cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Security-enhanced quality of service (SQOS): a network analysis

Security and quality-of-service (QoS) issues have traditionally been considered separately, with different objectives and implementation architectures. No protocol has been designed and implemented so far to parameterize security as a QoS parameter. However, it has been noted recently that security and QoS are highly intertwined; security mechanisms may severely affect QoS mechanisms in terms of network performance and data confidentiality. In addition, users are not given the choices on which security services and mechanisms as well as which security level should be applied to their traffic. A security-enhanced quality of service-based (SQoS) network has been presented recently, with two major objectives. One objective is to offer the users elastic choices on the treatment of messages with appropriate security mechanisms with respect to their own QoS and budget requirements. Another objective is to facilitate interaction between security and QoS mechanisms in the most efficient manner by providing information to each other. In this paper, the network performance is investigated by defining the utility functions and maximizing the user's benefits subject to a set of constraints
Minimum Lock Assignment: A Method for Exploiting Concurrency among Critical Sections

In this paper we propose a lock assignment technique to simplify the mutual exclusion enforcement in multithreaded programs. Programmers are allowed to annotate the regions of code that are expected to be mutually exclusive as critical sections, without using explicit locks. The compiler then automatically infers an assignment of the minimum number of locks to critical sections by solving the Minimum Lock Assignment (MLA) problem so as to enforce mutual exclusion without any loss of concurrency. We show that the MLA problem is NP-hard. We have proposed a heuristic to solve the MLA problem, and tested the optimality of the heuristic with the Integer Linear Programming (ILP) solver. We have also tested the efficiency of the heuristic using scientific applications, from which we obtain up to 30% performance gain with respect to the programs in which all critical sections are controlled by a single lock.
Interdependent networks with identical degrees of mutually dependent nodes

We study a problem of failure of two interdependent networks in the case of identical degrees of mutually dependent nodes. We assume that both networks (A and B) have the same number of nodes N connected by the bidirectional dependency links establishing a one-to-one correspondence between the nodes of the two networks in a such a way that the mutually dependent nodes have the same number of connectivity links; i.e., their degrees coincide. This implies that both networks have the same degree distribution P(k). We call such networks correspondently coupled networks (CCNs). We assume that the nodes in each network are randomly connected. We define the mutually connected clusters and the mutual giant component as in earlier works on randomly coupled interdependent networks and assume that only the nodes that belong to the mutual giant component remain functional. We assume that initially a 1-p fraction of nodes are randomly removed because of an attack or failure and find analytically, for an arbitrary P(k), the fraction of nodes μ(p) that belong to the mutual giant component. We find that the system undergoes a percolation transition at a certain fraction p=p(c), which is always smaller than p(c) for randomly coupled networks with the same P(k). We also find that the system undergoes a first-order transition at p(c)>0 if P(k) has a finite second moment. For the case of scale-free networks with 2 0. Finally, we find that the robustness of CCN increases with the broadness of their degree distribution.
BIST-guided ATPG

This paper presents a new reseeding technique that considerably reduces the storage required for the seeds as well as the test application time by alternating between ATPG and reseeding to optimize the seed selection. The technique avoids loading a new seed into the PRPG whenever the PRPG can be placed in a state that generates test patterns without explicitly loading a seed. The ATPG process is tuned to target only undetected faults as the PRPG goes through its natural sequence which is maximally used to generate useful test patterns. The test application procedure is slightly modified to enable higher flexibility and more reduction in tester storage and test time. The results of applying the technique show up to 90% reduction in tester storage and 80% reduction in test time compared to classic reseeding. They also show 70% improvement in defect coverage when the technique is emulated on test chips.
Comparing the Developmental Genetics of Cognition and Personality over the Life Span

Empirical studies of cognitive ability and personality have tended to operate in isolation of one another. We suggest that returning to a unified approach to considering the development of individual differences in both cognition and personality can enrich our understanding of human development. We draw on previous meta-analyses of longitudinal, behavior genetic studies of cognition and personality across the life span, focusing particular attention on age trends in heritability and differential stability. Both cognition and personality are moderately heritable and exhibit large increases in stability with age; however, marked differences are evident. First, the heritability of cognition increases substantially with child age, while the heritability of personality decreases modestly with age. Second, increasing stability of cognition with age is overwhelmingly mediated by genetic factors, whereas increasing stability of personality with age is entirely mediated by environmental factors. Third, the maturational time-course of stability differs: Stability of cognition nears its asymptote by the end of the first decade of life, whereas stability of personality takes three decades to near its asymptote. We discuss how proximal gene-environment dynamics, developmental processes, broad social contexts, and evolutionary pressures may intersect to give rise to these divergent patterns.
Private Regulation of Consumer Arbitration

