cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robotic Guide Dog: Leading a Human with Leash-Guided Hybrid Physical Interaction

An autonomous robot that is able to physically guide humans through narrow and cluttered spaces could be a big boon to the visually-impaired. Most prior robotic guiding systems are based on wheeled platforms with large bases with actuated rigid guiding canes. The large bases and the actuated arms limit these prior approaches from operating in narrow and cluttered environments. We propose a method that introduces a quadrupedal robot with a leash to enable the robot-guidinghuman system to change its intrinsic dimension (by letting the leash go slack) in order to fit into narrow spaces. We propose a hybrid physical Human Robot Interaction model that involves leash tension to describe the dynamical relationship in the robot-guiding-human system. This hybrid model is utilized in a mixed-integer programming problem to develop a reactive planner that is able to utilize slack-taut switching to guide a blind-folded person to safely travel in a confined space. The proposed leash-guided robot framework is deployed on a Mini Cheetah quadrupedal robot and validated in experiments (Video 1)
Is R&D Really That Special? A Fixed-Cost Explanation for the Empirical Patterns of R&D Firms†

I propose an explanation for the positive relation between R&D, future earnings, and future stock returns based on the fixed-cost qualities of R&D. If R&D is relatively fixed over short horizons, demand shocks realized by some R&D firms will push these firms into R&D intensity levels that are suboptimal as common scale proxies—market equity, assets, and sales—respond more quickly to demand shocks than R&D. In response, R&D firms realizing negative demand shocks reduce future expenses and capital expenditures, producing higher future profitability on lower sales growth. Consistent with the fixed-cost hypothesis, I find the higher future profits of high R&D firms are explained by cost cutting, not revenue growth. Collectively, the restructuring of cost and capital structures of the subset of high R&D firms realizing demand shocks explains the future profit and investment patterns of R&D firms, while the fixed-cost qualities of R&D seem to explain patterns in future stock returns. My results have implications for literatures that examine how decisions on R&D investment levels affect future firm performance, growth, and stock returns.
Survey on Enterprise Internet-of-Things systems (E-IoT): A security perspective

Abstract As technology becomes more widely available, millions of users worldwide have installed some form of smart device in their homes or workplaces. These devices are often off-the-shelf commodity systems, such as Google Home or Samsung SmartThings, that are installed by end-users looking to automate a small deployment. In contrast to these “plug-and-play” systems, purpose-built Enterprise Internet-of-Things (E-IoT) systems such as Crestron, Control4, RTI, Savant offer a smart solution for more sophisticated applications (e.g., complete lighting control, A/V management, security). In contrast to commodity systems, E-IoT systems are usually closed source, costly, require certified installers, and are overall more robust for their use cases. Due to this, E-IoT systems are often found in expensive smart homes, government and academic conference rooms, yachts, and smart private offices. However, while there has been plenty of research on the topic of commodity systems, no current study exists that provides a complete picture of E-IoT systems, their components, and relevant threats. As such, lack of knowledge of E-IoT system threats, coupled with the cost of E-IoT systems has led many to assume that E-IoT systems are secure. To address this research gap, raise awareness on E-IoT security, and motivate further research, this work emphasizes E-IoT system components, E-IoT vulnerabilities, solutions, and their security implications. In order to systematically analyze the security of E-IoT systems, we divide E-IoT systems into four layers: E-IoT Devices Layer, Communications Layer, Monitoring and Applications Layer, and Business Layer. We survey attacks and defense mechanisms, considering the E-IoT components at each layer and the associated threats. In addition, we present key observations in state-of-the-art E-IoT security and provide a list of open research problems that need further research.
Scalable3-BO: Big Data Meets HPC - A Scalable Asynchronous Parallel High-Dimensional Bayesian Optimization Framework on Supercomputers

Bayesian optimization (BO) is a flexible and powerful framework that is suitable for computationally expensive simulation-based applications and guarantees statistical convergence to the global optimum. While remaining as one of the most popular optimization methods, its capability is hindered by the size of data, the dimensionality of the considered problem, and the nature of sequential optimization. These scalability issues are intertwined with each other and must be tackled simultaneously. In this work, we propose the Scalable$^3$-BO framework, which employs sparse GP as the underlying surrogate model to scope with Big Data and is equipped with a random embedding to efficiently optimize high-dimensional problems with low effective dimensionality. The Scalable$^3$-BO framework is further leveraged with asynchronous parallelization feature, which fully exploits the computational resource on HPC within a computational budget. As a result, the proposed Scalable$^3$-BO framework is scalable in three independent perspectives: with respect to data size, dimensionality, and computational resource on HPC. The goal of this work is to push the frontiers of BO beyond its well-known scalability issues and minimize the wall-clock waiting time for optimizing high-dimensional computationally expensive applications. We demonstrate the capability of Scalable$^3$-BO with 1 million data points, 10,000-dimensional problems, with 20 concurrent workers in an HPC environment.
Single Nucleotide Substitutions Effectively Block Cas9 and Allow for Scarless Genome Editing in Caenorhabditis elegans

