cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase transformation as the mechanism of mechanical deformation of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays: Insights from mesoscopic modeling

Abstract Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays or “forests” behave mechanically as foams when compressed, exhibiting a characteristic nonlinear stress – strain response. However, the fiber structure of VACNT forests is unlike that of cellular foams, and the microscopic mechanisms of the deformation are quite different. While numerous studies have addressed the mechanical response of VACNT forests undergoing uniaxial compression, the underlying deformation mechanisms are not yet fully established. In this paper, we report the results of large-scale mesoscopic simulations of the uniaxial compression of a VACNT forest composed of 2-μm-long carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as well as three structurally distinct forests composed of 0.6-μm-long CNTs. The simulations reveal that the compressive deformation proceeds as a phase transformation from an original low-density phase composed of vertically aligned CNT bundles to a densified phase with horizontal alignment of CNTs. The two phases are separated by a well-defined interfacial layer, which advances during the compressive deformation through localized bending and folding of nanotubes. For the 2-μm-tall forest, the folding involves correlated displacements of multiple CNT bundles, hinting on the origin of the collective buckling behavior observed in experiments. The characteristic three-stage stress-strain dependence (an initial "elastic" peak followed by an extended plateau region and a sharp rise of stress in the densification regime), commonly observed in experimental probing of the mechanical properties of VACNT forests, is reproduced in all of the simulations, suggesting that the heterogeneous propagation of densification front may be the general mechanism of the mechanical deformation of VACNT forests.
6.11 Juror Testimony and Affidavits Barred

This article addresses the impeachment of jury verdicts under FRE 606(b). Such impeachment is generally barred based on juror testimony or affidavits. However, there are three primary exceptions where jury testimony is allowed. The article discusses the key Supreme Court cases of Tanner and Pena-Rodriguez. In the latter case, the Court held for the first time that the Sixth Amendment entitles a convicted defendant to show that the jury relied on “racial stereotypes or animus to convict.”
E‐books: the University of Texas experience, part 1

This article describes the e‐book program of the University of Texas, surveys the state of the e‐book market and e‐book technology, provides e‐book usage statistics for three different consortia, and offers guidelines for e‐book acquisitions, as well as e‐book issues to be considered. Relevant specification, standards, and working groups are explained, as are the future e‐book plans of The University of Texas. The author concludes that e‐books are to printed books, as television is to radio and movies: another format with its own strengths and weaknesses.
The Gaze, The Glance, The Mirror: Queer Desire and Panoptic Discipline in Nella Larsen’s Passing

The sublimated queer content of Nella Larsen’s novel Passing has been critically excavated by such notable scholars as Hazel Carby and Deborah McDowell. Despite these interpretive revelations, howe...
The Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytopathology: A study of inter‐observer reproducibility

Background In 2018, the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology was published defining a diagnostic categorization scheme with known malignancy risks and clinical follow up recommendations. Inter-observer reproducibility of the categories was not defined. Methods Salivary gland fine-needle aspirations (FNA) were reviewed over a 5 year period and classified by three independent observers. Inter-observer reproducibility was estimated using observed agreement and chance corrected agreement (Cohen's kappa). Results Four hundred and eight cases were reviewed with chance corrected agreement of 0.42 for the original Milan System and 0.48 for a modified system using "similar follow up" categories. Categories 4A and 6B showed substantial agreement (kappa =0.71 and 0.72). Conclusion The Milan System shows moderate over all agreement between observers. Strongest inter-observer agreement was seen for categories 4A and 6B.
CollusiveHijack: A New Route Hijacking Attack and Countermeasures in Opportunistic Networks

In this paper, we first show that Hybrid Routing and Prophet protocols in Opportunistic Networks are vulnerable to the CollusiveHijack attack. In this attack, a malicious attacker, Eve, compromises a set of nodes and lies about their Inter Contact Times (ICTs). Eve claims that her nodes meet more frequently than in reality, with the goal of hijacking the routes of legitimate nodes. The CollusiveHijack enables Eve to launch more severe attacks like packet modification attack, traffic analysis attack, and incentive seeking attack. To identify the CollusiveHijack attack, we propose the Kolmogorov-Smirnov two-sample test to determine whether the statistical distribution of the packets' delays follows the derived distribution from the ICTs among the nodes. We propose two techniques to detect the CollusiveHijack attack: the Path Detection Technique (PDT) and the Hop Detection Technique (HDT), which trade off compatibility with the Bundle Security Protocol and the detection rate. We evaluated PDT and HDT through extensive simulations and a proof-of-concept system implementation. The results show that PDT and HDT are able to detect CollusiveHijack attacks with 80.0% and 99.4% detection rates, respectively (when Eve hijacks more than 60 packets) while maintaining a low false positive rate of 3.6%.
On Teaching Applied Formal Methods in Aerospace Engineering

