cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonstationary signal classification using pseudo power signatures: The matrix SVD approach

This paper deals with the problem of classification of nonstationary signals using signatures which are essentially independent of the signal length. This independence is a requirement in common classification problems like stratigraphic analysis, which was a motivation for this research. We achieve this objective by developing the notion of an approximation to the continuous wavelet transform, which is separable in the time and scale parameters, and using it to define power signatures, which essentially characterize the scale energy density, independent of time. We present a simple technique which uses the singular value decomposition to compute such an approximation, and demonstrate through an example how it is used to perform the classification. The proposed classification approach has potential applications in areas like moving target detection, object recognition, oil exploration, and speech processing.
Natural image utility assessment using image contours

In the quality assessment task, observers evaluate a natural image based on its perceptual resemblance to a reference. For the utility assessment task, observers evaluate the usefulness of a natural image as a surrogate for a reference. Humans generally use the information captured by an imaging system and tolerate distortions as long as the underlying task is performed reliably. Conventional notions of perceived quality cannot generally predict the perceived utility of a natural image. This paper examines variations to basic components of a recently introduced utility assessment algorithm that compares the contours of a reference and test image, referred to as the natural image contour evaluation (NICE), in terms of their capability to improve the prediction of perceived utility scores. Results show that classical edge-detection algorithms incorporated into NICE provide statistically equivalent performance to other, more complex edge-detection algorithms.
Lack of familial aggregation of Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease.

Objective To investigate the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) in first-degree relatives of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) compared with first-degree relatives of controls. Design Case-control study, family history method, and reconstructed cohort approach. Methods Probands with PD without dementia and control probands, matched by age strata, sex, and ethnicity, were examined in person and enrolled without knowledge of family history of PD and other neurological disorders. Disease status in first-degree relatives of probands with PD and control probands was ascertained through a structured family history interview administered to the proband and a second informant (self-report or another informant). Cox proportional hazards models with double-censoring techniques for missing information on age of onset of AD were used to analyze the risk of AD in first-degree relatives of patients with PD compared with first-degree relatives of controls. Results Four hundred eighty-seven probands with PD and 409 control probands provided family history information on 4819 first-degree relatives older than 30 years (2534 relatives of probands with PD and 2285 relatives of control probands). One hundred thirteen first-degree relatives (2.3%; 61 relatives [2.4%] of patients with PD and 52 relatives [2.3%] of controls) were diagnosed with AD. The risk of AD was not increased in relatives of patients with PD compared with relatives of controls (hazard ratio, 1.1; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-1.6; P = .65). Similarly, no significantly increased risk of AD was observed when comparing relatives of patients with early-onset (≤50 years) and late-onset (>50 years) PD with relatives of controls. Conclusion The lack of familial aggregation of PD and AD does not support the hypothesis of major shared genetic contributions to the etiology of the 2 most common neurodegenerative disorders.
Seasonal and within-plant gradients in the intramolecular carbon isotopic composition of amino acids of Spartina alterniflora

Abstract Autotrophy and heterotrophy create different patterns of carbon flux through the central metabolic pathway. One consequence of these different fluxes is that the α-carboxyl carbon of amino acids is derived from different carbon sources and has a different isotopic composition under autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions. In Spartina alterniflora , a C4 grass and a common and ecologically important component of coastal ecosystems, the isotopic composition of bulk acid hydrolyzable carbon and total amino acid carboxyl carbon were compared over a seasonal cycle. The isotopic composition of plants varied significantly between aboveground and below ground tissues, and the δ 13 C of both hydrolyzable organic carbon and total amino acid carboxyl carbon showed significant variation among seasons. The isotopic heterogeneity within amino acids was used to infer seasonal changes in source/sink relationships for amino acid carbon among plant organs. Comparison of the intramolecular isotope data for Spartina and C3 freshwater marsh plants indicates that the patterns and processes inferred for Spartina are not unique to this taxon.
Debunking the Geek Stereotype with Software Engineering Education

Alas, the stereotypical software engineer is depicted as spending long hours working alone in a cubicle filled with empty pizza boxes and soda cans. This "work alone" stereotype can dissuade talented individuals from considering a career in the information technology industry. As educators, we often reinforce this "geek" stereotype early in the curriculum by giving students lengthy assignments and forcing them to work alone — collaborating is cheating! However in industry, software engineers actually spend a large part of their day collaborating with teammates — the "work alone" stereotype is largely unfounded. Research results indicate that through providing students with more collaborative experiences, we could retain more students without compromising their individual learning and these students would be better prepared to be collaborative team members. Bio: Laurie Williams is an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University. She received her undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University. She also received an MBA from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Utah. Prior to returning to academia to obtain her Ph.D., she worked in industry, for IBM, for nine years. Dr. Williams research interests include empirical studies of agile software development including the pair programming and test-driven development practices, software reliability, software testing, and software security. Proceedings of the 18th Conference on Software Engineering Education & Training (CSEET’05) 1093-0175/05 $ 20.00 IEEE
Presenilin controls kinesin-1 and dynein function during APP-vesicle transport in vivo

