cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeted Backdoor Attacks on Deep Learning Systems Using Data Poisoning

Deep learning models have achieved high performance on many tasks, and thus have been applied to many security-critical scenarios. For example, deep learning-based face recognition systems have been used to authenticate users to access many security-sensitive applications like payment apps. Such usages of deep learning systems provide the adversaries with sufficient incentives to perform attacks against these systems for their adversarial purposes. In this work, we consider a new type of attacks, called backdoor attacks, where the attacker's goal is to create a backdoor into a learning-based authentication system, so that he can easily circumvent the system by leveraging the backdoor. Specifically, the adversary aims at creating backdoor instances, so that the victim learning system will be misled to classify the backdoor instances as a target label specified by the adversary. In particular, we study backdoor poisoning attacks, which achieve backdoor attacks using poisoning strategies. Different from all existing work, our studied poisoning strategies can apply under a very weak threat model: (1) the adversary has no knowledge of the model and the training set used by the victim system; (2) the attacker is allowed to inject only a small amount of poisoning samples; (3) the backdoor key is hard to notice even by human beings to achieve stealthiness. We conduct evaluation to demonstrate that a backdoor adversary can inject only around 50 poisoning samples, while achieving an attack success rate of above 90%. We are also the first work to show that a data poisoning attack can create physically implementable backdoors without touching the training process. Our work demonstrates that backdoor poisoning attacks pose real threats to a learning system, and thus highlights the importance of further investigation and proposing defense strategies against them.
Inhibition of Dpp8/9 Activates the Nlrp1b Inflammasome.

Summary Val-boroPro (PT-100, Talabostat) induces powerful anti-tumor immune responses in syngeneic cancer models, but its mechanism of action has not yet been established. Val-boroPro is a non-selective inhibitor of post-proline-cleaving serine proteases, and the inhibition of the highly related cytosolic serine proteases Dpp8 and Dpp9 (Dpp8/9) by Val-boroPro was recently demonstrated to trigger an immunostimulatory form of programmed cell death known as pyroptosis selectively in monocytes and macrophages. Here we show that Dpp8/9 inhibition activates the inflammasome sensor protein Nlrp1b, which in turn activates pro-caspase-1 to mediate pyroptosis. This work reveals a previously unrecognized mechanism for activating an innate immune pattern recognition receptor and suggests that Dpp8/9 serve as an intracellular checkpoint to restrain Nlrp1b and the innate immune system.
Facilitating technologies in minimally invasive aortic valve replacement: a propensity score analysis.

Objectives Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR) can be technically demanding and may lead to prolonged operative time. We evaluated the intraoperative and postoperative patient outcomes following implementation of 2 facilitating technologies (FT) in MIAVR: the Cor-Knot titanium fastener and Custodiol-histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution. Methods A total of 299 patients underwent MIAVR from 2008 to 2016; 172 (57.5%) patients were included in the FT group and 127 (42.5%) patients in the control group (No-FT). We performed a propensity score analysis, matching 94 pairs. Primary end points were cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times. Secondary end points were blood product utilization, postoperative ejection fraction, intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay, the in-hospital mortality rate and the incidence of stroke, sepsis, renal failure, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia and prolonged mechanical ventilator support. Results The 2 matched groups had similar baseline characteristics. Significant reductions in cardiopulmonary bypass (104 ± 22 vs 118 ± 30 min, P 0.49). Conclusions FT decreased intraoperative times, intraoperative red blood cell and cryoprecipitate transfusions, the need for prolonged mechanical ventilator support, renal failure and hospital length of stay. Using FT in MIAVR will allow for more reproducible, widespread adoption of minimally invasive approaches for aortic valve replacement.
Coastal Hurricane Inundation Prediction for Emergency Response Using Artificial Neural Networks

Emergency managers require both fast and accurate estimates of hurricane inundation to make critical decisions about evacuations, structure closures, and other emergency response activities before, during, and after events. Probability analyses require multiple simulations which, generally, cannot be performed with the physics-based models under the time constraints during emergency conditions. To obtain highly accurate results with a fast turnaround computation time a “surrogate” modeling approach is employed. This surrogate modeling approach uses an extensive database of storms and storm responses and applies “smart” pattern recognition tools such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) as well as interpolation techniques. The goal is to provide forecasts of hurricane inundation and waves with the accuracy of high-resolution, high-fidelity models but with very short execution time (minutes). The city of New Orleans as well as surrounding municipalities along the Gulf of Mexico coastal area encompasses the region used to demonstrate this approach. The results indicate that the developed surge prediction tool could be used to forecast both magnitude and duration to peak surge for multiple selected points in a few minutes of computational time once the storm parameters are provided. In this paper, only results of surge magnitude are presented.
The Trojan Horse of the Plant Kingdom.