Arbitration providers, such as the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and JAMS, have promulgated due process protocols to regulate the fairness of consumer and employment arbitration agreements. A common criticism of these due process protocols, however, has been that they lack an enforcement mechanism. While arbitration providers state that they enforce the protocols by refusing to administer cases in which the arbitration agreement materially fails to comply with the relevant protocol, the private nature of arbitral dispute resolution makes it difficult to verify whether providers in fact refuse to administer such cases.This article reports the results of the first empirical study of the AAA’s enforcement of its Consumer Due Process Protocol. We find that the AAA’s review of arbitration clauses for protocol compliance appears to be effective at identifying and responding to those clauses with protocol violations. During the time period studied, the AAA refused to administer a substantial number of cases (almost 10% of its total consumer caseload) that involved a protocol violation. Moreover, in response to AAA protocol compliance review, over 150 businesses have either waived problematic provisions or revised arbitration clauses to remove provisions that violated the Consumer Due Process Protocol.Our findings support the proposition that private regulation by the AAA complements existing public regulation of the fairness of consumer arbitration clauses. Any consideration of the need for future legislative action should take into account the effectiveness of this private regulation. That said, we do not assert that private regulation alone - with no public regulatory backstop, such as through court oversight - suffices to ensure the fairness of consumer arbitration proceedings. Rather, we suggest ways that courts and policy makers could reinforce the AAA’s enforcement of the Consumer Due Process Protocol as well as ways the AAA could improve its own review process.
Cyperine, a phytotoxin produced by Ascochyta cypericola, a fungal pathogen of Cyperus rotundus

Abstract An investigation of the phytotoxic metabolises of Ascochyta cypericola , a pathogen of the noxious weed purple nutsedge, has yielded cyperine, an extremely active, novel biphenyl ether.
Experimental constraints on bubble interactions in rhyolite melts: implications for vesicle size distributions

We have studied interactions between bubbles of two distinct size classes in rhyolite melts experimentally decompressed between 200 and 80 MPa. The first set of ‘decompression’ bubbles has a size range (Rdec) of 1–11 μm and is formed from nucleation and growth upon isothermal decompression of the melt. The larger populations of ‘hydration’ bubbles are on average 30–40 μm in radius (Rhyd) and are formed from pore spaces present that were filled with water vapor during the saturation runs prior to the decompression experiments. The first type of interaction results in the elongation of decompression bubbles oriented radially around the larger hydration bubbles. The degree of elongation increases both as a function of distance and with increasing ratio of hydration to decompression bubble size (Rhyd/Rdec). The second type of interaction studied results in a reduction of the size of decompression bubbles located within a range of distances from 10 to 65 μm from a hydration bubble surface, relative to the modal size of the unaffected bubbles in the same sample. In addition, within an average distance of 10 μm, melt next to the hydration bubble surface is depleted in decompression bubbles. Our results indicate that concentration gradients in the melt are probably responsible for bubble size reduction and the depleted zones, because the predicted time scales for Ostwald ripening are much longer than those of the experiments. These effects persist even to the lowest ending pressures studied (80 MPa), which indicates that size distributions of small bubbles may be affected by concentration gradients in the depleted melt shell surrounding large bubbles. Large bubbles present in an ascending magma, prior to a subsequent nucleation event, could therefore affect the growth of the smaller bubble population occurring within the depleted melt shell of the larger bubbles, and produce a bimodal vesicle size distribution. Elongated decompression bubbles may be strained as a result of melt flowing away from the much larger hydration bubbles as they grow. Estimates of capillary number (Ca) plotted against deformation (Df) indicate that bubbles in water-rich rhyolite melts are deformable, even at small sizes (1 μm) and small values of Ca. Our results show a different trend of Df with Ca than previous studies in non-geological systems predict, indicating that viscosity effects may be important. The preservation of deformation textures depends strongly on relaxation time, explaining the lack of deformation textures in less viscous natural lavas.
A Cluster Validity Framework Based on Induced Partition Dissimilarity

We describe a new cluster validity framework (CVF) that compares structure in the data (in dissimilarity form) to the structure of dissimilarity matrices induced by a matrix transformation of the partition being tested. As part of this framework, we show two possible cluster validation measures: one, visual cluster validity, that that uses visual comparison and another one, correlation cluster validity, based on correlation. Unlike many existing measures, the measures we propose can be applied to crisp or soft partitions obtained by any relational or object data clustering algorithm. We illustrate the new measures and compare them to several well-known existing measures using real and artificial data sets.
Influence of extracellular polymeric substances on Pseudomonas aeruginosa transport and deposition profiles in porous media.

