cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cooperative content distribution and traffic engineering in an ISP network

Traditionally, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) make profit by providing Internet connectivity, while content providers (CPs) play the more lucrative role of delivering content to users. As network connectivity is increasingly a commodity, ISPs have a strong incentive to offer content to their subscribers by deploying their own content distribution infrastructure. Providing content services in an ISP network presents new opportunities for coordination between traffic engineering (to select efficient routes for the traffic) and server selection (to match servers with subscribers). In this work, we develop a mathematical framework that considers three models with an increasing amount of cooperation between the ISP and the CP. We show that separating server selection and traffic engineering leads to sub-optimal equilibria, even when the CP is given accurate and timely information about the ISP's network in a partial cooperation. More surprisingly, extra visibility may result in a less efficient outcome and such performance degradation can be unbounded. Leveraging ideas from cooperative game theory, we propose an architecture based on the concept of Nash bargaining solution. Simulations on realistic backbone topologies are performed to quantify the performance differences among the three models. Our results apply both when a network provider attempts to provide content, and when separate ISP and CP entities wish to cooperate. This study is a step toward a systematic understanding of the interactions between those who provide and operate networks and those who generate and distribute content.
Light and immune systems : Activation of immunological activities

Light has been used to treat diseases for hundreds of years. Convenient and powerful light sources such as lasers make photomedicine a major branch in diseases treatment and detection. Originally, light was often used for local treatment, using photomechanical, photochemical, photothermal reactions and photomodulation as the major mechanisms. More and more investigators have become interested in the systemic effects of light, particularly in its effects on immune systems. Much work has been done to activate and/or enhance the host immune system to combat cancer, either using light as a direct tool or as an adjuvant method. Light has long been used for assisting disease detection and diagnosis. Advances in light technology have made photo-diagnostics ever more precise spatially and temporally. Many techniques facilitate observation of bio-molecule interactions and other biological processes at the cellular level, hence providing opportunities to detect and monitor immune activities. This manuscript will review recent photo-immunological research in treatment of cancer. The recent development of combination therapies involving lasers will be presented. Specifically, the results of cancer treatment using laser photothermal interaction, either with or without additional immunological stimulation will be discussed. The immunological effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT), and of its combination with immunotherapy in cancer treatment will also be discussed. Much interest has been recently concentrated in the immunological responses after laser treatment. Such responses at cellular and molecular levels will be discussed. The effect of these treatment modalities on the distant metastases also showed promise of light induced antitumor immunity. The combination therapy and induced immunological responses appear to be the key for long-term control of tumors.
VEGF mediates angioblast migration during development of the dorsal aorta in Xenopus.

Angioblasts are precursor cells of the vascular endothelium which organize into the primitive blood vessels during embryogenesis. The molecular mechanisms underlying patterning of the embryonic vasculature remain unclear. Mutational analyses of the receptor tyrosine kinase flk-1 and its ligand vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF, indicate that these molecules are critical for vascular development. Targeted ablation of the flk-1 gene results in complete failure of blood and vascular development (F. Shalaby et al. (1995) Nature 376, 62–66), while targeted ablation of the VEGF gene results in gross abnormalities in vascular patterning (P. Carmeliet et al. (1996) Nature 380, 435–439; N. Ferrara et al. (1996) Nature 380, 439–442). Here we report a role for VEGF in patterning the dorsal aorta of the Xenopus embryo. We show that the diffusible form of VEGF is expressed by the hypochord, which lies at the embryonic midline immediately dorsal to the location of the future dorsal aorta. We find that, initially, no flk-1-expressing angioblasts are present at this location, but that during subsequent development, angioblasts migrate from the lateral plate mesoderm to the midline where they form a single dorsal aorta. We have demonstrated that VEGF can act as a chemoattractant for angioblasts by ectopic expression of VEGF in the embryo. These results strongly suggest that localized sources of VEGF play a role in patterning the embryonic vasculature.
In-service evaluation of multifrequency/multiparameter eddy-current technology for the inspection of PWR steam-generator tubing

The recent introduction of field-usable multifrequency/multiparameter instrumentation has provided a basis for the development of a near-term system for the inspection of pressurized water-reactor steam-generator tubing. Multifrequency eddy-currents offer benefits in the performance of parallel tests and a readily available data base for the identification of nonunique signals. Multiparameter methods allow for the minimization of extraneous test variables, that is, support plates and small dents, for the more reliable detection and characterization of tube degradation. The suppression of the extraneous variable in real time offers advantages over off-line computer/digital subtraction approaches. Experience with the system based on the in-service inspection of three steam generators is considered.
Logic Design Automation of MOS Combinational Networks with Fan-In, Fan-Out Constraints

