cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Avascular necrosis complicating congenital dislocation of the hip

This study reviews the course of avascular necrosis complicating treatment for congenital dislocation of the hip in forty-eight patients (fifty-four hips). Although good hip function generally persists for many years after avascular necrosis, a high percentage of affected patients develop severe changes which may lead predictably to degenerative arthritis and disability later in life. The wide variety of problems caused by avascular necrosis requires analysis of the specific factors operating to create the deformity in each case. Major problems can be anticipated at an early age by continuous observation and better results produced by judicious surgery.
Early Identification of Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Abstract Background Interventions to reduce readmissions after acute heart failure hospitalization require early identification of patients. The purpose of this study was to develop and test accuracies of various approaches to identify patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) with the use of data derived from the electronic health record. Methods and Results We included 37,229 hospitalizations of adult patients at a single hospital during 2013–2015. We developed 4 algorithms to identify hospitalization with a principal discharge diagnosis of ADHF: 1) presence of 1 of 3 clinical characteristics, 2) logistic regression of 31 structured data elements, 3) machine learning with unstructured data, and 4) machine learning with the use of both structured and unstructured data. In data validation, algorithm 1 had a sensitivity of 0.98 and positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.14 for ADHF. Algorithm 2 had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.96, and both machine learning algorithms had AUCs of 0.99. Based on a brief survey of 3 providers who perform chart review for ADHF, we estimated that providers spent 8.6 minutes per chart review; using this this parameter, we estimated that providers would spend 61.4, 57.3, 28.7, and 25.3 minutes on secondary chart review for each case of ADHF if initial screening were done with algorithms 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Conclusions Machine learning algorithms with unstructured notes had the best performance for identification of ADHF and can improve provider efficiency for delivery of quality improvement interventions.
The Central Force Problem in Quantum Mechanics

One of the most important applications of quantum mechanics is to describe the behavior of a particle moving under the influence of a central force field. Not only is the problem of pedagogical interest in its own right (Coulomb field, isotropic harmonic oscillator, etc.), but it is also the starting point for perturbation calculations for more realistic situations in atomic and nuclear physics. Angular momentum eigenfunctions have a wide application at all levels of quantum physics. Some examples will follow.
Two harmonic analysis of short circuit current in wind farm

With the increase of capacity and the improvement of economy, doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) is gradually becoming the most widely used wind power generator in the world. DFIG has different characteristics of transient operation from the synchronous generator and its short-circuit current is affected by the converter control mode, thus when there is a voltage sags occurs, the short-circuit current of the wind farm may contain a certain amount of two harmonic. Power transformer is one of the most important power equipment in power system and the normal or not of transformer protection determines the safe and stable operation of power system. At present, the main protection of transformer is longitudinal differential protection. In order to correctly identify the inrush current, it is usually equipped with two harmonic braking measures to ensure the reliable operation of differential protection. Therefore, when the transformer failure occurs in wind farm, the protection may refuse to operate due to the reason that the short-circuit current contains a certain amount of two harmonic. Focused on the large-scale application of DFIG and the lack of the short-circuit current harmonic characteristics analysis, this work is devoted to the study of two harmonic characteristics and their influence on transformer protection when the grid voltage occurs in a non-depth drop. Through the analysis of the short-circuit current, harmonic components under different control modes of converter research the characteristics and production mechanism of the two harmonic currents of the doubly-fed wind power generator. This also lays a solid foundation for the improvement of transformer protection. Finally, the correctness of the analysis is verified by the experiments of short-circuit and time-domain simulation.
Covert movement in logical grammar

We propose a formal reconstruction of the well-known storage-and-retrieval technique for scoping quantifiers and other 'covertly moved' semantic operators due to Cooper (1975). In the proposed reconstruction, grammar rules are presented in the familiar term-labelled Gentzensequent style of natural deduction.What is new is that, in addition to the usual contexts to the left of the turnstile (recording undischarged pairs of hypotheses, with each pair consisting of a syntactic variable ('trace') and a corresponding semantic variable), our typing judgments also include a co-context to the right of the co-turnstile (⊣). A co-context consists of a list of semantic variables, each paired with a quantifier that corresponds to the meaning expressed by a quantified noun phrase whose scope has not yet been specified. Besides the usual logical rules, the grammar also contains rules called Commitment and Responsibility that implement, respectively, storage and retrieval of semantic operators.
A Coupled Inductor Based Hybrid Circuit Breaker Topology for Subsea HVDC Transmission Systems