The impact of cell surface extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on bacterial transport and retention profiles was investigated in saturated columns packed with glass beads. Three genetically well-defined isogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with different EPS secretion capability and EPS composition were used to systematically examine their deposition behavior over a range of solution chemistry. The presence of EPS on nonmucoid strain PAO1 and mucoid strain PDO300 significantly increased bacterial adhesion over the EPS deficient PAO1 psl pel mutant strain despite their similar surface charge as indicated by the zeta potential measurements. Retained bacterial profiles show the deposition rate coefficients with various shapes and degrees of deviation from those expected from the classic filtration theory. Non-monotonic deviations from the log-linear deposition pattern with the majority of the bacteria retained downgradient of the column inlet were observed when bacterial cells were encapsuled by EPS ...
Towards a multiscale approach to cybersecurity modeling

We propose a multiscale approach to modeling cyber networks, with the goal of capturing a view of the network and overall situational awareness with respect to a few key properties - connectivity, distance, and centrality - for a system under an active attack. We focus on theoretical and algorithmic foundations of multiscale graphs, coming from an algorithmic perspective, with the goal of modeling cyber system defense as a specific use case scenario. We first define a notion of multiscale graphs, in contrast with their well-studied single-scale counterparts. We develop multiscale analogs of paths and distance metrics. As a simple, motivating example of a common metric, we present a multiscale analog of the all-pairs shortest-path problem, along with a multiscale analog of a well-known algorithm which solves it. From a cyber defense perspective, this metric might be used to model the distance from an attacker's position in the network to a sensitive machine. In addition, we investigate probabilistic models of connectivity. These models exploit the hierarchy to quantify the likelihood that sensitive targets might be reachable from compromised nodes. We believe that our novel multiscale approach to modeling cyber-physical systems will advance several aspects of cyber defense, specifically allowing for a more efficient and agile approach to defending these systems.
Spectral Classification of Unresolved Binary Stars with Artificial Neural Networks

An artificial neural network technique has been developed to perform two-dimensional spectral classification of the components of binary stars. The spectra are based on the 15 A resolution near-infrared (NIR) spectral classification system described by Torres-Dodgen & Weaver. Using the spectrum with no manual intervention except wavelength registration, a single artificial neural network (ANN) can classify these spectra with Morgan-Keenan types with an average accuracy of about 2.5 types (subclasses) in temperature and about 0.45 classes in luminosity for up to 3 mag of difference in luminosity. The error in temperature classification does not increase substantially until the secondary contributes less than 10% of the light of the system. By following the coarse-classification ANN with a specialist ANN, the mean absolute errors are reduced to about 0.5 types in temperature and 0.33 classes in luminosity. The resulting ANN network was applied to seven binary stars.
An easy-to-use tool for dressing finger injuries painlessly

Finger injuries are among the most common injuries treated in the emergency department. After surgical management, surgeons find that patients with finger injuries will sometimes experience severe tenderness when dressings are being changed. To reduce patients’ discomfort an easy-to-use tool for painless finger wound dressing has been developed.
Segregation of Genes for Nitrogen Fixation into Minicells of Escherichiacoll

SummaryAn Escherichia coli strain containing nitrogen fixation (nif) genes on a transferable plasmid (RP41) was conjugated with an E. coli minicell-producing strain. The nif genes were expressed in the new strain as measured by acetylene reduction assays. Segregation of the RP41 plasmid into minicells was proved by the incorporation of acid-precipitable [3H]thymidine into minicells and also by the conjugal transfer of acetylene reduction ability during matings using minicell donors. Protein synthesis was measured by the time-dependent increase of acid-precipitable [3H]leucine in minicell suspensions. Minicells which contained the plasmid had greater synthetic ability than those which did not.Technical contributions to minicell purification were made. Sucrose gradients made by a new freeze-thaw procedure allowed easy preparations of sterile gradients which were used to obtain purity of 105 minicells per contaminating cell. A Dap− mutant was constructed in order to prevent outgrowth of contaminating cells d...
Limitation of Competition in and for the Public Transportation Market in Developing Countries: Lessons from Latin American Cities

This paper analyzes the limitations of providing public transit service because of competition in the market. Evidence from seven cities in Latin America is used to show how this service arrangement leads to inflated fares, oversupply of buses, and low-quality service. The paper then analyzes the solution advocated by the literature—competition for the market as a means to properly arrange public transit service. Next, four cities that have implemented public transit service in this competitive market are analyzed. It is found that competition for the market offers a solution but needs to be complemented by solid barriers to market entry, centralized fare collection, and the creation of a bus rapid transit (BRT) line, if demand justifies it. BRT creates a system in which competition for the market blossoms and demands for much-needed institutional capacity in operators and government agencies are met. Finally, after implementing these measures, cities should create integrated transit networks to complete ...
A Molecular Dynamics Study on the Binding and Interaction of the Amyloid-Beta (1-42) Peptide with Phospholipid Bilayers