With the increasing complexity of current digital systems, many aspects have to be considered in the Logic design of these systems. Among them are the pin limitations, interconnections, power dissipation, testability, and fan-in, fan-out constraints. Since MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) is playing a major role in large scal integration (LSI), the problem of synthesis of MOS switching networks with large number of variables is very important. The main advantage of MOS over other forms of integrated circuits is the possibility of obtaining higher chip logic density. Long propagation delay limits MOS to low speed applications, however, speed can be improved by using advanced types of MOS as VMOS, DMOS and HMOS. An efficient algorithm for computer-aided synthesis of MOS combinational logic networks was presented in the 1977 Design Automation Conference. That algorithm considered some of the aspects need to be considered in the logic design process. These were pin limitations, interconnections, and testability. In this paper we present a new algorithm which incorporates, in addition to the aspects considered above, the fan-in, fan-out constraints. Designing digital systems with fan-in, fan-out constraints is vital for achieving proper operation of these systems - specifically speed and noise margin. A step-by-step description as well as a detailed synthesis example are given. Some of the steps of this algorithm were programmed in FORTRAN V on a SPERRY UNIVACTM 1108 computer. The effects of this kind of design on the network performance and testability are discussed. Finally, some future research problems in this area are presented.
Gas at the Inner Disk Edge

Abstract : Infrared molecular spectroscopy is a key tool for the observation of gas in the innermost region of disks around T Tauri stars. In this contribution, we examine how infrared spectroscopy of CO can be used to study the inner truncation region of disks around T Tauri stars. The inferred inner gas radii for T Tauri star disks are compared to the inner dust radii of disks, to the expectations of models for disk truncation, and to the orbital distribution of short-period extra-solar planets.
Holographic implementation of mirror-folded free-space crossbars

It is shown that the canonical crossbar arrangement for free-space beams can be folded by means of two plane mirrors onto their plane of symmetry, thereby making it possible to place all the required 2*2 elements in that single plane or even on a single line. The holographic implementation of this reconfigurable 2*2 mirror-folded generalized crossbar with a thermoplastic holographic camera is reported. The bypass, exchange, and broadcast states are demonstrated. >
2001 Carolyn Sherif Award Address: the Presence of an Absence

Awarded for your spectacular contributions to feminist psychology, Division 35 presents to you the Carolyn Wood Sherif Award. A prodigious researcher and theorist, you break down the artificial distinctions between basic and applied work and between erudition and accessibility. In your scholarship you have raised to the forefront neglected variables such as ethnicity, social class, and disability. Your creativity, courage, warmth, and generosity of spirit make you an inspiration to scholars across a spectrum of disciplines, many of whom you have mentored, nurtured, and helped. Nor does your indefatigable advocacy stop at the campus gates. With humor, wisdom, and abundant determination, you have used the tools of our discipline to create community and to advance the cause of social justice. It is with gratitude that we honor you and your work, Michelle Fine.
A model for the longitudinal primary creep of a long-fiber composite

Abstract The longitudinal primary creep of long-fiber composites is modeled by considering the transient stress states arising from load transfer from the weaker matrix phase to the stronger fiber phase as the composite transitions from the elastic state present immediately after loading to steady-state stage where both phases creep. The effect of primary creep of each of the phases on the primary creep of the composite is also taken into account. The model is evaluated for the NiAl–W system for which the primary creep of tungsten fibers is quite significant. The composite primary creep strain is predicted to be significant at high applied composite stresses and for high fiber volume fractions and primary creep time is found to be uniquely related to the composite steady-state creep rate. The model is verified with 1025°C compressive creep experiments in the NiAl–W composite system. Good agreement between model predictions and experiments is obtained when the observed composite steady-state creep behavior converges to the steady-state predicted for materials in which both phases experience creep deformation.
Strategy Implementation by State Transportation Agencies to Maintain Work Zone Mobility and Safety

Mitigation strategies for work zone congestion are used by transportation agencies to manage or reduce congestion through a work zone as part of the project's transportation management plan. The objective of this research is to assist agencies' strategy selection by identifying strategies used by state transportation agencies (STAs) nationwide and their experiences. An online survey was developed to identify current, past, and future strategy implementation for projects similar to four developed scenarios: rural reconstruction, rural resurfacing, urban reconstruction, and urban resurfacing projects. The survey received 42 responses from individuals representing 28 states (responses were received from multiple districts or regions from a few states). It was found that agencies used several strategies to address different aspects of mobility and safety. Strategy selection varied between facility location and work activity. STAs also provided strategies that failed to meet expectations and identified strategies their agency plans to implement in the future. Based on the survey results and gaps in current literature, recommendations for strategy selection and future research are provided.
Effect of brinzolamide and dorzolamide on aqueous humor flow in human eyes

