cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO OZONE ON COLLAGEN IN RAT LUNG

Pulmonary fibrosis is a consequence of severe injury from some toxic agents including high doses of ozone. It is not known, however, whether chronic exposure to low doses of ozone, such as those encountered in polluted ambient atmospheres, could also result in abnormal accumulations of lung collagen. Rats were exposed to ozone for 20 hr per day, 7 days per week for 3, 6, 12, and 18 months at concentrations of 0.12, 0.25, or 0.50 ppm. Controls were exposed under identical conditions to purified air. Upon removal from the chambers, rats were euthanized and lung tissue slices incubated with [14C]proline. The incorporation of 14C into hydroxyproline and the total hydroxyproline content of lung tissue were measured as estimates of lung collagen synthesis and content, respectively. The formation of labeled hydroxyproline tended to decrease significantly with time in controls and at the three ozone doses. There were, however, no significant dose-related changes at any of the time points tested. Total lung hydroxyproline increased with age in all groups, but no dose-related changes were detected at any time point. It was concluded that chronic exposure of rats to ozone at concentrations which approximate ambient urban concentrations did not affect normal age-related changes in either synthesis or accumulation of lung collagen.
Memory-Load Interference in Syntactic Processing

Participants remembered a short set of words while read- ing syntactically complex sentences (object-extracted clefts) and syn- tactically simpler sentences (subject-extracted clefts) in a memory-load study. The study also manipulated whether the words in the set and the words in the sentence were of matched or unmatched types (common nouns vs. proper names). Performance in sentence comprehension was worse for complex sentences than for simpler sentences, and this effect was greater when the type of words in the memory load matched the type of words in the sentence. These results indicate that syntactic processing is not modular, instead suggesting that it relies on working memory resources that are used for other nonsyntactic processes. Fur- ther, the results indicate that similarity-based interference is an im- portant constraint on information processing that can be overcome to some degree during language comprehension by using the coherence of language to construct integrated representations of meaning.
CCCTC-binding Factor Mediates Effects of Glucose On Beta Cell Survival

Objectives Pancreatic islet β-cell survival is paramount for regulation of insulin activity and for maintaining glucose homeostasis. Recently, Pax6 has been shown to be essential for many vital functions in β-cells, although many molecular mechanisms of its homeostasis in β-cells remain unclear. The present study investigates novel effects of glucose- and insulin-induced CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) activity on Pax6 gene expression as well as for subsequent effects of insulin-activated signalling pathways, on β-cell proliferation. Materials and methods Pancreatic β-TC-1-6 cells were cultured in DMEM and stimulated with high concentrations of glucose (5–125 mm); cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Effects of CTCF on Pax6 were evaluated in the high glucose-induced environment and CTCF/Erk-suppressed cells, by promoter reporter and western blotting analyses. Results Increases in glucose and insulin concentrations upregulated CTCF and consequently downregulated Pax6 in β-cell survival and proliferation. Knocking-down CTCF directly affected Pax6 transcription through CTCF binding and blocked the response to glucose. Altered Erk activity mediated effects of CTCF on controlling Pax6 expression, which partially regulated β-cell proliferation. Conclusions CTCF functioned as a molecular mediator between insulin-induced upstream Erk signalling and Pax6 expression in these pancreatic β-cells. This pathway may contribute to regulation of β-cell survival and proliferation.
Development of Feeder-Free Culture Systems for Generation of ckit+sca1+ Progenitors from Mouse iPS Cells

Patient-specific therapeutic cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may bypass the ethical issues associated with embryonic stem (ES) cells and avoid potential immunological reactions associated with allogenic transplantation. It is critical, for the ultimate clinical applicability of iPS cell-derived therapies, to establish feeder-free cultures that ensure efficient differentiation of iPS cells into therapeutic progenitors. It is also necessary to understand if iPS cell-derived progenitors differ from those derived from ES cells. In this study, we compared the efficiency of three different feeder-free cultures for differentiating mouse iPS cells into ckit+sca1+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and compared how differentiation and functionality varies between ES and iPS cells. Our results indicated that both iPS and ES cells can be efficiently differentiated into HPCs in suspension cultures supplemented with secretion factors from mouse bone marrow stromal cells (OP9-DL1 conditioned medium). The functionality of these cells was demonstrated by differentiation into CD11c+ dendritic cells (DCs). Both ES and iPS-derived DCs expressed activation molecules (CD86, CD80) in response to LPS stimulation and stimulated T cell proliferation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Extensive quantitative RT-PCR studies were used to study the differences in gene expression profiles of ckit+sca1+ cells generated from the various culture systems as well as differences between ES-derived and iPS-derived cells. We conclude that a feeder-free system using stromal conditioned medium can efficiently generate HPCs as well as functional DCs from iPS cells and the generated cells have similar gene expression profile as those from ES cells.
Oxidative stress in fibromyalgia and its relationship to symptoms

