cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Catch Me If You Can: Using Power Analysis to Identify HPC Activity

Author(s): Copos, Bogdan; Peisert, Sean | Abstract: Monitoring users on large computing platforms such as high performance computing (HPC) and cloud computing systems is non-trivial. Utilities such as process viewers provide limited insight into what users are running, due to granularity limitation, and other sources of data, such as system call tracing, can impose significant operational overhead. However, despite technical and procedural measures, instances of users abusing valuable HPC resources for personal gains have been documented in the past \cite{hpcbitmine}, and systems that are open to large numbers of loosely-verified users from around the world are at risk of abuse. In this paper, we show how electrical power consumption data from an HPC platform can be used to identify what programs are executed. The intuition is that during execution, programs exhibit various patterns of CPU and memory activity. These patterns are reflected in the power consumption of the system and can be used to identify programs running. We test our approach on an HPC rack at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory using a variety of scientific benchmarks. Among other interesting observations, our results show that by monitoring the power consumption of an HPC rack, it is possible to identify if particular programs are running with precision up to and recall of 95\% even in noisy scenarios.
Foreword: understanding Latina/o resilience

Latinas and other minorities are often resilient in silence. While working on this collaborative special issue, the world and its people’s resilience was tested by the coronavirus pandemic. While k...
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma from more rural and lower-income households have more advanced tumor stage at diagnosis and significantly higher mortality.

BACKGROUND Patients from rural and low-income households may have suboptimal access to liver disease care, which may translate into worse HCC outcomes. The authors provide a comprehensive update of HCC incidence and outcomes among US adults, focusing on the effect of rural geography and household income on tumor stage and mortality. METHODS The authors retrospectively evaluated adults with HCC using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data from 2004 to 2017. HCC incidence was reported per 100,000 persons and was compared using z-statistics. Tumor stage at diagnosis used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results staging system and was evaluated with multivariate logistic regression. HCC mortality was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox proportional hazards methods. RESULTS HCC incidence plateaued for most groups, with the exception of American Indians/Alaska Natives (2004-2017: APC, 4.17%; P 1 million, patients in more rural regions had higher odds of advanced-stage HCC at diagnosis (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.00-1.20; P = .04) and higher mortality (hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; P = .02). Compared with the highest income group (≥$70,000), patients with HCC who earned <$40,000 annually had higher odds of advanced-stage HCC (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.32; P = .03) and higher mortality (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.16-1.31; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Patients from rural regions and lower-income households had more advanced tumor stage at diagnosis and significantly higher HCC mortality. These disparities likely reflect suboptimal access to consistent high-quality liver disease care, including HCC surveillance.
The genetic basis of inter-island mating behavior divergence

Mating behavior divergence is a major source of reproductive isolation and an important force driving speciation in various biogeographic contexts. However, the relationship between biogeographic history, the tempo and mode of speciation, and the genetic architecture of speciation phenotypes is poorly understood. Here, we use quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to infer the number, distribution, and effect size of song rhythm variation in the crickets Laupala eukolea and L. cerasina , which occur on different islands (Maui and Hawaii). We then compare these results with a similar study of an independently evolving species pair that diverged within the same island. Pulse rate divergence is associated with a polygenic genetic architecture in both the intra- and inter-island species pair. We find evidence consistent with parallel genetic differentiation and a relationship between magnitude of phenotypic divergence and number of causal loci. Functional annotation and GO enrichment showed that QTL regions identified here are enriched for homologs of genes with known function in pathways that may be involved in modulating cricket song rhythm. This is consistent with tightly-linked clusters of functionally related genes in QTL regions and reveals several candidate genes that merit further study.
Effect of edge roughness on electronic transport in graphene nanoribbon channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors

Results of quantum mechanical simulations of the influence of edge disorder on transport in graphene nanoribbon metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are reported. The addition of edge disorder significantly reduces ON-state currents and increases OFF-state currents, and introduces wide variability across devices. These effects decrease as ribbon widths increase and as edges become smoother. However, the band gap decreases with increasing width, thereby increasing the band-to-band tunneling mediated subthreshold leakage current even with perfect nanoribbons. These results suggest that without atomically precise edge control during fabrication, MOSFET performance gains through use of graphene will be difficult to achieve in complementary MOS applications.
Identification and Characterization of a B-Raf Kinase α-Helix Critical for the Activity of MEK Kinase in MAPK Signaling

