barbs. Reduction of the air-filled central...
Learning Financial Networks using Quantile Granger Causality

In the post-crisis era, financial regulators and policymakers require data-driven tools to quantify systemic risk and to identify systemically important firms. We propose a statistical method that measures connectivity in the financial sector using time series of firms' stock returns. Our method is based on system-wide lower-tail analysis, whereby we estimate linkages between firms that occur when those firms are distressed and that exist conditional on the financial information of all other firms in the sample. This is achieved using Lasso-penalized quantile vector autoregression. By considering centrality measures of the estimated networks, we can assess the build-up of systemic risk and identify risk propagation channels. We apply our method to monthly returns of large U.S. firms, demonstrating that we are able to detect many of the most recent systemic events, in addition to identifying key players in the 2007-2009 U.S. financial crisis. Importantly, these players are not identified using standard Granger causality, which estimates connectivity by averaging across good, bad, and normal days of the market.