The Amyloid-Beta (A-Beta) peptide is a key aggregate species in Alzheimer's disease. While aspects of the A-Beta peptide aggregation pathway have previously been elucidated, the initial conversion of monomer peptides into an oligomer during aggregation is not clearly understood. One potential mediator of these early stages of aggregation is interactions of A-Beta with cell membranes, particularly anionic cell membranes. We use unconstrained and umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations to investigate interactions between the 42-amino acid A-Beta peptide and model bilayers consisting of zwitterionic dipalmitoylphophatidylcholine (DPPC) lipids and anionic dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) lipids. From this work, we determine that A-Beta binds to the surface of DPPC and DOPS bilayers over the small length scales used in simulations. Our results also support the hypothesis that the charge on the bilayer surface and on the peptide affects both the free energy of peptide-membrane binding and the distribution of the peptide on the bilayer surface. Finally, no significant secondary structure change is observed in the peptide during the timescales used in these simulations. This result may indicate all-atom simulation times are too short to observe secondary structure changes in this system or that structure change during the oligomerization process requires peptide-peptide interactions. Our work demonstrates that interactions between the A-Beta peptide and lipid bilayers promote a peptide distribution on the bilayer surface that is prone to peptide-peptide interactions, which can influence the propensity of A-Beta to aggregate into higher order structures.
Derivation and accuracy of the ‘rule of 72'†

For an investment with annually compounded interest the time required for it to double can be quickly estimated by using the ‘rule of 72’ (years to double = 72/percent annual interest). A simple derivation for the rule and an evaluation of its accuracy are presented. Results indicate the rule errs by less than l1/2 months for interest rates between 6 and 12 per cent, and by less than 21/2 months for rates between 5 and 21 per cent, and by less than 31/2 months for 4‐3 per cent or any larger rate. †This paper was approved by the Director, Washington State University, Agricultural Research Center, as Scientific Paper 7683, Project 0671.
Uncertainty propagation in an ecosystem nutrient budget

New aspects and advancements in classical uncertainty propagation methods were used to develop a nutrient budget with associated uncertainty for a northern Gulf of Mexico coastal embayment. Uncertainty was calculated for budget terms by propagating the standard error and degrees of freedom. New aspects include the combined use of Monte Carlo simulations with classical error propagation methods, uncertainty analyses for GIS computations, and uncertainty propagation involving literature and subjective estimates of terms used in the budget calculations. The methods employed are broadly applicable to the mathematical operations employed in ecological studies involving step-by-step calculations, scaling procedures, and calculations of variables from direct measurements and/or literature estimates. Propagation of the standard error and the degrees of freedom allowed for calculation of the uncertainty intervals around every term in the budget. For scientists and environmental managers, the methods developed herein provide a relatively simple framework to propagate and assess the contributions of uncertainty in directly measured and literature estimated variables to calculated variables. Application of these methods to environmental data used in scientific reporting and environmental management will improve the interpretation of data and simplify the estimation of risk associated with decisions based on ecological studies.
A case study of modern PLC and LabVIEW controls: Power Supply Controls for the ORNL ITER ECH test stand

Power Supply Controls are being developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to test transmission line components of the Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) system, with a focus on gyrotrons and waveguides, in support of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The control is performed by several Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC's) located near the different equipment. A technique of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) is presented to monitor, control, and log actions of the PLC's on a PC through use of Allen Bradley's Remote I/O communication interface coupled with an Open Process Control/Object Linking and Embedding [OLE] for Process Control (OPC) Server/Client architecture. The OPC data is then linked to a National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW system for monitoring and control. Details of the architecture and insight into applicability to other systems are presented in the rest of this paper. Future integration with an EPICS (Experimental Physics Industrial Control System) - based mini-CODAC (Control, Data Access and Communication) SCADA system is under consideration, and integration considerations will be briefly introduced.
The Arginine Regulatory Protein Mediates Repression by Arginine of the Operons Encoding Glutamate Synthase and Anabolic Glutamate Dehydrogenase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The arginine regulatory protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ArgR, is essential for induction of operons that encode enzymes of the arginine succinyltransferase (AST) pathway, which is the primary route for arginine utilization by this organism under aerobic conditions. ArgR also induces the operon that encodes a catabolic NAD+-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), which converts l-glutamate, the product of the AST pathway, in α-ketoglutarate. The studies reported here show that ArgR also participates in the regulation of other enzymes of glutamate metabolism. Exogenous arginine repressed the specific activities of glutamate synthase (GltBD) and anabolic NADP-dependent GDH (GdhA) in cell extracts of strain PAO1, and this repression was abolished in an argR mutant. The promoter regions of the gltBD operon, which encodes GltBD, and the gdhA gene, which encodes GdhA, were identified by primer extension experiments. Measurements of β-galactosidase expression from gltB::lacZ and gdhA::lacZ translational fusions confirmed the role of ArgR in mediating arginine repression. Gel retardation assays demonstrated the binding of homogeneous ArgR to DNA fragments carrying the regulatory regions for the gltBD and gdhA genes. DNase I footprinting experiments showed that ArgR protects DNA sequences in the control regions for these genes that are homologous to the consensus sequence of the ArgR binding site. In silica analysis of genomic information for P. fluorescens, P. putida, and P. stutzeri suggests that the findings reported here regarding ArgR regulation of operons that encode enzymes of glutamate biosynthesis in P. aeruginosa likely apply to other pseudomonads.
An XAFS study of the oxidation of structural iron in biotite mica by solutions containing Br2 or H2O2

