cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Precise detailed detection of faces and facial features

Face detection has advanced dramatically over the past three decades. Algorithms can now quite reliably detect faces in clutter in or near real time. However, much still needs to be done to provide an accurate and detailed description of external and internal features. This paper presents an approach to achieve this goal. Previous learning algorithms have had limited success on this task because the shape and texture of facial features varies widely under changing expression, pose and illumination. We address this problem with the use of subclass divisions. In this approach, we use an algorithm to automatically divide the training samples of each facial feature into a set of subclasses, each representing a distinct construction of the same facial component (e.g., close versus open eye lids). The key idea used to achieve accurate detections is to not only learn the textural information of the facial feature to be detected but that of its context (i.e., surroundings). This process permits a precise detection of key facial features. We then combine this approach with edge and color segmentation to provide an accurate and detailed detection of the shape of the major facial features (brows, eyes, nose, mouth and chin). We use this face detection algorithm to obtain precise descriptions of the facial features in video sequences of American Sign Language (ASL) sentences, where the variability in expressions can be extreme. Extensive experimental validation demonstrates our method is almost as precise as manual detection, ~ 2% error.
Langat Virus M Protein Is Structurally Homologous to prM

Langat (LGT) virus M protein has been generated in a recombinant system. Antiserum raised against the LGT virus M protein neutralizes tick-borne encephalitis serocomplex flaviviruses but not mosquito-borne flaviviruses, indicating that the M protein is exposed on the surface of virions. The antiserum recognizes intracellular LGT virus prM/M and binds to prM and M in Western blots of whole-cell lysates and purified virus, respectively. These data suggest that the prM and M proteins are structurally similar under native conditions and support the hypothesis that the “pr” portion of prM facilitates proper folding of the M protein for expression on the virion surface.
Genomic approaches to studying the human microbiota

The human body is colonized by a vast array of microbes, which form communities of bacteria, viruses and microbial eukaryotes that are specific to each anatomical environment. Every community must be studied as a whole because many organisms have never been cultured independently, and this poses formidable challenges. The advent of next-generation DNA sequencing has allowed more sophisticated analysis and sampling of these complex systems by culture-independent methods. These methods are revealing differences in community structure between anatomical sites, between individuals, and between healthy and diseased states, and are transforming our view of human biology.
Effects of hyaluronan treatment on lipopolysaccharide-challenged fibroblast-like synovial cells

Numerous investigations have reported the efficacy of exogenous hyaluronan (HA) in modulating acute and chronic inflammation. The current study was performed to determine the in vitro effects of lower and higher molecular weight HA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged fibroblast-like synovial cells. Normal synovial fibroblasts were cultured in triplicate to one of four groups: group 1, unchallenged; group 2, LPS-challenged (20 ng/ml); group 3, LPS-challenged following preteatment and sustained treatment with lower molecular weight HA; and group 4, LPS-challenged following pretreatment and sustained treatment with higher molecular weight HA. The response to LPS challenge and the influence of HA were compared among the four groups using cellular morphology scoring, cell number, cell viability, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, IL-6 production, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) production, and gene expression microarray analysis. As expected, our results demonstrated that LPS challenge induced a loss of characteristic fibroblast-like synovial cell culture morphology (P < 0.05), decreased the cell number (P < 0.05), increased PGE2 production 1,000-fold (P < 0.05), increased IL-6 production 15-fold (P < 0.05), increased MMP3 production threefold (P < 0.05), and generated a profile of gene expression changes typical of LPS (P < 0.005). Importantly, LPS exposure at this concentration did not alter the cell viability. Higher molecular weight HA decreased the morphologic change (P < 0.05) associated with LPS exposure. Both lower and higher molecular weight HA significantly altered a similar set of 21 probe sets (P < 0.005), which represented decreased expression of inflammatory genes (PGE2, IL-6) and catabolic genes (MMP3) and represented increased expression of anti-inflammatory and anabolic genes. The molecular weight of the HA product did not affect the cell number, the cell viability or the PGE2, IL-6, or MMP3 production. Taken together, the anti-inflammatory and anticatabolic gene expression profiles of fibroblast-like synovial cells treated with HA and subsequently challenged with LPS support the pharmacologic benefits of treatment with HA regardless of molecular weight. The higher molecular weight HA product provided a cellular protective effect not seen with the lower molecular weight HA product.
Simulated SEU hardened scaled CMOS SRAM cell design using gated resistors

The use of gated resistors as an innovative technique for hardening scaled static RAM (SRAM) designs is examined. Gated resistors are actively clocked polysilicon resistors that are used to provide single-event upset (SEU) hardness. they are placed in the cross-coupled segments of SRAM cells, similar to designs using passive polysilicon resistors. The high-resistance OFF-state of the gated resistors protects the stored cell data from SEUs. However, during write-cell cycles, the gated resistors are clocked into a low-resistance ON-state by a wordline clock signal. The resultant low-resistance current paths reduce the charging time constants of the internal cell nodes, thus preserving the fast write response to the cell. Experimental investigations of gated resistor technology demonstrated the processing capability and device feasibility. The gated resistor process was found to be easy to integrate into a radiation-hardened half-micrometer CMOS process without introducing any process complexities and without negatively affecting functional yield or degrading total dose hardness. >
The Perpetration of Abuse in Intimate Relationships: Does Religion Make a Difference?

