cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meta-Analysis Comparing Outcomes of Smokers Versus Nonsmokers With Acute Coronary Syndrome Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Several studies have found improved mortality in smokers after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) especially in the thrombolytic era. We aimed to assess the association of smoking status with mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ACS treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials since inception through February 15, 2018 and used random effects model for analysis. The outcomes analyzed were all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization at 1 month and 1 year. We included 17 randomized and nonrandomized studies with a total of 55,491 patients with 21,989 smokers’ and 33,502 nonsmokers. In ACS patients treated with PCI, smokers were found to have lower mortality than nonsmokers at 30-day ([2.3% vs 3.3%; Odds ratio; 0.54; 95% confidence interval: 0.39 to 0.76; p
Crystallographic Structure Refinement in a Nutshell

The objective of these notes is to provide a general overview of modern crystallographic structure refinement. No specific or technical details are presented, but concepts only. However, references are provided to the relevant literature for those who desire to learn more.
Don't call me crazy

iv CHAPTER 1 1 CHAPTER 2 14 CHAPTER 3 24 CHAPTER 4 42 CHAPTER 5 51 CHAPTER 6 62 CHAPTER 7 72 CHAPTER 8 79 CHAPTER 9 85 SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTER 10 94 SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTER 11 95 SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTER 12 96
Use of Electron Microscopy in Virology

It is now 40 years since the first electron micrographs of tobacco mosaic virus were published (Kausche et al., 1939). The affection which virologists have had for the electron microscope and electron microscopists for virus specimens since that time has been extremely fruitful. As evidence of the anticipated productivity of electron microscopy, consider the following quotation from p. 274 of the second edition of the book by Burton and Kohl (1946): Stanley and Anderson state as their considered opinion: “Although excellent micrographs of bacteria have been obtained by means of this apparatus and have proved of value in supplementing information already available, it would appear that the electron microscope will be of greatest value in the microscopy of objects having sizes between 5 and 250 mμ, a range not covered by the light microscope and one in which practically all viruses have been found to fall. The electron microscope offers the possibility of securing micrographs of individual virus particles and thus of establishing their sizes and shapes with some precision. It should also be possible to determine the extent of the variation in the size and shape of a given virus and even perhaps learn something of the mechanism by means of which a virus particle is duplicated within the host and of the nature of the difference between strains of a given virus.”
The SCALE Web site: Resources for the worldwide nuclear criticality safety community

The Standardized Computer Analyses for Licensing Evaluations (SCALE) computer software system developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is widely used and accepted around the world for criticality safety analyses. SCALE includes the well-known KENO V.a and KENO VI three-dimensional Monte Carlo criticality computer codes. For several years, the SCALE staff at ORNL has maintained a Web site to provide information and support to sponsors and users in the worldwide criticality safety community. The SCALE WEB site is located at www.cped.ornl.gov/scale and provides information in the following areas: 1. important notices to users; 2. SCALE Users Electronic Notebook; 3. current and past issues of the SCALE Newsletter; 4. verification and validation (V and V) and benchmark reports; 5. download updates, utilities, and V and V input files; 6. SCALE training course information; 7. SCALE Manual on-line; 8. overview of SCALE system; 9. how to install and run SCALE; 10. SCALE quality assurance documents; and 11. nuclear resources on the Internet.
Water-deficit priming of papaya reduces high-light stress through oxidation avoidance rather than anti-oxidant activity

Abstract The mechanisms for tolerance of various abiotic stresses in plants are often considered to be similar, but there are also specific traits responsible for acclimation that differ according to the type and extent of stress. Water-deficit priming is the imposition of a period of moderate drought stress to induce tolerance to a subsequent stress. We hypothesized that priming improves papaya (Carica papaya L.) response to high light intensity. We tested the effects of water-deficit priming on photoinhibition upon shade removal. We assessed morphological and physiological variables associated with priming responses. Priming reduced the intensity and duration of photoinhibition upon shade removal and increased mean leaf area compared to non-primed plants. Photochemical responses to priming included reduced absorption and increased efficiencies of electron transfer from plastoquinone through photosystem I. Photosynthetic responses included upregulation of Rubisco and Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate regeneration. Morphological responses included increased stomatal density and size. Anti-oxidant capacity was not affected by priming or prior shade treatment. We conclude that water-deficit priming improves papaya response to high light by different physiological mechanisms than shade-to-light acclimation itself. Rather than anti-oxidant upregulation, priming reduces energetic bottlenecks, thereby reducing oxidative stress during shade-to-high-light transitions.
Giant distributed optical-field enhancements from Mie-resonant lattice surface modes in dielectric metasurfaces

