cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulating the Thermal Behavior of Buildings Using Artificial Neural Networks-Based Coarse-Grain Modeling

This paper reports on the development of a new approach for simulating the thermal behavior of buildings that overcome the limitations of conventional heat-transfer simulation methods such as the finite difference method and the finite element method. The proposed technique uses a coarse-grain approach to model development whereby each element represents a complete building component such as a wall, internal space, or floor. The thermal behavior of each coarse-grain element is captured using empirical modeling techniques such as artificial neural networks (ANNs). The main advantages of the approach compared to conventional simulation methods are (1) simplified model construction for the end-user; (2) simplified model reconfiguration; (3) significantly faster simulation runs (orders of magnitude faster for two- and three-dimensional models); and (4) potentially more accurate results. The paper demonstrates the viability of the approach through a number of experiments with a model of a composite wall. The approach is shown to be able to sustain highly accurate long-term simulation runs, if the coarse-grain modeling elements are implemented as ANNs. In contrast, an implementation of the coarse-grain elements using a linear model is shown to function inaccurately and erratically. The paper concludes with an identification of on-going work and future areas for development of the technique.
On the acquisition of abstract representations for English vowels

A basic assumption of generative and lexical phonology is that lexical entries of morphemes contain abstract phonological representations (APRs), and that surface pronunciations are derived from them by rules. Whether and how such a system can be acquired is problematic. This paper looks at the acquisition of APRs for English vowels and the Vowel Shift Rule (VSR), and tries to ascertain (1) whether VSR has any psychological reality, (2) at what age this psychological reality begins to be manifested, and (3) what the source of any psychological reality of VSR is. It finds that (1) pre-literate children show no signs of knowing VSR, (2) literate children and adults show marginal knowledge of only those VSR relations represented by the English vowel letters, and (3) the source of this knowledge can be demonstrated to be the learning of spelling conventions. It is concluded that theories which posit more concrete lexical representations are supported by this evidence.
Electronic hidden solder joint geometry characterization

To reduce the size of electronic equipment, multi-layer printed circuit board structures have become popular in recent years. As a result, the inspection of hidden solder joints between layers of boards has become increasingly difficult. Xray machines have been used for ball grid array (BGA) and hidden solder joint inspection; however, the equipment is costly and the inspection process is time consuming. In this paper, we investigate an active thermography approach to probing solder joint geometry. A set of boards having the same number of solder joints and amount of solder paste (0.061 g) was fabricated. Each solder joint had a different geometry. A semi-automated system was built to heat and then transfer each board to a chamber where an infrared camera was used to scan the board as it was cooling down. Two-thirds of the data set was used for model development and one-third was used for model evaluation. Both artificial neural network (ANN) and binary logistic regression models were constructed. Results suggest that solder joints with more surface area cool much faster than those with less surface area. In addition, both modeling approaches are consistent in predicting solder geometry; ANN had 85% accuracy and the regression model had 80%. This approach can potentially be used to test for cold solder joints prior to BGA assembly, since cold solder joints may have air gaps between the joint and the board and air is a poor heat conductor. Therefore, a cold solder joint may have a slower cooling rate than a normal one.
Ureterolithiasis: Value of the tail sign in differentiating phleboliths from ureteral calculi at nonenhanced helical CT

PURPOSE: To determine the value of the tail sign in differentiating phleboliths from ureteral calculi at nonenhanced helical computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The nonenhanced helical CT scans in 82 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pelvic ureterolithiasis were retrospectively reviewed. Each calcification along the ureter was classified as a phlebolith or a ureteral calculus on the basis of clinical and imaging findings and was analyzed for the presence of a tail sign. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients each had a single ureteral calculus. None of these calculi were associated with a positive tail sign. Sixty-nine phleboliths were present in 35 patients. Forty-five phleboliths (65%) were associated with a positive tail sign. Of the remaining 24 phleboliths, 17 (25%) were associated with a negative tail sign and seven (10%) were indeterminate. The tail sign has a sensitivity of 65% (45 of 69; 95% CI: 53%, 75%) and a specificity of 100% (82 of 82; 95% CI: 96%, 100%) in differentiating phlebolit...
Reducing Uncertainty in Architectural Decisions with AADL

A model-driven approach to real-time software systems development enables the conceptualization of software, fostering a more thorough understanding of its often complex architecture and behavior and promoting the documentation and analysis of concerns common to real-time embedded systems such as scheduling, resource allocation, and performance. Key architectural decisions can be made early in the development lifecycle by analyzing quantifiable quality attributes related to these concerns. Two modeling notations, the Architectural Analysis and Design Language (AADL) and the Unified Modeling Language Profile for Modeling and Analysis of Real-Time Embedded Systems (MARTE), are domain specific notations with the capacity to analyze these concerns. However, MARTE is not mature, to the point where its existing formalisms have been adopted into wide tool support. Furthermore, the inherent ambiguity of UML makes analysis in MARTE difficult. As a declarative language, AADL provides an adopted, formal analysis framework that meets this need. AADL can be used to augment MARTE in modeling software systems and provide the formal mechanisms for conducting quality analyses, helping to reduce uncertainty in architectural decisions.
BIOMOLECULAR FIELD EFFECT SENSORS (BIOFETS): FROM QUALITATIVE SENSING TO MULTIPLEXING, CALIBRATION AND QUANTITATIVE DETECTION FROM WHOLE BLOOD