This chapter examines the relationship between religion and perpetration of intimate partner violence and abuse. The chapter opens with a brief overview of the problem, including several risk factors that have been examined extensively in empirical research. Very little research has examined how religion may affect likelihood of intimate partner violence and abuse perpetration; despite the fact that there are several reasons to hypothesize that religion could serve as either a protective or a risk factor. We focus largely on the religiosity construct and review the research literature on religiosity and intimate partner violence and abuse, noting the limitations of many of the studies, including narrow operationalizations of religiosity. We then turn to an examination of studies that use multidimensional measures of religiosity as well as research that indicates that religiosity per se is less important in predicting intimate partner violence and abuse perpetration than is style of religious self-regulation, that is, introjected versus identified religious self-regulation. We highlight some of the critical gaps in empirical research on the relationship between religion and intimate partner violence and abuse perpetration and identify directions for future research in this area.
On capacity and spreading in CDMA systems

The problem of maximizing a weighted linear combination of the rates of users in a multiuser synchronous CDMA system is considered. We find that although spreading decreases capacity, nontrivial low rate coding can help to mitigate this loss.
The History of Surgery in Massachusetts

Thomas Carlyle noted that “The history of the world is but the biography of great men.” 1 The history of surgery in Massachusetts is full of great men who have made enormous contributions to the art and the science of surgery. I will concentrate for the most part on the century just past, and on the surgeons, mostly from Massachusetts but some from the other New England states, who have made those contributions and provided leadership and vision to the New England Surgical Society (NESS).
Scattering theory for quantum electrodynamics. I. Infrared renormalization and asymptotic fields

The present article lays the theoretical foundation for a scattering theory of quantum electrodynamics, which is completed into a practical calculational scheme in the accompanying article. In order to circumvent infrared divergences, an infrared renormalization procedure is instituted whereby a Lorentz-invariant, but indefinite, inner product is defined for a class of photon test functions defined on the future light cone ${k}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}=\ensuremath{\omega}(1, \stackrel{^}{k})$, $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\ge}0$. This class includes test functions whose low-frequency behavior is given by ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}(k)\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{e{p}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}}{p}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}k$, for which the usual inner product $\ensuremath{\int}{d}^{3}k{(2\ensuremath{\omega})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}{{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}}^{*}(k)(\ensuremath{-}{g}^{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}){\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}(k)$ is infrared-divergent. The Fock space of such test functions provides a representation space for the asymptotic fields of quantum electrodynamics. It contains subspaces in which the indefinite metric is non-negative which, when completed in the norm, yield physical Hilbert spaces. This Fock space of test functions thereby replaces the nonphysical Hilbert space of the usual Gupta-Bleuler method and its positive-definite but noncovariant metric. As an application the $S$ matrix and finite transition probabilities are found for the bremsstrahlung emitted by the classical external current of a scattered charged particle. A final result is a simple weak asymptotic limit of the charged field $\ensuremath{\psi}$. It is used as a starting point in the accompanying article, for the derivation of reduction formulas for the quantum electrodynamical $S$ matrix.
Oratory and Philosophy in Cicero's Rhetorical Books

Cicero suggests in De Divinatione that he thought of his three rhetorical books -- De Oratore, Brutus, and Orator -- as representing one complete and consistent teaching about rhetoric, in spite of a seemingly inconsistent surface presentation. Although Cicero's changing political circumstances undoubtedly influenced the writing of the rhetorical books, this explanation is not decisive, and it may be more fruitful to consider the distinct possibility that the nature of his subject matter demanded an ambiguous or changing dramatic presentation. This paper will take up Cicero’s challenge and attempt to explain his three-part presentation of the relationship of oratory and philosophy as different parts of one unified teaching about rhetoric.
Identification by fluorescent antibody of developmental forms of psittacosis virus in tissue culture.