Abstract PURPOSE: To measure the relative efficacy of brinzolamide hydrochloride 1% ophthalmic suspension, a new carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, compared with the currently used dorzolamide hydrochloride 2% ophthalmic solution as suppressors of aqueous humor flow in human eyes, and to study the difference of effect during the day and at night. METHODS: A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study of 25 normal human subjects was carried out at Mayo Clinic. The daytime rate of aqueous humor flow was measured every 2 hours from 8 am to 4 pm by means of fluorophotometry. Likewise, the nighttime rate of aqueous humor flow was measured every 2 hours from 12 am to 6 am. Intraocular pressure was measured at 4 pm and 6 am. RESULTS: Brinzolamide reduced aqueous flow by 0.47 ± 0.20 μl per min (mean ± SD) during the day, whereas dorzolamide reduced flow by 0.34 ± 0.20 μl per min. Brinzolamide reduced aqueous flow by 0.16 ± 0.12 μl per min during the night, whereas dorzolamide reduced flow by 0.10 ± 0.13 μl per min. Brinzolamide reduced afternoon intraocular pressure by 1.5 ± 1.1 mm Hg, and dorzolamide reduced afternoon intraocular pressure by 1.1 ± 1.0 mm Hg. Brinzolamide reduced the morning awakening intraocular pressure by 0.3 ± 1.6 mm Hg, and dorzolamide reduced it by 0.8 ± 1.0 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the idea that brinzolamide is at least as efficacious as dorzolamide as a suppressor of aqueous humor flow in normal human eyes and that there is probably not a clinically significant difference between the two drugs in this efficacy. Clinicians who prescribe brinzolamide should expect similar ocular hypotensive responses from brinzolamide and dorzolamide.
Systemic vascular autoregulation amplifies pressor responses to vasoconstrictor agents

Experiments were performed in seven conscious dogs to evaluate the contribution of total systemic autoregulation to the increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) produced by the intravenous administration of pressor agents. Each dog was instrumented for the measurement of aortic pressure, central venous pressure, and cardiac output, and all dogs received hexamethonium to block autonomic ganglionic transmission. Angiotensin II (ANG II), arginine vasopressin (AVP), or norepinephrine (NE) were titrated over a 15- to 20-min period until MAP was increased to a new steady-state value approximately 50-55% above the normotensive control. Then while a constant infusion of the pressor agents was maintained, MAP was controlled via a gravity reservoir for 15-min periods at either the hypertensive value or at the animal's normotensive value. With all three pressor agents, total peripheral resistance (TPR) was greater when MAP was controlled at the hypertensive value than when the vasculature was protected from the elevated pressure by controlling MAP at the normotensive value. Thus a portion of the increase in TPR during the infusion of ANG II, AVP, or NE was due to autoregulatory-mediated vasoconstriction elicited by the increase in MAP. The fractions of the increases in TPR and MAP contributed by primary vasoconstriction vs. autoregulation were determined from the pressure-flow relationships. The pressure-induced increases in TPR accounted for 74% of the total increase in MAP produced by AVP, 62% of the pressor response to NE, and 34% of the response to ANG II. These results demonstrate that the direct vasoconstrictor effects of pressor agents can be significantly amplified by secondary autoregulatory responses.
Lessons learned from unintended consequences about erasing the stigma of mental illness

Advocates and scientists have partnered to develop and evaluate programs meant to erase the egregious effects of the different forms of stigma. Enough evidence has been collected to yield lessons about approaches to stigma change. Some of the most insightful of these lessons emerge from unintended consequences of good intentioned approaches, and are the focus of this paper. They include the limited benefits of education especially when compared to contact, beating stigma is more than changing words, beware pity as a message, understand the competing agendas of stigma change, replace ideas of normalcy with solidarity, and avoid framing self-stigma as the problem of people with mental illness and not of society. The paper ends with consideration of the back seat role that psychiatrists and other mental health providers should have in stigma change.
Artifactual spinal metastases imaged by PET/CT: a case report.

A 55-y-old patient with multiple myeloma presented for restaging after chemotherapy and radiation. The patient had undergone vertebroplasty of multiple thoracic vertebrae because of painful compression fractures. The 18F-FDG PET images showed increased activity at the T8 and T10–T12 vertebral bodies. Comparison of the attenuation-corrected and non–attenuation-corrected images demonstrated that the activity was due to an artifact of attenuation correction. The CT scan correlated the sites of vertebroplasty to the 4 foci of increased uptake of 18F-FDG. The increasing use of vertebroplasty for malignant spinal fractures warrants vigilance for this artifact.
Time-Dependent Stress Rupture Strength Degradation of Hi-Nicalon Fiber-Reinforced Silicon Carbide Composites at Intermediate Temperatures