The advent of host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) technology for the development of pathogen-resistant cultivars led to the discovery of cross-kingdom RNA interference. In a recent Science paper, Cai et al. (2018) discovered that plant extracellular vesicles act as Trojan horses to deliver small RNAs into fungi to fight infection.
Effect of Loading Rate on Dynamic Fracture Behavior of Glass and Carbon Fiber Modified Epoxy

The effect of loading rate on dynamic fracture behavior of particulate epoxy composites filled with milled micron size glass and carbon fibers (rod shaped filler) polymer composite is studied. The dynamic fracture experiments are carried out on pre-notched specimens. Three different dynamic strain-rates are achieved using different pulse shapers. An experimental setup comprising of a long-bar apparatus is used to deliver one-point edge impact loading to an unconstrained specimen. A controlled stress pulse is delivered to the specimen by launching a striker towards a long incident bar. Inertially driven crack propagation is seen in all cases. Using 2D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method used in conjunction with high-speed photography (~300,000 frames per second), in-plane displacement fields around the propagating crack tip are determined during the facture event. The stress intensity factor histories are extracted using the optical measurements.
Experimental Basis of Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty

Today, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), introduced by Dotter and Judkins in 1964 [1], is a well-established procedure to treat atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic vascular disease. Lately, the application of balloon catheters has also spread beyond the vascular system to treat stenoses and strictures in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. However, despite the successful and widespread use of balloon angioplasty, little was known about its mechanism in the vascular sys until recently.
Computer Modeling in Biotechnology

Computational modeling can be a useful partner in biotechnology, in particular, in nanodevice engineering. Such modeling guides development through nanoscale views of biomolecules and devices not available through experimental imaging methods. We illustrate the role of computational modeling, mainly of molecular dynamics, through four case studies: development of silicon bionanodevices for single molecule electrical recording, development of carbon nano-tube-biomolecular systems as in vivo sensors, development of lipoprotein nanodiscs for assays of single membrane proteins, and engineering of oxygen tolerance into the enzyme hydrogenase for photosynthetic hydrogen gas production. The four case studies show how molecular dynamics approaches were adapted to the specific technical uses through (i) multi-scale extensions, (ii) fast quantum chemical force field evaluation, (iii) coarse graining, and (iv) novel sampling methods. The adapted molecular dynamics simulations provided key information on device behavior and revealed development opportunities, arguing that the "computational microscope" is an indispensable nanoengineering tool.
Does Cooperation in the Laboratory Reflect the Operation of a Broad Trait

The Dictator Game, a face valid measure of altruism, and the Trust Game, a face valid measure of trust and trustworthiness, are among the most widely used behavioural measures in human cooperation ...
Approaching the true self: Promotion focus predicts the experience of authenticity

Abstract Research on subjective authenticity identifies several psychological antecedents that seem naturally tied to subjectively authentic experiences. Four studies (N = 525) tested the hypothesis that promotion focus (compared to prevention focus) represents another shared antecedent of subjective authenticity. Studies 1 and 2 examined correlations between regulatory focus and subjective authenticity in the context of goal-pursuit and interpersonal interactions. Studies 3 and 4 were within-subjects experiments designed to manipulate regulatory focus and examine the effects of promotion and prevention focus on subjective authenticity. Across all studies, we found that promotion focus (relative to prevention focus) was a robust predictor of subjective authenticity. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Dynamic characterization of geologic CO2 storage aquifers from monitoring data with ensemble Kalman filter

Abstract Monitoring the evolution of the CO2 plume during geologic storage is essential for conformance, verification, and risk assessment and mitigation. Monitoring data also play a critical role in characterizing the storage formation and improving the reliability of predictive models. We investigate the feasibility of using the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) data assimilation framework to estimate the hydraulic properties of storage formations and to predict the migration of CO2 plume from monitoring measurements, including transient pressure and saturation data at scattered wells and time-lapse seismic data (modeled as vertically-averaged saturation differences in time). To properly account for the uncertainty in the knowledge about saline aquifer properties, the initial ensemble of formation properties is generated based on uncertain statistical model (variogram) parameters. While integration of data from scattered wells provides limited improvement in reducing the uncertainty in the initial ensemble, assimilation of time-lapse seismic measurements (represented by vertically-averaged saturation differences in time) with the EnKF leads to more noticeable uncertainty reduction and reasonable estimates of the general connectivity trends in aquifer hydraulic properties. The estimation and sensitivity analysis results suggest important differences in filter performance during and after CO2 injection. This difference is attributed to the change in flow behavior and the dominant forces before and after injection (pressure versus gravitational forces, respectively). Additionally, when prior model realizations miss essential flow-related elements (e.g., fractures) in an aquifer, the filter provides out-of-range updates, which could be interpreted as a systematic problem in the filter design, in this case possible inconsistency in the prior models.
Neural Gonadal Steroid Receptors and Actions: Chemical Anatomy of the Ventromedial Hypothalamus in Relation to Sexual Differentiation and Sexual Behavior