Summary1. Developmental forms of psittacosis virus have been studied in mouse embryo liver tissue cultures in vitro by the fluorescent-antibody technic. 2. Inoculation of a large dose of virus resulted in the intracellular appearance of antigen in most of the outgrowing cells within 16 hours. A moderate dose of virus resulted in the focal distribution of specific fluorescence. When a small dose of virus was inoculated, no specific fluorescence was detected. 3. The evidence indicates that virus antigen is present in the developmental forms within the cytoplasm of infected cells throughout the various stages that make up the growth cycle of psittacosis virus.
Blogmania : Blog Use in Academic Libraries

Web logs (blogs) and other Web 2.0 tools are becoming more popular as a means for academic libraries to communicate with their students. This article explores the medium and its use in marketing academic library services. The article also reports on a study of academic librarians currently using blogs. Librarians respond to questions about intended audience, statistics and other issues concerning marketing of blogs.
STUDIES ON ENDOTHELIAL REACTIONS : III. THE ENDOTHELIUM IN EXPERIMENTAL PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

1. The injection of a colloidal suspension, or sol, of carbon into the veins of a living animal, as recommended by McJunkin, furnishes an apparently reliable means of tracing the so called epithelioid cell of the pulmonary tubercle from its origin in the vascular endothelium to the lesion. 2. Experimental tubercles are formed in the lung, as in the liver, primarily by cells originating in the capillary endothelium. These cells are probably present in small numbers in the normal lung, lying free both in the alveolar wall and the air vesicles. In response to infection they proliferate in the capillary walls in the vicinity of the invading organisms, migrate in steadily increasing numbers, and, arriving at the site of the infection, further multiply and to some extent fuse to form the syncytia known as giant cells. 3. The epithelial cell takes no active part in the process; its proliferation tends to repair denuded surfaces and is regenerative rather than combative or phagocytic in nature. This cell is free from carbon and stains only diffusely with carmine, in contradistinction to the endothelial cell which readily takes up both pigments in granular form. 4. The cells of endothelial origin not only phagocytose tubercle bacilli, but carry them into the tissues, for example into lymph nodes, by way of the lymphatics, or into other lung lobules by way of the air passages, in which they are readily demonstrable.
Investigation of Occupational Lead Hazard in a Battery Enterprise

[Objective]To investigate the influence of occupational lead contamination on the workers' health in a battery enterprise. [Methods] Spot investigation combined with laboratory detection was applied to investigate lead contamination in a battery enterprise. [Results] The lead concentration in most of the detected spots exceeded the national hygienic standard; the maximum concentration of lead fume in the battery workshop was 1.8 mg/m3, the average concentration was 0.19 mg/m3; the maximum concentration of lead dust was 3.4mg/m3, the average was 0.228 mg/m3; the maximum exceeding multiple was 67 times; 178 workers were detected with abnormal urine lead (95.19%), among which 19, 158 and 1 workers belonged to lead absorption, light lead poisoning and medium lead poisoning respectively; the highest lead concentration stood at 13.04 μmol/L that exceeded the national standard (0.34 μmol/L) by 38.35 times; RBC and Hb also decreased to some extent. [Conclusion]The lead concentration in most of the detected spots exceeded the national standard; the abnormal urine lead was obvious among the workers in the routine physical examination; occupational lead hazard is severe in his enterprise.
18F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography – An Innovative Technique for the Diagnosis of a Canine Lameness

Introduction: Positron emission tomography imaging with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is widely known for its use in the diagnosis and tracking of primary and metastatic tumors via uptake and retention of the radiopharmaceutical by hypermetabolic cells. 18F-FDG is also used to study the normal physiology of glucose uptake, metabolism, and muscle activity during and after exercise. Background: A pilot study adding PET imaging to the diagnostic evaluation of canine patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) for mild or intermittent fore- and hind-limb lameness is ongoing. Dogs with an observable (grade 1-2/5) lameness that have undergone routine radiography and complete physical examination by board-certified veterinary surgeons and sports medicine and rehabilitation specialists are enrolled. Each patient undergoes force plate analysis and leash-walking for 15 minutes prior to premedication and induction of general anesthesia for the PET-CT exam. 18F-FDG is injected intravenously and a whole body PET exam is conducted after one hour of radiopharmaceutical uptake time. Standard algorithm, whole body pre- and post-contrast CT exams and focused, standard and bone algorithm CT scans of the fore- or hind-limb areas of interest are obtained concurrently. Abnormal PET-CT findings are further investigated with additional diagnostic imaging or at surgery (e.g., ultrasound, MRI, arthroscopy). Discussion: This case report uses a canine patient referred for forelimb lameness to illustrate the role of advanced imaging in a diagnostic plan and to discuss a recommended PET-CT procedure for lameness evaluation. The strengths and limitations of molecular imaging and the implications for judicious use of advanced imaging modalities are discussed in light of common canine musculoskeletal disease presentations and as a value-added supplement to clinical practice. Concluding Remarks: 18F-FDG PET-CT adds valuable physiologic and anatomic information to the diagnostic evaluation of patients presenting with indistinct or intermittent clinical signs of musculoskeletal inflammation or injury. Tailoring the PET acquisition and radiopharmaceutical parameters allows for detailed information gathering in the realm of exercise physiology and is unlocking a new frontier in the study of canine athletic performance.
Central Amygdala Somatostatin Neurons Gate Passive and Active Defensive Behaviors

