cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of blood viscosity in the development and progression of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Although a great deal of attention has been directed to the risk factors for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, relatively little research has been focused on the role of the circulating blood itself. OBJECTIVES To review the possible role of increased plasma viscosity and decreased cellular deformability in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. SUMMARY Increased plasma viscosity or decreased erythrocyte deformability may reduce blood flow in areas where blood flow is already low, such as at arterial branch points and bifurcations as well as in advanced coronary artery narrowing. Further, these factors may favor the development and progression of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease through direct mechanical effects on either the vascular endothelium or existing atheromatous plaques. Beyond their potential direct effects, each may represent a common link between recognized risk factors and the resulting disease process. CONCLUSIONS Accumulating evidence suggests that increased blood viscosity is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic heart disease and its complications.
Electrical precipitation of egg-white inhibitor of influenza virus hemagglutination.

SummaryPrecipitation occurs in solutions of egg-white or purified egg-white inhibitor of virus hemagglutination submitted to an electric field. The precipitate includes a great part of the inhibitor of the preparations in a state substantially purer than that of the starting material. This result suggests application of the phenomenon to the final purification of the inhibitor.
Polyurethanes from Solvent-Free Vegetable Oil-Based Polyols

The catalytic effects of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and pyridine on the ring-opening reaction between epoxidized soybean oil and fatty acids from castor oil in a solvent free process were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and were analyzed using both model-free and model-fitting methods. The resulting biopolyols from this reaction with epoxidized soybean oil, and similarly prepared polyols from epoxidized linseed oil, were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. Polyurethane films were prepared by step-growth polymerization of the biopolyols with isophorone diisocyanate and were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and tensile tests. Polyurethanes from polyols manufactured with DBU as catalyst exhibited higher glass transition temperatures, tensile strength, and Young’s modulus than polyurethanes from polyols manufactured using a catalyst-free method...
Automatic Computing Methods for Special Functions. Part IV. Complex Error Function, Fresnel Integrals, and Other Related Functions.

Accurate, efficient, automatic methods for computing the complex error function to any precision are detailed and implemented in an American Standard FORTRAN subroutine. A six significant figure table of erfc z, ell erfc z, and eEl erfc( -z) is included for z in polar coordinate form with the modulus of z ranging from 0 to 9. The argand diagram is given for erf z.
Systematically evaluating read-across prediction and performance using a local validity approach characterized by chemical structure and bioactivity information.

Read-across is a popular data gap filling technique within category and analogue approaches for regulatory purposes. Acceptance of read-across remains an ongoing challenge with several efforts underway for identifying and addressing uncertainties. Here we demonstrate an algorithmic, automated approach to evaluate the utility of using in vitro bioactivity data ("bioactivity descriptors", from EPA's ToxCast program) in conjunction with chemical descriptor information to derive local validity domains (specific sets of nearest neighbors) to facilitate read-across for up to ten in vivo repeated dose toxicity study types. Over 3239 different chemical structure descriptors were generated for a set of 1778 chemicals and supplemented with the outcomes from 821 in vitro assays. The read-across prediction of toxicity for 600 chemicals with in vivo data was based on the similarity weighted endpoint outcomes of its nearest neighbors. The approach enabled a performance baseline for read-across predictions of specific study outcomes to be established. Bioactivity descriptors were often found to be more predictive of in vivo toxicity outcomes than chemical descriptors or a combination of both. This generalized read-across (GenRA) forms a first step in systemizing read-across predictions and serves as a useful component of a screening level hazard assessment for new untested chemicals.
Bilateral Same Session Ureteroscopy

During a period of 4 years we performed 15 bilateral 1-session ureteroscopic examinations in 13 patients. Indications included bilateral ureteral and/or renal calculi, unexplained hydronephrosis, hematuria or filling defects, and bilateral ureteral stent placement in situations when conventional retrograde methods of stent placement failed. Balloon or hydraulic intramural ureteral dilation was performed in all cases before rigid or flexible endoscopy. There were no major short-term or long-term complications resulting from bilateral 1-session ureteroscopy.
Toward a new Therapeutic Strategy in the Treatment of Timothy Syndrome

Timothy Syndrome (TS) is a multisystem disorder, featuring neurological impairment and life-threatening arrhythmias which are often fatal in early childhood. The basis of TS is a single point mutation (either G406R or G402S) within the CaV1.2 L-type Ca2+ channel. These mutations can occur in either of the mutually exclusive exons 8 or 8a, such that the expression level of each exon contributes significantly to the overall severity of the disease. We have modeled this dependence on gene dosage in an established adult ventricular myocyte model, and found that there is a non-linear dependence of the action potential duration on the fraction of TS channels, resulting in a threshold for arrhythmogenesis. To explore this experimentally at the cell-network level, we variably expressed TS channels in cultured adult guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. Indeed, conservative expression of TS channels yielded graded action-potential prolongation, but a small further increase led to significant arrhythmia. Such non-linear dependence on channel expression imparts an important principle for therapeutics: a small shift in the complement of mutant versus wild type channels may impart a significant clinical improvement. A possible therapeutic strategy would therefore employ methods to alter the splice expression pattern of the mutually exclusive exons 8 and 8a. Here, we demonstrate just such a shift in the expression pattern of exons 8 versus 8a in cultured myocytes. This represents an exciting new treatment strategy, where suppression of the TS containing exon is accompanied by a corresponding increase in non-TS channels. The potential benefits for TS patients are significant and may serve as a model system for developing a new therapeutic strategy for any channelopathy in which the mutation occurs within a mutually exclusive exon.
Processing and Performance Evaluation of Nanoclay Infused EPON 828

