cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High efficiency monolithic gallium nitride distributed amplifier

The first gallium-nitride monolithic distributed amplifier is demonstrated. A nonuniform design allows the removal of the drain line dummy load with a concomitant increase in efficiency, An optimized nonuniform design shows a 10% increase in efficiency over an optimized uniform design having the dummy termination.
Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV)-Specific Cytotoxicity after Immunization of Nonimmune Adults with Oka Strain Attenuated VZV Vaccine

Cytotoxic, proliferative, and serum IgG antibody responses to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were measured monthly in 29 young adults for 3 months following primary immunization with the Oka strain attenuated VZV vaccine. No subjects had lymphocytes stimulated to VZV-specific cytotoxicity at study entry although lymphocytes from 2 subjects proliferated when stimulated by VZV antigen. The percentages of subjects with positive major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted cytotoxic responses at 1, 2, and 3 months after immunization were 54%, 69%, and 66%, respectively. Correlations between cytotoxic, proliferative, and antibody responses were highest in the first month after immunization; lower but still statistically significant after the second month; and not apparent by the third month. The data suggest that antibody and cell-mediated immune responses to VZV immunization develop in parallel after immunization, but these effector mechanisms are independently regulated by 3 months after immunization.
Optimizing throughput of power- and thermal-constrained multicore processors using DVFS and per-core power-gating

Process variability from a range of sources is growing as technology scales below 65nm, resulting in increasingly nonuniform transistor delay and leakage power both within a die and across dies. As a result, the negative impact of process variations on the maximum operating frequency and the total power consumption of a processor is expected to worsen. Meanwhile, manufacturers have integrated more cores in a single die, substantially improving the throughput of a processor running highly-parallel applications. However, many existing applications do not have high enough parallelism to exploit multiple cores in a die. In this paper, first, we analyze the throughput impact of applying per-core power gating and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling to power- and thermal-constrained multicore processors. To optimize the throughput of the multicore processors running applications with limited parallelism, we exploit power- and thermal-headroom resulted from power-gated idle cores, allowing active cores to increase operating frequency through supply voltage scaling. Our analysis using a 32nm predictive technology model shows that optimizing the number of active cores and operating frequency within power, thermal, and supply voltage scaling limits improves the throughput of a 16-core processor by ~16%. Furthermore, we extend our throughput analysis and optimization to consider the impact of within-die process variations leading to core-to-core frequency (and leakage power) variations in a multicore processor. Our analysis shows that exploiting core-to-core frequency variations improves the throughput of a 16-core processor by ~75%.
Development of National Administration in the United States, 1932–35.

Growth of Administrative Services. Any one returning to Washington after an absence of several years must be struck at once by the physical changes which have taken place in the political nerve center of the nation. These changes are largely the result of the erection of new government buildings and the clearing away of old structures to make way for others yet to come. In May, 1932, the Washington telephone directory listed 663 office telephones under the heading “United States Government.” In June, 1935, it listed 892, or a gain of nearly 35 per cent for the three-year period. This expansion of physical equipment may be said to symbolize the growth of the administrative organization of the national government. One sees on every hand new departmental edifices, and whole buildings now occupied by bureaus or commissions which were formerly tucked away in departmental buildings, or by new independent agencies which were non-existent until a year or two ago.
L-Carnitine Reduces Brain Injury after Hypoxia-Ischemia in Newborn Rats

Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia remains a significant cause of neonatal mortality and neurodevelopmental disability. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that cerebral ischemic insults disrupt normal respiratory activity in mitochondria. Carnitine (3-hydroxy-4-N-trimethylammonium-butyrate) has an essential role in fatty acid transport in the mitochondrion and in modulating potentially toxic acyl-CoA levels in the mitochondrial matrix. There are no naturally occurring esterases available to reduce the accumulation of acyl-CoA but this process can be overcome by exogenous carnitine. We used a newborn rat model of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia to test the hypothesis that treatment with l-carnitine would reduce the neuropathologic injury resulting from hypoxia-ischemia in the developing brain. We found that treatment with l-carnitine during hypoxia-ischemia reduces neurologic injury in the immature rat after both a 7- and 28-d recovery period. We saw no neuroprotective effect when l-carnitine was administered after hypoxia-ischemia. Treatment with d-carnitine resulted in an increase in mortality during hypoxia-ischemia. Carnitine is easy to administer, has low toxicity, and is routinely used in neonates as well as children with epilepsy, cardiomyopathy, and inborn errors of metabolism. l-Carnitine merits further investigation as a treatment modality for the asphyxiated newborn or as prophylaxis for the at-risk fetus or newborn.
Dependence of Cell Survival on Iododeoxyuridine Concentration in 35-keV Photon-Activated Auger Electron Radiotherapy

