cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new heuristics for finding the delay constrained least cost path

We investigate the problem of finding the delay constrained least cost path (DCLC) in a network, which is NP-complete and has been extensively studied. Many proposed algorithms tackle this problem by transforming it into the shortest path selection problem or the k-shortest paths selection problem, which are NP-complete, with an integrated weight function that maps the delay and cost for each link into a single weight. However, they suffer from either high computational complexity or low success ratio in finding the optimal paths (the least cost path satisfying a given delay constraint). Based on the extended Bellman-Ford (EB) algorithm, we propose a high performance algorithm, dual extended Bellman-Ford (DEB) algorithm, which achieves a high success ratio in finding the least cost path subject to a delay constraint with low computational complexity. Extensive simulations show that DEB outperforms its contender on: the worst-case computational complexity; average cost of the solutions; the success ratio in finding the delay constrained least cost path.
The interactive effects of herbivory and mixed mating for the population dynamics of Impatiens capensis.

Abstract: In this study, we examine the demographic consequences of mixed mating and explore the interactive effects of vegetative herbivory and mating system for population dynamics of Impatiens capensis, a species with an obligate mixed mating system (i.e., individuals produce both obligately selfing cleistogamous and facultatively outcrossing chasmogamous flowers). In two natural populations, we followed seeds derived from cleistogamous and chasmogamous flowers subject to different herbivory levels throughout their life cycle. Using a mating system–explicit projection matrix model, we found that mating system types differed in important vital rates. Cleistogamous individuals had higher rates of germination than did chasmogamous individuals, whereas chasmogamous individuals expressed a fecundity advantage over cleistogamous individuals. In addition, population growth was most sensitive to changes in vital rates of cleistogamous individuals, indicating the demographic importance of selfing for these popu...
The Jamming Transition and the Marginally Jammed Solid

When a system jams, it undergoes a transition from a flowing to a rigid state. Despite this important change in the dynamics, the internal structure of the system remains disordered in the solid as well as the fluid phase. In this way jamming is quite different from crystallization, the other common way in which a fluid solidifies. Jamming is a paradigm for thinking about how many different types of fluids—from molecular liquids to macroscopic granular matter—develop rigidity. Here we review recent work on the jamming transition. We start with perhaps the simplest model: frictionless spheres interacting via repulsive finite-range forces at zero temperature. In this highly idealized case, the transition has aspects of both first- and second-order transitions. From studies of the normal modes of vibration for the marginally jammed solid, new physics has emerged for how a material can be rigid without having the elastic properties of a normal solid. We first survey the simulation data and theoretical argumen...
Biotech in Court: A Legal Lesson on the Unity of Science

This paper examines the American legal system's reliance upon the unity of science through a close study of the testimony presented in a biotech patent trial, explicated through the context of the legal practice of patent drafting and the history of the American biotechnology industry. In order to decide whether a key patent related to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was invalid, the court needed to decide whether the inventing scientists had made intentional misrepresentations in the process of drafting and prosecuting the patent. I analyze the various images of science presented to the court by scientists testifying about how scientists report their experimental results in scientific publications. By setting this testimony about scientific authorship in the context of the legal understanding of patent authorship, I explain why the court was prepared to accept a universal notion of science and of the scientist that rendered unimportant any distinctions between papers and patents, or between professor...
Ethnic Boundaries and Identity in Plural Societies

▪ Abstract This paper reviews studies of ethnicity in plural societies. The literature concentrates on the social networks of ethnic groups, the use of social capital derived from these networks, and ethnic identity. I give particular attention to studies that consider how interpersonal networks within ethnic communities influence the degree of closure in social boundaries and the degree to which ethnic identity is retained. Most of the studies considered here have been published during the past two decades. However, a few earlier studies are considered so as to frame recent work in an appropriate context. Two main research foci characterize contemporary studies—forms of economic action undertaken by the immigrant generation and the socialization experiences of their offspring. Related areas of study also addressed in this review include how participation in ethnic churches, metropolitan and regional concentrations of ethnic populations, and transnationalism influence ethnic groups' experiences. I conclud...
Starling Resistor as a Model of the Cerebrovascular Bed

The purpose of this study is to clarify the origin of the intracranial exponential pressure-volume curve observed in vivo. Pressure-flow properties of a Starling resistor in a rigid container were investigated. A Starling resistor is a collapsible tube in which the pressure external to the tube exceeds the outflow pressure. The basis for this study was the work by several investigators (Yada et al. 1973, Nakagawa et al. 1974, Portnoy et al. 1982) who have shown that the cerebral vascular bed acts as a Starling resistor, and Lofgren’s (Lofgren 1973) model of the cerebral vascular bed as a series circuit consisting of an inflow resistor corresponding to resistance vessels and an outflow resistor corresponding to the collapsible veins.
A Practical Chinese-English ON Translation Method Based on ON's Distribution Characteristics on the Web

