cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sealing glass-ceramics with near-linear thermal strain, part III: Stress modeling of strain and strain rate matched glass-ceramic to metal seals

Thermal mechanical stresses of glass-ceramic to stainless steel (GCtSS) seals are analyzed using finite element modeling over a temperature cycle from a set temperature (Tset) 500°C to −55°C, and then back to 600°C. Two glass-ceramics having an identical coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) at ~16 ppm/°C but very different linearity of thermal strains, designated as near-linear NL16 and step-like SL16, were formed from the same parent glass using different crystallization processes. Stress modeling reveals much higher plastic strain in the stainless steel using SL16 glass-ceramic when the GCtSS seal cools from Tset. Upon heating tensile stresses start to develop at the GC-SS interface before the temperature reaches Tset. On the other hand, the much lower plastic deformation in stainless steel accumulated during cooling using NL16 glass-ceramic allows for radially compressive stress at the GC-SS interface to remain present when the seal is heated back to Tset. The qualitative stress comparison suggests that with a better match of thermal strain rate to that of stainless steel, the NL16 glass-ceramic not only improves the hermeticity of the GCtSS seals, but would also improve the reliability of the seals exposed to high-temperature and/or high-pressure abnormal environments.
Global health: Probiotic prevents infections in newborns

A major cause of death and disease in babies is the failure of their developing immune systems to block life-threatening infections. A clinical trial reports that the use of a probiotic can help to prevent such infections. See Article p.407 Neonatal sepsis is a major contributor to infant death rates worldwide. In this paper, the authors carry out a randomized placebo-controlled trial in the Odisha province in India. They administered an orally prescribed synbiotic preparation to newborns in 149 villages. Results from the follow up of 4,556 infants 60 days after treatment show a reduction in cases of combined sepsis and death in the symbiotic-treated group, suggesting that this is a potentially useful intervention.
Utility of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum abnormality

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of added DWI sequences as an adjunct to traditional MR imaging in the evaluation of abnormal placentation in patients with suspicion for placenta accreta spectrum abnormality or morbidly adherent placenta (MAP). The study was approved by local ethics committee. The subjects included pregnant women with prenatal MRI performed between July 2013 to July 2015. All imaging was performed on a Philips 1.5T MR scanner using pelvic phased-array coil. Only T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) series were compiled for review. Two randomized imaging sets were created: set 1 included T2-weighted series only (T2W); set 2 included T2W with DWI series together (T2W + DWI). Three radiologists, blinded to history and pathology, reviewed the imaging, with 2 weeks of time between the two image sets. Sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy for MAP were calculated and compared between T2W only and T2W + DWI reads. Associations between imaging findings and invasion on pathology were tested using the Chi-squared test. Confidence scores, inter-reader agreement, and systematic differences were documented. A total of 17 pregnant women were included in the study. 8 cases were pathologically diagnosed with MAP. There were no significant differences in the diagnostic accuracy between T2W and T2W + DWI in the diagnosis of MAP in terms of overall accuracy (62.7% for T2W vs. 68.6% for T2W + DWI, p = 0.68), sensitivity (70.8% for T2W vs. 95.8% for T2W + DWI, p = 0.12), and specificity (55.6% for T2W vs. 44.4% for T2W + DWI, p = 0.49). There was no significant difference in the diagnostic confidence between the review of T2W images alone and the T2W + DWI review (mean 7.3 ± 1.8 for T2W vs. 7.5 ± 1.8 for T2W + DWI, p = 0.37). With the current imaging technique, addition of DWI sequence to the traditional T2W images cannot be shown to significantly increase the accuracy or reader confidence for diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum abnormality. However, DWI does improve identification of abnormalities in the placental–myometrial interface.
Promoting Financial Credit-Building for Financially Vulnerable Families:

Financial personal credit is a key resource for families to gain access to resources and assets. Social work practitioners benefit from awareness of the importance of credit, a basic understanding ...
LDP of System Identification under Independent and Identically Distributed Observation Noises

We first consider system identification under i.i.d. noise. Extension to correlated noises will be treated in Chapter 5. Beginning with the following assumptions, we should emphasize here that since we consider open-loop identification problems, the input signal u is part of experimental design and can be selected to enhance the identification process.
Chest wall injuries.