Purpose To measure and compare Chinese hamster ovary cell survival curves using monochromatic 35-keV photons and 4-MV x-rays as a function of concentration of the radiosensitizer iododeoxyuridine (IUdR). Methods and Materials IUdR was incorporated into Chinese hamster ovary cell DNA at 16.6 ± 1.9%, 12.0 ± 1.4%, and 9.2 ± 1.3% thymidine replacement. Cells were irradiated from 1 to 8 Gy with 35-keV synchrotron-generated photons and conventional radiotherapy 4-MV x-rays. The effects of the radiation were measured via clonogenic survival assays. Surviving fraction was plotted vs. dose and fit to a linear quadratic model. Sensitization enhancement ratios (SER 10 ) were calculated as the ratio of doses required to achieve 10% surviving fraction for cells without and with DNA-incorporated IUdR. Results At 4 MV, SER 10 values were 2.6 ± 0.1, 2.2 ± 0.1, and 1.5 ± 0.1 for 16.6%, 12.0%, and 9.2% thymidine replacement, respectively. At 35 keV, SER 10 values were 4.1 ± 0.2, 3.0 ± 0.1, and 2.0 ± 0.1, respectively, which yielded SER 10 ratios (35 keV:4 MV) of 1.6 ± 0.1, 1.4 ± 0.1, and 1.3 ± 0.1, respectively. Conclusions SER 10 increases monotonically with percent thymidine replacement by IUdR for both modalities. As compared to 4-MV x-rays, 35-keV photons produce enhanced SER 10 values whose ratios are linear with percent thymidine replacement and assumed to be due to Auger electrons contributing to enhanced dose to DNA. Although this Auger effectiveness factor is less than the radiosensitization factor of IUdR, both could be important for the clinical efficacy of IUdR radiotherapy.
Robust entropy-enhanced frequency-domain genomic analysis under uncertainties

Here, we report the application of an entropy-enhanced frequency-domain analysis method to examine large-scale genomic data. This ensures superior coherency for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Different statistical methods are used to analyze large-scale data produced and attempts have been made to perform data mining. These efforts have been partially successful due to sequence gaps, noncoding and low complexity regions, inaccuracy, etc. In contrast, we report a novel robust method that is based on frequency-domain analysis. Our paradigm complements a number of far-reaching perceptions that new concepts emerge to comprehend complex large-scale genomic data under uncertainties.
A Critical Examination of Couple Leisure and the Application of the Core and Balance Model

This study further clarified the relationship between couple leisure involvement, couple leisure satisfaction, and marital satisfaction through examining the core and balance framework as it has been applied to the relationship between couple leisure and marital satisfaction. The sample consisted of 1,187 couples across the United States (N = 2,374). SEM analyses supported previous findings, indicating satisfaction with couple leisure involvement was far more important when predicting marital satisfaction than the amount of leisure involvement. Furthermore, while core marital leisure satisfaction was the driving force in the explanation of variance in marital satisfaction, findings suggested before that can happen there must be participation in both core and balance couple leisure. Additional findings, implications, and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Effectiveness of Different Designs of Refractory Linings for Rotary Kilns in Relation to Their Thermophysical Properties

A new design is presented for a refractory lining to be used in rotary furnaces. The temperature fields for the new design and the existing design are calculated with the use of the software packages Ansys Fluent and Ansys ICEM. The thermophysical characteristics of both designs are compared and recommendations are given on the new lining’s areas of application.
The development of sensory nerves within the wing ofDrosophila melanogaster : A light- and electron-microscope study.

TheDrosophila wing is a simple structure bearing many sensory neurons which form an elementary pattern of nerves within the veins, and provides a simple system for studying the formation of nerve pathways. A light-and electron-microscope study of the developing pupal wing was undertaken to establish the time at which the different classes of sensillum differentiate and to determine the arrangement of tissues within the wing during sensory axon out-growth in order to assess possible candidates for directing axon outgrowth. Major findings were 1. Wing development passes through three main stages: at 6-12 h after puparium formation the wing is flantened and secreting pupal cuticle; at 15-18 h the wing is dramatically inflated but is still a simple epithelium secreting pupal cuticle; at 21-24 h the wing collapses and begins to differentiate adult structures. 2. There are no persisting larval nerves which might act as pioneers or pathfinders for the later developing adult neurons. 3. Axon bundles are first observed during the 15-18 h stage prior to the pupal moult when the wing is still secreting pupal cuticle. 4. At this stage the wing is an inflated sac, without any veins or orderly arrangements of tracheae which might act as guides for axon outgrowth. Vein formation takes placeafter formation of the axon pathways. 5. The bristle axons grow along the anterior wing margin in close contact with the basal lamina of the epithelial cells, often within a gap between the processes of the epithelial cells, which could mechanically channel their out-growth. 6. The campaniform sensillum axons appear to navigate along the inner surface of the wing epithelium rather like the pioneer axons found in embryonic appendages of other insects. 7. Differentiation of sensory neurons takes place long before differentiation of the other cells associated with sensilla; most axons are present by 18 h when the wing is still secreting pupal cuticle but morphological differentiation of the bristle shaft and socket cells is not observed until about 42 h when the wing is secreting the cuticulin layer of the adult cuticle.
Contribution to Therapeutic Decisions of Ratios, Absolute Values and Other Measures of Calcium, Magnesium, Urate or Oxalate Balance in Stone Formers