In this paper, we present a demo that translate Chinese-English organization name based on the input organization name’s distribution characteristics on the web. Specifically, we first experimentally validate two assumptions that are often used in organization name translation using web resources. From experimental results, we find out several distribution characteristics of Chinese organization name on the web. Then, we propose a web mining method based on these distribution characteristics. Experimental results show that our method is effective. It can improve the inclusion rate of correct translations for those Chinese organization names whose correct translations often occur on the web, and it can also improve the BLEU score and accuracy for those Chinese organization names whose correct translations rarely occur on the web.
Treating IgA Nephropathy

IgA nephropathy may be the most common type of glomerulonephritis, worldwide. Once thought benign, it causes end-stage renal disease in 15 to 20% of individuals within 10 yr of onset ([1][1]) and in 30 to 35% of individuals within 20 yr of onset. Proteinuria, an elevated serum creatinine
Effect of Glare on Performance of a VDT Reading-Comprehension Task:

This study was undertaken to determine whether objective measures of reading performance are affected by short exposure to text on a display when glare is present. Reading performance was assessed using reading time and correctness of answers as measures. In a preliminary experiment 20 reading passages were ranked according to subjective reading difficulty and also according to an objective measure. Subsequently, in the main experiment subjects read the 20 passages presented on a VDT under both no-glare and glare conditions. When task difficulty was measured by subjective ranking, glare was found to increase the amount of time required to read relatively easy passages and to decrease the amount of time required to read relatively difficult passages. Other findings included a general increase in reading time and a decrease in the proportion of correct answers with increases in task difficulty for both subjective and objective ranking of difficulty.
Hypoproteinemia as protection in mercuric chloride poisoning.

SummaryFive normal and 2 hypoproteinemic dogs were given similar intravenous HgCl2 injections. Each normal dog died with characteristic mercury poisoning signs; the hypoproteinemic dogs survived this and 2 more such doses, time interval between doses being 1 month, but died from a fourth dose given 6 1/2 months after the initial hypopro-teinemia, at which time their plasma protein levels were 6.7 and 5.8 g %. Control dogs excreted less than half the mercury; the hypoproteinemic dogs excreted over half of it within the first 3 days. It is suggested that the resistance to mercury toxicity seen in the hypoproteinemic animals may be due to increased extracellular volume and, more important, a relatively small binding of Hg++ by protein, permitting more rapid excretion and diminished cell susceptibility.
On the similarity transformation between an integral matrix with irreducible characteristic polynomial and its transpose

A great deal can be said about the structure of all possible S's. In first place S is symmetric by an earlier result of H. ZASSENHAUS and O. TnvssKv [3]. In 2. an explicit expression for S will be given which is already contained in FADDEEV [2], TAUSSKY [4], BENDER [1]. In 3. the determinant of S is discussed. In 4. a fractional ideal associated with the set of all solutions of (1) is constructed. 2. Theorem 1. Any matrix S for which (1) holds can be expressed in the form S = (trace(2at~k)) where 2 is an element in the field Q(~), generated by a root ~ o f f ( x ) = 0 over the rationals, and ~1 . . . . . ~, is a characteristic vector of A in Q(~). Proof. Let ~ be a fixed root of f ( x ) = 0 and ~1 . . . . . ~, a characteristic vector of A with respect to ~. The elements ~ can be chosen in the ring Z(~), i.e. polynomials in • with integral coefficients. It is known that the ~, form the basis of an ideal a in the ring Z(~) (see [5]). Similarly, a characteristic vector ~'~, ..., ~', of A' corresponding to ~ can be chosen to form a special basis of an ideal a' in the same field, the complementary ideal to a (see [6]). This basis has the property that trace(~ia~)= 6~k. On the other hand
Commentary regarding "What is a representative voiding pattern in children with lower urinary tract symptoms? Lack of consistent findings in ambulatory and conventional urodynamics tests".

As conventional urodynamics (CU) had been considered the best tool available for evaluating lower urinary tract (LUT) function when it is required, there are still drawbacks to its representation as the ideal method for investigating LUT function. Ambulatory urodynamics (AU) removes much of the artifact encountered with unphysiologic filling of the bladder but it still has drawbacks because of the reaction from indwelling catheters to measure intravesical and rectal pressures when the individual is upright. As noted by the authors there are few parallels in the findings between these two approaches [1]. For instance, it is currently unexplainable why a degree of consistency in voiding patterns was identified in most CU studies but not so with AU. Perhaps relation to last bowel movement, amount of ingested fluid beforehand, and just the time of day may explain why less consistent voiding patterns were seen in AU studies. The authors have pointed out legitimate limitations to their study. Although this is an admirable start to defining the possible diurnal variation of voiding patterns, additional work is needed to understand why this variation exists. It would be ideal, as technology advances, to insert retrievable devices that could be
Analysis on Surveillance of Schistosomiasis in the Consolidation Phase in Qingyuan City from 2006 to 2010

