cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global effects of controller saturation on closed-loop dynamics

Abstract Global stability of a locally stable closed-loop set point is achieved when all other attracting states are removed from the state space. These extraneous states are introduced by system and controller nonlinearities and are hence impossible to analyse by linear theories. In this work, the multiplicity of equilibrium points in a closed-loop system with saturable controller is associated with certain topological features of the steady-state model. The bifurcation of these features is analysed and certain criteria are established which ensure the set point as the unique equilibrium point in the closed-loop system. For systems satisfying these criteria, global closed-loop instability can only be caused by the existence of higher order dynamic attractors such as limit-cycles and tori. These cases are relatively rare and one particular example is studied by a Poincare-map approach.
Cross-layer survivability in WDM-based networks

In layered networks, a single failure at a lower layer may cause multiple failures in the upper layers. As a result, traditional schemes that protect against single failures may not be effective in multilayer networks. In this paper, we introduce the problem of maximizing the connectivity of layered networks. We show that connectivity metrics in layered networks have significantly different meaning than their single-layer counterparts. Results that are fundamental to survivable single-layer network design, such as the Max-Flow Min-Cut Theorem, are no longer applicable to the layered setting. We propose new metrics to measure connectivity in layered networks and analyze their properties. We use one of the metrics, Min Cross Layer Cut, as the objective for the survivable lightpath routing problem and develop several algorithms to produce lightpath routings with high survivability. This allows the resulting cross-layer architecture to be resilient to failures between layers.
Isoniazid Toxicity: Reports of Lactic Acidosis and Keratitis

Two cases of metabolic acidosis, one severe, related to an acute and subacute ingestion of isoniazid (INH), have been presented. Elevated serum lactate was documented in the second case and from indirect evidence, is the most likely cause of the metabolic acidosis in the first The pharmacology of INH and its toxicology at the intracellular enzymatic level has been discussed. In addition, a case of keratitis secondary to INH, which has not been previously described in literature, is presented.
Skills for Mentors and Protégés Applicable to Psychiatry

The authors address the elements and dynamics involved in the life cycle of mentoring relationships applicable to psychiatry, including a proposed model for explicating the developmental stages experienced by participants in the process. They provide a review of the mentoring literature for use in psychiatric education, research, and practice and offer various perspectives, describing skills for mentors, skills for proteges, the dynamics of the mentoring relationship, benefits and barriers, and issues related to gender, race, and culture.
Determinants of amounts of stereotyped behavior in normal human infants

Abstract Rhythmical stereotyped movements are common behaviors in normal infants, but their function has remained obscure. In this study, twenty normal infants were observed in their homes every two weeks during their first year to compare the number of bouts of rhythmical sterotyped behavior with the ongoing behavioral characteristics of the infant and the related activities of his or her caregiver. The single variable accounting for the most variance in the amount of stereotypy was the frequency of vestibular stimulation of the infant from being rocked, jiggled, bounced, and carried by the caregiver. Stereotypy was inversely related to amount of vestibular stimulation. Stereotypy was also inversely related to frequency of behaviors which involved close contact with the caregiver, but was directly related to being placed in locations which comparatively restrict movement such as infant seats. Infants who performed many bouts of rhythmical stereotypy were less likely to be sleepy or fussy during the observation. These results suggest that a defficiency of vestibular stimulation may be one determinant of persistent stereotypy in infants.
Congression of achiasmate chromosomes to the metaphase plate in Drosophila melanogaster oocytes.

Abstract Chiasmata established by recombination are normally sufficient to ensure accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis by physically interlocking homologs until anaphase I. Drosophila melanogaster female meiosis is unusual in that it is both exceptionally tolerant of nonexchange chromosomes and competent in ensuring their proper segregation. As first noted by Puro and Nokkala [Puro, J., Nokkala, S., 1977. Meiotic segregation of chromosomes in Drosophila melanogaster oocytes. A cytological approach. Chromosoma 63, 273–286], nonexchange chromosomes move precociously towards the poles following formation of a bipolar spindle. Indeed, metaphase arrest has been previously defined as the stage at which nonexchange homologs are symmetrically positioned between the main chromosome mass and the poles of the spindle. Here we use studies of both fixed images and living oocytes to show that the stage in which achiasmate chromosomes are separated from the main mass does not in fact define metaphase arrest, but rather is a component of an extended prometaphase. At the end of prometaphase, the nonexchange chromosomes retract into the main chromosome mass, which is tightly repackaged with properly co-oriented centromeres. This repackaged state is the true metaphase arrest configuration in Drosophila female meiosis.
Orihedra: Mathematical sculptures in paper