As formal methods come into broad industrial use for verification of safety-critical hardware, software, and cyber-physical systems, there is an increasing need to teach practical skills in applying formal methods at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the aerospace industry, flight certification requirements like the FAA’s DO-178B, DO-178C, DO-333, and DO-254, along with a series of high-profile accidents, have helped turn knowledge of formal methods into a desirable job skill for a wide range of engineering positions. We approach the question of verification from a safety-case perspective: the primary teaching goal is to impart students with the ability to look at a verification question and identify what formal methods are applicable, which tools are available, what the outputs from those tools will say about the system, and what they will not, e.g., what parts of the safety case need to be provided by other means. We overview the lectures, exercises, exams, and student projects in a mixed-level (undergraduate/graduate) Applied Formal Methods course (Additional materials are available on the course website: http://temporallogic.org/courses/AppliedFormalMethods/) taught in an Aerospace Engineering department. We highlight the approach, tools, and techniques aimed at imparting a good sense of both the state of the art and the state of the practice of formal methods in an effort to effectively prepare students headed for jobs in an increasingly formal world.
The effect of renin-angiotensin system blockers on spinal cord dysfunction and imaging features of spinal cord compression in patients with symptomatic cervical spondylosis.

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT Cervical spondylosis may lead to spinal cord compression, poor vascular perfusion, and ultimately, cervical myelopathy. Studies suggest a neuroprotective effect of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors in the brain, but limited data exist regarding their impact on the spinal cord. PURPOSE To investigate whether RAS blockers and other antihypertensive drugs are correlated with preoperative functional status and imaging markers of cord compression in patients with symptomatic cervical spondylosis. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective observational study. PATIENT SAMPLE Individuals with symptomatic degenerative cervical stenosis who underwent surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES Imaging features of spinal cord compression and functional status (modified Japanese Orthopedic Association [mJOA] and Nurick grading scales). METHODS Two hundred sixty-six operative patients with symptomatic degenerative cervical stenosis were included. Demographic data, comorbidities, antihypertensive medications, and functional status (including mJOA and Nurick grading scales) were collected. We evaluated canal compromise, cord compromise, surface area of T2 signal cord change, and pixel intensity of signal cord change compared with normal cord on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging sequences. RESULTS Of 266 patients, 41.7% were women, 58.3% were men; median age was 57.2 years; 20.6% smoked tobacco; 24.7% had diabetes mellitus. One hundred forty-nine patients (55.8%) had hypertension, 142 (95.3%) of these were taking antihypertensive medications (37 angiotensin-II receptor blockers [ARBs], 44 angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and 61 other medications). Patients treated with ARBs displayed a higher signal intensity ratio (ie, less signal intensity change in the compressed cord area) compared with untreated patients without hypertension (p=.004). Patients with hypertension had worse preoperative mJOA and Nurick scores than those without (p CONCLUSIONS In our study, patients with hypertension who were treated with RAS inhibitors had decreased T2-weighted signal intensity change than untreated patients without hypertension. Patients with hypertension also had worse preoperative functional status. Prospective case-control studies may deepen understanding of RAS modulators in the imaging and functional status of chronic spinal cord compression.
Structured Illumination Microscopy

Structured illumination microscopy/microscope (SIM) is an optical technique that has the capability of enhancing the lateral and axial resolution of a fluorescence widefield microscope.
Barrett’s esophagus: current standards in advanced imaging

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) continues to be one of the fastest rising incident cancers in the Western population with the majority of patients presenting with late stage disease and associated with a dismal 5-year survival rate. Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only identifiable precursor lesion to EAC. Strategies to screen for and survey BE are critical to detect earlier cancers and reduce morbidity and mortality related to EAC. A high-quality endoscopic examination with careful inspection of the Barrett's segment and adherence to the Seattle protocol for tissue sampling are critical. Advanced imaging modalities offer the potential to improve dysplasia detection, predict histopathology in real time and guide endoscopic eradication therapy (EET). Several technologies have been studied and although most are not yet recommended for routine clinical practice, high definition white light endoscopy (HD-WLE) as well as chromoendoscopy (including virtual chromoendoscopy) improved dysplasia detection in numerous studies supporting their use. Future studies should evaluate the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing detection of dysplasia in BE patients.
Calcified mass in the right atrium extending into the inferior vena cava with pulmonary artery embolization. Typical or atypical myxoma

Cardiac masses are divided into neoplastic and non-neoplastic. They usually represent a diagnostic challenge given their relative rarity, their infrequent symptoms, and the overall difficulty with dynamic imaging of the heart. While echocardiography is useful in the initial evaluation of a suspected mass, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is the best imaging modality to characterize cardiac tumors due to its superior tissue characterization and its higher contrast resolution. For neoplastic, primary cardiac tumors are rare (0.05%). Atrial myxoma is the most common cardiac (50%) mass. About 75%-80% of myxoma are seen in the left atrium. Atypical myxoma is a term describing myxoma arising in other nonleft atrial locations. 20%-25% myxomas arise from the right atrium and 5% or less from the ventricles. We present a case of a 59-year-old female patient presenting with severe dyspnea. Her chest noncontrast CT showed a calcified mass lesion in the right atrium extending into the inferior vena cava. She underwent cardiac MRI for better tissue characterization. The cardiac MRI revealed a very irregular, highly spiculated, heavily calcified, heterogeneous, and nonenhancing lesion within the right atrium extending into the inferior vena cava. Via dynamic imaging, no evidence of mobile components was present. Via T1, T2 along with pre- and postcontrast imaging, the mass was confirmed to be calcified without a fibrotic component or evidence of thrombus. The above findings raised the possibility of atypical myxoma.
Change in Youth Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Majority Hispanic/Latinx US Sample.