Chest wall injuries range from relatively trivial to fatal flail chest or huge defects. Significant chest wall injury is present in about one third of patients admitted after severe trauma. In management, the principal areas to be considered are pain control, open wounds, pneumothorax, flail chest, and pulmonary contusion.
Superconductivity near a nematic quantum critical point: Interplay between hot and lukewarm regions

We present a strong-coupling dynamical theory of the superconducting transition in a metal near a quantum-critical point toward $Q=0$ nematic order. We use a fermion-boson model, in which we treat the ratio of effective boson-fermion coupling and the Fermi energy as a small parameter $\ensuremath{\lambda}$. We solve, both analytically and numerically, the linearized Eliashberg equation. Our solution takes into account both strong fluctuations at small momentum transfers $\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{\lambda}{k}_{F}$ and weaker fluctuations at large momentum transfers. The strong fluctuations determine ${T}_{c}$, which is of order ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}{E}_{F}$ for both $s$- and $d$-wave pairing. The weaker fluctuations determine the angular structure of the superconducting order parameter $F({\ensuremath{\theta}}_{k})$ along the Fermi surface, separating between hot and lukewarm regions. In the hot regions $F({\ensuremath{\theta}}_{k})$ is largest and approximately constant. Beyond the hot region, whose width is ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{h}\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{1/3}$, $F({\ensuremath{\theta}}_{k})$ drops by a factor ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{4/3}$. The $s$- and $d$-wave states are not degenerate but the relative difference $({T}_{c}^{s}\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c}^{d})/{T}_{c}^{s}\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}$ is small.
Gendering (Im)migration in the Pentateuch’s Legal Codes: A Reading from a Latina Perspective

Focusing on the quotidian reality of (im)migrant women farmworkers in the U.S., this chapter delves into the legal and ideological aspects at the intersection of gender and immigration in the legal material of the Pentateuch. This study is divided into two main parts: (1) it provides three guiding principles to challenge the indifference and dehumanization that render this community invisible then and now; and (2) it offers a general analysis of the Hebrew term גר (ger)—used to refer to the “immigrant/alien”—in the Pentateuch’s legal codes to show that despite the fact that these codes do not address the specific issue of sexual assault of immigrant women farmworkers, it provides a paradigm that upholds “principled” laws.
Living the Theologico-Political Problem: Leo Strauss on the Common Ground of Philosophy and Theology

ABSTRACTLeo Strauss argues that the “theologico-political” problem arose from the competing claims of rationalist philosophy and theology. Although he urges others to take sides in this debate, most theorists see it as insoluble, since it is rooted in competing traditions and different, non-demonstrable, epistemic principles. Strauss, however, argues that there is a common ground capable of sustaining a contest between the two: their appeal to the pre-philosophic understanding of justice as moral virtue. The contest between the Bible and Socratic-Platonic philosophy centers on which of the two better understands what justice is, what completes it, and in what respect it is good. Strauss enables us to see why Plato’s Socratic dialogues became indispensable models for classical and medieval philosophers who sought to meet the challenge of theology on the vital common ground of philosophy and theology.
Occupational Therapy Intervention to Improve Outcomes Among Frail Older Adults: A Scoping Review

Importance: Frailty is common in later life and increases older adults’ risk for early disability, institutionalization, and mortality. Objective: To explore the research literature on occupational therapy interventions to improve outcomes among frail, community-dwelling older adults. Design: Scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature about occupational therapy interventions and frailty published between January 1996 and January 2017. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies focused on adults age 65 yr or older, operationalized frailty as activities of daily living disability, and did not use validated frailty measures to identify frail older adults. Interventions were delivered both as a stand-alone intervention and as part of a multidisciplinary approach. Treatments focused on recommendations and training in use of adaptive devices or assistive technologies, performance of self-care, and recommendations for home modifications. Conclusion: Additional research is warranted to build the evidence base and better inform the design and selection of occupational therapy interventions to improve outcomes among frail older adults.
Risk of cervical and vaginal dysplasia after surgery for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer: A 6 year follow-up study

Abstract Objectives To estimate the frequency of abnormal surveillance cytology leading to high-grade dysplasia after surgical management for high-grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and vulvar cancer and to determine whether prior hysterectomy reduces this risk. Methods Women who underwent surgery for high-grade VIN or vulvar cancer between 2006 and 2014 were identified retrospectively. Patients who underwent prior hysterectomy for any indication were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify clinical correlates of abnormal cytology after surgical treatment for VIN and vulvar cancer. Results During a median follow-up for 72 months, 302 women underwent surveillance with cytologic screening after vulvar surgery including 99 (33%) women with prior hysterectomy. 75 (25%) women had abnormal cytology results. Of those, 47 (63%) were low-grade and 28 (37%) were high-grade, including 2 (3%) cases of invasive cancer. The rates of high-grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), or cancer were not significantly different despite prior hysterectomy (9% VAIN 2+, 7% CIN 2+). Multivariate analysis showed that correlates of high-grade cytology following treatment for VIN or vulvar cancer included non-white race [odds radio (OR) 3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–7.8], prior abnormal cytology (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.6–7.6), and immunodeficiency (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3–8.8). Prior hysterectomy did not significantly decrease risk of high-grade cytology (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.5–1.6). Conclusions Women treated surgically for VIN/vulvar cancer have an 8% risk of at least high-grade dysplasia from surveillance screening and prior hysterectomy does not mitigate the risk. Extrapolating from current guidelines, we recommend surveillance cytology screening at least 6–12 months after treatment.
Planning solar array operations on the international space station