Nanoscale field effect based sensors have emerged as a potential label-free diagnostic tool capable of detecting extremely low levels of biomolecules with fast response times. To date, successful detection of various biomolecular species ranging from small molecules to antibodies have been demonstrated, however, the lack of quantitative methods, sensor calibration techniques and ability to detect charges in strong ionic strength environments has hindered their commercial application. In this paper we discuss a recent progress in this field directed primarily towards overcoming the aforementioned obstacles.
Electric load forecasting using an artificial neural network

An artificial neural network (ANN) approach is presented for electric load forecasting. The ANN is used to learn the relationship among past, current and future temperatures and loads. In order to provide the forecasted load, the ANN interpolates among the load and temperature data in a training data set. The average absolute errors of the 1 h and 24 h-ahead forecasts in tests on actual utility data are shown to be 1.40% and 2.06%, respectively. This compares with an average error of 4.22% for 24 h ahead forecasts with a currently used forecasting technique applied to the same data. >
Theoretical Analysis of Hydrophobic Matching and Membrane-Mediated Interactions in Lipid Bilayers Containing Gramicidin

We present a quantitative analysis of the effects of hydrophobic matching and membrane-mediated protein-protein interactions exhibited by gramicidin embedded in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) bilayers (Harroun et al., 1999. Biophys. J. 76:937-945). Incorporating gramicidin, at 1:10 peptide/lipid molar ratio, decreases the phosphate-to-phosphate (PtP) peak separation in the DMPC bilayer from 35.3 A without gramicidin to 32.7 A. In contrast, the same molar ratio of gramicidin in DLPC increases the PtP from 30.8 A to 32.1 A. Concurrently, x-ray in-plane scattering showed that the most probable nearest-neighbor separation between gramicidin channels was 26.8 A in DLPC, but reduced to 23.3 A in DMPC. In this paper we review the idea of hydrophobic matching in which the lipid bilayer deforms to match the hydrophobic surface of the embedded proteins. We use a simple elasticity theory, including thickness compression, tension, and splay terms to describe the membrane deformation. The energy of membrane deformation is compared with the energy cost of hydrophobic mismatch. We discuss the boundary conditions between a gramicidin channel and the lipid bilayer. We used a numerical method to solve the problem of membrane deformation profile in the presence of a high density of gramicidin channels and ran computer simulations of 81 gramicidin channels to find the equilibrium distributions of the channels in the plane of the bilayer. The simulations contain four parameters: bilayer thickness compressibility 1/B, bilayer bending rigidity Kc, the channel-bilayer mismatch Do, and the slope of the interface at the lipid-protein boundary s. B, Kc, and Do were experimentally measured; the only free parameter is s. The value of s is determined by the requirement that the theory produces the experimental values of bilayer thinning by gramicidin and the shift in the peak position of the in-plane scattering due to membrane-mediated channel-channel interactions. We show that both hydrophobic matching and membrane-mediated interactions can be understood by the simple elasticity theory.
rRNA Promoter Activity in the Fast-Growing Bacterium Vibrio natriegens

The bacterium Vibrio natriegens can double with a generation time of less than 10 min (R. G. Eagon, J. Bacteriol. 83:736-737, 1962), a growth rate that requires an extremely high rate of protein synthesis. We show here that V. natriegens' high potential for protein synthesis results from an increase in ribosome numbers with increasing growth rate, as has been found for other bacteria. We show that V. natriegens contains a large number of rRNA operons, and its rRNA promoters are extremely strong. The V. natriegens rRNA core promoters are at least as active in vitro as Escherichia coli rRNA core promoters with either E. coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) or V. natriegens RNAP, and they are activated by UP elements, as in E. coli. In addition, the E. coli transcription factor Fis activated V. natriegens rrn P1 promoters in vitro. We conclude that the high capacity for ribosome synthesis in V. natriegens results from a high capacity for rRNA transcription, and the high capacity for rRNA transcription results, at least in part, from the same factors that contribute most to high rates of rRNA transcription in E. coli, i.e., high gene dose and strong activation by UP elements and Fis.
Opioid peptide receptor studies. 1. Identification of a novel δ-opioid receptor binding site in rat brain membranes