Steroid hormones act upon the brain to reversibly alter structure and function of adult neural tissue and to influence behavior. They also act irreversibly during development to alter the structure and function of the neural substrate upon which these same hormones act reversibly in adult life. These principles are illustrated by feminine mating behavior in the rat, which is governed by estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) action on a small number of neurons within the ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei (VMN) of female rats. Males do not usually show feminine mating behavior, even after priming with E+P, unless they are castrated perinatally; and females given testosterone perinatally become refractory to E+P activation of feminine mating behavior in adulthood. The VMN displays two neurochemical features related to feminine mating behavior, namely, E induction of receptors for P and of receptors for the neuropeptide, oxytocin, and these are the subject of this article. Oxytocin receptors and oxytocin immunoreactivity are significantly induced by E priming prior to P exposure, and P treatment after E priming causes the oxytocin receptors to spread into the zone occupied by oxytocin immunoreactivity. These effects appear to be significant because oxytocin is able to increase feminine mating behavior in rats primed with E+P. Progestin receptor induction is higher in female VMN than in male VMN, whereas oxytocin receptor is the same in males and females. This finding is discussed in terms of other evidence regarding sex differences in the VMN.
Aggregate Interactome Based on Protein Cross-linking Interfaces Predicts Drug Targets to Limit Aggregation in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Summary Diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases hinges on “seed” proteins detected in disease-specific aggregates. These inclusions contain diverse constituents, adhering through aberrant interactions that our prior data indicate are nonrandom. To define preferential protein-protein contacts mediating aggregate coalescence, we created click-chemistry reagents that cross-link neighboring proteins within human, APPSw-driven, neuroblastoma-cell aggregates. These reagents incorporate a biotinyl group to efficiently recover linked tryptic-peptide pairs. Mass-spectroscopy outputs were screened for all possible peptide pairs in the aggregate proteome. These empirical linkages, ranked by abundance, implicate a protein-adherence network termed the “aggregate contactome.” Critical hubs and hub-hub interactions were assessed by RNAi-mediated rescue of chemotaxis in aging nematodes, and aggregation-driving properties were inferred by multivariate regression and neural-network approaches. Aspirin, while disrupting aggregation, greatly simplified the aggregate contactome. This approach, and the dynamic model of aggregate accrual it implies, reveals the architecture of insoluble-aggregate networks and may reveal targets susceptible to interventions to ameliorate protein-aggregation diseases.
A yeast display immunoprecipitation screen for targeted discovery of antibodies against membrane protein complexes

Yeast display immunoprecipitation is a combinatorial library screening platform for the discovery and engineering of antibodies against membrane proteins using detergent-solubilized membrane fractions or cell lysates as antigen sources. Here, we present the extension of this method for the screening of antibodies that bind to membrane protein complexes, enabling discovery of antibodies that target antigens involved in a functional protein-protein interaction of interest. For this proof-of-concept study, we focused on the receptor-mediated endocytosis machinery at the blood-brain barrier, and adaptin 2 (AP-2) was chosen as the functional interaction hub. The goal of this study was to identify antibodies that bound to blood-brain barrier (BBB) membrane protein complexes containing AP-2. Screening of a nonimmune yeast display antibody library was carried out using detergent-solubilized BBB plasma membranes as an antigen pool, and antibodies that could interact with protein complexes containing AP-2 were identified. Downstream characterization of isolated antibodies confirmed targeting of proteins known to play important roles in membrane trafficking. This functional yeast display immunoprecipitation screen may be applied to other systems where antibodies against other functional classes of protein complexes are sought.
The consistency of standard cosmology and the BATSE number versus brightness relation