The field of polymer-clay nanocomposites has attracted considerable attention as a method of enhancing polymer properties and extending their utility. In this research, different nanocomposites were manufactured by modifying the EPON828 resin system through the infusion of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% by weight of clay (Nanocor® I.30ZE) nanoparticles. Mechanical properties such as flexural, compressive, tensile and high strain rate strengths and moduli of the polymer matrix were improved in nano-structured materials, owing to their unique phase morphology and improved interfacial interactions. A dynamic mechanical analysis was performed to monitor changes in the thermal properties of the nanocomposite. Nanoclay reinforced epoxy showed consistent improvement in all the mechanical as well as thermomechanical properties. High strain rate compressive modulus showed a progressive improvement over the neat values for all the strain rates used. SEM micrographs of the fracture surfaces for both tensile and flexural samples showed regular and continuous patterns of failure for the neat samples. The nanophased samples on the other hand showed multiple irregular failure surfaces which increased in number with nanoclay loading.
Small Wheeled Autonomous Mobile Soccer Robot

This paper presents the main mechanical and electrical characteristics of autonomous mobile robots with differential drive used in robot soccer competitions. The robots are endowed with embedded electronics powered by rechargeable batteries, wireless communication system, and the kick mechanism. Automatic kick mechanism is able to propel the ball with more speed, increasing the chance to score goals during the match. Several experiments that show the speed of the robot as a function of applied voltage in motors and also the speed of the ball as a function of the applied voltage kick mechanism will be presented, was also measured traction force to the robot as a function of applied voltage on the wheel motors, all of these experiments is to raise the characteristics of the robot but also find the equations between voltage actuators and robot speed, ball speed and range, and traction force of the robot. All these equations will be used by the robot control system.
Golden-Free Hardware Trojan Detection with High Sensitivity Under Process Noise

Malicious modification of integrated circuits in untrusted design house or foundry has emerged as a major security threat. Such modifications, popularly referred to as Hardware Trojans, are difficult to detect during manufacturing test. Sequential hardware Trojans, usually triggered by a sequence of rare events, represent a common and deadly form of Trojans that can be extremely hard to detect using logic testing approaches. Side-channel analysis has emerged as an effective approach for detection of hardware Trojans. However, existing side-channel approaches suffer from increasing process variations, which largely reduce the detection sensitivity and sets a lower limit of the sizes of Trojans detectable. In this paper, we present TeSR, a Temporal Self-Referencing approach that compares the current signature of a chip at two different time windows to isolate the Trojan effect. Since it uses a chip as a reference to itself, the method completely eliminates the effect of process noise and other design marginalities (e.g. capacitive coupling), thus providing high detection sensitivity for Trojans of varying size. Furthermore, unlike most of the existing approaches, TeSR does not require a golden reference chip instance, which may impose a major limitation. Associated test generation, test application, and signature comparison approaches aimed at maximizing Trojan detection sensitivity are also presented. Simulation results for three complex sequential designs and three representative sequential Trojan circuits demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach under large inter- and intra-die process variations. The approach is also validated with current measurement results from several Xilinx Virtex-II FPGA chips.
On stochastic dynamic games with delayed sharing information structure

We formulate and analyze dynamic games with d-step (d ≥ 1) delayed sharing information structure. The resulting game is a dynamic game of asymmetric information with hidden actions, imperfect observations, and controlled and interdependent system dynamics. We adopt common information based perfect Bayesian equilibrium (CIB-PBE) as the solution concept, and provide a sequential decomposition of the dynamic game. Such a decomposition leads to a backward induction algorithm to compute CIB-PBEs. We discuss the features of our approach to the above class of games and address the existence of CIB-PBEs.
Effect of high voltage electrical breakdown on critical current of High Temperature Superconducting tapes

