cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Bootstrap Estimation In Time Series

Time series, a special case in dependent data sequence, is widely used in many fields. In time series, linear process models are quite popularly used. General form of linear process indicates the time dependence property of time series, AR(p), MA(q) and ARMA(p, q) models are all linear process models. In this report, simulations are based on the simplest models of these linear process models, such as AR(1), MA(1) and ARMA(1,1) models. AR(1)-SEASON, which is developed based on AR(1) model by changing the weight of residuals, is also considered in this report. To deal with dependent data sequence, common methods which aim to deal with independent data are no longer accurate to do inference. For dependent data, a conventional method involves consistent estimation of the long run variance, for example, Andrews [2]. However, in Andrews method, it might be hard to determine the bandwidth. As an alternative, bootstrap methods can be used to approximate the limiting distribution. Block based bootstrap methods, such as moving block bootstrap, non-overlapping block bootstrap and circular block bootstrap, can be used for dependent data. Stationary bootstrap, which is with flexible block length following xiii a geometric distribution with parameter pS, has also been proved to be consistent. AR-Sieve bootstrap aims to construct a fitted model of AR(p) and resampling the data with the fitted model. In our simulations, we compare finite sample confidence interval coverage rates. We also consider these bootstrap methods with Andrews estimation of variance [2] and simulations results show that with the help of Andrews estimation, the estimations are more accurate. A further discussion of determining an optimal block length for AR(1) model is also mentioned in our report.
Design of Improved Trusted Network Connection Model and Its Protocol Based on Network Coding

Trusted Network Connection(TNC) model is applied to ensure the security of network access,and with its deeper research and application,the security of TNC model is very important.First,the paper analyzes the traditional TNC model and its procedure,and finds that there is security risk in the traditional TNC model because of the lack of security in its underlying transport protocol.Then,in order to solve the security risk,the paper designs TNC model and its protocol based on network coding,and improves the trustworthy of network without decreasing the efficiency of data transporting,improves the trustworthy of TNC model.
A survey of pattern recognition

This paper surveys the developments in the field of pattern classification to describe the current state-of-the-art. The author divides the pattern classification problem into deterministic and statistical approaches although, in many instances, both converge to the same result. The approaches are further subdivided into: Adalines and Madalines, linear discriminant functions, mathematical programming, mode-seeking, nearest neighbor, Bayes and minimax, statistical criteria, and fuzzy sets subclasses. A major effort is devoted to show relationships among procedures. The conditions under which procedures are equivalent are discussed. Such relationships are summarized through a graph. The problems of supervision, adaptive property, sample size, and sequential analysis are discussed.
The social relevance and social impact of knowledge and knowing

In recent years, there has been a growing concern around the connection between theory and practice, rigour and relevance, theoretical consistency and impact. This Special Issue links with the lite...
Increased Aerodynamic Roughness Owing to Surfzone Foam

AbstractDrag coefficients Cd obtained through direct eddy covariance estimates of the wind stress were observed at four different sandy beaches with dissipative surfzones along the coastline of Monterey Bay, California. The measured surfzone Cd (~2 × 10−3) is twice as large as open-ocean estimates and consistent with recent estimates of Cd over the surfzone and shoaling region. Owing to the heterogeneous nature of the near shore consisting of nonbreaking shoaling waves and breaking surfzone waves, the surfzone wind stress source region is estimated from the footprint probability distribution derived for stable and unstable atmospheric conditions. An empirical model developed for estimating the Cd for open-ocean foam coverage dependent on wind speed is modified for foam coverage owing to depth-limited wave breaking within the surfzone. A modified empirical Cd model for surfzone foam predicts similar values as the measured Cd and provides an alternative mechanism to describe roughness.
Intensive Auditory Comprehension Treatment for Severe Aphasia: A Feasibility Study.

Background Severe auditory comprehension impairments secondary to aphasia can adversely influence rehabilitative outcomes and quality of life. Studies examining intensive rehabilitative treatments ...
Use of 3D printing and modular microfluidics to integrate cell culture, injections and electrochemical analysis