The integrated number-peak-flux relation measured by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory is compared with several standard cosmological distributions for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models were used along with the assumption that the bursts are standard candles and have no number or luminosity evolution. For a given Omega spectral shape, we used a free parameter, essentially the comoving number density of bursts, to generate a best fit between the cosmology and the measured relation. Our results are shown for a subsample of the first 260 GRBs recorded by BATSE. We find acceptable fits between simple cosmological models and the brightness distribution data, as determined by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov one-distribution statistical test. One cannot distinguish a single best cosmological model from the goodness of the fits. The best fit implies that BATSE GRBs are complete out to a redshift of about unity. However, significantly higher and lower redshifts, by as much as a factor of 2, are possible for other marginally acceptable fits.
Contraction properties of shrinkage priors in logistic regression

Abstract Bayesian shrinkage priors have received a lot of attention recently because of their efficiency in computation and accuracy in estimation and variable selection. In this paper, we study the contraction properties of shrinkage priors in a logistic regression model where the number of covariates is high. For a shrinkage prior distribution that is heavy-tailed and concentrated around zero with high probability such as the horseshoe prior, the Dirichlet–Laplace prior, and the normal-gamma prior with appropriate choices of hyper-parameters, estimates of the logistic regression coefficient are shown to asymptotically concentrate around the true sparse vector in the L 2 -sense. It is shown that the proposed contraction rate is comparable with the point mass prior that is studied in Atchade (2017). The simulation study under the logistic regression model verifies the theoretical results by showing that the horseshoe prior and the Dirichlet–Laplace prior perform like the point mass prior for the estimation, variable selection and prediction, and yield much better results than Bayesian lasso and the non-informative normal prior.
3-D Printed Frequency-Scanning Antenna with Suppressed Open-Stopband

We present a slot array frequency scanning antenna (FSA) designed and fabricated at X-band for lowcost symmetrical beam scanning applications. The center frequency is at 9.6 GHz, corresponding to the broadside angle. The main challenge in frequency scanning antennas is the open-stopband occurs at the center frequency. Here, we completely mitigate this drawback through adding capacitive and inductive posts inside the waveguide feed. The antenna is 3-D printed and conductively coated. The measured antenna bandwidth is 8.1-11 GHz. The antenna scans from -15◦ to 15◦ as the frequency is scanned from 9 to 10.5 GHz.
A robust dynamic screening system by estimation of the longitudinal data distribution

To online monitor the longitudinal performance of processes and give early signals to processes with irregular patterns, a series of dynamic screening systems (DySS) have been proposed in the liter...
Multi-Objective Programming and the Maximal Effectiveness Principle

This chapter describes multi-objective programming and the maximal effectiveness principle. Researchers at the Far East Scientific Center worked extensively on one particular multi-objective optimization method, alternatively called the principle of maximal effectiveness and the principle of guaranteed results. V. V. Khomenyuk of the Far East Scientific Center's Institute of Automation and Control appears to have been the originator of the method. In essence, the method maximizes the minimum attainment by any objective of its respective ideal value by making use of the natural normalization. The i th objective's relative attainment of its ideal value is denoted by λ i . However, Khomenyuk seems to overlook the possibility that the worst value at a non-inferior point would really afford a better sense of a given objective's relative attainment of its ideal value. Khomenyuk easily proves that the λ-problem is equivalent to the maximin problem from game theory. Having proven this equivalence, he notes, however, that the λ-problem formulation, being an extremal optimization problem, may in fact be more convenient or widely applicable than the maximin formulation.
Board 3.0: What the Private-Equity Governance Model Can Offer Public Companies∗

The authors view board structures as an adaptive institution that responds to the key challenges faced by public companies: helping management solve the problems of production and organization of large‐scale enterprise; limiting managerial agency costs; serving as a delegated monitor of the firm's compliance obligations; and responding to the governance environment of changing shareholder ownership patterns. U.S. company board structures are shown to have evolved over time, often through discontinuous lurches, as particular functions have waxed and waned in importance. This article is part of a larger project that traces two iterations of the public company board, what the authors call Board 1.0 (the “advisory board”) and Board 2.0 (the “monitoring board”). The authors argue in particular that Board 2.0, as embedded in both current practice and regulation, now fails the functional fit test for many companies. First, it does not scale to match the dramatic increase in the size and complexity of many modern public corporations. Second, at a time of reconcentrated ownership achieved through institutional investors and increased activism, it does not have the expertise and commitment needed to resolve the tension between managerial or market myopia, or “short‐termism,” and managerial “hyperopia.” This article holds out an optional alternative, Board 3.0, which would bring to the public company board some strategies used by private equity firms for their portfolio company boards. Such “Portco” boards consist of directors who are “thickly informed,” “heavily resourced,” and “intensely interested.” Bringing such “empowered directors” to public company boards could facilitate evolution of the public company board model in response to dramatic changes in the corporate business environment. The authors also suggest possible routes for implementing Board 3.0, including the enlisting of PE firms as “relational investors” that would have both capacity and incentives to engineer changes in board structure.
Satisfaction, utilization, and feasibility of a telehealth intervention for in-home dementia care support: A mixed methods study.