AbstractInvestigation of multiple serum and urinary factors in 44 patients with calcium urinary stone disease confirmed a number of defects that have been described previously: elevation of mean serum calcium and uric acid above normal, and depression of mean serum magnesium. Urinary excretion of calcium and uric acid was increased and was probably related to food ingestion. Urinary magnesium also increased after eating but less than calcium, with the result that for most patients the magnesium to calcium χ 100 ratio approached levels observed in stone formation. Urinary oxalate excretion was constant during the entire observation period and apparently was not affected by ingestion of a defined diet. Nine additional patients had persistent hypercalcemia owing to hyperparathyroidism (5 confirmed, 1 suspected), malignancy (2) and drug ingestion (1). Metabolic evaluation of patients with calcium urinary calculi continues to contribute to decisions regarding their best therapeutic regimen.
Cleaning and disinfection of lower gastrointestinal endoscopes.

Cleaning and disinfection are two necessary and equally important steps to prevent transmission of infection from patient to patient by the endoscope and accessories. There is no evidence that complete sterility is necessary; high-level disinfection is recommended. Controversy remains as to how "high level" this disinfection must be. It is important that these processes not become complicated, difficult, or intimidating. They must be efficacious and yet safe for the scope as well as for the attending staff. It is strongly recommended that the clinician fully understands the cleaning and disinfection steps and not inhibit his or her staff's ability to perform them correctly. It is important that we use these relatively new and important diagnostic equipment tools to improve the health of the public. There are several studies now that suggest that screening flexible sigmoidoscopies may be of value in decreasing mortality from colonic adenocarcinomas. It is important that we remain focused on our overall mission while at the same time "do no harm."
Eddy Generation and Jet Formation via Dense Water Outflows across the Antarctic Continental Slope

Along various stretches of the Antarctic margins, dense Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) escapes its formation sites and descends the continental slope. This export necessarily raises the isopycnals associated with lighter density classes over the continental slope, resulting in density surfaces that connect the near-freezing waters of the continental shelf to the much warmer circumpolar deep water (CDW) at middepth offshore. In this article, an eddy-resolving process model is used to explore the possibility that AABW export enhances shoreward heat transport by creating a pathway for CDW to access the continental shelf without doing any work against buoyancy forces. In the absence of a net alongshore pressure gradient, the shoreward CDW transport is effected entirely by mesoscale and submesoscale eddy transfer. Eddies are generated partly by instabilities at the pycnocline, sourcing their energy from the alongshore wind stress, but primarily by instabilities at the CDW–AABW interface, sourcing their energy from buoyancy loss on the continental shelf. This combination of processes induces a vertical convergence of eddy kinetic energy and alongshore momentum into the middepth CDW layer, sustaining a local maximum in the eddy kinetic energy over the slope and balancing the Coriolis force associated with the shoreward CDW transport. The resulting slope turbulence self-organizes into a series of alternating along-slope jets with strongly asymmetrical contributions to the slope energy and momentum budgets. Cross-shore variations in the potential vorticity gradient cause the jets to drift continuously offshore, suggesting that fronts observed in regions of AABW down-slope flow may in fact be transient features.
Hate Speech in the New South Africa: Constitutional Considerations for a Land Recovering from Decades of Racial Repression and Violence

(1994). Hate Speech in the New South Africa: Constitutional Considerations for a Land Recovering from Decades of Racial Repression and Violence. South African Journal on Human Rights: Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 336-356.
The Evolving Role of Rituximab in Adult Minimal Change Glomerulopathy.

Background: Minimal-change glomerulopathy is defined histologically by the presence of normal glomeruli on light microscopy and diffuse podocyte effacement on ele
What If Executive Compensation Fostered Human Dignity

Why and how might existing executive compensation models reduce the dignity of executives and others in the firm? They are based on neoclassical economics that broadly assume executives are motivat...
Electrical Characteristics of RF Sputtered ZnO/HfO2 Interfaces in Transparent Thin Film Transistors

In this work, we have reported the interface characterization of rf sputtered ZnO/HfO2 in thin film transistor structure by dc current-voltage and admittance spectroscopy. The interface state density (Dit) of 1013 eV−1cm−2 was extracted from the Gp/ω vs ω plot was comparable to value obtained from the subthreshold behavior. The grain boundary trap density (NGB) of 9.12×1012 cm−2 was estimated using Levinson’s model. The interface state density distribution below the conduction band edge shows a decreasing trend with energy below the conduction band edge. We also studied the impact of introducing MgO interfacial layer between ZnO and HfO2 interface as an approach towards decreasing the interface state density.
Measuring Symmetry in Drawings of Graphs