High-index dielectric nanoparticles can support strong localized Mie scattering resonances of both electric- and magnetic-dipole character. Compared to the plasmonic excitations of similar metallic nanostructures, these resonances have the distinct advantage of negligible absorption losses at the expense, however, of significantly reduced optical-field-intensity enhancements. To address this limitation, here we investigate their coherent superposition across neighboring nanoparticles in suitably designed periodic arrays via coupling to lattice surface modes. Numerical simulations show that the resulting excitations can provide giant spatially-averaged field enhancements (distributed across the entire surface of the array) with ultranarrow spectral linewidths, particularly in arrays embedded within a symmetric dielectric environment. These systems are therefore ideally suited for applications involving tailored light-matter interactions with extended-area active layers, such as surface-enhanced sensing, spectroscopy, fluorescence, and photochemistry.
Widespread Fault Creep in the Northern San Francisco Bay Area Revealed by Multistation Cluster Detection of Repeating Earthquakes

We search for repeating earthquakes (REs) in the northern San Francisco Bay Area in 1984-2016. By comparing over 670,000 waveforms from ~75,000 events, we identify candidate clusters of events whos...
Reduced Punch Sticking Propensity of Acesulfame by Salt Formation: Role of Crystal Mechanical Property and Surface Chemistry

Powder adhesion or sticking onto punches is one of the outstanding issues in pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing. We show in this work that, at comparable particle sizes, the acesulfame potassium exhibited pronouncedly reduced propensity to punch sticking than acesulfame. Detailed analyses revealed strong correlation between sticking propensity and crystal mechanical properties and surface chemistry. The free acid was highly plastic with high cohesive strength, while the salt form was brittle. During compaction, surfaces of acesulfame in contact with the punch face are abundant in electronegative functional groups, while those of the salt consist of mainly hydrophobic groups. Thus, acesulfame underwent stronger interactions with the electron-deficient punch. Consequently, the strikingly different onset and severity of sticking propensity between the two solid forms of acesulfame could be clearly explained based on their different crystal mechanical properties and surface characteristics. By providing molecular insight into the outstanding problem of punch sticking in tablet manufacturing, this work expands the list of pharmaceutical applications of crystal engineering.
Wild Encounters: A More-Than-Human Approach to Children’s Drawing

This article focuses on the drawing practice of Andrew, a 4-year-old boy whose work the author encountered as part of a 12-month ethnographic study of children’s drawing in a university-affiliated ...
Detailed Multiphysics Modeling of Air-Conditioned House

The modeling of thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) is of great importance due to the vital role they play in demand response programs. A detailed multiphysics model of an air-conditioned house is proposed in this paper. A physically based modeling approach is used for constructing the model, which includes both house thermal modeling and air conditioner (AC) electrical modeling. The mathematical model expresses the thermal and electrical laws governing the operation of the TCL. An example system is simulated to evaluate the performance of the model, with realistic house and AC parameters. The house thermal model accurately captures the temperature dynamics of the house, while the AC electrical model accommodates various operational conditions of air conditioning. The proposed multiphysics model is integrated into power system simulation programs.
Mitigating "Educational Groundhog Day" - The Role of Learner Handoffs Within Clinical Rotations: A Survey of Pediatric Educational Leaders.

Abstract Background Medical students decry frequent changes in faculty supervision, leading to the experience of “educational groundhog day.” The discontinuity in supervision, cursory relationships, and uncoordinated feedback impede students’ skill acquisition and delay entrustment decisions. Whereas patient handoff bundles are common, little is known about similarly structured approaches to learner handoffs (LHs). Objective To describe current LH procedures and practices within pediatric clerkships and subinternships and to gauge interest in a future LH bundle. Methods Nine items included in the 2016 Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics annual member survey were analyzed using mixed-methods. Results The response rates were 66% (101 of 152) and 40% (165 of 411) for institutions and individuals, respectively. After limiting data to complete responses to programs with traditional block rotations, 54% of individual respondents (76 of 141) identified as inpatient faculty and about a quarter endorsed providing LHs. Inpatient faculty most commonly supervise medical students for 5 to 7 days. Most endorsed needing 1 to 3 days to determine a student's baseline performance and 5 days or more to make entrustment decisions. Three-quarters of inpatient faculty endorsed interest in LHs, while fewer than 16% of course directors currently provide LH expectations. Four themes emerged: instrument features, stakeholder buy-in, impact, and utility. Conclusions Typical inpatient faculty service days approximate the time required for making entrustment decisions about clinical students. While most inpatient faculty desire a LH bundle for use within a clinical rotation, few institutions and faculty currently use LHs. LHs could accelerate entrustment decisions by allowing coordinated feedback that might hasten learner clinical-skill development.
State Population Based Changes in Preterm Delivery - Impact of Efforts to Enforce Recommendations to Eliminate Early Elective Deliveries