Flight controllers manage the orientation and modes of eight large solar arrays that power the International Space Station (ISS). The task requires generating plans that balance complex constraints and preferences. These considerations include context-dependent constraints on viable solar array configurations, temporal limits on transitions between configurations, and preferences on which considerations have priority. The Solar Array Constraint Engine (SACE) treats this operations planning problem as a sequence of tractable constrained optimization problems. SACE uses constraint management and automated planning capabilities to reason about the constraints, to find optimal array configurations subject to these constraints and solution preferences, and to automatically generate solar array operations plans.
Music versus midazolam during preoperative nerve block placements: a prospective randomized controlled study.

Background and objectives Music medicine is a non-pharmacologic intervention that is virtually harm-free, relatively inexpensive and has been shown to significantly decrease preoperative anxiety. In this study we aim to compare the use of music to midazolam as a preoperative anxiolytic prior to the administration of an ultrasound-guided single-injection peripheral nerve block. Methods In this randomized controlled study we compared the anxiolytic effects of intravenous midazolam (1–2 mg) with noise-canceling headphone-delivered music medicine. All patients received a preoperative ultrasound-guided single-injection peripheral nerve block indicated for a primary regional anesthetic or postoperative analgesia. Results The change in the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-6 (STAI-6) anxiety scores from after to before the procedure were similar in both groups (music group −1.6 (SD 10.7); midazolam group −4.2 (SD 11); p=0.14; mean difference between groups −2.5 (95% CI −5.9 to 0.9), p=0.1). Patient satisfaction scores with their procedure experience were higher in the midazolam group (p=0.01); however, there were no differences in physician satisfaction scores of their procedure experience between groups (p=0.07). Both patient and physician perceptions on difficulties in communication were higher in the music group than in the midazolam group (p=0.005 and p=0.0007, respectively). Conclusions Music medicine may be offered as an alternative to midazolam administration prior to peripheral regional anesthesia. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate whether or not the type of music, as well as how it is delivered, offers advantages over midazolam that outweigh the increase in communication barriers. Clinical trial registry Clinicaltrials.gov #NCT03069677
Residential Proximity, Perceived and Acceptable Risk

The perception of risk and the acceptance of it are partially a product of life experiences. This occurs because “ordinary-knowledge” is principally comprised of experiences, and the perception and acceptability of risk rests firmly upon that “data bank” of knowledge. Hence, life-experience is inherently related to perceived and acceptable risk. This paper focuses on the relationship between the life experiences associated with residential proximity, and the perception and acceptability of the risks associated with generating electricity in nuclear power plants. Perceived risk is operationally defined in t erms of estimated likelihood of occurrence, while acceptability of nuclear power is defined in terms of people’s favorable or unfavorable opinions regarding nuclear power plants. In the context of a simple social-structural model of perceived and acceptable risk, four potential explanations for enhanced acceptability among those residentially proximate with nuclear facilities are examined: 1) Residents, through the experience of living with hazard, are reinforced toward assigning lower probabilities to the potential risks associated with nuclear facilities. 2) The cognitive dissonance created by the acceptance of the risks associated with nuclear power is decreased by reducing perceived risk. 3) Nuclear neighbors are predisposed toward, educated about, and/or economically dependent upon nuclear power hence the more favorable attitudes toward it. 4) Nearby residents are systematically more altruistic — other oriented — than the general population and thus more willing to bear the risks associated with nuclear power. Low-probability/high-consequence risks are sometimes assessed in terms of revealed societal preferences. However, assessing risk in this manner without careful consideration of social processes involved is somewhat superficial and misleading. In this sense, a more complete understanding of the social processes involved in the perception and acceptability of risk is essential. The examination of these four hypotheses provides a foundation on which such an understanding may be established.
The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc/Arg3.1, influences mouse cocaine self-administration