In the MAPK pathway, an oncogenic V600E mutation in B-Raf kinase causes the enzyme to be constitutively active, leading to aberrantly high phosphorylation levels of its downstream effectors, MEK and ERK kinases. The V600E mutation in B-Raf accounts for more than half of all melanomas and ∼3% of all cancers, and many drugs target the ATP binding site of the enzyme for its inhibition. Because B-Raf can develop resistance against these drugs and such drugs can induce paradoxical activation, drugs that target allosteric sites are needed. To identify other potential drug targets, we generated and kinetically characterized an active form of B-RafV600E expressed using a bacterial expression system. In doing so, we identified an α-helix on B-Raf, found at the B-Raf-MEK interface, that is critical for their interaction and the oncogenic activity of B-RafV600E. We assessed the binding between B-Raf mutants and MEK using pull downs and biolayer interferometry and assessed phosphorylation levels of MEK in vitro and in cells as well as its downstream target ERK to show that mutating certain residues on this α-helix is detrimental to binding and downstream activity. Our results suggest that this B-Raf α-helix binding site on MEK could be a site to target for drug development to treat B-RafV600E-induced melanomas.
Mitigating the Youth Vaping Epidemic through Increasing Screening Rates for Youth Vaping/E-Cigarette Use in Pediatrics.

INTRODUCTION E-cigarette/vaping use in adolescents has increased 77.8% among high schoolers and 48.5% among middle schoolers in 2017-2018. As such, there is need for an effective workflow for screening for vaping. We aimed to increase screening rates of e-cigarette/vaping users from less than 1% to at least 50% in 6 months. METHODS Screening for vaping in youth was implemented in a pediatric clinic in Northern California beginning in the summer of 2019 for 6 months. Depending on comorbidity, severity, and readiness to quit, patients were referred to treatment. Outcomes included screening rates, process measure included positive screening rates, and balancing measure was provider time. RESULTS The clinic completed 1414 physicals with an average screening rate of 76% and a positive rate of 7.9%. The average age of patients was 15 (standard deviation = 1.3), 48% were female and 29% were Asian/Pacific Islander, 23% Hispanic, and 23% White. After 6 months, we met our goal in all but 1 plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle. DISCUSSION We created a standardized workflow that identified teens who vaped. When compared to other studies, the positive rate for this study was low which is likely due to misinterpretation by staff of screening questions as well as the fact that data were collected during a clinic visit. CONCLUSIONS It is important to find ways in which providers can mitigate this epidemic given the alarming increase in e-cigarette/vaping use among adolescents. This study furthers the effort to develop a screening method that is simple and brief, allowing physicians to intervene if necessary.
Microfluidic integration of regeneratable electrochemical affinity-based biosensors for continual monitoring of organ-on-a-chip devices.

Organs-on-chips have emerged as viable platforms for drug screening and personalized medicine. While a wide variety of human organ-on-a-chip models have been developed, rarely have there been reports on the inclusion of sensors, which are critical in continually measuring the microenvironmental parameters and the dynamic responses of the microtissues to pharmaceutical compounds over extended periods of time. In addition, automation capacity is strongly desired for chronological monitoring. To overcome this major hurdle, in this protocol we detail the fabrication of electrochemical affinity-based biosensors and their integration with microfluidic chips to achieve in-line microelectrode functionalization, biomarker detection and sensor regeneration, allowing continual, in situ and noninvasive quantification of soluble biomarkers on organ-on-a-chip platforms. This platform is almost universal and can be applied to in-line detection of a majority of biomarkers, can be connected with existing organ-on-a-chip devices and can be multiplexed for simultaneous measurement of multiple biomarkers. Specifically, this protocol begins with fabrication of the electrochemically competent microelectrodes and the associated microfluidic devices (~3 d). The integration of electrochemical biosensors with the chips and their further combination with the rest of the platform takes ~3 h. The functionalization and regeneration of the microelectrodes are subsequently described, which require ~7 h in total. One cycle of sampling and detection of up to three biomarkers accounts for ~1 h. This protocol details the fabrication and application of reusable electrochemical affinity-based biosensors and their integration with microfluidic chips. The sensors can be used for the detection of soluble biomarkers on organ-on-a-chip platforms.
P-adic Analysis Compared With Real

Arithmetic of the $p$-adic numbers The topology of $\mathbb{Q}_p$ vs. the topology of $\mathbb{R}$ Elementary analysis in $\mathbb{Q}_p$ $p$-adic functions Answers, hints, and solutions for selected exercises Bibliography Index.
Ethanol and Energy Security

I propose a framework to evaluate the impact of ethanol on energy security from an economic perspective. In this model, economic energy efficiency maximizes a social or governmental objective function with respect to energy price levels and shocks. This tradeoff can entail raising expected energy prices while lowering price volatility. I develop a theoretical model showing ethanol's potential to lower overall fuel price volatility and estimate this relationship with both structural and reduced form approaches. I show that ethanol does not substantially lower U.S. gasoline price volatility or insulate gasoline prices from oil shocks in the absence of a binding quantity mandate. Ethanol can lower gasoline price volatility under a binding mandate, but this comes at substantial expected cost. In sum, ethanol is not an effective way to mitigate world oil price shocks and does not substantially enhance US energy security.
On Symmetry Breaking Bifurcations: Local and Global Phenomena