Abstract Our laboratory was among the first to propose the existence of δ receptor subtypes: a δ site thought to be associated with a μ-δ-opioid receptor complex termed the δ cx binding site and δ site not associated with the μ-δ-opioid receptor complex, termed the δ ncx site. In previous studies, we assayed the δ cx site with [ 3 H][ d -Ala 2 , d -Leu 5 ]enkephalin using rat brain membranes depleted of δ ncx sites by pretreatment with the site-directed acylating agent, (+)- trans -SUPERFIT. In the present study, we investigated, using (+)- trans -SUPERFIT-pretreated membranes, the possibility of heterogeneity of the δ cx binding site. Two sites were resolved: the δ cx−1 site at which μ ligands are potent noncompetitive inhibitors and δ ligands are weak competitive inhibitors, and the δ cx−2 site has a δ-like ligand-selectivity profile, several experiments distinguished it from the δ ncx site. Two lines of evidence suggest that the δ ncx site corresponds to the cloned δ receptor. One, the δ receptor was cloned from the NG108-15 cell line, and this receptor, like the δ ncx binding site, irreversibly binds SUPERFIT and (+)- trans -SUPERFIT. Secondly, administration of δ-antisense DNA selectively decreases δ ncx binding. Viewed collectively, the major finding of this study is the discovery of a novel SUPERFIT-insensitive and δ-antisense-insensitive δ cx−2 binding site.
Agreement and Variability in the Interpretation of Early CT Changes in Stroke Patients Qualifying for Intravenous rtPA Therapy

Background and Purpose—Ischemic changes identified on CT scans performed in the first few hours after stroke onset, which are thought to possibly represent early cytotoxic edema and development of irreversible injury, may have important implications for subsequent treatment. However, insecurity and conflicting data exist over the ability of clinicians to correctly recognize and interpret these changes. We performed a detailed review of selected baseline CT scans from the NINDS rt-PA Stroke Trial to test agreement among experienced stroke specialists and other physicians on the presence of early CT ischemic changes. Methods—Seventy baseline CT scans from the NINDS Stroke Trial were read and classified for the presence or absence of various early findings of ischemia by 16 individuals, including NINDS trial investigators, other neurologists, other emergency medicine physicians, and radiology or stroke fellows. CT scans included normal scans and scans from patients who later developed symptomatic intracrania...
Analysis of investigative features of select evaluation studies

Analysis of the nature and variations of investigative characteristics can shed new light on the improvement of evaluation theory and practice.
Personal Jurisdiction and Tribal Courts after Walden and Bauman: The Inadvertent Impact of Supreme Court Jurisdictional Decisions on Indian Country

In 2014 the United States Supreme Court added two new cases to the canon on the meaning of due process in the context of personal jurisdiction. These cases clarified the metes and bounds of specific and general personal jurisdiction. However, decisions that fit within the state and federal court system do not always easily have cross applications to tribal courts – which nonetheless are obliged to extend due process rights via the Indian Civil Rights Act. This article takes the Supreme Court’s 2014 decisions and discusses their potential application to tribal courts and their use within Indian Country.
Epigenetic Regulations of mRNAs and miRNAs by Nutraceuticals

Both genetic alterations and epigenetic regulations of genes could lead to the development of human cancers. However, recent studies have shown that epigenetic alteration contributes significantly not only to the development of cancer but also responsible for the progression of cancer to metastatic disease. The epigenetic regulations of specific genes in human cancer cells include DNA methylation, acetylation, histone modification, nucleosome remodeling, and small non-coding RNA regulation including the regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs). Among many epigenetic regulations, DNA methylation is the most common event and has been well studied for understanding the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of genes. The DNA hypermethylation occurs in the promoter sequences of tumor suppressor gene or tumor suppressive miRNAs leading to the down-regulation in the expression of tumor suppressor mRNAs or miRNAs, resulting in the development and progression of various cancers. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that several non-toxic natural agents known as nutraceuticals including isoflavone, curcumin, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, indole-3-carbinol, 3,3′-diindolylmethane, and lycopene could demethylate DNA at their hypermethylation sites or modulate histone, demonstrating their potential roles in the epigenetic regulation of mRNAs and miRNAs. These epigenetic regulations of mRNAs and miRNAs could be one of the molecular mechanisms by which nutraceuticals inhibit carcinogenesis and cancer progression, and thus either nutraceuticals or their synthetic analogs could serve as novel demethylating agents for the treatment of human malignancies.
Incomplete Contigency Tables

Incomplete contingency tables have cells with no observations. When empty cells are predicted on the basis of theory or characteristics of the population, the cells have structural zeros. When empty cells occur from deficiencies in sampling, the cells have sampling zeros. While the analytic consequences of structural zeros are usually benign, the consequences arising from sampling zeros are often not so. The primary problem is deterioration in the accuracy of the G2 and χ2 approximations for testing the fit of loglinear models. Under these conditions, various strategies can be used to improve model testing. Keywords: loglinear models; generalized likelihood ratio statistic; chi-squared distribution; exact methods; contingency tables
Cardiac cobaltism: a rare complication after bilateral metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty

This is one of the first documented cases of metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty cobalt cardiac toxicity that has led to patient death. A 69-year-old female presented to our institution with cardiac failure secondary to cobalt toxicity resulting from bilateral MoM total hip arthroplasty. Her presenting metal ion levels were a cobalt level of 199 ppb and a chromium level of 77 ppb. She underwent bilateral femoral revisions to remove the source of cobalt. On postoperative day 7, the patient sustained a cerebral infarct and eventually expired because of the insult. This case represents one of the first documented fatalities related to MoM cobalt cardiac toxicity.
Development, specification and validation of Hurricane Resiliency Index

Combination of well-chosen indicators into a composite Hurricane Resiliency Index is proposed to assess and monitor hurricane resiliency level of coastal communities across geographical boundaries and the changing process over time. The index is constructed nonparametrically by assigning fixed standardization factors as weights to each of the indicators. The validation addresses the question of whether the index is representative of the resiliency dimensions of interest. Results from cross-correlation calculation and binary interaction regression model show that Hurricane Resiliency Index has the capability to broadly measure the dynamics of regional economic activities, and a higher value tends to have a greater mitigating effect over the hurricane impacts.
Fluoride tolerance of the young chick and turkey poult.

Abstract Duplicate groups of Strain-Cross White Leghorn chicks, White Rock Cross broiler chicks, and Large White Turkey poults were fed from 0 to 800 ppm fluoride as NaF for 1 day to 6 weeks. Based on growth rate, the dietary fluoride tolerances were at least 400 ppm for Leghorn chicks, 300 ppm for broiler chicks, and 200 ppm for turkey poults. Fluoride ingestion did not affect bone morphology or breaking strength. Increases in fluoride content of bone ash, plasma, and other soft tissues were related to dietary fluoride level but not to type of bird. Bone ash fluoride content was relatively constant at a given fluoride intake level over exposure periods of from 2 to 6 weeks.
Identification of an immunodominant antigen of Mycobacterium leprae and its application for the development of protective measures

Host defense against Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is chiefly conducted by cellular immunity. The adaptive immunity plays an important role, and T cells are activated through recognition of some immunodominant antigens of M. leprae. A search for an immunodominant antigen was carried out using human peripheral monocytes-derived dendritic cells and M. leprae-derived cell membrane fraction which is the most antigenic fraction of the bacteria, and Major Membrane Protein (MMP)-II was found as one of the immunodoninant antigens. The MMP-II highly stimulated both dendritic cells and macrophages to produce various cytokines. Further, MMP-II was recognized by T cells in vivo in patients infected with M. leprae. Then, we constructed a recombinant BCG secreting MMP-II. The recombinant BCG strongly stimulated both naive CD4+ and naive CD8+ T cells, and seemed to be a useful immunostimulatory agent.
Single-Molecule Measurements of the Binding between Small Molecules and DNA Aptamers

Aptamers that bind small molecules can serve as basic biosensing platforms. Evaluation of the binding constant between an aptamer and a small molecule helps to determine the effectiveness of the aptamer-based sensors. Binding constants are often measured by a series of experiments with varying ligand or aptamer concentrations. Such experiments are time-consuming, material nonprudent, and prone to low reproducibility. Here, we use laser tweezers to determine the dissociation constant for aptamer–ligand interactions at the single-molecule level from only one ligand concentration. Using an adenosine 5′-triphosphate disodium salt (ATP) binding aptamer as an example, we have observed that the mechanical stabilities of aptamers bound with ATP are higher than those without a ligand. Comparison of the change in free energy of unfolding (ΔGunfold) between these two aptamers yields a ΔG of 33 ± 4 kJ/mol for the binding. By applying a Hess-like cycle at room temperature, we obtained a dissociation constant (Kd) of 2...
Beets Go Mainstream

The health benefits for consuming fruits and vegetables, as seen with the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, have generated significant interest over the years, especially in certain sectors of the population looking for alternative approaches to conventional medical treatment. Large scale longitudinal observational studies exhibited the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and reductions in risk for cardiovascular disease [1-5]. While these benefits were initially linked with the rich source of micronutrients - vitamins and minerals - found in these foods, subsequent studies utilizing supplements with these nutrients failed to provide the same effect as intake of the foods [6]. Other phytochemicals have been investigated with mixed results. Currently, a chemical found in many of our vegetables that has stirred considerable interest in treating a variety of diseases associated with poor vascular health is nitrate.
Study on the Attachment Mode of Fixed Tower Crane at UHV Transmission Tower Test Base

The highest tested tower of SGCC UHV Transmission Tower Test Base is determined to be 140 m,and the tower crane for erecting the tested tower should be attached to the longitudinal reverse loading structure in view point of both economic and security considerations.For this special attachment way,special studies on design calculations of the attachment pattern,crane adhesion force,attached point calculation to loading structure etc.will be required.
Facing Civilized Society:Ethics,Management and Governance