Layout symmetry is an important and desired feature in graph drawing. While there is a substantial body of work in computer vision around the detection and measurement of symmetry in images, there has been little effort to define and validate meaningful measures of the symmetry of graph drawings. In this paper, we evaluate two algorithms that have been proposed for measuring graph drawing symmetry, comparing their judgments to those of human subjects, and investigating the use of stress as an alternative measure of symmetry. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of these measures, possible ways to improve them, and implications for the design of algorithms that optimize the symmetry in the layout.
Scalable system level synthesis for virtually localizable systems

In previous work, we developed the system level approach to controller synthesis, and showed that under suitable assumptions, this framework allowed for the synthesis of localized controllers. We further showed that such localized controllers enjoy O(1) synthesis and implementation complexity relative to the dimension of the global system, making them particularly well suited for the control of large-scale cyber-physical systems. However, the assumptions under which a system is localizable are stringent: roughly, a system is localizable if the controller has the necessary actuation, sensing and communication resources to “get out ahead” of the propagation of a disturbance and neutralize it, thus containing its effect to a localized spatiotemporal region. In this paper, we relax the assumption of exact localizability, and develop a controller synthesis methodology that is applicable to arbitrary systems that are in an appropriate sense “easy to control.” We focus on the state-feedback setting and develop a simple necessary and sufficient condition for robust stability using the system level approach. We then leverage this condition, along with the introduction of virtual actuation, communication and system responses into the synthesis process, to design stabilizing controllers that have (i) O(1) synthesis and implementation complexity and (ii) guaranteed performance bounds. We end with a power-inspired example demonstrating the usefulness of these techniques, wherein we synthesize a near globally optimal controller for a system that is neither localizable nor quadratically invariant.
Calcium receptor binding in synaptic membranes of ICR, C57, DBA mice after ethanol exposure.

Ethanol interaction with nerve membranes is believed to produce localized changes in structural and functional components affecting neurotransmitter activity, enzymes and ion transport. It is unclear as to what happens mechanistically but repeated exposure of the membranes leads to a state of tolerance and if the ethanol concentrations and duration of exposure are severe enough, physical dependence may be elicited upon drug withdrawal. Although the sequence of events and total number of processes involved are unknown, most investigators agree upon initial membrane fluidity or the fluidizability of membrane components (1,2,3). Implicit in these assumptions is the fact that ethanol must act to alter structural components in the membrane which directly or indirectly influence membrane function. Indeed both lipid and protein components have been shown to be altered after ethanol exposure (4,5,6).
Database-text alignment via structured multilabel classification

This paper addresses the task of aligning a database with a corresponding text. The goal is to link individual database entries with sentences that verbalize the same information. By providing explicit semantics-to-text links, these alignments can aid the training of natural language generation and information extraction systems. Beyond these pragmatic benefits, the alignment problem is appealing from a modeling perspective: the mappings between database entries and text sentences exhibit rich structural dependencies, unique to this task. Thus, the key challenge is to make use of as many global dependencies as possible without sacrificing tractability. To this end, we cast text-database alignment as a structured multilabel classification task where each sentence is labeled with a subset of matching database entries. In contrast to existing multilabel classifiers, our approach operates over arbitrary global features of inputs and proposed labels. We compare our model with a baseline classifier that makes locally optimal decisions. Our results show that the proposed model yields a 15% relative reduction in error, and compares favorably with human performance.
Comparison between predicted and measured Stevens perceived level of sonic booms for community response testing

In 2011, NASA conducted a flight test to study community response and perception of low amplitude sonic booms in the Waveforms and Sonic Boom Perception and Response (WSPR) experiment. Several noise monitors were placed in a 1.6 sq. km area to record the booms. In future sonic boom community response flight tests, it will not be practicable to place noise monitors at the locations of every survey respondent. Therefore, noise predictions are necessary. Using NASA’s PCBoom code, the Stevens Mark VII Perceived Level (PL) was predicted at each noise monitor locations using the real aircraft trajectories and weather balloon data taken during the WSPR test. These predictions are then compared to the measured PL values. This comparison will inform the methodology for estimating noise exposure in future flight tests.
A Community-Based Music Therapy Support Group for People With Alzheimer's Disease and Their Caregivers: A Sustainable Partnership Model

