cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enabling Dynamic Spectrum Access in a Tactical Radio System: A Case Study

Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) technology has the potential to significantly improve communications performance in environments where the radio's operational spectrum may encounter electromagnetic energy sources with intermittent spectral occupancy, distributed interference sources, and variable noise floors. By sensing the environment, the radio can adjust its communications frequency based on environmental observations. Work to date has primarily focused on sensing technology and algorithms for coordinating dynamic frequency selection in the commercial radio frequency (RF) space. However, the technology must be proven on the battlefield, in existing tactical radio systems in order to benefit the military user. Radio resource capabilities and the unique constraints of tactical waveforms present several significant challenges. This paper presents an initial experiment inserting DSA technology into the Harris Falcon III hand-held, tactical radio system. Issues and problems unique to the tactical radio environment are presented and approaches discussed. Tests and demonstration results are presented and the paper closes with a discussion of additional challenges facing the insertion of DSA technology in tactical radio systems.
Formation, Chromophore Composition, and Labeling Specificity of Cyanidium caldarium Phycocyanin.

Phycocyanin is an accessory pigment found in the photosynthetic apparatus of blue green, cryptomonad, and red algae (1). The phycocyanin molecule consists of a protein to which are bound approximately 20 to 30 residues of the straight-chained tetrapyrrolic (bile pigment) chromophore, phycocyanobilin (10). Conventional methods used to determine the chromophore composition of proteins with polypyrrolic prosthetic groups, e.g., hemoglobin, myoglobin ,(5), which rely on quantitative splitting and recovery of the pigment constituents, fail to liberate phycocyanobilin from phycocyanin apoprotein (Troxler, unpublished observations). Phycocyanobilin is released from trichloroacetic aciddenatured phycocyanin, however, during reflux in absolute methanol albeit in limited yield as first described by Siegelman et al. i(,13,14). Cells of the alga, Cyanidium caldarium, synthesize phycocyanobilin-labeled phycocyanin-14C (16, 17) when illuminated in liquid suspension containing the porphyrin-bile pigment precursor, A-aminolevulinic acid-4-14C (ALA). The percent phycocyanobilin (by weight) in phycocyanin can be determined from the ratio of the specific radioactivity (dpm/,jg) of the chromophore to that of the entire bile pigment-protein complex. The specific radioactivity ratios method is valid, however,. only if labeling in the molecule is restricted to the prosthetic group. The present communication describes the quantitative relationship between the chromophore and apoprotein in C. caldariumt phycocyanin, and the specificity of ALA labeling in the phvcocyanin molecule.
Management of bleeding with uremia and liver disease

Bleeding can complicate the clinical course of both liver disease and uremia. The pathogenesis of bleeding in both syndromes is complex. A variety of options are available for treatment of uremic bleeding including desmopressin, erythropoietin, and estrogens. Bleeding complications of liver disease
Food stamp program participation, informal supports, household food security and child food security: A comparison of african american and caucasian households in poverty

Abstract More than 12 million children in the U.S. live in a food insecure household. Insufficient nutrition puts children at risk for health and developmental problems. Little is known about a racial comparison of food security among economically vulnerable households. This study examines how the effects of household characteristics, food stamp program (FSP) (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as of October 1, 2008) participation, informal food supports (IFS) and household food security (HFS) on child food security (CFS) differ between African American and Caucasian Households. We also explore moderating roles of FSP or IFS on the association between HFS and CFS. We use data from the 2003 Food Security Survey, a supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS) (N = 3,799). Findings revealed that HFS was negatively related to CFS while IFS and head of the household's level of education were positively related to CFS in both racial groups. FSP participation increased CFS for Caucasian households but had no effect on CFS in African American households. IFS positively moderated the impact of HFS on CFS only for Caucasian households. No moderating effects of FSP participation were found. Implication for practice and future research are discussed.
Experimental Comparison of Heat Transfer Data With Flow Visualization on a Flat Surface in an Air Fluidized Bed

Presentation d'une nouvelle technique de visualisation des phenomenes d'ecoulement de fluide sur une petite surface immergee dans un lit fluidise a l'air. Etablissement d'une correlation qualitative entre la visualisation et les donnees du transfert de chaleur a partir de la surface. Obtention des coefficients de transfert de chaleur en fonction de la vitesse de l'air, mettant en evidence l'influence importante de l'indication de la surface. Identification grâce a la visualisation de trois mecanismes de transfert de chaleur en fonction de l'angle d'inclinaison et de la vitesse de l'air
Relationship between amount of lung resected and outcome after lung volume reduction surgery