Effects of high voltage electrical impulse events on the critical current of 2G HTS tapes are studied experimentally to develop an understanding on the potential damage that could occur if superconducting cables undergo electrical breakdown. The need for understanding the degradation is discussed in the context of the superconducting gas insulated lines (S-GIL), a novel design concept for superconducting cables. Since the S-GIL uses the gaseous cryogen as the sole insulation system which does not degrade in an electrical breakdown event, it is essential that the superconducting tapes themselves stay undamaged for the HTS cable system as a whole to be operational after electrical breakdown. Critical current of 2G HTS tapes were measured before and after subjecting them to electrical impulses at various voltage levels. It is shown that the extent of degradation depends on the number and voltage level of the impulses. The results of degradation of critical current are discussed in terms of the total energy released in an impulse event.
Squeezed State Generation and Nonclassical Correlations in Nondegenerate Parametric Down Conversion

We report observations of squeezed state generation in a subthreshold optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operated in a frequency degenerate but polarization nondegenerate mode. Reductions in photocurrent fluctuations of-4 dB relative to the vacuum-state or shot-noise limit have been recorded with a balanced homodyne receiver. We have as well investigated a possible realization of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox involving the nonclassical correlations of quadrature phase amplitudes for the orthogonally polarized signal and idler fields1.
Surgical Management of Migraines

Patients diagnosed with medically refractory chronic migraines represent a challenging population to offer symptomatic improvement. However, if the symptoms are determined to be caused by a peripheral nerve, decompression surgery has been found to obtain complete resolution. Though any nerve around the head and neck could cause either neuralgia or be a trigger for migraines, the four common nerves have been found to be the supraorbital nerve, zygomaticotemporal nerve, greater occipital nerve, and ethmoidal nerves innervating the nasal septum. Surgical techniques have evolved to address the specific areas. Migraine surgery is an evolving field that is offering treatments option for patients that suffer from a debilitating condition.
Clinical Outcomes of Extramedullary Multiple Myeloma in the Era of Novel Agents

Introduction: Extramedullary multiple myeloma (EMM) is defined as presence of plasma cell infiltration outside of the bone marrow. EMM is predictive of adverse prognosis and should be treated as high-risk multiple myeloma (MM). Optimal treatment strategy is not well defined due to lack of prospective therapeutic studies in this patient population. Methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective chart review of patients with EMM with soft tissue involvement at the time of initial diagnosis with MM. Results: Patients with soft tissue EMM diagnosed between 2015-2016 were identified (n=10). The median age of patients was 62.4 years. Seventy percent of patients were males. Eighty percent of patients had standard risk, and 20% had high-risk chromosomal abnormalities by FISH, defined as the presence of 17p deletion, t(4;14), t(14;16), or t(14;20). Of note, 80% of the patients (8/10) were found to have chromosome 1 abnormalities. Gain of 1q was seen in 50% of patients; the rest were found to harbor gain of 1p, t(1:1), and t(1q21). Based on ISS staging, 10% of patients had stage I, 40% stage II, and 50% stage III disease. Paraspinal, mediastinal and retroperitoneal soft tissue involvement were the most common sites of EMM, followed by liver, cutaneous and pulmonary sites. Half of the patients had more than 3 sites of EMM. Median time of follow-up was 12.5 months. All patients had received initial induction therapy with triplet combination regimen: 50% were treated with bortezomib/lenalidomide/dexamethasone (VRD), and 50% with cyclophosphamide/bortezomib/dexamethasone (CyBorD). Patients had received a median 4 lines of therapy. Among the patients reviewed, none achieved CR, 60% achieved VGPR and 40% achieved only PR as best response to therapy after the course of induction. Thus, overall response rate with front line triplet induction was 100%, but the responses were extremely short-lived. With the median follow-up of 12.5 months, 80% of patients developed rapid progression of disease (PD), with median PFS of 6 months. At a median follow-up of 12.5 months OS was only 50% (5/10). Five patients received daratumumab-based combination during the course of progression of disease (PD). Median PFS while on daratumumab-containing regimen was 3 months. All patients were deemed potentially transplant-eligible at diagnosis and 40% of them were transplanted. However 60% of patients were unable to move forward with autologous SCT due to rapid and aggressive PD. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the presence of soft tissue EMM at the time of diagnosis portends an exceedingly poor prognosis, short duration of PFS and a very limited OS even in the era of novel therapies. Despite the advent of monoclonal antibodies, the prognosis remains grim in this sub-group. There may be an association between chromosome 1 abnormalities and soft tissue EMM. Further research efforts are required to define optimal therapeutic regimen for this subset of myeloma patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Cutting Edge: HDAC3 Protects Double-Positive Thymocytes from P2X7 Receptor-Induced Cell Death

Intricate life-versus-death decisions are programmed during T cell development, and the regulatory mechanisms that coordinate their activation and repression are still under investigation. In this study, HDAC3-deficient double-positive (DP) thymocytes exhibit a severe decrease in numbers. The thymic cortex is rich in ATP, which is released by macrophages that clear apoptotic DP thymocytes that fail to undergo positive selection. We demonstrate that HDAC3 is required to repress expression of the purinergic receptor P2X7 to prevent DP cell death. HDAC3-deficient DP thymocytes upregulate the P2X7 receptor, increasing sensitivity to ATP-induced cell death. P2rx7/HDAC3-double knockout mice show a partial rescue in DP cell number. HDAC3 directly binds to the P2rx7 enhancer, which is hyperacetylated in the absence of HDAC3. In addition, RORγt binds to the P2rx7 enhancer and promotes P2X7 receptor expression in the absence of HDAC3. Therefore, HDAC3 is a critical regulator of DP thymocyte survival and is required to suppress P2X7 receptor expression.
Editorial Commentary: Silly Biceps, Tenodesis Is for Kids!