Fabrication of microchip-based devices using 3D printing technology offers a unique platform to create separate modules that can be put together when desired for analysis. A 3D printed module approach offers various advantages such as file sharing and the ability to easily replace, customize, and modify the individual modules. Here, we describe the use of a modular approach to electrochemically detect the ATP-mediated release of nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells. Nitric oxide plays a significant role in the vasodilation process; however, detection of NO is challenging due to its short half-life. To enable this analysis, we use three distinct 3D printed modules: cell culture, sample injection and detection modules. The detection module follows a pillar-based wall-jet electrode design, where the analyte impinges normal to the electrode surface, offering enhanced sensitivity for the analyte. To further enhance the sensitivity and selectivity for NO detection the working electrode (100 μm gold) is modified by the addition of a 27 μm gold pillar and platinum-black coated with Nafion. The use of the pillar electrode leads to three-dimensional structure protruding into the channel enhancing the sensitivity by 12.4 times in comparison to the flat electrode (resulting LOD for NO = 210 nM). The next module, the 3D printed sample injection module, follows a simple 4-port injection rotor design made of two separate components that when assembled can introduce a specific volume of analyte. This module not only serves as a cheaper alternative to the commercially available 4-port injection valves, but also demonstrates the ability of volume customization and reduced dead-volume issues with the use of capillary-free connections. Comparison between the 3D printed and a commercial 4-port injection valve showed similar sensitivities and reproducibility for NO analysis. Lastly, the cell culture module contains electrospun polystyrene fibers with immobilized endothelial cells, resulting in 3D scaffold for cell culture. With the incorporation of all 3 modules, we can make reproducible ATP injections (via the 3-D printed sample injection module) that can stimulate NO release from endothelial cells cultured on a fibrous insert in the cell culture module which can then be quantitated by the pillar WJE module (0.19 ± 0.03 nM per cell, n = 27, 3 inserts analyzed each day, on 9 different days). The modular approach demonstrates the facile creation of custom and modifiable fluidic components that can be assembled as needed.
Introductory Matter (1549, 1550, 1555)

obviously, bermudo himself considered each of his first two publications to be but parts of the larger whole which was at last issued in 1555. Therefore he felt at liberty to prefix not only the 1549 and 1550 imprints with the same six-years’ royal printing privilege given at Cigales (near Valladolid) on November 18, 1549; but also to shelter himself still beneath the wings of this same priuilegio real when finally in 1555 he published the definitive edition. If he reused the November 18, 1549, royal priuilegio, he also reused the ecclesiastical licencia granted on August 1, 1549, by his superior, Fray Gomez de Llanos. Without so much as the change of a single word, this identical licence recurs at fol. 2 of both the 1549 Declaracion and the 1550 El arte Tripharia.
Gait Analysis in Pediatric Rehabilitation

Three-dimensional gait analysis has evolved over the past century to allow accurate recording and measurement of human walking. Kinematic analysis allows quantification of the motion of joints; dynamic electromyography shows how muscles firing abnormally affect this motion. Gait analysis has been successfully applied in the evaluation and treatment of cerebral palsy, myelomeningocele, muscular dystrophy, and limb-deficient states. Formal gait analysis allows improved classification of patients with walking disabilities, a more thorough understanding of the problems seen, and a more coherent and comprehensive treatment plan.
An Iterative Approach to Profile Evaluation Using Interpolation of Measured Positions and Surface Normals

This paper describes a method to adoptively select sample points on a 2 dimensional profile based upon interpolation between sample points. The interpolant uses the measured deviations from nominal position and surface normals at a pair of sample points to predict the form errors between these samples. Additional sample points are selected if the interpolant exceeds a set of sampling criteria and the evaluation process is repeated iteratively until no new sample points are identified. An example of the algorithm’s performance using data containing non-random errors from a machining process is given at’ the end of the paper.
Endogenous Opioid Systems, Stress, and Cancer

Opium’s importance in both medicinal and social contexts dates back thousands of years (Blum, 1970; Terry and Pellens, 1928). Interest in opiates and opiate-like compounds (heretofore collectively referred to as “opioids”) had been maintained throughout the years. A major breakthrough in our understanding of opioids came with the discovery of opioid receptors in 1973 by groups led by Simon (Simon et al., 1973), Snyder (Pert and Snyder, 1973), and Terenius (1973), along with the equally elegant finding of endogenous opioids by Hughes, Kosterlitz and colleagues (Hughes, 1975; Hughes et al., 1975) in 1975. Discovery of opioid receptors and the endogenous opioids (collectively referred to as “endogenous opioid systems”) stands as a landmark of scientific achievement. Needless to say, this has stimulated intense research activity which has already culminated in important information as to the mechanisms and functions of opioids. One such exciting insight has been the discovery in 1983 that endogenous opioid systems are related to growth of both normal and abnormal cells and tissues (Zagon and McLaughlin, 1983a, b, c, d). This has led to a fascinating story concerning the fundamental nature of growth (Zagon and McLaughlin, 1984a, b, c; 1985a, b). The major purpose of this chapter is to review the evidence relating endogenous opioid systems to cancer. Since some aspects of stress may be associated with the endogenous opioid systems, and ACTH and some endogenous opioids share the same precursor (pro-opiomelanocortin), we have also included relevant information on the topic of stress and cancer in an attempt to provide perspective to the entire field of endogenous opioid systems and tumor biology.
EULERIAN-LAGRANGIAN LOCALIZED ADJOINT METHODS FOR VARIABLE-COEFFICIENT ADVECTIVE-DIFFUSIVE­ REACTIVE EQUATIONS IN GROUNDWATER CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT

In this paper, we develop Eulerian-Lagrangian localized adjoint methods (ELLAM) to solve variable-coefficient advective-diffusive-reactive transport equations governing contaminant transport in groundwater flowing through a porous medium. The derived numerical schemes can treat various combinations of boundary conditions and conserve mass. Moreover, our numerical schemes provide an alternative approach to reduce the dependence of the numerical solutions on the accurate tracking of the characteristics, which is essential in many Eulerian-Lagrangian methods (ELM). Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the strength of our schemes.
Continuum Robot Stiffness Under External Loads and Prescribed Tendon Displacements

Soft and continuum robots driven by tendons or cables have wide-ranging applications, and many mechanics-based models for their behavior have been proposed. In this paper, we address the unsolved problem of predicting robot deflection and stiffness with respect to environmental loads where the axial displacements of the tendon ends are held constant. We first solve this problem analytically for a tendon-embedded Euler–Bernoulli beam. Nondimensionalized equations and plots describe how tendon stretch and routing path affect the robot's output stiffness at any point. These analytical results enable stiffness analysis of candidate robot designs without extensive computational simulations. Insights gained through this analysis include the ability to increase robot stiffness by using converging tendon paths. Generalizing to large deflections in three dimensions (3-D), we extend a previous nonlinear Cosserat-rod-based model for tendon-driven robots to handle prescribed tendon displacements, tendon stretch, pretension, and slack. We then provide additional dimensionless plots in the actuated case for loads in 3-D. The analytical formulas and numerically computed model are experimentally validated on a prototype robot with good agreement.
Understanding energy as a subtle concept: A model for teaching and learning energy

A study of physics textbooks from the 1860s up to the present reveals shortcomings of our contemporary approach to teaching the concept of energy. In response, this paper offers a coordinated set of conceptual definitions of force, work, and energy, which can provide a somewhat more accessible grounding on which to develop the subject pedagogically.A study of physics textbooks from the 1860s up to the present reveals shortcomings of our contemporary approach to teaching the concept of energy. In response, this paper offers a coordinated set of conceptual definitions of force, work, and energy, which can provide a somewhat more accessible grounding on which to develop the subject pedagogically.
Safety and Efficacy of Acute Pulmonary Embolism Treated via Large-Bore Aspiration Mechanical Thrombectomy Using the Inari FlowTriever Device.

Abstract Purpose To report initial experience with safety and efficacy in the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) using the FlowTriever device. Materials and Methods A single-center retrospective study was performed in all patients with acute central PE treated using the FlowTriever device between March 2018 and March 2019. A total of 46 patients were identified (massive = 8; submassive = 38), all with right ventricular (RV) strain and 26% with thrombolytic contraindications. Technical success (according to SIR reporting guidelines) and clinical success (defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure intraprocedural improvement) are reported, as are major device and procedure-related complications within 30 days after discharge. Results Technical success was achieved in 100% of cases (n = 46). Average mean pulmonary artery pressure improved significantly from before to after the procedure for the total population (33.9 ± 8.9 mm Hg before, 27.0 ± 9.0 mm Hg after; P Conclusions Initial clinical experience using the FlowTriever to perform mechanical thrombectomy showed encouraging trends with respect to safety and efficacy for the treatment of acute central, massive, and submassive pulmonary embolism.
Effect of Aspirin on the Intestinal Response to a Necrotic Enteritis Challenge

SUMMARY. The effect of aspirin on intestinal lesions was evaluated in birds undergoing an experimental challenge with Clostridium perfringens as part of a model for inducing subclinical necrotic en...
MnTE-2-PyP Suppresses Prostate Cancer Cell Growth via H2O2 Production

Prostate cancer patients are often treated with radiotherapy. MnTE-2-PyP, a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimic, is a known radioprotector of normal tissues. Our recent work demonstrated that MnTE-2-PyP also inhibits prostate cancer progression with radiotherapy; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we identified that MnTE-2-PyP-induced intracellular H2O2 levels are critical in inhibiting the growth of PC3 and LNCaP cells, but the increased H2O2 levels affected the two cancer cells differently. In PC3 cells, many proteins were thiol oxidized with MnTE-2-PyP treatment, including Ser/Thr protein phosphatase 1 beta catalytic subunit (PP1CB). This resulted in reduced PP1CB activity; however, overall cell cycle progression was not altered, so this is not the main mechanism of PC3 cell growth inhibition. High H2O2 levels by MnTE-2-PyP treatment induced nuclear fragmentation, which could be synergistically enhanced with radiotherapy. In LNCaP cells, thiol oxidation by MnTE-2-PyP treatment was not observed previously and, similarly to PC3 cells, there was no effect of MnTE-2-PyP treatment on cell cycle progression. However, in LNCaP cells, MnTE-2-PyP caused an increase in low RNA population and sub-G1 population of cells, which indicates that MnTE-2-PyP treatment may cause cellular quiescence or direct cancer cell death. The protein oxidative modifications and mitotic catastrophes caused by MnTE-2-PyP may be the major contributors to cell growth inhibition in PC3 cells, while in LNCaP cells, tumor cell quiescence or cell death appears to be major factors in MnTE-2-PyP-induced growth inhibition.
Characterization of stress-rupture behavior of nuclear-grade C26M2 FeCrAl alloy for accident-tolerant fuel cladding via burst testing