Mathematics, as a subject dealing with abstract concepts, poses a special challenge for educators. In students' experience, the subject is often associated with (potentially) unflattering adjectives — “austere”, “remote”, “depersonalized”, and so forth. This paper describes a computer program named HyperGami whose purpose is to alleviate this harsh portrait of the mathematical enterprise. HyperGami is a system for the construction of decorated paper polyhedral. shapes; these shapes may be combined into larger polyhedral sculptures, which we have dubbed “orihedra.” In this paper, we illustrate the methods by which orihedra may be created from HyperGami solids (using the construction of a particular sculpture as an example); we describe our experiences with elementary- and middle-school students using HyperGami to create orihedra; we discuss the current limitations of HyperGami as a sculptural medium; and we outline potential directions for future research and software development.
Mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced behavioral toxicities

While chemotherapeutic agents have yielded relative success in the treatment of cancer, patients are often plagued with unwanted and even debilitating side-effects from the treatment which can lead to dose reduction or even cessation of treatment. Common side effects (symptoms) of chemotherapy include (i) cognitive deficiencies such as problems with attention, memory and executive functioning; (ii) fatigue and motivational deficit; and (iii) neuropathy. These symptoms often develop during treatment but can remain even after cessation of chemotherapy, severely impacting long-term quality of life. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms responsible for the development of these behavioral toxicities, however, neuroinflammation is widely considered to be one of the major mechanisms responsible for chemotherapy-induced symptoms. Here, we critically assess what is known in regards to the role of neuroinflammation in chemotherapy-induced symptoms. We also argue that, based on the available evidence, neuroinflammation is unlikely the only mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced behavioral toxicities. We evaluate two other putative candidate mechanisms. To this end we discuss the mediating role of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) activated in response to chemotherapy-induced cellular damage. We also review the literature with respect to possible alternative mechanisms such as a chemotherapy-induced change in the bioenergetic status of the tissue involving changes in mitochondrial function in relation to chemotherapy-induced behavioral toxicities. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie the emergence of fatigue, neuropathy, and cognitive difficulties is vital to better treatment and long-term survival of cancer patients.
Agents of change: Peer mentorship as HIV prevention among HIV-positive injection drug users

This paper presents a qualitative investigation of peer mentoring among HIV seropositive injection drug users in a randomized controlled trial, the INSPIRE study. Qualitative analyses of 68 in-depth open-ended interviews conducted in 2005 in Baltimore, New York, Miami, and San Francisco revealed that these individuals conceptualized themselves as change agents through the identity of peer mentor at the three related domains of individual, interpersonal, and community-level change. Implications for program development and future research of peer mentoring as a mechanism for HIV prevention are discussed. This study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Effects of molybdate and pentachlorophenol on the sulfation of α-naphthol

Abstract Sulfation is the conjugation of chemicals with sulfate, which usually decreases, but occasionally increases, their biological effects. The phenol-sulfotransferase inhibitor pentachlorophenol (PCP) is often used to distinguish the biological effects of a chemical from its sulfate conjugate. Recently, molybdate has been shown to decrease the hepatic concentration of 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS), the cosubstrate for sulfation. Therefore, the present study was designed to compare the effectiveness and specificity of molybdate and PCP as inhibitors of sulfation. α-Naphthol (125 and 250 μmol/kg, i.p.) was administered to rats and the sulfate and glucuronide conjugates excreted into urine were quantified for this comparison. Molybdate (5.0, 7.5, and 10 mmol/kg) decreased the 24-h cumulative urinary excretion of the sulfate conjugate of the lower dose of α-naphthol by 54, 53, and 55%, respectively, with corresponding compensatory increases in glucuronide excretion at the two lower doses of molybdate. PCP (20, 40, and 80 μmol/kg) similarly decreased the sulfation of α-naphthol by 48, 38, and 41%, respectively, but prevented compensatory increases in glucuronide excretion. Molybdate (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mmol/kg) decreased the sulfation of the higher dose of α-naphthol by 21, 30, and 44%, respectively, again with corresponding compensatory increases in glucuronide excretion. In contrast, PCP did not decrease significantly the sulfation of the higher dose of α-naphthol. These data suggest that molybdate is equally or more effective than PCP at inhibiting sulfation of α-naphthol, and appears to be more specific.
Liquid crystal adaptive lens: aberration correction

ABSTRACT We discuss the different contributions to aberrations in the liquid crystal adaptive lens, specifically thosedue to errors in voltage settings at the electrodes (which could be dithered) and those due to quantization errors ofthe electrodes and meshing errors between electrodes (which are fixed upon device construction). For application ina large optical memory, the dominant errors are the fixed errors. Linear current meshing is introduced as a solutionto these errors because a current-carrying plate joining adjacent electrodes provides a linear interpolation of indexbetween the electrodes. 1. Introduction This paper describes the effect of phase errors on the imaging performance of the liquid crystal adaptivelens (LCAL) and introduces a technique to reduce the most prominent component. The LCAL utilizes an array ofelectrodes to electrically shape the index of refraction such that light entering the cell is brought to focus.13 Thefocal length is controlled by the curvature of the index modulation. The ideal refractive index profile is defined as
Alternative pre-rigor foreshank positioning can improve beef shoulder muscle tenderness.