Background: Emerging evidence in the 1990’s and early 2000’s showed increased morbidity and mortality associated with late-term (35-36 weeks Estimated Gestational Age (EGA)) and early-term (37-38 week EGA) delivery prompted recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and a national campaign by the March of Dimes to reduce and eliminate these deliveries. Induction before 39 0/7 weeks EGA should be for a medical indication for mother or fetus. Starting in 2010 a Nebraska taskforce partnered with hospitals to revise policies regarding these deliveries. Work …
A Novel Cable Insulation Monitoring Method Based on WAMS

To account for the different grounding methods for high-voltage cables in a power system, a new cable insulation monitoring method based on the Wide Area Measurement System (WAMS) is proposed. First, the basic theories and principles of this method are deduced, and the theoretical basis of calculating the insulation conductance (resistance) and tangent of the dielectric loss angle $(\tan\delta)$ is provided. Second, the applicability of the method is analyzed for a long-distance cable and a short-distance cable. The voltage and current values at the cable ends can be synchronously collected, and the operating states of the cables can be controlled by the WAMS. Finally, the synchronous timing error caused by the Global Position System (GPS) and the frequency fluctuation of the system are analyzed. The simulation experiments show that the insulation conductance (resistance) and $\tan\delta$ can be accurately computed, which can reflect the insulation condition of different levels. Although the paper uses a coal mine power supply system as the object of study, the new method can also be applied to other power systems.
iCoRe: The GDELT Interface for the Advancement of Communication Research

Abstract This article introduces the interface for communication research (iCoRe) to access, explore, and analyze the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT; Leetaru & Schrodt, 2013). GDELT provides a vast, open source, and continuously updated repository of online news and event metadata collected from tens of thousands of news outlets around the world. Despite GDELT’s promise for advancing communication science, its massive scale and complex data structures have hindered efforts of communication scholars aiming to access and analyze GDELT. We thus developed iCoRe, an easy-to-use web interface that (a) provides fast access to the data available in GDELT, (b) shapes and processes GDELT for theory-driven applications within communication research, and (c) enables replicability through transparent query and analysis protocols. After providing an overview of how GDELT’s data pertain to addressing communication research questions, we provide a tutorial of utilizing iCoRe across three theory-driven case studies. We conclude this article with a discussion and outlook of iCoRe’s future potential for advancing communication research.
Rethinking the Theory of Money, Credit, and Macroeconomics: A Review Essay

This essay presents an overview and assessment of John Smithin's 2018 book Rethinking the Theory of Money, Credit, and Macroeconomics. Smithin continues the projects of Keynes and Minsky with the a...
Theoretical, Simulated, and Experimental Resolution Enhancement of a Transducer by Deconvolution of the Point Spread Function

In developing a system for high-speed, high-resolution, large-area, ultrasonic scanning of steel rubber composite material, higher resolution was required of the imaging system than was possible given transducer constraints. Constraints on spot size were imposed by the operating conditions and design of the focusing hemispherical transducer (FHT) used. To enhance the resolution of the transducer, deconvolution of the acquired signal and the transducer’s point spread function (PSF) is performed. Specifically, for a transducer pair operated in through transmission conditions, the resolution of the receiver is enhanced by a deconvolution of the receiver’s PSF. This paper presents a theoretical review of this concept with results of numeric simulation and experiments showing resolution enhancement by deconvolution of an experimentally recovered PSF.
Increasing Head Circumference and Jaundice in a 4-week-old Infant

1. Marlisa Wolf, MD* 2. Komal Desai, MD* 3. Esther Kisseih, MD*,† 4. Beena Sood, MD*,†,‡ 1. *Children’s Hospital of Michigan, 2. †Neonatology Division 3. ‡Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, Michigan A 4-week, full term girl presents to the NICU for jaundice present since 1 week of age and increasing head circumference for over a week. She was born after an uneventful 41-week pregnancy. Family history was significant for Gilbert disease in the father. She has been exclusively breastfed since birth. At 2 weeks of age, she was seen in the emergency department for vomiting after each feeding and jaundice. An abdominal ultrasound showed no evidence of pyloric stenosis; treatment with ranitidine was initiated for suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease. Her clinical jaundice was attributed to breastmilk, and no further laboratory evaluation was completed. At 4 weeks of age, her mother brought the infant to the referring hospital for evaluation of persistent jaundice, increasing head circumference, frequent bruising, and epistaxis. It was confirmed that her head circumference had increased from 33.5 cm (14.5%) at birth to 42 cm (99%) at 4 weeks of age. She was noted to have prolonged bleeding from her intravenous site. Liver evaluation revealed a direct hyperbilirubinemia (total bilirubin of 7.9 mg/dL [135 μ mol/L] with direct bilirubin of 3.9 mg/dL [67 μ mol/L]), and elevated enzyme levels (alanine aminotransferase 83 U/L [1.38 microkatal (ukat)/L], aspartate transaminase 163 U/L [2.7 ukat/L], and alkaline phosphatase 328 U/L [5.47 ukat/L]). She was transferred to our level IV NICU for further management. ### Patient Clinical Course The physical examination upon presentation to the NICU was remarkable for macrocephaly, a bulging anterior fontanelle, icterus, and multiple petechiae. Differential diagnoses included infection, biliary abnormalities including biliary atresia, and late onset hemorrhagic disease of the newborn for which laboratory and radiographic evaluation was initiated. Although the …
Toward a human-centered use of technology: a stakeholder analysis of harm reduction and CBO staff.

