cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-G-TeP4-06: An Integrated Application for Radiation Therapy Treatment Plan Directives, Management, and Reporting

Purpose: With electronic medical records, patient information for the treatment planning process has become disseminated across multiple applications with limited quality control and many associated failure modes. We present the development of a single application with a centralized database to manage the planning process. Methods: The system was designed to replace current functionalities of (i) static directives representing the physician intent for the prescription and planning goals, localization information for delivery, and other information, (ii) planning objective reports, (iii) localization and image guidance documents and (iv) the official radiation therapy prescription in the medical record. Using the Eclipse Scripting Application Programming Interface, a plug-in script with an associated domain-specific SQL Server database was created to manage the information in (i)–(iv). The system's user interface and database were designed by a team of physicians, clinical physicists, database experts, and software engineers to ensure usability and robustness for clinical use. Results: The resulting system has been fully integrated within the TPS via a custom script and database. Planning scenario templates, version control, approvals, and logic-based quality control allow this system to fully track and document the planning process as well as physician approval of tradeoffs while improving the consistency of the data. Multiple plans and prescriptions are supported along with non-traditional dose objectives and evaluation such as biologically corrected models, composite dose limits, and management of localization goals. User-specific custom views were developed for the attending physician review, physicist plan checks, treating therapists, and peer review in chart rounds. Conclusion: A method was developed to maintain cohesive information throughout the planning process within one integrated system by using a custom treatment planning management application that interfaces directly with the TPS. Future work includes quantifying the improvements in quality, safety and efficiency that are possible with the routine clinical use of this system. Supported in part by NIH-P01-CA-059827
The Way to Comfort

“The Way to Comfort” is devoted to the musical pathways along the journey that soothe and comfort the companion. Hanser presents specific techniques, including breath work, facial massage, progressive muscle relaxation, drummassage, imagery, meditation, mantra, listening, toning, and singing. Hanser provides a list of songs of comfort, and speaks of the properties of the lullaby that demonstrate the primitive and natural ability of music to focus the mind, relax the body, and calm the spirit. Music therapy supports many existing body-mind-spirit practices and also stands on its own, as an influential source of healing.
Effective social network quarantine with minimal isolation costs

Nowadays, the notion of diseases has been extended from real human diseases to general epidemic information propagations, such as the rumors in distributed systems. Controlling the spread of a disease is usually done through quarantine, where people that have, or are suspected to have, a disease are isolated from having interactions with others. As a tradeoff, normal human interactions are inevitably degraded by the quarantine. This motivates us to explore a robust quarantine strategy that can eliminate epidemic outbreaks with minimal isolation costs. Our problem is shown to be NP-hard. A bounded algorithm with an approximation ratio of two is proposed, through utilizing the feasibility and minimality properties. Finally, real data-driven experiments demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in real-world applications.
Cytotoxic Role of Nitric Oxide in Diabetes

Publisher Summary Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is characterized by selective destruction of insulin-secreting cells found in pancreatic islets. Cytokines, derived from activated macrophages and lymphocytes, are believed to participate in cell damage by stimulating inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide production in islets. In animal models of autoimmune diabetes, iNOS inhibitors have been shown to attenuate or delay the onset of diabetes. This chapter examines the mechanisms by which cytokines stimulate NOS expression and the rat, mouse, and human islet cellular sources of this enzyme. Also, the mechanisms by which nitric oxide impairs cell function and stimulates cell death are discussed. In addition, studies demonstrating a role for nitric oxide (NO) in the development of diabetes in animal models are evaluated. Viral infection has been implicated as one environmental agent that may stimulate diabetes in genetically susceptible individuals. Evidence to support a role for NO in viral-induced diabetes is examined.
The Politics of Deservingness

Social Security is characterized by a politics of deservingness. Through a close analysis of the 2005 Social Security privatization debates, as captured on the Congressional Record, Beechey documents that despite divergent policy positions, Democrat and Republican members of Congress deploy an exclusively positive framing of Social Security and its beneficiaries; everyone agrees Social Security must be strengthened and saved, even though there is great disagreement on the reform proposal under debate. Social Security is constructed as a promise to the American people, and in sharp contrast to a pejoratively constructed welfare policy. Recipients are deserving of their benefits whether through poverty, masculine work, or gendered dependency. The power of the politics of deservingness is seen when important silences are considered.
The Effects of Salt Type and Salt Concentration on the Performance of Magnetically Activated Nanofiltration Membranes