The stress rupture strength of silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composites with a boron nitride fiber coating decreases with time within the intermediate temperature range of 700 to 950 degree Celsius. Various theories have been proposed to explain the cause of the time-dependent stress rupture strength. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relative significance of the various theories for the time-dependent strength of silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composites. This is achieved through the development of a numerically based progressive failure analysis routine and through the application of the routine to simulate the composite stress rupture tests. The progressive failure routine is a time-marching routine with an iterative loop between a probability of fiber survival equation and a force equilibrium equation within each time step. Failure of the composite is assumed to initiate near a matrix crack and the progression of fiber failures occurs by global load sharing. The probability of survival equation is derived from consideration of the strength of ceramic fibers with randomly occurring and slow growing flaws as well as the mechanical interaction between the fibers and matrix near a matrix crack. The force equilibrium equation follows from the global load sharing presumption. The results of progressive failure analyses of the composite tests suggest that the relationship between time and stress-rupture strength is attributed almost entirely to the slow flaw growth within the fibers. Although other mechanisms may be present, they appear to have only a minor influence on the observed time-dependent behavior.
Antitrust: The War Against Contract

This chapter argues that America’s antitrust laws operate by one essential mechanism: the destruction of contracts. Starting with the Sherman Act in 1890, antitrust signaled an end to what Sir Henry Maine had called the “movement from Status to Contract” in Anglo-American law. This repudiation of the legal principle known as sanctity of contract was highly significant, because contracts are the indispensable means for accomplishing the division of labor in an industrial economy. In the nineteenth century, contract reached its apotheosis in the modern business corporation, whose complex webs of consent facilitated cooperative human production on an unprecedented scale.Through antitrust law, government assumed dominion over virtually the entire field of economic cooperation, partly by means of vague, non-objective proscriptions such as those against “restraint of trade” and “unfair methods of competition.” Consequently, entire categories of contract were banned, while other categories, such as corporate mergers, fell under a reign of perpetual uncertainty, requiring corporate supplicants to obtain government permission before contracting. The continuing debate over antitrust’s status and validity can best be understood as a debate over freedom of contract.
Critical Tax Theory: A Legislator Named Sue: Re-Imagining the Income Tax

This Essay provides perspective on the basic structures of the income tax laws by imagining how they would look if written by a Congress composed of women. Although this congress is obviously fictional, it is grounded in both theory and practice. Empirical evidence reveals that women legislators are more likely to be concerned with social issues, more likely to place these issues in a broader context, and more likely to want government involvement in these issues than men are. This is true regardless of their political party, age, class, race, ethnicity, or attitude towards feminism. Since this result is consistent with a broad based feminist ethic of care, the Essay assumes that a female majority congress would be motivated by such an ethic. Although labeled 'feminist', as used here it does not reduce to gender essentialism because it does not mean that only women use it, nor that they use it exclusive of any other voice or perspective. The essay concludes that a majority female congress would influence income tax legislation in areas ranging from broad policy issues such as the rate structure and treatment of capital gains to particular issues such as child care and violence. Most of the changes it would enact are rooted in current ideas, if not current practices, that are not unique to an ethic of care. The cumulative effect of these changes, however, would be more radical than the sum of its parts. They would transform the Code in two ways. The first transformation would be a substantive one reflecting a shift in priorities. From increased support for progressivity to expanded aid for basic human needs, the tax laws would better implement a vision of the dignity and interdependence of individuals. The second change would be a structural one. A female majority Congress would help simplify the tax laws by replacing many tax expenditures with direct expenditures. It would use more direct expenditures than Congress currently does both because direct expenditures are better vehicles for executing social policies and because an ethics of care motivated Congress would have the political will to enact them. Thus, by using direct expenditures, an ethic of care Congress would not only strengthen and broaden support for social welfare programs, but it could eliminate complex tax provisions that currently deal with these issues in a less successful manner. Such a streamlined tax Code, stripped of many tax expenditures, would be a simpler and fairer tax, a goal that even the current Congress aspires to - at least in theory.
133Cs and 23Na NMR Studies of Cs8NaxGe136 Clathrates

We report 133Cs and 23Na spectra of Cs8NaxGe136 clathrates. Fully loaded Cs8Na16Ge136 shows only ionic signals from both Cs and Na nuclei. In contrast to the Cs8Na16Si136 clathrate, germanium Cs8Na16Ge136 clathrate shows no large Knight or paramagnetic shifts. However, when sodium is removed from Cs8Na16Ge136, the resulting Cs8Ge136 clathrate shows a very large shift in the 133Cs NMR spectrum.
The Insatiable

The Insatiable is a video installation composited from a dozen sets of footage filmed at an open night market in Taiwan. It is part of the Things that are edible series, created by artist Jawshing Arthur Liou during an artistic residency in his hometown of Taipei after 16 years of living abroad. Working with both lens-based representation and digital post-production, Liou aims to transform recognizable imagery into realms only the mind can reach. His photographically realistic digital videos are filled with details with which he responds to the experience of illness, spiritual sanctuary, and the spectacles of life. The street scenes here are only half a mile away from his home. The visual strategy is a fusion of macro and micro views. The streetlights and mingling walkers are transformed into bodies of massive creatures, bearing resemblance to snakes, dragons, or even huge intestines. Liou says, "Our intimacy with food and food-related culture makes this my first choice of subject matter. With digital post-production tools, I transformed the night market into massive bodies in the sky, a wedding banquet into jewelry-banded plates, and my mother's rice dish into landscapes." In this way he creates "a rewarding treat in and of itself."
JAMAICA BAY HURRICANE BARRIER