Objective Children and adolescents, individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, and those with mental health conditions may be at greater risk for worsened mental health because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined change in mental health from before to during the pandemic among predominantly Hispanic/Latinx adolescents. Method A total of 322 young adolescents (mean age = 11.99 years, 55% female and 45% male), with a racial/ethnic composition of 72.7% Hispanic/Latinx, 9.3% Black or African American, 5.9% multiple races, 5.0% Asian, 1.6% White, and 1.2% American Indian, completed a mental health screening measure prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and at 3 time-points beginning 1 month after COVID-19 stay-at-home measures were implemented. A subsample also completed a survey about their experience at home during COVID-19. Repeated-measures mixed analysis of covariance was used to evaluate change in each mental health domain, and whether youths who had elevated symptoms at baseline differed in their level of change, controlling for age and gender. Results For youths who had elevated levels of mental health problems before the pandemic, symptoms were significantly reduced across domains during the pandemic. Reductions in internalizing, externalizing, and total problems were clinically significant. For other youths, there were statistically significant reductions in internalizing and total problems, and no change in attention or externalizing problems. Post hoc analyses revealed that better family functioning was consistently related to lower mental health symptoms in youths during COVID-19 follow-ups. Conclusion COVID-19 stay-at-home regulations may offer protective effects for youth mental health. Study results may be specific to this population of predominantly Hispanic/Latinx youths from a large city in the southwestern United States.
Definitions, measures, and uses of rurality: A systematic review of the empirical and quantitative literature

Abstract Definitions and measures of rurality are important to researchers and policymakers as they have implications for policy and practice. By conducting a systematic review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the various ways in which rurality has been defined and operationalized in empirical and quantitative analyses. We describe how descriptive definitions and measures of rurality have changed over time, particularly due to global and regional urbanization and advances in statistical techniques and data availability. We also provide a comprehensive breakdown of the dimensions and components of rurality measures, an overview of the techniques used in constructing rurality measures, and discuss the uses of rurality measures in research and policy. Finally, we discuss current limitations of descriptive rurality research, future directions, and implications for policy and practice.
The influence of race on outcomes following pituitary tumor resection

Abstract Objective To assess the influence of race on short-term patient outcomes in a pituitary tumor surgery population. Patients and Methods Coarsened exact matching was used to retrospectively analyze consecutive patients (n = 567) undergoing pituitary tumor resection over a six-year period (June 07, 2013 to April 29, 2019) at a single, multi-hospital academic medical center. Black/African American and white patients were exact matched based on twenty-nine (29) patient, procedure, and hospital characteristics. Matching characteristics included surgical costs, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, duration of surgery, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, amongst others. Outcomes studied included unplanned 90-day readmission, emergency room (ER) evaluation, and unplanned reoperation. Results Ninety-two (n = 92) patients were exact matched and analyzed. There was no significant difference in 90-day readmission (p = 0.267, OR (black/AA vs white) = 0.500, 95% CI = 0.131–1.653) or ER evaluation within 90 days (p = 0.092, OR = 3.000, 95% CI = 0.848–13.737) between the two cohorts. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the rate of unplanned reoperation throughout the duration of the follow up period between matched black/African American and white patients (p = 0.607, OR = 0.750, 95% CI = 0.243–2.211). Conclusion This study suggests that the effect of race on post-operative outcomes is largely mitigated when equal access is attained, and when race is effectively isolated from socioeconomic factors and comorbidities in a population undergoing pituitary tumor resection.
A mindfulness-based promotive coping program improves well-being in college undergraduates.

