cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myocarditis in systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed by 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

Objectives Cardiovascular diseaseand heart failure (CHF) are leading causes of death in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The underlying mechanisms for increased CHF in SLE are unclear but myocardial inflammation and lupus myocarditis (LM) may play a role. We propose that 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography (18F-FDG–PET)/CT can help diagnose LM. Methods This report describes eight patients with presumed LM; five patients were evaluated due to active cardiorespiratory symptoms and three patients were participating in a pilot study to determine the prevalence of subclinical myocarditis in SLE. Clinical characteristics, laboratory and cardiac testing including electrocardiography (ECG), transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), coronary artery evaluation as well as 18F-FDG–PET/CT imaging are discussed. Results Four patients were African American and the others were Hispanic. Half presented with chest pain; 37% had dyspnoea and 25% were asymptomatic. The median SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) was 5 (2–18) and SLICC Damage Index (SDI) 0.5 (0–5). The median troponin level was 0.08 ng/mL (0–0.9). The most common ECG findings were non-specific ST-T wave abnormalities (n=5). Fifty per cent of the patients had a decreased ejection fraction on TTE and all patients had diffuse myocardial FDG uptake on 18F-FDG–PET/CT consistent with myocardial inflammation. Conclusion This case series is the first to describe the use of 18F-FDG–PET/CT in the diagnosis of LM and discuss the clinical characteristics and cardiac findings of eight patients with LM supporting the role for cardiac 18F-FDG–PET/CT in its diagnosis.
Secret Key Generation Among Multiple Terminals with Applications to Wireless Systems

The security of most existing cryptosystems relies on the (unproven) difficulty in solving a computational problem, e.g., factoring large integers or computing discrete logarithms in certain groups (cf. e.g.,[11]). This notion of security is called computational complexity security, as it is based on the assumption that an adversary has restricted computational power and lacks “efficient algorithms.„ However, this assumption is being weakened with the development of efficient algorithms as well as the increase in computational power of modern computers (e.g., quantum computer).
New Monomers for Use in Dentistry

Dental composites have essentially replaced silicate cements as the preferred esthetic restorative material. Although dental composites exist in a variety of formulations, they all contain the following essential components: 1) a resin system usually comprising one or more monomers, 2) a reinforcing phase consisting of glass, quartz or other filler, 3) a coupling agent such as a vinyl silane for chemically bonding the reinforcing mineral phase with the polymeric matrix, 4) an initiator system for free radical polymerization under ambient conditions, and 5) stabilizers for maximizing the storage stability of the uncured dental materials and the chemical stability of the cured composites. Optionally, such ancillary components as anticariogenic fluoride release agents and coupling agents for promoting adhesion to tooth structure may also be included. Dental sealants have similar compositions except that they are unfilled or only lightly filled materials.
A two-level computational graph method for the adjoint of a finite volume based compressible unsteady flow solver

Abstract The adjoint method is a useful tool for finding gradients of design objectives with respect to system parameters for fluid dynamics simulations. But the utility of this method is hampered by the difficulty in writing an efficient implementation for the adjoint flow solver, especially one that scales to thousands of cores. This paper demonstrates a Python library, called adFVM, that can be used to construct an explicit unsteady flow solver and derive the corresponding discrete adjoint flow solver using automatic differentiation (AD). The library uses a two-level computational graph method for representing the structure of both solvers. The library translates this structure into a sequence of optimized kernels, significantly reducing its execution time and memory footprint. Kernels can be generated for heterogeneous architectures including distributed memory, shared memory and accelerator based systems. The library is used to write a finite volume based compressible flow solver. A wall clock time comparison between different flow solvers and adjoint flow solvers built using this library and state of the art graph based AD libraries is presented on a turbomachinery flow problem. Performance analysis of the flow solvers is carried out for CPUs and GPUs. Results of strong and weak scaling of the flow solver and its adjoint are demonstrated on subsonic flow in a periodic box.
Multi-LiDAR placement, calibration, co-registration, and processing on a Subaru Forester for off-road autonomous vehicles operations

For autonomous vehicles 3D, rotating LiDAR sensors are often critically important towards the vehicle’s ability to sense its environment. Generally, these sensors scan their environment, using multiple laser beams to gather information about the range and the intensity of the reflection from an object. LiDAR capabilities have evolved such that some autonomous systems employ multiple rotating LiDARs to gather greater amounts of data regarding the vehicle’s surroundings. For these multi–LiDAR systems, the placement of the sensors determine the density of the combined point cloud. We perform preliminary research regarding the optimal LiDAR placement strategy on an off–road, autonomous vehicle known as the Halo project. We use the Mississippi State University Autonomous Vehicle Simulator (MAVS) to generate large amounts of labeled LiDAR data that can be used to train and evaluate a neural network used to process LiDAR data in the vehicle. The trained networks are evaluated and their performance metrics are then used to generalize the performance of the sensor pose. Data generation, training, and evaluation, was performed iteratively to perform a parametric analysis of the effectiveness of various LiDAR poses in the Multi–LiDAR system. We also, describe and evaluate intrinsic and extrinsic calibration methods that are applied in the multi–LiDAR system. In conclusion we found that our simulations are an effective way to evaluate the efficacy of various LiDAR placements based on the performance of the neural network used to process that data and the density of the point cloud in areas of interest.
Utilizing accelerometer telemetry tags to compare red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus [Poey, 1860]) behavior on artificial and natural reefs