The effects of salt ion type and salt concentration on flux and rejection improvement of magnetically activated micromixer nanofiltration membranes were investigated. Polymers with varying chain length and chain density were grafted on the NF270 membranes using the well-controlled atom transfer radical polymerization reaction. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles that respond to an oscillating magnetic field were conjugated at the polymer chain ends. The effects of micromixing on breaking the concentration polarization boundary layer were investigated by determining the percentage improvement in flux and rejection in the presence of an external oscillating field. Systematic trends on the salt ion size and feed concentration as well as grafting degrees were observed. The magnetically activated micromixers are more effective in breaking down severer concentration polarization when the charge and concentration of the salt ions are higher. In addition, higher density and longer polymer chains induce stronger micro...
DYNAMICS AND STRUCTURE OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD PRODUCTS EXCHANGE BETWEEN SERBIA AND EUROPEAN UNION IN PERIOD 2000-2006

Agricultural sector have significant share in total foreign exchange, so, the results realized in this sector might have influence on total foreign trade balance enhancement and on balance of total national economy. Nearly half of total volume of agricultural and food products exchange is realizing with EU countries. With democratic changes in FRY, necessary prerequisites for using EU autonomous trade measures have been fulfilled. The exchange of agricultural products with EU is enhancing continuously, while export rise is faster, followed by trade balance suficite increment. In the paper have been analysed the results of agricultural and food products exchange in period 2000-2006. Derived data might be a base for a perception of foreign trade and agricultural policy tendencies in the future. Exchange improvement in the coming period might be expected, especially after Stabilization and Association Agreement ratification. SAA should ensure the persistence of preferential status, with retaining the existing sugar tariff quota, gradually increasing the beef and wine tariff quotas and with the request for cutting the EU export subsidies for the products exported to Serbia.
Potential barriers to upstream fish passage caused by anthropogenic river modifications: A computer modeling study of emerald shiners(Notropis atherinoides) in the upper Niagara River

Abstract Anthropogenic modifications at the head of the Niagara River attributed to land reclamation and the installation of vertical, bulkhead seawalls have altered the river channel, leading to increased water velocities and reduced availability of aquatic habitat. As a result of the increased velocities in the channel, concerns have been raised that the habitat connectivity of the emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), a key forage species for sportfish and threatened avian species, has been reduced between Lake Erie and the upper Niagara River. In this study, the influence of water velocity stressors on emerald shiner movement was assessed by identifying potential hydrodynamic barriers to upstream fish movement using a combination of depth-averaged velocities simulated in a 2-D hydrodynamic model and field measurements collected with a current meter. Results indicate that high velocities (in excess of 2.0 m s−1) immediately downstream of the Peace Bridge, an international road crossing between Buffalo, NY, USA and Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, restrict potential emerald shiner movement to within close proximity of either shoreline. Along both shorelines, several additional threats to successful upstream passage exist, the largest of which are located along vertical bulkhead seawalls. The extent of the identified potential barriers fluctuates slightly with water level, but the locations remain consistent. Finally, of the potential barriers identified using the model, the field measurements indicate the seawall along Broderick Park, along the U.S. shoreline, is the most substantial impediment to upstream movement, as velocities within several shiner body-lengths of the shoreline remain between 0.83 and 1.18 m s−1 for nearly 200 m. The results of this study, in conjunction with empirical estimates of passage success, swimming tests on shiners native to the Niagara River, and additional field measurements will help determine if remediation work is warranted to facilitate upstream passage at the identified impediments.
OP105: Intraoperative fluorescent angiography analysis for head and neck micro-vascular free flap reconstruction – A preliminary experience

Purpose Reconstruction of complex defects of the head and neck region utilizing micro-vascular free tissue transfer reconstruction has become invaluable. Early detection of vascular compromise and its prompt correction is critical to its success. The use of intra-operative fluorescent angiography (ICG) may facilitate surgeons in being objective when assessing micro-vascular anastamosis patency and flap perfusion. Method 201 head and neck free tissue transfer cases on 198 patients performed by a single surgeon between 2003 and 2012 were reviewed for type of flap, flap success and complications. In 32 of the head and neck free tissue transfer cases, intra-operative ICG was performed with SPY Elite (Lifecell) for assessment of micro-vascular anastomosis patency and analysis of adequacy of blood supply to all zones of the inset flap. Conventional subjective patency test and clinical inspection were performed for the remaining 169 cases. Results Overall success rate was 95% (191/201) with eight flap failures and two partial flaps necrosis. When intra-operative ICG analysis was performed, the success rate was 97% (31 out of 32) with 1 partial flap necrosis. In the conventional subjective analysis group, the success rate was 94% (160/169) with eight flap failures and one partial flap necrosis. Overall complication rate was 12% (25/201). Post-operative complications included hematoma, venous thrombosis, infection, partial flap necrosis, and hemorrhage. In the intraoperative ICG analysis cases, the overall complication rate was 6% (2/32 cases) with 3% (1/32) hematoma and 3% (1/32) partial flap necrosis. In the conventional subjective analysis group, the overall complication rate was 16% (23/169) with post op complications of hematoma 7% (12/169), venous thrombosis 4% (7/169), infection 1% (2/169), partial flap necrosis 1% (2/169) and hemorrhage 0.6% (1/169). Conclusions Routine implementation of intraoperative ICG analysis can further increase the reliability of free tissue transfer reconstruction of the head and neck region.
Immunobioengineering Approaches Towards Combinatorial Delivery of Immune-Modulators and Antigens