Abstract Thirty beef carcasses were harvested and the foreshank of each side was independently positioned (cranial, natural, parallel, or caudal) 1 h post-mortem to determine the effect of foreshank angle at rigor mortis on the sarcomere length and tenderness of six beef shoulder muscles. The infraspinatus (IS), pectoralis profundus (PP), serratus ventralis (SV), supraspinatus (SS), teres major (TM) and triceps brachii (TB) were excised 48 h post-mortem for Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and sarcomere length evaluations. All muscles except the SS had altered (P
Production of useful modified lignin polymers by bioconversion of lignocellulose with Streptomyces.

Abstract Lignin degrading strains of Streptomyces were grown on lignocelluloses from a variety of plant sources. These actinomycetes readily degraded the lignin present in the residues and released a major portion of the lignin into the growth medium as a water soluble, modified polymer. The polymer, an acid precipitable polyphenolic lignin (APPL), was recovered from spent culture media by acid precipitation or dialysis/lyophilization. APPL's were shown to be mostly free of nonlignin components. As compared to native lignin they were more oxidized, were especially enriched in phenolic hydroxyl groups, and were significantly reduced in methoxyl groups. The yield of APPL from different lignocelluloses correlated with their biodegradability. Grasses such as corn stover were the optimal lignocellulose type for APPL production by Streptomyces . In contrast white-rot fungi produced only small amounts of APPL as they decomposed lignin. A solid state bioconversion process was developed using Streptomyces viridosporus T7A to produce APPL from corn stover lignocellulose in yields ⩾ 30% of the initial lignin present in the substrate. APPL produced by S . viridosporus was examined for its properties and possible use as an antioxidant. The APPL was shown to have good antioxidant properties after mild chemical treatment to reduce the α-carbonyl groups present in the APPL. Oxidation of the APPL with hydroxyl radical (OHa) further improved its antioxidant properties probably as the result of aromatic ring hydroxylation reactions. As compared with currently used commercial antioxidants, the modified APPL was thought to be competitive when economics of production was considered. Native lignin on the other hand was shown to exhibit no antioxidant properties, even after reduction and/or oxidation.
Diffusion of H2O and D2O in obsidian at elevated temperatures and pressures

Abstract Diffusion couples of Los Posos rhyolite obsidian were run at 850°C over a range of pressures from 700 bar to 5 kbars to determine the effects of pressure on water diffusion in silicate melt. Each couple consisted of a naturally “dry” half and an artificially hydrated half containing about 3.7 wt% H2O. Using an ion microscope, analyses of 1H/16O concentration ratios were made at 50 micron intervals on longitudinal sections of the couples. Normalized water concentration-distance profiles showed that, within experimental error, pressure up to 5 kbar have no effect on water diffusivity in a rhyolitic melt at 850°C. An error analysis allows a maximum activation volume of 4 cm3 mol. −1 at 850°C. Electron microprobe analyse made along the diffusion path indicated that the major cation composition remains constant. Hence, a diffusion mechanism dependent on interdiffusion of alkali ions water is not supported by the data. The diffusion of D2O was also investigated using a semi-infinite medium with the “dry” obsidian and D2O fluid at 850°C and 700 bar to test the effect of mass on diffusion. Normalized deuterated water concentration-distance profiles were compared to profiles for water from similar experiments. Assuming that the solubility of D2O is the same as that of H2O in obsidian, there is a small isotopic effect on water diffusivity, with the diffusion coefficient for D2O about one-half that for H2O at the same concentration.
Diagnosis of acute maxillofacial infections: The role of computerized tomography

Most acute maxillofacial infections are diagnosed by conventional dental and maxillofacial radiographic techniques. Computed tomography has greatly improved our ability to evaluate infections of the maxillofacial region that originate or extend into the contiguous soft tissues and paranasal sinuses. Four cases in which computed tomography facilitated diagnosis and treatment of advanced infections of the maxillofacial region are presented. In one case an underlying neoplasm was identified.
Spinoza’s Liberal Republicanism and the Challenge of Revealed Religion