With the development of economy and technology in modern society,human beings are involved in a crisis of modernity.To solve this problem,the appropriate management and human development notions should be founded.In this paper,some essential categories,such as "politics","etiquette",and "governance",from Chinese traditional philosophy are analyzed to raise an inference that Chinese ethics is a form of internal management,and the management of Chinese traditional culture is a form of external ethics,and to reveal the significant differences among ethics,management and governance.The foundation of the principle and the law in society is morality and mind.It is a valid path of social development that morality and legal governance must be combined reasonably and appropriately.
The High Cost of Information and Some Approaches to Its Acquisition

The cost of information, especially in its imprinted form, has been rising at an exponential rate for more than twenty-five years. This cost increase is coupled with a similar increase in the amount of material being produced and the number of users requesting it.
Supersensitivity in Rat Cerebral Cortex: Pre- and Postsynaptic Effects of 6-Hydroxydopamine at Noradrenergic Synapses

The intraventricular administration of 6-hydroxydopamine resulted in the destruction of noradrenergic nerve terminals in the rat cerebral cortex and a 90% decrease in norepinephrine content. The time courses of the effects of this treatment on catecholamine-stimulated cyclic 39,59-AMP accumulation in slices of cerebral cortex and on beta adrenergic receptors were determined to investigate the mechanisms underlying supersensitivity in this system. The EC50 for norepinephrine stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation decreased following 6-hydroxydopamine administration. This decrease was apparent within 1 day and was probably due to the loss of the presynaptic uptake system for norepinephrine. The density of beta adrenergic receptors, as determined by measuring the binding of the high-affinity beta adrenergic receptor antagonist [125I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol, and maximal levels of catecholamine-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation increased with a slower time course, reaching peak levels approximately 16 days after treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine. The maximal increase in the density of beta adrenergic receptors was 50%, while maximal levels of cyclic AMP accumulation in treated rats were approximately twice those measured in control animals. The KD of [125I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol for beta adrenergic receptors and the EC50 of isoproterenol for stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation were unchanged following 6-hydroxydopamine administration, suggesting that the intrinsic properties of the postsynaptic receptor were not affected by denervation. The administration of 6-hydroxydopamine did not affect fluoride-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. The results are consistent with the idea that the supersensitivity to catecholamines that occurs in the cerebral cortex following 6-hydroxydopamine administration had both pre- and postsynaptic components. The slowly developing postsynaptic component can be at least partially explained by an increase in the density of beta adrenergic receptors.
Accuracy of Ultrasound in Predicting the Nature of Renal Masses

AbstractRenal ultrasonography is an established, reliable means of evaluating the consistency of renal masses. In a retrospective evaluation of 136 proved cases renal ultrasonography was 95 per cent accurate in distinguishing normal from pathological renal masses, 85 per cent accurate in diagnosing uncomplicated cysts and 100 per cent accurate in identifying complicated cysts, polycystic disease, extrarenal lesions and solid or partially solid neoplasms. Ultrasonography was useful in directing the diagnostic examination and in determining which patients should undergo further, more invasive diagnostic procedures.
Approximation of the Thermoviscoelastic Control System

In this paper, we consider the approximation of a thermoviscoelastic model of Boltzmann type. Our interest is to develop an appropriate approximation scheme for the closed loop control system.
Knowledge Fair Trade

In this chapter I focus on the implications of the internationalization of knowledge produced in prosperous countries, crossing over cultural borders under complex social, historical, political, economic and linguistic circumstances. My purpose is to problematize the global expansion of family therapy training within a neoliberal context, specifically that of narrative therapy, into my Colombian culture. Through my accounts here of training in narrative and family therapy, I locate the current globalization of professional knowledge within a contemporary agenda of colonization. Faithfully at first, I consumed this professional knowledge with no question; later I engaged a critical perspective that allowed me to better discern the cultural differences between the knowledges—an imperative step to engage in an exchange of knowledge while maintaining cultural integrity. I propose here a multi-lateral fair trade agreement of knowledge, embedded in a decolonial project of training and practicing. A fair trade of knowledge facilitates the unfolding of hybrid, transformative inter-cultural alternatives. It recognizes that all cultures are legitimate contributors when drawing from their idiosyncratic local life-support systems, languages, meanings and histories.
Experimental harmonic characterization in the Multi-Frequency Recirculating Planar Magnetron

The Multi-Frequency Recirculating Planar Magnetron (MFRPM) is a crossed-field oscillator capable of producing high-power microwaves (HPM). The MFRPM-6+8 is the first prototype MFRPM, which consists of a 6-cavity 1-GHz and 8-cavity 2-GHz set of planar cavity arrays coupled by cylindrical electron beam / RF recirculation bends. Recent experimental work conducted using a −300 kV, 200–300 ns voltage pulse, 0.1–0.3 T axial magnetic field, and Mode-Control Cathode (MCC) showed evidence of potentially significant harmonic 2- and 4-GHz frequency generation from the 1-GHz cavity array. Experiments are currently underway to characterize these harmonics.
Situating Hong Kong and Bollywood Cinemas in the Global