BackgroundTechnology can enhance support for families caring for persons living with dementia but must be acceptable to be adopted. The FamTechCare clinical trial engaged caregivers in video record...
Social Insecurity: The Case for Totalization with India

Under current U.S.-India policy, expatriate workers pay into both countries’ social security systems, but are ineligible for benefits from the system in their nation of employment. This dual taxation leads to economic inefficiency and harms both Indian and American citizens working overseas. This short commentary argues that concluding a social security totalization agreement between the United States and India would benefit both countries' businesses, workers, and economies.
Reducing the Complexity of Fault-Tolerant System Amenable to Approximate Computing

Many applications tolerate errors at their outputs. Some examples include image and digital signal processing applications. At the same time these applications are often used in systems that require high degrees of fault-tolerance. Examples include autonomous driving applications. Thus, in this work we propose a method to reduce the complexity of hardware redundant systems that are amenable to approximate computing such that soft errors outside a maximum specified threshold are detected. This leads to the detection of catastrophic errors, while allowing the system to continue functioning when smaller single event upsets (SEU) occur. The proposed method reduces the complexity of the duplicated module by applying a set of approximations in such a way that the output is guaranteed to operate within a given error range with the exact module. Experimental results show that the proposed approach works well and that area saving between 30% and 19% can be achieved on average for different error ranges compared to the traditional exact duplication with compare approaches.
Sexual and Gender Minority Inclusivity in Bystander Intervention Programs to Prevent Violence on College Campuses: A Critical Review.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are at increased risk for experiencing sexual violence. Bystander intervention training programs are a first-line prevention recommendation for reducing...
“Make It Right”: Why #BlackLivesMatter(s) to K-pop, BTS, and BTS ARMYs

K-pop (Korean Pop Music) fans and artists have become visible political actors in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement in the US in 2020. We investigate why K-pop fans and musicians mobilized to support BLM and, more generally, minority rights in the US by focusing on BTS fans, known as ARMY. We argue that the relationship between K-pop fans and artists is not unilateral, but mutual. Diverse voices and power differentials among K-pop fans exist, but were unified during this time. For example, the Black ARMY not only reminded other fans of racism within the fandom, but also asked BTS and their fellow ARMYs to support BLM. By considering K-pop as a battlefield of consent and resistance, we examine how K-pop and its fandoms has the potential for affecting local and national politics outside of South Korea.
Circuit and system design for robotic flying vehicles

Flying drones are revolutionizing many areas of search-and-rescue, mobile sensing, security monitoring, and beyond. This talk will focus on circuits and system design challenges for SoCs intended for autonomous robotic flying vehicles. The performance, energy, and form-factor requirements of flying robots leads to many unique digital and mixed-signal design challenges. The talk will draw from experiences from the design of a custom SoC for the Harvard Robobees Project (http://robobees.seas.harvard.edu), which has the goal of developing a swarm of autonomous, life-sized robotic insects.
Language of Thought: The Connectionist Contribution

Fodor and Pylyshyn‘s critique of connectionism has posed a challenge to connectionists: Adequately explain such nomological regularities as systematicity and productivity without postulating a "language of thought" (LOT). Some connectionists like Smolensky took the challenge very seriously, and attempted to meet it by developing models that were supposed to be non-classical. At the core of these attempts lies the claim that connectionist models can provide a representational system with a combinatorial syntax and processes sensitive to syntactic structure. They are not implementation models because, it is claimed, the way they obtain syntax and structure sensitivity is not "concatenative," hence "radically different" from the way classicists handle them. In this paper, I offer an analysis of what it is to physically satisfy/realize a formal system. In this context, I examine the minimal truth-conditions of LOT Hypothesis. From my analysis it will follow that concatenative realization of formal systems is irrelevant to LOTH since the very notion of LOT is indifferent to such an implementation level issue as concatenation. I will conclude that to the extent to which they can explain the law-like cognitive regularities, a certain class of connectionist models proposed as radical alternatives to the classical LOT paradigm will in fact turn out to be LOT models, even though new and potentially very exciting ones.
The Invariance of Latent and Observed Linking Functions in the Presence of Multiple Latent Test‐Taker Dimensions