Abstract XAFS measurements have been made on the Fe edge for a series of biotite micas oxidized to different extents by solutions containing either Br 2 or H 2 O 2 . The Fe in the Br 2 -treated sample is nearly completely oxidized to Fe(III), while the H 2 O 2 -treated samples showed an intermediate degree of oxidization. Both the near-edge and EXAFS for the H 2 O 2 samples could be fit well by a linear combination of the untreated and Br 2 -treated samples. This indicates that the partially oxidized samples have the two forms of Fe in distinct sites. Detailed analysis gave for the oxidized site a coordination of 5.7 ± 0.5 with a FeO distance of 1.99 A.
The Use of Distributed Energy Storage System in Smart Power Distribution and Utilization Park

With the development of smart grid, smart power distribution and utilization park (hereinafter referred to as Park) is also accelerating the building. Distributed energy storage system (DESS）as important energy system of Park, the development has an important impact on the construction of Park. This article briefly introduces both of DESS and Park, focuses on the use of DESS in Park and analyzes the deficiencies in the use of DESS at home and abroad.
Guinea pig vas deferens contains ρ but not phencyclidine receptors

Homogenates from guinea pig vas deferens were examined for possible existence of sigma receptor and phencyclidine (PCP) receptor using a radioligand binding assay. [3H](+)-SKF-10047 bound saturably in the homogenates to a single population of binding sites with a Kd of 311 and a Bmax of 1090 fmol/mg protein. IC50S of several representative sigma in displacing [3H](+)-SKF-10047 from this binding site were very much similar to the IC50S of those drugs in the brain sigma receptor binding assay. A correlation coefficient of 0.96 was obtained when IC50S from vas deferens were compared with those from the brain assay. Attempts to demonstrate PCP receptors in this tissue using [3H]TCP (N-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine), however, yielded negative results. The results indicate that while guinea pig vas deferens contains sigma receptors, PCP receptors may be absent in this tissue.
Exact stiffness matrix of a nonuniform beam—I. Extension, torsion, and bending of a bernoulli-euler beam

Abstract The exact axial, bending, and torsion stiffness matrices have been developed for an arbitrary nonuniform beam element. The coefficients of the bending stiffness matrix require the evaluation of three integrals, while the axial and torsion stiffness matrices require only one integral. These coefficients are evaluated for a uniform beam (verification) and a nonuniform beam with either linearly- or parabolically-varying cross-section dimensions. Two sets of numerical results are presented to provide a comparison of the current exact approach with a commonly used displacement-based approach and an approximate approach found in most commercial finite element programs. The two existing approaches produced acceptable results for an extremely small range of tapers. As more elements are used with the two existing approaches, their solutions will converge to the current exact solution which requires only one element.
Agrin accumulates in the brain microvascular basal lamina during development of the blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an essential feature of the microvasculature in neural tissues. Agrin, a synapse organizing molecule at the neuromuscular junction, also accumulates on brain microvasculature and may be involved in BBB formation and function. We investigated the developmental expression of agrin at rat and chick brain capillaries by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Anti-agrin immunoreactivity (IR) completely ensheathes all observed microvessels labeled with anti-von Willebrand factor in adult brains of both species. Brain microvascular agrin IR codistributes with anti-laminin IR, consistent with agrin localization in the microvessel basal lamina. On microvessels in testis and thymus, tissues which also contain blood-tissue barriers, the pattern of IR is indistinguishable from brain microvessels. In contrast, little or no agrin IR is observed on capillaries in muscle and other tissues. During chick and rat development, agrin accumulates on brain microvessels around the time the vasculature becomes impermeable. Differential staining and electroblotting suggest that the agrin isoforms expressed on brain microvessels lack the 8- and 11-amino acid sequences that confer on agrin high potency in acetylcholine receptor clustering. Taken in context with the organizing role of agrin in synaptogenesis, these results indicate that agrins may function as important players in the formation and maintenance of cerebral microvascular impermeability.
A tale of two cities: typical celiac sprue presenting symptoms are signficantly more common in Turkish than in U.S. patients