Abstract FeCrAl alloys demonstrate excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance compared to zirconium alloys used in LWRs. FeCrAl C26M2 has been down-selected as one of the candidate ATF cladding materials for Gen II LWRs. This study investigates the stress-rupture behavior of the nuclear-grade FeCrAl C26M2 tubing in the temperature range of 753-923 K. Rupture time and uniform strain at rupture were determined as a function of the temperature and applied stress using burst tests. The rupture data was found to obey the Larson-Miller Parameter and the Monkman-Grant relationship. Furthermore, the stress exponent (n) and the activation energy (QC) at lower stresses were determined as 4.4 ± 0.3 and 289 ± 25 kJ/mol, respectively, confirming power-law behavior. Above the normalized stress (σ/E) of 2 × 10−3, the power-law creep transited into the power-law breakdown regime. The steady-state deformation microstructure was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to detect the rate-controlling creep mechanism(s). Observation of sub-grains with dislocations at the boundaries in the power-law regime along with a stress exponent of 4.4 suggests dislocation climb as the rate-controlling mechanism. Two different fracture modes were observed: the tubing failed either by direct open-up or small crack and pinhole formation. The outcome of this study would provide essential data for the development of informative mesoscale deformation models paving way for discovery of new creep resistant alloys.
Spillway Preheating.

In traditional models only an order one fraction of energy is transferred from the inflaton to radiation through nonperturbative resonance production in preheating immediately after inflation, due to backreaction effects. We propose a particle production mechanism that could improve the depletion of the inflaton energy density by up to four orders of magnitude. The improvement comes from the fast perturbative decays of resonantly produced daughter particles. They act as a "spillway" to drain these daughter particles, reducing their backreaction on the inflaton and keeping the resonant production effective for a longer period. Thus we dub the scenario "spillway preheating". We also show that the fraction of energy density remaining in the inflaton has a simple inverse power-law scaling in the scenario. In general, spillway preheating is a much more efficient energy dissipation mechanism, which may have other applications in model building for particle physics.
Identification of cancerous lesions from healthy skin using an infrared, optical filter based approach

Skin cancer, in all its various forms has been identified by the American Cancer Society as the most common form of cancer in both the United States and worldwide. In fact, more Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer than all other forms of cancer combined. Typically, initial skin cancer diagnosis relies on the asymmetry, border, core, diameter, and evolution (ABCDE) test. As a subjective test, the ABCDE method relies on the skill of the practitioner to provide an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, a diagnostic instrument that could be used as an initial screening tool to determine whether a skin lesion is potentially cancerous would have significant application. This need is especially acute in under-served communities without ready-access to skilled practitioners. It also could have widespread applicability at the point-of-care to reduce the strain on clinical dermatologists. We have recently demonstrated preliminary results showing the capability to discriminate between healthy skin and cancerous lesions using an infrared method inspired by human color vision. This technique relies on identifying variations in the infrared (IR) spectra of healthy and cancerous tissue; however, unlike standard IR-spectroscopic sensing methods it does not require the use of a spectrometer. Rather, this approach utilizes the response through three IR optical filters; similar to the method that human eye uses to discriminate between hundreds of thousands of colors in the natural world. Here, we report on calculated studies demonstrating the selectivity of this approach for various types of cancerous lesions including melanomas. We explore various potential optical filter sets to discriminate not only between healthy and cancerous tissue, but also to determine whether it may be possible to discriminate between various types of melanoma lesions using this bioinspired method. These results demonstrate that this approach has potential as a low-cost, widely deployed sensing method for detection of cancerous skin lesions, prior to examination by a trained specialist.
Is Statistical Process Control (SPC) Obsolete

The human ability to reason and comprehend the world requires the coherent activity of billions of neurons. At the same time, the biological existence is rooted in seamless interactions between thousands of genes and metabolites within the cells. These are complex systems which capture the fact that it is challenging to derive their collective behavior from the knowledge of the system's components. Given the critical role, complex systems play in daily life, their understanding, mathematical description, prediction, and eventually, control is one of the significant intellectual and scientific challenges of the 21st century. The advent of network science is a clear demonstration that science can live up to this challenge.
Inter-3' ends CpG islands are enriched in human chromosome 19p13.3 region: A genomic signature of metabolism-associated genes