Abstract There is now a strong consensus that the best surgical treatment of a SLAP lesion is often something different from a primary direct repair, especially in older patients in whom postoperative stiffness and persistent pain have led most of us to perform a biceps tenodesis instead. However, treatment of younger patients and especially the overhead athlete group is more problematic and thus controversial. This study demonstrates that biceps tenodesis in these patients can be more successful and have a higher return to sport than SLAP repair alone. There may also be a role for biceps tenodesis AND a SLAP repair but the numbers presented in this paper preclude an analysis of exactly who that group is. When it comes to the treatment of patients with SLAP lesions for whom a very well executed rehabilitation program has failed, understanding the symptoms and demographics of your patients is critical to surgical decision making. The pendulum may swing toward tenodesis, but beware: The correct answer is usually near the center of the arc!
Silica-Supported Hindered Aminopolymers for CO2 Capture

Sterically hindered amine solutions have been studied extensively for CO2 capture via absorption due to their high theoretical amine efficiencies (1 CO2/N) and weak amine–CO2 species formed. More r...
Optoelectronic Properties of C60 and C70 Fullerene Derivatives: Designing and Evaluating Novel Candidates for Efficient P3HT Polymer Solar Cells

Ten novel fullerene-derivatives (FDs) of C60 and C70 had been designed as acceptor for polymer solar cell (PSC) by employing the quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model, which was developed strategically with a reasonably big pool of experimental power conversion efficiency (PCE) data. The QSPR model was checked and validated with stringent parameter and reliability of predicted PCE values of all designed FDs. They were assessed by the applicability domain (AD) and process randomization test. The predicted PCE of FDs range from 7.96 to 23.01. The obtained encouraging results led us to the additional theoretical analysis of the energetics and UV-Vis spectra of isolated dyes employing Density functional theory (DFT) and Time-dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) calculations using PBE/6-31G(d,p) and CAM-B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level calculations, respectively. The FD4 is the best C60-derivatives candidates for PSCs as it has the lowest exciton binding energy, up-shifted lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level to increase open-circuit voltage (VOC) and strong absorption in the UV region. In case of C70-derivatives, FD7 is potential candidate for future PSCs due to its strong absorption in UV-Vis region and lower exciton binding energy with higher VOC. Our optoelectronic results strongly support the developed QSPR model equation. Analyzing QSPR model and optoelectronic parameters, we concluded that the FD1, FD2, FD4, and FD10 are the most potential candidates for acceptor fragment of fullerene-based PSC. The outcomes of tactical molecular design followed by the investigation of optoelectronic features are suggested to be employed as a significant resource for the synthesis of FDs as an acceptor of PSCs.
Short and long term antidepressant clinical trials for major depressive disorder in youth: findings and concerns

The diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) in U.S. youth is increasing as is the rate of antidepressant medication (ADM) treatment for the disorder. Fluoxetine and escitalopram are FDA approved for the short term and maintenance treatment of MDD in youth. Placebo-controlled short-term ADM trials represent the basis for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Meta-analyses in 2007 and 2016 revealed that short-term ADM treatment of youth diagnosed with MDD resulted in no meaningful benefit for children and only marginal benefit for adolescents. Placebo substitution trials of ADM short-term responders represent the basis for FDA approval of ADM maintenance treatment. These ADM placebo substitution maintenance trials for youth with MDD are characterized by high dropout rates, a rapid withdrawal that often can follow the switch to placebo, and relapse rates that are not dissimilar from those in the natural course of the disorder. Without the evidence from problematic ADM placebo substitution trials, there is no acceptable support for the inclusion of ADM in maintenance treatment for MDD in youth.
Outcomes of robotic bariatric surgery in super-obese patients: first report based on MBSAQIP database.