Oxidative stress is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. We examined the hypothesis that oxidative stress was increased in patients with fibromyalgia and related to the severity of symptoms. Urinary F(2)-isoprostane excretion was measured in 48 patients with fibromyalgia and compared to those of 96 control subjects. In patients, we examined the association between oxidative stress and symptoms. Patients with fibromyalgia were significantly more symptomatic than control subjects, but urinary F(2)-isoprostane excretion did not differ significantly (2.3+/-1.9 vs. 2.8+/-2.2 ng/mg creatinine, p=0.16). In patients with fibromyalgia, F(2)-isoprostane excretion was associated with fatigue visual analog scale (rho=0.30, p=0.04) but not with pain, quality of life, functional capacity, depression, number of tender points, or overall impact of fibromyalgia. Oxidative stress is not increased in patients with fibromyalgia, but as was previously found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, oxidative stress was associated with fatigue.
Elections Under Authoritarianism

Current scholarship on elections in authoritarian regimes has focused on exploring the relationship between elections and democratization, and it has generally used analytical frameworks and methods imported from the study of genuinely democratic elections to do so. These tendencies have kept scholars from asking a wide range of questions about the micro-level dynamics of authoritarian elections and the systematic differences among them. With these issues in mind, this review examines literature that investigates the purpose of elections in dictatorships; the electoral behavior of voters, candidates, and incumbents in these elections; and the link between elections and democratization. The review ends with a call to redirect the study of authoritarian elections toward uncovering and explaining the important differences among them.
Making self-disassembling objects with multiple components in the Robot Pebbles system

This paper describes several novel algorithms for shape formation by subtraction in programmable matter systems. These algorithms allow the simultaneous formation of multiple different shapes from a single block of host material. The resulting shapes are allowed to intertwine in arbitrarily complex ways. We also present a proof that the algorithms operate correctly to form the desired shapes. Finally, we show experimental results from close to 100 trials using both the Robot Pebbles hardware and a unique software simulator. Multiple trials of several different experiments demonstrate the algorithms operating correctly.
Stromal-Derived Factor-1α Correlates With Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and With Acute Lesion Volume in Stroke Patients

Background and Purpose—Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are important participants of neovascularization and are mobilized through signaling with stromal-derived factor (SDF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and stem cell factor. The association between EPC levels and these growth factors (GF) in acute stroke has not been previously established. We aimed to determine the association between EPC and these GF, and to elucidate a relationship between these GF and stroke severity in acute stroke patients. Methods—Seventeen patients were selected from 175 patients with imaging-confirmed acute ischemic stroke. EPC were quantified using CD34, CD133, and VEGF-R2 markers. Plasma VEGF, SDF-1α, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and stem cell factor were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on days 1 and 3, and brain MRI was performed at baseline and on days 1 and 5 after the stroke onset. Results—Levels of SDF-1α strongly (r=0.6) correlated with ...
Influence of Job Market Conditions on Engineering Cooperative Education Participation

AbstractCooperative education (co-op) is a program in which participating students typically alternate between full-time study and paid full-time employment. Choosing to participate in a co-op program usually delays the student’s graduation by up to one year, but may increase the student’s job market prospects. This paper attempts to estimate the response of co-op participation to the engineering field-specific average wage for recent graduates. A relationship between wage growth, student ability, and co-op participation is investigated. Predictive modeling was performed using data obtained from the Multiple-Institution Database for Investigating Engineering Longitudinal Development (MIDFIELD), as well as the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES) Annual Report of Engineering Salaries. Semistructured interviews were conducted with industry co-op representatives to address supply and demand related questions. The authors found that a $10,000 real increase in the average initial wage causes a ...
The Mars Exploration Rover instrument positioning system

During Mars Exploration Rover (MER) surface operations, the scientific data gathered by the in situ instrument suite has been invaluable with respect to the discovery of a significant water history at Meridiani Planum and the hint of water processes at work in Gusev Crater. Specifically, the ability to perform precision manipulation from a mobile platform (i.e., mobile manipulation) has been a critical part of the successful operation of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. As such, this paper describes the MER instrument positioning system that allows the in situ instruments to operate and collect their important science data using a robust, dexterous robotic arm combined with visual target selection and autonomous software functions.
Microstructural development and electrical properties of sol-gel prepared lead zirconate-titanate thin films