People with Alzheimer's and related dementias and their family caregivers who reside at home have unique strengths and needs. They have the strengths of being in a place with which they are familiar, with people whom they are in close relationship. Often it is the spouse who provides the primary care of their loved one, and as the disease progresses both members of the couple are at risk for depression, isolation, and decreased contact with peers and community networks that serve to help maintain sociocultural, intellectual, physical, sensory, and spiritual needs. The person with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) loses life skills and sense of self as their memory loss worsens, and the caregiver-loved one, whether they are the spouse, relative, or close companion, becomes increasingly burdened physically and emotionally. Meaningful support through a community-based peer group helps meet the needs of the person with dementia and their caregiver from the first symptoms to the later stages of AD, through a carefully designed music therapy program tailored to preferences, culture, and ability. The music therapist working in the community provides practical leadership in coordination with local agencies, understands the needs of the person with dementia and their caregiver from a cultural and psychosocial perspective, and is creatively equipped in all facets of musical engagement for health and wellness, and fosters cognitive/intellectual, socio-emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The MT support group was found to relieve some of the strain on caregivers by allowing for greater emotional support through relationships with peers and professionals, and through the increase of meaningful interactions with their loved one with dementia. Through enjoyment of shared, pleasurable music experiences that stimulate memories, movement, language, and socialization, the person with AD and their caregiver developed a deeper connection with each other, and gained support, creative expression, and comfort from their peer group, as well as practical networking and sharing of resources and information related to their specific health and wellness needs. The community-based MT support group has been replicated twice within the region, and is a promising model for other communities. Formal research is recommended to provide further evidence of the effectiveness of the approach, and to allow for greater accessibility for marginalized people to participate in a program such as this in their own community.
STAT3 is activated through paracrine signaling in the breast tumor microenvironment and is mediated through IL-6

1034 A growing number of human cancers have increased levels of activated Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) proteins. STAT3 is a major member of this family, and phosphorylated STAT3 (at tyrosine residue 705) is frequently found elevated within breast carcinomas. To date, however, it is unknown whether the tumor microenvironment plays a role in the activation of STAT3. We are studying the effects of paracrine signaling from breast cancer cells and breast cancer associated fibroblasts with increased p-STAT3 levels on their tumor microenvironment. Media was conditioned in the presence of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468) and breast cancer associated fibroblasts (BCF#4) with high levels of p-STAT3. This condition media was then used to treat breast cell lines without this increase in phosphorylation (MDA-MB-453, a breast cancer cell line, and MCF-10A, a non-cancer immortalized breast cell line). Western blot analysis demonstrated that soluble factor(s) secreted by MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, or BCF#4 cell lines were sufficient to amplify p-STAT3 (Y705) levels within MDA-MB-453 and MCF-10A. This activation was observed by 30 minutes and persisted at least 24 hours after treatment. With this increase in p-STAT3, we also observed elevated levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL, a downstream target of the STAT3 pathway. Treatment of MCF-10A with 10 μM JSI-124, a Jak/STAT3 inhibitor, blocked STAT3 activation after treatment with condition media. These results also prompted us to question which specific growth factors or cytokines were responsible for this boost in p-STAT3 (Y705). ELISA analysis confirmed low levels of IL-6 secretion by MCF-10A and MDA-MB-453 and high levels of IL-6 secretion by MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and BCF#4. IL-6 antibody was added to MDA-MB-231 condition media for one hour to neutralize the IL-6 in the media prior to addition to MDA-MB-453 or MCF-10A cells. Neutralization of IL-6 was sufficient to block increased levels of p-STAT3 (Y705) protein. Blocking gp130 (a major IL-6 receptor) through antibody neutralization also prevented increased STAT3 phosphorylation in MDA-MB-453 cells after MDA-MB-231 condition media treatment. These results demonstrate the importance of IL-6 as at least one essential paracrine signal for STAT3 activation within the breast tumor microenvironment. Understanding how IL-6 and other soluble factors may lead to STAT3 activation via the tumor microenvironment will provide new therapeutic targets for breast carcinomas and other cancers with elevated p-STAT3 levels.
The study of using a multi-layered model to extract thermal property profiles of ion-irradiated materials

Abstract The thermal properties of the damaged region of ion-irradiated materials are known to change with depth in a complicated manner. As the inverse heat conduction problem is ill-posed and ill-conditioned, existing measurements are only able to obtain the thermal properties of the thin layer close to the surface or the average thermal property of the entire damaged region. In this manuscript, we studied the possibility of using a multi-layered model to demonstrate the entire damaged region and recompose a more realistic and detailed thermal property profile in the form of a piecewise function from solving thermal properties of each layer independently. Several critical factors related to the accuracy of the recomposed profile are analyzed and discussed in detail by using simulation analysis, from which the experimental guidelines and data processing procedure are summarized. The extraction accuracy of any specific parameter is found dependent on the layer discretization, sensitivity of the parameter to measurement, and experimental noise. With optimized experimental design and proper data post-processing, the multi-layered model is proved capable of determining the thermal property profile with an average error of ∼10–15%. As the experimental application, thermal conductivity profiles of ion-irradiated zirconium alloy and silicon samples are measured by using a photothermal reflectance measurement approach in the spatial- and frequency-domain.
Simple Sinflaton-less $\alpha$-attractors