In Caenorhabditis elegans, germline injection of Cas9 complexes is reliably used to achieve genome editing through homology-directed repair of Cas9-generated DNA breaks. To prevent Cas9 from targeting repaired DNA, additional blocking mutations are often incorporated into homologous repair templates. Cas9 can be blocked either by mutating the PAM sequence that is essential for Cas9 activity or by mutating the guide sequence that targets Cas9 to a specific genomic location. However, it is unclear how many nucleotides within the guide sequence should be mutated, since Cas9 can recognize "off-target" sequences that are imperfectly paired to its guide. In this study, we examined whether single-nucleotide substitutions within the guide sequence are sufficient to block Cas9 and allow for efficient genome editing. We show that a single mismatch within the guide sequence effectively blocks Cas9 and allows for recovery of edited animals. Surprisingly, we found that a low rate of edited animals can be recovered without introducing any blocking mutations, suggesting a temporal block to Cas9 activity in C. elegans. Furthermore, we show that the maternal genome of hermaphrodite animals is preferentially edited over the paternal genome. We demonstrate that maternally provided haplotypes can be selected using balancer chromosomes and propose a method of mutant isolation that greatly reduces screening efforts post-injection. Collectively, our findings expand the repertoire of genome editing strategies in C. elegans and demonstrate that extraneous blocking mutations are not required to recover edited animals when the desired mutation is located within the guide sequence.
Intangible Investments, Scaling, and The Trend in The Accrual-Cash Flow Association

We provide evidence that the documented weakening of the accrual-cash flow association results not from a loss of accrual accounting usefulness per se, but from the deviation from accrual accounting as it relates to intangible investments. More specifically, the weakening of the negative association is driven by the combined effects of (1) increasing intangible investments, (2) the practice of expensing rather than capitalizing intangible investments, and (3) scaling accruals and cash flows by book value of assets, which are understated for intangible-intensive firms. Treating intangible expenditures as capitalized investments and scaling accruals and cash flows by market value of equity, which reflects the value of intangible investments, (1) substantially strengthens the negative association between accruals and cash flows and (2) practically eliminates the apparent weakening trend in the association.
Hobbling the Monitors: Should UN Human Rights Monitors Be Accountable?

The critical issue examined in this Article is whether a group of monitors explicitly created to hold governments to account, can themselves be subjected to a strong accountability regime controlled by those same governments, without thereby destroying the independence that is considered to be the system’s hallmark. In 2007, a group of powerful governments pushed through a Code of Conduct to regulate the activities of Special Rapporteurs - the UN’s main system of human rights monitoring by independent experts. The same group has now proposed the establishment of a Legal Committee to enforce compliance with the Code through sanctions. Other governments, the SRs, and civil society groups are highly critical of the way in which the Code has been used so far to stifle the work of the monitors and strongly oppose the creation of any compliance mechanism. The Article notes the powerful pressures which have succeeded in insisting that almost all international actors should be accountable to their principals, and explores the strongest case that can be made for exempting SRs from this general trend. It concludes that existing forms of accountability are weak, and probably inadequate, but that serious concerns about the undermining of the SRs independence are also warranted. It calls for a new approach which recognizes the multifaceted nature of the notions of independence and accountability and ends with a specific proposal for a legal committee designed to strengthen both values and enhance the legitimacy of the system as a whole.
The Role of Customer Satisfaction in Retailing Resource Allocation Models

This article summarizes some recent research that explores the role of customer satisfaction in the fortunes of retailers. The goal of the research was to layout precisely (mathematically) how productivity, cost and demand are impacted when a retailer changes labor and/or capital expenditures, and consequently the amount of customer satisfaction produced. In what follows, we describe and explain the results of this research and depict major results graphically.
The exponential map for the group of similarity transformations and applications to motion interpolation

In this paper, we explore the exponential map and its inverse, the logarithm map, for the group SIM(n) of similarity transformations in ℝn which are the composition of a rotation, a translation and a uniform scaling. We give a formula for the exponential map and we prove that it is surjective. We give an explicit formula for the case of n = 3 and show how to efficiently compute the logarithmic map. As an application, we use these algorithms to perform motion interpolation. Given a sequence of similarity transformations, we compute a sequence of logarithms, then fit a cubic spline that interpolates the logarithms and finally, we compute the interpolating curve in SIM(3).
Bargaining and brinkmanship: Capital structure choice by regulated firms