Technology can enable syringe service programs (SSPs) and other community-based organizations (CBOs) operating under a harm reduction framework to work with an increased number of clients and can also enable organizations to offer services more effectively (e.g., offering HIV testing in ways participants may be more likely to accept). In the current time of COVID-19 social distancing, technology can also help organizations more safely provide services to people with compromised immune systems and to clients who might otherwise not be reached. However, technology projects implemented in harm reduction settings are frequently conceptualized and developed by researchers or technology specialists rather than by SSP staff or clients. To more effectively meet the needs of SSPs and other CBOs across the USA, our team conducted qualitative interviews with 16 individuals who have extensive backgrounds working in the field of harm reduction. Interviews were digitally recorded and professionally transcribed, and the transcripts were checked for accuracy by the interviewers. The resulting transcripts were coded and analyzed to determine emerging themes. Interviewees mentioned the ability of technology to deliver consistent quality messaging to multiple clients at the same time and the potential to customize or tailor technology-based messaging to specific client populations as positive benefits. Clear barriers to technology use also emerged, in particular regarding privacy, data security, and the need to maintain client trust when discussing sensitive issues (e.g., illicit drug use). Technology offers the potential to deliver consistently high-quality health communication and maintain contact with clients who may have no other access to care. If designed and managed effectively, technology can also address issues related to providing services during times when physical contact is limited due to COVID-19 social distancing measures.
Computerized Fluorodensitometry Using a Solid-State Matrix Camera

Conventional televised fluoroscopy enables real-time visualization of dynamically changing structures within the body provided there is adequate radiologic contrast between the object of interest and its immediate surround. Under special conditions, such as in arteriography, injection of a contrast agent into the structure being studied enhances its visualization. Where applicable, greatest contrast enhancement is provided by image subtraction. In our experience, because of the intrinsic noisiness of television (TV), radiologic contrast had to exceed 5 percent for visualization by any of the aforementioned techniques. In order to measure a 1 percent X-ray transmission variation, we have replaced the vidicon camera with a Reticon solid-state matrix camera. This camera contains a 32 by 32 photodiode array with an intrinsic noise level far below that of standard TV. However, a fixed-pattern pixel noise due to differing pixel sensitivities must be canceled out. This is easily performed by subtraction with a dark-field pixel pattern previously stored in a computer. The frame rate of the camera can be varied from 15 to 100 Hz. The video signal is digitized and entered into a LINC-8 digital computer for densitometry. The primary use of this system to date has been in the measurement of pulmonary pulsations in monkeys. These pulmonary pulsations are small variations in X-ray transmission through the chest due to the change in blood content of the lungs during each heartbeat. A decrease in the amplitude of pulmonary pulsations is a potentially important diagnostic sign in the clinical evaluation of cardiac failure and in early lung cancer.
Aqueous harvesting of Zr 88 at a radioactive-ion-beam facility for cross-section measurements

Isotope harvesting is a method of collecting the long-lived radioisotopes that build up during the operation of ion-beam facilities in a way that is useful for subsequent research. As a demonstration of this method for the collection of a group IV metal at a fragmentation facility, the high-energy $^{88}\mathrm{Zr}$ secondary beam produced from a 140-MeV/u $^{92}\mathrm{Mo}$ primary beam at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) was stopped in a water target. The setup aimed to mimic the aqueous beam dump that will be implemented at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). The collected $^{88}\mathrm{Zr}$ and accompanying $^{88}\mathrm{Y}$ decay daughter were radiochemically extracted from the solution and made into target samples suitable for neutron-capture cross-section measurements. These samples were then irradiated at two reactor facilities, and the $^{88}\mathrm{Zr}$ average thermal-neutron-capture cross section (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{T}$) and resonance integral ($I$) were determined to be ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{T}=(8.04\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.63)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ b and $I=(2.53\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.28)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ b. The ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{T}$ value agrees well with previous results and $I$, determined for the first time here, was found to be the largest measured resonance integral by two orders of magnitude. The $^{88}\mathrm{Y}$ thermal-neutron-capture cross section was determined to be less than $1.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ b. This work demonstrates the steps needed to make cross-section measurements with samples produced via aqueous isotope harvesting.
Síndrome postimplantación en la reparación aórtica endovascular