A tale of two cities: typical celiac sprue presenting symptoms are signficantly more common in Turkish than in U.S. patients
Forequarter amputation for recurrent breast cancer: A case report and review of the literature

Axillary recurrence of breast cancer is an uncommon event that can lead to debilitating pain, lymphedema, and paralysis of the upper extremity. Multimodality therapy including surgery is usually used to control local recurrence. In a subset of patients, the extent of disease is such that local excision of the recurrence is not possible. In the absence of metastatic disease, forequarter amputation may be used as an effective means of surgical salvage and palliation for locally recurrent breast cancer. In this report, we describe management of a patient with advanced axillary recurrence treated with forequarter amputation and review the current literature on the use of this operation in breast cancer patients.
A novel role of computers in the natural products field

We describe several computer programs developed in our laboratory as aids in the determination of unknown molecular structures. These programs include CONGEN [1], for determination of all plausible structural candidates; REACT [2, 3], for simulation of sequences of chemical reactions; and STRUCC, for evaluating candidates and planning new experiments. We stress the importance of symbiosis between chemist and computer, the combination building on their respective strengths to increase the speed and accuracy of structural assignments.
Reconceptualizing balance: attributes associated with balance performance

Balance tests are commonly used to screen for impairments that put older adults at risk for falls. The purpose of this study was to determine the attributes that were associated with balance performance as measured by the Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques (FICSIT) balance test. This study was a cross-sectional secondary analysis of baseline data from a longitudinal cohort study, the Boston Rehabilitative Impairment Study of the Elderly (Boston RISE). Boston RISE was performed in an outpatient rehabilitation research center and evaluated Boston area primary care patients aged 65 to 96 (N=364) with self-reported difficulty or task-modification climbing a flight of stairs or walking 1/2 of a mile. The outcome measure was standing balance as measured by the FICSIT-4 balance assessment. Other measures included: self-efficacy, pain, depression, executive function, vision, sensory loss, reaction time, kyphosis, leg range of motion, trunk extensor muscle endurance, leg strength and leg velocity at peak power. Participants were 67% female, had an average age of 76.5 (±7.0) years, an average of 4.1 (±2.0) chronic conditions, and an average FICSIT-4 score of 6.7 (±2.2) out of 9. After adjusting for age and gender, attributes significantly associated with balance performance were falls self-efficacy, trunk extensor muscle endurance, sensory loss, and leg velocity at peak power. FICSIT-4 balance performance is associated with a number of behavioral and physiologic attributes, many of which are amenable to rehabilitative treatment. Our findings support a consideration of balance as multidimensional activity as proposed by the current International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model.
Myxoma of the left atrium; diagnosis made during life with operative and post-mortem findings.

A case of intra-atrial myxoma manifested clinically by evidences of mitral stenosis and peripheral emboli is presented in detail. The diagnosis was made during life and confirmed by angiocardiography. The surgical procedure, attempted as a last resort, is described, as are the postmortem findings. This case points the way to possible surgical cure in similar lesions.
A reversible thermosensitive adhesive for retinal implants: in vivo experience with plasma-deposited poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide).

Purpose:To study the in vivo effects of a thermosensitive retinal adhesive, plasma-polymerized N-isopropyl acrylamide (ppNIPAM), in rabbit eyes.Methods:Parylene C(poly(monochloro-p-xylylene)) (20 μm) and poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) (≥200 μm) coated with ppNIPAM were used as implant materials. Fol
Cytochrome P450s and cholesterol homeostasis

By participating in pathways of cholesterol biosynthesis and elimination, different cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) enzymes play an important role in maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis. CYP51 is involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, whereas CYP 7A1, 27A1, 46A1, 7B1, 39A1, and 8B1 are the key enzymes in cholesterol catabolism to bile acids, the major route of cholesterol elimination in mammals. Cholesterol transformations to steroid hormones are also initiated by the P450 enzyme CYP11A1. Finally, one of the major drug-metabolizing P450s CYP3A4 seems to contribute to bile acid biosynthesis as well. The 9 P450s will be the focus of this review and assessed as drug targets for cholesterol lowering.
Otis Dudley Duncan's major contributions to the study of social stratification ☆

Abstract Otis Dudley Duncan changed the course of social stratification research not once but twice. First he introduced measures, conceptual refinements, and methods that solved most of the problems that were leading to intellectual stagnation in the study of social mobility. His measurement advance was a scale that soon became known as the Duncan scale; it ranked the goodness of occupations on what approximated an interval scale. At this time, he also critiqued the prevailing view that social mobility represented the turnover of the occupational structure from one generation to the next and redefined the father's occupation as an attribute of the son or daughter, their social origin. He also showed how methods that geneticists and economists found useful could be adapted to the study of social stratification. In his second intervention, he demonstrated how destinations depend on origins in the mobility table and how the ideas and a version of the methods he had developed earlier applied to this form of data as well.
ROLE OF pH IN GEL FORMATION OF WASHED CHICKEN MUSCLE AT LOW IONIC STRENGTH