A bargaining model of regulation is developed. It is shown that regulated firms can improve their bargaining positions and induce the regulator to set higher prices for firm output by choosing more debt. Firms, in choosing an optimal level of debt, trade off this bargaining advantage against expected bankruptcy costs. The model predicts that firms would tend to choose higher levels of debt in harsher regulatory environments. This prediction is shown to be consistent with cross-sectional evidence for U.S. electric utilities for the sample period 1972–1983.
Quantifying iron‐oxide nanoparticles at high concentration based on longitudinal relaxation using a three‐dimensional SWIFT look‐locker sequence

Purpose Iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have proven utility as contrast agents in many MRI applications. Previous quantitative IONP mapping has been performed using mainly T2* mapping methods. However, in applications requiring high IONP concentrations, such as magnetic nanoparticles based thermal therapies, conventional pulse sequences are unable to map T2* because the signal decays too rapidly. In this article, sweep imaging with Fourier transformation (SWIFT) sequence is combined with the Look-Locker method to map T1 of IONPs in high concentrations. Methods T1 values of agar containing IONPs in different concentrations were measured with the SWIFT Look-Locker method and with inversion recovery spectroscopy. Precisions of Look-Locker and variable flip angle (VFA) methods were compared in simulations. Results The measured R1 (=1/T1) has a linear relationship with IONP concentration up to 53.6 mM of Fe. This concentration exceeds concentrations measured in previous work by almost an order of magnitude. Simulations show SWIFT Look-Locker method is also much less sensitive to B1 inhomogeneity than the VFA method. Conclusion SWIFT Look-Locker can accurately measure T1 of IONP concentrations ≤53.6 mM. By mapping T1 as a function of IONP concentration, IONP distribution maps might be used in the future to plan effective magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia therapy. Magn Reson Med 71:1982–1988, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transition and EU Integration of Bulgarian Agriculture - Impacts for Environment and Sustainability

This paper presents major environmental challenges in Bulgarian agriculture, and identifies and assesses specific modes for environmental governance in farming sector, and estimate prospects for changing environmental performance of farms in conditions of EU integration and Common Agricultural Policy implementation. We adapt the framework of the New Institutional and Transaction Costs Economics, and assess efficiency of diverse market, private and public modes for environmental governance. The post-communist transformation of agriculture has changed environmental situation and brought some new challenges such as: degradation and contamination of farmland, pollution of surface and ground waters, distracting biodiversity, significant greenhouse gas emissions etc. Badly defined and enforced environmental rights, prolonged process of privatization of agrarian resources, carrying farming in structures not motivating in long-term investment, high uncertainty and assets specificity and low frequency and appropriability of environment related transactions, all they are responsible for failure of market and private modes of environmental governance. Needs for public intervention has not been met by effective Government, community, international assistance etc. intervention, and agrarian sustainability has been compromised. Analysis of likely impact of CAP implementation in "Bulgarian" conditions shows that chief beneficiary of various new support measures will be the biggest operators, and income, technological and environmental discrepancy between different farms, sub-sectors and regions will be further enlarged.
Logic and Conceptual Relationships in Mathematics

Is it all right?, traditional epistemology asks about knowledge claims. All schools in “logical foundations of mathematics” share this concern for reliability. But a long-term look at achievements in mathematics shows that genuine mathematical accomplishment consists primarily in making clear by using new concepts. Of course, results also have to be correct to count as making something clear; and finding hard proofs typically remains crucial. We look for uses of mathematical logic in bringing out these roles of concepts in mathematics. Representations and methods from the reliability programs are not always appropriate. We need to be able to emphasize special features of a given mathematical area and its relationships to others, rather than how it fits into an absolutely general pattern. Model theoretic algebra works in just this way. A model theoretic approach may be able to bring out the point of algebraic methods in number theory and geometry. We discuss prospects for model theoretic analysis of several of these, notably local-global methods, which would show they function by moving to new settings where things are simpler or more clear. We introduce several theoretical terms: conceptual setting, supposed to capture the idea of mathematical area or topic; presentation of a conceptual setting, supposed to capture in formal terms inferential structure or generally, intellectual organization of a subject area; reconceptualization relationships, supposed to capture the idea of connections between areas and their effects on presentations, and accessibility properties of a conceptual setting, supposed to capture reasons why certain matters are clear and accessible to inquiry in that setting.
Assessing Attitude and Reincarceration Outcomes Associated With In-Prison Domestic Violence Treatment Program Completion

Studies indicate that as many as 30%–56% of incarcerated men have perpetrated domestic violence, and that factors related to domestic violence perpetration are associated with long-term recidivism after release. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of an in-prison domestic violence treatment program called STOP and Change Direction to increase positive attitudes toward women, decrease levels of criminal thinking, and reduce general recidivism rates for program completers. Two research designs are used: a single-group pretest–posttest design to assess the attitude-related outcomes, and a quasiexperimental design with a comparison group created using propensity score matching to assess the impact of program participation on reincarceration. Paired samples t tests revealed significant increases in positive attitudes toward women and decreases in criminal thinking. Binary logistic regressions revealed no significant differences in the 5- and 7-year reincarceration rates, although examination of the 9...
Association of AFLP markers with downy mildew resistance in autotetraploid alfalfa.