The central amygdala (CeA) has a key role in learning and expression of defensive responses. Recent studies indicate that somatostatin-expressing (SOM(+)) neurons in the lateral division of the CeA (CeL) are essential for the acquisition and recall of conditioned freezing behavior, which has been used as an index of defensive response in laboratory animals during Pavlovian fear conditioning. However, how exactly these neurons participate in fear conditioning and whether they contribute to the generation of defensive responses other than freezing remain unknown. Here, using fiber-optic photometry combined with optogenetic and molecular techniques in behaving mice, we show that SOM(+) CeL neurons are activated by threat-predicting sensory cues after fear conditioning and that activation of these neurons suppresses ongoing actions and converts an active defensive behavior to a passive response. Furthermore, inhibition of these neurons using optogenetic or molecular methods promotes active defensive behaviors. Our results provide the first in vivo evidence that SOM(+) neurons represent a CeL population that acquires learning-dependent sensory responsiveness during fear conditioning and furthermore reveal an important role of these neurons in gating passive versus active defensive behaviors in animals confronted with threat. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The ability to develop adaptive behavioral responses to threat is fundamental for survival. Recent studies indicate that the central lateral amygdala (CeL), in particular its somatostatin-expressing neurons, is crucial for both learning and the expression of defensive response. However, how exactly these neurons participate in such processes remains unclear. Here we show for the first time in behaving mice that the somatostatin-expressing neurons in the CeL acquire learning-dependent responsiveness to sensory cues predicting a threat. Furthermore, our results indicate that these neurons gate the behavioral output of an animal: whereas high activity in these neurons biases toward passive defensive responses, low activity in these neurons allows the expression of active defensive responses.
NEW OPERATIVE APPROACH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTROPHIC SUBAORTIC STENOSIS.

SUMMARY A method for dealing with hypertrophic subaortic stenosis is described. It involves excision of the mitral valve, resection of the obstructing muscular tissue, and prosthetic mitral valve replacement.
The Physiology of Serum Calcitonin and Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a malignant tumor of the parafollicular C-cells of the thyroid gland. The parafollicular C-cells are derived from the neural crest and predominantly secrete calcitonin, as well as several other hormones and amines, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), β-melanocyte stimulating hormone, chromogranin, histaminase, neurotensin, and somatostatin [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Calcitonin is expressed by almost all MTCs; hence, it represents both a valuable tumor-specific marker and a potential therapeutic target [7]. Both serum calcitonin and CEA are considered important tumor markers in patients with MTC, as their serum concentrations directly correlate to the C-cell mass. Below we will discuss in detail the origin of these markers, expected and altered serum levels, reference ranges, doubling times and the utility of these biomarkers in the perioperative and long-term management of adult MTC.
Chiplet based approach for heterogeneous processing and packaging architectures

Creating integrated systems on-chip (SoCs) for aerospace platforms is becoming increasingly intractable in advanced semiconductor nodes (< 90 nm) due to: (1) the expense of semiconductor processing and fabrication, (2) sheer complexity in terms of number of circuit elements for a large die, and (3) limited quantities of systems over which development costs can be amortized. To overcome some of these barriers, a modular “chiplet” motif is proposed around which a scalable and heterogeneous architecture multi-generational roadmap for microelectronics can be based that preserves many of the benefits of a SoC approach. A chiplet is defined as a small, high-performance nodal architecture that can be connected to other chiplets using a number of universal links for high-speed communications. The links can be either parallel or serial, each conveying the same information. Parallel links are used in multichip module / 2.5D packaging, in which a number of chiplets may be a packaged into a tightly coupled configuration (having in theory thousands of interconnects). Serial links are used in simpler forms of packaging to connect nodes across boards, backplanes, and boxes. The universality is important for two reasons. First, by establishing an equivalence between parallel and serial links, the same grouping of chips can be packaged in several different ways that result in functionally equivalent implementations (except that the inter-nodal latency will vary between parallel and serial connections). The performance of the links can be evolved over time to take advantage of the fastest available transport (including optical) or the widest parallel embodiments (for aggressive 3-D through-silicon via connections). Second, since the links only pass information, it is conceivable that node designs can be substantially different, allowing heterogeneous mixtures of chiplets, to include not only different embodiments of the same processor, but also wholly different classes of node types, to include ultradense memory “servers” (capable of managing multiple high-speed streams through the same link mechanisms), field programmable gate array (FPGA) clusters, and even extended to include complex, configurable analog and radiofrequency functional blocks in the future. By establishing standard messaging protocols, node arrangements can self-organize as more copies of different node types are added, creating a natural approach for building systems flexibly based on the best of breed semiconductor and packaging technologies. This paper will introduce the basic form of the chiplet concept inspired from joint AFRL/NASA work on next-generation space processing and previous work on scaled reconfigurable processing architectures, and describe some of the features we believe necessary to support scalability and heterogeneity with multi-domain, hybrid architectures involving a mixture of semiconductor technologies, transport concepts, and advanced packaging approaches.
A pilot randomized controlled trial of a decision aid with tailored fracture risk tool delivered via a patient portal