The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc, also known as Arg3.1), an immediate early gene and synaptic regulator, is upregulated following a single cocaine exposure. However, there is not much known regarding Arc/Arg3.1's potential contribution to addiction-relevant behaviors. Despite known learning and memory deficits in contextual fear and water-maze reversal learning tasks, we find that mice lacking Arc/Arg3.1 perform conditioned place preference and operant conditioning involving positive reinforcers (food and cocaine) with little-to-no impairment. However, following normal saline-extinction, wild type (WT) mice show a classic inverted-U dose-response function, while Arc/Arg3.1 knockout (KO) mice fail to adjust their intake across multiple doses. Importantly, Arc/Arg3.1 KO and WT mice behave comparably on an increasing cost task (FR1-FR3; acquisition dose), providing evidence that both groups find cocaine reinforcing. Differences in individuals that drive variations in use patterns and particularly, drug intake levels, are critical as they influence the likelihood of developing dependence. Our data suggest that Arc/Arg3.1 may contribute to addiction as a regulator of drug-taking vulnerability under different drug availability conditions.
What We Learned about Longitudinal Team Communication

Throughout this book, we have examined longitudinal team communication to glimpse into the inner workings of teams. Our efforts provide insights into what, when, how, and why team communication changes over time, including any corresponding impact on performance. Further, we have shown that conditions under which teams are collaborating matter. In this chapter, we bring these insights together to look holistically at what has been learned from this research. In particular, we translate the research findings into specific research recommendations and on-the-ground managerial implications. We then articulate the theoretical contributions that may be derived from our efforts and the value of expanding team researchers’ methodological toolboxes. While acknowledging the limitations of our study, we advance opportunities for new research in this area. We end with concluding thoughts about longitudinal team communication and the importance of considering it to be an integral component of a team’s journey worthy of focused consideration.
5-Nitro-2,3-bis­(thio­phen-2-yl)quinoxaline

The title compound, C16H9N3O2S2, was synthesized via a condensation reaction in refluxing acetic acid. The dihedral angles between the mean plane of the quinoxaline unit and the thienyl rings are 35.16 (5)° and 24.94 (3)°.
The Use of 20% Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy in Patients With B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma With Humoral Immune Dysfunction After Treatment With Rituximab.

Abstract Background Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric antibody used to treat autoimmune conditions and B cell neoplasms. We characterized immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and vaccine responses in rituximab-treated B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients. Patients with impaired vaccine responses were offered therapy with 20% subcutaneous (subq) Ig. Patients and Methods Patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of B cell NHL who had received rituximab within the past 24 months were eligible for the study and underwent the following immune evaluation: serum IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, T/B cell lymphocyte panel, and pre/post vaccine IgG titers to diphtheria, tetanus, and streptococcus pneumoniae. Patients were vaccinated with tetanus, diphtheria and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Patients with abnormal vaccine responses were offered prophylactic subq Ig for 52 weeks. Results Fifteen patients with NHL were enrolled in the study. The median IgG was 628 mg/dL [interquartile range, 489-718 mg/dL]. Three (20%) of 15 patients responded to diphtheria vaccination, 1 (6.7%) of 15 responded to tetanus vaccination, and 3 (20%) of 15 responded to vaccination to streptococcus pneumoniae. Thirteen (86.7%) of 15 met criteria for humoral immunodeficiency. Ten patients received subq Ig, and experienced a significant increase in serum IgG (P = .008). There were no serious adverse events, and there was a decrease in nonneutropenic infections while on subq Ig therapy. Conclusions Patients with NHL treated with rituximab may have significant humoral immunodeficiency as defined by abnormal vaccine responses even in the setting of relatively normal IgG levels. For these patients, subq Ig replacement therapy is well-tolerated and efficacious in improving serum IgG, and may decrease reliance on antibiotics for the treatment of nonneutropenic infections.
Characteristics and overall survival in pediatric versus adult skull base chordoma: a population-based study

Less than 5% of chordomas occur in pediatric patients. While many studies have explored the treatment and outcomes of skull base chordomas, few have focused on the differences between pediatric and adult populations. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological variables and clinical outcomes between pediatric and adult skull base chordomas using a large-sample, population-based cancer database. The National Cancer Database was queried between 2004 and 2015 for skull base chordomas. We stratified patients as pediatric (<18 years) and adults (≥18 years). We compared several clinical covariates between the two groups. Our cohort consisted of 658 patients, 61 pediatric (9.3%), and 597 adults (90.7%). Pediatric patients were more likely to have larger tumor size (41.4 ± 15.7 mm versus 34.1 ± 15.8 mm, p < 0.01) and universally treated at academic facilities. There was no significant difference in overall survival. Pediatric skull base chordomas are rare tumors that are managed with aggressive surgical resection, followed by radiation. While there may be difference between tumor presentation, outcomes between pediatric and adult patients are similar.
“No Place for Old Men”: Immigrant Duration, Wage Theft, and Economic Mobility among Day Laborers in Denver, Colorado:

Day laborers are a highly vulnerable population, due to their contingent work arrangements, low socioeconomic position, and precarious immigration status. Earlier studies posited day labor as a tem...
A Smart Bicycle That Protects Itself: Active Sensing and Estimation for Car-Bicycle Collision Prevention