Spinoza’s Theologico-Political Treatise is a foundational liberal work whose republican teaching also anticipates today’s communitarian critiques. Those critiques reopen the Treatise’s guiding question of whether politics must be grounded in a religious teaching, and they compel us to reconsider Spinoza’s claim that civic dedication can be rooted in an attachment to intellectual freedom. I assess Spinoza’s liberal republicanism by examining how it emerges from a critique of the Bible. I conclude that Spinoza’s attempt to reconcile individual liberty with civic dedication clarifies liberalism’s moral power and ultimate vulnerabilities—vulnerabilities which help explain why revealed religion has reemerged to challenge it.
Context and consequences of autobiographical memory development

Abstract This special issue of Cognitive Development focuses on recent research examining multiple aspects of autobiographical memory, as well as its antecedents and consequences. It brings together leading researchers who have been investigating developing relations between autobiographical memory and other socio-emotional and cognitive developments. Articles in the collection take the study of the development of autobiographical memory well beyond the question of whether children remember the significant events of their lives to examine a number of potential determinants of remembering, including the characteristics of the child, the nature of the to-be-remembered event or experience, and both the “local” (socio-emotional) and more “global” (cultural) context of remembering. The work reported in the issue also examines the potential consequences of autobiographical memories for development of a personal or self-identity, family relationships, and emotional health and well-being.
Rhyme recognition and phonemic perception in young children

A forced-choice rhyme recognition test was used to assess the ability of 4-,5-, and 6-year-old children to recognize rhymes. The number and position of phonemes shared by the rhyming and nonrhyming response choices were systematically varied. Although there were age differences, the performance levels were quite high for all age groups, including the 4-year-olds. For all age groups, formal similarity of the stimulus word and nonrhyming choice proved to be a major factor determining the difficulty of rhyming items. The results were discussed in terms of potential implications for improving reading readiness.
Response of wheatgrasses and wheat wheatgrass hybrids to barley yellow dwarf virus

Resistance to barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), manifested by low enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) values in plants exposed to viruliferous aphids, was identified in several wheatgrasses (Agropyron spp.). ELISA results were similar for root and leaf extracts of infested plants. No difference in reaction to BYDV was found between plants grown in the field and those in the growth chamber. Interspecific hybrids were generated using pollen from single resistant plants of Agropyron spp. to pollinate soft red winter wheat spikes. Resistance in hybrids appeared to be at the level of virus replication rather than at the level of vector inoculation. The hybrids varied in their reaction to BYDV. Expression of BYDV resistance in hybrids was influenced not only by wheat genotype and Agropyron species but, in some cases, reaction varied even among hybrids between the same wheat genotype and Agropyron plant. Implications of these results are discussed.
Ability of history taking alone to identify early pregnancies among potential measles vaccinees.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the ability of history taking alone, compared with pregnancy testing, to identify early pregnancies among potential female measles vaccinees. Methods: As part of an institution-wide measles immunization program, 326 female health care workers (HCWs) who denied being pregnant underwent a urine pregnancy test prior to vaccination. Results: Of the 326 women, 3 had positive pregnancy tests and were ultimately confirmed to be pregnant. Although all 3 women denied the possibility of pregnancy prior to testing, 2 had been unable to give an exact date for their last menstrual period (LMP). Conclusions: In this group of 326 northern New England HCWs being immunized against measles during an outbreak, history taking alone failed to identify 3 pregnancies. If the inability to give an exact date of the LMP had been included as a discriminator, 2 additional pregnancies could have been suspected, but 1 pregnancy still would have gone undetected.
Remote sensing and GIS for regional environmental applications

Virginia Access (VAccess) is a regional, remote sensing and Geographical Information Sciences project among several educational institutions. It is a prototype for regional projects in other states and other countries, and is funded by NASA's applications program. The user communities VAccess serves are the Commonwealth of Virginia and State of Maryland, local and regional users represented in a Technical Advisory Committee. Remote sensing data include global NASA and NOAA data tailored for regional applications as well as high-resolution multispectral (Landsat, MODIS, etc.), hyperspectral, LIDAR and SAR data sets. Broad beam LIDAR technology can provide canopy structure as well as other information for environmental concerns such as the state of wetlands. The data information system is based on a distributed architecture to serve remote sensing and GIS data to a variety of users via the WWW. Several remote sensing and GIS-based environmental and Earth systems science applications projects are discussed here, including flood and fire hazard mitigation, forestry, land use/land cover and epidemiology projects; as well as innovative data fusion, data access and analysis and various tools serving the users and their applications.
Hepatitis B vaccine: immune responses in children from families with an HBsAg carrier.