Reliability of a typical DC power system largely dependent on the fault interruption capability of the switchgear. In AC power system, steady-state fault current incurs natural zero crossing which is not available for fault in a DC system. Instead, in DC systems, the fault current increases from its steady state value rapidly, the rate of rise of fault current is being decided by the lumped value of network inductance. Hence, fault interruption time for HVDC circuit breaker should be minimal in order to immediately isolate the faulty section and prevent any damage to the DC grid. Fast fault interruption is achieved by employing solid state circuit breakers (SSCB). However, substantially large power loss due to higher on-state voltage drop of the semiconductor devices limits the application of SSCBs. Hybrid circuit breakers combining the features of mechanical breakers and SSCB have shown better performance in terms of efficiency but de-magnetization of network inductance during voltage blocking state of mechanical breaker remains a pivotal challenge. This paper presents two coupled inductor based hybrid HVDC circuit breaker topologies to address the above mentioned problems of DC switchgears. The coupled inductor and capacitor are designed to form a resonant circuit during the fault to provide an artificial zero crossing of fault current. The added advantage of the proposed topologies is that, they do not require external charging circuitry to pre-charge the capacitor, and also eliminate the requirement of surge arrester which are employed for suppressing the energy stored in the network inductance during fault. Analysis and design of the proposed circuit breaker topologies are presented along with corresponding simulation results.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the SLEEP-50 Questionnaire in Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) and Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder.

Abstract The study objective was to perform a confirmatory factor analysis of the SLEEP-50 Questionnaire (SLEEP-50) in Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) and Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder and compare sleep complaints in adults with Trichotillomania, Excoriation Disorder and non-affected controls. Participants were 234 adults with Trichotillomania, 170 with Excoriation Disorder, and 146 non-affected controls. Participants rated sleep using the SLEEP-50 and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess fit of the originally-proposed SLEEP-50 factors within Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder. Findings revealed acceptable to good fit of the original factors. Internal consistency was excellent in Trichotillomania and good in Excoriation Disorder for the total score and poor to good for subscales. Convergent validity was strong for the total and weak to strong for subscales in both groups. Findings suggest greater sleep complaints in Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder than in the general population. Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder groups reported greater rates of sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome/periodic limb movement disorder, circadian rhythms sleep disorder, and sleep-related affective disorder relative to controls. There were no significant differences for insomnia, sleep state misperception, sleepwalking, nightmares, or hypersomnia. Results underscore the importance of clinical assessment of sleep disorders in Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder.
Heritage vs. History: Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy as a “Physician of Memory”

In a paper presented to the American Historical Association annual meeting in 1934, entitled “The Predicament of History,” Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy (1888–1973) argued that professional (or “scientif...
An empirical study of intelligent approaches to DDoS detection in large scale networks

Distributed Denial of Services (DDoS) attacks continue to be one of the most challenging threats to the Internet. The intensity and frequency of these attacks are increasing at an alarming rate. Numerous schemes have been proposed to mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks. This paper presents a comprehensive empirical evaluation of Machine Learning (ML)based DDoS detection techniques, to gain better understanding of their performance in different types of environments. To this end, a framework is developed, focusing on different attack scenarios, to investigate the performance of a class of ML-based techniques. The evaluation uses different performance metrics, including the impact of the “Class Imbalance Problem” on ML-based DDoS detection. The results of the comparative analysis show that no one technique outperforms all others in all test cases. Furthermore, the results underscore the need for a method oriented feature selection model to enhance the capabilities of ML-based detection techniques. Finally, the results show that the class imbalance problem significantly impacts performance, underscoring the need to address this problem in order to enhance ML-based DDoS detection capabilities.
Transitioning from an ICU ventilator to a portable home ventilator.