Neurons and other cells require intracellular transport of essential components for viability and function. Previous work has shown that while net amyloid precursor protein (APP) transport is generally anterograde, individual vesicles containing APP move bi-directionally. This discrepancy highlights our poor understanding of the in vivo regulation of APP-vesicle transport. Here, we show that reduction of presenilin (PS) or suppression of gamma-secretase activity substantially increases anterograde and retrograde velocities for APP vesicles. Strikingly, PS deficiency has no effect on an unrelated cargo vesicle class containing synaptotagmin, which is powered by a different kinesin motor. Increased velocities caused by PS or gamma-secretase reduction require functional kinesin-1 and dynein motors. Together, our findings suggest that a normal function of PS is to repress kinesin-1 and dynein motor activity during axonal transport of APP vesicles. Furthermore, our data suggest that axonal transport defects induced by loss of PS-mediated regulatory effects on APP-vesicle motility could be a major cause of neuronal and synaptic defects observed in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathogenesis. Thus, perturbations of APP/PS transport could contribute to early neuropathology observed in AD, and highlight a potential novel therapeutic pathway for early intervention, prior to neuronal loss and clinical manifestation of disease.
Rescuing an essential enzyme–RNA complex with a non-essential appended domain

Certain protein-RNA complexes, such as synthetase-tRNA complexes, are essential for cell survival. These complexes are formed with a precise molecular fit along the interface of the reacting partners, and mutational analyses have shown that amino acid or nucleotide substitutions at the interface can be used to disrupt functional or repair non-functional complexes. In contrast, we demonstrate here a feature of a eukaryote system that rescues a disrupted complex without directly re-engineering the interface. The monomeric yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, like several other class I eukaryote tRNA synthetases, has an active-site-containing 'body' that is closely homologous to its Escherichia coli relative, but is tagged at its N-terminus with a novel and dispensable appended domain whose role has been obscure. Because of differences between the yeast and E. coli glutamine tRNAs that presumably perturb the enzyme-tRNA interface, E. coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase does not charge yeast tRNA. However, linking the novel appended domain of the yeast to the E. coli enzyme enabled the E. coli protein to function as a yeast enzyme, in vitro and in vivo. The appended domain appears to contribute an RNA interaction that compensates for weak or poor complex formation. In eukaryotes, extra appended domains occur frequently in these proteins. These domains may be essential when there are conditions that would otherwise weaken or disrupt formation of a critical RNA-protein complex. They may also be adapted for other, specialized RNA-related functions in specific instances.
Endofin acts as a Smad anchor for receptor activation in BMP signaling.

Signaling through receptors of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily is mediated by cytoplasmic Smad proteins. It has been demonstrated that Smad anchor for receptor activation (SARA) facilitates TGFβ and activin/nodal signaling by recruiting and presenting Smad2/3 to the receptor complex. SARA does not bind Smad1 and hence does not enhance bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. Here we report for the first time that the endosome-associated FYVE-domain protein endofin acts as a Smad anchor for receptor activation in BMP signaling. We demonstrate that endofin binds Smad1 preferentially and enhances Smad1 phosphorylation and nuclear localization upon BMP stimulation. Silencing of endofin by RNAi resulted in a reduction in BMP-dependent Smad1 phosphorylation. Moreover, disruption of the membrane-anchoring FYVE motif by point mutation led to a reduction of BMP-responsive gene expression in cell culture and Xenopus ectodermal explants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that endofin contains a protein-phosphatase-binding motif, which functions to negatively modulate BMP signals through receptor dephosphorylation. Taken together, our results suggest that endofin plays an important role in both positive and negative feedback regulation of the BMP signaling pathway.
Evaluation of the National Meteorological Center's Medium Range Forecast Model Precipitation Forecasts

Abstract Precipitation forecasts made by the National Meteorological Center's medium-range forecast (MRF) model are evaluated for the period, 1 March 1987 to 31 March 1989. As shown by Roads and Maisel, the MRF model wet bias was substantially alleviated during this period. As is shown here, the MRF model forecast skill in predicting individual wet and dry events has also increased. We show that there is substantial skill in the model forecasts of precipitation occurrences beyond 2.5 days. These MRF model forecasts have not yet been fully exploited by the forecasting community, in part, because they have not been readily available.
Design Principles and Operation Characteristics