An increasing number of college students in the U.S. report elevations in stress and anxiety. One approach to addressing this need is to offer skills training programs.This study used a stepped-wed...
Remote Flipped Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Flipped teaching (FT) is known to foster active learning and increase student engagement. The flipped classroom design organizes learning in such a way that the lower-order thinking such as memorization is expected at the individual student level in the form of homework and the higher-order thinking including application and analysis occurs in the classroom in the presence of the instructor. With the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, instructors and students were given no time to adjust to the remote educational set up. Flipped teaching, like most other instructional modalities, had to be transformed into an online platform. The present study assessed the effectiveness of FT in a remote setting in a graduate-level physiology course (n=33). The course content included lecture videos, slides, and reading assignments which were made available on BlackBoard, the Learning Management System. Students were expected to have reviewed the assigned content prior to the virtual synchronous sessions. During the synchronous meeting, a question-answer (Q&A) session allowed students to review the content yet again. Followed by the Q&A session, an individual quiz, containing lower-order questions, was given to assess student preparation. Soon after the review of the quiz, students in small groups (4-5 students per group) were allowed to use breakout rooms to complete a set of questions which were designed at the higher order of Bloom's taxonomy and expected students to apply knowledge, analyze or synthesize their collaborative responses. The answers to these questions were reviewed during the first part of the following synchronous session where students were selected randomly to answer these questions which prompted them to come prepared. Student surveys were administered at the beginning and the end of the course to assess their knowledge gain, perception of the remote FT format, and confidence in completing the course. Based on the survey results, it was found that the students adjusted well to the remote course setting (p<0.001) and their confidence in completing the course successfully increased from the beginning to the end of the semester (p<0.05). Students also found that the collaborative activities (93.55%) and the in-class discussions (96.77%) were effective and were well adjusted to the synchronous computerized exams (90.32%) and the individual in-class assessments (80.65%). Overall, the remote FT method was successful and therefore, the principles behind FT could be employed in virtual teaching.
Has the Strengthening of Appraisal Rights Led to an Increase in Takeover Premiums

Two Delaware appraisal related developments occurred in the summer of 2007. These developments have made it easier for target shareholders to seek appraisal, thus strengthening Delaware appraisal rights. Recent studies have documented empirical patterns that associate stronger appraisal rights with higher overall takeover premiums for all appraisal eligible deals. Meanwhile, the finance literature has long discussed the competitive nature of the market for corporate control. If buyers have already been paying competitive prices, the deal prices are unlikely to experience an overall increase in response to stronger appraisal rights, which protect minority target shareholders when they are under-paid at sub-market rates in M&A transactions. In this paper, we revisit the empirical patterns documented by recent studies and find that, consistent with the finance literature, there is no evidence that the strengthening of appraisal rights has led to an overall increase in takeover premiums across all appraisal eligible deals.
Risk behaviors among persons civilly committed for opioid use.

Abstract Despite the growth in civil commitment for persons who use opioids, we know little about the kinds of risk behaviors among those committed. This study examined the behaviors that a judge might use to determine if there is sufficient evidence that an individual's opioid use poses a risk for serious harm. The study recruited participants (n = 121) from three Massachusetts Department of Public Health civil commitment facilities in 2018. We used a list of risk behaviors that courts consider supportive of opioid-related civil commitment. Participants averaged 28 years of age, 56% were male, and 91% met criteria for severe opioid use disorder. Participants endorsed an average of 9 of the 27 risk behaviors. On average, participants endorsed three of the six drug use behaviors representing a danger to themselves, four of eleven behaviors representing an inability to care for or protect themselves (home safety, weight loss), and two of ten behaviors representing a danger to others (driving high or drunk). Participants who reported they were “not at all pleased” to have been civilly committed endorsed significantly (p = .009) fewer behaviors representing a danger to themselves than those who said they were at least “a little pleased.” We conclude that the majority of individuals civilly committed for opioid use are engaging in multiple high-risk behaviors that pose a serious risk of harm to themselves.
No Adults in the Woods: Relationships Between Adults and Children During Outdoor Play in Award-Winning Picturebooks from the United States

Adults perform a unique role in children’s socialization and development of play. Despite extensive research touting the importance of play, recent studies show that in the United States children are playing outside less than ever before. Children’s books are written with the intention of reflecting children’s lives and instilling social values. This chapter explores the following questions: What role do adults have in award-winning picturebooks that portray outdoor play? More broadly, how do picturebooks in the United States depict the relationship between adults and children, specifically concerning outdoor play? Picturebook winners from three major awards in the United States: the Caldecott Medal, the Notable Books for a Global Society Award, and the Ezra Jacks Keats Award from the past twenty years are analyzed for depictions of human characters playing outdoors. The critical content analysis finds three categories of intergenerational play depicted in these texts: Disengaged Adults, Adults Engaged in Parallel Play, and Caregivers as Environmentalists. Findings illustrate the need for books which portray adults as nurturing, playful, diverse people, rather than individuals disconnected from the imaginary lives of children.
649-P: Impact of Early Initiation of Dulaglutide on A1C in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