Bicycling is a healthy physical activity for all ages. It can provide both physical and mental health benefits, including reducing the risk of cancer [1], cutting the risk of heart disease by half [2], postponing Alzheimerrs disease [3, 4], and promoting mental alertness and memory [5].
Vaginal Complications after Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Objectives To summarize the published literature regarding pelvic organ prolapse, dehiscence or evisceration, vaginal fistula, and dyspareunia after radical cystectomy and to describe the management approaches used to treat these conditions. Methods Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically searched from January 1, 2001 to January 25, 2021 using a combination of search terms for bladder cancer and radical cystectomy with terms for four categories of vaginal complications (prolapse, fistula, evisceration/dehiscence, and dyspareunia). A total of 229 publications were identified, the final review included 28 publications. Results Neobladder vaginal fistula was evaluated in 17 publications, with an incidence rate of 3 – 6% at higher volume centers, often along the anterior vaginal wall at the location of the neobladder-urethral anastomosis. Sexual function was evaluated in 10 studies, 7 of which utilized validated instruments. Maintaining the anterior vaginal wall and the distal urethra appeared to be associated with improved sexual function. Pelvic organ prolapse was assessed in 5 studies, only 1 used a validated questionnaire and none included a validated objective measure of pelvic organ support. Conclusion There is a need for more prospective studies, using standardized instruments and subjective outcome measures to better define the incidence of vaginal complications after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, and to understand their impact on quality of life measures.
تقدير الأسعار المحلية لأهم المحاصيل في التجارة الخارجية الزراعية المصرية Estimating Domestic Prices of the Most Important Strategic Crops in the Egyptian Agricultural Foreign Trade

Prices play a vital role in the economy, and agricultural prices are particularly important in the agricultural sector. There are many different pricing methods for agricultural crops. Suggesting a fair price per unit of product is the main problem facing price policy makers. The research aims to study and estimate the different methods for pricing wheat and maize as important import crops and rice and cotton as important export crops. Different pricing methods for studied crops were detailed during the period (2000-2016) in real terms for 2010, The estimated prices were compared to the observed domestic and world prices during the last period (2012-2016).The results depict that the average of real domestic price of wheat represents about 94% of the average import price. The estimated prices for wheat based on production cost per feddan, throughout 2012-2016, reveal that the farmers are paid lower prices. Wheat estimated prices based on equity prices, production cost index, in addition to the ratio between farm and world price, the estimated prices are closer to the observed domestic price by about 99%, 98% and 94% respectively during the same period. However, estimated prices relying on the opportunity cost, guaranteeing profit margin per pound showed similar results to the best alternative represent about double and triple local and observed import price per ton of wheat respectively. It is worth mentioning clover is not considered as an alternative crop for wheat, That’s why alternative crop method has not been considered in this study.
Remote sensing of methane plumes: instrument tradeoff analysis for detecting and quantifying local sources at global scale

Abstract. Methane (CH4) is the 2nd most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas with a significant impact on radiative forcing, tropospheric air quality and stratospheric water vapor. Remote-sensing observations enable the detection and quantification of local methane emissions across large geographical areas, which is a critical step for understanding local flux distributions and subsequently prioritizing mitigation strategies. Obtaining methane column concentration measurements with low noise and minimal surface interference has direct consequences for accurately determining the location and emission rates of methane sources. The quality of retrieved column enhancements depends on the choices of instrument and retrieval parameters. Here, we studied the changes in precision error and bias as a result of different spectral resolutions, instrument optical performance and detector exposure times by using a realistic instrument noise model. In addition, we formally analysed the impact of spectrally complex surface albedo features on retrievals using the Iterative Maximum a Posteriori- Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (IMAP-DOAS) algorithm. We built an end-to-end modelling framework that can simulate observed radiances from reflected solar irradiance through a simulated CH4 plume over several natural and man-made surfaces. Our analysis shows that complex surface features can alias into retrieved methane abundances, explaining the existence of retrieval biases in current airborne methane observations. The impact can be mitigated with higher spectral resolution and a larger polynomial degree to approximate surface albedo variations. Using a spectral resolution of 1.5 nm, an exposure time of 20 ms, and a polynomial degree of 25, a retrieval precision error below 0.007 mole m−2 or 1.0 % of total atmospheric CH4 column can be achieved for high albedo cases, while minimizing the bias due to surface interference such that the noise is uncorrelated among various surfaces. At coarser spectral resolutions, it becomes increasingly harder to separate complex surface albedo features from atmospheric absorption features. Our modelling framework provides the basis for assessing trade-offs for future remote-sensing instruments and algorithmic designs. For instance, we find that improving the spectral resolution beyond 0.2 nm would actually decrease the retrieval precision as detector readout noise will play an increasing role. Our work contributes towards building an enhanced monitoring system that can measure CH4 concentration fields to determine methane sources accurately and efficiently at scale.
A Brief Review of Signal Processing for EEG-based BCI: Approaches and Opportunities