Abstract There is a variety of portable ventilators on the market, each with its' own features. A clinician needs to understand the unique characteristics of the ventilators available in his or her region, as well as the nuances of primary and secondary settings for these portable home ventilators in order to create a comfortable breath that allows for adequate gas exchange for the patient. Understanding the interplay of the portable home ventilator and the ventilator circuit is also a key component of transitioning a patient to a portable home ventilator. This review details characteristics of some of the more commonly used machines in the United States, as well as the settings to be considered in supporting a child with chronic respiratory failure outside of the hospital. As more patients are being discharged from the hospital with mechanical home ventilation, new ventilators are being developed that expand upon features of current machines.
Vesting Transnational Corporate Responsibility in Natural Persons v. Legal Persons – What Matters Today?

The author asks whether transnational corporate responsibility today should be vested in legal or natural persons. Three stylized points of view are considered: the welfare economist; the corporate counsel; and the human rights victim. With these actors in mind, the author addresses several aspects of corporate law and human rights from a transverse perspective: the tension between corporate law’s fiduciary duty and tort law’s duty of care; the coexistence of parent control and subsidiary autonomy in the global firm; the troubling unintended effects for human rights victims of the wholly controlled yet autonomous subsidiary; the historical shift from the mono-corporate system to the poly-corporate system and the subsequent transformation of the flesh-and-blood shareholder’s governance responsibility; the ability of today’s companies to transfer or assign legal liability for wrongful acts through corporate reorganization, mergers and acquisitions; and the resulting depersonalization of responsibility in the today’s poly corporate enterprise. The author argues that the ethical and political accountability of decision makers cannot be avoided by technical legal fixes that aim to shift responsibility from one entity to another. The author shows how today’s global governance “gap” is not a missing piece in the puzzle, but a constitutive element of the legal order itself. To illustrate this idea, the author reconfigures the global governance “gap” as the void that runs through a toroid (a life buoy). The author concludes that corporate responsibility today—as the ethical responsibility of flesh-and-blood decision makers—runs from the lowest-level subsidiary to the apex of the multinational corporate group.
Injuries in Collegiate Wrestlers at an Elite Division I NCAA Wrestling Program: An Epidemiological Study.

BACKGROUND Injury is common in the sport of wrestling. More than 6000 athletes compete in NCAA wrestling yearly. Despite this popularity, little is known about the epidemiology of wrestlers' injuries and factors affecting return to competition. We hypothesized that patterns of injury and associated factors influence return to participation. METHODS Retrospective database review of one Division I NCAA wrestling program over nine seasons (2002 to 2011). RESULTS From 2002 to 2011, 125 wrestlers were varsity participants at a single NCAA Division I program. Among these wrestlers, there were 4275 exposures per year on average. We identified 1034 musculoskeletal injuries, skin injuries, and concussions in 120 athletes (96% of participants). Eighty-two percent of athletes missed at least one day secondary to these injuries, while 69% were unable to compete in at least one match. The injury rate was estimated at 19.6 (SD 16.5) per 1000 exposures. The rate of injuries requiring surgery was estimated at 1.4 (SD 2.1) per 1000 exposures. Weight class, record, age at injury, and eligibility status did not affect the rate or type of injury. A significant difference was noted in the athletes who returned to competition following surgery. Athletes who returned to competition after surgical treatment for an injury ultimately competed in more matches (62.4 vs 18.2, p < 0.001), had more wins (45.2 vs 12.1, p<0.001) and a higher win percentage (67.5 vs 51.2 p < 0.01) than those who did not return following surgery. CONCLUSION Return to competition in collegiate wrestling is dependent on many factors in addition to severity of injury and surgery type. There is a positive association between return to sport and success as a collegiate wrestler. Our findings will be helpful to wrestlers and coaches in guiding expectations after injury. Level of Evidence: Level 4 diagnostic.
Task Selection and Workload: A Focus on Completing Easy Tasks Hurts Performance