This retrospective, observational study assessed glycemic control over a 6-month follow-up among patient cohorts with T2D who initiated dulaglutide (DU) 0.75 mg or 1.5 mg following use of either 1, 2 or 3+ oral antihyperglycemic drugs (OAD) during the 24-month pre-index period. This analysis used US claims data from the HealthCore Integrated Research Database (HIRD®) between November 2012 and February 2020 (index date=earliest DU fill between November 2014 and August 2019). Patients ≥18 years old with T2D, ≥1 pharmacy claim for OAD during the pre-index period, continuous enrollment from 24 months pre-index to 6 months post-index date, and ≥1 A1C result within both 6 months pre- and 6 months post-index were included. There were differences in patient characteristics between the cohorts with significant trends (*see figure) of increasing age, comorbidity index scores and pre-index A1C seen with increasing number of prior OADs. Early initiation of DU, proxied by initiation after 1 OAD, resulted in an A1C reduction of 1.39%, and reductions of 1.30% and 1.01% in the 2 OAD and 3+ OAD cohorts, respectively (figure). Greater A1C reductions were observed across subgroups with higher pre-index A1C in each OAD cohort. In this real-world study, a clinically relevant reduction in A1C was seen within 6 months across all cohorts defined by the timing of initiation of DU, with increasing trend of A1C reduction seen with fewer number of prior OADs. Disclosure M. Hoog: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Diabetes, Stock/Shareholder; Self; Abbott, Eli Lilly and Company, PPD. J. L. Smith: Employee; Self; HealthCore, Other Relationship; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. M. Yu: Employee; Self; Lilly Diabetes, Employee; Spouse/Partner; LifeLabs, Stock/Shareholder; Self; Lilly Diabetes, Stock/Shareholder; Spouse/Partner; Lilly Diabetes. J. Peleshok: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. R. Mody: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. M. Grabner: Other Relationship; Self; Eli Lilly and Company.
A High-Content Screen for C/EBPα Expression Identifies Novel Therapeutic Agents in Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma.

Purpose Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS), one of the most common and aggressive sarcomas, infrequently responds to chemotherapy. DDLS survival and growth depend on underexpression of C/EBPα, a tumor suppressor and transcriptional regulator controlling adipogenesis. We sought to screen and prioritize candidate drugs that increase C/EBPα expression and may therefore serve as differentiation-based therapies for DDLS. Experimental design We screened known bioactive compounds for the ability to restore C/EBPα expression and inhibit proliferation selectively in two DDLS cell lines but not in normal adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). Selected hits' activity was validated, and the mechanism of the most potent, SN-38, was investigated. The in vivo efficacy of irinotecan, the prodrug of SN-38, was evaluated in DDLS xenograft models. Results Of 3,119 compounds, screen criteria were met by 19. Validation experiments confirmed the DDLS selectivity of deguelin, emetine, and SN-38 and showed that they induce apoptosis in DDLS cells. SN-38 had the lowest IC50 (approximately 10 nM), and its pro-apoptotic effects were countered by knockdown of CEBPA but not of TP53 Irinotecan significantly inhibited tumor growth at well tolerated doses, induced nuclear expression of C/EBPα, and inhibited HIF1a expression in DDLS patient-derived and cancer cell line xenograft models. In contrast, doxorubicin, the most common treatment for non-resectable DDLS, reduced tumor growth by 30-50% at a dose that caused weight loss. Conclusions This high-content screen revealed potential treatments for DDLS. These include irinotecan, which induces apoptosis of DDLS cells in a C/EBPα-dependent, p53-independent manner and should be clinically evaluated in patients with advanced DDLS.
Voluntary Insurance in Banking Services – New Product for Ensuring Risk-Free Digital-Banking of World-Economy

In 21st Century business world, services are carried out in multifaceted, which are unpredictable. On-the-go banking is a product in financial sector. However, it faces serious pitfalls being it riskiness. Bank customers compete for time-saving options. On contrary, PCBs compete for marginalizing its operating costs. On strategic tactics, PCBs targets customers in multi-facets - offering incentives for Influencing customer's intention, attitude and behavior in banking. It offers incentive under market system. However, it causes exploitation. In most cases customers don't read terms & conditions of services. They don't save contract-copy. These weaknesses cause abuses. Customer faces hidden charges, extra fees, account hacked. Addressing the issue, Voluntary Insurance Option is proposed where PCBs will introduce it as a product of bank. Transferring risk away from customer will benefit both PCBs and bank-customers. This product can attract new customers who are on the brink using digital banking but just felt it was too risky. This model can facilitate the parties involved for increasing usage of on-the-go banking-services while customers can maintain optimal utility of usages.
Heuristics for Mindfulness in Education and Beyond

Mindfulness may be a powerful tool in raising awareness of and ameliorating intense emotions that often accompany teaching and learning. One way to introduce mindfulness into the classroom is through a heuristic. Heuristics afford changes in practice by mediating reflexivity. Therefore, we refer to a heuristic as a low-grade intervention. In this chapter, I describe our hermeneutic approach to the development of a mindfulness heuristic. Included are three iterations of the heuristic and an account of how they evolved. I emphasize the flexibility and adaptability of heuristics, which make them easily applicable to various contexts.
Lexical Scoping as Universal Quantification