Metabolic disease is a pandemic in modern times. However, understanding of the genomic basis associated with metabolism remains to be further elucidated. CpG islands are the genomic regions enriched in cytosine nucleotide (C) and guanine nucleotide (G), mostly located at promoters and contain the 5' end of the gene transcript. In this study, we utilize the UCSC Genome Browser to map the genomic locations and extract the CpG island tracks that are associated with the genes encoding functions in cell metabolism or metabolic disease. We identified a new genomic signature, namely inter-3' end CpG island (ITCI), associated with the genes encoding major metabolic regulators or enzymes in the human chromosome 19p13.3 region. In this region, the gene encoding a major metabolic regulator, CREB3L3, possesses a conserved CpG island in its 3' end. This unique ITCI genomic signature has been found in nine pairs of genes in the human chromosome 19p13.3 region. Many of these genes are associated with metabolism. In conclusion, we discovered a new type of genomic signature, ITCI, which is featured by a dozen of metabolic genes possessing conserved CpG islands in their 3' ends, in a specific human chromosome. Identification of ITCI signature and decoding of the ITCI-associated associated metabolic genes provide important insights into the genomic basis of metabolism or metabolic disease.
TLR2 senses the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein to produce inflammatory cytokines.

The innate immune response is critical for recognizing and controlling infections through the release of cytokines and chemokines. However, severe pathology during some infections, including SARS-CoV-2, is driven by hyperactive cytokine release, or a cytokine storm. The innate sensors that activate production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines during COVID-19 remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we show that both TLR2 and MYD88 expression were associated with COVID-19 disease severity. Mechanistically, TLR2 and Myd88 were required for β-coronavirus-induced inflammatory responses, and TLR2-dependent signaling induced the production of proinflammatory cytokines during coronavirus infection independent of viral entry. TLR2 sensed the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein as its ligand. In addition, blocking TLR2 signaling in vivo provided protection against the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, our study provides a critical understanding of the molecular mechanism of β-coronavirus sensing and inflammatory cytokine production, which opens new avenues for therapeutic strategies to counteract the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The innate sensors of SARS-CoV-2 are still being determined. Kanneganti and colleagues find that SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein is sensed by TLR2 and this drives pathogenic inflammatory cytokine production.
Shifting the paradigms for tumor suppression: lessons from the p53 field

The TP53 gene continues to hold distinction as the most frequently mutated gene in cancer. Since its discovery in 1979, hundreds of research groups have devoted their efforts toward understanding why this gene is so frequently selected against by tumors, with the hopes of harnessing this information toward the improved therapy of cancer. The result is that this protein has been meticulously analyzed in tumor and normal cells, resulting in over 100,000 publications, with an average of 5000 papers published on p53 every year for the past decade. The journey toward understanding p53 function has been anything but straightforward; in fact, the field is notable for the numerous times that established paradigms not only have been shifted, but in fact have been shattered or reversed. In this review, we will discuss the manuscripts, or series of manuscripts, that have most radically changed our thinking about how this tumor suppressor functions, and we will delve into the emerging challenges for the future in this important area of research. It is hoped that this review will serve as a useful historical reference for those interested in p53, and a useful lesson on the need to be flexible in the face of established paradigms.
Initial Report of Clinical Outcomes and Acute Toxicities Following Reirradiation of Primary Brain Tumors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Despite rapid advancements in targeted therapeutics and increasingly conformal radiation techniques, limited data exist regarding reirradiation of primary brain tumors. Herein, we provide an initial report of our institutional experience with reirradiation of primary brain tumors, hypothesizing that reirradiation can be delivered safely in select patients with acceptable oncologic outcomes and toxicities. MATERIALS/METHODS With IRB approval (828228), we retrospectively reviewed patients who received at least 2 courses of radiation for primary brain tumors at our institution between 2010-2020. Factors prompting study exclusion included: 1) diagnosis of brain metastases, 2) age < 18 years, and 3) follow-up < 2 months. Primary outcomes were intracranial progression free (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were acute toxicities, classified as ≤3 months from the start of radiation. Cohort characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics and survival estimates were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS We identified 45 patients (Median (IQR) age-at-reirradiation, 46 (35-38) years; Men, N = 29; Women, N = 16) who met study inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 7.6 (2.1-13.9) months. Gliomas were the most common diagnosis (N = 33), including 61% glioblastoma. Thirty-eight patients underwent initial surgical resection (GTR, 38%; STR, 47%). Median dose during the initial radiation course was 5940 Gy in 33 fractions. Median interval to reirradiation was 1.8 (0.8-3.1) years. Overall, 75% of patients received reirradiation with IMRT (median dose/fraction, 3500 cGy/10), while 25% patients received SRS (median dose/fraction, 2100 cGy/). Median intracranial PFS was 5.7 months and median OS was 9.6 months. Acute grade ≥3 toxicities occurred in 5 patients and included anorexia (N = 1), cognitive disturbance (N = 1), headache (N = 1), fatigue and aphasia (N = 1), and urinary incontinence (N = 1). CONCLUSION In this single-institution series, reirradiation of primary brain tumors was safe and effective with acceptable clinical outcomes and low rates of severe acute toxicities. Additional data on dosimetric details and late toxicities are forthcoming. AUTHOR DISCLOSURE J. Wei: None. P. Santos: None. R.A. Lustig: None. G. Kurtz: None. J.F. Dorsey: None. J.E. Shabason: None. M. Alonso-Basanta: Travel Expenses; Varian, IBA.
Severe La Crosse meningoencephalitis in children: report of two cases