A 12 4 mile beach erosion control and hurricane flood protection project includes Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway Inlet in the southwest corner of Long Island, New York«i The project would provide 6 1 miles of beach fill and floodwalls along the Atlantic Ocean shore and 6 3 miles of inland structures to tie back to high ground, including a 0 9 mile barrier across the inlet The barrier, with a 300 foot gated opening and a 300 foot ungated opening, would permit suppression of the design hurricane surge so as to eliminate the need of flood protection works within the bay Linear mathematical models were used to determine these openings Because of the limitation of these models to produce adequate data m the bay pertinent to environmental and ecological considerations, three hydraulic models were utilized General conclusions drawn from the hydraulic model test data are that the results of the mathematical models were upheld, a design storm with high peak is critical for determining the height of protection, a design storm with high volume rather than high peak plus rainfall runoff is critical in determining ungated openings and suppression of bay levels, and there is a combination of gated and ungated openings that would meet the flood protection, navigation, environmental and ecological objectives.
Inertial actuator design for maximum passive and active energy dissipation in flexible space structures

The selection of the passive parameters for passive and active inertial vibration absorbers intended for use in large flexible space structures is investigated. Optimal passive vibration absorbers are designed for one and two WF structural representations using three parameter optimization techniques: minimum maximum steady-state response; pole placement; and quadratic cost minimization. The three techniques yield nearly identical results. Theoretically, a single mode damping ratio of 5% of critical damping can be achieved with a passive vibration absorber mas that is equal to 2% of the structural modal mass. Control actuators, which incorporate passive absorber components are also designed. Optimal gains for specific passive component values are determined using Linear Quadratic Regulator formulations. The optimal actuator is the one that's combined passive components and active gains minisizes the quadratic cost. The optimal actuator's passive design is near that of the optimal passive vibration absorber leading to a near optimal sequential design technique. Proof of concept laboratory tests were performed on a quasi free-free beaa. Electromagnetic, inertial-reaction devices usable in both active and passive configurations were implemented. Experimentally, a single mode damping of
Cellular slime molds in forest soils of West Virginia.

A study of occurrence and distribution of cellular slime molds (CSM) in forest soils of West Virginia was carried out. Samples for CSM isolation were collected from 21 study sites, including exampl...
Requirement of the German cockroach for choline and related compounds.

Summary1. The omission of choline from an otherwise adequate synthetic diet resulted in complete failure of roaches to grow and in death shortly thereafter. For optimal growth and maturation 2000–4000 γ of choline/g of diet were found to be needed.2. The addition of dimethylaminoethanol or aminoethanol to diets lacking choline but containing 30% of casein resulted in little or no growth. The addition of methionine, dimethylaminoethanol and betaine as supplements to a diet low in choline resulted in an increased growth response in the order named. Aminoethanol was inactive.3. Dietary betaine replaced choline quantitatively for growth and maturation at all levels of intake, and insects fed betaine contained nearly as much choline as those fed a corresponding amount of choline.
Study on Gas Turbine Governor System Modeling and Parameter Test Method

The power system stability calculation model of gas turbine and governor system is studied. Test methods for important parameters of the model are introduced,including Test methods for opening and closing time constants of the actuator,Test and verification methods for PID parameters of the electro-hydraulic conversion,Test and identification methods for time constants of the speed channel measurement unit and the generator power measurement unit and parameters of gas turbine model. Relevant field tests to get parameters above have been carried out,and errors between results of field tests and simulations have been analyzed,which verify the validity and practicability of proposed methods. The established models and their parameters identified can satisfied the requirement of power system stability calculation
Application of disk starter propagation machine in the production of rice-wine pure wheat Qu

The application of disk starter propagation machine in the production of rice-wine pure wheat Qu was studied.The production practice suggested that the saccharification capacity of pure wheat Qu could keep above 1030mg/(g·h) when the following technology was used: 5000kg wheat,21.25kg inoculum and 1400kg cold boiled water were mixed for 12h static incubation at 30℃~37℃ with humidity of 100%,and then,for 36h aeration culture at 37℃~40℃ with humidity of 100%~95%;the mixture was stirred for 3 times during the whole cultivation.The liquefaction capacity,moisture content and acidity of pure wheat Qu were also excellent and could meet the needs of mechanized rice wine production.
Simultaneous steering and imaging of magnetic particles using MRI toward delivery of therapeutics