This study is concerned with local and global bifurcation analysis of a system of equations with symmetry that occurs frequently in the study of surface waves in containers and vibrations of plates.
Grid Computing: The past, now, and future

With the speed of changing technology in our time, staying up to date is very hard, and sometimes impossible for companies. Companies have to constantly update computers, servers, databases, and applications, among other things. Even though computers need to be updated to handle sophisticated software and complex problems, there is still vast amounts of power going to waste by computers sitting idle. A new technology has been formed out of this idea to take advantage of the amount of power being unused to allow companies to make use of it, saving vast amounts of much needed company funds. Grid Computing is a relatively new approach to sharing and accessing resources such as, computers, storage devices, and peripherals, which goes far beyond distributed computing. Accomplishing the goals of Grid Computing, however, present many challenges as well as opportunities. Some of these challenges include (a) security, (b) programming, (c) proper allocation of resources, and (d) inter process/system communication, to name a few. Currently, most successful deployment of Grid Computing exists in the areas of Physics and Scientific research; however, very little has been done in business and organizations. In this paper, we discuss issues and exploit possibilities for grid deployment in organizations, with a special emphasis on how such deployment may help to improve efficiency as well as determining an acceptable on return on the required level of investment in this new technology.
Sensory Evaluation of Foods

This chapter uses Excel's built-in data analysis techniques to determine various statistical descriptors for sample and population. In consumer testing, although it is desirable to use the same judges to evaluate samples obtained from different treatments, it may not be economically feasible. In such cases, a completely randomized design to see whether the treatments had any influence on judges' scores is used. The chapter explains that while evaluating samples for sensory characteristics using same judges with samples obtained from multiple treatments, analysis of variance for a two-factor design without replication is useful. This analysis helps in determining if there are significant differences among the various treatments, as well as if any significant differences exist among the judges themselves. Special emphasis is given to the use of simple linear regression analysis that involves determining the statistical relationship between two variables. One of the uses of such analysis is in predicting one variable on the basis of the other.
CD8+ T cell activation in pathological giardiasis (MUC4P.837)

Infection with the protozoan Giardia duodenalis is the most common intestinal parasitic disease in the United States. Clinical giardiasis presents with diarrhea and malabsorption of nutrients. One major pathological hallmark of giardiasis is the reduction of intestinal digestive enzymes, such as disaccharidases. Our lab and others in the field have demonstrated that CD8+ T cells are required for Giardia-induced disaccharidase deficiency but are not involved in protective immunity. In light of these observations, we have devoted our efforts to understanding how G. duodenalis infection activates intestinal CD8+ T cells to drive pathology. Analysis of surface marker expression on intestinal CD8+ T cells revealed an increased CD44hiCD69hi population following infection within the duodenal lamina propria. These activated CD8+ T cells produced IFNγ and TNFα. Furthermore, antibiotic treatment limits both CD8+ T cell activation and intestinal disaccharidase reduction in infected mice. Because the microbiota effects the development of these CD8+ T cell responses, we are currently determining if Giardia-activated CD8+ T cells are mounting a specific response to parasite antigen or are acting as bystanders. Further characterization of these intestinal CD8+ T cell responses to G. duodenalis infection will expand our understanding of pathogenesis and help identify novel therapeutic targets for the clinical setting.
Longitudinal Magnetoresistance in n -Type Germanium: Theoretical

The longitudinal magnetoresistance of $n$-type germanium is calculated for high magnetic fields where Landau levels are important. The scattering mechanisms considered are acoustic and ionized impurity scattering. Comparison is made with experiment for acoustic scattering and is found to be satisfactory for sufficiently high fields.
Semi-autonomous simulated brain tumor ablation with RAVENII Surgical Robot using behavior tree

Medical robots have been widely used to assist surgeons to carry out dexterous surgical tasks via various ways. Most of the tasks require surgeon's operation directly or indirectly. Certain level of autonomy in robotic surgery could not only free the surgeon from some tedious repetitive tasks, but also utilize the advantages of robot: high dexterity and accuracy. This paper presents a semi-autonomous neurosurgical procedure of brain tumor ablation using RAVEN Surgical Robot and stereo visual feedback. By integrating with the behavior tree framework, the whole surgical task is modeled flexibly and intelligently as nodes and leaves of a behavior tree. This paper provides three contributions mainly: (1) describing the brain tumor ablation as an ideal candidate for autonomous robotic surgery, (2) modeling and implementing the semi-autonomous surgical task using behavior tree framework, and (3) designing an experimental simulated ablation task for feasibility study and robot performance analysis.
High power, long life, excellent beam quality solid state plastic dye laser

Summary from only given. We have developed a plastic dye laser that can compete with other solid-state lasers. In the visible spectral region we believe that solid state plastic dye ThinZag lasers may now be the preferred devices for many applications.
The Drosophila Stubarista Phenotype Is Associated with a Dosage Effect of the Putative Ribosome-Associated Protein D-P40 on Spineless