We construct the simplest inflationary $\alpha$-attractor models in supergravity: it has only one scalar, the inflaton. There is no sinflaton since the inflaton belongs to an orthogonal nilpotent superfield where the sinflaton depends on fermion bilinears. When the local supersymmetry is gauge-fixed, these models have only one single real scalar (the inflaton), a graviton and a massive gravitino. The sinflaton, sgoldstino and inflatino are all absent from the physical spectrum in the unitary gauge. The orthogonality condition leads to the simplest Kahler potential for the inflaton, while preserving the Poincare disk geometry of $\alpha$-attractors. The models are particularly simple in the framework of the $\overline {D3}$ induced geometric inflation.
End-to-end pixelwise surface normal estimation with convolutional neural networks and shape reconstruction using GelSight sensor

The GelSight tactile sensor is designed to measure the topography of the contact surface. Photometric Stereo algorithm is utilized to reconstruct the depth map of the surface, which, however, suffers from artifacts because of the ununiform illumination of the sensor. In this paper, we propose a method based on Convolutional neural networks (ConvNets) to estimate the surface normal from the color image captured by the GelSight sensor. The ConvNets, which combine the information of pixel values of red, green and blue (RGB) channels and pixel positions, are trained end-to-end and pixel-to-pixel. We test the model by measuring the geometry of two 3D printed polygon objects and demonstrate that the reconstructed depth maps have better accuracy than those with the photometric stereo method. To further extend the application of measuring topography, we combine the ConvNets with point cloud registration method and perform object shape reconstruction in 3D space by tracking the pose of the GelSight sensor. We successfully reconstruct the 3D point cloud of a 30.6 mm x 30.6 mm x 30.6 mm cube and the fine texture on the cube surface, with less than 1.0 mm error. The method is also utilized to accurately estimate the center axis position of a bottle cap by touching it at four different positions with step of 90.0 degs. This technique can be helpful for robots to explore and interact with the surrounding environment.
Seismic noise interferometry reveals transverse drainage configuration beneath the surging Bering Glacier

Subglacial drainage systems are known to critically control ice flows, but their spatial configuration and temporal evolution are poorly constrained due to inaccessibility. Here we report a 12‐year‐long monitoring of the drainage underneath Bering Glacier, Alaska, by correlating ambient noise recorded at two seismic stations on the sides of the glacier. We find that the seismic surface waves traveling across Bering Glacier slowed down by 1–2% during its latest 2008–2011 surge, likely due to the switch of the subglacial drainage from a channelized system to a distributed system. In contrast to current models, the relative amplitude of velocity reductions for Rayleigh and Love waves requires the distributed drainage to be highly anisotropic and aligned perpendicular to the ice flow direction. We infer that the subglacial water flow is mainly through a network of transverse basal crevasses during surges and thus can sustain the high water pressure and ice flow speed.
Coagulation Disorders in the PICU

Critically ill patients often have alterations in the hemostatic milieu that require the pediatric intensivist to evaluate and treat clinical changes. Sometimes these alterations may be the primary clinical issue as seen in congenital factor deficiencies but more commonly are acquired and secondary to other systemic illnesses as is the case in disseminated intravascular coagulation. The goal of this chapter is to provide background into the normal components and function (both procoagulant and anticoagulant) of the hemostatic system including coagulation factors, platelets, thrombus formation and fibrinolysis. Using this background information, frequently encountered pathophysiologic clinical scenarios are reviewed including etiology and therapeutic options.
Strengthening a Tobacco-Free College Campus Policy Through Signage: GIS Mapping for Advocacy to Improve Implementation.

Implementing tobacco-free policies on university campuses has become increasingly common. However, promoting policy compliance remains a challenge. It is important to develop strategies that can ov...
High-Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers to Uncover Cardiac Dynamics

In order to improve medical ultrasound image resolution, ultrasound imaging is being pushed to higher and higher frequencies. High-frequency (higher than 30 MHz) ultrasound provides a noninvasive imaging method for many clinical and preclinical applications requiring improved spatial resolution. There are a number of clinical problems that may benefit from high-frequency ultrasound imaging. Significant progress in the development of high-frequency single-element and array transducers has been achieved in the past few years. Single-element ultrasound transducers have been exclusively used in high-frequency ultrasound imaging for many years. They have been able to provide an adequate solution in a number of clinical and preclinical applications including small animal imaging. These single-element transducers however are less than ideal due to their single geometrical focus and must be mechanically scanned to form an image. Dynamic focusing is a distinct advantage that array transducers possess over single-element transducers. Array systems use electronic scanning to form an image slice and therefore can achieve higher frame rates. Also, ultrasound beam can be steered and dynamically focused in the image plane. In this chapter, the high-frequency transducer/array for small animal heart imaging will be reported, and pulsed-wave Doppler for blood flow detection will also be discussed.
UGA nonsense suppression assayed by T4 DNA-dependent in vitro synthesis of lysozyme.