The hydrogen thyratron is a low pressure gaseous device that performs as a switch in a high power pulse circuit similar to the one shown in Fig. 7–1. Upon application of a grid pulse, the thyratron goes from the open to closed condition, thereby transferring energy from a storage system, usually a pulse forming network (PFN) or a capacitor, to a load such as a microwave tube or laser device. At the conclusion of the energy transfer, the switch goes through a recovery period during which it reverts from the closed to an open state. It is then subjected to a recharging of the energy storage system in preparation for the next cycle. This sequence of events is illustrated in Fig. 7–2 where the time dependence of the thyratron’s anode voltage is shown. The invention of the thyratron is credited to Langmuir (1918), while the development of the hydrogen thyratron has been credited to Germeshausen (1948), although as early as 1928, Hull had described the design and operation of rare gas filled thyratrons. Gilmour (1985) has published the proceedings of the Thyratron and Modulator Symposiums wherein the development of the device is detailed. Goldberg and Rothstein (1961) and Fogelson et al., (1974) have published comprehensive reviews on early thyratron development.
The Other Side of the Human Experience: Providing Access to Social Service Case Files

Social service case files provide a virtual biography of individuals who otherwise would leave few written records of their life experiences. These files also raise issues of confidentiality and access for archivists and depositing or donating agencies as well as for researchers seeking such files. This case study profiles the Urban Archives Center at Temple University and its efforts in collecting and providing access to social service agency case files from the late nineteenth century to the present.
Photoelectrochemical Behavior of n-Type GaAs(100) Electrodes Coated by a Single Layer of Graphene

The photoelectrochemical behavior of n-type GaAs(100) electrodes coated with a single layer of graphene was compared with the behavior of bare, freshly etched n-type GaAs(100) electrodes, both for electrodes in contact with an aqueous solution containing K3[Fe(CN)6]/K4[Fe(CN)6] and for electrodes in contact with nonaqueous solutions containing a series of one-electron redox couples selected such that the Nernstian solution potentials spanned a range greater than 1 V. Under simulated 1 Sun illumination, the graphene-coated electrodes produced a short-circuit photocurrent density of 20 mA cm–2 for up to 8 h of continuous operation in nonaqueous electrolytes (H2O concentration 0.1%, v/v), while, under the same conditions, the unprotected n-GaAs electrodes showed a rapid decay of the photocurrent density within ∼400 s. Although the graphene monolayers enhanced the stability of n-GaAs photoanodes in nonaqueous electrolytes, the graphene did not fully protect photoanodes operated in contact with Fe(CN)63–/4–(aq...
A Synopsis of Ocotea (Lauraceae) in Central America and Southern Mexico

Ocotea is the largest genus of Lauraceae in Mesoamerica (Central America and Southern Mexico, i.e., the area between the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico and the Panamanian-Colombian border) with 102 species recognized. The most recent treatment of Mesoamerican Ocotea was published by Carolyn Allen in 1945. It included 33 species and is now seriously outdated. A synopsis of the genus as it is currently known from Mesoamerica is presented here, consisting of a key to species, synonymy, type information, some brief notes on characters useful in their identification, and distribution by country and altitude.
Distributing Limit Protection between Autonomous Restraint and Voluntary Tactile Cues

Limit protection mechanisms can interface with a vehicle control loop at several points. Modern flight control systems can now include autonomous limit protection to ameliorate dangerous pilot commands. But these automatic mechanisms alter the pilot's commands. Tactile limit avoidance cues can provide a voluntary protection mechanism that the pilot can choose to follow or override. This paper describes methods that split the limit protection between autonomous command restraint shaping and voluntary tactile cues.
George Creel: Freedom of Speech, the Film Industry, and Censorship During World War I

(2001). George Creel: Freedom of Speech, the Film Industry, and Censorship During World War I. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 34-56.
System frame and technical realization for 100 gigabit ethernet

100 Gigabit Ethernet is a new technology for next-generation Ethernet.To manufacture and exploit 100 Gigabit Ethernet,the work principles,target systems,types of transmitted port and relations among various factors about the physical layers were discussed.Function models and system structures were constructed.Design thought,technical scheme and ways of function realization were put forward and analyzed.For this reason,it brings forth general picture and developing foreground of this network.
Hardware-Assisted Context Management for Accelerator Virtualization: A Case Study with RSA

The advantages of virtualization, including the ability to migrate, schedule, and manage software processes, continues to drive the demand for hardware and software support. However, the packaging of software state required by virtualization is in direct conflict with the trend toward accelerator-rich architectures where state is distributed between the processor and a set of heterogeneous devices --- a problem that is particularly acute in the mobile SoC market. Virtualizing such systems requires that the VMM explicitly manage the internal state of all of the accelerators over which a process's computation may be spread. Public-key crypto engines are particularly problematic because of both the sensitivity of the information that they carry and the long compute times required to complete a single task. In this paper we examine a set of hardware design approaches to public-key crypto accelerator virtualization and study the trade-off between sharing granularity and management overhead in time and space. Based on observations made during the design of several such systems, we propose a hybrid local-remote scheduling approach that promotes more intelligent decisions during hardware context switches and enables quick and safe state packaging. We find that performance can vary significantly among the examined approaches, and that our new design, with explicit accelerator support for state management and a modicum of scheduling flexibility, can allow highly contended resources to be efficiently shared with only moderate gains in area and power consumption.
Introduction: the clinical impact of agitation in various psychiatric disorders: management consensus and controversies.