We describe the molecular characterization of the Drosophila melanogaster gene stubarista (sta) that encodes the highly conserved putative ribosome-associated protein D-p40. sta maps to cytological position 2A3-B2 on the X chromosome and encodes a protein (D-p40) of 270 amino acids. D-p40 shares 63% identity with the human p40 ribosomal protein. P element-mediated transformation of a 4.4-kb genomic fragment encompassing the 1-kb transcript corresponding to D-p40 was used to rescue both a lethal (sta2) and a viable (sta1) mutation at the stubarista (sta) locus. Developmental analysis of the sta2 mutation implicates a requirement for D-p40 during oogenesis and imaginal development, which is consistent with the expression of sta throughout development. In addition, we have analyzed the basis of the sta1 visible phenotype which consists of shortened antennae and bristles. sta1 is a translocation of the 1E1-2 to 2B3-4 region of the X chromosome onto the third chromosome at 89B21-C4. We provide genetic evidence that Dp(1;3)sta1 is mutant at the spineless (ss) locus and that it is associated with partial D-p40 activity. We demonstrate that sta1 acts as a recessive enhancer of ss; reduction in the amount of D-p40 provided by the transposed X chromosomal region of sta1 reveals a haplo-insufficient phenotype of the otherwise recessive ss mutations. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the enhancing effect observed with Minute mutations, one of which, rp49, has previously been shown to encode a ribosomal protein.
Polarization bistability in a hybrid device simulating a nonlinear birefringent cavity

Abstract Polarization bistability can be achieved in a resonant cavity containing a nonlinear birefringent material. A hybrid opto-electronic device was constructed in order to stimulate the behaviour of such a system and to study its response in terms of a number of system parameters. Intensity driven polarization switching as well as polarization driven intensity switching are demonstrated as examples.
Extension of Vertex Operator Algebras by a Self-Dual Simple Module

Abstract We prove the existence and the regularity of the extension by a self-dual simple current for certain regular vertex operator algebras.
Effects of bull exposure on postpartum ovarian activity of dairy cows

The effects of bull exposure on postpartum reproduction have been previously studied in beef, but not in dairy cattle. The objective of this experiment was to investigate effects of bull exposure on postpartum reproductive characteristics during early lactation in high-producing Holstein dairy cattle. Forty-five multiparous dairy cows (9764 +/- 140 kg milk/lactation) were randomly grouped at the time of calving. Treatment 1 (NBE) was never exposed to the bull, treatment 2 (2 x BE) experienced fenceline contact with a mature Holstein bull twice daily during routine detection of oestrus, and treatment 3 (CBE) was in continuous proximity to the bull. All cows were observed for oestrous behaviour twice daily for 1/2 h following milking. Blood samples were collected every other day for progesterone (P4) assay. Postpartum ovarian reactivation, indicated by the occurrence of the first sustained rise in P4, was later (P = 0.02) during the postpartum period in both bull-exposed (2 x BE, CBE) treatments compared to the NBE treatment. Time postpartum until completion of the first ovarian cycle tended (P = 0.08) to be shorter in NBE cows compared to bull-exposed cows. Peak P4 concentrations were higher (P = 0.05) in NBE cows compared to bull-exposed cows prior to the second postpartum ovulation. Results indicate an extended period to ovarian reactivation in dairy cattle exposed to a bull, but bull exposure had no effect on long-term reproductive performance of exposed cows.
Managed medical education

The forces of rationality and commodification, hallmarks of the managed care revolution, may soon breach the walls of organized medical education. Whispers are beginning to circulate that the cost of educating future physicians is too high. Simultaneously, managed care companies are accusing medical education of turning out trainees unprepared to practice in a managed care environment. Changes evident in other occupational and service delivery sectors of U.S. society as diverse as pre-college education and prisons provide telling insights into what may be in store for medical educators. Returning to academic medicine, the author reflects that because corporate managed care is already established in teaching hospitals, and because managed research (e.g., corporate-sponsored and -run drug trials, for-profit drug-study centers, and contract research organizations) is increasing, managed medical education could become a reality as well. Medical education has made itself vulnerable to the intrusion of corporate rationalizers because it has failed to professionalism at core of its curricula-something only it is able to do--and instead has focused unduly on the transmission of esoteric knowledge and core clinical skills, a process that can be carried out more efficiently, more effectively, and less expensively by other players in the medical education marketplace such as Kaplan, Compass, or the Princeton Review. The author explains why reorganizing medical education around professional values is crucial, why the AAMC's Medical School Objectives Project offers guidance in this area, why making this change will be difficult, and why medical education must lead in establishing how to document the presence and absence of such qualities as altruism and dutifulness and the ways that appropriate medical education can foster these and similar core competencies. "Anything less and organized medicine will acknowledged... that it has abandoned its social contract and entered the temple of those who clamor, 'I can name that tune in four notes.'"
Permanency planning for children: The past and present