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery in the super-obese (SO) patient population represents a challenge. Although the robotic platform is increasingly used for these patients, there are limited data on outcomes compared with conventional laparoscopy. Objective Our study compared the safety and short-term outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic platforms for SO patients compared with morbidly obese patients based on the 2015 to 2017 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database. Setting University Hospital, United States. Methods We evaluated all primary robotic and laparoscopic cases and extracted 30-day outcomes in patients with body mass index Results A total of 355,278 patients were included in our analysis. For the robotic RYGB (R-RYGB) group (n = 6645) and R-SG (n = 15,984) there were 1674 SO patients (25.2%) and 3688 SO patients (23.1%), respectively.For the laparoscopic RYGB (LRYGB) group (n = 95,374) and LSG group (n = 237,275), there were 24,991 (26.2%) and 51,524 SO patients (21.7%), respectively. The incidence of serious adverse events in SO patients for R-RYGB and LRYGB groups was 7.6% versus 7.2% (P > .05) and 4% versus 3.5% (P > .05) for R-SG and L-SG, respectively. The incidence of organ space infection in SO patients for R-RYGB and LRYGB groups was .5% versus .4% (P > .05) and .4% versus .2% (P Conclusions Based on 2015 to 2017 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program data, we found no difference in outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic approaches in SO patients. There was a higher incidence of serious adverse events in SO patients compared with morbidly obese patients for both approaches.
Multiple Congenital Anomalies in a Patient with Interstitial 6q26 Deletion

We report a preterm male neonate presenting with a lumbosacral meningomyelocele, type II Arnold Chiari malformation, hypoplasia of the aortic arch, bicuspid aortic valve, ventricular septal defect, secundum atrial septal defect, multicystic dysplastic kidney, and hydronephrosis. Analysis with whole genome SNP microarray revealed an interstitial deletion of about 237 kb in chromosome 6q26. Long contiguous stretches of homozygosity (>3 Mb) were seen in 18 chromosomes with a total genomic size of 219 Mb. The phenotype seen in our patient has not been reported in association with the genes in the homozygous regions. However, our patient shares many phenotypic features with other reported cases that have shown a deletion in the same region of chromosome 6.
Homo risibilis: The Ridiculous Human Being

I introduce in this chapter the worldview I call Homo risibilis or the ridiculous human being. I argue that the very repetition that a humorous mood requires in order to reduce the tension defining the human condition is itself a higher form of the comical. I maintain that the constant incongruity created by repeatedly opposing tragic and comical viewpoints can evolve into a new vision of oneself, the other and the world that eventually acquiesces in the conflict that defines our humanity. The encompassing vision attained cannot be described as tragic because it does not fit the narrow either/or tragic defining feature. Once the tragic characteristic of the human condition dissolves, its comical epiphenomenon disappears as well, and the humorous mood that sustains both visions is no longer needed. Homo risibilis, the worldview one reaches through such humorous pitting of opposites, is compatible with accepted accounts of creative thought, common explanations of the basic plot of comedy in which resolution is reached through the revelation of the hero’s identity, and the incongruity theory of humor that requires conflict-resolution. In this chapter, I explain how Homo risibilis evolves out of the humorous mood outlined in previous chapters. I distinguish between the new worldview I propose and Homo ridens, the view of the laughing human being, and I defend Homo risibilis’ originality by comparing it with intimations of various philosophic, religious and literary approaches to humor. I explain how Homo risibilis resolves the tension inherent in the human predicament and I indicate its place among philosophical theories.
Employees as information influencers of organization's CSR practices: The impacts of employee words on public perceptions of CSR

Abstract This study investigates the impact of employees’ words about their organization’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities on external publics’ attitudes and behaviors toward the organization. Specifically, it examines how the valence (positive vs. negative) of employees’ words regarding a CSR campaign interacts with the type of channel (face-to-face vs. social media) of employees’ communication behaviors, and how these factors affect external publics’ perceived authenticity of the organization’s CSR, corporate attitudes, and purchasing intentions, respectively. An online experiment among 221 general consumers in the United States was conducted. The results demonstrated that negative messages regarding CSR distributed by employees in face-to-face communication decreased publics’ favorable attitudes and behavioral intentions to a greater extent than that distributed via social media (i.e., Facebook). However, the effect of communication channel became insignificant when positive messages regarding CSR were shared by employees. The results further showed that perceived authenticity mediated the effects of channel and message valence on publics’ attitudes and behavioral intentions. Theoretical and practical implications for CSR practices and employee communication are discussed.
Reimagining the bunker: Increasing the stakes in role-playing and group decision-making simulations

Courses: Introduction to Communication Theory, Small Group Communication, Organizational Communication, or any class with a group-based component.Objectives: This activity aims to engage students m...
Research on network information security penetration test based on IP port service technology

Network information security penetration test is an important means to intercept network information attacks after obtaining user authorization. At present, various network information security penetration testing technology system research work is also constantly improving and updating. However, due to the increasingly complex verification of hacker behavior, the research of network information security penetration test is still difficult to meet the requirements of the current information development. In this environment, this paper proposes a network information security penetration test method based on IP port service technology, and describes a set of penetration test ideas, steps and results, for network managers to reference, to achieve the network information security penetration test Finally, it was confirmed by experiments, The efficiency and ability of penetration test are improved, and the process of penetration test is optimized.
QLRan: Latency-Quality Tradeoffs and Task Offloading in Multi-node Next Generation RANs