A systematic investigation of the microstructural evolution of fast fired, sol-gel derived Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 films (Zr/Ti = 54/46) was performed by analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the nucleation and growth of the sol-gel PZT films were influenced by the precursor chemistry. The precursor solution was composed of Pb 2-ethylhexanoate, Ti isopropoxide, and Zr n-propoxide in n-propanol. Porous and spherulitic perovskite grains nucleated and grew from a pyrochlore matrix for NH4OH-modified films, but no chemical segregation was found. These thin films consisted completely of porous spherulitic PZT grains (∼2 μm) when the firing temperature was increased. Chemical phase separation with regions of Zr-rich pyrochlore particles separated by Zr-deficient perovskite grains was observed in the initial stages of nucleation and growth for CH3COOH-modified PZT films. This phase separation is attributed to the effect of acetate ligands on the modification of molecular structure of the PZT precursor. Firing the acid-modified films at higher temperatures for long times resulted in porous perovskite grain structures. The residual porosity in these films is suggested to be a result of differential evaporation/condensation rates during the deposition process and the gas evolution at high temperatures due to trapped organics in the films. Dielectric and ferroelectric properties were correlated to the microstructure of the films. Lower dielectric constants (∼500) and higher coercive fields (∼65 kV/cm) were found for the acid-modified PZT films with phase separation in comparison to those measured from the sol-gel films with a uniform microstructure (∽ > 600, Ec < 50 kV/cm). All films fired at 650 °C showed relatively good remanent polarization on the order of 20 μC/cm2.
A new precoding for ISI cancellation using multirate filterbanks

In this paper, we propose a new precoding scheme for intersymbol interference (ISI) cancellation using multirate filterbanks. The ISI channel may not have inverses, such as frequency-selective fading channels. We present a necessary and sufficient condition on an FIR ISI transfer function in terms of its zero set such that a linear FIR ideal equalizer exists. The condition is easy to check and satisfy. Designs of pre/postcodings are also presented. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the theory.
Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression During Reperfusion Injury Mechanical Versus Embolic Focal Ischemia in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Background and Purpose— Most experimental models of cerebral ischemia use mechanical methods of occlusion and reperfusion. However, differences between mechanical reperfusion versus clot thrombolysis may influence reperfusion injury profiles. In this study we compared blood flow recovery, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in cortex after mechanical versus thrombolytic reperfusion in rat focal ischemia. Methods— Male spontaneously hypertensive rats were used. Mechanical ischemia/reperfusion was achieved with the use of an intraluminal filament to occlude the middle cerebral artery for 2 hours. Thrombolytic reperfusion was achieved by administering tissue plasminogen activator at 2 hours after embolic focal ischemia. Regional cortical blood flow was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry. BBB permeability in cortex was measured by Evans blue dye leakage. Cortical MMP-9 levels were assessed with zymography and immunohistochemistry. Results— Blood flow recovery during mechanical reperfusion was complete in both central and peripheral areas of ischemic cortex. However, after thrombolysis, reperfusion was incomplete, with moderate recovery in the periphery only. BBB permeability was mainly increased in the central regions of the ischemic cortex after mechanical reperfusion but was increased in both central and peripheral areas after thrombolysis. Overall, MMP-9 levels were higher after embolic versus mechanical ischemia/reperfusion, even though ischemic injury was similar in both models at 24 hours. Conclusions— There are significant differences in the profiles of blood flow recovery, BBB leakage, and MMP-9 upregulation in mechanical versus thrombolytic reperfusion after focal ischemia.
A synoptic water quality survey of the Spring River and its tributaries

Abstract The Spring River in southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas is a high-value aquatic resource with a history of poor water quality. This study of the Spring River basin provides a high frequency synoptic evaluation of water quality in the Spring River between Waco, Missouri and Riverton, Kansas below Empire Lake as impacted by five tributary streams (Cow, Center, Turkey, Center, and Shoal creeks). Total reactive phosphorus (TRP), total phosphorus (TP), nitrate-N, total ammonia-N, and discharge were estimated 26 times from January to November 2001. Evaluation of mean nutrient concentrations at base flow and runoff conditions indicated that most nutrients entering the Spring River from its tributaries were due to agricultural runoff. The primary exception to this trend was Turkey Creek, where some mean nutrient concentrations were significantly lower during runoff compared to base flow (P <0.05 for TRP, TP, and nitrate-N), suggesting a greater importance of point sources. Instantaneous nutrien...
EPEC-activated ERK1/2 participate in inflammatory response but not tight junction barrier disruption.

EnteropathogenicEscherichia coli (EPEC) alters many functions of the host intestinal epithelia. Inflammation is initiated by activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and paracellular permeability is e...
Automated production of [18F]VAT suitable for clinical PET study of vesicular acetylcholine transporter

Automated production of a promising radiopharmaceutical (-)-(1-(8-(2-[(18)F]fluoroethoxy)-3-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)-piperidin-4-yl)(4-fluorophenyl)methanone ([(18)F]VAT) for the vesicular acetylcholine transporter(VAChT) was achieved using a two-step procedure in a current Good Manufacturing Practices fashion. The production of [(18)F]VAT was accomplished in approximately 140 min, with radiochemical yield of ~15.0% (decay corrected), specific activity>111 GBq/µmol, radiochemical purity>99% and mass of VAT ~3.4 μg/batch (n>10). The radiopharmaceutical product meets all quality control criteria for human use, and is suitable for clinical PET studies of VAChT.
Preliminary Investigation of Vertical Distributions of Fruiting Forms and Insects on Cotton Plants