Summary We tested the feasibility of a fracture prevention decision aid in an online patient portal. The decision aid was acceptable for patients and successfully decreased decisional conflict. This study suggests the possible utility of leveraging the patient portal to enhance patient education and decision making in osteoporosis care.
Exergoeconomic evaluation and optimization of cogeneration systems

This paper discusses the application of exergoeconomics, one of the most advanced thermal–system analysis methods, to the evaluation and optimization of a cogeneration system. The procedures of exergy analysis, economic analysis and exergy costing are briefly outlined. The work shows how an exergoeconomic analysis identifies the real sources of thermodynamic waste and costs. Thus, this analysis is an effective, objective and practical tool for the design evaluation and optimization of cogeneration systems, particularly when insufficient cost data are available.
Bi13S18I2: (Re)discovery of a Subvalent Bismuth Compound Featuring [Bi2]4+ Dimers Grown in Sulfur/Iodine Flux Mixtures

Reactions of bismuth in sulfur/iodine flux mixtures were explored at various temperatures and iodine concentrations. The observed products include Bi2S3, BiSI, and Bi13S18I2. The latter compound, formerly reported as “Bi19I3S27” grows as well formed needles from the flux. This enabled extensive crystallographic studies by single crystal XRD and powder synchrotron XRD. These data allow a more accurate assignment of the disordered bismuth sites in the structure, indicating formation of subvalent Bi24+ dimers; this results in a stoichiometry of Bi13S18I2. Thermal decomposition studies and Raman spectroscopy support this structural model, and electronic structure calculations and optical reflectance studies indicate this compound is an indirect band gap semiconductor with band gap of 0.3 eV.
Visual acuity and signal color pattern in an Anolis lizard.

ABSTRACT Anolis lizards communicate with colorful dewlaps that often include detailed patterns. We measured the visual acuity of Anolis sagrei. Lizards viewed a checkerboard pattern of red and yellow–green squares that were too small to resolve, and thus appeared uniform in color. We quickly replaced the center portion of the display with a pattern of larger squares. If the new pattern could be resolved, the lizards perceived a change in color and reflexively shifted their gaze toward the target. The acuity threshold was 1.21 cycles deg −1 . We also calculated acuity based on published anatomical data for Anolis carolinensis . It was similar to that of A. sagrei for the visual periphery. Foveal acuity was 10 times greater. We approximated the effects of viewing conditions on the visibility of fine details of a conspecific9s dewlap. For peripheral vision, no detailed patterns were visible at ≥0.5 m. For foveal vision, color-pattern details were visible at 1.0 m.
Abstract 230: Exploring the Prevalence and Factors that Affect Patients with Both Diabetic and Myocardial Infarction: Teaching Versus Non-Teaching Hospitals

Background: There has been an increasing prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) inpatients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Relatively very little research has been reported on the health services outcomes differences between teaching and non teaching hospitals with regards to length of stay (LOS) of inpatients with both MI and T2D. This study examined factors that affect the LOS differences of inpatients with both MI and T2D in teaching and non teaching hospitals. These factors include patient characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, education, income, insurance, cost, comorbidities, MI severity, treatment procedures) and hospital characteristics (bed size, location, ownership and region). Method: Data from 2008 National Inpatients Statistics (NIS) under the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was retrospectively analyzed. We identified 4,444 patients with diabetic myocardial infarction and seven categories of length of stay in days (1 day or less than one day; 2 days; 3 days; 4 days; 5 to 6 days; 7 to 13 days; 14 days or longer) were used for the analyses. Result: Overall, patients stayed shorter in non teaching hospitals than in teaching hospitals. Age group 65 - 74 was significant (X 2 = 37.294, df = 6, p = .000) for longer stay in teaching hospitals with more females staying longer in teaching (24.9%) than in non teaching (21.3%) hospitals. White ethnic group stayed shorter in non-teaching hospitals than other ethnic groups while patients with income lower than $39,000 stayed longer in non-teaching hospitals than those with higher income. Only Medicare was significant (X 2 = 24.975, df = 6, p = .000) amongst the patients payment methods. Patients with hypertension stayed longer than patients with other comorbidities while severe loss of function for MI severity remained significant (X 2 = 15.181, df = 6, p = .019). Furthermore, length of stay and hospital characteristics for medium and large bed size, urban, government and private-owned, Northeast and Western hospitals were significant (p Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has shown that there is a significant difference between teaching and non teaching hospitals and these differences are large enough to affect policy changes and this may all be attributed to age, income, and insurance possession. Understanding the relationship between MI and T2D will enable the healthcare professionals to start screening diabetic patients for any coronary artery diseases in order to prevent prolonged length of stay in teaching hospitals. Shorter length of stay equates lower cost of stay, hence availability of needed budget for preventive measures.
On the interdependencies between record structure and access path design