Vaccines have been one of the most important discoveries of modern medicine. They are the primary mode of protection against a wide range of infectious diseases and, if effective, can provide long-lasting immunity. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the immune system, prophylactic vaccines against chronic infectious diseases and immunotherapeutic vaccines against cancer remain elusive. Unlike preventive vaccines that have virtually eradicated fatal diseases like polio and smallpox, immunotherapy of chronic diseases and established or unexpected infections, for example human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has yet to demonstrate global clinical success. Even for diseases where preventive vaccines are available, for example influenza, the protection is transient and requires multiple administration and yearly immunizations. In addition, most cancers and emerging infectious diseases, like the H1N1 influenza, and drug resistance infections like tuberculosis, need new transformative strategies to increase protective immunity many folds over currently available vaccines. Successful immunotherapy using vaccines requires effective strategies to penetrate tissue barriers, efficiently target antigens, adjuvants and immune-modulators to immune surveillance cells, provide strong stimulatory effects to activate those cells, and modulate the cellular response appropriately and efficiently in order to generate potent antiviral or anticancer immunity. The emerging field of immunobioengineering provides new concepts and strategies to design materials, antigens, and adjuvants to induce potent immune response; and engineer vaccine delivery systems to modulate the behavior of immune cells [1]. In this chapter we review the state-of-the-art approaches in immunobioengineering with specific focus on delivery formulations for multiple immune-modulators and antigens.
Radio Systems Engineering

Using a systems framework, this textbook provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the performance, analysis and design of radio systems for students and practising engineers. Presented within a consistent framework, the first part of the book describes the fundamentals of the subject: propagation, noise, antennas and modulation. The analysis and design of radios, including RF circuit design and signal processing, is covered in the second half of the book. The former is presented with minimal involvement of Smith charts, enabling students to grasp the fundamentals more readily. Both traditional and software-defined/direct sampling technology are described, with pros and cons of each strategy explained. Numerous examples within the text involve realistic analysis and design activities, and emphasize how practical experiences may differ from theory or taught procedures. End-of-chapter problems are provided, as are a password-protected solutions manual and lecture slides to complete the teaching package for instructors.
Human glucocerebrosidase catalyses transglucosylation between glucocerebroside and retinol

The basal activity of human placental glucocerebrosidase is elevated 16-fold by n-pentanol when assayed using p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (pNPGlc) as the beta-glucosidase substrate. This enhancement of activity is the result of the formation of a transglucosylation product, n-pentyl beta-D-glucoside, in rate-determining competition with the hydrolytic reaction. The transglucosylation product accounts for approximately 80% of the reaction product generated in the presence of n-pentanol (0.18 M) when either glucocerebroside or pNPGlc was used as the substrate. This stimulatory effect can be increased an additional 3-fold by the inclusion of phosphatidylserine (20 micrograms/ml) or sodium taurodeoxycholate (0.3%, w/v) in the incubation medium. In the presence of retinol, glucocerebrosidase also catalyses the synthesis of a novel lipid glucoside, retinyl glucoside, when either glucocerebroside or pNPGlc serves as the substrate. The reaction product was identified as retinyl beta-D-glucoside, based on its susceptibility to hydrolysis by almond beta-D-glucosidase and the subsequent release of equimolar amounts of retinol and glucose. The rate of retinyl-beta-glucoside formation is dependent on the concentration of retinol in the incubation medium, reaching saturation at approximately 0.3 mM retinol. Retinyl beta-D-glucoside is a substrate for two broad-specificity mammalian beta-glucosidases, namely the cytosolic and membrane-associated beta-glucosidases of guinea pig liver. However, retinyl beta-D-glucoside is not hydrolysed by placental glucocerebrosidase. These data indicate that the glucocerebrosidase-catalysed transfer of glucose from glucocerebroside to natural endogenous lipid alcohols, followed by the action of a broad-specificity beta-glucosidase on the transglucosylation product, could provide mammals with an alternative pathway for the breakdown of glucocerebroside to glucose and ceramide.
Methods for quantitative analysis of transcription in larvae and prepupae.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the methodologies used to study gene activity during the early stages of metamorphosis. It describes the methods currently available for staging third instar larvae and prepupae. Gene activities in these animals are then assessed by isolating RNA from intact animals or dissected organs. Extracted organs can be maintained in culture and treated with hormone in vitro to induce specific responses, after which RNA is isolated and analyzed. Two methods are used to extract RNA from organs or intact animals. Both procedures yield samples that contain both DNA and RNA. As DNA represents only ∼10% of the total nucleic acids, however, it is of no consequence for subsequent Northern blot hybridization analysis. The DNA does not appear to transfer well by blotting, remains at the top of the blot, and is usually not detected by hybridization. If desired, DNA can be removed from these samples by poly(A) selection or digestion with RNase-free DNase.
On Disease: Theories of Disease and the Ascription of Disease: Comments on “The Concepts of Health and Disease”