Abstract Background . Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is being actively investigated for palliative treatment of severe emphysema. Considerable focus is directed toward patient selection and outcomes of LVRS. However, there is little information available regarding surgical methods to guide optimal extent of resection. We hypothesized that acute improvement and long-term survival after bilateral staple LVRS would be related to the extent of tissue resected. Methods . The relationship between acute improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity was examined as a function of the total grams of lung tissue resected in 237 patients who underwent bilateral staple LVRS by a single group of surgeons. Overall survival was assessed based on extent of resection by quartiles of tissue weight resected using Kaplan-Meier survival methods. Results . Improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity correlated with extent of tissue resected ( p p = 0.7). Conclusions . There is a correlation between the amount of tissue resected and improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity after bilateral staple LVRS, with generally greater postoperative improvement after larger volume resections. However, there does not appear to be greater long-term survival with larger volume resections despite greater improvement in spirometry. This study suggests that factors other than improvement in spirometric variables may govern optimal LVRS resection volumes and long-term outcome. Future studies will clearly be needed in this important area of LVRS emphysema research.
Role of Two Insect Growth Regulators in Integrated Pest Management of Citrus Scales

Portions of two commercial citrus orchards were treated for two consecutive years with buprofezin or three consecutive years with pyriproxyfen in a replicated plot design to determine the long-term impact of these insect growth regulators (IGRs) on the San Joaquin Valley California integrated pest management program. Pyriproxyfen reduced the target pest, California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii Maskell, to nondetectable levels on leaf samples ≈4 mo after treatment. Pyriproxyfen treatments reduced the California red scale parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach to a greater extent than the parasitoid Comperiella bifasciata Howard collected on sticky cards. Treatments of lemons Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. infested with scale parasitized by A. melinus showed only 33% direct mortality of the parasitoid, suggesting the population reduction observed on sticky cards was due to low host density. Three years of pyriproxyfen treatments did not maintain citricola scale, Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana), below the treatment threshold and cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi Maskell, was slowly but incompletely controlled. Buprofezin reduced California red scale to very low but detectable levels ≈5 mo after treatment. Buprofezin treatments resulted in similar levels of reduction of the two parasitoids A. melinus and C. bifasciata collected on sticky cards. Treatments of lemons infested with scale parasitized by A. melinus showed only 7% mortality of the parasitoids, suggesting the population reduction observed on sticky cards was due to low host density. Citricola scale was not present in this orchard, and cottony cushion scale was slowly and incompletely controlled by buprofezin. These field plots demonstrated that IGRs can act as organophosphate insecticide replacements for California red scale control; however, their narrower spectrum of activity and disruption of coccinellid beetles can allow other scale species to attain primary pest status.
A Theory of Writing and Experimental Writing in the Age of Telecommunications: A Response to Steven Seidman

For some time, Steven Seidman, and other sociologists as well, have been engaged in elaborating a criticism of the discipline of sociology, which takes its motivation in part from the politics of the new social movements and in part from what is generally described as the postmodern critique of the human sciences (Seidman 1991; 1994; Denzin 1991; 1995; Lemert 1995; Pfohl 1992). Seidman's "Political Unconscious of the Human Sciences" is an important elaboration of the criticism of disciplinary knowledges that is especially relevant now, given the negative treatments recently offered by sociologists of both the postmodern critique of the human sciences and the new social movements.
An evaluation of iron bioavailability and speciation in western Lake Superior with the use of combined physical, chemical, and biological assessment

An iron-dependent cyanobacterial bioreporter (Synechococcus strain KAS101) was used in unison with sizefractionated iron content (.0.45, ,0.45, ,0.02 mm), and chemical characterization of iron complexation (C18 resin column) to elucidate the bioavailable forms of iron present in Lake Superior during periods of inverse thermal stratification (May) and strong thermal stratification (September) of the water column. The results provide evidence of organic complexation of iron in Lake Superior waters. Iron in most sampled water was complexed by organic compounds that behaved like fulvic acids, whereas some samples showed evidence for the presence of siderophore-like compounds. The presence of dissolved organic matter suppressed the cellular luminescence of the bioreporter, indicating an increased iron bioavailability. This effect could result either from the presence of siderophores forming iron complexes that are bioavailable to the bioreporter, or from more indirect effects because of the presence of other organic compounds, such as fulvic acids or polysaccharides. Model ligand additions, iron bioaccumulation, and photo-oxidation of dissolved organic matter were used to assess the bioavailability of organically complexed iron to the bioreporter. A significant fraction of the iron (40– 100%) was bioavailable to the bioreporter. Iron bioavailability was high enough for the bioreporter not to be iron limited in the water collected from Lake Superior. This measure of bioavailability to picocyanobacteria is relevant because picoplankton accounted for the majority of chlorophyll a in Lake Superior during this study.
An improved nonintrusive global–local approach for sharp thermal gradients in a standard FEA platform