A universally quantified goal can be interpreted intensionally, that is, the goal ∀x.G(x) succeeds if for some new constant c, the goal G(c) succeeds. The constant c is, in a sense, given a scope: it is introduced to solve this goal and is “discharged” after the goal succeeds or fails. This interpretation is similar to the interpretation of implicational goals: the goal D ⊃ G should succeed if when D is assumed, the goal G succeeds. The assumption D is discharged after G succeeds or fails. An interpreter for a logic programming language containing both universal quantifiers and implications in goals and the body of clauses is described. In its non-deterministic form, this interpreter is sound and complete for intuitionistic logic. Universal quantification can provide lexical scoping of individual, function, and predicate constants. Several examples are presented to show how such scoping can be used to provide a Prolog-like language with facilities for local definition of programs, local declarations in modules, abstract data types, and encapsulation of state. Appears in the Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Logic Programming, Lisboa, Portugal, 19–23 June 1989. Address correspondence to Miller at “dale@linc.cis.upenn.edu” or at the address above.
The War Hitler Won: The Battle for Europe, 1939-1941

From 1939 to 1941, circumstances handed the Wehrmacht a perfect opportunity to fight Bewegungskrieg : short, sharp campaigns within the friendly confines of central and eastern Europe, with its relatively short distances, temperate climate, and highly developed road and rail infrastructure. When it came to operational-level maneuver warfare under these conditions, the Wehrmacht was without peer. None of this was new in Prussian or German history, and indeed the exact same description might be applied to Prussian armies under Frederick the Great. The summer of 1941 saw the opening of the war’s main event. Operation Barbarossa was the greatest undertaking in military history, and German success in the opening weeks was amazing. With the Panzers ranging far and deep, the Wehrmacht sealed off one immense encirclement of Soviet forces after another: at Bialystok, Minsk, Smolensk. By December, the Germans stood outside Moscow. They had inflicted four million casualties on the Red Army, about 3 million of whom were prisoners, and to many observers, the Soviet Union seemed finished. Indeed, Germany had conquered the continent. What we might call the “Great European War” of 1939-41 was over. It was the war that Hitler won.
Ice profiling sonar for an AUV: experience in the Arctic

The harsh environment and limited resources available in the Arctic region make collection of most scientifically relevant data in the area difficult and/or expensive. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), along with other partners, has developed an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) specifically designed to withstand the difficult environment in the Arctic and capable of collecting a variety of scientific data. This tool has the potential to replace capabilities previously supported by the US Navy SCICEX cruises which used submarines for measuring and monitoring Arctic oceanographic properties. Scientific access to Navy submarines has been severely restricted over the last several years, with the future prospects for continued support uncertain. Ice draft data was one important piece of data historically collected by the submarines that MBARI's AUV now has the potential to provide. This ice draft data has particular value to climatologists and Arctic scientists who are striving to evaluate the impact of global climate on the thickness and extent of the Arctic ice sheet. This paper examines the ice draft data collected by the ALTEX AUV during its engineering test cruise in the Arctic in October 2001. A description of the experiments and the general performance of the vehicle are presented along with the scientific instrumentation layout of the AUV. Further, the modifications made to the ASL Environmental Sciences Ice Profiler/spl trade/ instrument to support vehicle operations in real-time are described. The use of this real-time data to drive vehicle decision making during missions is addressed as well. The data acquisition and processing techniques used to determine ice draft are then outlined, followed by samples of the ice draft data itself and estimates of its accuracy and repeatability. The conclusion include lessons learned and future plans for the ice profiling science payload.
Some Properties of the Autolytic N-Acetylmuramidase of Lactobacillus acidophilus

The autolytic N-acetylmuramidase present in Lactobacillus acidophilus strain 63 AM Gasser has an optimal pH between 5 and 6 when lysing intact cells or isolated cell walls. Cellular lysis at pH 5 is two to four times more rapid in citrate buffer of 0.01 M and 0.5 M or higher than in 0.1 M acetate buffer. It seems that sulfhydryl groups are required for both cell and wall autolysis. Heavy metal ions and p-chloro-mercuribenzoate, at low concentrations, are powerful inhibitors. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid stimulates cellular but not wall autolysis in acetate buffer to the level obtained in citrate buffer. The possible involvement of sulfhydryl groups in a mechanism of control of cellular autolytic activity is discussed. The autolytic enzyme, although unstable in solution at 37 C, can be extracted from walls by the use of solutions of bovine serum albumin (100 μg/ml) in 0.01 N NaOH. Soluble enzyme extracted from walls rebinds on to sodium decylsulfate-treated walls, but three times as much of the wall material is required to completely re-adsorb the activity.
Regulation of atrial natriuretic factor-(99-126) secretion from neonatal rat primary atrial cultures by activators of protein kinases A and C.