Introduccion: El sindrome postimplantacion es un trastorno frecuente, producido en el postoperatorio inmediato posterior al tratamiento endovascular de la enfermedad aortica, caracterizado por la presencia de anorexia, dolor lumbar, leucocitosis, fiebre y elevacion de la proteina C reactiva, asociado ocasionalmente a disminucion del recuento de plaquetas o alteracion de la coagulacion. Objetivo: Determinar la incidencia y morbilidad asociada al sindrome postimplantacion, posterior a la reparacion endovascular de la patologia aortica. Materiales y Metodo: Estudio observacional y descriptivo, donde se analiza la presencia del sindrome post implantacion en pacientes sometidos a Reparacion endovascular toracica aortica (TEVAR) y Reparacion endovascular de aneurisma (EVAR) , durante un periodo de 10 anos (2009 al 2019), en el Hospital Dr. Eduardo Pereira de Valparaiso, Chile. Resultados: Se incluyeron 112 reparaciones endovasculares , 72,32% correspondientes a EVAR y 27,68% a TEVAR, incidencia del sindrome post implantacion (17,85%), factores de riesgo asociados: edad ≤ 75 anos, uso de endoprotesis compuesta por poliester, recubrimiento aortico ≥ 20cm y tiempo quirurgico >180 min; (p<0,05), evidenciando en este grupo de pacientes mayor readmision, estancia hospitalaria y morbilidad cardiovascular (p<0,05). Discusion: El sindrome post implantacion conduce a una recuperacion postoperatoria mas exigente, aumentando la morbilidad cardiovascular, readmision y estancia hospitalaria, con los correspondientes riesgos y costos asociados, en consecuencia podria considerarse una complicacion de la reparacion aortica endovascular. Conclusion: La respuesta inflamatoria puede ser intensa posterior a la reparacion endovascular de la aorta, el grupo de pacientes que desarrolla este sindrome, amerita una estrecha vigilancia, con enfasis durante el primer mes de post operatorio.
A Pipeline for Hand 2-D Keypoint Localization Using Unpaired Image to Image Translation

Hand pose estimation is getting a lot of attention in many areas such as Human-Computer Interaction and Sign Language Recognition. A fundamental step to accurately estimate the hand pose involves detecting and localizing fingertips in an image. Despite the progress of 2-D hand pose estimation in recent studies, accurate and robust detection and localization of fingertips still remains a challenging task due to low resolution of a fingertip in images and varying lightning condition. Inspired by the progress of the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) and image-style transfer, we propose a two-stage pipeline to accurately localize the fingertip position even in varying lighting and severe self occlusion on depth images. The idea is to use a Cycle-consistent Generative Adversarial Network (Cycle-GAN) to apply unpaired image-to-image translation and generate a depth image with colored predictions on the fingertips, wrist, and palm given a real depth image. The model is trained in a semi-supervised manner using a collection of images from source and target domains that do not need to be related in anyway. Then, by applying color segmentation techniques, we localize the center of each colored area which results in finding the location of each fingertip along with center of the wrist and the palm. The proposed method achieves visually promising results on noisy depth images captured using the Microsoft Kinect. Experiments on the challenging NYU hand dataset have demonstrated that our approach not only generates plausible samples, but also outperforms state-of-the-art approaches on 2-D fingertip estimation by a significant margin even in the presence of severe self-occlusion and varying lighting conditions. Moreover, fingertips would be detected irrespective of user orientation using this method.
Biomaterial-Guided Organoid Engineering for Modeling Development and Diseases

Organoids are miniature models of organs to recapitulate spatiotemporal cellular organization and tissue functionality. The production of organoids has revolutionized the field of developmental biology, providing the possibility to study and guide human development and diseases in a dish. More recently, novel bio-material-based culture systems demonstrated the feasibility and versatility to engineer and produce the organoids in a consistent and reproducible manner. By engineering proper tissue micro-environment, functional organoids have been able to exhibit spatial-distinct tissue patterning and morphogenesis. This review will focus on enabling technologies in the field of organoid engineering, including chemical-defined hydrogels, micro-fabrication techniques and organoid-on-chip platforms, which facilitate the assembly of in vitro modeling of development and diseases.
Jury Decision Making: The State of the Science

1 The Lay of the Empirical Land 2 Models of Juror and Jury Decision Making 3 Jury-Related Trial Practices 4 Effects of Trial Context 5 Trial Participant Characteristics 6 The Evidence 7 Deliberation 8 An Integrative Multi-Level Theory of Jury Decision Making 9 So What? Implications and Future Directions
Robustness and convergence of adaptive schemes in blind equalization and neural network training

We pursue a time-domain feedback analysis of adaptive schemes with nonlinear update relations. We consider commonly used algorithms in blind equalization and neural network training and study their performance in a purely deterministic framework. The derivation employs insights from system theory and feedback analysis, and it clarifies the combined effects of the step-size parameters and the nature of the nonlinear functionals on the convergence and robustness performance of the adaptive schemes.
The Sybil Attack