3 J Clin Psychiatry 2006;67 (suppl 10) From the Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. This article was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Corresponding author and reprints: Jacobo Mintzer, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425 (e-mail: mintzerj@musc.edu). Introduction
Immunopathogenesis of Chlamydial Infections

Chlamydial infections lead to a number of clinically relevant diseases and induce significant morbidity in human populations. It is generally understood that certain components of the host immune response to infection also mediate such disease pathologies. A clear understanding of pathogenic mechanisms will enable us to devise better preventive and/or intervention strategies to mitigate the morbidity caused by these infections. Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted to explore the immunopathogenic mechanisms of Chlamydia-induced diseases of the eye, reproductive tract, respiratory tract, and cardiovascular systems. In this article, we provide an overview of the diseases caused by Chlamydia, animal models used to study disease pathology, and a historical context to the efforts to understand chlamydial pathogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss recent findings regarding pathogenesis, with an emphasis on the role of the adaptive immune response in the development of chlamydial disease sequelae. Finally, we summarize the key insights obtained from studies of chlamydial pathogenesis and avenues that remain to be explored in order to inform the next steps of vaccine development against chlamydial infections.
Triple-dose contrast/magnetization transfer suppressed imaging of 'non-enhancing' brain gliomas.

PURPOSE: Triple-dose (TD) gadolinium contrast administration and magnetization transfer suppression (MTS) in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have proven to be useful for demonstrating additional enhancing lesions in some diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a subset of brain tumors that demonstrate contrast enhancement with TD and MTS that do not enhance with standard imaging and standard contrast dose.
A dilemma for Heideggerian cognitive science

‘Naturalizing phenomenology’ by limiting it to the ontology of the sciences is problematic on both metaphysical and phenomenological grounds. While most assessments of the prospects for a ‘naturalized phenomenology’ have focused on approaches based in Husserlian transcendental phenomenology, problems also arise for non-reductive approaches based in Heideggerian existential phenomenology. ‘Heideggerian cognitive science’ faces a dilemma. On the one hand, (i) if it is directly concerned with the nature of subjectivity, and this subjectivity is assumed to be ontologically irreducible to its physical enablers yet still metaphysically dependent on them, then Heideggerian cognitive science will either leave that metaphysical dependence an unexplained instance of supervenience, or ground it in speculation about brute metaphysical laws that have an unclear relationship to the ontology of the sciences. On the other hand, (ii) if Heideggerian cognitive science is not directly concerned with the nature of subjectivity, but is instead merely aimed at the development of a Heideggerian phenomenological psychology, then it doesn’t fully address the ontological implications of phenomenology’s transcendental approach, and so, while it might succeed in explaining the realization of psychological phenomena scientifically, the existence of subjectivity will remain inexplicable based on the ontology of the sciences. Neither strategy succeeds in ‘naturalizing phenomenology’: (i) either rejects scientific naturalism, or makes its requirements trivial, while (ii) either rejects the transcendental dimension of phenomenology, or fails to address its ontological implications.
Aerodigestive continuum: GERD and Barrett's esophagus in World Trade Center exposed firefighters

Background: World Trade Center (WTC) exposed firefighters developed aerodigestive disease. This pilot study focuses on identifying predictive biomarkers of GERD and Barrett9s in firefighters with WTC exposure. Methods: Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records identified those with incident GERD, Barrett9s and short-acting (SABA)/ long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) use in never smoking firefighters. Serum was analyzed on a subcohort (Luminex). Regression was used to identify the association of SABA/LABA and analytes that could predict GERD and/or Barrett9s. Results: Lung function (FEV 1 ) at the time of presentation was no different in those with GERD/Barrett9s compared to controls. After adjusting for age, BMI, and exposure, SABA use was a significant predictor of GERD, but not Barrett9s. C-peptide and Insulin predicted GERD as continuous variables. CRP, Fractalkine, G-CSF, Insulin, IP-10, and Triglyceride significantly predicted Barrett9s. Cutpoints were optimized in this population to determine clinically useful levels. Conclusion: Although there is an association between SABA use and GERD in this population, there is no increased incidence of Barrett9s. We demonstrate that metabolically active mediators, insulin and triglycerides, have a strong association with GERD and Barrett9s. This pilot study frames future studies to further our understanding of aerodigestive pathology due to particulate exposure.
Eimeria vilasi (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus)