Most populations of fruiting forms and cotton insects found in the upper two or three 6-inch increments of cotton plants are correlated with populations in the remainder of the plants. However, the correlations are not of sufficient magnitude to allow estimates for the lower portions to be derived from counts made in the upper two or three 6-inch increments. From 70 to 100% of the insects observed were in the upper 2 feet of the plants.
The Effects of DDT and Sublethal Doses of Dicofol on Reproduction of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite

Results of direct treatment of two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (= T. telarius (L.)), are contrasted with treatment of plants on which mites may grow and reproduce. Residual treatments of DDT or dicofol applied sublethally, but directly, to two-spotted spider mites, did not affect fecundity. The F1 generation of female mites matured more rapidly when grown on the trifoliate leaves of a bean plant treated with DDT on the primary leaves. Mite reproduction was greatest at a moderately high nitrogen concentration in the leaves. Mite reproduction increased on excised bean leaves floated on solutions of sucrose or calcium nitrate. Mite reproduction decreased on leaves exposed to glucose solutions. A 20% increase occurred with a combination of all 3 nutrients.
Determination of methanol in sodium algin by capillary gas chromatogram

Objective:To establish a method for determination of methanol in sodium algin by capillary gas chromatogram.Methods:Sodium algin samples were diluted by water,distilled in acidity condition,entered into the instrument,separated on DB-FFAP capillary column and detected by FID detector,quantified by peak areas.Results:With this method,detection limit(S/N=3) of sodium algin was 0.035 mg/g.The calibration curve showed good linearity in the range of 0～2.0 mg/ml.The mean recovery was 100%,and the relative standard derivation was between 1.3% and 2.3%.Conclusion:This method is sensitive and accurate.It can effectively determine the methanol residue in sodium algin.
Recent progress in the clinical development of docetaxel (Taxotere).

As a result of their substantial antitumor activity, clinical development of the taxanes has moved rapidly from second-line treatment of anthracycline-refractory metastatic breast cancer to current evaluation in large, adjuvant trials. New information suggests that the mechanism of action of taxanes may include cell death by induction of apoptosis and by antiangiogenic properties. In vitro analyses demonstrate docetaxel (Taxotere; Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Collegeville, PA) to be 100-fold more potent than paclitaxel in bcl-2 phosphorylation and apoptotic cell death. Antiangiogenic effects of docetaxel are mediated by endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and microtubule formation, which occur at drug concentrations achieved clinically with standard dose. Current initiatives involve the development of the weekly schedules of taxane administration. Potential advantages to weekly docetaxel over paclitaxel include reduction in peripheral neuropathies and lack of arthralgia/myalgia syndrome. The recommended doses for phase II testing of weekly docetaxel are 35 to 45 mg/m2/wk, levels at which grade 3/4 neutropenia and nonhematologic toxicities are minimal. Weekly regimens under investigation combine docetaxel with alternative agents, including trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech, San Francisco, CA). The docetaxel plus trastuzumab combination demonstrates synergy in vitro, in contrast to additivity demonstrated with paclitaxel plus trastuzumab. Several trials of the docetaxel (every 3 week and weekly) plus trastuzumab combination are ongoing for which the preclinical observations of synergy are hoped to translate into greater clinical activity and improved survival. The development of additional docetaxel combinations, schedules, and regimens as a result of the newly available therapies in the management of breast cancer holds promise for the future.
Big Roles for Nanocenters.

Author(s): Hersam, Mark C; Lee, Shiut-Tong; Nel, Andre E; Rogach, Andrey; Buriak, Jillian M; Weiss, Paul S
Production of Posttranslationally Modified Proteins in the SV40–Monkey Cell System

Publisher Summary This chapter considers the human growth hormone (hGH) and hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) genes as model systems to study post-translational events in monkey cells infected with SV40 recombinants. The results demonstrate that signal-sequence cleavage, glycosylation, secretion, and particle assembly occur in this system and that the final products are indistinguishable from their authentic counterparts by a variety of biochemical, physical, and immunological tests. The success of these initial experiments opens several interesting experimental opportunities, for example, it becomes possible to study the effects of amino acid sequence alterations on the post-translational and biological activity of animal-cell proteins. In the case of hGH, this was achieved by using a naturally occurring variant of the normal gene. Also, SV40 vectors may be useful for characterizing proteins for which the genes have been cloned but the functions are unknown. This should be especially true for secreted proteins because, at least for hGH and HBsAg, they can be recovered from the media in highly enriched forms and can be purified without the use of antibodies.
Marketing Education in a Digital World

(2003). Marketing Education in a Digital World. Marketing Education Review: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 79-79.
Case Studies in Modern Drug Discovery and Development

Edited by Xianhai Huang and Robert G. Aslanian. Published by Wiley-Blackwell, 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, 2012. 451 p. Price $135.00 (hard cover) These are challenging times for the pharmaceutical industry. Expiring patent cliffs together with the dearth of FDA-approved new chemical
Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue in Vascular Physiology and Pathology.