[Objective]By monitoring the status of schistosomiasis in Qingyuan city from 2006 to 2010,to understand the implementation of schistosomiasis control in recent years. [Methods]According to requests of Guangdong Center for Disease Control and Prevention,the surveillance was carried out,and the results were analyzed. [Results]In primary endemic areas of schistosomiasis,1 688 305 square meter(m2) waste land,76 020 meter(m) gutterway and 23 721 living snails frames were monitored from 2006 to 2010.82 724 m2 suspected areas were screened by artifical snail sites.Among 1 947 marker snail sites,1316 were detected with the discovery rate of 67.59%.Among 7 552 marker snails,3 958 were detected with the discovery rate of 52.41%.The underwater snail attraction was conducted in 29 826 m gutterway.2 903 straw boxes were placed in suspected gutterway,and 2 404 were collected with the recovery rate of 82.81%.65 125 other species snails were collected,and there were 27.09 snails in each box.No live snail was found.3 466 blood specimens were sampled from pupils in primary endemic areas,79 were positive,and no positive specimen was found by fecal examination.2 541 blood specimens of cattle were tested,and all of them were negative. [Conclusion]There was no live snail and new infection in primary endemic areas,which suggested that the measures of control and prevention of schistosomiasis were effective in Qingyuan city.
Genomic analyses of the evolution of LGR genes

Recent completion of the sequencing of genomes from several mammals, teleosts and invertebrates has shown that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the conserved groups of cell surface receptors with an ancient origin. GPCRs play important roles in diverse physiological functions and are the most important targets for pharmaceutical discoveries. Recent work based on the search for gene with structural similarity to LH, FSH and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptors in diverse genomes has led to the identification of a group of GPCRs called Leucine-rich repeat-containing, G protein-coupled Receptor (LGR). We present the genomic analyses of the evolution of LGR genes in the literature.
Building Capacity for Domestic Resource Mobilization in African Countries

This chapter identifies six major constraints retarding capacity building for domestic resource mobilization in African countries, namely, low disposable incomes; pervasive corruption; underdeveloped financial systems; tax policy weaknesses; legal system inadequacies; and low support of the population in addressing some governance problems. To overcome these constraints, this chapter elaborates on the following suggestions to policy makers in the continent: address corruption resolutely; improve the policy environment for economic growth; stress private sector development; address core financial sector development issues; address tax policy; pursue legal system reform; raise government efficiency in project selection and service delivery; and enhance appropriate cooperation internationally and domestically.
Gas-Phase Folding of a Prototypical Protonated Pentapeptide: Spectroscopic Evidence for Formation of a Charge-Stabilized β-Hairpin

Ultraviolet and infrared-ultraviolet (IR-UV) double-resonance photofragment spectroscopy has been carried out in a tandem mass spectrometer to determine the three-dimensional structure of cryogenically cooled protonated C-terminally methyl esterified leucine enkephalin [YGGFL-OMe+H]+. By comparing the experimental IR spectrum of the dominant conformer with the predictions of DFT M05-2X/6-31+G(d) calculations, a backbone structure was assigned that is analogous to that previously assigned by our group for the unmodified peptide [Burke, N.L.; et al. Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 2015, 378, 196], despite the loss of a C-terminal OH binding site that was thought to play an important role in its stabilization. Both structures are characterized by a type II′ β-turn around Gly3-Phe4 and a γ-turn around Gly2, providing spectroscopic evidence for the formation of a β-hairpin hydrogen bonding pattern. Rather than disrupting the peptide backbone structure, the protonated N-terminus serves to stabilize the β-hairpin by posi...
Improved electrode material for deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices have been implanted for treatment of basic tremor, Parkinson's disease and dystonia. These devices use electrodes in contact with tissue to deliver electrical pulses to targeted cells, to elicit specific therapeutic responses. In general, the neuromodulation industry has been evolving towards smaller, less invasive electrodes. However, current electrode materials do not support small sizes without severely restricting the stimulus output. Hence, an improved electrode material will benefit present and future DBS systems. In this study, five DBS leads were modified using a cost-effective and materials-efficient process for applying an ultra-low impedance platinum-iridium alloy coating. One DBS lead was used for insertion test and four DBS leads were chronically pulsed for 12 weeks. The platinum-iridium alloy significantly improved the electrical properties of the DBS electrodes and was robust to insertion into brain and to 12 weeks of chronic pulsing.
GrainPlane: Intuitive Tactile Interface for Granular Synthesis

GrainPlane is a prototype design build of a highly intuitive tactile interface for granular synthesis. The granular synthesis software engine's parameters are modulated by the manipulation of small, physical objects. The sound of the grains as they interact with a resonant surface and with each other is analyzed, from which audio grain triggering, grain duration, amplitude, and sample position can be calculated. This provides a flexible platform upon which the musician can easily and intuitively modulate the granular synthesis in real time through a direct link between the tactile and auditory manipulation of the grains.
Incidence of Campylobacter jejuni/coli on Pork Carcasses in the Northeast Georgia Area