This introductory chapter explains how Hong Kong and Bollywood film industries have repositioned themselves as new players in the pantheon of global cinema. It focuses on the force of globalization that has driven local filmmakers to make films for nontraditional audiences; to engage moral, political, and socioeconomic controversies in their works; and to gain legitimacy from and negotiate with the various state authorities. It poses the question of what is gained and lost in the flow of cinematic styles, meanings, practices, and norms among Hong Kong, Bollywood, and global cinema. Balancing the cross-cultural analysis of Hong Kong and Bollywood’s appeals at home and abroad, it offers a new inter-Asian framework for understanding these two highly globalized Asian film industries.
Internet of Things (IoT): The next paradigm shift but whats the delay?

The next paradigm change knocking at the door of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is Internet of Things (IoT). IoT, an evolving technology, is gaining popularity because of its basic idea: accessing the physical objects through internet. It has number of inbuilt benefits but there are numerous factors and bottlenecks which are delaying the worldwide implementation of this technology. Extensive research is being carried out by various countries and international bodies to addresses these challenges. This paper discusses proposed applications of IoT, implementation challenges, security aspects, the latest on research efforts and identifies the way forward.
On the Weak Bahadur-Kiefer Representation for M-Estimators

Let (S,S) be a measurable space, let Θ be a subset of ℝm and let h : S × Θ → ℝd be a jointly measurable funcion. Further, let X and {X i}i=1 ∞ be i.i.d. r.v.’s with values in S. Let P be the distribution of X. Suppose that we want to estimate a parameter θ0 characterized by E[h(X,θ 0)] = 0. An M-estimator θn is a r.v. θ n = θn X 1,…, X n) satisfying $$n^-1\sum_{i=0}^{n} h(X_i,\theta_n)\approx 0$$ .
A Sendai virus recombinant vaccine expressing a gene for truncated human metapneumovirus (hMPV) fusion protein protects cotton rats from hMPV challenge

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infections pose a serious health risk to young children, particularly in cases of premature birth. No licensed vaccine exists and there is no standard treatment for hMPV infections apart from supportive hospital care. We describe the production of a Sendai virus (SeV) recombinant that carries a gene for a truncated hMPV fusion (F) protein (SeV-MPV-Ft). The vaccine induces binding and neutralizing antibody responses toward hMPV and protection against challenge with hMPV in a cotton rat system. Results encourage advanced development of SeV-MPV-Ft to prevent the morbidity and mortality caused by hMPV infections in young children.
A Conceptual Approach for Modelling Social Care Services: The INSPIRE Project

This paper proposes a conceptual model of social care services that takes into account different characteristics of services and activities. This model encompasses a multidimensional conceptualization of social and health care services integration, used in the Integrated Unique Access Point (IUAP), and considers those characteristics that are relevant to answer a fragile user’s need. On the basis of the proposed model, this paper outlines the methodological considerations with regard to information management, modelling and design of data related to social care services. To this end, a taxonomy of services categorized according to different targets, i.e., elders and people with disabilities, is presented. Our model that is based on the UML standard is used within the INSPIRE project in order to achieve its required goals.
Using Video InstructionProcedures with and without Embedded Text to Teach Object Labeling to Preschoolerswith Autism: A Preliminary Investigation

Three preschoolers diagnosed with autism were taught how to expressively label common food items using video instruction with and without embedded text. Twenty unknown stimuli were randomly assigned to either the embedded text or no-embedded text condition. Using a commercially available video editing program, a DVD was created that presented test stimuli (photographs of food items) with the auditory instruction: “What is it?” followed by the auditory presentation of the name of the stimulus. Stimuli in the embedded text condition also included the typed name of the item below the picture. All instruction was presented via a DVD player and viewed on a 19-inch television. Probe sessions were conducted after teaching sessions via the DVD player to assess correct responses. While the impact of including embedded text was somewhat unclear, all participants acquired expressive object labeling skills by watching the DVD.
Carbonic anhydrase in the nervous system.

In the nervous system carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are located in diverse populations of cells, where they serve an impressive variety of functions. Until quite recently CA II was considered to be the only isozyme in the central nervous system (CNS) (e.g. Fillipi et al., 1978). Now CA III and CA IV have been detected in the CNS by immunocytochemical staining (Ghandour et al., 1992Nogradi, 1993; Nogradi et al., 1993; Brion et al., 1994), and CA IV also by its enzymatic activity in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (Brion et al., 1994). It is likely, however, that the data collected before 1990 about enzymatic activity of CA in the nervous system can be attributed largely to CA II, which is rapid and highly abundant. This chapter will address the CNS regions and types of cells in which CA II is expressed, immediately followed in each case by some discussion of the respective significance of CA II to physiological funtion, biosynthesis and/or clinical practice. CA III and CA IV also will be mentioned, more briefly.
Novel mutations in the XLRS1 gene may be caused by early Okazaki fragment sequence replacement.