This study examines linking relationships among latent test scores and how these latent linking relationships relate to observed-score linkings. Equations are used to describe the effects of correlation between underlying latent dimensions and the similarity or dissimilarity of test composition on linking functions among latent test scores. These equations describing relationships among latent test scores are used to model the results obtained from a previous simulation study, which illustrated that if the two tests have parallel structure then the linking relationship between their observed scores is subpopulation invariant regardless of the correlations between the underlying latent dimensions. The equations also model the effect that the degree of correlation between the latent dimensions has on equatability as the structure departs from parallelism.
Photodetection in the visible and near-infrared with a silicon pyramidal microdischarge device

In this paper, the characterization of microdischarge based photodetectors, fabricated in p-type silicon cut on the (100) plane was reported. The results show the photosensitivities of four different devices to changes in incident optical power from a He-Ne laser operating at 633 nm. The interesting comparison shows that the response of the microdischarge based photodetector is an order of magnitude larger than that for the avalanche photodiode (APD).
Blending Box Experiments, Build 1.0

This article - which includes a full analysis of the Buddhist Monk riddle, including technical proofs - concerns a central human mental ability: the ability to blend two different conceptual arrays so as to produce an emergent outcome in the blend. The centrality of this mental operation is widely and robustly confirmed by the empirical data. But as far as I have found, there are no tests proposed in the literature to detect the presence or to measure the extent of this ability across the human lifespan (development, maturity, senescence), or under deficit (post-stroke or trauma), or across members of other species (mammalian, aviary). This working paper sketches some of the difficulties encountered in trying to devise such a test. These difficulties have not yet been surmounted. No completely worthy test has yet been found.
Oncidium zelenkoanum (Orchidaceae), an unusual new species from Panama

A new species, Oncidium zelenkoanum, is described from western Panama. It appears to be an isolated species, without known close relatives in Central America. The column wings have subulate, distal lobules that resemble the “awns” or “cirrhi” of some species of Odontoglossum.
Soft X-Ray Microscopy of Biological Specimens

X-ray photons in the 1–10 nm wavelength range present several favorable characteristics for the microscopy of biological specimens. These include total reaction cross sections that are appropriate for the examination of whole organelles or in some cases whole cells; the presence of numerous absorption edges (including those of low-Z elements), providing a variety of opportunities for developing contrast even in unstained and undried specimens; scattering cross sections that are small compared with absorption, leading to an effective absence of multiple scattering; and availability of the photons in adequate quantities from sources of synchrotron radiation. Coupled with these characteristics, however, are two factors that complicate the process of image formation: a wavelength of the same order of size as the resolution desired; and a current shortage of technology in optics, detectors, etc., for the radiation involved. At present it is not clear how these issues will ultimately be resolved. We attempt here to present a report on the current status of the subject.*
Low-cost checkpointing with mutable checkpoints in mobile computing systems

Mobile computing raises many new issues, such as lack of stable storage, low bandwidth of wireless channel, high mobility, and limited battery life. These new issues make traditional checkpointing algorithms unsuitable. We introduce the concept of mutable checkpoint, which is neither a tentative checkpoint nor a permanent checkpoint. Mutable checkpoints can be saved anywhere; e.g., the memory or local disk of MHs. In this way, taking a mutable checkpoint avoids the overhead of transferring a large amount of data to the stable storage in MSS over the wireless network. Based on mutable checkpoints, our non-blocking algorithm avoids the avalanche effect, minimizes the number of synchronization messages and forces only a minimum number of processes to take their checkpoints on the stable storage.
The Way Things Were

times standing in a being earlier than relation aren’t brute or fundamental; rather, it’s that such facts aren’t what a proper explanation of the truth of the proposition that Arnold was pale points to. Even if facts about abstract times standing in a being earlier than relation were brute, we don’t think that they would be more fundamental 14 See Bourne 2006: 19–20, Crisp 2007. 34 DAVID SANSON AND BEN CAPLAN than facts about the properties that Arnold once instantiated; at best, we think, such facts would be equally fundamental: neither set of facts would obtain in virtue of the other. And, we think, a proper explanation of the truth of the proposition that Arnold was pale would still point to facts about properties he once instantiated, not to facts about abstract times standing in a being earlier than relation.
Obtaining generic parts from range data using a multiview representation

A method is proposed for obtaining a generic-part based 3-D object representation from range images. A small number of 3-D shape types based on geons are the basic part primitives. Surface segmentation of the range image is performed based on the method of Hoffman and Jain. The surfaces are classified into five types based on their principal curvatures, and adjacent surfaces belonging to different parts are separated by examining the surface types and the angle between them, and referring to the characteristic views stored in a small catalog of views of the part primitives. Finally, each part is identified by drawing inferences from surface types, as well as from the distribution of the angles between the part's principal axis and the normals on the side surfaces of that part.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Attitudes toward the ethical use of hypnosis: an interdisciplinary study.