The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) assay is an efficient method for the identification of molecular markers useful in the improvement of numerous crop species. The identification of AFLP markers linked to disease resistance genes has been shown in segregating populations from crosses of inbred lines. The development of inbred lines in alfalfa is not possible, but existing breeding programs have produced populations selected for resistance to a single pest. Two such populations, UC-123 and UC-143, differing only in selection for resistance to downy mildew (Peronospora trifoliorum de Bary) isolate I-8, were used in this study. Thirty-six resistant plants from UC-143, and 36 susceptible plants from UC-123 were screened for DNA polymorphisms using fourteen AFLP primer combinations. Four AFLP fragment markers, ACACTC208, ACACTC150, ACACAT216 and ACACTC486, were found to be significantly associated with disease susceptibility or resistance. Resistant and susceptible plants were crossed in a diallel scheme and the progeny were screened for resistance to P. trifoliorum isolate I8. Two of the AFLP markers, ACACTC208 and ACACTC486 were significantly associated with resistance in the F1 and S1 progeny. The utilization of two populations, comprised of 36 resistant and 36 susceptible plants, for the identification of DNA fragments associated with disease resistance proved successful. Seventy-two plants is a very manageable number and provides a starting point for further refinement of marker-trait associations.
Coupling between guided-wave optical modes—a dynamical system model

We provide a derivation of bidirectional coupled-mode equations from Maxwell's equations. The theoretical description of the collinear magneto-optical interaction of magnetostatic forward volume waves with guided optical modes is generalized. Its behavior is expressed using solutions to the coupled-mode equations. In some cases, applying the conservation of energy yields exact solutions that can be formed in terms of elementary transcendental functions. The auxiliary function method is used to find a series solution based on the solution of the homogeneous boundary value problem. Using the derived solutions, simulations show that the parallel antiparallel magneto-optical interaction bandwidth and structure can be tuned through selection of power applied to two transducers. They also show that equivalent mode power conversion can take place in half the propagation distance for parallel anitparallel magneto-optical interaction compared to pure traveling wave magneto-optical interaction.
The effect of gender stereotype activation on challenge and threat motivational states

The effect of gender stereotype activation on challenge/threat motivational states was examined. Male and female participants completed a difficult math test described as either gender-biased or gender-fair, while continuous cardiovascular data were recorded. During the math test, women in the gender-biased condition exhibited a threatened motivational state, whereas women in the gender-fair condition exhibited challenge. The cardiovascular pattern of data was reversed for men, with men exhibiting challenge when a gender bias was implied, but threat when it was not. Motivational implications of stereotype threat and psychophysiological measurement are discussed.
Network effects without network externalities

Abstract The network externalities hypothesis postulates that consumers prefer to purchase brands which are bought by more consumers compared with brands with a low market share. In this paper, we show that increasing returns to scale in the production of complementary products can substitute for the network externalities assumption. We develop a model for the computer industry in which the production of complementary software requires a large fixed cost of development relative to the cost of duplicating and marketing the software. The increasing returns to scale in the production of software yields consumers' behavior which is very similar to consumers who have preferences exhibiting network externalities.
Community Autonomy and the Maya ICBG Project in Chiapas, Mexico: How a Bioprospecting Project that Should Have Succeeded Failed

The autonomy of indigenous and local communities is widely recognized by international, national, and local laws and customs. This autonomy includes the recognized rights of communities to grant permission to enter into agreements for access to their resources, including the commercial use of these resources based on fair and equitable benefit-sharing arrangements. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and their allies have questioned the autonomy of local indigenous communities, which they claim have no rights to enter into agreements for bioprospecting projects. Efforts to limit the autonomy of local communities concerning commercial use of biological resources is tied to NGO opposition to any form of sustainable development which they believe contributes to globalization and exploitation of the developing countries of the South by the developed countries of the North. To achieve their goals, these groups have launched negative misinformation campaigns to discredit applied biodiversity research projects ...
Stochastic ontogenetic allometry: the statistical dynamics of relative growth.