Blood pressure (BP) regulation is a complex homeostatic process involving multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular, renal, and central and peripheral nervous systems.1 Inability to properly regulate BP can result in the development of hypertension, which is associated with an increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiac and renal failure,2–4 and is the leading determinant of risk of death worldwide.5 In addition to genetic and environmental factors known to play a role in the development of hypertension,6 body weight and obesity are highly correlated with hypertension in humans.7,8 This is particularly alarming given the increased prevalence of obesity, which now affects 1 in 3 people in the United States.9 The close association between obesity, hypertension, and other cardiovascular disorders suggests an important role for adipose tissue (AT) in the regulation of vascular tone and BP. Until the mid 1900s, AT was considered to be a form of connective tissue with the primary function of storing energy in the form of lipids.10 However, AT is now recognized to be an important endocrine organ that can secrete polypeptides and metabolites, known as adipokines, which are involved in the normal regulation of various physiological processes, including BP regulation and vascular function.10,11 In the setting of obesity, AT undergoes complex remodeling. This is marked by a significant increase in tissue mass, through adipocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Changes in structural and cellular composition also occur, including changes in AT extracellular matrix, composition of lipid droplets, and infiltration of immune cells such as macrophages and lymphocytes, which results in low-grade inflammation.10,11 Most importantly, obesity shifts the secretory profile of AT, which in turn contributes to the dysregulation of BP and eventual development of hypertension.12 This is thought …
Therapeutic alliance in youth with autism spectrum disorder receiving cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety.

Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder may influence alliance in psychotherapy. This study examined therapeutic alliance and its relationship with child characteristics and anxiety treatment outcomes in youth with autism spectrum disorder. Youth (N = 64) with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring anxiety (7–16 years, IQ > 70) received 16 sessions of modular cognitive-behavioral therapy. Post-treatment therapist, youth and parent ratings of alliance as well as pre- and post-treatment ratings of child behavior were gathered. Ratings of alliance were commensurate to ratings seen in children without autism spectrum disorder. Measures of treatment outcome, but not pretreatment characteristics, were significantly associated with therapist ratings of alliance strength. Data suggest that therapeutic alliance may not be impaired in anxious youth with autism spectrum disorder and may be associated with treatment outcome.
Abstract TP31: Variability of Stroke Patients Meeting Endovascular Stroke Trial Criteria in a Non-clinical Trial Setting

Introduction: Five randomized trials proving the efficacy and safety of mechanical embolectomy for ischemic stroke patients used differing radiological methods to select patients for treatment. Hypothesis: The percentage of patients evaluated in a non-clinical trial setting that would meet radiological criteria to be included in the five trials will differ substantially. Methods: Retrospective study of consecutive ischemic stroke patients who were considered for endovascular stroke therapy based on confirmed intracranial large vessel occlusion (M1, M2, or carotid terminus) at an academic medical center from April 2010 - November 2014. All patients underwent CT perfusion and CT angiogram. Results: The table shows baseline characteristics of 119 patients. Median age was 69 years (IQR 57-79) and median NIHSS 18 (IQR 14-21). Most patients had ASPECTS score ≥ 6 (n=105, 88.2%). The M1 segment of MCA was the most common vessel occluded (n=81, 68%). All 119 patients (100%) met radiological criteria for MR CLEAN while 105 (88.2%) met criteria for SWIFT-PRIME, 96 (80.7%) for REVASCAT, 80/116 (69.0%) for EXTEND IA, and 74 (62.2%) for ESCAPE. IV TPA was given to 58 patients (48.7%) and acute endovascular stroke therapy attempted in 66 (55.5%). Any intracranial hemorrhage was more common in the patients treated with endovascular therapy than in those who were not (36% vs. 17%, p=0.025). The frequency of symptomatic ICH did not significantly differ between these two groups (6.1% vs 3.8%, p=0.691). Conclusions: The percentage of patients with acute stroke and large vessel occlusion that would qualify for endovascular stroke trials based on radiological criteria varies considerably (62%-100%) in a non-clinical trial cohort from an academic comprehensive stroke center. Additional individual patient characteristics influence treatment decisions in non-clinical trial settings.
Watch Me, but Don't Touch Me! Contactless Control Flow Monitoring via Electromagnetic Emanations