Abstract The coccidian parasite Eimeria vilasi is reported for the first time from the round-tailed ground squirrel, Xerospermophilus tereticaudus. This coccidian was found in 9 of 94 (10%) round-tailed ground squirrels captured in Arizona. Sporulated oocysts were ovoidal, 20.1 × 18.1 (18–25 × 14–22) μm, with a length:width ratio of 1.1 (1.1–1.2). Sporocysts were ellipsoidal, 10.4 × 6.2 (8–13 × 5–7) μm, with a length:width ratio of 1.7 (1.3–2.2). The measurements and structural features of these oocysts were similar to those reported for E. vilasi from other marmotine rodents. Eimeria callospermophili was also recovered from 58 of 94 (62%) round-tailed ground squirrels.
H∞ Control of Crippled Aircraft with Throttles Only

Abstract A novel propulsion controller design technique for airplane with control surface failure is presented. The H ∞ methodology is applied to the problem of matching the dynamically compensated throttle-actuated crippled aircraft model and the nominal control-surface-actuated aircraft model. A simulation on a "modified" L-1011 model demonstrates the concept.
Clinical Impact of PI3K/BRAF Mutations in RAS Wild Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Meta-analysis Results.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of colorectal cancer has evolved during the last decade ushering the era of personalized medicine. Alteration of BRAF and PI3K is common in colorectal cancer, and can affect several signaling pathways including EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor). The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the clinical role of PI3K and BRAF mutations in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) receiving an EGFR monoclonal antibody (anti-EGFR) inhibitor as first-line therapy. A literature search was performed to identify studies exploring the association between PI3K/BRAF mutations and clinical outcomes of KRAS wild-type mCRC patients treated with anti-EGFR as a first-line therapy. The primary clinical outcome was overall response rate (ORR). The secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The pooled relative risk (RR) or hazard ratio (HR) was estimated by using fixed-effect model or random effect model according to heterogeneity between studies. Ten studies with 1470 mCRC patients (357 for PI3K studies and 1113 from BRAF studies) met selection criteria. We observed a trend towards lower ORR in patients with PI3K mutations (3 studies, 357 patients; ORR = 14.3% in mutant-type PI3K vs. 52.4% in wild-type PIK3CA [95% CI − 0.12–0.02]; P = 0.13). Patients with mutant-type PI3K have significant shorter PFS (3 studies, 357 patients, 3.8 vs. 4.15 months, HR = 1.36; [95% CI 1.04–1.77]; P = 0.02]), and OS (3 studies, 357 patients, 14.17 vs. 16.3 months, HR = 1.50; [95% CI 1.14–1.97]; P = 0.004) compared to those with wild PI3K. For BRAF, patients with mutant type have significantly lower ORR (7 studies, 1113 patients; ORR = 33% vs. 39%; [95% CI − 0.16–0.01]; P = 0.03), shorter PFS (5 studies, 814 patients, 3.9 vs. 5.7 months, HR = 1.72; [95% CI 1.47–2.01]; P = 0.00001), and shorter OS (4 studies, 766 pts., 9.1 vs. 18.9 months, HR = 1.22; [95% CI 1.04–1.44]; P = 0.01) compared to those with wild-type. This analysis suggests that patients with mCRC and either PI3K or BRAF mutation may have a lower response and worse outcome when treated with anti-EGFR in the first line. Given their worse outcome, routine testing for BRAF and PI3K mutational status should be considered. Novel therapeutic approaches are needed for patients with mutations in BRAF or PI3K.
Changes in Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Senescent Rats

Abstract Rat ultrasonic vocalizations are a complex sensorimotor activity, relying on coordinated interactions between neural mechanisms and the respiratory and laryngeal systems. Therefore, sensorimotor decline related to advanced age likely impacts the production of ultrasonic vocalizations and, consequently, the acoustic parameters of these vocalizations. This chapter describes the acoustic changes in the ultrasonic vocalizations reported in older rats as well as the neurodegenerative processes affecting the vocal mechanism that likely underlie those acoustic changes. These age-related changes are mostly related to multifactorial neuromuscular senescence, including sensorimotor innervation and structural and biomechanical changes in the vocal folds.
Liquid Metal-Based Multifunctional Micropipette for 4D Single Cell Manipulation

A novel manufacturing approach to fabricate liquid metal-based, multifunctional microcapillary pipettes able to provide electrodes with high electrical conductivity for high-frequency electrical stimulation and measurement is proposed. 4D single cell manipulation is realized by applying multifrequency, multiamplitude, and multiphase electrical signals to the microelectrodes near the pipette tip to create 3D dielectrophoretic trap and 1D electrorotation, simultaneously. Functions such as single cell trapping, patterning, transfer, and rotation are accomplished. Cell viability and multiday proliferation characterization has confirmed the biocompatibility of this approach. This is a simple, low-cost, and fast fabrication process that requires no cleanroom and photolithography step to manufacture 3D microelectrodes and microchannels for easy access to a wide user base for broad applications.
Second-Variation Method