Next-Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) is an emerging paradigm that provides flexible distribution of cloud computing and radio capabilities at the edge of the wireless Radio Access Points (RAPs). Computation at the edge bridges the gap for roaming end users, enabling access to rich services and applications. In this paper, we propose a multi-edge node task offloading system, i.e., QLRan, a novel optimization solution for latency and quality tradeoff task allocation in NG-RANs. Considering constraints on service latency, quality loss, and edge capacity, the problem of joint task offloading, latency, and Quality Loss of Result (QLR) is formulated in order to minimize the User Equipment (UEs) task offloading utility, which is measured by a weighted sum of reductions in task completion time and QLR cost. The QLRan optimization problem is proved as a Mixed Integer Nonlinear Program (MINLP) problem, which is a NP-hard problem. To efficiently solve the QLRan optimization problem, we utilize Linear Programming (LP)-based approach that can be later solved by using convex optimization techniques. Additionally, a programmable NG-RAN testbed is presented where the Central Unit (CU), Distributed Unit (DU), and UE are virtualized using the OpenAirInterface (OAI) software platform to characterize the performance in terms of data input, memory usage, and average processing time with respect to QLR levels. Simulation results show that our algorithm performs significantly improves the network latency over different conflgurations.
Radial Fourier multipliers in ℝ3 and ℝ4

We prove that for radial Fourier multipliers m:ℝ3→ℂ supported compactly away from the origin, Tm is restricted strong type (p,p) if K=m is in Lp(ℝ3), in the range 1<p<1312. We also prove an Lp characterization for radial Fourier multipliers in four dimensions; namely, for radial Fourier multipliers m:ℝ4→ℂ supported compactly away from the origin, Tm is bounded on Lp(ℝ4) if and only if K=m is in Lp(ℝ4), in the range 1<p<3629. Our method of proof relies on a geometric argument that exploits bounds on sizes of multiple intersections of 3-dimensional annuli to control numbers of tangencies between pairs of annuli in three and four dimensions.
Putting Trust in the US Budget: Federal Trust Funds and the Politics of Commitment

1. Introduction: trust funds and the politics of commitment 2. Political transaction costs, feedback effects, and policy credibility 3. Trust fund taxes vs general fund taxes 4. Social security 5. Medicare 6. Highways 7. Airports 8. Superfund 9. Barriers to trust fund adoption: the failed cases of energy security and lead abatement 10. Conclusions: The structure and normative challenge of promise-keeping.
Repealing Rights: Proposition 8, Perry, and Crawford Contextualized

California's Proposition 8 stripped same-sex couples of the right under the California Constitution to "marry" civilly, while leaving in place the right to every other state-controlled legal incident of marriage. The U.S. District subsequently court held that Prop 8 violated the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in an opinion whose broad reasoning would invalidate the exclusion of same-sex couples from civil marriage by any state. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed on narrow grounds specific to California's legal history. Those defending Prop 8 in this litigation ("the Proponents") have argued that this narrow reasoning is legally erroneous and that Prop 8's constitutionality is affirmatively established by the U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 decision in Crawford v. Los Angeles Board of Education, which said that state laws merely repealing rights not required by the Fourteenth Amendment (here designated "constitutionally optional rights") do not violate that Amendment. This paper, originally presented at the N.Y.U. Review of Law & Social Change Symposium “Making Constitutional Change: the Past, Present, and Future Role of Perry v. Brown” held October 5, 2012, argues that the Proponents' optional rights argument misreads Crawford, ignoring the context of the broad pronouncements in this "political restructuring" case. Properly read, Crawford's blunt statements about the constitutionality of the repeal of constitutionally optional rights are limited to measures, unlike Prop 8, that operate neutrally rather than repealing a right only from a disfavored group (and the fact that state law treated the right to marry as a right to marry the person of one's choice equally available to Californians of all sexual orientations suffices to show that Prop 8 was not an impartial repeal) and that do not entrench themselves by disbarring legislatures from re-extending such optional rights beyond the point established by a repealing state law.
Thermally multiplexed polymerase chain reaction

Amplification of multiple unique genetic targets using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is commonly required in molecular biology laboratories. Such reactions are typically performed either serially or by multiplex PCR. Serial reactions are time consuming, and multiplex PCR, while powerful and widely used, can be prone to amplification bias, PCR drift, and primer-primer interactions. We present a new thermocycling method, termed thermal multiplexing, in which a single heat source is uniformly distributed and selectively modulated for independent temperature control of an array of PCR reactions. Thermal multiplexing allows amplification of multiple targets simultaneously—each reaction segregated and performed at optimal conditions. We demonstrate the method using a microfluidic system consisting of an infrared laser thermocycler, a polymer microchip featuring 1 μl, oil-encapsulated reactions, and closed-loop pulse-width modulation control. Heat transfer modeling is used to characterize thermal performance limitations of the system. We validate the model and perform two reactions simultaneously with widely varying annealing temperatures (48 °C and 68 °C), demonstrating excellent amplification. In addition, to demonstrate microfluidic infrared PCR using clinical specimens, we successfully amplified and detected both influenza A and B from human nasopharyngeal swabs. Thermal multiplexing is scalable and applicable to challenges such as pathogen detection where patients presenting non-specific symptoms need to be efficiently screened across a viral or bacterial panel.
C IV resonance line profiles in O stars