Background In the absence of stochasticity, allometric growth throughout ontogeny is axiomatically described by the logarithm-transformed power-law model, , where and are the logarithmic sizes of two traits at any given time t. Realistically, however, stochasticity is an inherent property of ontogenetic allometry. Due to the inherent stochasticity in both and , the ontogenetic allometry coefficients, and k, can vary with t and have intricate temporal distributions that are governed by the central and mixed moments of the random ontogenetic growth functions, and . Unfortunately, there is no probabilistic model for analyzing these informative ontogenetic statistical moments. Methodology/Principal Findings This study treats and as correlated stochastic processes to formulate the exact probabilistic version of each of the ontogenetic allometry coefficients. In particular, the statistical dynamics of relative growth is addressed by analyzing the allometric growth factors that affect the temporal distribution of the probabilistic version of the relative growth rate, , where is the expected value of the ratio of stochastic to stochastic , and and are the numerator and the denominator of , respectively. These allometric growth factors, which provide important insight into ontogenetic allometry but appear only when stochasticity is introduced, describe the central and mixed moments of and as differentiable real-valued functions of t. Conclusions/Significance Failure to account for the inherent stochasticity in both and leads not only to the miscalculation of k, but also to the omission of all of the informative ontogenetic statistical moments that affect the size of traits and the timing and rate of development of traits. Furthermore, even though the stochastic process and the stochastic process are linearly related, k can vary with t.
The paradigm shift in university management

Makes clear the distinction between second versus third‐wave management in higher education. The former management school was developed in the industrial age. The latter doctrine has evolved in the information age where universal accountability will be achieved with computer technology. Second‐wave management is associated with an authority structure, referred to as a political system, bureacratic methodology, hierarchical organizations and situations ethics. Third‐wave management includes an authority structure, described as a management system, systems methodology, human‐scale organizations and moral absolutes. The elements of these will be combined in universities to achieve high output through the pedagogical process.
Reviewers’ assertions of expertise in online reviews

In online reviews of products and services, laypeople (as opposed to professional writers like movie reviewers who write for newspapers) write and post their evaluations of products on Websites like Epinions.com. To establish credibility, online reviewers assert expertise. This paper describes 10 types of assertions that online reviewers used to tell readers about their expertise and the method used to establish the reliability of those types. These 10 types of expertise assertions, will facilitate further research on online reviews.
International organizations and arrangements: Pivotal countries and manipulations

Abstract A problem of making an investment in a large developing or transition economy by an international organization is considered in this paper. We design a dominant strategy (the truth-telling) mechanism in a decision making problem where both Pareto optimality and optimization of an international organization's welfare are achieved. We determine that if there are pivotal countries within an international organization, necessary assumptions made for such a mechanism to work cannot be all satisfied. The mere presence of pivotal countries within an international organization is an empirical question, but casual empiricism suggests their existence.
A model to describe stick–slip transition time during ultrasonic consolidation

A finite element model of ultrasonic consolidation (UC) is developed to investigate the slip to stick transition time during the UC bonding process. A methodology is established to determine the transition from sliding friction from the initiation of the UC bonding process to the onset of bonding using an energy criterion and geometry changes during bonding of foils with UC. Sliding friction is shown to occur for a large fraction of the weld time; however, the majority of deformation and heat generation occur during the volumetric deformation (stick) phase. The model results are compared with experiments over a range of weld times, and good agreement is found with experimental measurements of UC.
977 IN VITRO COMPARISON OF HUMAN COLOSTRAL AND MATERNAL PERIPHERAL BLOOD T-LYMPHOCYTE

We compared in-vitro mitogen induced lymphoproliferative response (IVMILR) between paired samples of colostral lymphocytes (CL) and blood lymphocytes (BL) using equal numbers of T-cells or a T-cell subpopulation. Standard lymphocyte counting, sheep erythrocyte rosetting (SER), “active” sheep erythrocyte rosetting (ASER) and IVMILR techniques were used. Optimal mitogen concentration was established by dose response curves. Cultures had 95% viability by trypan blue staining. Morning colostrum and blood was donated at 3 days postpartum by 18-35 year old primiparous Caucasians with normal pregnancy & delivery. Twelve samples were evaluated for % of SER and ASER cells: BL had 60% SER and 40% ASER cells, CL had 30% SER and 20% ASER cells. Six samples of 95% SER cells and 3 of 95% ASER cells were evaluated for IVMILR after isolation over Ficoll-Hypaque. BL SER cells had stimulation index (SI) 2-10 times greater than CL SER cells. BL ASER cells had SI 2-5 times greater than CL ASER cells. Three samples of CL and BL were co-cultured and IVMILR revealed no change in slope of dose response curve. IVMILR of CL T-cells was hyporeactive when compared to equal numbers of matched BL T-cells. The IVMILR of CL “active” T-cells, a subpopulation of T-cells, was hyporeactive when compared with an equal number of matched BL “active” T-cells. There is no evidence of suppressor cell or substance produced by milk cells. The CL T-cell is different than the BL T-cell.
Basic fibroblast growth factor-induced seizures in rats