La Crosse virus is an arbovirus of the California Serogroup (Family Bunyaviridae), transmitted by the “tree-hole mosquito,” Aedes triseriatus . La Crosse encephalitis cases occur annually from July to October. The majority of cases are asymptomatic, only a minority (
SU-E-J-03: Characterization of the Precision and Accuracy of a New, Preclinical, MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound System for Image-Guided Interventions in Small-Bore, High-Field Magnets

Purpose: MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has many potential and realized applications including controlled heating and localized drug delivery. The development of many of these applications requires extensive preclinical work, much of it in small animal models. The goal of this study is to characterize the spatial targeting accuracy and reproducibility of a preclinical high field MRgFUS system for thermal ablation and drug delivery applications. Methods: The RK300 (FUS Instruments, Toronto, Canada) is a motorized, 2-axis FUS positioning system suitable for small bore (72 mm), high-field MRI systems. The accuracy of the system was assessed in three ways. First, the precision of the system was assessed by sonicating regular grids of 5 mm squares on polystyrene plates and comparing the resulting focal dimples to the intended pattern, thereby assessing the reproducibility and precision of the motion control alone. Second, the targeting accuracy was assessed by imaging a polystyrene plate with randomly drilled holes and replicating the hole pattern by sonicating the observed hole locations on intact polystyrene plates and comparing the results. Third, the practicallyrealizable accuracy and precision were assessed by comparing the locations of transcranial, FUS-induced blood-brain-barrier disruption (BBBD) (observed through Gadolinium enhancement) to the intended targets in a retrospectivemore » analysis of animals sonicated for other experiments. Results: The evenly-spaced grids indicated that the precision was 0.11 +/− 0.05 mm. When image-guidance was included by targeting random locations, the accuracy was 0.5 +/− 0.2 mm. The effective accuracy in the four rodent brains assessed was 0.8 +/− 0.6 mm. In all cases, the error appeared normally distributed (p<0.05) in both orthogonal axes, though the left/right error was systematically greater than the superior/inferior error. Conclusions: The targeting accuracy of this device is sub-millimeter, suitable for many preclinical applications including focused drug delivery and thermal therapy. Funding support provided by Philips Healthcare.« less
Helicopter parents: an examination of the correlates of over-parenting of college students

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine antecedents and consequences of parental involvement and over-parenting as it relates to college students’ college experiences and workplace expectations. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was completed by 482 undergraduate college students; the survey contained questions about parenting behaviors, personality and demographic items, and workplace scenarios to which participants responded. Findings – Statistical analyses revealed that over-parenting was more common when college students lived at home and had fewer siblings. Additionally, over-parenting (but not parental involvement) was associated with lower student self-efficacy as well as maladaptive responses to workplace scenarios. Research limitations/implications – Data are correlational and were collected from students only. Future longitudinal research that includes the parent and employer perspective is needed. Originality/value – This is one of the first studies to empirically examine the antecedents and outcomes associated with over-parenting. Over-parenting is assessed in relation to college and workplace outcomes.
EVANGELICAL AND SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT FOR GEORGE W. BUSH IN THE 2000 AND 2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: EVIDENCE FROM OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS AND OHIO

Little scholarly research has been done to explain the effects of State Question 711 on the 2004 presidential election in Oklahoma. Recent research however has called address this issue in Ohio and Arkansas. However a debate still exists about the precise role of social conservatives in each state. To help address these questions, this paper ( 1) tries to determine whether this lack of effect is just limited to evangelical voters in one state or region by examining the states of Oklahoma, Ohio, and Arkansas, all of which had a similar issue on the ballot, and (2) attempts to differentiate between white evangelical voters and social conservatives. We find that Bush ran strongly in socially conservative areas in 2000, well before gay marriage became a major issue in any of these states. We also conclude that while there is certainly overlap between social conservatives and evangelicals in Oklahoma and the other two states, they acted as separate electoral groups in 2000 and 2004.
Physicochemical studies of fractionated bovine heparin: II. Viscosity as a function of ionic strength