Abstract Although the ethical use of hypnosis is a topic of utmost importance, there are few studies assessing professional hypnosis users' views regarding questions of hypnosis ethics. This survey of 121 members of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) investigated respondents' attitudes toward a number of timely issues of ethics and standards of practice. This study also assessed attitudinal differences held by physicians, dentists, and psychologists. This analysis revealed a number of significant differences between groups. Supplemental analysis by source of primary hypnosis training revealed few differences.
The Limitations of Heuristics for Political Elites

Despite the extensive literature on citizens' use of cognitive heuristics in political settings, far less is known about how political elites use these shortcuts. Legislative elites benefit from the efficiency of the accessibility heuristic, but their judgments can also be flawed if accessible information is incomplete or unrepresentative. Using personal interviews and a quasi-experimental design, this paper examines the use of the accessibility heuristic by professional legislative staff when assessing the importance of natural resources issues to their constituents. Staff members recall only a small subset of the relevant constituents in the district, and this subset is biased in favor of active and resource-rich constituents over other, equally relevant constituents. This paper provides a new application of cognitive psychology to political elites and addresses important normative questions about the importance of information processing for political representation. By drawing on the psychology literature on heuristics, this paper identifies the cognitive mechanisms of congressional representation and provides new evidence of old biases.
Nonlinear Destabilization of Tearing Modes

We have studied the effect of a background of many modes on the growth of a tearing mode. A third-order calculation with random-phase approximation is presented for a static background. In that case, the tearing mode is further destabilized (stabilized) if the ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ values of the nonlinearly driven modes are positive (negative). This explains the destabilization of the ($m=3$; $n=2$) tearing mode observed in nonlinear three-dimensional calculations.
Verruca plana as a complication of CO2 laser treatment: A case report

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment is a common therapeutic modality for many dermatologic conditions. It uses a high energy, infrared beam of light, which selectively targets water-containing tissue resulting in controlled ablative resurfacing. This modality, however, can manifest significant cosmetic side effects. Here we report a case of verruca plana manifesting as a response to CO2 laser treatment. A 74-year-old female with recent Mohs surgery for a basal cell carcinoma, presented for full-face-fractionated CO2 treatment to address her surgical scars in addition to treating her mild diffuse actinic damage. Six weeks post treatment, the patient developed erythematous thin plaques over the areas that had been treated. Histology was consistent with verruca plana. Lesions showed mild improvement with topical tretinoin. Verruca plana are benign and typically self-limited; however, they can present a significant cosmetic burden to patients and are an important complication to consider when perform...
Fourth John V. Breakwell memorial lecture the use of earth-return trajectories for missions to comets

Abstract The concept of using Earth-return trajectories in connection with missions to comets was originally proposed in 1972. Papers published in the 1970's and 1980's showed that by using multiple Earth-to-Earth transfers, it was possible to construct a trajectory that would encounter several comets. This technique was used for the first time by ESA's Giotto spacecraft. Following its encounter with Halley's comet in March 1986, Giotto used a single Earth gravity-assist maneuver to intercept comet Grigg-Skjellerup in July 1992. Japan's Sakigake spacecraft tried to use Earth gravity-assist maneuvers to reach comet Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova in 1996, but was not successful. Earth-return trajectories are essential elements of two Discovery-class missions to comets; Stardust, and the Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR). The Stardust mission will be launched in February 1999, and will return dust samples collected from comet Wild-2 to the Earth in 2006. CONTOUR is scheduled for a launch in June 2002, and will use six Earth gravity-assist maneuvers to carry out three comet encounters: Encke in 2003; Schwassmann-Wachmann-3 in 2006; and d'Arrest in 2008. An extended-mission scenario would allow CONTOUR to accomplish two additional encounters: Tempel-2 in 2015, and Encke for a second time in 2023.
A maximum likelihood approach for non-Gaussian stochastic volatility models

A maximum likelihood approach for the analysis of stochastic volatility models is developed. The method uses a recursive numerical integration procedure that directly calculates the marginal likelihood. Only conventional integration techniques are used, making this approach both flexible and simple. Experimentation shows that the method matches the performance of the best estimation tools currently in use. New stochastic volatility models are introduced and estimated. The model that best fits recent stock-index data is characterized by a highly non-Gaussian stochastic volatility innovation distribution. This model dominates a model that includes an autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic effect in the stochastic volatility process and a model that includes a stochastic volatility effect in the conditional mean.
Response of Eastern Gamagrass Seed to Gibberellic Acid Buffered below Its pKa

Eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.] seed are usually dormant, often causing seedling establishment difficulties. This study was conducted to assess the effect of gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) buffered below its pKa (3.8) on seed germination of eastern gamagrass. In one experiment, concentrations of 0.001-, 0.005-, and 0.01 M buffered GA 3 solutions were applied to seed with cupules removed from six commercial seed lots produced in three different years. After 28 d of germination, GAS 3 application increased total seed germination by 25 to 47 percentage points. The three GA 3 concentrations were equally effective in promoting germination in all seed lots except one, where 0.001 M GA 3 was more effective than 0.01 M GA 3 . The germination rate was accelerated by GA3 application during the germination process but did not result in germination of all the viable seeds. An average 10% of the viable caryopses remained dormant at the end of the germination test. A second experiment evaluated the germination of intact cupules after treatment for 24 or 48 h in distilled water, 0.001 M GA 3 solution, buffer solution, or buffered 0.001 M GA3 solution. Buffered GA3 was not effective at enhancing germination of eastern gamagrass seed when cupules were left intact. These results suggest that there may be multiple dormancy mechanisms in eastern gamagrass. At least one mechanism involves the caryopsis and is affected by GA 3 application. Furthermore, the cupule-mediated dormancy mechanism(s) and the caryopsis-ulediated mechanism(s) must be addressed to obtain complete germination of dormant seed.
Spaceflight-qualified tunable cryogenic infrared Fabry-Perot etalon

Though a Phase I and II NASA SBIR initiative Michigan Aerospace Corp. has demonstrated a spaceflight qualified, tunable infrared Fabry Perot etalon. The design included use of single crystal ferroelectric actuators for tuning the etalon gap. The operational wavelength range of this etalon was designed for 10-14μm and utilized Zinc-Selenide for the plate substrate with a plate reflectivity of 0.8. At a temperature of 193 K and 0.4 milli-torr, the etalon achieved a finesse of 11.8, a bandpass of 1.23 nm and had a free-spectral range of 14.2 nm at the test wavelength of 10.013 μm. At this temperature, the etalon was tunable over ~8.5 free-spectral ranges, or 45 μm in gap spacing. Testing concluded that the etalon will retain 57% of its total dynamic range at a temperature of 75 K compared to its dynamic range at room temperature. The design was qualified for a Delta-II launch vehicle vibration specification.
Oral health need and access to dental services: evidence from the National Survey of Children's Health, 2007.

This study examines associations between parents’ report of their children’s oral health and receipt of a dental visit for preventive care. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of oral health status and receipt of a preventive dental visit among US children and youth, ages 1–17 years, using data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health (n = 86,764). Survey-weighted logistic regression was used to estimate associations between perceived oral health status and receipt of a preventive dental health visit in the prior 12 months. Overall, 78 % of children and youth received at least one preventive dental health visit in the prior year. Among the youngest children, lower oral health status was associated with higher odds of receiving a preventive dental visit; among older children, lower oral health status was associated with lower odds of receiving a dental visit for preventive care. Use of preventive dental health care is below national target goals. Younger children in worse oral health are more likely, and older youth less likely, to receive preventive dental care. Public health efforts to educate parents to seek early and ongoing preventive oral health care, rather than services in response to problems, may yield oral health benefits later in childhood and over the life course.
Islet amyloid: From fundamental biophysics to mechanisms of cytotoxicity

Pancreatic islet amyloid is a characteristic feature of type 2 diabetes. The major protein component of islet amyloid is the polypeptide hormone known as islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP, or amylin). IAPP is stored with insulin in the β-cell secretory granules and is released in response to the stimuli that lead to insulin secretion. IAPP is normally soluble and is natively unfolded in its monomeric state, but forms islet amyloid in type 2 diabetes. Islet amyloid is not the cause of type 2 diabetes, but it leads to β-cell dysfunction and cell death, and contributes to the failure of islet cell transplantation. The mechanism of IAPP amyloid formation is not understood and the mechanisms of cytotoxicity are not fully defined.
Miniature optofluidic darkfield microscope for biosensing

Darkfield microscopy is an extremely sensitive imaging and sensing modality due to its very low background. Metal nanoparticles as small as 20nm can been detected by darkfield imaging setups. However, traditional darkfield microscopes are bulky and require special illumination condensers, which limits their application in point-of-care biosensing. In this paper, we present a miniaturized darkfield microscope based on liquid metallic on-chip condensers and imaging lenses. This microscope is fully compatible with PDMS microfluidics and can be attached to a smartphone camera to build a complete handheld biosensing system with very high sensitivity and low cost.