One hundred and twelve freshly slaughtered pork carcasses from three packing plants were sampled before and after chilling for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni / coli by the use of two isolation methods (Preston enrichment and Skirrow direct plating). Preston enrichment media gave the highest isolation rate, 12.5%, on freshly slaughtered carcasses. No isolations were obtained from chilled carcasses. More isolates were obtained from the ham skin area compared with the jowl area. All isolates were confirmed as Campylobacter coli .
Comparing Case Law Retrievals, Mid-1990s and Today

Can we say that the same case law search from 20 years ago run today would yield 10 times or 100 times as many cases?Someone asked me a similar question on Twitter, so I did a very limited investigation, comparing searches that were described in law review footnotes in 1995 and 1996 with comparable searches I constructed today. I didn't find a strong pattern in my limited sample, but I sketched out some thoughts for future research.I post my notes here as an invitation to other researchers to delve further.
Classical and non-classical effective medium theories: New perspectives

Abstract Future research in electrodynamics of periodic electromagnetic composites (metamaterials) can be expected to produce sophisticated homogenization theories valid for any composition and size of the lattice cell. The paper outlines a promising path in that direction, leading to non-asymptotic and nonlocal homogenization models, and highlights aspects of homogenization that are often overlooked: the finite size of the sample and the role of interface boundaries. Classical theories (e.g. Clausius–Mossotti, Maxwell Garnett), while originally derived from a very different set of ideas, fit well into the proposed framework. Nonlocal effects can be included in the model, making an order-of-magnitude accuracy improvements possible. One future challenge is to determine what effective parameters can or cannot be obtained for a given set of constituents of a metamaterial lattice cell, thereby delineating the possible from the impossible in metamaterial design.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of different devices used for the closure of small-to-medium-sized patent ductus arteriosus in pediatric patients.

Aims: In this study, we examined the differences in cost and effectiveness of various devices used for the closure of small to medium sized patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Setting and Design: We retrospectively studied 116 patients who underwent closure of small PDAs between January 2010 and January 2015. Subjects and Methods: Three types of devices were used: the Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO) II, the cook detachable coil and the Nit Occlud coil (NOC). Immediate and late complications were recorded and patients were followed up for 3 months after the procedure. Statistical Methods: All statistical calculations were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Science software. P Results: We successfully deployed ADO II devices in 33 out of 35 cases, cook detachable coils in 36 out of 40 cases and NOCs in 38 out of 41 cases. In the remaining nine cases, the first device was unsuitable or embolized and required retrieval and replacement with another device. Eleven patients (9.5%) developed vascular complications and required anticoagulation therapy. Patients who had hemolysis or vascular complications remained longer in the intensive care unit, with consequently higher total cost (P = 0.016). Also, the need for a second device increased the cost per patient. Conclusions: The cook detachable coil is the most cost.effective device for closure of small.to medium.sized PDAs. Calculations of the incremental cost.effectiveness. (ICE) revealed that the Cook detachable coil had less ICE than the ADO II and NOC. The NOC was more effective with fewer complications.
Organometallic Chemistry of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene share a common structural element – they are both based on a periodic array of annelated benzene rings. While differing in dimensionality and curvature, they are sufficiently similar that both of them readily undergo hexahapto organometallic complexation reactions. The curvature and pyramidalization of the fullerenes are such that their organometallic chemistry is entirely distinct from that of the CNTs and graphene, and thus it is useful to review the behaviour of these three new carbon allotropes in parallel. Organometallic chemistry offers a new approach to the functionalization of the graphitic surfaces that are present in CNTs and graphene. The formation of bis-hexahapto–metal bonds between such surfaces electronically couples the π-systems in a process that we refer to as constructive rehybridization, which extends the dimensionality of the periodic π-electron systems present in CNTs and graphene.
SPACE, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

The lung is extremely sensitive to gravity, which induces large regional differences in ventilation, blood flow, and gas exchange in normal subjects. Functional residual capacity is reduced in the absence of gravity, as is residual volume, although by different mechanisms. While the removal of gravity greatly reduces the unevenness of both ventilation and perfusion in the lung, there are only minor changes in the degree of ventilation–perfusion inequality in microgravity (μG), suggesting a mechanism by which gravity serves to match ventilation to perfusion, making for a more efficient lung in 1G than might otherwise be anticipated. Despite some early predictions to the contrary, the lung does not become edematous in μG, and there is no apparent disruption to gas exchange. μG reduces the hypoxic, but not the hypercapnic, ventilatory response. Studies convincingly show that sleep disturbances in μG are not a result of respiratory-related events, and that obstructive sleep apnea is principally caused by the gravitational effects on the upper airways. Aerosol deposition in the lung is reduced in μG. However, aerosols may be deposited more peripherally, which may place the lung at risk in the reduced gravity environments of the Moon and Mars, which are likely to have reactive dust species on their surfaces.
Radiogenic isotopes record a ‘drop in a bucket’ – A fingerprint of multi-kilometer-scale fluid pathways inferred to drive fault-valve behavior