Abstract Artificial reefs have been shown to support important reef fishes such as red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus [Poey, 1860]), however, few studies have compared fish behavior on artificial and natural habitats. We examined activity levels and behavioral patterns of red snapper over natural reefs, oil platforms and submerged ships. Telemetry tags (Sonotronics model MTT) that transmitted tri-axial acceleration range, with average depth or average temperature were developed specifically to monitor red snapper and tested in captive fish. Wild red snapper were surgically implanted at depth and monitored for 16 months over artificial and natural reefs. Overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) as the sum of x, y and z acceleration range (0–0.398 g along each axis) was used to estimate activity levels of red snapper at each reef. Measurements of red snapper indicated that season, diel period, temperature time blocks and reef type had significant effects on ODBA and depth use. Red snapper were more active during the summer, at night, and during a period of rapid temperature increase. Red snapper were also generally more active and stayed at shallower depths on ships. The increases in activity reported here may be attributed to differing feeding or spawning behaviors on certain reefs. These results suggest that environmental factors such as temperature and diel period heavily influence red snapper and that they behave differently on specific habitat types at certain times. Future efforts to examine the ecological performance of red snapper across reef types should therefore carefully take environmental influences into account.
Strings: A Cellular Automata Model of Moving Objects

We propose a reversible and local rule for modeling large scale moving objects called “strings.” These are one-dimensional objects that can be thought of as a discrete version of a chain of masses and springs. Longitudinal and transverse motions can be defined, making the string move in a three-dimensional space with adjustable momentum and energy. Basic mechanisms for collisions between strings are discussed.
Patients With Advanced Cancer Choose Less Aggressive Medical Treatment on Vignettes After Using a Computer-Based Decision Aid.

Background:Although patients often prefer less rather than more treatment at the end of life, in the absence of contrary instructions, the medical profession’s de facto position is to treat aggress...
[Epidemic situation of imported malaria in Beijing City, 2017].

Objective To explore the epidemic situation and epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Beijing City in 2017, so as to provide the evidence for developing malaria control interventions. Methods The data of registered malaria cases were collected and analyzed by using descriptive epidemiological methods. Results A total of 90 malaria cases were reported in Beijing in 2017, and all the cases were imported. The 90 cases included 74 cases of falciparum malaria (82.22%), 10 cases of vivax malaria (11.11%), 4 cases of ovale malaria (4.45%) and 2 cases of malariae malaria (2.22%), and 97.78% of the malaria patients were at ages of 19 to 61 years. Eighty-one cases (90.00%) came back from Africa and 44 cases (48.89%) suffered two or more courses of malaria. Among the 66 patients with disease onset after returning from abroad, 53 cases (80.30%) of falciparum malaria had an onset within two weeks. The patients went to the malaria-endemic areas were mainly because of working (46.34%) or business (41.46%). Eighty-nine cases used mosquito nets while living in malaria-endemic areas and 59 cases used mosquito repellents in addition. Conclusions The prevention and control for imported malaria is still the major target for the surveillance in Beijing City. The highly efficient surveillance system for malaria should be sustained, and the awareness of the disease among migrant workers should be enhanced.
Analysis of the efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone in the treatment of Turner syndrome

Objective To observe the clinical effect of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) in the treatment of Turner syndrome(TS). Methods The clinical data of 40 children with TS who were treated with rhGH were retrospectively analyzed. Results After treatment for 6 months, the GV, IGF-1 levels[ (9.4± 2.7)cm/a, (433.9±164.9)μg/L] were significantly higher than those before treatment [(2.5±0.4)cm/a, (186.7±7.33)μg/L], the differences were statistically significant(t=45.562 5, 5.061 0, all P<0.05). The treatment dose of rhGH, initial treatment age had no significant relationship with GV, the GH peak before treatment had no significant correlation with GV.There was no obvious adverse reactions in the treatment process. Conclusion For children with TS, rhGH can improve the height, improve the therapeutic effect, reduce the burden of family and society.Low dose of rhGH in the treatment of TS can achieve better curative effect, the initial treatment age and growth rate in children had no obvious relationship, the insulin growth factor is an important index during the treatment, and the changes of insulin growth should be closely monitored, and adjusting the dosage of the drug in order to achieve the best therapeutic effect. Key words: Turner syndrome; Recombinant human growth hormone; Clinical effect
Forward osmosis membrane technology for nutrient removal/recovery from wastewater: Recent advances, proposed designs, and future directions.