Abstract Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is stored in atrial myocytes as a prohormone (ANF-(1-126] and is cosecretionally processed to the circulating ANF-related peptides, ANF-(1-98) and ANF-(99-126). Recently, we have shown that the cosecretional processing of ANF can be replicated in primary cultures of neonatal rat atrial myocytes maintained under serum-free conditions and that glucocorticoids are responsible for supporting this processing activity. Activators of protein kinase C (phorbol esters and alpha-adrenergic agonists) and of protein kinase A (cAMP analogs, forskolin, and beta-adrenergic agonists) were tested for their abilities to alter the rate of ANF secretion from the primary cultures. ANF secretion was stimulated approximately 4-fold after a 1-h incubation of the cultures with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA); maximal release occurred at about 100 nM TPA. Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography analysis of secreted material indicated that the cells efficiently cosecretionally processed ANF under both basal and TPA-stimulated conditions. However, incubating the cultures for more than 1 h with TPA resulted in a blunted secretory response to further TPA challenge and a 40-50% decrease in the quantity of ANF in the cells. The alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist phenylephrine was also capable of stimulating ANF secretion by about 4-fold at a half-maximal dose of about 1 microM. Phenylephrine-stimulated ANF secretion was inhibited by the alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin with half-maximal inhibition occurring at approximately 1 nM. Forskolin, 8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate, and N6-2(1)-O-dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate inhibited basal, TPA- and phenylephrine-stimulated ANF secretion. The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol partially inhibited phenylephrine-stimulated ANF secretion with the maximal effect occurring at 1 nM. These results indicate that ANF secretion from the neonatal rat atrial cultures is enhanced by activators of protein kinase C, and decreased by activators of protein kinase A, and that these secretory effects may be mediated through the actions of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors, respectively.
The association between body mass index and foot disorders in diabetic patients.

Background: Fifteen percent of individuals with diabetes develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime, and 85% of lower extremity amputations are preceded by an ulcer with or without infection. This study was done to determine the association between morbid obesity and foot ulcer or infection in patients with diabetes. Methods: During a 66-month period, 133 patients were admitted to a tertiary care university medical center with a diagnosis of foot ulcer or foot infection. There were 79 men and 54 women, with an average age of 62 ± 12 years. During hospitalization, 52 patients had peripheral angiography, 18 patients had invasive cardiac procedures, and 13 patients had peripheral vascular surgery. Twenty-two patients were receiving chronic hemodialysis. Seventy-four patients had surgical debridement of an ulcer. Thirty-two patients had bony stabilization of a Charcot foot. Partial or Syme amputations were done on 36 patients, and 26 patients had a transtibial or more proximal level of amputation. Medical rec...
Type II pneumocyte proliferation in vitro: problems and future directions.

In adult animals, the type II pneumocyte is progenitor of both the type I and type II alveolar epithelium. In primary culture, however, the fate of this cell is uncertain. Type II cells in culture ...
Sequential and Square-Root Algorithms

It is now clear that the only time-consuming operation in the Kalman filtering process is the computation of the Kalman gain matrices: $${G_k} = {P_{k,k - 1}}C_k^T{({C_k}{P_{k,k - 1}}C_k^T + {R_k})^{ - 1}}$$ .
Finite difference schemes for k ⋅ p models: A comparative study

Multi-band k ⋅ p models discretized with finite difference method (FDM) have been widely used to study electronic properties of semiconductor nanostructures. However, different schemes of FDM exist in the literature, some of them are numerically unstable leading to spurious states [1][2], while others are stable but require special treatment of the boundary conditions and/or the material interfaces [3][4][5][6]. Therefore, a comparison of their numerical behaviors (and implementation tricks) will be very helpful for selecting a suitable scheme and obtaining reliable results. To this end, we have implemented into NEMO5 simulation software [7] the following options, (a) centered difference for symmetrized (SYM) Hamiltonian [1], (b) centered difference for Burt-Foreman (BF) Hamiltonian [8], (c) one-sided differences for SYM Hamiltonian [3], and (d) one-sided differences for BF Hamiltonian [6]. For all cases, eight-band and six-band models for both zincblende and wurtzite type materials are available.
Metal Oxide-based (ZnO and IZO) Thin Film Transistors and Circuits

This work emphasizes room temperature deposition and fabrication of staggered bottom-gate ZnO and IZO TFTs. We synthesized these oxide thin films by RF sputtering in an Ar/Oxygen ambience with no intentional heating of the substrates. Bottom gate staggered structure ZnO TFTs were fabricated (Ti/Au/Ti gate and Au/Ti source/drain) and characterized. ZnO TFTs retained well-behaved transfer characteristics down to a channel length of 4 μm with field effect mobility of 5 cm2/V.s, on/off current ratio exceeding 106 and threshold voltage around -5V. The IZO TFTs, with ITO as gate metal layer and highly conducting amorphous IZO forming the source/drain material had reasonably high field effect mobility of 20 cm2/V.s and on/off current ratio exceeding 106, which are well suited for active matrix display applications. Finally, to demonstrate the viability of oxide-based device integration, simple circuits such as inverters and pseudo-logic circuits are designed, fabricated and tested.
In Vivo Deamidation Characterization of Monoclonal Antibody by LC/MS/MS