How individuals manage, organize, and complete their tasks is central to operations management. Recent research in operations focuses on how under conditions of increasing workload individuals can ...
From treeline to species line: Thermal patterns and growth relationships across the krummholz zone of whitebark pine, Sierra Nevada, California, USA

A multiyear study of forest-to-alpine ecotones across extensive krummholz zones in whitebark pine (WBP; Pinus albicaulis), Sierra Nevada, California, resolved mean treeline growing season temperatu...
Learning nonlocal constitutive models with neural networks

Abstract Constitutive and closure models play important roles in computational mechanics and computational physics in general. Classical constitutive models for solid and fluid materials are typically local, algebraic equations or flow rules describing the dependence of stress on the local strain and/or strain-rate. Closure models such as those describing Reynolds stress in turbulent flows and laminar–turbulent transition can involve transport PDEs (partial differential equations). Such models play similar roles to constitutive relation, but they are often more challenging to develop and calibrate as they describe nonlocal mappings and often contain many submodels. Inspired by the structure of the exact solutions to linear transport PDEs, we propose a neural network representing a region-to-point mapping to describe such nonlocal constitutive models. The range of nonlocal dependence and the convolution structure are derived from the formal solution to transport equations. The neural network-based nonlocal constitutive model is trained with data. Numerical experiments demonstrate the predictive capability of the proposed method. Moreover, the proposed network learned the embedded submodel without using data from that level, thanks to its interpretable mathematical structure , which makes it a promising alternative to traditional nonlocal constitutive models.
Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH) Projects and Medicaid Expansion.

Medicaid expansion was ruled optional in 2012 by the Supreme Court, which allowed some states to adopt it while others did not. This study examines the differences in the percent uninsured, healthcare utilization by service type, and clinical quality of care measures at HCH (Healthcare for the Homeless) projects between expansion and non-expansion states. An exploratory state-level retrospective analysis of annual Uniform Data System data limited to HCHs from 2012 to 2019 from 50 states plus Washington DC is presented. Using descriptive statistics and linear mixed models, we found that the percentage of uninsured HCH patients decreased across all states, but the decrease was greater in states that expanded Medicaid compared to states that did not (− 8.23, p < .0.0001). This implies HCH projects can rely less on grants and more on insurance reimbursement. When examining specific service categories, medical services in expansion states increased at a statistically significant rate post expansion as compared to non-expansion states (2.52, p = 0.0085). The percentage of substance use visits were lower in expansion states compared to non-expansion states (− 0.79, p = 0.0267). Finally, there were three preventive clinical quality of care measures at HCH projects that showed significant improvement in expansion states post expansion: colorectal cancer screening, blood pressure control, and diabetes control. Maintaining Medicaid expansion is advantageous given its association with reductions in uninsured, increased medical services utilization, and improvement in some clinical quality of care measures for homeless populations receiving services at HCH projects in expansion states.
Polarization of hard X-ray dielectronic satellite lines from Na-like W ions

Abstract One of the important signatures of non-thermal high-atomic-number multiply ionized plasmas is polarization of hard x-ray line emission. Atomic processes in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas with anisotropic electron distribution that can lead to such polarization include dielectronic recombination. All previous research on x-ray line polarization of dielectronic satellite lines was mostly focused on K-shell radiation. Here we present one of the first studies of polarization of L-shell dielectronic satellite lines using the hard x-ray spectra of Na-like W produced by dielectronic recombination. Polarization of dielectronic satellites is calculated using two approaches: density matrix formalism and the FAC code. The most intense dielectronic satellite lines of Na-like W appeared to be positively polarized with the maximum degree of polarization between 0.4545 and 0.6. Polarization-dependent dielectronic satellite spectra of Na-like W are calculated with a gaussian electron distribution function centered at the beam energies from 2400 eV to 4100 eV. Such spectra cover the spectral range from 1.19 A to 1.38 A with each spectrum including two traces of line intensities associated with the parallel polarization and perpendicular polarization state. The polarization-dependent spectra were found to be strongly dependent on the energy of the electron beam which can be used for the development of x-ray plasma polarization spectroscopy to study non-thermal multiply ionized W plasmas. Radiative and polarization properties of W radiation studied in this paper are important for fusion research.
Development and utilization of a surrogate SARS-CoV-2 viral neutralization assay to assess mRNA vaccine responses.