Magnetic resonance navigation (MRN) offers the potential for real-time steering of drug particles and cells to targets throughout the body. In this technique, the magnetic gradients of an MRI scanner perform image-based steering of magnetically-labelled therapeutics through the vasculature and into tumours. A major challenge of current techniques for MRN is that they alternate between pulse sequences for particle imaging and propulsion. Since no propulsion occurs while imaging the particles, this results in a significant reduction in imaging frequency and propulsive force. We report a new approach in which an imaging sequence is designed to simultaneously image and propel particles. This sequence provides a tradeoff between maximum propulsive force and imaging frequency. In our reported example, the sequence can image at 27 Hz while still generating 95% of the force produced by a purely propulsive pulse sequence. We implemented our pulse sequence on a standard clinical scanner using millimetre-scale particles and demonstrated high-speed (74 mm/s) navigation of a multi-branched vascular network phantom. Our study suggests that the magnetic gradient magnitudes previously demonstrated to be sufficient for pure propulsion of micron-scale therapeutics in magnetic resonance targeting (MRT) could also be sufficient for real-time steering of these particles.
David Oliver: Keeping older doctors in the job.

I’m 51. I started working as an NHS doctor at 23 and got my first consultant job at 32. My father, Fred, was one of the NHS’s first consultant general adult psychiatrists to subspecialise in old age psychiatry. His former colleagues tell me that he had a huge work ethic and was ever present. Ultimately, however, I think that he was glad to stop. At 55 he took a special dispensation designed to attract psychiatrists to retire, working as a locum until 60, happily free of the on-call out-calls I remember from my childhood and of …
Geosynchronous Debris Conjunction Lead-Time Requirements for Autonomous Low-Thrust Disposal Guidance

Autonomous, low-thrust guidance for active disposal of geosynchronous debris, subject to collision avoidance with the local debris population, is studied. A bisection method is employed to determine trajectory modifications to avoid a conjuncting debris object by a range of distances, assuming a range of collision lead times. A parametric study is performed, in which re-orbit thrust accelerations are varied from 10−6 to 10−3 m/s 2, to demonstrate how the continuous-thrust level impacts the required lead time to achieve a desired debris miss distance. The lowest thrust levels considered show that a 6-12 hour lead time is required to achieve a 1-10 km debris separation at the predicted collision time.
Movement disorders in 2016: Progress in Parkinson disease and other movement disorders.

In the field of movement disorders, areas that have seen important advances in 2016 include the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease involving extra-CNS α-synuclein pathology, treatment of hyperkinetic disorders with novel dopamine-depleting drugs, and MRI-guided ultrasound surgery for the treatment of essential tremor.
Food restriction induces synaptic incorporation of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in nucleus accumbens.

Chronic food restriction potentiates behavioral and cellular responses to drugs of abuse and D-1 dopamine receptor agonists administered systemically or locally in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, the alterations in NAc synaptic transmission underlying these effects are incompletely understood. AMPA receptor trafficking is a major mechanism for regulating synaptic strength, and previous studies have shown that both sucrose and d-amphetamine rapidly alter the abundance of AMPA receptor subunits in the NAc postsynaptic density (PSD) in a manner that differs between food-restricted and ad libitum fed rats. The present study examined whether food restriction, in the absence of reward stimulus challenge, alters AMPAR subunit abundance in the NAc PSD. Food restriction was found to increase surface expression and, specifically, PSD abundance, of GluA1 but not GluA2, suggesting synaptic incorporation of GluA2-lacking Ca2+-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPARs). Naspm, an antagonist of CP-AMPARs, decreased the amplitude of evoked EPSCs in Nac shell, and blocked the enhanced locomotor response to local microinjection of the D-1 receptor agonist, SKF-82958, in food-restricted, but not ad libitum fed, subjects. Although microinjection of the D-2 receptor agonist, quinpirole, also induced greater locomotor activation in food-restricted than ad libitum fed rats, this effect was not decreased by Naspm. Taken together, the present findings are consistent with synaptic incorporation of CP-AMPARs in D-1 receptor expressing medium spiny neurons in NAc as a mechanistic underpinning of the enhanced responsiveness of food-restricted rats to natural rewards and drugs of abuse. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Resolution enhancement for x-ray images

X-ray machines are widely used for medical imaging and their cost is highly dependent on their image resolution. Due to economic reasons, lower-resolution (lower-res) machines still have a lot of customers, especially in developing economies. Software based resolution enhancement can potentially enhance the capabilities of the lower-res machines without significantly increasing their cost hence, is highly desirable. In this work, we developed an algorithm for X-ray image resolution enhancement. In this algorithm, the fractal idea and cross-resolution patch matching are used to identify low-res patches that can be used as samples for high-res patch/pixel estimation. These samples are then used to generate a prior distribution and used in a Bayesian MAP (maximum a posteriori) optimization to produce the high-res image estimate. The efficacy of our algorithm is demonstrated by experimental results.
Are You a Compatible User