The second-variation method ([20]–[22]) is a direct extension of the steepest descent method which is based on first-order theory. Here, in this method, second-order effects are included in the expansion of ΔJ and an auxiliary minimization problem is posed. This minimization problem results in a two-point boundary value problem which is the same as the one discussed in the successive sweep method. Since the two methods lead to the same auxiliary two-point boundary value problem, the method will be illustrated by means of a problem with fixed terminal time and no constraints of the form (2) or (3).
Traumatic Brain Injury: Laboratory Studies

This chapter will address the use of therapeutic hypothermia in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Hypothermia has a long-standing history of clinical use in the management of patients with severe TBI, specifically as a second tier therapy in the treatment of refractory intracranial hypertension. The resurgence in the interest in the use of mild and moderate hypothermia in experimental cerebral ischemia and cardiac arrest in the late 1980s and early 1990s (culminating in its recent successful translation to clinical use for cardiac arrest) prompted parallel investigation in TBI beginning in 1991. This chapter will focus on that work—specifically, both laboratory and clinical investigation in the use of therapeutic hypothermia in TBI since 1991.
NUMERICAL RESULTS OF INTERFACIAL EFFECTS ON NEUTRON WAVES.

The theory of neutron wave propagation through an interface is investigated with the following models: Model A–One-Speed Diffusion Theory, Model B–One-Speed Transport Theory, Model C–Energy-Depende...
Numerical Solution of a Class of Integral Equations Arising in Two-Dimensional Aerodynamics—The Problem of Flaps

Bland’s collocation method is extended to calculate aerodynamic forces on airfoils with flaps. This requires the solution of Cauchy singular integral equations with discontinuous right-hand sides. Straightforward application of collocation is shown to yield slow convergence, of order 1/N. Examination of a variety of methods that have been proposed to accelerate convergence leads us to select a simple form of extrapolation as an effective means of achieving engineering accuracy. Numerical results are presented supporting these assertions.
Lutreolina crassicaudata (Little water opossum)

The sex chromosomes are easy to identify in conventional preparations. These karyotypes are gifts of Dr. N. O. Bianchi.
Functional Status in Patients Requiring Nursing Home Stay After Radical Cystectomy.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients who required nursing home (NH) care after radical cystectomy (RC), as this surgery can impair patients’ ability to perform ADLs in the postoperative period. Methods Patients undergoing RC were identified in a novel database of patients with at least two NH assessments linked with Medicare inpatient claims. The NH assessment included the Minimum Data Set (MDS)-ADL Long Form (0-28; a higher score equals greater impairment), which quantifies ADLs. Paired t-tests and chi-squared analysis were used for comparisons. Results We identified 471 patients that underwent RC and had at least one MDS-ADL assessment. In total, 245 patients lived elsewhere prior to RC and went to an NH after RC, while 122 patients lived in an NH before and after RC. Mean age of the population was 80.7 years (standard deviation 5.7). Of the 245 patients who did not live in a facility before RC, 68% of patients were discharged directly to an NH and 31% were discharged to another location before NH. There was no difference in MDS-ADL score between these groups (16.4 vs 15.0, P = .09). Among the patients who lived in an NH before and after RC, the mean pre- and post-operative MDS-ADL scores were significantly different (12.1 vs 16.6, P Conclusion ADLs, as measured by the MDS-ADL Long Form score, worsen after RC. This should be an important part of the risks and benefits conversation with patients, their families, and caregivers.
200) A Pronociceptive Endogenous Pain Modulatory Balance in Persons Living with HIV and Chronic Pain

Chronic pain in persons living with HIV (PLWH) may be related to alterations in endogenous pain modulatory processes (e.g., high facilitation and low inhibition of nociception) that promote exaggerated pain responses, known as hyperalgesia and central nervous system sensitization. This observational study examined differences in endogenous pain modulatory processes between 59 PLWH with chronic pain, 51 PLWH without chronic pain, and 50 controls without HIV or chronic pain. Quantitative sensory testing for temporal summation (TS) of mechanical and heat pain as well as conditioned pain modulation (CPM) were used to assess endogenous pain facilitatory and inhibitory processes, respectively. Associations among TS, CPM, and self-reported clinical pain severity (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form) were also examined in PLWH with chronic pain. Findings demonstrated significantly greater TS of mechanical (p
A mixed-methods measurement study of female adolescent sexuality stress and support

ABSTRACTSexuality-related social support from family and friends plays a central role in positive sexuality development among adolescent females. However, few research tools are available to practi...
Smartphone-size screens constrain cognitive access to video news stories

Smartphones are expanding physical access to news and political information by making access to the internet available to more people, at more times throughout the day, and in more locations than e...
Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), the critical intermediate of inflammation-induced fetal membrane weakening, primarily exerts its weakening effect on the choriodecidua rather than the amnion.