The neurotrophic effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on hippocampal neurons have been well documented. However, the acute effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on hippocampal electrical activities in vivo have not yet been studied. To assess the impact of basic fibroblast growth factor on hippocampal electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, two doses of basic fibroblast growth factor were injected into the right ventral hippocampus of freely moving animals. Unilateral injection of 50 ng of basic fibroblast growth factor into the dentate region of the hippocampus resulted in immediate EEG ictal discharges and behavioral seizures in 7/9 rats. These seizures lasted about 2 h following the injection. Injection of 25 ng of basic fibroblast growth factor into the same sites induced ictal discharges of approximately 60 min duration in 3/7 rats. Injection with heat-inactivated basic fibroblast growth factor into the same sites did not cause any EEG or behavioral modifications. These results suggest that in addition to growth-promoting effects, basic fibroblast growth factor is able to acutely alter the electrical activity of hippocampal neurons and cause seizures.
C-reactive protein and lung diseases

C-reactive protein (CRP), a member of the pentraxin family of plasma proteins, is one of the most distinctive acute phase reactants. In response to inflammation, cell damage or tissue injury, plasma level of CRP rapidly and dramatically increases up to 1000-fold, a phenomenon that has been used for years to monitor infections and many destructive/inflammatory conditions. The magnitude of CRP increase usually correlates with the severity of injury or inflammation and reflects an important physiological role of this interesting but still under-investigated protein. It is now generally accepted that CRP is involved in host defense and inflammation. However, the exact function of this protein in health and disease remains unclear. Many studies have demonstrated that in different pathophysiological conditions CRP might be involved in the regulation of lung function and may participate in the pathogenesis of various pulmonary disorders. The fluctuation of CRP concentrations in both alveolar fluid and serum associated with different pulmonary diseases suggests its important role in lung biology. Discussion of the still controversial functions of CRP in lung physiology and diseases is the main focus of this review.
SU‐GG‐I‐34: Image‐Based Material Decomposition with Energy Resolving Computed Tomography

Purpose: To decompose four materials in the image domain using an energy resolving detector.Methods and Materials: A post‐mortem breast specimen was scanned with cone‐beam CT. One slice of the CTimage was segmented into glandular and fat components and used as a digital phantom for the simulations. Calcium (100, 200, and 300 mg/ml) and iodine (4, 6, and 8 mg/ml) contrast elements were embedded in the glandular region. The x‐ray transport process and CT simulations were performed with a 3‐mm thick CZT detector and an 80 kVp spectrum. The detector resolved the energy spectrum into 5 energy bins (1–30, 31–37, 38–45, 46–56, and 57–80 keV). A four‐material (calcium, iodine, gland and fat) least square fitting procedure was used for decomposition in the image domain. The decomposition technique assumes a dominant material for each voxel. Calibrations were performed with a phantom of 30–70 glandular‐breast ratios with calcium and iodine contrast elements of concentrations of 0.03 to 0.53 in 0.5 mg/ml increments and 0.001 to 0.021 in 0.002 mg/ml increments, respectively. After the calibrations were made, different concentrations of calcium and iodine were embedded in the digital breast phantom and were decomposed. Results: The measured concentrations of calcium and iodine were closely related to their known concentrations. Measured calcium (CM) was related to known calcium (CK) as CM = 1.02CK+0.003 mg/ml. Measured iodine (IM) was related to known iodine (IK) as IM = 0.98IK − 0.00001 mg/ml. Conclusion: Simulations showed that the four‐material decomposition technique could faithfully decompose calcium and iodine on breast computed tomography.
The contribution of food and energy price shocks to relative price variability

Abstract Food and energy shocks are shown to be significant sources of variation in relative prices of personal consumption expenditures during 1931–1980. This conclusion follows even after recognizing the impact of other shocks based on exports, government spending, money supply, and numbers of military personnel.
Katsu: Traditional Japanese resuscitation methods

Twelve traditional Japanese resuscitation methods, called Katsu, are described, and their history and medical aspects are compared with those of traditional Western methods of manual resuscitation. Five katsu, developed parallel to but independently of traditional Western methods, are inferior to CPR and are of historical interest only. Seven katsu not evaluated by Western researchers could be valuable if proven effective because they can be applied where CPR cannot.
An analysis of the outcomes of a decade of experience with lower extremity revascularization including limb salvage, lengths of stay, and safety