This work was designed to test the hypothesis that it is not solubilization of the myofibrillar proteins per se that is required to form good gels at low salt concentrations, but the protein-containing structures must be disorganized. Gels were made from washed minced chicken breast muscle at 0.15, 0.88, and 2.5% sodium chloride. The gels made with varying salt concentrations were evaluated either at pH 6.0-6.5 or pH 7.0-7.4. Strain values, an indicator of protein quality, were high only at neutral pH in the gels containing 0.15 or 0.88% salt. At 2.5% salt, strain values of gels made at acid pH were superior to those at the low salt concentrations at acid pH, but inferior to gels with 2. 5% salt at neutral pH. Poor gels were obtained at 0.15% salt and low pH whether or not there was an intermittent adjustment to neutral pH. A neutral salt wash markedly increased the water content of the mince, suggesting that solubility-inhibiting proteins were removed. Good quality gels were obtained in the absence of any detectable solubilization of myosin and only minimal solubilization of actin. Cette etude teste l'hypothese que ce n'est pas la solubilisation des proteines myofibrillaires en elle-meme qui est exigee pour obtenir de bons gels a des concentrations salees faibles, mais que les structures proteinees doivent etre desorganisees. Les gels sont produits a partir de poitrine de poulet emincee lavee par des solutions salees a 0,15; 0,88 et 2,5%. Les gels sont examines a ph 6-6,5 et 7-7,4. Des gels de bonne qualite sont obtenus en l'absence de solubilisation detectable de myosine et minimale d'actine.
Personality Fit and Positive Interventions: Extraverted and Introverted Individuals Benefit from Different Happiness Increasing Strategies

The current investigation examined if introverts and extraverts benefit differentially from specific positive psychology interventions. Across two studies participants completed various interventions: three good things, gratitude visit, savoring, signature strength, and active-constructive responding. In study 1, each participant (N = 150) completed 1 of the 5 interventions over a one-week period. All 5 interventions led to increases in happiness, t(144) = 3.80, p < .001, and reductions in depressive symptoms t(144) = 5.20, p <.001. Neither exercise was more beneficial overall. The results of an ANCOVA (with baseline levels as a covariate) found that the interaction term for extraversion and condition was at a trend level F(4, 139) = 2.36, p = .056 and planned contrast analyses supported a pattern of person-activity fit. Extraverts benefited more from the gratitude visit and savoring exercises, whereas introverts benefited more from the active-constructive responding, signature strength, and three good things exercises. In study 2, participants (N = 85) were assigned to one of three groups: the gratitude visit performed either in-person, over the phone, or via mail. Participants completed each exercise over a one-week period. No differential efficacy was found for the 3 interventions, F(1, 74) = .056, p = .95. Results from Study 1 were replicated as the gratitude visit in person was more beneficial for extraverts than introverts, although these results were not significant, t(25) = 1.01, p = .32. Pooling the participants who completed the gratitude visit in person across the two studies into a single statistical test showed that the gratitude visit was more beneficial for extraverts than introverts t(55) = 2.03, p = .04, d = .55. These studies provide support for the notion that introverts and extroverts may benefit from pursuing different strategies to promote happiness.
Design and fabrication of an assistive device for arm rehabilitation using twisted string system

In this research the twisting cable mechanism was employed to design and develop a light elbow assistive robot. A particular type of fishing line was experimentally tested for use as the strand material, and the behavior was compared to the proposed model. A correction parameter called effective diameter was derived to adapt the model to the experimental data. To ensure the consistency of the model, hysteresis of two-strand cables was tested. A curve was fitted to the experimental data and the most linear range was selected to be used in the mechanism. Moreover, a single degree of freedom elbow mechanism for flexion and extension was designed and constructed. Ultimately, to ensure the applicability of the mechanism, an ordinary Activity of Daily Living (ADL) was used and the angle of the twisted strand actuator motor as a function of the motor rotation was computed.
CFD Thermal Analysis and Optimization of Motor Cooling Fin Design