In every society, people with disabilities need to communicate with others. However, their economic and educational status are predominantly limited by the unavailability of tools and technologies to satisfy their special needs. There is a necessity for technological solutions to constantly increase to overcome their difficulties with everyday activities. Recent days, Brain-computer Interface (BCI) has drawn attention of many researchers as a hands-free tool which can help motion impaired people to control devices, express their opinions and ideas, and communicate with others. The real-time control of sensors and actuators can be implemented using BCI at the expense of high computational resources. In fact, the evolution of brain technology has offered limitless opportunities and possibilities for impaired as well as healthy members to contribute and participate in the society. With the help of human brain signals or an electroencephalogram (EEG), brain activity in the neocortex is measured as voltage differences over the scalp. Information on subjects’ intentions and thoughts is encompassed by EEG electrical patterns, which is decoded as important signatures of brain activity. The status quo BCI technology and associated signal processing schemes are advancing fast. It will also improve control of devices in space, people’s lives in e-home, or communication in novel ways. This manuscript presents the EEG signal processing and classification techniques to design BCI system as a control or communication device.
El vacío y lo real en la imagen foto-cinematográfica. El caso de Marguerite Duras.

The means of technical reproduction, both photography and cinema, have been characterized by their mimetic superiority when it comes to capturing reality. However, this has led many of the theories of these media to engage in a kind of dialectic as to whether or not the photographic representation is true. From a phenomenological perspective, we will try to rescue a concept of truth from the photographic record that is not necessarily linked to its empirical dimension, that is, to its pure positivity in capturing its referent. With this, photographic reproduction will allow us to reflect on our own access to reality in which voids and absences are equally constitutive of it. Marguerite Duras's film L'homme atlantique provides us with a case study to reflect on this importance
SA3: Automatic Semantic Aware Attribution Analysis of Remote Exploits

Web services have been greatly threatened by remote exploit code attacks, where maliciously crafted HTTP requests are used to inject binary code to compromise web servers and web applications. In practice, besides detection of such attacks, attack attribution analysis, i.e., to automatically categorize exploits or to determine whether an exploit is a variant of an attack from the past, is also very important. In this paper, we present SA3, an exploit code attribution analysis which combines semantic analysis and statistical analysis to automatically categorize a given exploit code. SA3 extracts semantic features from an exploit code through data anomaly analysis, and then attributes the exploit to an appropriate class based on our statistical model derived from a Markov model. We evaluate SA3 over a comprehensive set of shellcode collected from Metasploit and other polymorphic engines. Experimental results show that SA3 is effective and efficient. The attribution analysis accuracy can be over 90% in different parameter settings with false positive rate no more than 4.5%. To our knowledge, SA3 is the first work combining semantic analysis with statistical analysis for exploit code attribution analysis.
Maschinen für Abbruch und Recycling

Die Abbruchmethoden werden heute uberwiegend von Gesichtspunkten wie Umweltvertraglichkeit, Sicherheit und der Wiederverwertung von Baustoffen bestimmt. Wahrend fruher Gebaude durch Sprengen oder Zertrummern mit der Schlagbirne in riesige Schuttberge verwandelt wurden, die unsortiert verladen und auf die Deponie gekippt wurden, wird diese Methode nur noch in den seltesten Fallen angewendet. Heute ist der gezielte „kontrollierte Ruckbau“ vorherrschend. Beim „kontrollierten Ruckbau“ werden in umgekehrter Folge zum Aufbau, sortiert nach Stoffen, die einzelnen Bauteile entfernt und meist in Containern verladen und der entsprechenden Entsorgungsstelle zugefuhrt.
Screening in Constitutively Active Receptor Systems

This unit discusses the use of constitutive G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activity for the screening of new drug entities. It begins with an introduction to constitutive GPCR activity and then centers on the three basic components of a constitutive screening system, namely the receptor, the receptor coupling components (G protein) and the response reporting system. Then, the influence of ligands and particular application of such systems to drug screening, with reference to optimal conditions, is discussed. Finally, the relative advantages and disadvantages of constitutive screening are considered. This unit discusses the use of constitutive G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activity for the screening of new drug entities
One breaker is enough: Hidden topology attacks on power grids