Abstract:The physical organization of data within a database has two major components: record structures and access paths. Record structures specify the grouping of data items into data records that are physically stored and accessed together. Access paths specify the algorithms and system data used to determine the physical location of data records and to efficiently support content-dependent searching. Choosing efficient record structures and access paths is complicated by the fact that they are interdependent. This paper formalizes these interdependencies and proposes an approach to solving the combined record structure-access path design problem. This work extends an existing database design system in four ways: (1) record segmentation is extended to include redundantly stored data in any number of independently processed segments; (2) dependent access paths are added allowing us to design multiple, interrelated file organizations at the same time; (3) new methods are proposed to assist in the generat...
Sierra Leone: Continuity and Change

State choices in Sierra Leone, like in Liberia, suggest that the anti-mercenary norm is relatively less influential. The path of preference formation in Sierra Leone was one of the earliest in Africa; it pre-dates Montreux and is still a source of practice. The chapter examines how ensuing crisis affected continuity and change in PMSC governance during a post-disaster setting by focusing on the Ebola Virus Disease pandemic. The chapter emphasizes on the basis of fieldwork and interviews on how the state retained control over PMSC standards during the implementation of emergency measures.
Judicial Emotion as Vice or Virtue: Perspectives Both Ancient and New

Is emotion a judicial vice or a judicial virtue? While Western post-Enlightenment norms insist on the former, contemporary psychology suggests the latter—or perhaps it suggests that either could be true. This view is illuminated and given texture by the Aristotelian tradition. This chapter explores historical, philosophical and scientific perspectives that converge around the view that emotion is a vital source of judicial wisdom. At the same time, judicial emotion can sometimes operate as a vice. The chapter situates this more nuanced position on judicial emotion within the broader frame of law and emotion studies, demonstrates how most scholars within that movement either explicitly or implicitly adopt an Aristotelian philosophy, and uses the case of anger to demonstrate the value of an Aristotelian virtue approach to the emotional element of judicial behavior and decision-making.
Characterization of Site-Specific Phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in Retinal Cells in Response to High Glucose and Cytokine Polarization

Background. Inflammation is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). NF-κB is a master transcriptional regulator for numerous inflammatory genes. Although NF-κB is comprised of multiple subunits, p65 has received the most attention. However, the p65 subunit can be phosphorylated at numerous sites, for which the effects of DR-related conditions are not well characterized. Since dysregulation of NF-κB has been linked to chronic inflammation, the current study examines site-specific p65 phosphorylation in retinal cells exposed to high glucose and investigates the effects of cytokine polarization. Methods. Phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 sites was examined in human primary retinal endothelial cells (HREC) and MIO-M1 Muller cells after exposure to high glucose (HG) and pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines. Related downstream gene activation was selectively measured by real-time RT-PCR, ELISA, and/or Western blot. Results. HG exposure resulted in differential phosphorylation of p65 subunit sites between HREC and Muller cells. Proinflammatory cytokines further increased phosphorylation of these sites and additional sites that were not altered in HG. In contrast, IL-4 exhibited a suppressive effect on the phosphorylation of p65 sites in both cell types and promoted IκBα expression. Downstream inflammatory mediators were increased in response to proinflammatory cytokine treatment versus HG exposure. IL-4 inhibited proinflammatory cytokines, while IL-10 was enhanced despite HG exposure. Conclusion. The current study is the first to characterize HG-induced NF-κB p65 phosphorylation after cytokine polarization. By understanding NF-κB phosphorylation and cytokine influence during hyperglycemic conditions, intervention points can be identified for early-stage treatment of DR.
Compound Poisson-Processes

One motivation for the model we develop in this chapter is provided by the atmospheric-noise data shown in Fig. 1.3. It is evident that a point process model can account for the occurrence times of the pulses. However, these times alone do not reflect all of the significant features. The amplitudes of the pulses exhibit wide variation and have a strong influence on a radio receiver operating at low frequencies. Even a first-approximation model for low-frequency atmospheric noise should, therefore, include the amplitude as well as occurrence time of each pulse. It is this procedure of endowing each temporal point with an ancillary variable, an amplitude in this instance, which characterizes the models of this chapter.
Is Existence Ever an Injury?: The Wrongful Life Cases

Although my topic is the wrongful life cases: Is existence ever an injury?, the basic question, however, is not whether or not one’s life may be considered an injury, philosophically or physically, but whether or not being alive is ever, in law, something for which one should receive monetary compensation from another.
Warning’s second theorem with relaxed outputs