Abstract In recent years, the concept of nutrient removal/recovery has been applied as a sustainable solution to develop and design various modern wastewater treatment technologies for recovering nutrients from waste streams and is one of the high-priority research areas. Forward osmosis (FO) technology has received increasing interests as a potential low-fouling membrane process and a new approach to remove/recover nutrients from wastewater and sludge. The main objective of this review is to summarize the state of FO technology for nutrient removal/recovery from wastewater and sludge in order to identify areas of future improvements. In this study, nutrient removal processes, FO membrane technology, main factors affecting the FO process performance, the source water for nutrient recovery, the previous studies on the FO membrane process for nutrient removal/recovery from wastewater and sludge, membrane fouling, and recent advances in FO membranes for nutrient removal/recovery were briefly and critically reviewed. Then, the proposed possible designs to apply FO process in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were theoretically presented. Finally, based on the gaps identified in the area, challenges ahead, future perspectives, and conclusions were discussed. Further investigations on the properties of FO associated with real wastewater, wastewater pre-treatment, the long-term low fouling operation, membrane cleaning strategies, water flux and the economic feasibility of the FO process are still desirable to apply FO technology for nutrient removal/recovery at full-scale (decentralized or centralized) in the future.
Image-Based Differential Power Processing for Photovoltaic Microinverter

Partial shading is a serious problem limiting the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Differential power processing (DPP) architectures have been proposed to mitigate mismatch power losses caused by partial shading. However, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for DPP converters is still an area of research. Instead of employing heuristic techniques, the proposed method is deterministic that can uniquely determine the respective maximum power points (MPPs) for the DPP Converters relying on the PV mathematical model and provided incident irradiances. The irradiances of the submodules are estimated using captured images obtained by an optical camera. Unlike the existing methods in literature which either produce fast transient response or accurate steady state tracking, the proposed method provides both fast transient response and accurate steady state output without oscillations. Moreover, the proposed approach does not need communication between converters or current sensing for the MPPT. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated both by Simulink simulations and experimentally.
The pathway of democratic backsliding in Bangladesh

In the past decade Bangladesh has witnessed incremental, yet consequential decline of democracy. Two consecutive rigged elections in 2014 and 2018, adoption of legal measures to restrict freedom of...
Mortimer Thomson’s “Witches of New York”: Undercover Reporting on the Fortune-Telling Trade

During the 1850s, undercover journalists broke new ground by covering slave auctions, Northern uprisings, and fraud. In 1857, Mortimer Thomson, a comedic writer for Horace Greeley’s New York Tribun...
Secularización: ¿Una categoría válida? Una reevaluación del debate Löwith-Blumenberg en torno al surgimiento de la modernidad

Karl Lowith’s Meaning in History presents the emergence of modern philosophy of history as a secularization of medieval theology of history. His thesis holds that modern historical consciousness transposes into the immanent frame a constitutively transcendent element: the Christian history of salvation. In The Legitimacy of the Modern Age Hans Blumenberg impugns Lowith’s theory, by arguing that it works on the erroneous assumption that there would be a substantial content originally possessed by medieval Christianity and only later illegitimately appropriated by modernity. Blumenberg proposes that Lowith’s “transposition” hypothesis must be replaced by his own “reoccupation”: the modern vision of history would have thus taken up the place of Christian eschatology. This paper contends that Blumenberg fails to see that he and his opponent are arguing at different epistemological levels: while Blumenberg’s discussion operates at the level of the efficient causation of history, Lowith’s is focused on the philosophical root of the teleology of the modern idea of progress, which explains this notion as a transposition of the eschaton into a purely immanent telos .
Special development: The nature, content, and structure of special education teachers’ professional learning opportunities

Abstract Professional development can support teachers and improve teaching. Special education teachers engage in complex work while implementing special education policy and integrating disabled students. This study applies the occupational perspective to portray the nature of special education teachers’ professional learning opportunities and offer suggestions on how to optimize professional learning experiences for these teachers. We present findings from a phenomenological study of special education teachers’ professional learning opportunities in Connecticut, USA. We surface the extent to which induction for new teachers and the content and structure of professional development align with tenets of effective professional development. While induction experiences and specialized professional development sessions presented strengths, we ascertained gaps in teachers’ opportunities for collaborative, contextualized professional development. We describe how professional development shapes the socialization and professional identity of special education teachers with consequences for teacher retention and the implementation of special education services.
Performance of Mutual Funds Before and after Closing to New Investors