Large-scale peer-to-peer systems face security threats from faulty or hostile remote computing elements. To resist these threats, many such systems employ redundancy. However, if a single faulty entity can present multiple identities, it can control a substantial fraction of the system, thereby undermining this redundancy. One approach to preventing these "Sybil attacks" is to have a trusted agency certify identities. This paper shows that, without a logically centralized authority, Sybil attacks are always possible except under extreme and unrealistic assumptions of resource parity and coordination among entities.
Postural Orientation and Equilibrium

The sections in this article are: 1 Neural Control of Postural Orientation and Equilibrium 1.1 Behavioral Goals 1.2 Biomechanical Principles 1.3 Postural Strategies 2 Postural Orientation 2.1 Stiffness and Tonic Muscle Activation 2.2 Controlling Postural Orientation 2.3 Internal Representation of Postural Orientation 3 Coordination of Postural Equilibrium 3.1 Triggered Reactions to External Disturbances 3.2 Anticipatory Postural Adjustments for Voluntary Movement 3.3 Modeling of Postural Coordination 4 Sensory Control of Postural Orientation and Equilibrium 4.1 Sensory Integration 4.2 Somatosensory System 4.3 Vestibular System 4.4 Visual System 5 Central Neural Control of Posture 5.1 Spinal Cord and Brainstem 5.2 Basal Ganglia 5.3 Cerebellum 5.4 Cerebral Cortex 6 Concluding Remarks
Persistence of tandem arrays: implications for satellite and simple-sequence DNAs.

Recombination processes acting on tandem arrays are suggested here to have probable intrinsic biases, producing an expected net decrease in array size following each event, in contrast to previous models which assume no net change in array size. We examine the implications of this by modeling copy number dynamics in a tandem array under the joint interactions of sister-strand unequal crossing over (rate γ per generation per copy) and intrastrand recombination resulting in deletion (rate ∊ per generation per copy). Assuming no gene amplification or selection, the expected mean persistence time of an array starting with z excess copies ( i.e. , array size z + 1) is z (1 + γ/∊) recombinational events. Nontrivial equilibrium distributions of array sizes exist when gene amplification or certain forms of selection are considered. We characterize the equilibrium distribution for both a simple model of gene amplification and under the assumption that selection imposes a minimal array size, n . For the latter case, n + 1/03B1 is an upper bound for mean array size under fairly general conditions, where α(=2∊/γ) is the scaled deletion rate. Further, the distribution of excess copies over n is bounded above by a geometric distribution with parameter α/(1 + α). Tandem arrays are unlikely to be greatly expanded by unequal crossing over unless α << 1, implying that other mechanisms, such as gene amplification, are likely important in the evolution of large arrays. Thus unequal crossing over, by itself, is likely insufficient to account for satellite DNA.
Facility and site needs for the FIRE project

This paper describes concepts that have been developed for the layout of the FIRE buildings and facilities, and identifies major site requirements. The FIRE test cell, approximately 30/spl times/30 meters, is part of a structurally integrated tokamak and hot cell building. The tokamak centerline is set 4.2 m above the floor. Overhead space is sufficient to allow a bridge crane to remove the tie rod structure from the assembled tokamak. FIRE will be designed so that the thick outer wall of the vacuum vessel and the TF coils provide enough shielding so that the exterior of the machine remains accessible for hands-on maintenance. However, during operation and during maintenance activities that require the removal of a port plug additional shielding is required. A movable shield roof, which operates above the tokamak but below the crane, is provided to close the shield boundary during operations. The FIRE facility will have a tritium inventory large enough to require that it must be licensed by the NRC. A non-site-specific plot plan has been developed and is described. The tokamak-hot cell building is placed in the center of the site and arbitrarily oriented so crane rails run north-south, and the hot cell is to the north of the tokamak. Major electrical facilities are located to the west, while vacuum pumping, cooling, and tritium processing facilities are located to the east. Office space is provided for a laboratory staff assumed to be 800. All buildings and facilities are developed assuming a "green-field" site, and costs are estimated accordingly. Site requirements and alternative site selection strategies are described. Savings could be obtained if an existing facility, particularly one where nuclear licensing is already established, could be utilized.
Within-trial dynamics of radial arm maze performance in rats☆

Abstract The behavior of rats while solving a 12-arm radial maze was investigated using measures of response bias, choice latencies, and behavioral organization. Response bias decreased as a function of choice number, while the amount of time spent on the center platform between choices increased substantially during the last few choices. This increase in time between choices was largely accounted for by increases in investigatory behavior in the area of the doors leading to the arms. These data indicate that the processes involved in radial maze performance change over the course of each trial. As the choice sequence progresses, there is an increasing reliance on the use of information in memory, and a corresponding decrease in the use of response algorithms. In addition, the mean time taken to run down the chosen arm was shorter for correct choices than for incorrect choices, suggesting that arms are sometimes chosen despite a lowered expectation of finding food.
Present and future needs in dentistry: lipoprotein blood study