A coordinated cyber-attack on grid meter readings and breaker statuses can lead to incorrect state estimation that can subsequently destabilize the grid. This paper studies cyber-attacks by an adversary that changes breaker statuses on transmission lines to affect the estimation of the grid topology. The adversary, however, is incapable of changing the value of any meter data and can only block recorded measurements on certain lines from being transmitted to the control center. The proposed framework, with limited resource requirements as compared to standard data attacks, thus extends the scope of cyber-attacks to grids secure from meter corruption. We discuss necessary and sufficient conditions for feasible attacks using a novel graph-coloring based analysis and show that an optimal attack requires breaker status change at only ONE transmission line. The potency of our attack regime is demonstrated through simulations on IEEE test cases.
Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease Considered as Infectious Diseases

Publisher Summary In this chapter, Koch's postulates are used to describe the experimental methods of tooth decay. Germfree or antibiotic-treated animals, fed cariogenic diets, have been found to develop tooth decay with specific infections, which can be transmitted to other animals. Despite the early recognition of the relationship of microbes with tooth decay processes and the more recent general acceptance of a theory of microbial etiology of the disease, there are still sufficient reservations about the causes of dental caries. The disease was only descriptively described in its progression from enamel “white spot” to large and open cavity—without an etiological reference. Later on, the experiments were defined with germfree rats that showed that microorganisms were indeed indispensable to the process. Periodontal disease is a progressive disease syndrome that may involve inflammation and retraction of the gums, resorption of the bony support of the teeth, and destruction of the periodontal ligament, leading to formation of deep gingival pockets and loosening of the teeth, with their eventual loss. Periodontal disease, particularly the destruction of the periodontal ligament and the resorption of the bony support of the teeth, has been produced experimentally in animals and controlled with antibiotics.
Idiopathic neonatal iron-storage disease

Abstract A 21-day-old infant presented with anemia, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, hypoproteinemia, and a severe coagulopathy. The hospital course was marked by progressive hepatic failure, encephalopathy, and renal insufficiency. The infant died on day 15 of hospitalization. Postmortem examination showed diffuse hepatic fibrosis and marked siderosis of the liver, pancreas, kidney, adrenal glands, and the duodenal epithelium, with sparing of the reticuloendothelial system. These findings were characteristic of idiopathic neonatal iron-storage disease. Previously reported cases are summarized and discussed. An increased awareness and understanding of this rapidly fatal disorder will be important for genetic counseling and possibly in defining an aberrant mechanism in the handling of iron.
Antimicrobial de-escalation of treatment for healthcare-associated pneumonia within the Veterans Healthcare Administration

The objective of this study was to measure quantitatively antimicrobial de-escalation utilizing electronic medication administration data based on the spectrum of activity for antimicrobial therapy (i.e. spectrum score) to identify variables associated with de-escalation in a nationwide healthcare system.
Type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies are rare in Alaska native populations.

Objectives. When clinical data were initially gathered from the Alaskan Eskimos in the 1950’s, diabetes mellitus was noted to be quite rare. The prevalence of diabetes has increased significantly since that time, with rates of 10% reported recently in some Alaska native populations. Our goal was to understand the pathogenesis of diabetes among these groups, with the hypothesis that Alaskan Eskimos were predominantly affected by type 2 diabetes, not by latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Study design . Population based case control study Methods. We tested sera from subjects in two Eskimo villages for the presence of type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65Ab) and tyrosine phosphatase-like islet antigen-2 (IA-2Ab). Results. Among subjects from one Inupiat village (#1) and one SiberianYup’ik village (#2), there were 21 subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM), 17 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 226 healthy controls with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). In village 1, GAD65 antibodies were not present in either diabetic subjects or those with IGT. One of the healthy controls (1%;1/97) was positive for GAD65Ab. Similarly, no subjects from this village with DM or IGT had positive IA-2Ab titers, and one healthy control (1%;1/97) was positive for IA-2Ab. In village 2, no DM subject was GAD65Ab positive. One (10%;1/10) of the IGT subjects and two (1.6%;2/129) of the healthy controls were positive for GAD65Ab. In this village, two of the DM subjects (12%;2/17), one of the IGT subjects (10%;1/10), and one of the healthy controls (0.8%;1/129) were IA-2Ab positive. No individual was positive for both GAD65Ab and IA-2Ab. Conclusion. Alaskan Inupiat and Siberian Yup’ik Eskimos appear to be predominantly affected by type 2 diabetes, not LADA. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2002; 61(1):21-31) Keywords: diabetes mellitus, latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult (LADA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), tyrosine phosphatase-like is- let antigen-2 (IA-2), autoantibodies, Eskimos
Photoactive supercapacitors for solar energy harvesting and storage