Abstract Introduction We have previously demonstrated two associations of PPROM, (1) inflammation/infection (modeled by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)) and (2) decidual bleeding (modeled by thrombin), both decrease fetal membrane (FM) rupture strength in-vitro. Furthermore, Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating-Factor (GM-CSF) induced by both TNF and thrombin is a critical intermediate, necessary and sufficient for weakening by either agent. The amnion is the strength component of FM and must weaken for FM to rupture. It is unclear whether GM-CSF weakens amnion (AM) directly, or initially targets choriodecidua (CD) which secondarily releases agents to act on amnion. Methods Full thickness FM fragments were treated with/without GM-CSF. Some were preincubated with alpha-lipoic acid (LA), a known inhibitor of FM weakening. The FM fragments were then strength-tested. Separately, FM fragments were initially separated to AM and CD. AM fragments were cultured with Medium ± GM-CSF and then strength-tested. In other experiments, CD fragments were cultured with Medium, GM-CSF, LA, or LA + GM-CSF. Conditioned medium from each group was then incubated with AM. AM was then strength-tested. Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were analyzed by Mutiplex Elisa. Results GM-CSF weakened intact FM which was blocked by LA. GM-CSF did not weaken isolated AM. However, GM-CSF conditioned CD media weakened AM and this weakening was inhibited by LA. GM-CSF treatment of CD increased MMPs 2, 9, and 10, and decreased TIMPs 1–3. LA reversed these effects. Conclusions GM-CSF does not weaken amnion directly; GM-CSF acts on CD to increase proteases and decrease anti-proteases which secondarily weaken the amnion.
Democratizing the capital budget planning and project selection process at the local level: assets and liabilities

Historically, citizen input into the capital budgeting planning and project selection process has been sporadic and often limited to the most politically-attentive, “connected” individuals and groups. The near-sightedness of such an approach has become apparent as the public’s cynicism toward government has intensified, along with its reticence to support bond referenda, and its propensity to file equity-oriented lawsuits criticizing capital project decisions. To combat these problems, local governments across the U.S. are broadening constituent involvement in their capital budget process, especially at the front-end where possible projects are identified and selected for inclusion in the capital improvement plan. This article examines the four major approaches that are being utilized: decentralizing public hearings; using community-wide public opinion surveys to gauge public support for various projects and revenue-raising options; expanding citizen access and input to, and feedback from, government interactive data bases; and creating more formalized roles for citizens on capital budget planning committees. Each of these approaches has its own assets and liabilities which are delineated.
Comb tooth resolved MIR spectroscopy using a VECSEL frequency comb and a virtually-imaged phased array spectrometer

Mid infrared frequency combs allow for high resolution absorption spectroscopy of molecular species, which have strong signatures in this spectral region. Dual comb spectroscopy can provide broadband and high-resolution capability, but requires two fully stabilized frequency combs which adds complexity to the system. Previous work has demonstrated that frequency combs coupled with a high resolution spectrometer, consisting of a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) along with a grating, can perform time-resolved, broadband and high- resolution absorption spectroscopy with a single frequency comb. The VIPA spectrometer disperses the spectrum in two dimensions and images it onto a focal plane detector array. If the comb teeth can be resolved, the VIPA is easily calibrated and provides comb-tooth resolved resolution and accuracy. However, in previous work, the repetition rate of the laser sources used was too low to be resolved directly, and additional passive "filter cavities" had to be employed to increase the effective repetition rate of the frequency comb. In this work we use a fully stabilized mid infrared frequency comb based on a 1.6 GHz repetition rate modelocked vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) and difference frequency generation to produce an off set free comb in the 3- 4 micron wavelength range. The source is directly coupled to the VIPA spectrometer to provide comb-tooth resolved absorption spectroscopy. We discuss the system's performance in gas absorption spectroscopy and its time resolving capabilities, which are limited only by the speed of the detector system.
Videoscope-assisted minimally invasive periodontal surgery for bone regeneration (VMIS)

Following the introduction of minimally invasive surgical techniques for treating periodontal defects, a novel visualization method was essential to allow for the use of smaller incisions and for a lingual access surgical approach. A videoscope has been developed for use in minimally invasive periodontal surgery that facilitates visualization of the periodontal defect and permits access to the defect from the lingual aspect. The minimally invasive surgical technique developed to utilize the benefits of the videoscope is known as videoscope-assisted minimally invasive surgery (VMIS). This article reviews the technique for performing the VMIS procedure for periodontal lesions on natural teeth and for peri-implant lesions on implants.
Feedback Path Delay Effect on Stability of Controlled PMSMs