Abstract A 16 μg dose of HBsAg prepared by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was administered to 71 children, 18 months to 16 years old. The frequency of seroconversion reached 59% (range: 50–78%) at two weeks following the first dose of vaccine and approached 100% one month after the second dose. There were virtually no side effects. Children less than three years of age developed significantly greater anti-HBs responses than did older children or adults. This appears to be related to the greater dose in μg kg −1 administered to these children. Anti-HBs responses (mIU ml −1 ) to the vaccine by the Oriental participants were lower at each sampling interval. Our data suggest that prolonging the third dose of vaccine past six months (e.g. to 12 months) may not significantly alter the eventual antibody levels attained by the vaccinees, but may result in suboptimal protection between the second and third dose in some of them.
The role of feedback in rewritable storage channels [Lecture Notes]

New memory technologies and the intrinsic issues associated with device scaling are making the behavior of storage systems increasingly similar to that of noisy communication channels. The ability to read and possibly rewrite content onto memory, however, makes rewritable channels fundamentally different from standard point-to-point channels from an information theoretic standpoint. In this article, we have formalized the problem of finding the storage capacity of a rewritable medium. For a simple uniformly distributed noise model, we derived upper and lower bounds on the storage capacity. An extension to data-dependent noise was also presented. These results provide further evidence of the value of rewriting not only as a pedagogical tool but also as an essential strategy in making nonvolatile memories market competitive.
Cryogenic adsorption of low-concentration hydrogen on charcoal, 5A molecular sieve, UOP S-115, ZSM-5 and Wessalith DAY

The separation of low-concentration hydrogen isotopes from helium is a processing step that is required for ceramic lithium breeding blanket processing. Cryogenic adsorption is one method of effecting this separation. In this study five adsorbents were considered for this purpose: charcoal, 5A molecular sieve, UOP S-115, ZSM-5 and Wessalith DAY. The first two adsorbents exhibit good equilibrium loadings and are shown to be quite effective at adsorbing low-concentration hydrogen isotopes. The latter three adsorbents display considerably lower equilibrium loadings. This study concludes that by using either charcoal or 5A molecular sieve, cryogenic adsorption would be an effective means of separating hydrogen isotopes from helium.
Regional Economic Output and Public Surface Transportation Infrastructure: A Spatial Granger Approach

This paper expands upon the classical Granger causality test with spatial dimensions to investigate the causal linkages between regional economic output and surface transportation infrastructure with a focus on the Northeast Corridor in the United States. To improve the validity of estimation, a panel data set of surface transportation infrastructure including highways, public intercity railways, and public transit, which are measured in real monetary value for the period 1991-2009, is adopted. Granger causality tests with integrations of various forms of spatial spillover interactions are analyzed in different spatial vector autoregressive models. The empirical results reveal that the spatial Granger causality test is able to capture a broader geographic scale of causality than the classical approach, but the causality between regional economic output and surface transportation infrastructure is sensitive to the model specifications.
Synchronizing a satellite network

This paper describes how a simulation is developed which can be used to have an autonomous-distributed synchronization (ADS) system for a satellite network. The study of these problems is accomplished using a computer program, named the space system synchronization simulation of "S4" program which models all aspects of a space-based synchronization and timing system including: (1) Satellite position and velocity and line-of-sight (LOS) geometry, (2) Clocks belonging to each member satellite, (3) Space Network connectivity, and (4) synchronization. and recalibration operations. Some examples are shown of the data produced by this program.
A Sensor Network Design from a Probabilistic Automaton Model of Impersonation Attack

We envision a future where thousands to millions of small sensors for self-organizing wireless networks. As it provides solutions to many needs such as wireless communication, remote monitoring, surveillance etc. wireless networking will likely become widespread. Most applications will be done where wiring is impossible to install, or too expensive or where operating and supporting costs are prohibitively high. Thus one need to carefully design a wireless network considering lot of issues like network design, data compression, security parameters etc. We focus on one of such issues of security and provide an estimate of some design parameters of wireless networks. In wireless networks the fundamental nature of communication is broadcast, it is under the control of an adversary. It can modify messages and/or inject fresh messages into the network. It can also try to masquerade as node i and get message from other node. Hence impersonation attack which is a deception whereby one entity purports to be another is frequently occurring one. People have proposed pre-distribution schemes which substantially improve the resilience and security of the network and associated overhead. These schemes rely on probabilistic key sharing among the nodes of a random graph and uses simple protocols for shared-key discovery and path-key establishment. We model an impersonation attack in this framework in terms of a probabilistic automaton. Based on some security parameters we estimate network parameters. Various security and network connectivity parameters are also taken into account in the calculation.
Physicochemical, nutritional, and antimicrobial properties of wine grape (cv. Merlot) pomace extract-based films.