A novel concept of compatibility between a news article and an online microblog user is introduced, and a framework embodying the concept is proposed. The framework currently proposes to match two factors – user’s interest and user’s sentiment as reflected in the user’s microblog texts – to determine the compatibility. Using Twitter as an example, the framework is instantiated using the RAKE algorithm for topic keyword (for interest) matching and the VADER model-based sentiment scoring algorithm for sentiment matching. Gold standard tests show that considering both interest match and sentiment match improves the accuracy of compatibility decision significantly and that filtering topic keywords based on co-occurrence semantics helps to disambiguate the user’s sentiment match, hence the compatibility decision.
The economic values of wood residues as fuel.

This paper considers the energy value of wood residues (particularly as it is affected by moisture content), develops an opportunity costs-economic value curve for wood residues as a function of moisture content based upon direct combustion to produce steam, and considers the influence of co-generation and electricity generation by utilities on the economic value of residues. The economic value of such residues in traditional raw-materal markets are also described. It is seen that moisture is one critical variable that determines the point of maximum economic value of wood residues. 32 references.
Chemical imaging of tumor microenvironment by using multi-spectral photoacoustic imaging powered by functional nanosensors

Tumor acidosis, as a consequence of increased fermentative metabolism and poor perfusion, plays an important role in almost all steps of invasive growth and metastasis. Successful measurements of the extracellular pH of the tumor microenvironment can contribute to clinical management of cancer and basic science research. We herein report on an in vivo tumor pH mapping nanotechnology that includes the development of a pH sensing nanoprobe and multi-wavelength photoacoustic imaging (PAI) integrated with ultrasound imaging.
Characterizing the acute heat stress response in gilts: I. Thermoregulatory and production variables.

Identifying traits associated with susceptibility or tolerance to heat stress (HS) is a prerequisite for developing strategies to improve efficient pork production during the summer months. Study objectives were to determine the relationship between the thermoregulatory and production responses to acute HS in pigs. Prepubertal gilts (n = 235; 77.9 ± 1.2 kg BW) were exposed to a thermoneutral (TN) period (P1, 24 h; 21.9 ± 0.5 °C, 62 ± 13% RH; fed ad libitum) followed immediately by a subsequent acute HS period (P2, 24 h; 29.7 ± 1.3 °C, 49 ± 8% RH; fed ad libitum). Rectal temperature (TR), skin temperature (TS), and respiration rate (RR) were monitored and BW and feed intake (FI) were determined. All pigs had increased TR, TS, and RR (0.80 °C, 5.65 °C, and 61.2 bpm, respectively; P < 0.01) and decreased FI and BW (29% and 1.10 kg, respectively; P < 0.01) during P2 compared to P1. Interestingly, body temperature indices did not explain variation in FI during P2 (R2 ≤ 0.02). Further, the percent change in BW during P2 was only marginally explained by each body temperature index (R2 ≤ 0.06) or percent change in FI (R2 = 0.14). During HS, TR was strongly correlated with P1 TR (r = 0.72, P < 0.01), indicating a pig’s body temperature during TN conditions predicts the severity of hyperthermia during HS. Additionally, the change in TR (ΔTR, HS TR – TN TR) was larger in pigs retrospectively classified as susceptible (SUS) as compared to tolerant (TOL) pigs (1.05 vs. 0.51 °C, respectively; P < 0.01). In summary, thermoregulatory responses and production variables during acute HS are only marginally related. Further, changes in BW and FI were unexpectedly poorly correlated during acute HS (r = 0.34; P < 0.01). Collectively, suboptimal growth is largely independent on the thermoregulatory response and hypophagia during acute HS. Consequently, incorporating solely body temperature indices into a genetic index is likely insufficient for substantial progress in selecting HS tolerant pigs.
In the frame: the performative spectatorship of museum selfies

ABSTRACTMuseum selfies offer valuable visitor-generated insights into contemporary spectatorship. The author argues that visitors use museum selfies to disrupt the narrative of the museum and to ac...
A Robust Generalized-Maximum Likelihood Unscented Kalman Filter for Power System Dynamic State Estimation