It is generally conceded that athero­ sclerosis and its complications are related initially to an abnormality of lipid me­ tabolism. There have been numerous epidemiological and clinical studies which have attempted to evaluate the effect of the diet and its manipulation on specific blood lipids which are inferred to influ­ ence atherogenesis and its complications. Although dietary factors do correlate well with blood lipid levels and the incidence of coronary heart disease,1-21 it has been thought advisable to develop a palatable, nutritionally balanced diet for the pre­ vention and treatment of the “ coronary prone” person. The present preliminary report, there­ fore, is based on a recently conducted clinical experiment in which specially processed foods from which most of the lipids have been removed were employed. These foods (supplied by Smither’s Com­ pany, a subsidiary of the Louis Milani Company, Los Angeles) were offered to a group of 15 practicing dentists over one month. The experiment was designed to study the protective influence of such low-calorie, low-fat diets on atherogenesis in the human in terms of serum lipid components and indexes of atherogenesis known to demonstrate a high degree of correlation with the disease. Practicing dentists were used as sub­ jects because of the known high incidence o f coronary artery thrombosis among members of this profession. The morbid­ ity in the dental profession from coronary heart disease compares with that found in the medical profession. The dentists who participated are all members of the Human Factors Division of the Univer­ sity of Southern California Dental School. The evaluation of the blood lipopro­ teins was made by a new method of stain­ ing and quantitation.22
Models of secondary nucleation attributable to crystal-crystallizer and crystal-crystal collisions

The rate of secondary nucleation of ice, assumed to be proportional to the product of collision frequency and impact energy, has been quantitatively modeled using idealized representations of collisions between crystals and either other crystals or surfaces in the crystallizer. The crystal-crystallizer collisions were assumed to be driven by either steady or turbulent fluid motion and the crystal-crystal collisions were assumed to be driven by either gravitational forces or turbulent eddies. The models predict to a good approximation the experimentally determined dependence of the secondary nucleation of ice on crystal size, ice concentration, and agitation power.
Distribution of Male Genital System Cancers (MGSC), United States – 1999–2001

Purpose MGSC comprise nearly a third of all cancers in males. Prostate cancer (PrC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among males, and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Testicular cancer (TsC) is the most common solid tumor among males aged 15–34 years. Penile (PnC) and other MGSC are uncommon. Recent national population-based data can further characterize these cancers. Methods Incidence data from 38 CDC-NPCR registries and 5 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries (i.e., 91% of the US), and mortality data from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (100% of the United States), were used to calculate age-specific and age-adjusted rates in 1999–2001 for the United States. Results About 96% and 98% of MGSC cases and deaths, respectively, were PrC. Incidence and death rates of PnC increased with increasing age, as well as incidence rates of other MGSC. PrC rates increased up to 70–79 years, where incidence declined but mortality continued to increase. TsC rates peaked at about 30-39 years, where incidence declined while mortality declined then increased at 80+ years. Compared to white males, age-adjusted incidence and death rates among black males were about twice as high for PrC and five to two times lower for TsC. Rates of PnC and other MGSC did not vary appreciably by white/black race. Analysis of age-adjusted PrC rates by census region showed the Northeast (NE) having the highest incidence rate and the Midwest (MW) and South (S) with the highest death rates. PnC incidence rates were highest in the NE and MW, while PnC death rates were highest in the MW and S. The West had the highest death rates for TsC and the highest incidence rates for other MGSC. TsC incidence rates and other MGSC death rates did not vary appreciably by Census region. Conclusions Demographic variations in the occurrence of uncommon MGSC were observed. Additional analyses by stage, histology, and grade are planned.
Exogenous surfactant in acute respiratory distress syndrome: more is better.

Pulmonary surfactant is a complex of highly active phospholipids and proteins that cover the alveolar epithelial surface of the lungs 1. Surfactant is synthesized in the alveolar type-II cells, stored in the lamellar bodies, and secreted to the alveolar space where it undergoes complex changes 2. The composition of lung surfactant in humans is very constant, although it may change in disease states 3. Phospholipids account for 85% of its composition and the main component is dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). In addition, surfactant contains different apoproteins, neutral lipids, and carbohydrates 4. Pulmonary-surfactant dysfunction can lead to acute lung injury and is characterized by alveolar instability, floating, and collapse. These abnormalities have been shown to occur in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) 5, 6 and infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) 7. Since the initial report of ARDS by Ashbaugh et al. 5, abnormalities of the surfactant system have been recognized. Petty and co-workers 8, 9, later reported both qualitative and quantitative abnormalities in the surfactant content of ARDS patients. It is now known that surfactant dysfunction plays a major role in the pathophysiology of ARDS 6, 10, and functional changes have been described not only in patients with established ARDS, but also in patients at risk 10–12. The main biochemical abnormalities include an 80% fall in the total phospholipid content, decline in the fractional content of DPPC and phosphatidylglycerol and …
Genetic constraints on floral evolution: a review and evaluation of patterns