Dr. Engelhardt has argued that the concept of disease is ambiguous because it has both an explanatory and an evaluative role.1 I would like to examine this. To do so I will begin by distinguishing between theories of disease on the one hand and the ascription of disease on the other.
A novel protein associated with citrus blight has sequence similarities to expansin

A protein associated with citrus blight (CB), a disease of unknown cause, was partially characterized. The 12 kDa protein, designated p12, is diagnostic of CB and is present in leaves and xylem fluid from roots and stems of CB-affected trees. The protein, and up to six other CB-specific proteins, are readily detected by SDS-PAGE of xylem fluid from CB-affected trees. The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of p12 was found to be unique based on database searches. A cDNA library from CB-affected root cambium was screened with a 60 bp fragment, obtained by PCR amplification of cDNA with degenerate primers designed using the amino acid sequence of p12, and two clones were selected. These clones were sequenced revealing a 674 nucleotide cDNA with a 393 nt ORF which included sequence predicted by the N-terminal amino acid sequence of p12. The amino acid sequence based on the p12 ORF was found to be up to 49% similar and 31% identical to expansins. Bacterial expression of the cloned ORF, which encodes an 11.8 kDa protein plus an N-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide, produced an immunoreactive protein of the expected size. By northern blot analysis, it was determined that p12 transcripts are present in root and stem cambium, but not in leaves of CB-affected trees, suggesting transport of the protein to leaves. Southern hybridization analysis of citrus genomic DNA indicated that p12 is a citrus encoded protein.p>
68Ga-DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography to detect the recurrence of phosphaturic mesenhcymal tumor-induced osteomalacia

68Ga-DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has shown superiority over 111Indium-octreotide scanning for the detection of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors (PMTs). We report a case of tumor-induced osteomalacia resulting from PMT which, although initially clinically suspected, was not localized on octreotide scintigraphy performed several years prior. Subsequent surgical excision of a presumed benign osseous lesion a few years later revealed the diagnosis on pathology. Imaging assessment using 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT following recent clinical suspicion for recurrence revealed an intense tracer-avid lesion at the primary tumor site. DOTATATE imaging plays an important role in localizing tumors with high somatostatin receptor expression, such as neuroendocrine tumors (pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, and neuroblastoma), meningioma, and mesenchymal tumors, causing oncogenic osteomalacia.
Publisher Correction: Oscillating American winter temperatures

In the version of this News & Views originally published, the first author for ref. 3 was incorrectly indicated to be Baek-Min Kim, but should have been Mi-Kyung Sung. The DOI of the linked paper was also incorrectly stated as https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-091-0461-5, but should have been https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-019-0461-5. These errors have now been amended.
How Best to Reduce Unhealthy Risk-Taking Behaviours? A Meta-Review of Evidence Syntheses of Interventions Using Self-Regulation Principles.

ABSTRACTSelf-regulation is a key antecedent of health and behaviour-change interventions have utilised self-regulation approaches to promote health. The present study used a novel methodology, a ne...
Sensitivity of primary production to precipitation across the United States.