This paper develops a new robust generalized maximum-likelihood-type unscented Kalman filter (GM-UKF) that is able to suppress observation and innovation outliers while filtering out non-Gaussian process and measurement noise. Because the errors of the real and reactive power measurements calculated using phasor measurement units (PMUs) follow long-tailed probability distributions, the conventional UKF provides strongly biased state estimates since it relies on the weighted least squares estimator. By contrast, the state estimates and residuals of our GM-UKF are proved to be roughly Gaussian, allowing the sigma points to reliably approximate the mean and the covariance matrices of the predicted and corrected state vectors. To develop our GM-UKF, we first derive a batch-mode regression form by processing the predictions and observations simultaneously, where the statistical linearization approach is used. We show that the set of equations so derived are equivalent to those of the unscented transformation. Then, a robust GM-estimator that minimizes a convex Huber cost function while using weights calculated via projection statistics (PSs) is proposed. The PSs are applied to a two-dimensional matrix that consists of a serially correlated predicted state and innovation vectors to detect observation and innovation outliers. These outliers are suppressed by the GM-estimator using the iteratively reweighted least squares algorithm. Finally, the asymptotic error covariance matrix of the GM-UKF state estimates is derived from the total influence function. Extensive simulation results carried out on IEEE New England 39-bus 10-machine test system verify the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.
Memory Improvement While Hearing Music: Effects of Structural Continuity on Feature Binding

Previous research ( Music Perception , 2002, Issue 2) demonstrated improvement in recognition memory across delays increasing from 5 to 15 s while listening to novel music, attributable to a decline in false alarms to similar lures. We hypothesize that this improvement results from delayed binding of features. At short delays, targets and similar lures are easily confused because they share individual features such as melodic contour and musical key. Binding those features into a coherent memory representation—such as encoding the pitch level at which the contour is attached to the scale—reduces that confusion and hence false alarms to similar lures. Here we report eight experiments in which we explore the conditions under which this continued encoding occurs, and test specific hypotheses concerning the particular features involved. These phenomena involve the binding of complex features of nonverbal material, and are explained in terms of theoretical descriptions of the features and the representations resulting from binding. We envisage future studies investigating this binding phenomenon with neurophysiological methods in the study of cognition in aging.
Learning to Live Together: Linking European and Local Initiatives

It is the very same nature of the current problems of the world that are asking for more unity between people. It is the context of our life and reality which is demanding a far more inclusive polity.
Testing Organic Composite Insulators for Fusion Magnets

Descriptions are presented of problems associated with acquiring mechanical property data on organic composite electrical insulators for fusion magnets. Magnet environments are identified and are shown to differ from test conditions because of simulation difficulties, foremost among which is the reactor radiation field. Other problems involve the development of reliable test procedures for such properties as interlaminar shear. Examples are presented. Recent advances in test procedures are summarized and the survivabilities of newer composites are described.
Effects of Plasmapheresis in Neuropathic Pain, Local Inflammatory Cytokines, and Skin-Wrinkling-Response in Patients with Painful Peripheral Neuropathies. (P4.141)

Objective: Pilot-study of plasma exchange(PLEX) in painful neuropathy(PN), evaluating effects on neuropathic pain, local inflammatory cytokines measured in cutaneous interstitial fluid(CIF) collected from experimentally-induced skin blisters(EISB), serological inflammatory markers, quality of life measures, and stimulated skin-wrinkling via topical eutectic mixture of local anesthetics(SSW-EMLA) to the distal digit pulp. Background: CIF cytokines from EISB are elevated in diabetic patients compared to healthy controls(Illigens et al, AAN2012) and may play a role in diabetic PN. SSW-EMLA may correlate with neuropathy severity and autonomic dysfunction(Wilder-Smith et al). PLEX reduces inflammation and is used in few inflammatory neuropathies, but not in diabetic or idiopathic PN. Design/Methods: University-IRB-approved open-label pilot-study of 3-alternate-days of PLEX in 6 patients with diabetic or idiopathic PN, refractory to standard pain medications, which remained unchanged. We compared pre-and post-PLEX pain scales(Likert of highest and lowest pain in a 10-scale and Visual-Analog-Scales), depression, quality of life, as well as labwork(CIF cytokine analysis from foot EISB using ELISA bead-based multiplex assay, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and c-reactive protein), and SSW-EMLA(for sympathetic function, using digital photographs of the distal digit pulps(Teoh et al). Results: All subjects(4 diabetic, 2 idiopathic) tolerated well and had no complications from outpatient peripheral IV PLEX, EISB or CIF collection. EISB were painless, inducing 8mm-blisters on dorsum of foot after 90–120minutes of low-20mmHg vacuum pressure. Pain reduction lasted longer than 7 days. Depression scores were unchanged. ESR and CRP were elevated and reduced after PLEX. Results for 34 cytokines from CIF were complex and will be presented in table format. SSW-EMLA improved in only 1 subject. Conclusions: This pilot-study raises the possibility of treatable and modifiable inflammatory factors in chronic PN. The CIF cytokine analysis is complex, but the EISB method may be a promising tool to study local milieu of inflammatory and neurogenic changes in PN. Further research is needed. Study Supported by: TerumoBCT. Dr. De Sousa was the winner of 2012 Plasma Exchange Innovation Award funded by TerumoBCT. This award was used to conduct this study. Disclosure: Dr. De Sousa has nothing to disclose. Dr. Webb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moon has nothing to disclose.