UNLABELLED Wine grape pomace (WGP) (cv. Merlot) extract-based films were studied in terms of their physicochemical, mechanical, water barrier, nutritional, and antibacterial properties. Pomace extract (PE) was obtained by hot water extraction and had a total soluble solid of 3.6% and pH 3.65. Plant-based polysaccharides, low methoxyl pectin (LMP, 0.75% w/w), sodium alginate (SA, 0.3% w/w), or Ticafilm (TF, 2% w/w), was added into PE for film formation, respectively. Elongation at break and tensile strength were 23% and 4.04 MPa for TF-PE film, 25% and 1.12 MPa for SA-PE film, and 9.89% and 1.56 MPa for LMP-PE film. Water vapor permeability of LMP-PE and SA-PE films was 63 and 60 g mm m(-2) d(-1) kPa, respectively, lower than that of TF-PE film (70 g mm m(-2) d(-1) kPa) (P<0.05). LMP-PE film had higher water solubility, indicated by the haze percentage of water after 24 h of film immersion (52.8%) than that of TF-PE (25.7%) and SA-PE (15.9%) films, and also had higher amount of released phenolics (96.6%) than that of TF-PE (93.8%) and SA-PE (80.5%) films. PE films showed antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua, in which approximate 5-log reductions in E. coli and 1.7- to 3.0-log reductions in L. innocua were observed at the end of 24 h incubation test compared with control. This study demonstrated the possibility of utilizing WGP extracts as natural, antimicrobial, and antioxidant promoting film-forming material for various food applications. PRACTICAL APPLICATION WGP extract-based edible films with the addition of a small amount of commercial polysaccharides showed attractive color and comparable mechanical and water barrier properties to other edible films. The films also demonstrated their potential antioxidant and antimicrobial functions. Hence, they may be used as colorful wraps or coatings for food, pharmaceutical, or other similar applications.
Surgical Pearl: A technique for placement of buried sutures

S uturing is commonly used to close surgical wounds. Wounds can be closed at both the deep and superficial levels with a variety of suturing techniques. Closure of wounds with sutures should provide wound eversion, eliminate wound tension, approximate skin edges without leaving suture marks, and allow efficient and easy placement. To help achieve these results, many closures benefit from buried sutures that can facilitate wound eversion and decrease wound tension, hematoma formation, and dehiscence. For the novice dermatologic surgeon the placement of deep dermal sutures can be challenging, especially when the surgical defect may be distorted secondary to skin tension. If buried sutures are not placed accurately, the skin edges may not align well and/or the suture line may assume an undesirable geometry, resulting in a compromised cosmetic outcome. Specifically, the misalignment of the dermal sutures may result in quilting of the skin secondary to skin edge length discrepancies, unnecessary dog-ear formation at the tips of the wound, or undesirable scar line curvature. We describe below a simple and reliable method for identifying optimal buried suture placement in full-thickness defects, which can facilitate and enhance wound closure and cosmetic outcome.
Precise discrimination of object position in the human pulvinar

Very little is known about the human pulvinar; suggestions for its function include relaying input from cortical areas, allocating visual attention, supporting feature binding, and other integrative processes. The diversity of hypotheses about pulvinar function highlights our lack of understanding of its basic role. A conspicuously missing piece of information is whether the human pulvinar encodes visual information topographically. The answer to this question is crucial, as it dramatically constrains the sorts of computational and cognitive processes that the pulvinar might carry out. Here we used fMRI to test for position-sensitive encoding in the human pulvinar. Subjects passively viewed flickering Gabor stimuli, and as the spatial separation between Gabors increased, the correlation between patterns of activity across voxels within the right pulvinar decreased significantly. The results demonstrate the existence of precise topographic coding in the human pulvinar lateralized to the right hemisphere, and provide a means of functionally localizing this topographic region.
Applying Biomechanics in Strength and Conditioning

Strength and conditioning is a profession in which a great deal of biomechanical research has been conducted recently. The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is the leading professional strength and conditioning association in the world, and their journals—Strength and Conditioning Journal and Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research—have been receptive to articles on the biomechanics of exercise. Traditionally, strength and conditioning careers were limited to coaching the physically gifted in intercollegiate athletics. However, more and more opportunities exist for personal training with a wide variety of clients in the private sector.
Smart nodes of internet of things (IoT): a hardware perspective view & implementation

A lot of efforts have been done on software layer to propose the idea of Internet of Things (IoT). However, the functionality of IoT highly depends on the implementation of its end nodes. And there is little attention about realization of such IoT Smart Nodes. As mixed signal IC researchers, we analyze the urgent needs of IoT Smart Nodes and their implementation challenges. We focus this talk on the two of the most important practical issues: energy harvesting & regulating, and wireless transceiver.A high efficient self-sustained energy harvester inside the Smart Nodes can power numerous possibilities to IoT network. For the various inputs, it should accommodate nonlinear energy sources and achieve Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).As it is considered the most power hungry part, the wireless transceiver in the IoT Smart Nodes needs special focus to minimize its power consumption. The transceiver should adapt its power consumption based on the available amount of the energy and the amount of the transferred data in time
The Covenantal Basis for the Development of Swiss Political Federalism: 1291–1848