Primary production, a key regulator of the global carbon cycle, is highly responsive to variations in climate. Yet, a detailed, continental-scale risk assessment of climate-related impacts on primary production is lacking. We combined 16 years of MODIS NDVI data, a remotely sensed proxy for primary production, with observations from 1218 climate stations to derive values of ecosystem sensitivity to precipitation and aridity. For the first time, we produced an empirically-derived map of ecosystem sensitivity to climate across the conterminous United States. Over this 16-year period, annual primary production values were most sensitive to precipitation and aridity in dryland and grassland ecosystems. Century-long trends measured at the climate stations showed intensifying aridity and climatic variability in many of these sensitive regions. Dryland ecosystems in the western US may be particularly vulnerable to reductions in primary production and consequent degradation of ecosystem services as climate change and variability increase in the future.
Preventive Dispatch for Transmission De-icing

This letter introduces a novel approach to prevent ice formation on transmission lines during ice storms. First, weather forecast is used to calculate minimum currents needed to raise the conductor temperature above the freezing point. Then, a preventive unit commitment model is developed to enforce those minimum limits. Simulation studies are conducted on the three-area RTS-96 system. The results confirm the effectiveness of the developed model in preventing ice formation, through adjustment of generation dispatch and slightly increasing the cost. Limitations of the work are also discussed.
Explaining Financial Satisfaction in Marriage: The Role of Financial Stress, Financial Knowledge, and Financial Behavior

Using data from the 2018 FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), this study examined how financial stress and financial behavior are associated with financ...
Through a Tube, Darkly: Critical Remediation in High and Low (1963)

Akira Kurosawa's 1963 police procedural High and Low is, as its title suggests, intensely interested in the socioeconomic valences of spatial relationships, literalized in Yokohama's affluent hills...
Razones que justifican la intervención a través de Regulación (Core reasons of Regulation)

Spanish Abstract: En este trabajo se consideran las principales justificaciones que motivan la intervencion del Estado por medio de regulacion y supervision. Empezando por la teoria de las fallas del mercado, usualmente relacionadas con asimetria de informacion, control de mercado, externalidad negativa, y segun algunos en el contexto del sistema financiero, el riesgo moral. Igualmente, se explora el rol de la regulacion como un habilitador y facilitador del ejercicio de derechos. Finalmente, se exploran las mas recientes tendencias de RegTech y Regulacion Algoritmica como mecanismos en proceso de implementacion por algunas agencias regulatorias. English Abstract: This work considers the main reasons that motivate the intervention of the State through regulation and supervision. Starting with the theory of market failures, usually related to information asymmetry, market control, externalities, and according to some in the context of the financial markets, moral hazard. Likewise, we explore the role of regulations as an enabler for the exercise of rights. Finally, we through some light on the latest trends in RegTech and Algorithmic Regulation, as mechanisms currently adopted by some regulatory agencies.
What Do Outside CEOs Really Do? A Look Inside the Black Box With Plant-Level Data

Using rich plant-level data, we analyze the relative performance of inside and outside CEOs and provide the first empirical evidence on what CEOs actually do to improve performance. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we show that, compared to insiders, outsiders achieve higher growth in productivity in both low- and high-performing firms. Efficiency gains emerge from divesting low-performing, non-core, and low-tech plants. Additionally, outsiders improve the productivity of remaining plants by cutting costs, consolidating product offering, adopting newer technology, and shifting to more capital-intensive production that improves labor productivity. Overall, our results suggest that outsiders are more effective in rectifying pre-turnover inefficiencies.
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Hawaii: Levels and sources of serum vitamin D in older adults.

OBJECTIVE To examine the major sources of vitamin D [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)] and evaluate their collective role on rates of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency among older adults. METHODS Cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and sources of vitamin D (self-reported and objectively validated sun exposure, supplementation, food including fortified sources). Study subjects were part of the Hawaii Longitudinal Study of Personality and Health who completed a clinic visit between 55 and 65 years (M = 59.6) and food frequency questionnaire, and provided serum to assay 25(OH)D (n = 223). RESULTS Although mean serum 25(OH)D levels were overall sufficient (34.3 ng/ml, [SD = 10.9]), over one-third of participants (38%) had vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency (<30 ng/ml). Asians were the most likely to be insufficient and Filipinos were the least likely (43% vs. 11%, respectively). Overall, supplement use and sun exposure were both associated with higher 25(OH)D levels and lower risk of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Moreover, Vitamin D sources varied by race/ethnic groups. In multivariate models, higher body mass index, being Asian or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, low supplement use, and low sun exposure were associated with higher risk for vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency (<30 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS Over 1/3 of the older adult sample was vitamin D deficient/insufficient, despite most of the participants living in a tropical climate with year-round access to sun as a vitamin D source. Sun exposure and supplement use, but not food intake, explained differences in vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in this population.
The Foreign Aid Denigrator

This chapter is dedicated to Lord Peter Bauer, who has done more than anyone else to critically analyze this phenomenon.
Additional confirmation of action constant for bremsstrahlung from electron-and-nucleus collisions.