Abstract This article offers an overview of permanency planning, including the background out of which such planning emerged. Barriers to permanency planning as well as efforts to remove these are described, and current issues are discussed.
Cell‐Permeable [99mTc(CO3)]‐Labeled Fluorogenic Caspase 3 Substrate for Dual‐Modality Detection of Apoptosis

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a specialized form of cell death involved in a wide variety of physiological processes.[1, 2] Most anticancer therapeutic regimens induce apoptosis. The ability to assess apoptosis using noninvasive imaging techniques would markedly enhance the early evaluation and continuous monitoring of anticancer drug efficacy.
Forecasting Human Pose and Motion with Multibody Dynamic Model

Understanding human motion with dynamics is in its infancy, but it is a highly promising approach in computer vision, robotics and computer graphics. We propose a Multibody Dynamic Model (MDM) which estimates poses and motions through analyzing forcesthe intrinsic motivation for motion. With the 23 degrees of freedom Multibody Dynamic Model, we analyze human motion dynamics in the whole body, and then forecast human motion or pose in occluded or non-captured circumstances. Our two main contributions are essential for understanding human motion with dynamics. The first one is to provide effective representations and computational models for dynamic analysis of human motion in the whole body, via the intrinsic connection between force and motion in the biomechanical system. The second contribution is to offer a more natural method to forecast pose and motion with the estimated forces. In our experiments, MDM has been successfully applied to running, jumping and other challenging sports activities.
Cellular uptake and lysosomal delivery of galactocerebrosidase tagged with the HIV Tat protein transduction domain

A number of studies have shown that a short peptide, the protein transduction domain (PTD) derived from the HIV-1 Tat protein (Tat-PTD) improved cellular uptake in vitro and distribution in vivo of recombinant proteins bearing such PTDs when administered systemically. To investigate the effects of Tat-PTD addition on the subcellular localization of the lysosomal enzyme galactocerebrosidase (GALC, EC 3.2.2.46) and with a view towards designing improved therapeutic strategies for Krabbe disease (globoid cell leukodystrophy), mouse GALC was tagged C-terminally with the Tat-PTD. Compared with unmodified GALC, GALC bearing a Tat-PTD, a myc epitope and 6 consecutive His residues [GALC-TMH (Tat-PTD, a myc epitope and 6 consecutive His residues)] was found to be secreted more efficiently. Also, GALC-TMH was found to be taken up by cells both via mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6PR)-mediated endocytosis as well as by M6PR-independent mechanisms. GALC-TMH displayed increased M6PR-independent uptake in fibroblasts derived from twitcher mice (a murine model of globoid cell leukodystrophy) and in neurons derived from the mouse brain cortex compared with GALC lacking a Tat-PTD. Immunocytochemical analyses revealed that Tat-modified GALC protein co-localized in part with the lysosome-associated membrane protein-1. Complete correction of galactosylceramide accumulation was achieved in twitcher mouse fibroblasts lacking GALC activity following addition of GALC-TMH. Therefore, GALC-TMH not only maintained the features of the native GALC protein including enzymatic function, intracellular transport and location, but also displayed more efficient cellular uptake.
Synthesis and evaluation of 7-substituted 4-aminoquinoline analogues for antimalarial activity.

We previously reported that substituted 4-aminoquinolines with a phenyl ether substituent at the 7-position of the quinoline ring and the capability of intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the protonated amine on the side chain and a hydrogen bond acceptor on the amine’s alkyl substituents exhibited potent antimalarial activity against the multidrug resistant strain P. falciparum W2. We employed a parallel synthetic method to generate diaryl ether, biaryl, and alkylaryl 4-aminoquinoline analogues in the background of a limited number of side chain variations that had previously afforded potent 4-aminoquinolines. All subsets were evaluated for their antimalarial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive strain 3D7 and the chloroquine-resistant K1 strain as well as for cytotoxicity against mammalian cell lines. While all three arrays showed good antimalarial activity, only the biaryl-containing subset showed consistently good potency against the drug-resistant K1 strain and good selectivity with regard ...
New approach to high-precision Fourier transform spectrometer design.

Laser fringes have long been used to establish the x axis in interferometric spectrometry, but solutions for the intensity axis have been less satisfactory. Now we are seeing the rapid commercial development of low-cost, medium-speed, sigma–delta analog-to-digital converters developed for stereo audio applications. A single chip provides two channels of 20-bit precision at 50 kHz, a significant improvement over many current systems of much greater cost and complexity. But while the laser works in the spatial domain, this converter operates strictly in the time domain; it cannot be triggered. I have developed a bridge between these two domains, the adaptive digital filter, which not only permits us to use this converter to obtain measurements at arbitrary times but as a bonus shows us how to move much of the complexity of an interferometric-control and data-acquisition system from hardware to software. For example, flexible fringe subdivision (to increase the free spectral range) is easily obtained with a simple and efficient algorithm, completely free of laser ghosts. Compensation for drive velocity variation is also possible, requiring only a modest increase in computer memory.
The effect of cold storage on the potential tooth transplant.