This study examines the decision to close mutual funds to new investors due to the growth of the funds' assets. The evidence indicates that funds perform better three years prior to closing to new investors than they do afterwards. Furthermore, the evidence indicates that the closed funds outperform the control portfolios of funds with similar investment objectives and asset size during the one- and three-year periods prior to closing. However, there is no significant difference in the performance of closed funds and their matched control portfolios during the one- and three-year periods after closing. Although the primary reason given for closing the funds is the desire to maintain performance in the face of growing assets, the strategy does not appear successful in accomplishing this objective.
Adhesion strength and contractility enable metastatic cells to become adurotactic

Significant changes in cell stiffness, contractility, and adhesion, i.e., mechanotype, are observed during a variety of biological processes. Whether cell mechanics merely change as a side effect of or driver for biological processes is still unclear. Here, we sort genotypically similar metastatic cancer cells into strongly adherent (SA) versus weakly adherent (WA) phenotypes to study how contractility and adhesion differences alter the ability of cells to sense and respond to gradients in material stiffness. We observe that SA cells migrate up a stiffness gradient, or durotax, while WA cells largely ignore the gradient, i.e., adurotax. Biophysical modeling and experimental validation suggest that differences in cell migration and durotaxis between weakly and strongly adherent cells are driven by differences in intra-cellular actomyosin activity. These results provide a direct relationship between cell phenotype and durotaxis and suggest how, unlike other senescent cells, metastatic cancer cells navigate against stiffness gradients.
Pathological and immunological responses of calves to Mycoplasma bovis

Mycoplasma bovis was identified in the UK for the first time in association with a severe outbreak of bovine respiratory disease. Subsequently it was shown to cause moderate lesions of arthritis and pneumonia in gnotobiotic calves. The following paper describes a hitherto unrecognized necrotic lesions caused by M. bovis in the lung parenchyma of gnotobiotic calves; it describes certain features of the immune response to the infection and contrasts the mechanisms of pathogenesis for M. bovis with that of other respiratory mycoplasmas. The paper summarizes some of the work described more fully elsewhere.
Cardiac pathology in COVID-19: a single center autopsy experience.

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is commonly associated with myocardial injury and heart failure. The pathophysiology behind this phenomenon remains unclear, with many diverse and multifaceted hypotheses. To contribute to this understanding, we describe the underlying cardiac findings in fifty patients who died with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods Included were autopsies performed on patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain reaction test from the index hospitalization. In the case of out-of-hospital death, patients were included if post-mortem testing was positive. Complete autopsies were performed according to a COVID-19 safety protocol, and all patients underwent both macroscopic and microscopic examination. If available, laboratory findings and echocardiograms were reported. Results The median age of the decedents was 63.5 years. The most common comorbidities included hypertension (90.0%), diabetes (56.0%) and obesity (50.0%). Lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates in the heart were present in eight (16.0%) patients, with focal myocarditis present in two (4.0%) patients. Acute myocardial ischemia was observed in eight (16.0%) patients. The most common findings were myocardial fibrosis (80.0%), hypertrophy (72.0%), and microthrombi (66.0%). The most common causes of death were COVID-19 pneumonia in 18 (36.0%), COVID-19 pneumonia with bacterial superinfection in 12 (24.0%), and COVID-19 pneumonia with pulmonary embolism in 10 (20.0%) patients. Conclusions Cardiovascular comorbidities were prevalent, and pathologic changes associated with hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were the most common findings. Despite markedly elevated inflammatory markers and cardiac enzymes, few patients exhibited inflammatory infiltrates or necrosis within cardiac myocytes. A unifying pathophysiologic mechanism behind myocardial injury in COVID-19 remains elusive, and additional autopsy studies are needed.
Narrative, Identity, and the Map of Cultural Policy: Once Upon a Time in a Globalized World

Contents: Preface Introduction: storytelling, narrative and the map of cultural policy Tales of transnationalism and globalization History, transitions, and frameworks for analysis Case studies: stories in conflict Narratives, nonsense, and the roots of understanding Identity, borders, and narrative ironies Cultural citizenship, narrative, and transnationalism Works cited Index.
The Role of Lending Practices on the Foreclosure Crisis: Evidence from Indiana and Ohio

The goal of this study was to understand the role of loan approval and denial decisions and interest rates on mortgage defaults. The researchers identified the effect of lending practices on mortgage defaults by exploiting the variation in foreclosure rates across counties in Indiana and Ohio. The foreclosure rates were calculated using data from different sources of foreclosure listings. The loan approval–denial decisions and loan characteristics were obtained from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data. The analysis also attempted to understand the characteristics of “unqualified borrowers” who were extended credit before the foreclosure crisis. The findings showed that the counties that had higher loan approvals and positive interest rate spread had higher foreclosure rates. However, foreclosure rates did not seem to be correlated with loan-to-income ratios and the magnitude of the interest rate spread. The findings also suggested that the applicant’s income or the ratio of debt-to-applicant’s income was not sufficient to identify the unqualified borrowers who were extended mortgage loans.
Arctic Underwater Operational Systems