PURPOSE To determine whether two families diagnosed with X-linked retinoschisis contained mutations in the XLRS1 gene. METHODS DNA from the patients was obtained from blood lymphocytes using commercially available kits. Single-strand conformation assay was performed in an electrophoresis apparatus using 10% acrylamide TBE gels at 10 degrees C. The gels were stained with SYB green II and were scanned in a phosphoimager. DNA was sequenced using an automated fluorescence sequencer. RESULTS A deletion that eliminates exon 2 was found in one family. An abnormal sequence replacement in exon 4 was found in the other family. Both mutations have severe effects in the coding region by inserting premature stop codons. CONCLUSIONS Both of the families have mutations in the XLRS1 gene. One of these mutations points to a novel mechanism. The mutation is caused by a replacement of 17 bp of a normal sequence with 20 bp of a sequence originating from two different places in the antisense strand. This suggests that early Okazaki fragments were incorporated into the sense strand of exon 4, replacing the normal sequence.
BONE MORPHOGENIC PROTEIN-1/TOLLOID-LIKE METALLOPROTEINASE UPREGULATION PROFILE IN HUMAN AND MURINE ISCHEMIC HEART FAILURE

Bone morphogenic protein-1 (BMP1), mammalian tolloid (mTLD), mammalian tolloid-like 1 (mTLL1), and 2 (mTLL2) comprise the (BMP1)/tolloid-like proteinase (BTP) family. BTPs are zinc-dependent metalloproteinases that produce mature collagen fibrils and regulate extracellular matrix assembly.
Sex Offender Residence Restrictions and Homelessness: A Critical Look at South Carolina:

Sex offender residence restrictions (SORRs) have been widely implemented across the United States since the 1990s. A common concern regarding the implementation of SORRs is the decrease in viable h...
Survivability Analysis of K-Variant Architecture for Different Memory Attacks and Defense Strategies

Many systems require high security during a limited operational timeframe. These systems can be exposed to many attacks that prevent tasks from being completed. To reduce the chances of a successful attack and increase the security of these systems, many fault tolerance architectures and defense strategies have been developed. N-version architecture is one technique to improve reliability and security. In this architecture, functionally equivalent variants of a program are developed and executed concurrently. However, due to the high cost of developing and maintaining N versions, it is used for large budget projects. In this paper, an alternative approach to improve security is K-variant architecture. By applying safe and automated program transformations, functionally equivalent variants of the original program are generated. The goal is to shift vulnerabilities in variants into different locations. These variants are executed simultaneously to complete a task so that the chance of a successful exploitation attack is decreased. In this paper, several types of memory exploitation attacks are analyzed along with the proposed four defense strategies. The experimental study investigates the effectiveness of defense strategies against these attacks. The results suggest that K-variant architecture with the proposed defense strategies may significantly improve the security of systems.
Area Deprivation Index and Rurality in Relation to Lung Cancer Prevalence and Mortality in a Rural State.

Background We sought to describe lung cancer prevalence and mortality in relation to socioeconomic deprivation and rurality. Methods We conducted a population-based cross-sectional analysis of prevalent lung cancers from a statewide all-payer claims dataset from 2012 to 2016, lung cancer deaths in Maine from the state death registry from 2012 to 2016, rurality, and area deprivation index (ADI), a geographic area-based measure of socioeconomic deprivation. Analyses examined rate ratios for lung cancer prevalence and mortality according to rurality (small and isolated rural, large rural, or urban) and ADI (quintiles, with highest reflecting the most deprivation) and after adjusting for age, sex, and area-level smoking rates as determined by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Results Among 1 223 006 adults aged 20 years and older during the 5-year observation period, 8297 received lung cancer care, and 4616 died. Lung cancer prevalence and mortality were positively associated with increasing rurality, but these associations did not persist after adjusting for age, sex, and smoking rates. Lung cancer prevalence and mortality were positively associated with increasing ADI in models adjusted for age, sex, and smoking rates (prevalence rate ratio for ADI quintile 5 compared with quintile 1 = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.30 to 1.54) and mortality rate ratio = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.41 to 1.79). Conclusion Socioeconomic deprivation, but not rurality, was associated with higher lung cancer prevalence and mortality. Interventions should target populations with socioeconomic deprivation, rather than rurality per se, and aim to reduce lung cancer risk via tobacco treatment and control interventions and to improve patient access to lung cancer prevention, screening, and treatment services.
Personal Statements in General Surgery: An Unrecognized Role in the Ranking Process.