Several classes of important engineering problems – in this case, problems exhibiting sharp thermal gradients – have solution features spanning multiple spatial scales and, therefore, necessitate advanced hp finite element discretizations. Although hp-FEM is unavailable off-the-shelf in many predominant commercial analysis software packages, the authors herein propose a novel method to introduce these capabilities via a generalized finite element method non-intrusively in a standard FEA platform. The methodology is demonstrated on two verification problems as well as a representative, industrial-scale problem. Numerical results show that the techniques utilized allow for accurate resolution of localized thermal features on structural-scale meshes without hp-adaptivity or the ability to account for complex and very localized loads in the FEA code itself. This methodology enables the user to take advantage of all the benefits of both hpFEM discretizations and the appealing features of many available CAE/FEA software packages in order to obtain optimal convergence for challenging multiscale problems. Copyright c © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maxillary molar occlusal polygons in five human samples

Angular and linear measurements of maxillary first molar occlusal polygons are given for young San (Bushmen), Sotho, Asiatic Indians, Whites, and Papago Indians. Angular and linear measurements are inseparably related. Much greater variation occurs in widths than in lengths. Maximum variation occurs between San and Papago. Papago maxillary first molars are separable from Old World molar samples in two of four angles and eight of 13 indices.
Benign sacrococcygeal neoplasm arising at birth from a giant congenital melanocytic nevus

Giant congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are considered to be premalignant with the highest risk for conversion to melanoma. Solid tumors within giant CMN presenting at birth are relatively unusual, and a variety of malignancies have been reported within these masses. However, the frequency of malignancy in these tumors is unknown. We report the unusual case of a female neonate who was born with 2 large, perianal masses within a giant CMN over her trunk. We resected the larger of the 2 masses because of discomfort and bleeding. The mass consisted of an outgrowth of melanocytes with benign characteristics. The smaller of the 2 masses was managed expectantly and has subsequently decreased in size. We propose that pathologically benign masses within giant CMNs may not require immediate resection. We will discuss the management and pathologic findings of this case and review the literature regarding management of CMN-associated neoplasms arising at birth.
Drug-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a major cause of infection in both children and adults, annually resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. The past two decades have seen an alarming worldwide increase in the incidence of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae (DRSP). DRSP is now common throughout the United States, and physicians are questioning how best to approach this epidemic. With the introduction of a number of newer antimicrobial agents, the potential for improved preventive measures, and a better understanding of DRSP, the approach to the management of DRSP infections may change greatly in the next few years. In this article we will review the development of DRSP, identify populations at increased risk of exposure to DRSP, address what approaches might be used to limit its spread, and suggest initial empirical therapy when treating patients with pneumonia due to DRSP.
Applications of a model matching framework in switched systems

In this paper we build on our previous work to consider some applications of a prototypical model matching framework where the various mappings involved are systems that switch arbitrarily among n given linear time-invariant (LTI) systems. The design interest was placed on minimizing the worst case lscrinfin-induced norm of this model matching system over all possible switchings. It was shown that the model matching problem can be solved via linear programming (LP) with an arbitrary a-priori precision. To illustrate the efficiency of the proposed architecture, we consider herein three related applications: sensitivity minimization of switched systems, linear parameter-varying (LPV) control, and cooperative control of dynamic agents. These applications share a common feature that information switching about the system dynamics results in a switched closed-loop system and thus generate the necessity to address transient system stability and performance optimization. A numerical example is included to demonstrate the difference of achievable performance under different switchings.
A Functional Assessment of Insulin/Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Hybrid Receptors*

Insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) hybrid receptors are composed of an alpha beta-heterodimer from an insulin receptor and an alpha beta-heterodimer from an IGF-I receptor. In this study, we evaluate the effect of insulin receptor overexpression on hybrid formation. The more human insulin receptors expressed in rodent fibroblasts, the greater the percentage of endogenous rat IGF-I receptors that form hybrid receptors. The IGF-I receptor in rodent fibroblasts has two receptor isoforms, one with a 95-kilodalton (kDa) beta-subunit and one with an 105 kDa beta-subunit. A truncated mutant insulin receptor was used to demonstrate that only activated IGF-I receptors with the 105-kDa beta-subunit form hybrid receptors with the insulin receptor. Insulin/IGF-I hybrid receptors with a kinase-defective insulin heterodimer undergo trans and a small amount of cis autophosphorylation, but overall autophosphorylation is markedly decreased from that seen in hybrids with a kinase-competent insulin receptor. The k...
Imaging Hepatobiliary Disease in Children

Avariety of disorders may affect the pediatric liver. In this article, we will discuss the key clinical features and imaging findings of several common pediatric hepatic disorders. The topics discussed will include biliary atresia, neonatal hepatitis, fibropolycystic liver disease (including choledochal cysts and Caroli disease), hepatic abscess, vasoproliferative lesions, and common hepatic neoplasms.
Applying the polarization model to selected ionic substances