Abstract Commercial bovine heparin was fractionated by fractional precipitation using ethanol and dioxane as precipitating solvents. The fractions varied in molecular weight from 4500 to 15,500. The anticoagulant activity of the fractions increased with molecular weight up to about 10,000. However, the higher molecular weight fractions showed no appreciable difference in activity, which may be interpreted as a manifestation of sulfur heterogeneity. Several fractions having anomalous chemical, physical, and biological characteristics were also recovered. These fractions appear to be either of variable chemical composition or contain bound contaminants. The viscosity of heparin shows typical polyelectrolyte behavior. In water, the exponent (α) of the Mark-Houwink equation is 1.59. Although the value is below the theoretical limit of 1.8 for fully extended chains, comparison of the contour length of heparin with the end-to-end distance estimated from aqueous intrinsic viscosity data indicates that heparin is fully extended in water and suggests that heparin is probably an unbranched linear chain. In 0.01, 0.10, and 0.5 m NaCl, the α values are 1.13, 1.00, and 0.90, respectively, the latter representing the upper limit of the random coil. The variation of α under the conditions studied indicates that heparin is a substantially flexible chain.
The open run-time environment (OpenRTE): a transparent multi-cluster environment for high-performance computing

The Open Run-Time Environment (OpenRTE)—a spin-off from the Open MPI project—was developed to support distributed high-performance computing applications operating in a heterogeneous environment. The system transparently provides support for interprocess communication, resource discovery and allocation, and process launch across a variety of platforms. In addition, users can launch their applications remotely from their desktop, disconnect from them, and reconnect at a later time to monitor progress. This paper will describe the capabilities of the OpenRTE system, describe its architecture, and discuss future directions for the project.
Occlusions, Discontinuities, and Epipolar Lines in Stereo

Binocular stereo is the process of obtaining depth information from a pair of left and right views of a scene. We present a new approach to compute the disparity map by solving a global optimization problem that models occlusions, discontinuities, and epipolar-line interactions.
Real Options: Strategic Technology Migration Options in Wireless Industry

The major US wireless operators already have announced their plans for evolution of their networks, but some uncertainties remain, such as emergence of new technologies (WiMAX and WLAN) and consolidation among operators (AT&T Mobile and Sprint Nextel). The paper proposes a real option based model for technology decisions and applies it to the US wireless industry as a case study. We also discuss what decisions are made, what the outcomes are, and how the options model is validated. The preliminary results show that the evolution of wireless network technologies between generations (intergenerations migration scenario) is desirable (a positive net option value), but not desirable (a negative net option value) within generations (intra-generation migration scenario).
A Survey for O-B Stars in the Puppis Window

In the 1950’s Haro (Haro and Luyten 1962) developed a survey method in which three images, roughly corresponding to U,B, and V, are exposed on one plate. The images are separated by several arc seconds by moving the telescope between exposures. Exposure times are chosen so an unreddened star of spectral type A0 to A5 shows three images roughly equal in size and density. The plates are examined by eye to find stars by their colors. A red star shows a strong central image flanked by two weaker images, while a blue star shows a weak central image flanked by two stronger ones. This method allows surveys for stars and galaxies with very red or very blue colors to be carried out with any telescope, and in particular with the Schmidt telescopes at Tonantzintla and at Palomar which were not equipped with objective prisms.
Morphine Impairs Host Innate Immune Response and Increases Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae Lung Infection

Chronic morphine use impairs host innate immune response and increases susceptibility to bacteria and virus. In this study a novel mouse model of chronic morphine treatment, followed by intranasal inoculation with Streptococcus pneumoniae, was used to investigate microbial events and host innate immune response. Our results show that chronic morphine treatment markedly delayed neutrophil recruitment and increased bacterial burden in the lung, spleen, and blood with a subsequent increase in mortality. In morphine-treated animals, before neutrophil recruitment, a significant decrease in TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, MIP-2, and KC was observed both in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and in lung tissue. In the early phase of infection, we found that accumulation of galectin-3 in the alveolar space of streptococcus-infected lungs was decreased after morphine treatment. The transcription factor NF-kappaB in lung resident cells was also inhibited after morphine treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that chronic morphine treatment in an S. pneumoniae infection model suppresses NF-kappaB gene transcription in lung resident cells, which, in turn, modulates the transcriptional regulation of MIP-2 and inflammatory cytokines. The decreased synthesis of MIP-2 and inflammatory cytokines coupled with the decreased release of galectin-3 result in reduced migration of neutrophils to the site of infection, thereby increasing susceptibility to S. pneumoniae infection after morphine treatment.
Vibrational spectra of cyclopropane derivatives. II. 1,1,2,2-Tetrabromocyclopropane and 1,1-dibromo-2,2-dichlorocyclopropane☆