Abstract Suppression of a UGA nonsense mutation was shown using the Gold and Schweiger (14, 15) T4 DNA-dependent system for the synthesis of lysozyme in vitro . In extracts of non-permissive cells, suppression was completely dependent on addition of added SuUGA+ tRNA from a known UGA suppressor strain; Su− tRNA did not support the suppression. Control backgrounds without T4 DNA or SuUGA+ tRNA were low and stable, perhaps because any reinitiation or non-specific misreading at nonsense codons produced no active lysozyme. Thus, the system is sensitive enough to detect very low levels of suppression.
Cashflows: A python library for computations in financial analytics developed by Juan David Velásquez-Henao and Ibeth Karina Vergara-Baquero

Cashflows is a Python library developed by Juan David Velasquez-Henao and Ibeth Karina Vergara-Baquero that provides time value of money calculations in the Python programing language. The cashflow...
Osteoporosis increases the likelihood of revision surgery following a long spinal fusion for adult spinal deformity

Abstract BACKGROUND Adult spinal deformity (ASD) can be a debilitating condition that requires surgical intervention. ASD patients often present with osteoporosis, predisposing them to increased rates of instrumentation failure and postoperative fractures, frequent reasons for revision surgery. We hypothesized that the rate and timing of revision surgery are different in osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic patients undergoing long fusions for ASD. To our knowledge, the timing of revision surgeries, in particular, have not previously been explored. PURPOSE To determine the rate and timing of revision surgery in osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic patients following a long fusion for ASD. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective comparative study. PATIENT SAMPLE ASD patients who underwent a long spinal fusion surgery at two large academic medical centers from 2010 to 2019. OUTCOME MEASURES Occurrence of revision surgery. METHODS Inclusion criteria were patient age of least 40 years and spinal fusion spanning at least seven levels for ASD. Patient records were reviewed for a diagnosis of osteoporosis as per ICD codes and revision surgery within 2 years of the index procedure. Revision surgery was defined as an unplanned procedure related to the index surgery for the treatment of a spine-related complication. Chi-squared tests comparing demographic data, revision rates, and multiple revisions were conducted. The incidence and prevalence of revision surgeries as a function of time and osteoporotic status were evaluated for significant differences via the Mann-Whitney U and Mantel-Haenszel log rank tests. Finally, a logistic regression analysis was utilized to determine the predictive value of osteoporosis, age, and gender on the likelihood for complications. RESULTS Three hundred ninety-nine patients matched the study criteria. In the osteoporotic group, 40.5% of patients underwent a revision surgery compared to 28.0% in the nonosteoporotic group (p=.01). The occurrence of multiple revision surgeries following the index procedure was similar in both groups: 8.4% in osteoporotic patients and 8.6% in nonosteoporotic patients. Age and gender were not statistically correlated with the incidence of revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS ASD patients with osteoporosis have an increased risk of undergoing revision for a surgery-related complication within 2 years of the index procedure. These complications included failure of hardware, pseudoarthrosis, proximal junction failure, and infection, among other issues that required surgical intervention. As others have also highlighted the importance of poor bone density on construct failure, our data further underscore the importance of preoperative osteoporosis surveillance. Though intuitive, further study is needed to demonstrate that improving patients’ bone density can decrease the incidence of related complications and the need or revision surgery.
In a warming river, natural-origin Chinook salmon spawn later but hatchery-origin conspecifics do not

Median timing of reproduction in salmonid populations is generally consistent among years, reflecting long-term patterns of natural selection from characteristics of the local environment. However,...
Hypervisor Based IDS Solution Approach Using Hybrid Anomaly Detection Model in Cloud Computing Environment

The rapidly growing Cloud Computing technology has eased how the organizations do their businesses. It provides a computing platform where access to the resource is made easy and cost effective. Cloud computing has evidently changed the dynamics of IT industry. The paradigm shift to cloud computing environment leads organizations to focus on their core task of monitoring the operation and improving them. Among the major tasks that has been the greater challenge to the cloud service providers (CSP) and the service subscribers is securing the infrastructure. The security of cloud operation and cloud storage units are under constant threats. Attackers are working hard to exploit these vulnerabilities and exposing the existing security issues that demands a better and more efficient solution approach that enhance and ensure the security of cloud computing. One of an effective approach to significantly mitigate the cloud security risk is applying an Intrusion Detection System which add an extensive value on the existing capability of handling both internal and external security threats. This research paper proposes a hypervisor-based hybrid intrusion detection system using effective models for Host-Based Intrusion Detection System (HBIDS) and Network-Based Intrusion Detection System (NBIDS).
Dynamic Processing of a Common Oxidative DNA Lesion by the First Two Enzymes of the Base Excision Repair Pathway