Abstract The polarization model is applied to Li+ and F− in their interactions with water and with themselves. The model is also applied to NH3 and NH4+ in their interactions with water. Results on applying the polarization model to PO43−, HPO42−, H2PO4− and H3PO4 in their interactions with water are reported. Finally, results on CO32−, HCO3−, H2CO3 and CO2 are reported.
Age-related changes in porosity and mineralization and in-service damage accumulation

It has been proposed that bone damageability (i.e. bone's susceptibility to formation of damage) increases with the elevation or suppression of bone turnover. Suppression of turnover via bisphosphonates increases local bone mineralization, which theoretically should increase the susceptibility of bone to microcrack formation. Elevation of bone turnover has also been proposed to increase bone microdamage through an increase in bone intracortical porosity and local stresses and strains. The goal of this paper was to investigate the above proposals, i.e., whether or not increases to mineral content and porosity increase bone in-service damageability. To do this, we measured in vivo diffuse damage area (Df.Dm.Ar, %) and microcrack density (Cr.Dn) (cracks/mm(2)) in the same specimen from human cortical bone of the midshaft of the proximal femur obtained from cadavers with an age range of eight decades and examined their relationships with porosity, mineralization and age. Results of this study showed that Cr.Dn and Df.Dm.Ar increased with a decrease in bulk mineralization. This finding does not appear to support the proposal that damage accumulation increases with low bone turnover that results in increases mineralization. It was proposed however that the negative correlation between damage accumulation and mineralization may be attributed to highly mineralized regions of bone existing with under-mineralized regions resulting in an overall decrease in average bone mineralization. It was also found that microdamage accumulates with increasing porosity which does appear to support the proposal that elevated bone turnover that results in increased porosity can accelerate microdamage accumulation. Finally, it was shown that linear microcracks and Df.Dm.Ar accumulate with age differently, but because they correlate with each other, one may be the precursor for the other.
Upgrading NY-NJ Harbor: risks and challenges

New York-New Jersey Harbor is an economic engine for the east coast of the USA, providing efficient and cost-effective processing of imported and exported goods. Markets for these goods extend throughout New York, New Jersey, New England, and Canada, involving intermodal transportation systems (rail, highway, air) from the harbour to these markets. As a result of a Panama Canal project scheduled to complete in 2014, New York Harbor must make changes to accommodate larger ships or risk declining in importance. This paper examines the risks and challenges of these changes in terms of competition, infrastructure, environmental, financial, and security impacts.
Diagnosis of Secondary Depression in Schizophrenia: Implications for DSM-IV

A substantial literature documents the existence of a secondary depression syndrome occurring in the course of schizophrenia. This review examines the relevance this syndrome may have in relation to demographic, symptomatic, biological, prognostic, and treatment issues. It explores the differential diagnosis of secondary depression in schizophrenia and considers the implications for the inclusion of such a diagnostic category DSM-IV.
The Big Picture: On Mice, Badges for your CV, and the Big Data Backlash …

“The Mouse” has entered the realm of Big Data. According to John Foreman, chief data scientist at MailChimp (an email marketing service provider), Disney World now offers a MagicBand (MB) equipped ...
Foodshed analysis and its relevance to sustainability

Providing a wholesome and adequate food supply is the most basic tenet of agricultural sustainability. However, sharp increases in global food prices have occurred in the past 2 years, bringing the real price of food to the highest level seen in 30 years (FAO, 2008). This dramatic shift is a fundamental concern. The role of ‘local food’ in contributing to the solution of underlying problems is currently being debated, and the debate raises a critical question: To what degree can society continue to rely on large-scale, long-distance transportation of food? Growing concerns about climate change, the longevity of fossil fuel supplies and attempts to produce energy from agriculture suggest that energy efficiency will be critical to adapting to resource constraints and mitigating climate impacts. Moreover, these problems are urgent because energy prices, biofuel production and weather-related crop failures are partially responsible for the current world food price situation. Tools are needed to determine how the environmental impact and vulnerability of the food system are related to where food is produced in relation to where it is consumed. To this end, analyses of foodsheds, the geographic areas that feed population centers, can provide useful and unique insights.
Yield Stress and Microstructure of Set Yogurt Made from High Hydrostatic Pressure-Treated Full Fat Milk

ABSTRACT: Set yogurts were prepared from fortified milk subjected to the following processes: (a) Thermal process (85C,°C,35 min), (b) High hydrostatic pressure process (193 or 676 MPa for 5 or 30 min), and (c) Nonprocessed milk (control). Yogurts from milk treated with 676 MPa for 30 min exhibited similar yield stress and water-holding capacity (WHC) to yogurts from heated milk. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) micrographs exhibited small round casein micelle aggregates without appendages in yogurts from heated milk. Yogurts from milk treated with 193 MPa and untreated milk exhibited low yield stress, low WHC, and large clusters of coalesced micelles. Mechanisms for gel formation are discussed.
Aldosterone: villain or protector?