This study argues that the modem political philosophy offederalism is directly linked to the Swiss Reformed idea of religious covenant, which was first formulated in the 1520s and 1530s by Heinrich Bullinger in Ziirich. Bullinger's concept of religious covenant had roots both in the Old Testament and in the early federal ideal and reality that had come out of the Swiss Middle Ages; it therefore had important social and political implications as well as theological meaning. During the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, this theological idea offederalismfed into and helped to create the modern political concept offederalism, especially in the thought of Philippe Duplessis-Mornay and Johannes Althusius. Political federalism became a reality in the Constitution of the United States in the late eighteenth century. The Swiss federal Constitution of 1848 was instructed by the mature concept of political federalism, by the Constitution of the United States, and by the long tradition of Swiss federalism. All of these influences had some basinin the uniquely Swiss idea of religious covenant.
The capitalization, amortization, and value-relevance of R&D

GAAP mandates the full expensing of R&D in financial statements, presumably because of concerns with the reliability, objectivity, and value-relevance of R&D capitalization. To address these concerns, we estimate the R&D capital of a large sample of public companies and find these estimates to be statistically reliable and economically meaningful. We then adjust the reported earnings and book values of sample firms for the R&D capitalization and find that such adjustments are value-relevant to investors. Finally, we document a significant intertemporal association between firms' R&D capital and subsequent stock returns, suggesting either a systematic mispricing of the shares of R&D-intensive companies, or a compensation for an extra-market risk factor associated with R&D.
Weighted next reaction method and parameter selection for efficient simulation of rare events in biochemical reaction systems

The weighted stochastic simulation algorithm (wSSA) recently developed by Kuwahara and Mura and the refined wSSA proposed by Gillespie et al. based on the importance sampling technique open the door for efficient estimation of the probability of rare events in biochemical reaction systems. In this paper, we first apply the importance sampling technique to the next reaction method (NRM) of the stochastic simulation algorithm and develop a weighted NRM (wNRM). We then develop a systematic method for selecting the values of importance sampling parameters, which can be applied to both the wSSA and the wNRM. Numerical results demonstrate that our parameter selection method can substantially improve the performance of the wSSA and the wNRM in terms of simulation efficiency and accuracy.
Vesicant Characteristics of Oxapliplatin Following Antecubital Extravasation

Oxaliplatin is a novel class of platinum chermotherapeutic agent used in refractory adenocarcinoma. It has previously been regarded as a non-vesicant, and as such was considered safe to administer through peripheral veins. This report documents severe muscle and subcutaneous reaction with a single dose of oxaliplatin at the site of extravasation in a patient aged 58 years. Conventional therapeutic modalities were employed to reduce the effect of the soft tissue infiltrate. Despite that, significant muscle necrosis and fibrosis occurred. Surgery was deferred secondary to patient choice, and eventual extensive physical therapy restored function to the elbow joint. This case shows that oxaliplatin may not be an appropriate cytotoxic agent to be administered through a peripheral line and consideration must be made for central access when this drug is used. In addition, when extravasation does occur, the current report indicates that non-surgical management can be successful.
Simulating sellers in online exchanges

Business-to-business (B2B) exchanges are expected to bring about lower prices for buyers through reverse auctions. Analysis of such settings for seller pricing behavior often points to mixed-strategy equilibria. In real life, it is plausible that managers learn this complex ideal behavior over time. We modeled the two-seller game in a synthetic environment, where two agents use a reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm to change their pricing strategy over time. We find that the agents do indeed converge towards the theoretical Nash equilibrium. The results are promising enough to consider the use of artificial learning mechanisms in electronic marketplace transactions.
Applicability of digital analysis and imaging technology in neuropathology assessment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects more than 30 million people worldwide. While various dementia-related losses in cognitive functioning are its hallmark clinical symptoms, ultimate diagnosis is based on manual neuropathological assessments using various schemas, including Braak staging, CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) and Thal phase scoring. Since these scoring systems are based on subjective assessment, there is inevitably some degree of variation between readers, which could affect ultimate neuropathology diagnosis. Here, we report a pilot study investigating the applicability of computer-driven image analysis for characterizing neuropathological features, as well as its potential to supplement or even replace manually derived ratings commonly performed in medical settings. In this work, we quantitatively measured amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque in various brain regions from 34 patients using a robust digital quantification algorithm. We next verified these digitally derived measures to the manually derived pathology ratings using correlation and ordinal logistic regression methods, while also investigating the association with other AD-related neuropathology scoring schema commonly used at autopsy, such as Braak and CERAD. In addition to successfully verifying our digital measurements of Aβ plaques with respective categorical measurements, we found significant correlations with most AD-related scoring schemas. Our results demonstrate the potential for digital analysis to be adapted to more complex staining procedures commonly used in neuropathological diagnosis. As the efficiency of scanning and digital analysis of histology images increases, we believe that the basis of our semi-automatic approach may better standardize quantification of neuropathological changes and AD diagnosis, ultimately leading to a more comprehensive understanding of neurological disorders and more efficient patient care.
Model Studies of Beams Resting on a Salt Subgrade