Among the topics to be addressed in this workshop is that of Arctic Underwater Operational Systems. In the workshop announcement such things as life support systems, remote manipulator systems, and underwater navigation and sensing systems, as well as overall undersea system management or integration, were suggested as sub-topics to be dealt with under this subject. In this paper, I shall address the broader issues and problems associated with the successful employment of such systems in the arctic undersea environment and hopefully indicate areas in which some additional research and development would be fruitful in extending existing technologies to arctic undersea problems in general, as well as delineate areas of unique knowledge gaps which hinder progress in this area. I will conclude this paper with some examples from my own experience which illustrate a method of approaching undersea operational problems in the Arctic.
Mobilization of Liver Iron by Ferroxidase (Ceruloplasmin)

Abstract Iron was mobilized by human ferroxidase from dog liver into the perfusate under simulated physiological conditions. The rate of mobilization was estimated to be 1.8 µm per min per 4.9 µm ferroxidase. Human serum albumin with trace copper was found to be inactive in iron mobilization. The low Km and high k1 values of ferroxidase toward ferrous ion enabled us to deduce that the elimination of free iron in the perfusate by ferroxidase would generate a very steep concentration gradient between iron storage cells and the capillary system. This concentration gradient would promote a rapid iron out-flux from the cells by diffusion.
Gender differences of inducible nitric oxide production in SJL/J mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract We identified gender related differences of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and NO production in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). When myelin basic protein-specific T-lymphocytes derived from female mice were transferred, the female recipients developed more severe EAE and expressed higher levels of iNOS and NO than male recipients. When the T-lymphocytes derived from males were transferred, severe EAE was induced in neither female nor male recipients and neither iNOS nor NO were detectable. These data show an association between NO production and EAE severity, suggesting a possible role of NO in the pathogenesis of EAE.
Reward-related decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity among MDMA and other drug users

Abstract Background The recreational drug, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘Ecstasy’), is a synthetic amphetamine derivative and a serotonin neurotoxin. MDMA use is associated with cognitive dysfunction and impulsivity, but since polydrug abuse is common among users it is difficult to attribute these problems specifically to MDMA. Moreover, few studies have examined reward-related cognitive processes. Our aim was to examine reward-related decision-making and impulsivity among MDMA users while controlling for polydrug use via appropriate comparison groups. Methods We examined decision-making [Iowa Gambling Task, IGT; Bechara, A., Damasio, A.R., Damasio, H., Anderson, S.W., 1994. Insensitivity to future consequences following damage to human prefrontal cortex. Cognition 50, 7–15], self-reported impulsivity (Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire—Brief Form [constraint subscale]; Barratt Impulsiveness Scale; Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale), and drug use among 22 abstinent MDMA users, 30 other drug users, and 29 healthy non-drug controls. Results MDMA and other drug users showed comparable patterns of decision-making and impulsivity. However, both drug groups demonstrated poorer IGT performance and elevated self-reported impulsivity relative to controls. Poorer decision-making was related to heavier drug use in the past year, heavier weekly alcohol use, and meeting lifetime substance use disorder (SUD) criteria for more drug classes. Elevated impulsivity was associated with heavier drug use, heavier weekly alcohol use, more lifetime SUDs, and higher self-reported depression levels. Conclusions These findings contradict the idea that MDMA is specifically associated with deficient decision-making. Drug users, in general, may be at risk for decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity. Such behaviors may represent trait factors that lead to the initiation of drug and alcohol use, and/or they may represent behavior patterns that are exacerbated by extensive use.
Widespread neocortical abnormalities in temporal lobe epilepsy with and without mesial sclerosis.

Abstract Purpose Extrafocal structural abnormalities have been consistently described in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with mesial temporal lobe sclerosis (TLE-MTS). In TLE without MTS (TLE-no) extrafocal abnormalities are more subtle and often require region of interest analyses for their detection. Cortical thickness measurements might be better suited to detect such subtle abnormalities than conventional whole brain volumetric techniques which are often negative in TLE-no. The aim of this study was to seek and characterize patterns of cortical thinning in TLE-MTS and TLE-no. Methods T1 weighted whole brain images were acquired on a 4 T magnet in 66 subjects (35 controls, 15 TLE-MTS, 16 TLE-no). Cortical thickness measurements were obtained using the FreeSurfer software routine. Group comparisons and correlation analyses were done using the statistical routine of FreeSurfer (FDR, p = 0.05). Results TLE-MTS and TLE-no showed both widespread temporal and extratemporal cortical thinning. In TLE-MTS, the inferior medial and posterior temporal regions were most prominently affected while lateral temporal and opercular regions were more affected in TLE-no. The correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between the ipsilateral hippocampal volume and regions of thinning in TLE-MTS and between inferior temporal cortical thickness and thinning in extratemporal cortical regions in TLE-no. Conclusion The pattern of thinning in TLE-no was different from the pattern in TLE-MTS. This finding suggests that different epileptogenic networks could be involved in TLE-MTS and TLE and further supports the hypothesis that TLE-MTS and TLE-no might represent two distinct TLE syndromes.
The graph of a boolean function