Abstract Cold storage at 20° C. has been investigated as a means of preserving dental transplants. Forty-four per cent success was obtained clinically, but histologic study disclosed no regeneration or continued development of the transplants. The problem of an adequate storage method for the transplantation of teeth requires additional investigation.
Adaptive Simultaneous Precision Positioning and Vibration Control of Intelligent Composite Structures

This paper presents an adaptive control scheme for simultaneous precision positioning and vibration suppression of intelligent structures. First, the structure and materials system of an active composite panel with piezoelectric ceramic patches are introduced. An adaptive control scheme, which consists of an adaptive feedback and two adaptive feedforward controllers, is then proposed. The two adaptive feedforward controllers are responsible, one for precision positioning and the other for vibration suppression, and the adaptive feedback controller affects both precision positioning and vibration suppression. Two PID feedback controllers and the proposed adaptive control scheme are experimentally studied on the active composite panel under harmonic and random disturbances, demonstrating that (a) for the PID feedback control, the controller gains should be chosen carefully to make a tradeoff between position tracking and vibration suppression, and the positioning accuracy varies for different disturbances d...
Region-specific diet-induced and leptin-induced cellular leptin resistance includes the ventral tegmental area in rats

Diet-induced obesity (DIO) results in region-specific cellular leptin resistance in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus in one strain of mice and in several medial basal hypothalamic regions in another. We hypothesized that the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is also likely susceptible to diet-induced and leptin-induced leptin resistance in parallel to that in hypothalamic areas. We examined two forms of leptin resistance in F344xBN rats, that induced by 6-months of high fat (HF) feeding and that induced by 15-months of central leptin overexpression by use of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV)-mediated gene delivery of rat leptin. Cellular leptin resistance was assessed by leptin-stimulated phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) in medial basal hypothalamic areas and the VTA. The regional pattern and degree of leptin resistance with HF was distinctly different than that with leptin overexpression. Chronic HF feeding induced a cellular leptin resistance that was identified in the ARC and VTA, but absent in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). In contrast, chronic central leptin overexpression induced cellular leptin resistance in all areas examined. The identification of leptin resistance in the VTA, in addition to the leptin resistance in the hypothalamus, provides one potential mechanism, underlying the increased susceptibility of leptin resistant rats to HF-induced obesity.
Helping Adolescents Whose Parents Have Cancer

ECENT YEARS have seen a dramatic increase in the understanding of psychologic issues that confront cancer patients. Interventions have been developed to assist patients in coping with their disease, its effect on their lives, and the threat of potential death. The families of these patients have also received attention and consultation. Traditionally, “family” usually refers to spouse; children in the families of cancer patients may actually receive little attention from health professionals. The necessity for preventative interventions for these children is now thought to minimize emotional difficulties at a later date. A previous paper’ described a sequence of psychosocial interventions that were developed to facilitate coping and foster long-term adaptation in children of all ages who have a seriously ill parent. This article focuses on the particular needs of adolescent children who have a parent with cancer. We will briefly review the literature on childhood mourning. examine some specific developmental issues of adolescence and the impact of a parent’s illness. and discuss the bereaved adolescent.
Reoperations and Complications of Failed Lumbar Total Disk Replacement

Advancements in lumbar total disk replacement (TDR) and motion preserving technology have become more prevalent. With the clinical application of these devices, complications and failures will need to be addressed. These complications have been correlated with patient and surgeon related factors. Successful management is dependant on identifying the mode of failure and surgeon awareness of approach related complications. Adhering to patient selection criteria and avoiding technical errors can minimize device failure. When revision surgery is indicated, careful preoperative planning is mandated in order to identify the underlying pathology and obtain successful revision goals.
A comparison of the Gaussian coupling efficiency for three types of terahertz horn antennas

The performance of a diagonal, conical and octagonal horn antenna at 1.6 THz are compared in terms of antenna patterns and Gaussian coupling efficiency. The conical horn was created by laser-machining, the diagonal horn by milling, and the octagonal horn by SU-8 based micromachining.
Tics and tourette's: A continuum of symptoms?