Trustworthy operation of industrial control systems depends on secure and real-time code execution on the embedded programmable logic controllers (PLCs). The controllers monitor and control the critical infrastructures, such as electric power grids and healthcare platforms, and continuously report back the system status to human operators. We present Zeus, a contactless embedded controller security monitor to ensure its execution control flow integrity. Zeus leverages the electromagnetic emission by the PLC circuitry during the execution of the controller programs. Zeus's contactless execution tracking enables non-intrusive monitoring of security-critical controllers with tight real-time constraints. Those devices often cannot tolerate the cost and performance overhead that comes with additional traditional hardware or software monitoring modules. Furthermore, Zeus provides an air-gap between the monitor (trusted computing base) and the target (potentially compromised) PLC. This eliminates the possibility of the monitor infection by the same attack vectors. Zeus monitors for control flow integrity of the PLC program execution. Zeus monitors the communications between the human machine interface and the PLC, and captures the control logic binary uploads to the PLC. Zeus exercises its feasible execution paths, and fingerprints their emissions using an external electromagnetic sensor. Zeus trains a neural network for legitimate PLC executions, and uses it at runtime to identify the control flow based on PLC's electromagnetic emissions. We implemented Zeus on a commercial Allen Bradley PLC, which is widely used in industry, and evaluated it on real-world control program executions. Zeus was able to distinguish between different legitimate and malicious executions with 98.9% accuracy and with zero overhead on PLC execution by design.
Demographic Comparisons of Aging in Five Selected Countries

The worldwide aging of the population is having a major impact upon society. The United Nations General Assembly has declared 1999 to be the International Year of Older Persons to increase the awareness of aging worldwide. They identified five principles for older persons: independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment, and dignity. The numbers of elderly are growing around the world with many elderly living considerably longer than in past times. Developed countries are struggling with the high cost of maintaining support programs, and developing countries face dissolution of traditional care systems without institutional replacements. Women around the globe typically live longer than men, often without the economic resources to maintain independence. As nations adapt to their aging populations, a partnership among policy makers, family members, and older persons themselves is needed to offer alternatives to meet the needs of elders.
The Hybrid HMM/MLP Approach

As described earlier, HMMs are now widely used for automatic speech recognition, and inherently incorporate the sequential and statistical character of the speech signal. However, notwithstanding their efficiency, standard HMM-based recognizers suffer from several weaknesses, mainly due to the many hypotheses required to make their optimization possible (see Chapter 3):
Segment Coordination Variability Differs by Years of Running Experience.

Running is a popular activity that results in high rates of overuse injury, with less-experienced runners becoming injured at higher rates than their more-experienced peers. Although measures of joint kinematics and kinetics and ground reaction forces have been associated with overuse running injuries, similar differences across levels of running experience have not been found. Because running is a motor skill that may develop with experience, an analysis of segment coordination and its variability could provide additional insight into why injury incidence decreases with increasing experience. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if less-experienced runners have different segment coordination and lower segment coordination variability compared with their more-experienced peers. Methods This retrospective analysis included 20 more-experienced (≥10 yr running) and 21 less-experienced (≤2 yr running) runners. Sagittal thigh versus shank and shank versus foot segment coordination and coordination variability were calculated using a modified vector coding approach as individuals ran on a treadmill at preferred pace. Coordination and its variability were compared between groups during terminal swing and early, mid, and late stance for both segment couples. Results Segment coordination was similar between less- and more-experienced runners. Less-experienced runners had lower segment coordination variability compared with more-experienced runners for both the thigh versus shank and shank versus foot couples. This lower variability occurred during early and mid stance. Conclusions Runners appeared to attain stable segment coordination patterns within 2 yr of consistent running, but had lower coordination variability compared with individuals who had been running for 10 or more years. These results suggest that assessment of movement patterns and their flexibility may help inform injury prevention or treatment strategies for less-experienced runners.
IS THERE A CORRELATION BETWEEN PRESEASON PHYSICAL TESTING AND HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PLAYER ABILITY

In the sport of softball, player ability is assumed to be in part attributed to speed, strength, and agility. As such, a preseason battery of physical performance tests may provide coaches information that may aid in the development of a softball player’s ability. However, information regarding the relationship between basic physical performance tests and player ability is limited. Purpose: To compare a preseason battery of performance tests (speed, strength, and agility) with in-season player performance outcomes to determine if a meaningful relationship existed. Methods: Fifteen varsity level high school female softball players (age: 16.1±1.4 yrs, height: 163.1±5.9 cms, mass: 64.8±8.6 kgs completed a preseason battery of performance tests 8-weeks prior to the season. Tests were performed across two sessions, separated by 48 hours to minimize the effects of fatigue. On day one, the athletes completed strength assessment consisting of the one-repetition maximum bench press (1RM BP) and the 1RM back squat (SQ). On day two, the athletes completed 3 trials of the agility (T-Test) and 3 trials of sprint speed (18.3m) assessments with the best score of the three trials used for analysis. Following the completion of the season, the head coach ranked the athletes on a 0-5 scale in batting average, fielding percentage, runs batted in (RBI), and on base percentage (OBP) accumulating a player ability score (PAS) between 0-20. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were then calculated between the physical performance scores and the PASs. Results: The correlations were as follows: 1RM BP and PAS (r=0.23), 1RM SQ and PAS (r=0.26), T-Test and PAS (r=-0.41), & 18.3 meter sprint and PAS (r=-0.54). Conclusion: Within the parameters of this study, the relationship between preseason physical performance measures and player ability ranges from low to moderate. As such, coaches should prioritize sport specific skills activities followed by physical conditioning exercise in order to improve player ability in this population. Article visualizations:
Blueberries and strawberries activate neuronal housekeeping in critical brain regions of stress-induced young rats.