Abstract In this semi-expository note, we first recall that every boolean function f of n variables is determined uniquely by a certain subset S of the nodes of the hypercube Q". We then propose the subgraph of Qn induced by S as a realization of f, and call it the graph of a boolean function. We observe that boolean functions of the same type always have the same graph, but the converse does not hold. We conclude with the open question which suggests itself from a confrontation of the disjunctive and conjunctive normal forms of a boolean function.
A robust algorithm for automatic extraction of an unknown number of clusters from noisy data

A clustering algorithm that combines the advantages of fuzzy clustering and robust statistical estimators is presented. The algorithm generates two sets of weights (memberships) for each feature vector as a by-product. These two sets of weights are used to partition the data set and to obtain robust estimates of the prototype parameters, respectively. An extension of the algorithm to deal with an unknown number of clusters is also proposed. The extension is based on overspecifying the number of clusters, and merging compatible clusters.
Prediction of fatigue crack initial stage based on a multiscale damage criterion

Abstract In this paper a multiscale damage criterion for fatigue crack initial stage prediction is introduced. A damage evolution rule based on strain energy density is modified to incorporate crystal plasticity at the microscale (local). A damage tensor that indicates the local damage state is derived using optimization theory. Damage information is passed from local to grain level, bridging microscale and mesoscale in the form of a damage vector via averaging techniques. Finally, the damage evolution rule for a meso representative volume element (RVE), which contains several grains, is calculated through the Kreisselmeier–Steinhauser (KS) function, which can produce an envelope function for multiobjective optimization. The weighted averaging method is also used to obtain the corresponding damage evolution direction for the meso RVE. A critical damage value is derived in this paper to complete the damage criterion for fatigue life prediction. Simulation results and comparison with experimental data are presented.
The Personal Selling Ethics Scale: Revisions and Expansions for Teaching Sales Ethics.

The field of sales draws a large number of marketing graduates. Sales curricula used within today’s marketing programs should include rigorous discussions of sales ethics. The Personal Selling Ethics Scale (PSE) provides an analytical tool for assessing and discussing students’ ethical sales sensitivities. However, since the scale fails to address many ethical issues within the personal selling process, it should be revised. The current research assessed the PSE’s content validity via a content analysis of today’s university sales texts, popular press sales books, and codes of ethics. Results of the content analysis were used to develop a revised scale (PSE-2) that includes new scenarios suggested by the literature search. A sample of 669 students was used to replicate the original study and test the revised PSE-2 and its new ethical scenarios. The updated scale offers marketing educators an effective tool by which to enhance sales ethics discussions.
Remittances and Their Unintended Consequences in Cuba

Summary After Soviet aid and trade ended Cuba was forced to reintegrate into the capitalist world economy. Needing hard currency, the government transformed the diaspora into a dollar attaining strategy, by facilitating and tacitly encouraging remittance-sending. Ordinary Cubans themselves wanted remittances to finance a lifestyle they could not otherwise afford. Despite their shared interest in remittances, the government increasingly appropriated remittances at recipients’ expense. The article documents why the government encouraged remittance-sending, tensions between its interests in remittances and those of recipients, and contradictions inherent in the hard currency accumulation strategy that the government pursued while remaining politically committed to revolution-linked precepts.
The presence and possible role of a galanin-like peptide in the mudpuppy heart