Abstract Minerals precipitated from fluids carry a chemical signature of fluid origin and transport history. We use this concept to test the hypothesis that a subset of veins precipitated in the Loma Blanca fault zone, Rio Grande rift, NM, USA, record fault-valve behavior. Previous studies of this site show syntectonic calcite veins formed in response to post-seismic fluid discharge following repeated ground-rupturing earthquakes. U-Th ages on veins constrain the timing of fault slip over a period of >400,000 years. The radiogenic isotope (Sr, Pb, and U) data we report here demonstrate that a cluster of earthquakes that occurred at ∼430 ka, when fault-slip frequency increased by nearly one order of magnitude, corresponds with a brief period of particularly large and rapid variations in post-seismic fluid chemistry. Isotopic variations are consistent with fluid input from the Socorro magma body, a large, active, mid-crustal basalt intrusion 19 km below the surface. The short duration of the earthquake cluster (
Technology Habits: Progress, Problems, and Prospects

Technology habits have been objects of research for over 100 years and provided heuristic cases for the study of habits over the last two decades. This chapter traces the history of research on information and communication technologies in daily life, with an eye toward measurement and conceptualization problems. Similar to the new technologies of earlier eras, the prominence of current habitual manifestations has raised challenging questions for both researchers and societies. These new-er media habits may exaggerate core habitual mechanisms by providing a wide spectrum of potential cues, possible contexts, and complex rewards—resulting in dynamic habits that appear to be “special”. We discuss how research on technology habits serves to uncover the assumptions, boundaries, and moderators of habit, while calling for a revised approach to address recurring problems in the literature. Altogether, the chapter clarifies how technology habit research contributes to a broader understanding of habitual behaviour.
Trial by fire? Rulewriters, training, the BLM, and EPA

Individual bureaucrats are ultimately tasked with solving complex problems and are expected to do so cost-effectively. The purpose of this paper is to examine an infrequent perspective of administr...
Effects of Inductance On The Propagation Delay and Repeater Insertion Process in RLC Lines

The focus of this chapter is to provide an accurate estimate of the propagation delay of a gate driving a distributed RLC line as well as to develop design expressions for optimum repeater insertion to minimize the delay of a signal propagating along a distributed RLC line. Repeaters are often used to minimize the delay required to propagate a signal through those interconnect lines that are best modeled as an RC impedance [39]-[45]. Thus, the objective of this chapter is to highlight the significance of increasing inductance effects in current high performance digital integrated circuits with respect to on-chip interconnect and repeater insertion in RLC lines.
Interacting faults in california and hindu kush

Abstract We study seismic fluctuations in California and Hindu Kush using Diffusion Entropy Analysis (DEA), a technique designed to detect the action of crucial events in time series generated by complex dynamical systems. The time distance between two consecutive crucial events is described by an inverse power law distribution density with a power index μ close to the value μ = 2 , corresponding to an ideal 1/f noise. DEA was used in the recent past to study neurophysiological processes that in the healthy condition are found to generate 1/f noise and μ close to 2. In this paper we find that in both California and Hindu-Kush the seismic fluctuations of extended areas, implying the action of many faults, yield μ ≈ 2.1, while the regions involving the action of only one fault, or of a very small number of faults, are characterized by μ ≈ 2.4. This observation leads us to make the conjecture that the seismic criticality is due to the interaction of many faults. To support this conjecture we adopt a dynamical model for fault dynamics proposed by Braun and Tosatti and we extend it to describe the interaction between many faults. The DEA applied to surrogate sequences generated by this dynamical model, yields μ = 2.37 for a single fault and μ = 2.16 for many interacting faults, in a better agreement with the observation of real seismic fluctuations. This result supports our conjecture and suggests interesting applications to neurophysiological and sociological processes.
Mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance in hypereosinophilic syndromes.

Background Glucocorticoids (GC) are considered first-line therapy for most patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Although response rates are generally high, many patients require moderate to high doses for control of eosinophilia and symptoms, and up to 15% of patients do not respond at all. Despite this, little is known about the mechanisms of GC resistance in patients with HES. Objective To explore the aetiology of GC resistance in HES. Methods Clinical data and samples from 26 patients with HES enrolled on a prospective study of GC responsiveness and 23 patients with HES enrolled on a natural history study of eosinophilia for whom response to GC was known were analysed retrospectively. Expression of GC receptor isoforms was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR in purified eosinophils. Serum cytokine levels were quantified by suspension array assay in multiplex. Results Despite an impaired eosinophil response to GC after 7 days of treatment, the expected rise in absolute neutrophil count was seen in 7/7 GC-resistant patients, suggesting that GC resistance in HES is not a global phenomenon. Eosinophil mRNA expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoforms (α, β, and P) was similar between GC-sensitive (n = 20) and GC-resistant (n = 9) patients with HES. Whereas geometric mean serum levels were also comparable between GC-r (n = 11) and GC-s (n = 19) for all cytokines tested, serum IL-5 levels were >100 pg/mL only in GC-r patients. Conclusions and clinical relevance These data suggest that the mechanism of GC resistance in HES is not due to a global phenomenon affecting all lineages, but may be due, at least in some patients, to impairment of eosinophil apoptosis by increased levels of IL-5.
Absolute measurement of the photoionization cross section for ground-state cesium atoms