Abstract The i.r. spectra of liquid 1,1,2,2-tetrabromocyclopropane and 1,1-dibromo-2,2-dichlorocyclopropane, both new compounds, have been measured from 4000-300 cm−1. Additionally, Raman spectra of the liquid and polycrystalline solid phases of both compounds have also been recorded. Based on the spectroscopic information, all 21 fundamental vibrations of the tetrabromo molecule have been confidently assigned while all but one of the normal modes of the dibromodichloro compound have been ascribed. For C3H2Br4, the spectra are consistent with the expected C2υ symmetry and excellent correlations between similar vibrational modes in 1,1,2,2-tetrabromo- and 1,1,2,2-tetrachlorocyclopropane are observed. For C3H2Br2Cl2, the Cs structure is confirmed from the spectroscopic data, and its vibrational frequencies are shown in many cases to be “averages” of the corresponding frequencies of the 1,1,2,2-tetrabromo-and 1,1,2,2-tetrachlorocyclopropane molecules. The effect of the atypical Cs symmetry of 1,1-dibromo-2,2-dichlorocyclopropane on the spectral data is discussed, cyclopropyl ring and CH2 group frequencies are discerned for both compounds, and frequency correlations for bromine vibrations in substituted cyclopropanes are deduced.
Validation of WindSat brightness temperatures and wind speed using SFMR

Collocation of WindSat brightness temperatures and retrieved windspeeds with Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) on board NOAA WP-3D Orion aircraft are used to analyze and validate WindSat data under extreme wind conditions. For this study, the data presented are from September 2003 during Hurricane Fabian (03 September 2003). Temporal and spatial variability within the SFMR data stream are discussed in relation to both the WindSat brightness temperatures and derived windspeeds.
Chemical, microbial and physical evaluation of commercial bottled waters in greater Houston area of Texas

Due to the increased demand and consumption of bottled water in the United States, there has been a growing concern about the quality of this product. Retail outlets sell local as well as imported bottled water to consumers. Three bottles for each of 35 different brands of bottled water were randomly collected from local grocery stores in the greater Houston area. Out of the 35 different brands, 16 were designated as spring water, 11 were purified and/or fortified tap water, 5 were carbonated water and 3 were distilled water. Chemical, microbial and physical properties of all samples were evaluated including pH, conductivity, bacteria counts, anion concentration, trace metal concentration, heavy metal and volatile organics concentration were determined in all samples. Inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was used for elemental analysis, gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GCECD) as well as gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) were used for analysis of volatile organics, ion chromatography (IC) and selective ion electrodes were used for the analysis of anions. Bacterial identification was performed using the Biolog software (Biolog, Inc., Hayward, Ca, USA). The results obtained were compared with guidelines of drinking water recommended by the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standard. The majority of the analyzed chemicals were below their respective drinking water standards for maximum admissible concentrations (MAC). Volatile organic chemicals were found to be below detection limits. Four of the 35 brands of the bottled water samples analyzed were found to be contaminated with bacteria.
A Generalized Anisotropic Hardening Rule Based on the Mroz Multi-Yield-Surface Model

In this paper, a generalized anisotropic hardening rule based on the Mroz multi-yield-surface model is derived. The evolution equation for the active yield surface is obtained by considering the continuous expansion of the active yield surface during the unloading/reloading process. The incremental constitutive relation based on the associated flow rule is then derived for a general yield function. As a special case, detailed incremental constitutive relations are derived for the Mises yield function. The closed-form solutions for one-dimensional stress-plastic strain curves are also derived and plotted for the Mises materials under cyclic loading conditions. The stress-plastic strain curves show closed hysteresis loops under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions and the Masing hypothesis is applicable. A user material subroutine based on the Mises yield function, the anisotropic hardening rule and the constitutive relations was then written and implemented into ABAQUS. Computations were conducted for a simple plane strain finite element model under uniaxial monotonic and cyclic loading conditions based on the anisotropic hardening rule and the isotropic and nonlinear kinematic hardening rules of ABAQUS. The results indicate that the plastic response of the material follows the intended input stress-strain data for the anisotropic hardening rule whereas the plastic response depends upon the input strain ranges of the stress-strain data for the nonlinear kinematic hardening rule.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Application of a single-instruction computer to dilation and erosion of gray-valued images

In this paper, the single instruction architecture is used to construct circuitry to perform dilation and erosion of gray valued images, where the gray values are discrete but limited only by the number of bits chosen for the binary encoding. In addition, methods for minimizing the number of cells needed, using basic digital techniques, are discussed. While others have constructed architectures for gray valued dilation and erosion, these are based on non- homogeneous circuits, and typically use Umbra transformations to handle the gray values, rather than binary encoding. Finally, it is shown that the half-adder elements used in the single instruction architecture can easily be replaced with uniform multiplexer cells in deference to the McCulloch-Pitts model of the neuron. This analogy between the single instruction architecture and the neuronal construction of the brain is intentional.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.