Abstract A correlated histochemical and pharmacological study was undertaken to establish the presence, origin, and possible function of nerve fibers containing a galanin-like peptide in the mudpuppy ( Necturus maculosus ) heart. Whole mount preparations of septum-sinus venosus or atria and sections of ventricular muscle were prepared for immunocytochemistry. Galanin-immunoreactive fibers were found coursing diffusely across the septum-sinus venosus to form complex networks over cardiac muscle strands. Individual atrial muscle strands were densely innervated by galanin-immunoreactive fibers and galaninimmunoreactive fibers were also observed in the epicardial and myocardial layers of the ventricle. Most of the parasympathetic postganglionic neurons in the cardiac ganglion and many of the small intensely fluorescent-like cells exhibited galanin immunoreactivity. Galanin-immunoreactive fibers were present in the nerve trunks connecting clusters of parasympathetic postganglionic neurons. Close associations between galanin-positive fibers and individual parasympathetic postganglionic neurons were also observed. The presence of the galanin-immunoreactive fibers was similar in preparations taken from animals pretreated with 6-hydroxydopamine to that seen in preparations taken from control animals, indicating that the galanin-positive fibers were not sympathetic postganglionic axons. Moreover, the galaninimmunoreactive nerve fibers were separate from fibers containing substance P and/or calcitonin gene-related peptide that have previously been shown to be processes of afferent fibers. In twitch-tension experiments, galanin in the range 1 × 10 −7 to 1 × 10 −6 M caused cardioinhibition of spontaneously beating isolated septal-sinus venosus preparations. Galanin also produced a concentrationdependent 1 × 10 −7 to 1 × 10 −6 M decrease in the twitch-tension development of electrically stimulated atrial or ventricular preparations. Local application of galanin produced hyperpolarization of cardiac muscle fibers in both isolated septal-sinus venosus preparations and atrial preparations. The response of individual parasympathetic ganglion cells to local application of galanin varied between neurons; some neurons were depolarized whereas others were hyperpolarized. We conclude that a galanin-like peptide is contained in both the parasympathetic postganglionic neurons and small intensely fluorescent-like cells and their processes. Further, we hypothesize that in the case of the parasympathetic postganglionic neurons, the galanin-like peptide may work in conjunction with acetylcholine to regulate cardiac activity.
Intrarenal distribution of the colonic H,K-ATPase mRNA in rabbit

Intrarenal distribution of the colonic H,K-ATPase mRNA in rabbit. Background Evidence suggests that the colonic H,K-ATPase isoform is expressed in the kidney and that a mRNA species highly homologous to the rat and guinea pig HKα2 is expressed in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) of the rabbit. The goals of this study were to determine if this mRNA is the rabbit homologue of HKα2 or a novel isoform and to determine intrarenal distribution of the HKα2 mRNA in rabbit. Methods 5′-RACE and Dye Deoxy Terminator chemistry were used to determine the full-length sequence of the rabbit HKα2 mRNA. The intrarenal distribution of HKα2 mRNA was determined in microdissected nephron segments, connecting tubule (CNT), and CCD cells isolated by immunodissection, as well as in the three cell types of the CCD. Principal cells and α- and β-intercalated cells were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. HKα2 mRNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or single-nephron RT-PCR (SN-RTPCR). Results The full-length sequence of the rabbit kidney HKα2 mRNA was determined. This transcript is identical to the one expressed in rabbit distal colon. In microdissected nephron segments, strong HKα2 amplicons were present in the CNT, CCD, and outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD), whereas no signal was detected in the proximal tubule, distal convoluted tubule, think ascending limb, and inner medullary collecting duct. Roughly comparable levels of HKα2 mRNA were present in all three CCD cell types, and the highest levels were observed in a subpopulation most likely corresponding to CNT cells. Conclusions These results suggest that the HKα2 mRNA is expressed in rabbit collecting duct is identical in size and sequence to the one expressed in rabbit distal colon. HKα2 mRNA in the rabbit kidney is selectively expressed in the CNT, CCD, and OMCD, and all three collecting duct subtypes express its mRNA.
Does Giving Make Us Prosperous

Nonprofit economists have always assumed that income is a precursor to giving. In contrast, many philosophical and religious teachings have asserted that it is giving that leads to prosperity. This article seeks to test the non-economic hypothesis, using data from the 2000 Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey. It identifies strong evidence that money giving does, in fact, influence income. This is consistent with extant psychology research which clearly shows that volunteering leads to positive mental and physical health outcomes. The implication of these findings for researchers and managers is that the value of charity is not limited to those who receive the services that giving makes possible. On the contrary, charity unleashes substantial benefits to the givers themselves.
A Commonsense Approach to Shoulder Problems

Shoulder pain is a common entity in a primary care physician's practice. The unique anatomy of the shoulder allows for almost unrestrained motion in all planes. A thorough history and physical examination are important to ensure efficient patient evaluation. Further assessment may include radiographie and diagnostic laboratory tests. This article presents an organized approach to the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of common shoulder disorders for the primary care physician. The distinction between disorders that are intrinsic or extrinsic to the shoulder joint is discussed. Treatment and the need for appropriate referral are described.
Spatial expression of the genome: the signal hypothesis at forty.

The signal hypothesis, formulated by Gunter Blobel and David Sabatini in 1971, and elaborated by Blobel and his colleagues between 1975 and 1980, fundamentally expanded our view of cells by introducing the concept of topogenic signals. Cells were no longer just morphological entities with compartmentalized biochemical functions; they were now active participants in the creation and perpetuation of their own form and identity, the decoders of linear genetic information into three dimensions.
The Relationship of Novelty Preferences during Infancy to Later Intelligence and Later Recognition Memory.