Measurements of the absolute cross section for the photoionization of cesium atoms near threshold are reported. The results agree well with recent model potential calculations and are approximately a factor of 2 smaller than earlier experimental results.
An Embedded System for Collection and Real-Time Classification of a Tactile Dataset

Tactile perception of the material properties in real-time using tiny embedded systems is a challenging task and of grave importance for dexterous object manipulation such as robotics, prosthetics and augmented reality. As the psychophysical dimensions of the material properties cover a wide range of percepts, embedded tactile perception systems require efficient signal feature extraction and classification techniques to process signals collected by tactile sensors in real-time. For this purpose, we developed two embedded systems, one that served as a vibrotactile stimulator system and one that recorded and classified the vibrotactile signals collected by its sensors. The quality of the collected data was first verified offline using Fourier transform for feature extraction and then applying powerful machine learning classifiers such as support vector machines and neural networks. We implemented the proposed memory-less signal feature extraction method in order to achieve real-time processing as the data is being collected. The experimental results have shown that the proposed method significantly reduces the computational complexity of feature extraction and still has led to high classification accuracy even when fed to the less complex classifiers such as random forests that can be easily implemented on embedded systems. Finally, we have also shown that low-cost, highly accurate, and real-time tactile texture classification can be achieved using the proposed approach with an ensemble of sensors.
Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Liver

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) of the liver is a rare benign lesion, characterized by chronic infiltration of inflammatory cells and areas of necrosis mimicking a malignant tumor. Few cases have been reported, and the precise etiology is still unknown. Patients usually present with abdominal pain, fever, and jaundice. Herein, we report the case of a 78-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus who had abdominal fullness and body weight loss for 4 months. A computed tomography scan showed a 15-cm liver tumor in segment 2 and 3 and suspected hepatocellular carcinoma. Left hepatectomy was performed, and the pathology showed IPT. After surgery, the symptom of abdominal fullness subsided.
Evaluating sleep quality with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing

Citation:Viehmann-Wical K. Evaluating sleep quality with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(2):355.
Association of Neighborhood Deprivation Index With Success in Cancer Care Crowdfunding.

Importance Financial toxicity resulting from cancer care poses a substantial public health concern, leading some patients to turn to online crowdfunding. However, the practice may exacerbate existing socioeconomic cancer disparities by privileging those with access to interpersonal wealth and digital media literacy. Objective To test the hypotheses that higher county-level socioeconomic status and the presence (vs absence) of text indicators of beneficiary worth in campaign descriptions are associated with amount raised from cancer crowdfunding. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional analysis examined US cancer crowdfunding campaigns conducted between 2010 and 2019 and data from the American Community Survey (2013-2017). Data analysis was performed from December 2019 to March 2020. Exposures Neighborhood deprivation index of campaign location and campaign text features indicating the beneficiary's worth. Main Outcomes and Measures Amount of money raised. Results This study analyzed 144 061 US cancer crowdfunding campaigns. Campaigns in counties with higher neighborhood deprivation raised less (-26.07%; 95% CI, -27.46% to -24.65%; P < .001) than those in counties with less neighborhood deprivation. Campaigns raised more funds when legitimizing details were provided, including clinical details about the cancer type (9.58%; 95% CI, 8.00% to 11.18%; P < .001) and treatment type (6.58%; 95% CI, 5.44% to 7.79%; P < .001) and financial details, such as insurance status (1.39%; 95% CI, 0.20% to 2.63%; P = .02) and out-of-pocket costs (7.36%; 95% CI, 6.18% to 8.55%; P < .001). Campaigns raised more money when beneficiaries were described as warm (13.80%; 95% CI, 12.30% to 15.26%; P < .001), brave (15.40%; 95% CI, 14.11% to 16.65%; P < .001), or self-reliant (5.23%; 95% CI, 3.77% to 6.72%; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that cancer crowdfunding success ay disproportionately benefit those in high-socioeconomic status areas and those with the internet literacy necessary to portray beneficiaries as worthy. By rewarding those with existing socioeconomic advantage, cancer crowdfunding may perpetuate socioeconomic disparities in cancer care access. The findings also underscore the widespread nature of financial toxicity resulting from cancer care.
Effect of depression and suicidal behavior on neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptors in the adult human brain: A postmortem study.