Dysfunctional autophagy, where accumulation of damaged or complex cellular components in neurons in response to sublethal cell stress, has been implicated in an array of brain disorders. This pheno...
Nocturia in female patients: Current clinical features, treatment patterns and outcomes at a tertiary referral centre

Objective: To report the current clinical features, treatment patterns and outcomes of female patients who were seen at a tertiary referral centre with a primary diagnosis of nocturia, and to asses...
Impact of Tumor Regional Involvement on Active Surveillance Outcomes: Validation of the Cumulative Cancer Location Metric in a US Population

Abstract Background Treatment progression for men on active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer (PCa) is driven primarily by grade and volume progression on isolated prostate biopsies (PBx). As PCa is a multifocal disease, regional disease progression over time should be accounted for. Objective To validate the utility of the cumulative cancer location (CCLO) metric, which assesses regional core involvement, as described by Erickson et al (Cumulative cancer locations is a novel metric for predicting active surveillance outcomes: a multicenter study. Eur Urol Oncol 2018;1:268–75), in predicting AS outcomes in a North American cohort. Design, setting, and participants A single-institutional retrospective chart review of all AS patients evaluated between 2015 and 2017. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis CCLO defined as the total number of cancer-positive sextant locations among all PBx to that point in time (range 1–6). Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics of the entire cohort were stratified by CCLOΔ, defined as the difference between the first and the last CCLO. CCLOΔ then correlated with progression to treatment and treatment outcomes. Results and limitations A total of 261 men met the inclusion criteria. Though the mean number of biopsies was slightly higher in the CCLOΔ 3–5 cohort than in the CCLOΔ 0–2 cohort (p = 0.006), mean AS follow-up time (3.3 yr) was not significantly different (p = 0.327). As CCLOΔ increased, the proportion of men remaining on AS decreased, while the proportion of men receiving treatment increased (p Conclusions Higher regional cancer core involvement is associated with higher rates of progression to treatment in AS patients. The CCLO metric is a potentially useful modality in stratifying AS patients among the North American cohort for treatment, while not compromising disease outcomes. Patient summary In the North American population, cumulative cancer-positive locations among biopsies can be used to predict active surveillance outcomes in men with prostate cancer.
Forensic Stylometric Authorship Analysis Under the Daubert Standard

Forensic stylometric authorship analysis ('FSAA') is a subfield of applied linguistics concerned with the application of techniques which can determine whether two samples of text were written by the same author or, conversely, whether a sample of text attributed to one author is the genuine work of that author. The primary purpose of this article is to explain FSAA methodology to the legal practitioner and why, as it is usually used, FSAA should almost never be admitted under the Daubert standard of evidence in federal proceedings. The secondary purpose is to provide some practical advice and strategies to challenge FSAA in court. This article focuses on the history, methodology and law applicable to forensic stylometric authorship analysis. It outlines how some practitioners have stubbornly refused to abandon bogus, outmoded methodology while in other corners, practitioners are eagerly repeating the mistakes of their predecessors by adopting new methods like neural networking without considering the theoretical bases for importing these new techniques into FSAA. Looking ahead, as the methodology of FSAA becomes more refined and rigorous, decisions as to whether to include or exclude stylometry from the federal courthouse will become less cut-and-dry than they were in earlier cases. Practitioners should be advised to monitor this area closely, especially as methods for internet data mining gain a foothold among criminal investigators.
An integrative approach to the gender gap in entrepreneurship across nations

Abstract Although female entrepreneurship contributes to the economic growth of nations, women are less likely to start new ventures compared to men. This gap, however, varies considerably across nations, suggesting that environmental factors play a role in explaining it. We employ the cross-cultural cognitive model of new venture creation to elucidate this variance. Based on data from 45 nations, we find that, while women and men differ pan-culturally in their likelihood to start new ventures, the socio-cultural dimensions of masculinity-femininity and institutional non-compliance exacerbate, while generalized trust mitigates this gap across nations.
On query-answering in relational data bases

In recent years the relational model has been widely adopted for data base description. According to this model a data base, DB, describes certain objects of the world having certain attributes, and the relationships among them. Thus, DB is characterized by a set of attributes, D , a set of domains associated with the attributes, and a set of dependencies, F , corresponding to the relationships among the attributes (all the terms and concepts not defined here are those of References 1 – 3 ). A data base is a collection of relations, R ={ R i }. Each relation R i is characterized by a set of attributes S i ={ D j | D j ∈ D } called its scheme , and consists of a set of tuples. Each tuple is a map from the attributes of the relation scheme to their domains that satisfies all the dependencies of F (we shall consider functional dependencies).
Niemann–Pick Disease