The S-019 experiment on Skylab (cf. Henize et al. 1975; “Paper I”) recorded far UV spectra in about 160 4° x 5° fields, covering 10% of the sky, on 101 film with a 15 cm aperture objective-prism telescope. everal hundred early-type stars wer observed in the vicinity of 1550 A with a resolution between 3 and 4 A, as well as thousands of stars at longer wavelengths and correspondingly lower resolution. An atlas of spectra for types O4 to B5 is illustrated in Paper I. That figure shows that the P Cygni profile is a characteristic of all supergiants earlier than B3 and main sequence stars earlier than 08.
Enhanced anomalous scattering by superconducting nanofilms vs T at O:K, Cu:L2,3 , Ba:M4,5 edges

Enhanced (001) anomalous scattering by YBa2Cu3O7-d 50 nm films on SrTiO3 substrates with and without a grain boundary versus temperature is interpreted using crystallographic weights to distinguish it from total electron yield and fluorescence spectra. The power of diffraction enhancement is to ascertain the film oxygen composition from the changes in the c-axis, c0 as the film surface is scanned across the grain boundary, and to determine that c0 is constant versus temperature across the superconducting phase transition.
Myocardial overexpression of adrenergic receptors and receptor kinases.

Publisher Summary Understanding cardiac contractility is essential for advances in the treatment of cardiac diseases, particularly heart failure. Recently several lines of transgenic mice have been developed in which β -adrenergic receptor ( β AR) signaling has been altered. Manipulation of various components of the myocardial β AR system has increased the understanding of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, in which adrenergic signaling plays a critical role. Probably the most important receptors involved in beat-to-beat cardiac regulation are the adrenergic receptors. Myocardial β ARs, for example, mediate increases in heart rate and contractility in response to increases in sympathetic neurotransmission. Despite significant advances in the understanding of β AR signaling in heart failure, it remains to be determined whether changes in β AR function can directly promote deterioration of heart function or are just secondary phenomena resulting as a consequence of enhanced local and systemic circulating catecholamines. Transgenic technology has made it possible to target adrenergic signaling components directly to the heart. The targeted overexpression of these molecules provides a powerful approach to understand how molecular alterations, which are known to occur in a disease, can modify the physiological phenotype. Several of these transgenic models are discussed in this chapter. To determine whether increasing the number of receptors would lead to greater G-protein coupling, transgenic mice have been generated by overexpressing the human β 2 AR. The murine α -myosin heavy chain ( α -MyHC) gene promoter is utilized to specifically target β 2 AR to the myocardium. Surprisingly, cardiac β AR signaling in these animals has been maximal even in the absence of exogenous agonist, as assessed by the measurement of several biochemical and physiological parameters. Baseline membrane adenylyl cyclase activity from transgenic hearts was increased twofold over baseline activity. Monitoring the physiological phenotype in these models is likely to provide an extremely powerful approach to the understanding of disease processes where normal regulatory mechanisms have failed.
Redistribution in a Neo-Kaleckian Two-country Model

We investigate the interaction between demand-driven growth and income distribution in open economies, by combining expenditure-switching and demand spillover effects in a neo-Kaleckian two country model. First, we specify elasticities of wage share and real exchange rate to the money wage relative to labor productivity, in order to precisely describe the distributive pass-through from money wages to the labor share and the real exchange rate. Second, we analyze the demand effects of an increase in the money wage for given labor productivity (a redistribution towards labor) in both Home and Foreign country, as well as globally. We derive closed form results for two identical countries. These results indicate that redistribution towards labor at Home: (i) always increases growth globally if Home is wage-led, but can lead to lower growth at Home relative to Foreign; and (ii) will always imply lower growth at Home relative to Foreign if Home is profit-led, but can still be growth-enhancing at Home. Thus, to the extent that countries are concerned with their relative economic performance, a fallacy of composition can emerge. Numerical simulations suggest that these fallacies could indeed occur. As a consequence, ‘returns to coordination’ over international labor policies might be substantial.
Optical pump-terahertz spectroscopy of condensed phase reaction dynamics

The general theoretical and experimental principles of optical pump-THz probe spectroscopy of chemical reactions in liquids is presented. Background on specific difficulties encountered in the experimental observation is reviewed. Chiefly, signal-to-noise ratios currently limit the quality of information that can be extracted from optical pump-THz prove data on chemical reactions. This issue is shown to be connected to the assumption of linear responses. The problem of interpretation of frequency dependent absorption coefficient data of neat liquids and solutions is addressed, and reasonably successful methods for analysis of the data are presented. Transient absorption coefficient spectra of GaAs illustrates the type of information this spectroscopic method can extract form condensed phase samples.
Influence of Interfacial Energy on Electric-Field-Induced Sphere-to-Cylinder Transition in Block Copolymer Thin Films