The characteristics of flowers influence most aspects of angiosperm reproduction, including the agents of pollination and patterns of mating. Thus, a clear view of the forces that mediate floral phenotypic evolution is central to understanding angiosperm diversity. Here, we inform on the capacity for floral phenotype to respond to selection by reviewing published data on heritabilities and genetic correlations for several classes of floral traits (primary sexual, attraction, mating system) in hermaphroditic plants. We find significant heritability for all floral traits but also variation among them, as well as a tendency for heritability to vary with mating system, but not life history. We additionally test predictions stemming from life history theory (eg, negative covariation between male-female traits and flower size-flower number), and ideas concerning the extent and pattern of genetic integration between flowers and leaves, and between the sexes of dioecious and gynodioecious species. We find mixed evidence for life history tradeoffs. We find strong support for floral integration and its relation with floral morphology (actinomorphy vs zygomorphy) and for a decoupling of floral and vegetative traits, but no evidence that modular integration varies with floral morphology. Lastly, we find mixed evidence for a relationship between the level of sexual dimorphism in attraction traits and the between-sex correlation in gender dimorphic plants.
Liquid Cobalt (I) Hydride Complexes as Precursors for Chemical Vapor Deposition

Volatile cobalt (I) hydride complexes HCo[R1OP(OR2)2]4 were synthesized, where R1 = Me, Et, i-Pr, n-Pr, n-Bu, i-Bu, Ph, and benzyl, and R2 = Me and Et. The cobalt complexes were obtained as liquids as R1 was lengthened from ethyl to longer chains. The thermal stability of the complex was lowered with bulky R1, thus, HCo[n-PrOP(OMe)2]4 and HCo[n-BuOP(OMe)2]4 were distillable but HCo[i-BuOP(OMe)2]4 was not. Pure cobalt films of smooth and dense surface morphology were deposited on Si at temperatures as low as 270 °C using the cobalt hydrides as precursors under reduced pressure without employing H2.
Assessing End-Stage Renal Disease Patients' Functioning and Wellbeing: Measurement Approaches and Implications for Clinical Practice

Along with survival and other types of clinical outcome, the functioning and well-being that characterize end-stage renal disease patients are important indicators of the effectiveness of the medical care that they receive. In addition, maximizing functioning in chronically ill patients can be viewed as secondary prevention. Patient-reported functioning and well-being indicate how patients are doing in their daily lives and how they feel about their lives. Measurements used to assess patient functioning and well-being by health services researchers are applicable to health outcome assessment in the clinical setting. Disease- and treatment-specific outcome measurements are more sensitive to disease severity and treatment intervention effects, while generic outcome measurements provide generalizability across diseases or conditions. Specific measurements can provide data about clinically meaningful changes, and generic measurements help to indicate the significance of these outcomes in patients' daily lives. Using both types of patient-reported measurements, as well as performance-based assessments, will provide outcome-based data on end-stage renal disease patients' functional limitation and disability, and help to define relevant rehabilitation protocols for end-stage renal disease patients.
Thin-Film Scintillators For Extended Ultraviolet (UV) Response Silicon Detectors

The preparation and radiometric properties of silicon detectors coated with fluorescent thin films are described. The films are deposited from solutions of clear plastics, such as acrylic resins, polyvinyl toluene or polystyrene, and of organic laser dyes in a common solvent. They are optically clear, mechanically and chemically stable, yet easily applied and removed. Multiple doped films of a few microns thickness exhibit broad-band absorption from less than 250 nm to about 450 nm and narrow band emissions with peaks ranging from 380 nm to 600 nm. Internal quantum efficiencies are close to 100 percent and fluorescence decay times are in the nanosecond range. When deposited on optically denser media, a large fraction of the fluorescent emission is trapped in the substrate. Silicon photodiodes coated with multiple doped films exhibit high external quantum efficiencies and virtually flat photon response in the near UV.
Development of a Design for Manufacturing Rules Database for Use in Instruction of DFM Practices

In recent years, there has been a significant push towards “Design for X” (DFX) in modern engineering design practice. One such category that has received a large amount of attention is design for manufacturing. When conducting design for manufacturing, a common tool to assist in the design process is design for a series of design for manufacturing guidelines. While the use of these guidelines, as well as other DFX guidelines, has been shown to be effective, little research has been done with the intent to standardize the guidelines or make them more readily available. In this paper, the authors propose a Design for Manufacturing database tool to assist in the instruction of design for manufacturing guidelines. The development of the database model is discussed, as well as the interface that is used to interact with the database. The tool is then evaluated and conclusions are made with regards to the effectiveness of the database and any future work to increase the functionality. One major addition that is discussed is the adaptation of the database for use in industry, and not just in education, to assist in the engineering design process.Copyright © 2014 by ASME