Niemann–Pick disease (NPD) encompasses at least three lysosomal storage disorders, all of which are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. In NPD types A and B, the cause is a deficiency of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), responsible for the hydrolysis of the sphingolipid sphingomyelin. In NPD type C (NPC), there is a deficiency of either a transmembrane (NPC1) or soluble nonenzymatic (NPC2) protein, both implicated in intracellular cholesterol transport. Secondary GM2-ganglioside storage in NPC may partly explain the associated neurodegenerative features. By definition, NPD type B is the nonneuronopathic form of the disease, whereas central nervous system involvement is a feature of NPD types A and C. The presence of a cherry-red spot is a characteristic feature of NPD type A, whereas supranuclear gaze palsy is noted in NPC. Currently, there is no specific therapy for NPD types A and B. Substrate synthesis inhibition (miglustat) has been shown to alter several signs (e.g., gaze palsy, swallowing difficulties) associated with NPC, although the ultimate neurological prognosis appears unchanged.
Individual dynamics of delta–beta coupling: using a multilevel framework to examine inter- and intraindividual differences in relation to social anxiety and behavioral inhibition

Background Variation in EEG-derived delta-beta coupling has recently emerged as a potential neural marker of emotion regulation, providing a novel and noninvasive method for assessing a risk factor for anxiety. However, our understanding of delta-beta coupling has been limited to group-level comparisons, which provide limited information about an individual's neural dynamics. Methods The present study used multilevel modeling to map second-by-second coupling patterns between delta and beta power. Specifically, we examined how inter- and intraindividual delta-beta coupling patterns changed as a function of social anxiety symptoms and temperamental behavioral inhibition (BI). Results We found that stronger inter- and intraindividual delta-beta coupling were both associated with social anxiety. In contrast, the high-BI group showed weaker coupling relative to the non-BI group, a pattern that did not emerge when analyzing continuous scores of BI. Conclusions In characterizing inter- and intraindividual coupling across the sample, we illustrate the utility of examining neural processes across levels of analysis in relation to psychopathology to create multilevel assessments of functioning and risk.
Time domain order reduction of tridiagonal dynamics of staged processes-II: Nonuniform lumping

Abstract A method, based on modal theory arguments, is presented for the order reduction of the tridiagonal dynamic systems appearing in the modelling of staged processes such as gas-absorption. The state variables of the reduced model represent total concentration deviations for groups of adjacent stages that constitute lumps of uniform size. The reduction is achieved by the use of a transformation matrix that is constructed from all but one of the eigenrows characterizing the isolated dynamics of the stages of each lump. Quantitative error comparisons as well as direct comparisons of the transient responses of the approximate and exact models reveal that order reductions to 50% of the size of the initial model introduce very small errors in the system dynamics. Order reductions to 25%, or lower, of the size of the initial model result in quite satisfactory reduced models.
Computational Economy Equilibrium and Application

The rise of the Internet and the emerging E-Commerce applications has created new economic markets of unprecedented scale. They have introduced many cross-disciplinary challenges in mathematics and computer scientists, and engineering, one of which is the algorithmic and complexity issue of economy market equilibrium theory. In this talk, we examine the mathematical connections as well as the computational equivalences between equilibrium and optimization, between game equilibrium and market equilibrium, existence and NP-hardness, and between exact computation and approximation. Being able to compute equilibria numerically also significantly expands the applicability of game/economy equilibrium theory to a wide range of decision problems. We present applications of computational equilibrium from developing communication network protocols in spectrum management and resource allocation to adopting free trade policies in international trade between nations.
On a nonlinear perturbation theory without secular terms: I. Classical coupled anharmonic oscillators

Abstract We obtain solutions for coupled Lth-power nonlinear differential equations of the type with μ, ν = 1, 2, …, N and L > 1 being integers, which arise, for example, in hamiltonian systems after one diagonalizes the linear terms. These solutions have the form of a Fourier series whose Fourier coefficients are power series in e:where the frequencies are also power series in e, ωv = ∑∞j=0 ωv,jej. The jth-order coefficients A(μ)j(n) and ωv,j are expressed in terms of the lower-order coefficients by a simple algebraic recursion relation and the values of {nv} are bounded at each order j. The single nonlinear equation is studied in detail and the region of convergence for its series solution is derived. The region of convergence is found to be appropriate for all bounded solutions of the equation, for most choices of ω0, e and L (we indicate another series solution for the remaining choices). As an example we apply our method to an N-variable system by considering the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam model for energy transfer between nonlinearly coupled modes in a one-dimensional chain of springs and masses. A more detailed analysis of this problem will be presented later.