The spontaneous nonenzymatic deamidation of glutaminyl and asparaginyl residues of peptides and proteins has been observed both in vitro and in vivo. Deamidation may change the structure and function of a peptide or protein, potentially resulting in decreased bioactivity, as well as alterations in pharmacokinetics and antigenicity of the protein pharmaceutical. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the effect of storage and formulation conditions on deamidation of a protein drug candidate. Of particular interest is the investigation of in vivo deamidation mechanisms of protein drug candidates. Several methods are available to characterize the deamidation of peptides and proteins. We present here a LC/MS/MS method used to evaluate the deamidation of an antibody after in vivo administration. A humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody (MAb) has several “hot spots” for spontaneous deamidation. One site, amino acid residue Asn55 located in the CDR2 region of the heavy chain, is of particular interest since deamidati...
Acquired HDL Deficiency Associated With Apolipoprotein A-I Reactive Monoclonal Immunoglobulins

To the Editor: Immunoglobulins (Igs) directed at components of lipoproteins to cause altered lipoprotein metabolism have been described in patients with multiple myeloma,1,2⇓ xanthomatosis,3 benign gammopathies,4 rheumatoid arthritis,5 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).6,7⇓ In most cases, hyperlipidemia results from Igs reactive with apolipoprotein (apo) B present on very low–density lipoproteins and LDLs. Less common have been associations of Igs with hypolipidemia or reactive with HDLs. Here we describe two patients who developed low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (<5th percentile) associated with benign gammopathy and the presence of serum Igs reactive with apo A-I. Patient 1 (P1) was a morbidly obese (body mass index, 48 kg/m2), 45-year-old woman with mild normocytic, normochromic anemia (hematocrit, 33 g/L; hemoglobin, 11.6 g/L) and low HDL-C (0.22 mmol/L [8 mg/dL]). Serum Ig levels were elevated. Antinuclear antibodies were detected but were nonreactive with dsDNA, Sm, RNP, SSA, SSB, SCL-70, and histone. Anticardiolipin and anti–β2-glycoprotein I antibodies were negative. Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) identified monoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands. No Igs or light chains were detected in her urine. Serum lipid levels showed that HDL-C was in the low-normal to normal range between 1992 and 1996 (1.0 to 1.4 mmol/L) but at the time of presentation …
Progressive measurement and monitoring for multi-resolution data in surface manufacturing considering spatial and cross correlations

Controlling variations in part surface shapes is critical to high-precision manufacturing. To estimate the surface variations, a manufacturing plant usually employs a number of multi-resolution metrology systems to measure surface flatness and roughness with limited information about surface shape. Conventional research establishes surface models by considering spatial correlation; however, the prediction accuracy is restricted by the measurement range, speed, and resolution of metrology systems. In addition, existing monitoring approaches do not locate abnormal variations and lead to high rates of false alarms or misdetections. This article proposes a new methodology for efficiently measuring and monitoring surface variations by fusing in-plant multi-resolution measurements and process information. The fusion is achieved by considering cross-correlations among the measured data and manufacturing process variables along with spatial correlations. Such cross-correlations are induced by cutting force dynami...
Notes On Saldjuq Architectural Patronage in Thirteenth Century Anatolia

Les monuments de la periode Saldjūq au 13 e siecle en Anatolie apparaissent tres representatifs de l'architecture medievale de la Turquie islamique. Cet article se propose d'etudier, essentiellement a travers l'epigraphie, le contexte dans lequel se developpa cette architecture. Plusieurs questions sont abordees : quels en furent les commanditaires ? De quel groupe social et economique faisaient partie ces mecenes ? Quels sont les types de fondation qui leur sont associes ? Enfin, quels furent les caracteres, l'importance et l'evolution de ce mecenat.
The δ1 opioid receptor is a heterodimer that opposes the actions of the δ2 receptor on alcohol intake

Background Opioid receptors are clinically important targets for both pain and alcohol abuse. Three opioid receptors have been cloned: μ, δ, and κ, all of which effect alcohol consumption in animal models. Naltrexone is a nonselective opioid antagonist used for alcoholism, the clinical utility of which is limited by poor efficacy and adverse side effects. Here, we demonstrate that the therapeutic limitations of naltrexone may reflect its poor selectivity. Despite decades of research, several mysteries surround the pharmacology of these receptors. For example, two pharmacologically defined subtypes of δ receptors exist in vivo. Methods Effects of δ subtype-selective ligands (naltrindole, naltriben, tan-67, 7-benzylidene naltrexone) were measured on ethanol consumption in C57BL/6 wildtype and opioid receptor knockout mice using a limited access two-bottle choice paradigm. Affinity and efficacy of naltriben, 7-benzylidenenaltrexone and tan-67 was measured in vitro using radioligand binding and Ca 2+ -mobilizationa assays. Results We show that the subtypes of the δ receptor, δ 1 and δ 2 , have opposing effects on ethanol consumption. We find that these effects are synergistic; thereby suggesting that δ 1 and δ 2 receptors are distinct molecular targets. Indeed, we provide both in vitro as well as in vivo evidence that the δ 1 subtype is a μ-δ heterodimer and that the δ 2 subtype is most likely a δ homomer. Conclusions Together these data provide insight into the limited actions of the clinically important drug naltrexone and identify a novel target with improved specificity and efficacy for the development of new therapeutics for the treatment of alcoholism.