During the past decade, there has been heightened interest in aldosterone as a cardiovascular risk factor, fueled by studies documenting its effects on tissues other than epithelial cells. Of particular interest is the role of aldosterone in exacerbating vascular injury. It is likely that the mechanisms mediating the vascular effects of aldosterone differ from its effects on epithelial cells, eg, the renal collecting tubule. For more than a quarter of a century, it also had been assumed that the primary mechanism of aldosterone was mediated by activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), which in turn increased transcription of MR-responsive genes. Recently, it has been documented that aldosterone can produce rapid cellular responses—MR-mediated increases in phosphorylation of transduction factors, eg, extracellular signal regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), protein kinase C (PKC), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and changes in intracellular calcium and hydrogen ions—in addition to its traditional genomic responses. Sometimes these rapid effects are called “nongenomic.” However, it is likely that even the “rapid” actions of aldosterone can lead to genomic effects. Thus, we will use the terms “rapid” and “genomic” to contrast 2 major mechanisms of action of aldosterone. These rapid effects may be beneficial or detrimental depending on the environment in which aldosterone is acting. For example, phosphorylation of eNOS in endothelial cells leading to increased NO production and vasodilation would likely be beneficial in an environment where there is decreased perfusion to a vital organ. Activation of vasoconstriction through increases in cytosolic calcium or phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and PKC would be beneficial in hypotension secondary to injury. …
Leg muscle metabolism in trained and untrained men.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe substrate changes in blood and muscles during submaximal exercise and to look at the relationship of these changes to some enzyme activities important in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. A group of six trained and six untrained men were exercised for 1 hour at 50% [Vdot]O2 max; three from each group cycled and the rest ran on a treadmill. During the exercise, blood-free fatty acid (FFA) levels increased twofold, glycerol by 3.6 times, triglyceride (TG) by 11/100 ml, and glucose by a mean 11 mg/100 ml in the trained men. In the untrained subjects, however, FFA increased 1.8 fold, glycerols 1.6 fold, and TG by a mean 24/100 ml. Glucose fell in every subject by an average 5 mg%. Muscle glycogen depletion averaged 34 mmoles/kg in the untrained and 23 mmoles/kg in the trained group. The activities of succinic acid dehydrogenase (SDH), malic acid dehydrogenase (MDH), and carnitine palmityl transferase (CPT) were greater by 177%, 93%, and 64%, respectively, in...
First on the List: Search Engine Optimization Contests as Authentic Learning

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) describes a set of techniques applied to a Website over time so it achieves a desirable position with a search engine’s rankings. SEO is an important strategy for organizations and individuals in order to promote their brands online. This paper describes an online learning activity that mimics a popular real-world event known as an SEO contest. SEO contest participants make use of a variety of techniques in order to compete for the top position in a search engine’s results when searching for a specified word or phrase. Results from this study show that teachers can leverage an SEO contest as an authentic learning environment to effectively develop college students’ competence in implementing SEO techniques.
Interactions between the Microtubule Binding Protein EB1 and F-Actin

Many cellular processes including cell division and cell migration require coordination between the actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeletons. This coordination is as-yet poorly understood, but proteins such as formins and IQGAP1 are known to be involved. We show that the MT binding protein EB1 (end-binding protein 1), a key regulator of MT dynamics, can bind directly to filamentous actin (F-actin) F-actin. We determined that the EB1:F-actin interaction is salt sensitive and weak under physiological salt concentrations but might be relevant in contexts where the local concentration of actin is high. Using bioinformatics and mutagenesis, we found that the EB1:F-actin binding site partially overlaps the well-characterized EB1:MT binding interface. Congruently, competition experiments indicate that EB1 can bind to F-actin or MTs but not both simultaneously. These observations suggest that EB1:F-actin interactions may negatively regulate EB1:MT interactions, and we speculate that this interaction may assist cells in differentially regulating MT stability in the actin-rich cortex as opposed to the cell interior.
Diffusion and Subsurface Bonding of Hydrogen in Silicon

The hydrogen depth profiling in the near-surface region in silicon reveals the existence of a subsurface hydrogen layer. This layer acts as a barrier to diffusion. The observed subsurface hydrogen profile rises and then drops off sharply with increasing depth and is stable up to 770 K. Our annealing data indicate a rather complex motion of monatomic and molecular hydrogen in the near-surface region (<1500 A) in the temperature range 300–800 K. The subsurface molecule formation represents the dominant hydrogen trapping process in silicon.
The Recognition of Hemolytic Disease in Patients with Portal Cirrhosis