Abstract In most applications an energy storage device is required when solar cells are applied for energy harvesting. In this work, we have demonstrated that composite films of a conducting polymer and a dye can be used as photoactive electrodes in an electrochemical cell for concurrent solar energy conversion and charge storage. A device was made of poly ethylenedioxythiophene:polystyrene sulfonate and (PEDOT:PSS) and a porphyrin dye which showed a capacitance of ∼1.04 mF. The device was charged up to 430 mV (open circuit voltage) under a solar simulated illumination and was able to store the charge for more than 10 min in the dark. Further study on the concentration of the dye revealed the importance of the ratio between the dye and the conducting polymer to optimize the photovoltage and capacitance of the device. Also, the effect of the dye material was studied by using a Ruthenium (Ru) based dye. The device with the Ru dye showed a photovolatge of 198 mV and charge stability of more than 2 h.
White Rock Oneota Chipped Stone Tools

A standardized approach to descriptive analysis of chipped stone artifacts from the White Rock site (14JW1) in north-central Kansas allows comparison with Oneota lithic assemblages. These comparisons reinforce the interpretation of the White Rock phase as the remains of a late prehistoric Oneota population in the Central Plains. White Rock peoples made tool forms (e.g., small triangular points) similar to those recovered from Oneota sites in the Midwest. Informal tools are well represented, reflecting an Oneota lithic technology. Despite continuity in chipped stone tool production, regional adaptation is evident in the selection of lithic raw materials from the Central Plains, production of blades and blade tools, and an abundance of scrapers. The latter, along with beveled knives, reveals extensive processing of bison hides and meat, a reflection of Oneota adaptation to the Plains.
Using ontologies and symbolic information in automatic target recognition

The goal of this paper is to show an approach to target recognition (ATR) that allows for efficient updating of the recognition algorithm of a fusion agent when new symbolic information becomes available. This information may, for instance, provide additional characterization of a known type of target, or supply a description of a new type of target. The new symbolic information can be either posted on a web page or provided by another agent. The sensory information can be obtained from two imaging sensors. In our scenario the fusion agent, after noticing such an event, processes the new symbolic information and incorporates it into its recognition rules. To achieve this goal the fusion agent needs to understand the symbolic information. This capability is achieved through the use of an ontology. Both the fusion agent and the knowledge provider (it may be another software agent or a human annotator) know the ontology, and the web based information is annotated using that ontology. In this paper we describe the approach, provide examples of symbolic target descriptions, describe an ATR scenario, and show some initial results of simulations for the selected scenario. The discussion in this paper shows the advantages of the proposed approach over that in which the recognition algorithm is fixed.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Presence and Global Presence in Genres of Self-Presentation: A Framework for Comparative Analysis

We review Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca's original formulation of presence as a technique of argument associated primarily with the selection of individual rhetorical elements, and the recent extension of the notion by Gross and Dearin, where presence is understood as a second-order effect that denotes the systematic expression and inhibition of patterns of rhetorical elements across an entire text or rhetorical artifact. We argue for an additional extension to this more global notion of presence, one that makes it not only global within a text or class of texts, but also comparative, allowing the analyst to make rigorous comparisons of expressed and inhibited rhetorical patterns across different texts, or different classes of texts, including different rhetorical genres. A return to the original conception of presence allows us to make this extension, and we illustrate global presence within this newly proposed comparative framework by analyzing two genres of self-presentation in classroom practice: the ...
Effects of transcranial electric currents on intraocular and cerebrospinal fluid pressures

This study was undertaken primarily to ascertain the effects on intraocular pressure of passing electric currents through the brain. However, data on other parameters, simultaneously recorded, are cursorily presented. In dogs premedicated with pentobarbital sodium, atropine sulfate and succinylcholine chloride or d-tubocurarine chloride, the transcranial passage of electric currents elevated the intraocular and cerebrospinal fluid pressures in proportion to the intensity of the applied current. Current-induced increases in intraocular pressure were primarily the consequence of a simultaneously elicited systemic hypertension and contraction of the extraocular muscles. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure increases caused by the current seemed to be solely secondary to the increase in systemic arterial pressure. Positive cardiac inotropic effects and nictitating membrane contractions were also evoked by such cranially impressed currents. Chlorpromazine, apparently through its sympatholytic actions, conferred an appreciable degree of protection against current-induced elevations in intraocular, cerebrospinal, and arterial pressures.
Suppression of ICE and apoptosis in mammary epithelial cells by extracellular matrix

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) plays a major role in development and tissue regeneration. Basement membrane extracellular matrix (ECM), but not fibronectin or collagen, was shown to suppress apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells in tissue culture and in vivo. Apoptosis was induced by antibodies to beta 1 integrins or by overexpression of stromelysin-1, which degrades ECM. Expression of interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) correlated with the loss of ECM, and inhibitors of ICE activity prevented apoptosis. These results suggest that ECM regulates apoptosis in mammary epithelial cells through an integrin-dependent negative regulation of ICE expression.