Objective Personal statements are a requirement of general surgery residency applications. Yet, their role in an applicant's final rank within a program remains unclear. This study explores the language used in personal statements to differentiate applicants in the general surgery residency ranking process. Design A textual analysis of general surgery residency applicant personal statements was performed. Using inductive coding and grounded theory, 3 main themes from personal statements were identified: my story, my future, my goals. These themes were utilized to build a dictionary consisting of over 400 descriptive terms in multiple categories. Data was extracted using the Linguistics Inquiry and Word Count program, which can linguistically determine basic characteristics from text. The data was stratified according to final rank and gender for analysis, using correlation and descriptive statistics. Setting Large, urban, academic general surgery residency program. Participants One hundred nineteen personal statements during the 2018 to 2019 application cycle were analyzed. All applicants were interviewed and considered for inclusion on our final rank list. Results There were 68 (57%) females on the final rank list with no difference in the distribution of gender between those in the top and bottom halves (p = 0.11). Overall, personal statements for the top applicants scored higher in grit than those in the bottom half (median 0.42% vs 0.35%, p = 0.03). Males ranked in the top half had less use of agentic (p = 0.04) and efficient/organized (p = 0.03) words when compared with males ranked in the bottom half. In contrast, females ranked in the top half used more grit words compared to those in the bottom half (median 0.45% vs 0.35%, p = 0.004). Conclusions Linguistic differences existed in the personal statements of top- and bottom-ranked applicants to a general surgery residency program. These findings provide an adjunctive tool for differentiating applicants based on this underutilized component of the ranking process.
Pupil densification in the context of extended source imaging

Pupil densification is a technique to improve contrast in a direct imaging interferometer. By enlarging the size of each aperture in a sparse array, the fraction of energy contained in the central point spread function peak can be increased. However, the effective field of view is reduced as the contrast improves. Our work investigates the optimal strategy for pupil densification in the context of extended source imaging. Analytical expressions are derived to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio at the edge of the field of view for a variety of hypertelescope configurations. Free-space beam transport and fiber-optic beam transport are both considered. The relative advantages and disadvantages between the considered hypertelescope configurations are discussed.
Imposter Syndrome in Surgical Trainees: Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale Assessment in General Surgery Residents.

Background Imposter syndrome occurs when high-achieving individuals have a pervasive sense of self-doubt combined with fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite objective measures of success. This threatens mental health and well-being. The prevalence and severity of imposter syndrome has not been studied among general surgery residents on a large scale. The primary outcomes of this study were the prevalence and severity of imposter syndrome. Study Design The Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale was administered to residents at 6 academic general surgery residency programs. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify significant differences among groups and predictive characteristics of imposter syndrome. Results One hundred and forty-four residents completed the assessment (response rate 46.6%; 47.2% were male). Only 22.9% had “none to mild” or “moderate” imposter syndrome. A majority (76%) had “significant” or “severe” imposter syndrome. There were no significant differences in mean scores among male and female residents (p = 0.69). White residents had a mean score of 71.3 and non-White residents had a mean score of 68.3 (p = 0.24). There was no significant difference between PGY1 to PGY5 or research residents (p = 0.72). There were no significant differences based on US Medical Licensing Examination or American Board of Surgery In-Service Training Examination scores (p = 0.18 and p = 0.37, respectively). Conclusions Imposter syndrome is prevalent among general surgery residents, with 76% of residents reporting either significant or severe imposter syndrome. There were no predictive characteristics based on demographics or academic achievement, suggesting that there is something either inherent to those choosing general surgery training or the general surgery training culture that leads to such substantive levels of imposter syndrome.
Protection Techniques For Wavelength Division Multiplexing Networks using Resource Delayed Release Strategy

Network availability is an important requirement in an optical telecommunication network. To overcome a disconnection, preparing a backup path before failure happens is required to reroute the affected traffic. This prevents any failure causing a significant amount of data loss or interruption in Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks. Resource Delayed Release (RDR) is a new idea to improve the Service Provisioning Time (SPT) by adding the concept of idle optical channels. In earlier work [1] we proved that the delay in the removal of an idle optical channel helps the next service request to be carried immediately. In this paper, we address the problem of single link failure in WDM networks by comparing different protection methods when applied to the RDR strategy. We investigate and compare three algorithms that are mostly intended for maximization of the amount of remaining bandwidth over a damaged network. They are: Path Protection (PP), Link Protection (LP), and Partial Path Protection (PPP) [2]. The objective of this work is to apply the above protection methods on the RDR strategy to determine which method provides the best network performance in terms of Bandwidth Blocking Probability (BBP), Blocking Probability (BP), Service Provisioning Time (SPT), and recovery time (RT). Our simulation results show high network efficiency when using the RDR strategy with the PPP method for uniform traffic distribution. The highest BBP is when we do not apply any protection on RDR. When PPP is utilized there is a reduction of 58% in BBP, of 64% in BP, and of 40% in SPT. Additionally RDR with PPP results in the lowest RT measured.
Address of the CEO and EVP to the House of Delegates Session at the 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy: Small and Mighty: Going Far Together.

Greetings to all of our delegates, alternates, and other interested attendees at this final session of the 2021 AACP House of Delegates. We have a lot of work to conduct in this session so my remarks will be brief. It is noted in the AACP Bylaws that the EVP reports annually on the progress the