Twenty-two patients with alcoholic hepatic disease were studied in order to determine the reliability of results of common laboratory tests as indicators of hemolytic disease in patients with chronic hepatic disease. Erythrocyte survival was compared with hemoglobin level, reticulocyte count, serum bilirubin, serum lactic acid dehydrogenase, and serum haptoglobin. Individual studies which had good reliability in indicating hemolytic disease in such patients were the indirect: total bilirubin ratio (r = –0.82) and serum haptoglobin levels (r = 0.60). A stepwise regression analysis disclosed (1) the indirect: total bilirubin ratio, (2) total bilirubin, and (3) haptoglobin values to be a reliable combination of studies to evaluate for the identification of hemolytic disease (multiple r = 0.92). Serum haptoglobin levels did not correlate with other measurements of hepatic protein synthesis (albumin, fibrinogen, prothrombin times—initial and mean). This study suggests that haptoglobin synthesis can remain intact in patients with chronic hepatic disease and that serum levels are a reliable guide to the recognition of hemolytic conditions in such patients.
Fuzzy AHP in Multiple Attribute Decision Making withInterval Numbers

Firstly, the paper gave the concept of relative superiority describing size of interval numbers, and a new ranking method of fuzzy complementary judgement matrix. It constructed fuzzy complementary judgement matrix of comparison of evaluation indexes relative to the total goal, and of comparison of interval numbers relative to the fixed evaluation index with dual comparison of interval numbers. Then, with the ranking method of fuzzy complementary judgement matrix, the weight of evaluation indexes and the value of the level of importance of each feasible plan relative to the fixed evaluation index are gained. On the basis of this, the order of interval-number-feasible plans is ranked. This method is simple, practical and needs less information.
Tourette's syndrome. Some new concepts.

The author draws upon a large clinical experience evaluated for over 10 years and attempts to put into perspective some of the clinical features of this syndrome. During this period, there has been a serious attempt to understand the basic mechanisms of Tourette's; in particular, the “dopamine hypothesis.” A review of clinical manifestations and etiology is given.
Two-axis closed-looped piezoelectric image stabilizer

Use of staring array detectors in robotic vision systems and object tracking systems is limited to applications involving small fields of view and/or steerable optic systems. Some military target tracking systems, for example, use costly gyrostabilized optical systems to fix the target’s image on the staring detector arrays as host vehicles move in serpentine paths toward the target. Similar relative movements between objects and optical vision systems are encountered in robotic vision systems.
Genetic Instability and Cancer

When a cell prepares to divide, its genome is first duplicated and then distributed in total to each daughter cell. Every aspect of this fundamental biological process is tightly controlled, ensuring that the information encoded in the genomic DNA is not lost and does not significantly change as it is transmitted from each generation of cells to the next. A full complement of chromosomes is inherited in structurally intact form. The process of DNA replication is similarly characterized by an extraordinarily high degree of fidelity. During the proliferation of normal stem cells, genetic changes arise very rarely. The information content of the genome in the cells that compose normal tissues is therefore highly stable over the lifetime of the individual.
Urinary Tract Infections: Pediatric Primary Care Curriculum Podcast

Abstract Introduction Demands on residents’ time during training make it difficult for them to engage consistently with a primary care curriculum. In response to this, the emergency medicine and cr...
30th Anniversary of Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS): An Invitation to Become Engaged.

* Abbreviations: EHR — : electronic health records PROS — : Pediatric Research in Office Settings Thirty years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics, in partnership with practicing pediatricians and leading academicians, founded Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS). In what was at the time a transformative insight, they understood that research in primary care practice settings, developed and conducted in collaboration between pediatricians in community practice and researchers, would lead to relevant and feasible studies that provide an evidence base to improve primary care practice. PROS was groundbreaking in declaring in its rules of governance that practitioners would determine which studies would be launched. Since then, PROS structure has effectively evolved to facilitate the translation of study findings into American Academy of Pediatrics practice guidelines and policies and the fulfillment of the network’s mission “to improve the health of children and enhance primary care practice by conducting and fostering national collaborative practice-based research.” PROS began with descriptive studies of unanswered questions in pediatrics (the first involving 102 practices) and progressed to randomized clinical trials testing practice-based interventions to improve care. The landmark Girls Puberty Study demonstrated that widely accepted norms for the onset of puberty required revision, prompting policy change.1 An observational study comparing alternate strategies to treat febrile infants in primary care practice showed that many could be managed conservatively, inspiring development of a new guideline.2 The first of many PROS randomized clinical trials, involving 124 practices, found that guidance offered by pediatric practitioners at primary care visits resulted in decreased media exposure for children and safer firearm storage.3 Overall, PROS studies have addressed such varied topics as newborn nursery discharge, child abuse, mental … Address correspondence to Alexander G. Fiks, MD, MSCE, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3535 Market St, Room 1546, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: fiks{at}email.chop.edu
Partition Established: The Labour Party and the Government of Ireland Act 1920