Growing complexity of the computational algorithms in control systems invites prolonged calculation periods when executed in real-time. Feedback measurement signal path is a crucial signal path in closed-loop controlled systems, especially when requiring high bandwidth control. With high processing time, sampling of current signal tends to be delayed by multiple Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) periods depending on the interrupt priorities. This paper studies the effect of current feedback sampling delay effect on the overall stability of field oriented controlled (FOC) Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) drive system. The delay effect study is done by first analyzing theoretical equation of system transfer function with the feedback sampling delay incorporated, followed by simulation results and finally by performing experiments on actual hardware. The impact of increasing sampling delay on the current feedback signal is presented with other controller design parameters.
Mental Synchronization in Human Task Demonstration: Implications for Robot Teaching and Learning

Communication is integral to knowledge transfer in human-human interaction. To inform effective knowledge transfer in human-robot interaction, we conducted an observational study to better understand how people use gaze and other backchannel signals to ground their mutual understanding of task-oriented instruction during learning interactions. Our results highlight qualitative and quantitative differences in how people exhibit and respond to gaze, depending on motivation and instructional context. The findings of this study inform future research that seeks to improve the efficacy and naturalness of robots as they communicate with people as both learners and instructors.
Being Rational Enough: Maximizing, Satisficing, and Degrees of Rationality

Against the maximizing conception of practical rationality, Michael Slote has argued that rationality does not always require choosing what is most rational. Instead, it can sometimes be rational t...
Lattice-based Contextual Integrity Analysis of Social Network Privacy Policies

More than four billion users use online social networks (OSNs) and integrate themselves into their ecosystems. Consequently, these users are increasingly tasked with understanding the implications of their consenting to the privacy practices of OSNs via privacy policies. However, privacy policies are often vague and confusing to users, leading to misconceptions and gaps in users’ understanding of privacy practices. In this paper, we propose the Lattice-Based Contextual Integrity Analysis (LCIA) framework to help make quantitative determinations about how likely an OSN’s privacy policy is to mislead users with regard to its information flow practices, relative to other OSNs. We evaluated LCIA with 13 OSNs’ privacy policies and identified that OSNs with more privacy-violating information flow practices are more likely to mislead users through ambiguous statements, thereby exposing them to greater privacy risk.
Spontaneous Dissections of Cervicocephalic Arteries

This chapter describes spontaneous dissections of cervicocephalic arteries. Of the cervicocephalic arteries, the artery that is most commonly involved by dissection is the extracranial segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The vertebral artery (VA) is the second most commonly involved vessel. Extracranial VA dissections may extend intracranially, or the dissection may involve only the intracranial segment of the artery, very rarely extending to the basilar artery. Dissections of the ICA are more common in redundant arteries, and hypertension is more common than general population in patients with spontaneous ICA and VA dissections. Basilar artery dissection may occur as an extension of dissection from a vertebral artery, or the dissection may involve only the basilar artery. Clinical manifestations are focal ischemic symptoms in the distribution of posterior circulation, frequently associated with or preceded by occipital headaches or neck pain or both. Spontaneous dissections of middle cerebral arteries, posterior cerebral arteries, and anterior cerebral arteries may rarely occur. Dissections of anterior, middle, or posterior cerebral arteries on angiography may appear as elongated stenoses with or without aneurysmal dilations.
Steady-state optimization of induction motor drives operating in the field weakening region

The steady-state performance optimization of vector-controlled induction motor drives operating in the field-weakening region above base speed is discussed. Three indirect vector control schemes, stator flux field-orientation control (SFOC), rotor flux field-orientation control (RFOC), and airgap flux field orientation control (AFOC), are considered for maximum torque and maximum motor efficiency operation. The optimization of a weighted function comprising the torque and efficiency is also considered. The three field orientation schemes give the same maximum torque while the RFOC has the best optimal efficiency. >
The reliability of repeated TMS measures in older adults and in patients with subacute and chronic stroke

The reliability of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures in healthy older adults and stroke patients has been insufficiently characterized. We determined whether common TMS measures could reliably evaluate change in individuals and in groups using the smallest detectable change (SDC), or could tell subjects apart using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We used a single-rater test-retest design in older healthy, subacute stroke, and chronic stroke subjects. At twice daily sessions on two consecutive days, we recorded resting motor threshold, test stimulus intensity, recruitment curves, short-interval intracortical inhibition, and facilitation, and long-interval intracortical inhibition. Using variances estimated from a random effects model, we calculated the SDC and ICC for each TMS measure. For all TMS measures in all groups, SDCs for single subjects were large; only with modest group sizes did the SDCs become low. Thus, while these TMS measures cannot be reliably used as a biomarker to detect individual change, they can reliably detect change exceeding measurement noise in moderate-sized groups. For several of the TMS measures, ICCs were universally high, suggesting that they can reliably discriminate between subjects. TMS measures should be used based on their reliability in particular contexts. More work establishing their validity, responsiveness, and clinical relevance is still needed.