Abstract A new action constant for bremsstrahlung has been derived and published by the author (Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology 6, 1996, 261). Experimental confirmation of that action constant by measurements of the intensity of bremsstrahlung produced by electron beams on pure metal targets, has also been published by the author (Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology 7, 1997, 327-330). From the data in the second paper, additional experimental evidence is obtained for this paper by overcoming the limitations associated with normalization of the number of atoms per unit volume. The dependence of the intensity on the exponent of the atomic number, Z, of the target elements is measured to be 1.32, with a standard deviation of plus or minus 0.05, in close agreement with the predicted value of 4/3.
Improving Control System Cyber-State Awareness Using Known Secure Sensor Measurements

This paper presents design and simulation of a low cost and low false alarm rate method for improved cyber-state awareness of critical control systems - the Known Secure Sensor Measurements (KSSM) method. The KSSM concept relies on physical measurements to detect malicious falsification of the control systems state. The KSSM method can be incrementally integrated with already installed control systems for enhanced resilience. This paper reviews the previously developed theoretical KSSM concept and then describes a simulation of the KSSM system. A simulated control system network is integrated with the KSSM components. The effectiveness of detection of various intrusion scenarios is demonstrated on several control system network topologies.
Dynamic Optimal Linearization of Nonlinear Systems

Dynamic optimal linearization determines a linear model that best approximates the response of a given nonlinear-system for specified inputs. Conventionally, a nonlinear system is linearized about an equilibrium point by the linear term in a Taylor series expansion of the nonlinear system. Unlike the conventional method, dynamic optimal linearization does not require the nonlinear function to be continuously differentiable. With the control input specified in advance, the problem is formulated as parameter optimal control. The solution is obtained for two such formulations. An example is used to demonstrate the special case when dynamic optimal lineariztion reduces to the conventional method. Various properties of the proposed technique are discussed.
A CHRONIC DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTION IN THE GUINEA PIG COLON.

Summary Guinea pigs skin-sensitized to DNCB showed a colonic lesion after daily rectal instillations of this simple, low molecular weight chemical. Microscopically, mucosal ulceration with necrosis, vascular congestion, round cell infiltration, and perivascular cuffing were. noted. This is a colonic prototype of a delayed hypersensitivity reaction.
The Information Seeking Behavior of Undergraduate Education Majors: Does Library Instruction Play a Role?

Objective – This study investigated the information seeking behavior of undergraduate majors to gain a better understanding of where they find their research information (academic vs. non-academic sources) and to determine if library instruction had any impact on the types of sources used. Methods – The study used a convenience sample of 200 students currently enrolled as undergraduates at the University of Central Florida’s College of Education. A chi square test of association was conducted to determine if the proportion of undergraduate Education majors who use academic sources as compared to non-academic sources varied depending on whether the students had attended at least one library instruction session. Results – The majority of students surveyed find their research information on the freely available Web, even though they admit that academic sources are more credible. At an alpha level of .05, types of sources used for research were not statistically significantly related to whether the student attended library instruction sessions (Pearson χ2 (1, N = 200) = 1.612, p = .447, Cramer’s V = .090). Conclusion – These results are supported by other studies that indicate that today’s college students are using freely available Internet sites much more than library resources. Little to no association appears to exist between “one-shot” library instruction sessions and the sources used by students in their research. Serious consideration needs to be given to multiple library instruction sessions and to for-credit library courses over one-shot classes.
Accelerating application-level security protocols

We present a minimal extension to the BSD socket layer that can improve the performance of application-level security protocols, such as SSH or SSL/TLS, by 10%, when hardware cryptographic accelerators are available in the system. Applications specify what cryptographic transforms must be applied to incoming and outgoing data frames, and such processing is applied by the operating system itself (exploiting hardware accelerators) when the application sends or receives data. Under this scheme, we can reduce the number of system calls and context switches by 50%, and the amount of data copying by 66%. We describe our prototype implementation for the openBSD system and quantify its performance implications. We conclude with a discussion of further possible performance improvements that our approach enables.
A prospective study of postoperative symptoms in sinonasal quality‐of‐life following endoscopic skull‐base surgery: dissociations based on specific symptoms