The effect of the interfacial energy on the electric-field-induced sphere-to-cylinder (S-to-C) transition in polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) copolymer thin films was studied as a function of the difference in the interfacial interactions of the PS and PMMA blocks with the substrate, d. It was found that the interfacial energies altered both the critical electric field strength and the time scales of kinetics. A very strong preferential interfacial interaction suppressed the electric-field-induced S-to-C transition even though such a transition occurred on a neutralized surface where the interfacial interactions were balanced. For a moderate interfacial interaction, the S-to-C transition can be induced by an applied electric field, but the time scale of the morphology change is much longer. Furthermore, the formation of ionic complexes in the BCP was found to enhance the electric-field-induced S-to-C transition even on a native Si substrate without any surface modification, providing a simple route to generate ordered arrays of high-aspect-ratio cylinders oriented normal to a film surface.
Laboratory evaluation of urea cycle disorders

The urea cycle disorders (UCDs) represent a group of inherited metabolic diseases with hyperammonemia as the primary laboratory abnormality. Affected individuals may become comatose or die if not treated rapidly. Diagnosis of a UCD requires a high index of suspicion and judicious use of the laboratory. It is important to rule out other conditions causing hyperammonemia that may require different treatment. The astute clinician may suspect a specific UCD in the appropriate clinical setting, but only laboratory results can confirm a specific diagnosis. The importance of the laboratory in helping the clinician to differentiate among various causes of hyperammonemia, in confirming a specific UCD, in carrier testing, and in prenatal diagnostic testing is highlighted in this review.
Fission fragment damage in crystalline phases possibly formed in solidified radioactive waste

Abstract Radiation damage induced by fission fragments has been studied qualitatively, mainly by powder X-ray diffraction, in several crystalline phases which might occur in radioactive waste solid...
Management of malignant tracheobronchial stenosis with metal stents and dumon stents

Background. Tracheobronchial stenosis caused by malignancy is a life-threatening problem. Stenting is one of the treatment modalities and recently has been used widely for the management of such stenosis, but we do not have a clear guide as to which stent should be selected. Methods. We evaluated 25 patients (19 men, 6 women; mean age, 60.7 years; range, 34 to 77 years) received 24 metal stents (four covered with silicone rubber) and three Dumon stents. All 25 patients had severe dyspnea because of airway stenosis caused by malignant tumors. Results. Among the 25 patients, airway obstruction due to extrinsic compression by tumor developed in 11 and was treated with a bare metal stent. The airway remained patent in 10 patients. In 16 patients with intraluminal tumor invasion, mine lesions were treated with a bare metal stent, four lesions with a covered metal stent, and the remaining three lesions with a Dumon stent. Recurrent stenosis did not occur in any patients with a covered metal stent or a Dumon stent. However, restenosis occurred in 4 patients with a bare metal stent, all of whom received laser therapy. In all patients, stenting immediately relieved dyspnea. Six patients lived for 32 days to 53 months after stending, and 19 patients died of primary malignancies with a mean survival of 131.9 days. Conclusions. Metal stents are effective in treating malignant extrinsic tracheobronchial compression. The use of covered metal stents or Dumon stents is preferable for intraluminal stenosis due to malignant growth.
Mechanisms of disease: the PI3K-Akt-PTEN signaling node--an intercept point for the control of angiogenesis in brain tumors.

Despite advances in treatment approaches for patients with high-grade glioma, the overall prognosis remains poor. In this article, Castellino and Durden highlight the important role of angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of brain tumors, and discuss the development of new therapies that target angiogenesis in high-grade glioma by regulating the activity of the PI3K–Akt–PTEN signaling node. The overall prognosis for patients with high-grade glioma remains dismal, despite advances in treatment modalities including neurosurgery, radiation therapy and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. In this article, we review literature that provides a rationale for the use of antiangiogenic therapy to improve the treatment of high-grade neoplasms in the CNS. In particular, we focus our discussion on the central role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–Akt– phosphatase and tensin homolog (PI3K–Akt–PTEN) axis as a potential molecular target for the control of angiogenesis in brain tumors via the coordinated control of cell division, tumor growth, angiogenesis, apoptosis, invasion and cellular metabolism in the tumor and stromal compartments. We suggest that instead of inhibiting a single cell surface receptor, thereby leaving other receptors free to pulse survival, proliferative, angiogenic and invasive signals, a more effective way to approach the design of targeted therapy against brain tumors is to inhibit a nodal point where redundant cell surface receptor signals converge to transmit important, relatively conserved signaling events within the cell. The epigenetic and post-translational regulation of PI3K–Akt–PTEN signaling has a prominent role in brain tumor pathogenesis, and we therefore suggest that PI3K could be an important target for therapies that target brain tumors.