Models of beams of different stiffnesses resting on a subgrade of compacted micaceous silt were equipped with strain gages and loaded by various combinations of concentrated vertical loads. Investigations indicate that the pressure distribution, bending moments, and deflections are similar to those occurring under beams resting on an elastic solid. The investigation also confirms that the elementary approach using the concept of mudulus of subgrade reaction is plausible if the beams are sufficiently long. In addition, it was confirmed that the modulus of subgrade reaction depends on the relative flexibility of the beam. Only small changes were observed in pressure distribution as the loads were increased to and over the ultimate values; and little difference was found between bearing capacities of soil beneath beams of differing stiffnesses so long as conditions existed for failure in the soil occurring while beam stresses were still in the elastic range.
The Myeloid Growth Factors

The myeloid growth factors (MGFs) are an important class of biologic agents for the support of cancer patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy by augmenting the production and functional maturation of hematopoietic cells for the purpose of reducing hematologic complications while enabling the safe delivery of effective treatment. This chapter will focus on MGFs with known clinical importance for hematopoiesis in the patient with cancer. Myelosuppression and its sequelae represent the most common dose-limiting complications of cancer chemotherapy and are associated with considerable morbidity, mortality, and costs.
Molded Collagen Microchannels for the Study of Cancer Cell Invasion

Metastasis is the cause of 90% of cancer-related deaths and yet the precise mechanism of metastasis is poorly understood[1]. To metastasize, cells break free from the primary tumor, migrate through the surrounding tissue, and enter the vascular system to move to a secondary site. To migrate through the stroma, cell can both degrade the tissue and use physical force to move the tissue from its path. However, the relative roles of matrix degradation and cellular force are not well-understood. Previous work has shown that as cell move through the matrix, they create channels that other cells can then use to more easily escape from the primary tumor [2, 3]. To investigate the mechanisms by which metastatic cells move through 3D matrices, we fabricated microchannels from collagen that simulate the paths that are made and used by cells during metastasis. Here, we will present our method for molding channels in compliant collagen gels to investigate cell migration. The channels dimensions approximate the size of a cell and permit cell migration without the need for matrix degradation. We demonstrate that the channels cause persistent, unidirectional cell migration that is significantly faster than the migration observed in 3D matrices without channels. These channels provide a unique platform to probe 3D cellular migration and permit the dissection of the relative roles of matrix degradation and force generation in facilitating cell invasion.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The Farmer and Social Security

IN this early postwar period public attention is focussing more and more upon the domestic economy. Whether or not we are to pass through a temporary business recession in the near future, the experiences of the "thirties" linger in the public mind. Already, as though anticipating an inevitable collapse of equal severity to the late depression, pressure groups are demanding that the government do something to assure economic stability and to guarantee satisfactory employment and earnings for all gainfully employed persons. In the past, a similar demand led to the adoption, in 1935, of the Social Security Act which provided for Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance and a system of State Unemployment Compensation. In 1939, the original Social Security Act was amended and expanded. The Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bill introduced originally on June 3, 1943, was revised and reintroduced by the same authors on May 24, 1945. It is this revised bill which may be regarded as representing the culmination of the present Administration's social security philosophy, and for that reason is used as the basis of this study.' The Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bill proposes to bring old-age and survivors' insurance, health insurance, maternity benefits, unemployment compensation, and temporary and permanent disability benefits to all groups, industrial, professional, and agricultural, and to employees and employers alike. All farmers, whether they be farm owners, operators, tenants, or farm workers, would be included. It is notable that the bill acknowledges no special differences between agriculture and industry, or between the farm owner and the operator, or between the tenant farmer or sharecropper, on the one hand, and the industrial worker, on the other. Yet it takes no special knowledge of social security to see that the farmer has been in quite a different position with reference to medical and hospital services than the city dweller, and to see that the collection of social security taxes is applied far more easily to industrial payrolls than to farm bookkeeping. These questions will be taken up in another study. In this survey we are concerned exclusively with the tax burden entailed in the extension of social security to the farmer. Hitherto very little specific attention has been given to the farmer's position in the future social security picture, and none at all to the financial burden of such an enlarged program and to the question of whether the cost would be in proportion to the social and economic advantages promised.
Superscaled security

Exponential increases in computational speed, memory capacity, and bandwidth impose futuristic security demands and challenges.