Base excision repair (BER) is the primary pathway by which eukaryotic cells resolve single base damage. One common example of single base damage is 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxoguanine (8-oxoG). High incidence and mutagenic potential of 8-oxoG necessitate rapid and efficient DNA repair. How BER enzymes coordinate their activities to resolve 8-oxoG damage while limiting cytotoxic BER intermediates from propagating genomic instability remains unclear. Here we use single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and ensemble-level techniques to characterize the activities and interactions of consecutive BER enzymes important for repair of 8-oxoG. In addition to characterizing the damage searching and processing mechanisms of human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1), our data support the existence of a ternary complex between hOGG1, the damaged DNA substrate, and human AP endonuclease 1 (APE1). Our results indicate that hOGG1 is actively displaced from its abasic site containing product by protein-protein interactions with APE1 to ensure timely repair of damaged DNA.
A Kantian Perspective on Individual Responsibility for Sustainability

I suggest that the Kantian categorical imperative can be a basis for an ethical duty to live sustainably. The universalizability formulation of the categorical imperative should be seen as a test o...
Quantum dot infrared photodetectors

InAs quantum dot infrared photodetectors based on bound-to- bound intraband transitions in undoped InAs quantum dots are reported. AlGaAs blocking layers were employed to achieve low dark current. The photoresponse peaked at 6.2 micrometers . At 77 K and -0.7 V bias the responsivity was 14 mA/W and the detectivity, D*, was 1010 cmHz1/2/W. By introducing InGaAs cap layers, a QDIP with bias-controllable two-color characteristic was demonstrated.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Age and sex modify cellular proliferation responses to oxidative stress and glucocorticoid challenges in baboon cells

Aging is associated with progressive loss of cellular homeostasis resulting from intrinsic and extrinsic challenges. Lack of a carefully designed, well-characterized, precise, translational experimental model is a major limitation to understanding the cellular perturbations that characterize aging. Here, we tested the feasibility of primary fibroblasts isolated from nonhuman primates (baboons) as a model of cellular resilience in response to homeostatic challenge. Using a real-time live-cell imaging system, we precisely defined a protocol for testing effects of prooxidant compounds (e.g., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), paraquat), thapsigargin, dexamethasone, and a low glucose environment on cell proliferation in fibroblasts derived from baboons across the life course (n = 11/sex). Linear regression analysis indicated that donor age significantly reduced the ability of cells to proliferate following exposure to H2O2 (50 and 100 µM) and paraquat (100 and 200 µM) challenges in cells from males (6.4–21.3 years; average lifespan 21 years) but not cells from females (4.3–15.9 years). Inhibitory effects of thapsigargin on cell proliferation were dependent on challenge duration (2 vs 24 h) and concentration (0.1 and 1 µM). Cells from older females (14.4–15.9 years) exhibited greater resilience to thapsigargin (1 µM; 24 h) and dexamethasone (500 µM) challenges than did those from younger females (4.3–6.7 years). The cell proliferation response to low glucose (1 mM) was reduced with age in both sexes. These data indicate that donor’s chronological age and sex are important variables in determining fibroblast responses to metabolite and other challenges.
Coping with the Global Financial Crisis: Challenges Facing Low-Income Countries

This forthcoming title in the Departmental Paper Series describes the special challenges facing low-income countries as economic growth contracts by an estimated 1.1 percent globally. Coping with the Crisis: Challenges Facing Low-Income Countries provides an assessment of the implications of the financial crisis for low-income countries, evaluates the short-term macroeconomic outlook for these countries, and discusses the policy challenges they face. Chapters cover the outlook for global economic growth and commodity prices, an overview of how low-income countries have been affected, fiscal policy, monetary and exchange rate policy responses, potential external financing needs and how the international community, including the IMF, can help countries meet them. The challenges ahead for low-income countries are delineated, including debt vulnerabilities and the need for countries to develop well-regulated local capital markets and banking systems, as well as enhanced public sector efficiency.
Ca2+, N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptors, and Aids-Related Neuronal Injury

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews a series of experiments leading to a hypothesis that accounts at least in part for the neurotoxicity observed in the brains of AIDS patients. There is growing support for the idea of the existence of HIV- or immune-related toxins that lead indirectly to the injury or demise of neurons through a potentially complex web of interactions among macrophages (or microglia), astrocytes, and neurons. HIV-infected macrophages/ microglia or macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 appear to secrete excitants/neurotoxins including plateletactivating factor, arachidonate, and its metabolites, and possibly cysteine, nitric oxide, and superoxide anion. In addition, interferon-γ (IFN-7) stimulation of macrophages induces release of the glutamate-like agonist quinolinate. Furthermore, HIV-infected macrophage production of cytokines, including TNF-α and ILl-β, contributes to astrogliosis. A final common pathway for neuronal susceptibility appears to be operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy, and several neurodegenerative diseases, possibly including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves the activation of voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channels and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-operated channels. Therefore, it offers hope for future pharmacological intervention.
Effects of enzyme co-consumption with whey protein in adult males (LB442)

Whey protein supplements are used by athletes to promote muscle protein synthesis and reduce protein degradation and may also benefit persons with muscle wasting conditions. Unfortunately, digestio...