Background Endoscopic skull-base surgery (ESBS) is a minimal access approach to cranial base pathology; however, it significantly disrupts the intranasal mucosa and intranasal structures, the long-term effects of which are still being studied. We prospectively assessed postoperative changes in sinonasal QOL symptoms following ESBS. Methods Eighty-five patients were prospectively assessed with the Anterior Skull Base Questionnaire (ASBQ), a validated QOL instrument, preoperatively and up to 1 year postoperatively at each subsequent office visit. A subset of these data was analyzed to assess the effect of endoscopic pituitary surgery on postoperative taste, smell, appetite, nasal secretions, and vision. Results ESBS patients were divided into 2 cohorts: those undergoing pituitary adenoma surgery and those undergoing ESBS for all other pathologies. Preoperative smell (3.11 vs 3.76, p = 0.03) and taste (3.04 vs 3.69, p = 0.03) were significantly lower in the nonpituitary group. Within the pituitary group both taste (3.69 vs 2.95, p = 0.03) and smell (3.76 vs 2.61, p ≤ 0.001) were significantly decreased by 6 weeks postoperatively. However, by 12 months both taste and smell scores returned to baseline. Vision scores improved by 3 weeks postoperatively with durable results at 1 year (2.80 vs 3.33, p = 0.04 vs 3.59, p = 0.03, respectively). Within the nonpituitary group, smell was decreased at 3 weeks, but was not significantly changed at any other time points. Conclusion Our study indicates a dissociation between the nasal and visual QOL after ESBS. While nasal QOL transiently decreases, visual QOL progressively improves. These data should not be lumped together for the purposes of statistical analysis.
The Role of Culture and Technology in Civil Society Promotion in the Middle East: A Case Study Approach

For over a decade, the U.S. administration has been sponsoring capacity-building efforts focusing on technology to support democracy activists in Middle Eastern societies; such efforts have often fallen short in their effectiveness. In this article, using a case study approach, we argue that capacity-building efforts must be approached in a culture-specific manner. It is imperative to begin exploring the specific nature of civil society in different Middle Eastern societies and translate the Western concept of “civil society” into terms appropriate to Middle Eastern contexts. Based on a culture-specific understanding, programs involving technology to promote democratic institutions in Middle Eastern societies can be designed.
Maintaining proximity to functional operation conditions under enhanced-scan tests based on functional broadside tests

In a circuit with enhanced-scan, any two-pattern test can be applied to detect delay faults. However, the tests may deviate substantially from functional operation conditions, and result in overtesting. Functional broadside tests create functional operation conditions during their functional clock cycles by using reachable states as scan-in states. To maintain a proximity to functional operation conditions under enhanced-scan, the procedure described in this paper generates enhanced-scan tests that differ from functional broadside tests only in small numbers of values. Experimental results show that it is possible to achieve high transition fault coverage under this constraint.
Executing Ethnicity: The Killings in Suriname

August 1992, Kourou, French Guiana. Sally and I sat squeezed among a group of teenagers in Amoida's tiny front room in the shantytown Village Saramaka, as they leafed through the dog-eared pages of a copy of Afro-American Arts of the Suriname Rain Forest (S. Price and R. Price 1980). When they came to page 52, Amoida, whom we'd known back in Suriname 25 years before, pointed to one of the toddler twins in the 1968 photo (Figure 1): "There's Asipei. He was shot by the soldiers at Pokigoon!" On New Year's Eve 1987, two months after the people of Suriname had ratified a new "democratic" constitution and one month after they had voted (under the watchful eyes of the military) in general elections, an "incident" occurred in the northernmost of the traditional Saramaka villages. The initial report, submitted by the Suriname human rights group Moiwana'86, includes the following testimony:2
U-estimability under sequential binomial sampling

Sequential binomial sampling consists of the repeated sampling of Bernoulli random variables, together with a stopping rule. The stopping rule depends exclusively on the number of successes, N,, and the number of failures, Nr, and is such that almost every observed sequence of random variables is of finite length. For example, the binomial distribution b(n, p) arises from sampling n Bernoulli random variables; in this case, the rule is: Stop sampling when Nr + N, = n. For a given stopping rule, the sample space it generates can be visualized geometrically as paths in Z+X Z,, where H, denotes the set of nonnegative integers. By a path, we mean a (possibly infinite) sequence in B, x Z, such that if (a,, b,) is the i th element of the sequence, then
Continuous kinetics for thermal degradation of polymer in solution

Continuous kinetics of thermal degradation of poly(styrene-allyl alcohol) (PSA) in solution are explored theoretically and experimentally. Thermal degradation experiments for PSA of number-average molecular weight 1,640 in t-butanol solution were conducted in a steady-state flow reactor at 6.8 MPa and 403--473 K. The molecular-weight distributions (MWDs) of the original polymer and its reaction products were measured as a function of residence time by gel permeation chromatography. The MWD of the initial PSA is described by a gamma distribution function. Experimental data indicated that the polymer cracks to specific, low-molecular-weight (MW) products and degrades by random chain scission. Results are interpreted by a mathematical model based on the continuous kinetics for specific and random degradation processes. Rate coefficients are determined separately from the dynamic data of the MW moments for the specific products and the MWDs for the reacting polymer. Activation energies obtained are 5.9--7.4 kcal/mol for specific degradation processes and 35 kcal/mol for the random degradation process. The detailed MWDs are related to conventional lumped (number-average molecular-weight) data.
Development of pneumococcal mastoiditis due to multidrug-resistant serotype 19A despite three doses of 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine

Acute mastoiditis is a potential complication of acute otitis media (AOM), with Streptococcus pneumoniae historically the most common pathogen isolated. Following the release of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in 2000, a marked decline in invasive pneumococcal disease and a smaller reduction in pneumococcal AOM were observed, but data regarding its impact on acute mastoiditis are limited. With the recent introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), it is anticipated that pneumococcal AOM and invasive disease will further diminish. We report a case of acute mastoiditis from a multidrug-resistant serotype 19A S. pneumoniae in an immunocompetent child who had received three PCV13 vaccinations.
Crystal growth and the formation of chemical zoning in garnets

A crystal growth model is developed which generalizes the Rayleigh fractionation process. The new growth model allows some insight into the interpretation of nonequilibrium behavior of minerals, primarily the chemical zoning profiles exhibited by metamorphic minerals. A nonlinear equilibrium term for exchange of constituents between a growing mineral and a reservoir is initially incorporated into the usual isothermal fractionation model. Criteria are established to decide when a simple distribution term is sufficient to describe the growth and exchange process. The model is then extended to allow for temperature changes during a cooling or heating event. Finally, an exact solution is obtained for the temperature dependent case incorporating a time dependent growth rate. The growth models are successfully used to obtain growth rates of 0.01 to 0.09 cm/million year and describe the magnesium and iron zoning profiles of garnets from Phillipston, Massachusetts. The generalized model confirms the development of zoning during the retrograde growth of garnet in the late stages of the Acadian orogeny.
Designing the Total User Experience at IBM: An Examination of Case Studies, Research Findings, and Advanced Methods

IBM is a diverse multinational company that strives to lead in the creation, development, and manufacture of the world’s most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices, and microelectronics. Worldwide research labs work in all areas of information technology, from physics and cognitive science to leading-edge application research, while the IBM network of solutions and services professionals translates the advanced technologies into additional business value for our customers. IBM operates in more than 160 countries and has more than 319,000 employees worldwide. Critical to the success of our information technologies is a strategic focus on the design of the total user experience in our offerings by applying our user-centered design (UCD) process, incorporating findings from basic human–computer interaction research, and continually improving our UCD methodologies and technologies. Because a human factors organization was first established at IBM in the mid-1950s, the company has used various usability and human factors methods. The IBM version of UCD was first developed in the early 1990s (Vredenburg, 1999) based on the seminal work of Norman and Draper (1986). Our version of UCD is an
Potentially general synthesis of polyhyroxyindolizidines

Abstract Allylboration of pentose derivatives with (Z)-3-(methoxy)methoxyallyldiisopinocampheylboranes provides octose derivatives with excellent diastereoselectivity. These intermediates are efficiently utilized for the synthesis of polyhydroxyindolizidines.
Spatial Juxtapositions and Belief Orientations in a Ritual of a Ghanaian Healing Movement 1

significant climaxes and culminations. This will be done through an examination of spatial ordering and spatial juxtapositions in a ritual of a modern West African religious movement. I hope to demonstrate that the structuring and utilization of ritual space is an aspect of the "form of enactment" that allows a deeper understanding of various viewpoints, classifications, orientations, and motivations which are brought to realization during the performance. It will be my major assumption that from the performer's standpoint the set-up and use of space constitutes a kind of communicative pronouncement. This pronouncement, as Edward Hall has put it, allows "space to speak" even though spatial structure and use are largely "out of consciousness" to the performers. 2 I also assume that the language of space belongs to the fundamental categories and axioms of the society and culture in which the performance is carried out and can therefore be considered as an important source of group-specific motivation. This fact applies as well to segmental groups, movements, or sects, who develop a distinctive ideology or belief system while at the same time drawing on the fundamental orientations provided by the larger culture in which they exist. The specific ritual to be considered here is part of a cycle of per-
Effectiveness of Thin Films in Lieu of Hyperbolic Metamaterials in the Near Field

We show that the near-field functionality of hyperbolic metamaterials (HMM), typically proposed for increasing the photonic local density of states (LDOS), can be achieved with thin metal films. Although HMMs have an infinite density of internally propagating plane-wave states, the external coupling to nearby emitters is severely restricted. We show analytically that properly designed thin films, of thicknesses comparable to the metal size of a hyperbolic metamaterial, yield an LDOS as high as (if not higher than) that of HMMs. We illustrate these ideas by performing exact numerical computations of the LDOS of multilayer HMMs, along with their application to the problem of maximizing near-field heat transfer, to show that single-layer thin films are suitable replacements in both cases.