Analysis of the families of 39 unselected children with Tourette syndrome revealed other members with tic disorders in twenty kindreds. In eight families there were 13 individuals with chronic multiple tics, usually motor, not vocal. Twelve different families contained 18 subjects with Tourette syndrome other than the index patient. In three of these families there were 6 additional individuals with chronic motor tics, forming a bridge to the first group. An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance was suggested in all cases. Tourette syndrome and chronic motor tics appear to represent conditions along a continuum and have, in many instances, a hereditary basis.
Eliciting natural speech from non-native users: collecting speech data for LVCSR

In this paper, we discuss the design of a database of recorded and transcribed read and spontaneous speech of semi-fluent, strongly-accented non-native speakers of English. While many speech applications work best with a recognizer that expects native-like usage, others could benefit from a speech recognition component that is forgiving of the sorts of errors that are not a barrier to communication; in order to train such a recognizer a database of non-native speech is needed. We examine how collecting data from non-native speakers must necessarily differ from collection from native speakers, and describe work we did to develop an appropriate scenario, recording setup, and optimal surroundings during recording.
Understanding urban wetland dynamics: cross-scale detection and analysis of remote sensing

This study aimed to detect and understand remotely sensed urban wetland dynamics as a sensitive indicator of the combined effects of human disturbances and climate impacts in the course of global change. To address this objective, the study developed technical approaches to detect and interpret wetland changes across spatial scales in complex urban landscapes. Using a series of Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre SPOT images covering 1992–2010, the study was conducted in the Kansas City metropolitan area of the USA, which has experienced significant urban sprawl in recent decades. As a fine-tuning of the traditional supervised image classification, a knowledge-based classification algorithm was developed to identify fine-scale, hidden wetlands that cannot be appropriately detected based on their spectral differentiability. The analyses of wetland change were implemented at the metropolitan, watershed, and sub-watershed scales as well as being based on the size of surface water bodies in order to reveal real pictures of urban wetland change trends in relation to major driving factors. The results of the study indicated that the knowledge-based classification approach improved the detection capability and accuracy of urban wetlands by fine-tuning the traditional classification results. The cross-scale analysis of detected land covers revealed that wetland dynamics varied in trend and magnitude from metropolitan, watersheds, to sub-watershed scales. The study found that increased precipitation swelled wetlands, which inflated the findings of remotely sensed wetland cover and related trend interpretation. During an 18 year study period, human development activities in the study area resulted in a large increase in impervious surfaces, which was mainly at the expense of farmland/grassland areas and some small wetlands in all urban watersheds. In contrast, increased precipitation in the region swelled large wetlands in particular. This mixed picture of urban wetland dynamics, associated with the analysis of underlying driving factors, provides a new baseline for relevant urban planning, management, and research in a global change perspective.
Pulpal safety of 9.6 microm TEA CO2 laser used for caries prevention.

Background and Objectives Lasers are used for several procedures involving hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. A potential future application is the use of the CO2 laser to alter the surface structure of tooth enamel to render it more resistant to caries. A new 9.6 μm wavelength transverse excited atmospheric pressure (TEA) CO2 laser (Argus Photonics, Jupiter, FL) has been investigated as a device that can be used for this purpose without harming the dental pulp. Study Design/Materials and Methods Erupted caries- and restoration-free third molars (n = 24 participants; 74 teeth) were used in the study. Teeth were irradiated at an incident fluence of 1.5 J/cm2, a repetition rate of 10 Hz and a spot size 1 mm in diameter. At the low and high settings, 200–400 pulses at 5–8 microseconds pulse duration were delivered at 12 mJ per pulse for a total energy of 2.4 or 4.8 J delivered for 20 or 40 seconds, respectively. Other teeth were subjected to a sham dental procedure (positive control) or no procedure (negative control). Prior to testing, radiographs were taken of all teeth, and they were assessed pulpally using heat, cold, and electricity to determine vitality. The teeth were removed either immediately or at 1 week or 1 month after testing. Results Teeth were bioprepared and examined histologically for signs of inflammation. Only one tooth developed symptoms of sensitivity to cold for 10 days following exposure to the high power level. The sensitivity was of fleeting duration and was judged to be reversible pulpitis. All teeth tested responded normally at pre-testing and pre-extraction time periods. Histological examination of all teeth disclosed no indication of an inflammatory response in the pulp tissue at any time point. All sections appeared normal with no changes seen in the normal pulpal morphology. Conclusions We conclude that the 9.6 μm wavelength laser causes no permanent/serious pulpal damage at the energy levels used and can be used safely for caries prevention treatments in humans. Lasers Surg. Med. 35:104–110, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Rates and durability of response to salvage radiation therapy among patients with refractory or relapsed aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Purpose To evaluate the response rate (RR) and time to local recurrence (TTLR) among patients who received salvage radiation therapy for relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and investigate whether RR and TTLR differed according to disease characteristics. Methods and Materials A retrospective review was performed for all patients who completed a course of salvage radiation therapy between January 2001 and May 2011 at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Separate analyses were conducted for patients treated with palliative and curative intent. Predictors of RR for each subgroup were assessed using a generalized estimating equation model. For patients treated with curative intent, local control (LC) and progression-free survival were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method; predictors for TTLR were evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results Salvage radiation therapy was used to treat 110 patients to 121 sites (76 curative, 45 palliative). Salvage radiation therapy was given as part of consolidation in 18% of patients treated with curative intent. Median dose was 37.8 Gy, with 58% and 36% of curative and palliative patients, respectively, receiving 39.6 Gy or higher. The RR was high (86% curative, 84% palliative). With a median follow-up of 4.8 years among living patients, 5-year LC and progression-free survival for curative patients were 66% and 34%, respectively. Refractory disease (hazard ratio 3.3; P =.024) and lack of response to initial chemotherapy (hazard ratio 4.3; P =.007) but not dose ( P =.93) were associated with shorter TTLR. Despite doses of 39.6 Gy or higher, 2-year LC was only 61% for definitive patients with refractory disease or disease that did not respond to initial chemotherapy. Conclusions Relapsed or refractory aggressive NHL is responsive to salvage radiation therapy, and durable LC can be achieved in some cases. However, refractory disease is associated with a shorter TTLR, suggesting that radiation dose escalation, addition of radiosensitizers, or a combination of both may be indicated in these patients.
Hemoglobin concentration changes determined in populations of living host erythrocytes during Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.