We present a generalization of Warning’s second theorem to polynomial systems over a finite local principal ring with restricted input and relaxed output variables. This generalizes a recent result with Forrow and Schmitt (and gives a new proof of that result). Applications to additive group theory, graph theory and polynomial interpolation are pursued in detail.
Size-Tunable DNA-Based Micelles for Deep Tumor Penetration

The dense interstitial structure of tumors often prevents further penetration and internalization into the central region in drug delivery by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. In this issue of Chem, Tan et al. report a nucleic-acid-based micelle that undergoes size transformation to resolve the conflict between the EPR effect and spatially uniform tumor penetration.
The amenity value of climate change across different regions in the United States

This article estimates the effect of climatic variables on house prices near ski resorts in different regions in the United States. We find that among the climate variables we test, average winter ...
Sex Differences in Cardiac Flow Dynamics of Healthy Volunteers.

Left ventricular blood flow vorticity metrics were observed to be higher in women than in men and displayed moderate correlation to cardiac strain metrics; the methods and results of this study may...
Prospective Assessment of Outcomes After Primary Unipolar, Multisurface, and Bipolar Osteochondral Allograft Transplantations in the Knee: A Comparison of 2 Preservation Methods:

Background:Articular cartilage lesions in the knee remain a challenging clinical problem.Hypothesis:A novel graft preservation method combined with surgical technique and patient management improve...
Cytologic features of a case of mixed medullary and follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinoma with review of the literature

Mixed medullary and follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinoma (MMFTC) is a rare primary thyroid carcinoma with morphologic and immunophenotypic evidence of admixed parafollicular and follicular cell-derived tumor populations within the same tumor. We herein present the fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cytology of a case of MMFTC that was diagnosed histologically and discuss potential clues to the diagnosis for cytologists. We also provide a literature review of this uncommon primary thyroid tumor. The patient was a 47-year-old man with a history of hypothyroidism who presented with ear and neck pain. Imaging demonstrated thyroid nodules with regional lymphadenopathy. FNAB samples of two thyroid nodules and an involved lymph node were diagnosed as papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The subsequent total thyroidectomy specimen demonstrated classic-type PTC which transitioned to a morphologically and immunophenotypically distinct medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) component within the same lesion, indicative of MMFTC. The patient experienced recurrence of the medullary component 20 months later and received chemotherapy with subsequent external beam radiation. As in this case, the cytologic diagnosis of MMFTC is almost never made prospectively. Retrospective review of the preoperative FNAB samples showed subtle cytomorphologic features suggestive of MTC in two of three biopsies, an impression confirmed by calcitonin immunohistochemistry on cell block material. In the broader literature, most MMFTCs on FNAB have been diagnosed as MTC, which is usually the more aggressive component of the mixed neoplasm.
Ammonia electro-oxidation mechanism on the platinum (100) surface

Abstract The catalytic electrochemical oxidation of ammonia is a structure-sensitive reaction that will potentially play a role in future energy systems, including portable fuel cells and the elimination of harmful pollutants. Platinum is an ideal catalyst for this reaction because of its selectivity toward the formation of nitrogen gas. The Pt (100) facet shows much faster ammonia electroxidation than other facets of Pt, however the elementary reaction steps responsible for this phenomenon are not understood. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to determine elementary reaction thermodynamics and kinetics. Absorbed NH2* formation is rapid and this intermediate is very stable on Pt (100). High coverage NH2* binds at atop sites, enabling favorable N N bond formation. The faster rate of ammonia oxidation on Pt (100) results from the low barrier of N2H4* formation resulting from NH2* dimerization at high coverage. Understanding the reactivity of ammonia oxidation of Pt (100) can aid in electrochemical reaction mechanism development and catalyst design.
Glycoengineering of AAV-delivered monoclonal antibodies yields increased ADCC activity

The absence of fucose on asparagine-297 of the human immunoglobulin G (IgG) heavy chain has been shown to enhance antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity by 10- to 100-fold compared to fucosylated antibody. Our lab is studying the use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a vector for the delivery of HIV-specific antibodies for therapeutic purposes. Since the antibody is produced by vector-transduced cells in vivo, current techniques of glycoengineering cannot be utilized. In order to achieve similar enhancement of ADCC with AAV-delivered antibodies, short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) that target fucosyltransferase-8 (FUT8), were designed, tested, and cloned into AAV vectors used to deliver HIV-specific broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Antibodies produced by our glycoengineered-AAV (GE-AAV) vectors were analyzed for fucose content and ADCC. GE-AAV constructs were able to achieve over 80% knockdown of FUT8. Results were confirmed by lectin western blot for α1-6 fucose, which revealed almost a complete absence of fucose on GE-AAV-produced antibodies. GE-AAV-produced antibodies revealed >10-fold enhancement of ADCC, while showing identical neutralization and gp140 trimer binding compared to their fucosylated counterparts. ADCC was enhanced 40- to 60-fold when combined with key Fc mutations known to enhance binding to FcγRIIIA. Our findings define a powerful approach for supercharging AAV-delivered anti-HIV antibodies.
Exploring the Process of Cancer Care for Patients With Pre-Existing Mobility Disability