The British Labour Party experienced substantial difficulties in adapting to the rapidly changing political situation in Ireland. Labour’s traditional support for Home Rule was replaced by ‘self-determination in all exclusively Irish affairs’ at the 1918 party conference, and the 1918 general election manifesto commitment promised ‘the fullest measure of Home Rule’ inside a federated United Kingdom.1 The 1920 conference called for ‘free and absolute self-determination’, but the party pulled back from this unequivocal position when both the special conference on Ireland in December 1920 and the 1921 conference ratified as party policy the position outlined by the PLP during the passage of the Government of Ireland Bill. This called for the withdrawal of the army and the establishment of a constituent assembly to draw up a constitution which afforded protection to minorities and prevented Ireland from becoming a strategic threat to Britain. This was substantially removed from the sentiments of the 1920 resolution but, in reality, ‘self-determination’ as interpreted by the mainstream of the British Labour Party never meant support for the concept of a totally independent Irish Republic.
Developmental trajectories in children with prolonged NICU stays

Objective To evaluate the relationship between prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay after birth and childhood neurodevelopmental measures from age 9 months to kindergarten. Design Longitudinal birth cohort study. Setting and patients This study examined a nationally representative sample of 10 700 participants from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Sample—Birth Cohort and selected those who had a NICU stay (n=2100). These children were followed from birth to kindergarten. Predictors Days in the NICU. Main outcome measures Childhood neurodevelopmental and early academic scores. Results Increasing length of stay in the NICU had a significant negative relationship with the 9-month and 24-month Bayley mental and motor scores. Each additional week in the NICU increased the odds of scoring in the lowest 10% on the Bayley 9-month mental (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.034 to 1.122) and motor (OR 1.11, CI 1.065 to 1.165) assessments and 24-month mental (OR 1.09, CI 1.041 to 1.144) and motor assessments (OR 1.07 CI 1.017 to 1.123). Gestational age was not significantly related with these measures in our model. Increasing socioeconomic status had a significant positive relationship with preschool and kindergarten reading and math scores and a lower odds of scoring in the lowest 10% in these measures. Conclusion Increasing length of NICU stay was predictive of decreased child development measures in early childhood (9 and 24 months), while socioeconomic status was a better predictor at later assessments (preschool and kindergarten entries). Gestational category did not account for these differences. These data may have implications for counselling parents regarding potential neurodevelopmental consequences following NICU stay.
Efficient rectification of infrared radiation using nano-rectennas and slow-light microstructures

We discuss the possibility of rectifying infrared radiation using metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunneling nanodiodes, which are nano-engineered to nano-rectennas and hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs). We show that a lithographically patterned HMM may enable efficient, broadband and omnidirectional rectification of mid-infrared (MIR) in the slow-light mode, with responsivity much greater than conventional nano-rectennas. We demonstrate that the responsivity of HMM-based devices can reach few tens of mA/W in the MIR region, which may found many interesting applications in photodetection, infrared imaging, and energy harvesting.
SOME EXAMPLES IN TEACHING BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a few examples that may be used in teaching binomial distribution and independence in elementary courses. The exposition is elementary and suitable for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate courses. The chapter highlights independence of certain events. In elementary courses, it is emphasized that it is not always obvious whether or not two given events E and F are independent. It must be checked that the relation P (E ∩ F) = P (E) P (F) holds. For establishing this, the chapter presents a case with a binomial model with n ≥ 2 trials and probability of success p. The chapter also provides an overview of equality of two binomial probability mass functions.
An Operations Research Model for the Satisfactory Highway Cruising Speed

Abstract: Due to the impracticality of optimal highway cruising speed for fuel economy, based on the speed versus miles per gallon curve and data, an operations research model is established to find the satisfactory highway cruising speed for private cars. The model can be successfully solved theoretically to obtain the satisfactory speed that is an optimum balance between fuel economy and highway speed limit.
Precipitation and the robustness of a plant and flower-visiting insect network in a xeric ecosystem

Abstract Complex networks of species interactions are integral to the stability of ecological communities. The responses of these networks to extreme environmental fluctuations are key to understanding the evolution of these networks and their roles in stabilizing ecological communities. From 2008 to 2009 we observed the effects of extreme differences in annual precipitation on a network of plants and flower-visiting insects in a xeric grassland. Significant decreases in plant and insect diversity in the dry year were mirrored by decreases in the number of network nodes and links. However, the relative density of network connections increased in the dry year and other important topological features, such as nestedness and modularity, were largely unchanged. The resilience of the network to node (plants or insect species) loss was high in both years. Though bees tend to dominate pollination communities in drier climes, we did not observe a shift in the relative richness of bee species in the dry year. Our results indicate that well-linked, drought-resistant plants are important to community resilience during ecologically challenging periods and that networks of plants and flowering-visiting insects may be robust to extreme climatic change, at least over short periods, as long as those critical, resilient hubs are protected.
Assessment of Google Glass as an adjunct in neurological surgery.