On a mesure la concentration en hemoglobine de cellules-hotes vivantes pendant la periode d'infection par lePlasmodium berghei de souris. Le premier jour de l'infection on n'a pas constate de difference significative entre la concentration en hemoglobine des cellules-hotes et celle des erythrocytes de controle. Le 5e et le 93 jour le niveau de concentration en hemoglobine des cellules-hotes a nettement baisse. Le pourcentage de parasitemie etait inversement proportionnel a la concentration en hemoglobine de la cellule-hote, reaction erythropoietique probable.
Methods for the measurement of the cytotoxic response: A short review

Manifestations of cellular toxicity, induced in vitro by biologically mediated or chemical injury, result in a variety of cellular responses that range from cell death to a temporary and orten reversible aheration in cellular structure and function. Descriptions of in vitro methods that use cultured mammalian cells to measure the toxic response are rapidly appearing in the scientific literature, and the data show that there are qualitative and quantitative changes in a multiplicity of structures and molecules in the cell. The cell components affected include membranes, DNA, mitochondria, ribosomes, surface antigens, transport systems, and metabolic functions, as well as a number of other possible targets, some unique to specific differentiated cell types. Although there are many possible targets for any given toxicant, they are not infinite and it is conceivable that a complement of several cell culture systems, both primary cultures and cell lines, may provide all or nearly all of such targets in the measurement of the cytotoxic response. In tests of genetic toxicity, mammalian cell culture methods have been applied to the detection of DNA damage; however, in cytotoxicity tests, full utilization of cell culture systems to detect and quantitate critical lesions has been slowed because of the inability to precisely identify the specific target molecule or cell organelle affected. Once a target is identified, a cell cuhure system can be optimized for reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity of measurements altered by xenobiotics. With the impressive advances in the science of mammalian cell culture, including improved cell isolation techniques, the use of characterized and metabolically functional cells, chemically defined media, and extracellular matrices, precision in the measurement of a specific toxic response in cultured cells will be achieved in time. The development of in vitro toxicology has intrigued both toxicologists and cell biologists for over 30 yr. During this time, cell culture science has developed into a sophisticated research approach for the fields of virology, biochemistry, cancer research, genetics, immunology, endocrinology, pharmacology, and toxicology. The use of isolated cells and cell cultures has provided a means of screening for and studying mechanisms of toxicity induced by a variety of xenobiotics and a large body of information now appears in the
Imaging: A Tool for Data Reduction

Abstract This article illustrates the use of high-resolution color graphic images obtained from raster terminals to reduce an immense amount of data into a few meaningful time series. The steps that were taken to achieve this data reduction and their appropriate images are given. The time series were analyzed using Box and Jenkins time series methods (see also McCleary and Hay 1980), and the results are discussed.
Particleboard quality characteristics of saline jose tall wheatgrass and chemical treatment effect.

The objective of this research was to characterize the qualities (mechanical properties and water resistance) of particleboard made from saline Jose Tall Wheatgrass (JTW), Agropyron elongatum. For the JTW particleboards made with 4% polymeric methane dipherryl diisocyanate (PMDI), the mechanical properties and water resistance improved with the increase of particleboard density from 0.71 to 0.75 g/cm(3). The particleboards with density of 0.74g/cm(3) had similar mechanical properties of wood-based particleboards, except for lower internal bond strength. Among the particleboards made with particles of different initial moisture contents from 2% to 10%, the particleboard with the particles of 8% initial moisture content had the highest qualities. The pretreatment using NaOH solution to wash the JTW particles reduced the qualities of finished particleboards bonded with both PMDI and urea formaldehyde (UF) resins. Particle-boards made with PMDI showed superior qualities than those made with UF, as shown by the measured contact angle results between the adhesives and JTW.