Abstract In the present study, a group of children originally tested for visual novelty preferences at 7 months and seen for estimates of intelligence at 3 years were revisited and tested for intellectual functioning and for visual recognition performance at 5 years. Prediction from performance at 7 months to intellectual functioning at 5 years was significant and remained at the same level as prediction from 7 months to 3 years ( r = .42 at each point). In addition, it was shown that data on early novelty preferences could be combined with information on birth-order and parental education to achieve good prediction ( R = .65) of five-year IQ scores. A further goal of the present study was to discover if infants' preferences for visual novelty, assumed to be an early measure of visual recognition memory would be more highly associated with later visual recognition performance or with later intellectual level. The results indicate that novelty preferences were more highly related to later intelligence quotients than to later recognition performance and such a pattern of relationships did not to be artificial.
A Study on the Thermal Behavior of Electrothermal Microactuators Due to Various Voltage Inputs.

The steady state temperature profiles of U- and I-shaped electrothermal microactuators are analytically derived. The temperature profiles could be used to evaluate the performance sensitivity of the microactuator due to various parameter changes. In this work, the analysis assumes an unpackaged silicon microactuator with an air gap between the actuator and substrate and the profiles are evaluated for various input voltage amplitudes. It was found that at low voltage inputs the temperature profile is exponential in nature with the failure being due to thermo-structural stresses and/or structure melting. At voltages larger than a critical value, a combined sinusoidal and exponential temperature profile is observed with the failure being strongly due to structural melting as well. However, higher voltage excitation causes a fully distributed sinusoidal temperature profile. In this mode, failures occur at different locations and due to high localized thermal stresses causing the temperature to exceed the material melting point. The behavior of U- and I-shaped microactuators based on silicon on insulator (SOI) fabrication and femtosecond laser micromachining was experimentally examined with the results corroborating the conclusions drawn from the analysis.© 2006 ASME
Natural convection of a variable property gas in asymmetrically heated square cavities

Convective flows in an asymmetrically-heated square enclosure are presently studied for the case of the variable property gas, air, where the cavity has a centrally-located heated section on its bottom plate and a cooling element on its side wall. For a range of density difference parameters lower than 2, the intensity of convection was reduced as the parameter value increased; the thermal and velocity boundary layers thicken on the enclosure surfaces, and the maximum values of the stream function decrease and shift their location toward the cavity center. 13 references.
Does correcting for heteroscedasticity help

Abstract This paper conducts Monte Carlo simulation experiments for a particular example in the literature using the Hansen-Hodrick-Newey-West-White methodology and concludes that correcting for heteroscedasticity can substantially worsen statistical inference even when heteroscedasticity is present in the data.
STENT LOSS AND RETRIEVAL DURING CORONARY INTERVENTION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META–ANALYSIS

Stent loss is an infrequent but potentially grave complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We performed a systematic review to determine the frequency, treatment and consequences of stent loss during PCI. We identified and reviewed all published literature in English on stent loss
A risk-based sensor placement methodology

A risk-based sensor placement methodology is proposed to solve the problem of optimal location of sensors to protect population against the exposure to, and effects of, known and/or postulated chemical, biological, and/or radiological threats. Risk is calculated as a quantitative value representing population at risk from exposure at standard exposure levels. Historical meteorological data are used to characterize weather conditions as the frequency of wind speed and direction pairs. The meteorological data drive atmospheric transport and dispersion modeling of the threats, the results of which are used to calculate risk values. Sensor locations are determined via an iterative dynamic programming algorithm whereby threats detected by sensors placed in prior iterations are removed from consideration in subsequent iterations. In addition to the risk-based placement algorithm, the proposed methodology provides a quantification of the marginal utility of each additional sensor. This is the fraction of the total risk accounted for by placement of the sensor. Thus, the criteria for halting the iterative process can be the number of sensors available, a threshold marginal utility value, and/or a minimum cumulative utility achieved with all sensors.
On the Representation of Birth-Death Processes with Polynomial Transition Rates

Birth-death processes with polynomial transition rates are considered. It is shown that a deterministic population model with a polynomial growth rate corresponds to the expected population size of a birth-death process with polynomial transitions. A representation in terms of Stirling numbers, for the partial differential equation for the probability generating function of a birth-death process with polynomial transition rates is derived.
U-duality symmetries from the membrane world-volume

Abstract We study U -duality symmetries of toroidally compactified M-theory from the membrane world-volume point of view. This is done taking the most general set of bosonic background fields into account. Upon restriction to pure moduli backgrounds, we are able to find the correct U -duality groups and moduli coset parameterizations for dimensions D > 6 as symmetries of the membrane world-volume theory. In particular, we derive the D = 8 U -duality group SL (2) × SL (3). For general background fields, we concentrate on the case D = 8. Though the SL (2) part of the symmetry appears to be obstructed by certain terms in the equations of motion, we are able to read off the transformation properties for the background fields. These transformations are verified by comparison with 11-dimensional supergravity dimensionally reduced to D = 8.