BACKGROUND We assess Google Glass ("Glass") in improving postoperative review ("debriefing") and augmenting education in Neurological Surgery at a tertiary academic medical center. METHODS This was a prospective study. Participants were patients of Neurological Surgery physicians at a Tertiary Care Level 1 Academic Trauma Center. Resident physicians received a pre-questionnaire immediately following surgery. Next, the resident and attending physicians debriefed by reviewing the Glass operative recording. Then, residents completed a 4-part post-questionnaire. Questions 1-3 assessed: (1) the residents' comfort level with the procedure, (2) the quality of education provided by their superiors, and (3) their comfort level in repeating the operation. Question 4 assessed: (4) the perceived benefit of debriefing using Glass. RESULTS Twelve surveys were collected. Scores were based on a 5-point Likert scale, with a higher score corresponding to a more positive response. For Questions 1-3, the average pre- and post-questionnaire scores were 3.75 and 4.42, respectively (P <.05). For Question 4, the average post-questionnaire score was 4.63, suggesting that postoperative Glass review improved their technical understanding of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS Glass significantly improved neurosurgery residents' comfort level and quality of training, and provided a high fidelity, reliable, and modifiable tool that enhanced residents' understanding, expertise, and educational experience. Of note, certain limitations such as variable battery life, variable image quality, and subpar compatibility with surgeon loupes must still be overcome for Glass to become a realistic addition to neurosurgical education.
A Technology for Detection of Advanced Persistent Threat in Networks and Systems Using a Finite Angular State Velocity Machine and Vector Mathematics

The aim of this chapter is to apply an advanced journal-published state machine engine to the analysis of state variables that can detect the presence of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) and other malware. The Finite Angular State Velocity Machine (FAST-VM) can model and analyze large amounts of state information over a temporal space. The ability to analyze and model large amounts of data over time is a key factor in detecting Advanced Persistent Threat. Experimentally, the FAST-VM has analyzed 10,000,000 state variable vectors in around 24 ms. This demonstrates the application of “big data” to the area of cyber security. The Finite Angular State Transition Velocity Machine (FAST-VM) has the capability to address these challenges and is based on previous published work with Spicule. It reduces the high order of state variable changes that have subtle changes in them over time to a threat analysis that is easy to comprehend and can also predict future threats. FAST-VM unifies the three major areas of IDS (anomaly, misuse, and specification) into a single model. The FAST-VM mathematical analysis engine has shown great computational possibilities in prediction, classification, and detection, but it has never been mapped to a system’s state variables. This technology seeks to determine how to map the state variables in a system to detect APT. Successful technology development in this area could dramatically affect all facets of computation, especially autonomous vehicles and networks. This chapter will present theory then application of this advanced technology.
A synthetic stroma-free germinal center niche for efficient generation of humoral immunity ex vivo.

B cells play a major role in the adaptive immune response by producing antigen-specific antibodies against pathogens and imparting immunological memory. Following infection or vaccination, antibody-secreting B cells and memory B cells are generated in specialized regions of lymph nodes and spleens, called germinal centers. Here, we report a fully synthetic ex-vivo system that recapitulates the generation of antigen-specific germinal-center (GC) like B cells using material-surface driven polyvalent signaling. This synthetic germinal center (sGC) reaction was effectively induced using biomaterial-based artificial "follicular T helper cells (TFH)" that provided both natural CD40-CD40L ligation as well as crosslinking of CD40 and by mimicking artificial "follicular dendritic cells (FDC)" to provide efficient, polyvalent antigen presentation. The artificial sGC reaction resulted in efficient B cell expansion, immunoglobulin (Ig) class switching, and expression of germinal center phenotypes. Antigen presentation during sGC reaction selectively enhanced the antigen-specific B cell population and induced somatic hyper-mutations for potential affinity maturation. The resulting B cell population consisted primarily of GC-like B cells (centrocytes) as well as some plasma-like B cells expressing CD138. With concurrent cell sorting, we successfully created highly enriched populations of antigen-specific B cells. Adoptive transfer of these GC-like B cells into non-irradiated isogeneic or non-lethally irradiated congenic recipient mice showed successful engraftment and survival of the donor cells for the 4 week test period. We show that this material-surface driven sGC reaction can be successfully applied to not only splenic B cells but also B cells isolated from more therapeutically relevant sources such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), thus making our current work an exciting prospect in the new era of personalized medicine and custom-immunotherapy.
Community Practice Across Borders

Community development and community practice are rooted in two contractions of history. On the one hand, community development is part of the nation-building aspect of the state, but on the other h...
Christology as a Function of Epistemology: A Bibliographic Study in the Theology of Paul Tillich

Paul Tillich is widely regarded as one of the theological giants of twentieth-century theology, and yet, according to Russell Re Manning, remains perhaps the most neglected great theologian of rece...