Abstract Neuropeptides are small proteinaceous molecules (3–100 amino acids) that are secreted by neurons and act on both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a highly conserved and expressed neuropeptide in the central nervous system of mammals, plays a major role in stress response and resilience. Increasing evidence suggests that NPY and its receptors are altered in depression and suicide, pointing to their antidepressant-like nature. The objective of this study was to examine the role of NPY system in depression and suicidal behavior. Expression of NPY and its four receptors, NPY1R, NPY2R, NPY4R, and NPY5R was studied at the transcriptional and translational levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus regions of the postmortem brain of normal control (NC) (n = 24) and depressed suicide (DS) (n = 24) subjects. We observed a significant decrease in NPY mRNA and upregulation in NPY1R and NPY2R mRNA in both brain regions of DS subjects compared with NC subjects. We also observed a significant decrease in NPY protein expression in the PFC of subjects with DS. This study provides the first detailed evidence of alterations in the NPY system and the associated stress response in depression and suicidal behavior in humans. The outcomes of this study could be applied in the development of novel NPY system-targeted approaches for the treatment of depression.
Cloud-Integrated Geolocation-Aware Dynamic Spectrum Access

This chapter presents cloud integrated dynamic spectrum access in cognitive radio networks where most of the computing and storing function are performed using data offloading to cloud computing platform. The SUs are considerably constrained by their limited power, memory and computational capacity when they have to make decision about spectrum sensing for wide RF band regime and dynamic spectrum access. The SUs in CRN have the potential to mitigate these constraints by leveraging the vast storage and computational capacity of cloud computing platform [19, 21]. Specifically, cloud computing based dynamic spectrum access has following advantages: (a) Power saving in mobile devices: As SUs search the spectrum opportunities in the geolocation database, power needed for SUs to sense the RF spectrum for wide range of bands will be saved. By leveraging the cloud computing and storage resources, SU mobile devices can extend their battery lifetime; (b) No harmful interference to PUs: Chances of mis-detection of spectrum opportunities can be significantly reduced when SUs are required to search the database instead of sensing and identifying spectrum opportunities by themselves. Furthermore, the aggressive SUs can be monitored and possibly penalized by incorporating a cloud assisted manager to oversee the overall system; (c) Compliance with the requirements of the regulatory body: Recently the FCC in the U.S. [1, 12] mandates that the SUs must search geolocation database for spectrum bands instead of sensing and identifying the spectrum opportunities themselves. Thus, the proposed approach follows the recent proposal by FCC and can be implemented easily in real systems; and (d) Outsource computing on mobile devices: Typical mobile devices used by SUs have limited computing capabilities that limits the scalability of cognitive networks. Using proposed approach, the computation performance of SUs is significantly enhanced by outsourcing the streaming computation tasks to the cloud computing systems.
Open learner models in intelligent tutoring system

Intelligent tutors called problets are being developed at Ramapo College to help Computer Science I students learn programming by solving problems. Intelligent tutoring systems literature shows that by opening the student model, i.e., a record of the student's progress, the tutoring system may actually enhance and speed up the learning process.
Nonplanar interface morphologies during unidirectional solidification of a binary alloy: II. Three-dimensional computations

Abstract Three-dimensional steady-state solutions for nonplanar interface morphologies are computed numerically by using finite differences. A linear temperature field is assumed, corresponding to the case of equal thermal properties in the crystal and melt, with negligible latent heat release. The solute field in the melt and the unknown crystal-melt interface position are obtained self-consistently. For a model of an aluminum-chromium alloy with distribution coefficient greater than one, steady-state solutions corresponding to two-dimensional bands and three-dimensional hexagonal nodes are obtained, as well as solutions with rectangular interface planforms. The stability of the computed steady-state solutions is suggested by the behavior of the iterative scheme used in the calculation: successive iterates may be viewed as evolving in a time-like manner as determined by a set of governing equations that depend on an artificial time. Near the onset of instability the calculations predict hexagonal nodes, which is consistent with weakly nonlinear theory.
Interval Player: Designing a virtual musical instrument using in-air gestures

We present a novel virtual musical instrument interface based on in-air 3D gestures called the Interval Player. Instead of specifying absolute notes, the user specifies the melodic interval between the most recent note and the next one. The non-dominant hand is used to specify chords for harmony. We discuss the principles and rationale used in the design.
Nonlinear Dynamics of Curved Cable Elements