Background Demographic and practice modality changes during the past decade have led to a substantial shift in the management of peripheral vascular disease. This study examined the effect of these changes using large national and regional data sets on procedure type, indications, morbidity, and on the primary target outcome: limb salvage. Methods National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data sets and New York (NY) State inpatient hospitalizations and outpatient surgeries discharge databases from 1998 through 2007 were used to identify hospitalizations for lower extremity revascularization (LER) and major amputations. Patients were selected by cross-referencing diagnostic and procedural codes. Proportions were analyzed by χ 2 analysis, continuous variables by t test, and trends by the Poisson regression. Results The national per capita (100,000 population, age >40 years) volume of major amputations decreased by 38%. The volume for national and regional use of endovascular LER doubled. The volume of open LER decreased by 67% from 1998 through 2007. Ambulatory endovascular LER grew in NY State from 7 per capita in 1998 to 22 in 2007. Interventions declined by 20% (93 to 75) for critical limb ischemia (CLI) but increased by nearly 50% for claudication. Outpatient data analysis revealed a fivefold increase in vascular interventions for CLI and claudication. Nationally, endovascular LER interventions quadrupled (8% to 32%) for CLI and doubled (26% to 61%) for claudication. A parallel reduction occurred in major amputations for patients with CLI (42% to 30%), for other PAD diagnoses (18% to 14%), and for claudication (0.9% to 0.3%). Although surgical interventions for CLI declined significantly for octogenarians from 317 to 240, outpatient interventions increased for CLI, claudication, and other diagnoses in all age groups. Comorbidities for patients treated in 2006 were substantially greater than those of a decade ago. For most procedures, cardiac and bleeding complications have significantly decreased during the last decade. Length of stay (LOS) declined from 9.5 to 7.6 days and the percentage of short (1-2 day) hospitalizations increased from 16% to 35%. Conclusion Although patients today, whether treated for claudication or CLI, have more comorbidities, the rates of amputation, the procedural morbidity and mortality, and LOS have all significantly decreased. Other variables, including changes in medical management and wound care, undoubtedly are important, but this change appears to be largely due to the widespread and successful use of endovascular LER or to earlier intervention, or both, driven by the safety of these techniques.
Apparent reversals of a rotating mask: a new demonstration of cognition in perception.

A mask of a face rotated about its vertical axis of symmetry can appear to oscillate rather than rotate. Do stimulus features (e.g., shape) or cognitive factors (e.g., differential familiarity with convex and concave views of faces) explain this new illusion? In Experiment 1, differential familiarity was varied across stimuli by using familiar and unfamiliar objects rotating at 4 rpm and within stimuli by showing the objects upright and inverted. True motion was seen more with unfamiliar objects than with familiar objects and more with an inverted mask than with an upright mask. The results of Experiment 2, which was done with static views, suggest that the upright and inverted masks present similar structure to the visual system. In Experiment 3, the objects were shown rotating at 8 rpm; the results are similar to those of Experiment 1. These experiments favor a differential familiarity account of this illusory motion. Cognitive constraints on perceived motion and perceived rigidity are discussed.
Transthoracic Transatrial Endocardial Lead Placement for Permanent Pacing

Abstract A method is described for permanent pacing without using the epicardial or transvenous approach.
Hypothalamic infusion of the 5-HT21C agonist, DOI, prevents the inhibitory actions of the 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, on lordosis behavior

Abstract Sexually receptive, intact, proestrous rats were infused bilaterally into the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) with 200 ng of the 5-HT 1A agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-di- n -propylamino)tetraline (8-OH-DPAT), with 2000 ng of the 5- HT 2 1 C agonist, (±)-(2,5-dimethoxy--4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane HCl (DOI), or with both 8-OH-DPAT and DOI. Alone, VMN infusions of 8-OH-DPAT, but not DOI, inhibited lordosis behavior. When 200 ng DOI was infused simulttneously with 8-OH-DPAT, the inhibitory effects of 8-OH-DPAT were completely abolished. These results suggest that neural sites responsible for the reported facilitatory effects of 5- HT 2 1 C agonists on lordosis behavior coexist in the VMN with those sites in which 5-HT 1A agonists are effective in reducing lordosis behavior. In contrast to the protective action of the 5- HT 2 1C receptor agonist following VMN infusion, no protection was seen when both DOI and 8-OH-DPAT were administered intraperitoneally. Thus, the interaction of these two receptor subtypes in the control of lordosis behavior may be different in regions outside the VMN.
Implementation of a knowledge-based automated design system: Design of composite space-frame structures

Abstract Different designers and companies have their own design practices. Thus it is important that these experienced designers be able to include their knowledge into automated design systems. This paper describes a framework which a designer can use to implement a customized, automated, design system. The framework is based on the development of a system to design space-frames made from composite materials. Due to the nature of the knowledge used in the design process, a combination of expert-system methodology and traditional programming techniques is used to implement the system. The knowledge used at each step in the design process is coded in separate modules to facilitate implementation.
Conservation equations and equations of motion in the null formalism

The object of this paper is to relate three equations in the Newman-Penrose system of equations to the conservation laws and, hence, to the equations of motion. To do so, the corresponding result is first obtained using the Einstein equations in a null coordinate system. The Newman-Penrose equations are then analyzed. They are separated into hypersurface, propagation, supplementary, and conservation equations. When all field equations except the three conservation equations have been appropriately satisfied, the desired result follows.
Cortical spreading depression induces long-term alterations of BDNF levels in cortex and hippocampus distinct from lesion effects: implications for ischemic tolerance.