PURPOSE:Approximately 13% of the US population report mobility disability. People with mobility disability experience healthcare disparities, including lower rates of cancer screening and substanda...
Acute Pain Management of Chronic Pain Patients in Ambulatory Surgery Centers

With the widespread growth of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the number and diversity of operations performed in the outpatient setting continue to increase. In parallel, there is an increase in the proportion of patients with a history of chronic opioid use and misuse undergoing elective surgery. Patients with such opioid tolerance present a unique challenge in the ambulatory setting, given their increased requirement for postoperative opioids. Guidelines for managing perioperative pain, anticipating postoperative opioid requirements and a discharge plan to wean off of opioids, are therefore needed. Expert guidelines suggest using multimodal analgesia including non-opioid analgesics and regional/neuraxial anesthesia whenever possible. However, there exists variability in care, resulting in challenges in perioperative pain management. In a recent study of same-day admission patients, anesthesiologists correctly identified most opioid-tolerant patients, but used non-opioid analgesics only half the time. The concept of a focused ambulatory pain specialist on site at each ASC has been suggested, who in addition to providing safe anesthesia, could intervene early once problematic pain issues are recognized. This review focuses on perioperative pain management in three subsets of patients who exhibit opioid tolerance: those on large doses of opioids (including abuse-deterrent formulations) for chronic non-malignant or malignant pain; those who have ongoing opioid misuse; and those who were prior addicts and are now on methadone/suboxone maintenance. We also discuss perioperative pain management for patients who have implanted devices such as spinal cord stimulators and intrathecal pain pumps.
Millimeter-Wave Patch Array for 5G Smart City Enviroment

With the increasing demand for high speed wireless data access, the 5th generation mobile networks promise a revolution in the way we connect; with faster data transfer and the capacity to support a higher density of users. In the presented work, a capacitive edge-coupled patch antenna array is designed and simulated to operate at 28GHz. Back to back printed microstrip feeding network technology is used to achieve compact, low-loss and cost-effective millimeter-wave antenna array. Both connectivity and signal coverage with installed street light poles and near-by cellular towers are investigated.
Tetracycline as an inhibitor to the SARS-CoV-2.

The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains an extant threat against public health on a global scale. Cell infection begins when the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds with the human cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Here, we address the role of tetracycline as an inhibitor for the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Targeted molecular investigation show that tetracycline binds more favorably to the RBD (-9.40 kcal/mol) compared to doxycycline (-8.08 kcal/mol), chloroquine (-6.31 kcal/mol), or gentamicin (-4.83 kcal/mol) while inhibiting attachment to ACE2 to a greater degree (binding efficiency of 2.98 kcal/(mol nm2 ) for tetracycline-RBD, 5.16 kcal/(mol nm2 ) for doxycycline-RBD, 5.59 kcal/(mol nm2 ) for chloroquine-RBD, and 7.02 kcal/(mol nm2 ) for gentamicin-RBD. Stronger inhibition by tetracycline is verified with nonequilibrium PMF calculations, for which the tetracycline-RBD complex exhibits the lowest free energy profile along the dissociation pathway from ACE2. Tetracycline binds to tyrosine and glycine residues on the viral contact interface that are known to modulate molecular recognition and bonding affinity. These RBD residues also engage in significant hydrogen bonding with the human receptor ACE2. The ability to preclude cell infection complements the anti-inflammatory and cytokine suppressing capability of tetracycline; this may reduce the duration of ICU stays and mechanical ventilation induced by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Case studies in fiber optic reliability

Abstract While general advice on reliability qualification may be helpful, truly understanding how to apply the advice only comes with real-world experience. The author has pulled together 10 case studies from many different real-world reliability excursions. Each case study reviews both what was done correctly, and what mistakes were made, to allow the reader to understand how to minimize risk in their own applications.
Foreword: Message From the General Chairman

BY all measures, the 2002 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference held in Norfolk, VA, was a success. The NSS/MIC conference is one of the most productive international scientific meetings in the fields of nuclear and particle physics, and the physics of nuclear medicine. It is particularly successful, and unique in the manner in which it combines these areas of research, due to the synergism between applied nuclear physics and medical imaging. As with prior years, the NSS/MIC meetingwas complimented by a Short Course program and the Symposium on Nuclear Power Systems (SNPS). In addition, we helped organize an Outreach Program for science teachers at Jefferson Laboratory, Newport News, VA, prior to the meeting, and helped to coordinate a workshop on Nuclear Radiology of Breast Cancer immediately following MIC.