This study is focused on improving cooling performance of the housing fin for Total Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC) motors. We conducted a sensitivity study on the motor housing fin to determine key design parameters and developed an optimization procedure. The goal is to use the optimizer to achieve an efficient design process for optimal fin design under specified operating conditions. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was constructed out of the numerical data with multi-quadratics (MQ) as basis functions to predict the response. The RSM, in conjunction with generic optimization methods, was used to find the optimal fin design in the parametric design space. The parameter database was non-dimensionalized so that the optimizer can be applied to various motor frame sizes. Compared with the original fin design, in some cases the optimal fin configuration reduces thermal resistance to heat convection from the fin surface by more than 50%.© 2005 ASME
Miniature silicon electronic biological assay chip and applications for rapid battlefield diagnostics

Assessing the medical condition of battlefield personnel requires the development of rapid, portable biological diagnostic assays for a wide variety of antigens and enzymes. Ideally, such an assay would be inexpensive, small, and require no added reagents while maintaining the sensitivity and accuracy of laboratory-based assays. In this work, a microelectromechanical (MEMS) based biological assay sensor is presented which is expected to meet the above requirements. The sensor is a thin silicon membrane resonator (SMR) which registers a decrease in resonant frequency when mass is adsorbed onto its surface. By coating the sensor surface with a monolayer of antibody, for example, we have detected the corresponding antigen with a detection resolution of 0.25 ng/ml in phosphate buffer solution. Micromachining techniques are being used to integrate many (64 elements on the first test chip) identical SMR sensors into a single silicon chip which would be capable of simultaneously performing a wide variety of biomedical assays. The sensors require only a small printed circuit board and 8V power supply to operate and provide a readout. The presentation will describe the operation of the SMR sensor, the fabrication of the sensor array, and initial test results using commercially available animal immunoglobulins in laboratory-prepared test solutions.
Adler-Weisberger relation and the quark model

We domonstrate consistencies between two seemingly different methods of calculating the axial-vector coupling constant g/sub A/.
Possible deposit of soil dust from the 1930's U.S. dust bowl identified in Greenland ice

[1] We have identified a dust storm deposit in the GISP2 ice core that most likely originated from the Great Plains region of the United States during the 1930's ‘Dust Bowl’ era. These results indicate that the Central U.S. can be a significant source of dust to the Greenland ice sheet, especially when the source area is affected by intense drought conditions.
Improved anatomic delineation of the antidepressant response to partial sleep deprivation in medial frontal cortex using perfusion-weighted functional MRI.

Abstract This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to clarify the sites of brain activity associated with the antidepressant effects of sleep deprivation (SD). We hypothesized: 1) depressed responders' baseline ventral anterior cingulate (AC) perfusion will be greater than that of nonresponders and controls; 2) following partial sleep deprivation (PSD), ventral AC perfusion will significantly decrease in responders only. Seventeen unmedicated outpatients with current major depression and eight controls received perfusion-weighted fMRI and structural MRI at baseline and following 1 night of late-night PSD. Talairach-transformed gray matter masks were merged with Talairach Daemon-based region of interest (ROI) templates. Baseline left ventral AC (LVAC) perfusion was greater in responders than nonresponders. There was no difference involving the medial frontal cortex. Responders' LVAC perfusion dropped from baseline to PSD scans compared with nonresponders and controls, as did perfusion in the right dorsal AC. In the patient group as a whole, decrease in LVAC perfusion from baseline to PSD scans correlated directly with the decrease in the modified 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17) between baseline and PSD conditions. These data–the first using fMRI–show greater anatomic specificity than previous findings of SD and depression in linking decreased brain activity in this area with clinical improvement.
Interesting Behavior of Biodiesel Ignition Delay and Combustion Duration

This article describes the study of combustion behavior in a production diesel engine using either 100% biodiesel or 100% petroleum diesel. Biodiesel remains a topic of interest, with specific emphasis placed on its conventionally observed higher nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. This study’s objective is to contrast biodiesel’s ignition delay and combustion duration behavior to that of petroleum diesel’s by investigating the rate of heat release information from various engine load and speed conditions of a medium-duty diesel engine. Further, the study attempts to support a potential link between biodiesel’s burn rate and the observed increase in its exhaust nitric oxide (NO) concentrations. The study observes biodiesel’s ignition delay, in accordance with literature, is consistently shorter than petroleum diesel’s ignition delay. Further, biodiesel’s mid to high load operating conditions have consistently shorter combustion durations. The shorter combustion durations result from the observed faster diffu...
Approximate aerodynamic analysis for multi-blade darrieus wind turbines

Abstract An approximate analysis, which is based on the assumption of constant aerodynamic coefficients and the thigonometry of small angles, is presented. The analysis produces a performance model which consists of a series of closed-form equations. A result of the analysis is an interference factor which varies with the azimuthal angle. The model is valid for any number of blades up to six. The model predicts a power coefficient which agrees fairly well with experimental data and other models. The region of validity for the model is from the cut-in speed to rotor stall. The model predicts a variation in the upwind and downwind blade normal force. The model also predicts a power coefficient which is relatively constant with planform shape.