Abstract Cortical spreading depression (CSD) protects hippocampal and cortical neurons from an otherwise lethal ischemic insult delivered days later. The present study was undertaken to evaluate changes in the expression of BDNF following CSD, distinct from lesion effects and its possible involvement in delayed ischemic tolerance. CSD was elicited by KCl application and a cortical lesion was made by hyperosmolar NaCl application. BDNF mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization and Northern blot up to 7 days post-CSD. BDNF protein content was measured by ELISA. In the cortex, BDNF protein was mildly elevated despite minimal increases of mRNA in the NaCl lesion group. CSD specifically up-regulated BDNF mRNA at 4 h, followed by a delayed secondary increase at 2–3 days. BDNF protein exhibited smaller biphasic increases at 24 h and 3–7 days post-CSD which were significantly higher than the NaCl lesion group. In the hippocampus, BDNF protein levels showed a delayed decrease in both groups independent of mRNA changes, but CSD specifically delayed this decrease. Thus, CSD can alter BDNF levels independent of lesion effects. The increased BDNF following CSD in the cortex is consistent with the involvement of BDNF in cortical ischemic tolerance. BDNF could not, however, be directly related to ischemic tolerance in the hippocampus.
Tumor suppressor genes in rodent lung carcinogenesis-mutation of p53 does not appear to be an early lesion in lung tumor pathogenesis.

Tumor Suppressor Genes in Rodent Lung Carcinogenesis: Mutation of p53 Does Not Appear to be an Early Lesion in Lung Tumor Pathogenesis. Miller, M. S. (1999). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 156, 70-77.
Influence of pH on in vitro disintegration of phosphate binders

Hyperphosphatemia, a common complication in patients with end-stage renal disease, is treated with oral phosphate-binding medications that restrict phosphorus absorption from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Impaired product performance, such as failure to disintegrate and/or dissolve in the GI tract, could limit the efficacy of the phosphate binder. Disintegration may be as important as dissolution for predicting in vitro product performance for medications that act locally on the GI tract, such as phosphate binders. Furthermore, patients with end-stage renal disease have a wide range in GI pH, and pH can influence a product's performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pH on in vitro disintegration of phosphate binders. Fifteen different commercially available phosphate binders (seven calcium carbonate tablet formulations, two calcium acetate tablet formulations, three aluminum hydroxide capsule formulations, and three aluminum hydroxide tablet formulations) were studied using the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standard disintegration apparatus. Phosphate binders were tested in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.5), distilled water (pH 5.1), and simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.5). Product failure was defined as two or more individual tablets or capsules failing to disintegrate completely within 30 minutes. Results indicate that 9 of the 15 phosphate binders tested showed statistically significant differences in disintegration time (DT) based on pH. The percentage of binders that passed the disintegration study test in distilled water, gastric fluid, and intestinal fluid were 80%, 80%, and 73%, respectively. The findings of this study show that the disintegration of commercially available phosphate binders is highly variable. The pH significantly affected in vitro disintegration in the majority of phosphate binders tested; how significantly this affects in vivo performance has yet to be studied.
Direct determination of molecular orbital symmetry of H2S using polarized x-ray emission.

X-ray emission from the molecule ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$S is strongly polarized following excitation of a sulfur K-shell electron to an unoccupied subthreshold molecular orbital with a polarized x-ray beam. Changes in the polarization of the emission spectrum are observed as the incident beam's energy is swept across the subthreshold absorption resonance. The previously unresolved absorption resonance is shown experimentally to be primarily associated with a molecular orbital of ${\mathit{b}}_{2}$ symmetry, but with a high-excitation-energy component due to an orbital with ${\mathit{a}}_{1}$ symmetry. Satellite emission intensity is shown to depend on the primary photon energy and is therefore associated with multivacancy effects and not with contamination, as previously suggested.
IgE response in heterophil-positive infectious mononucleosis

Nineteen patients with heterophil-positive infectious mononucleosis were followed with serial blood sampling for an average of 14.6 mo. A preillness serum sample, obtained more than 2 mo before onset of illness, was available from 9 patients. A total of 141 samples were tested under identical conditions for total IgE levels by a paper-disc radioimmunoassay. Hematologic and serologic studies were also done. IgE changes showed a definite pattern, consisting of an elevation early in illness, rapidly followed by a significant drop reaching a nadir by the third month, then gradually returning to the preillness level (PIL) over a period of about a year. On the average, the peak was about 3 times the PIL, and the nadir about half the PIL. The IgE peak always coincided with the peak of atypical lymphocytes, and in no instance did it occur later than the peaks of other hematologic or serologic changes. No definite relationship was noted between IgE levels and the severity of illness. Heterophil-positive infectious mononucleosis is the first well-defined infectious disease found to be associated with such a pattern of IgE response.