A finite element analog to the dynamic response of nonlinear cables has been developed which employs straight cable elements to model the curved geometry of the cable system. Temporal as well as spatial variations in cable properties and stress were admitted. Thus, large deflections and rotations could be considered. The purpose of this note is to present the extension of the finite element analog to the case in which strongly-curved elements are used to model the cable system. Straight cable elements are inadequate for strongly-curved cables, in that a large number of straight elements are required to approximate the cable. Furthermore, unless numerous small elements are used, the existence of nodal discontinuities inherent in the straight element assumption leads to spurious results because of the membrane nature of the real problem. Therefore, a curved element is presented for which the continuity of the slope across the nodal points is enforced using direction cosine approximations. A comparison of curved and straight element results demonstrate that more accurate answers are obtained with fewer curved elements.
Bulwer-Lytton's The Coming Race and an Anglo-Saxon Global “Greater Britain”

Upon its anonymous publication, Edward Bulwer-Lytton's The Coming Race (1871) proved immensely popular and has since attracted the attention of numerous scholars for its satiric treatment of Americ...
Methylation profiling of invasive cervical carcinoma using restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS)

4978 Objective: DNA hypermethylation of CpG islands in promoter regions of several genes has been reported in cervical cancer and its precursors. To extend these limited findings, we performed methylation profiling of cervical cancers to develop a potential panel of markers useful for natural history studies and cervical screening. Methods: DNA extracted from 20 pairs of frozen cervical cancers and matched normal blood or tissues was assayed for aberrant methylation at over 2000 loci using restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS). Sites of aberrant methylation were identified by comparing cleavage profiles obtained with Not I, Eco RV, and Hinf I in paired tumor and normal DNA specimens (lymphocytes or benign cervix) by visual inspection of two-dimensional gels. Hypermethylation events were recognized as failure of samples to cleave with Not I and end-label, resulting in reduction of spot intensity in tumor as compared to normal samples; spots of increased intensity in tumor samples compared to normal DNA were interpreted as potential hypomethylation events. Results: On average, methylation was assessed at 1753 CpG loci per tumor; 186 different sites of methylation were identified in at least one tumor. Notably, one locus was hypermethylated in 17 (85%) tumors, two other loci were each hypermethylated in 15 (75%) tumors, and another was hypermethylated in 14 (70%) tumors. In addition, 20 different candidate loci of possible hypomethylation were found in at least one tumor. We are currently identifying candidate genes associated with the aberrantly methylated fragments. Hypermethylation was observed at loci on chromosomes 3p21, 5p15, 10q26, 17p13, 22q13, sites where loss of heterozygosity has been frequently reported in cervical cancer. Hypomethylation was observed at a locus on chromosomes 3q, a site of frequent chromosomal gains. Conclusion: These data suggest that aberrant methylation is a frequent event in cervical cancer and that detection of methylation may have utility in clarifying cervical carcinogenesis and developing novel screening approaches.
Biochemical studies of taste sensation: II. Labeling of cyclic amp of bovine taste papillae in response to Sweet and bitter stimuli

Labeling of cyclic AMP of taste papillae and its responsiveness to taste stimuli has been measured using whole papillae from bovine tongue prelabeled with [8-14 C] adenine. Labeling was measured in circumvallate and fungiform papillae, both of which contain taste buds, and in filiform papillae and small blocks of tongue epithelium, which are devoid of taste buds. No differences were observed in the levels of activity. The labeling of cyclic AMP of circumvallate papillae showed only small increases (12–22%) in the presence of the taste stimulus sucrose (sweet), and the stimulatory effects were not statistically significant. The increase due to sucrose was not potentiated by theophylline. No stimulation by sucrose was observed with epithelium controls. Lactose, which is a poor taste stimulus, did not stimulate labeling of cyclic AMP in taste papillae. Theophylline, caffeine, and quinine (bitter) stimulated labeling of cyclic AMP by up to 2-fold, as did L-Epinephrine. Evidence for a specific role of cyclic AMP as a second messenger in taste sensation was not obtained. It is suggested that cyclic AMP might provide a mechanistic basis for studying some of the effects of sweet and bitter compounds in mixtures.
Lateral skull base surgery for cancer

The management of malignant tumors of the lateral skull base remains a challenging problem. Sixty-two patients underwent lateral skull base resection for cancer. Preoperative evaluation included complete neurotologic examination, CT scan, MRI, and carotid angiography. During surgery, the nasopharynx, the posterior maxilla, the infratemporal fossa structures, the mandibular ramus, and the parotid gland were resected en bloc. Reconstruction of the surgical defect was performed using pectoralis and/or rhombotrapezius myocutaneous flaps. Although the overall cure rate was not greatly improved, patients with lateral skull base malignancies now enjoy extended periods of palliation and a better quality of life.
Reliable dynamical systems for canonical variate computation

Canonical correlation analysis is a statistical tool for investigating the presence of any patterns that simultaneously exist in two different data sets and compute the correlation between associated patterns. In this paper, dynamical systems for computing the canonical correlations and canonical variates between two data sets are derived. These systems are developed by optimizing constrained and unconstrained merit functions. To extract the actual individual canonical variates, some of these systems are weighted by a positive definite diagonal matrix, while others employed upper triangular matrices.