BackgroundTests for SARS-CoV-2 immunity are needed to help assess responses to vaccination, which can be heterogeneous and may wane over time. The plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is considered the gold standard for measuring serum neutralizing antibodies but requires high level biosafety, live viral cultures and days to complete. We hypothesized that competitive enzyme linked immunoassays (ELISAs) based on SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins receptor binding domain (RBD) attachment to its host receptor, the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2r), would correlate with PRNT, given the central role of RBD-ACE2r interactions in infection and published studies to date, and enable evaluation of vaccine responses. Methods and FindingsConfiguration and development of a competitive ELISA with plate-bound RBD and soluble biotinylated ACE2r was accomplished using pairs of pre/post vaccine serum. When the competitive ELISA was used to evaluate N=32 samples from COVID-19 patients previously tested by PRNT, excellent correlation in IC50 results were observed (rs= .83, p < 0.0001). When the competitive ELISA was used to evaluate N=41 vaccinated individuals and an additional N=14 unvaccinated recovered COVID-19 patients, significant differences in RBD-ACE2r inhibitory activity were associated with prior history of COVID-19 and type of vaccine received. In longitudinal analyses pre and up to 200 days post vaccine, surrogate neutralizing activity increased markedly after primary and booster vaccine doses, but fell substantially, up to <12% maximal levels within 6 months. ConclusionsA competitive ELISA based on inhibition of RBD-ACE2r attachment correlates well with PRNT, quantifies significantly higher activity among vaccine recipients with prior COVID (vs. those without), and highlights marked declines in surrogate neutralizing activity over a 6 month period post vaccination. The findings raise concern about the duration of vaccine responses and potential need for booster shots.
Hanner's Inequality For Positive Semidefinite Matrices

We prove an analogous Hanner's Inequality of $L^p$ spaces for positive semidefinite matrices. Let $||X||_p=\text{Tr}[(X^\ast X)^{p/2}]^{1/p}$ denote the $p$-Schatten norm of a matrix $X\in M_{n\times n}(\mathbb{C})$. We show that the inequality $||X+Y||_p^p+||X-Y||_p^p\geq (||X||_p+||Y||_p)^p+(|||X||_p-||Y||_p|)^p$ holds for $1\leq p\leq 2$ and reverses for $p\geq 2$ when $X,Y\in M_{n\times n}(\mathbb{C})^+$. This was previously known in the $1<p\leq 4/3$, $p=2$, and $p\geq 4$ cases, or with additional special assumptions. We outline these previous methods, and comment on their failure to extend to the general case. With the general inequality, it is confirmed that the unit ball in $C^{p}_+$ has the same moduli of smoothness and convexity as the unit ball in $L^p$.
Energetic Blue-shifted DW Emission in Multi-mode Gas-filled Hollow-core Fibers

The dispersive wave emission can be enhanced and blue-shifted by selectively exciting high-order-modes (HOMs) in gas-filled hollow-core anti-resonant fiber pumping at 1030 nm with pulses of 30 fs duration and $12\ \mu \mathrm{J}$ energy. Multi-octave supercontinuum spanning 200–1400 nm has been demonstrated by exciting LP02 mode. © 2021 The Author(s)
Deciding to be Distracted

This project investigated the decision process involved in a driver’s willingness to engage in various technology-related and non-technology tasks. The project included focus groups and an on-road study, both employing participants who used in-vehicle technologies to at least some degree, from four age groups: teen, young, middle, and older. The focus groups discussed the perceptions, motivations, attitudes, and decision factors that underlie driver choices. The on-road study had two phases: an on-road drive and a take-home booklet. Participants drove their own vehicles over a specified route. They did not actually engage in in-vehicle tasks, but at specified points they rated their willingness to engage in some specific task at that time and place. Eighty-one different situations (combination of in-vehicle task and driving circumstances) were included. Further information was collected in the take-home booklet regarding the participant’s familiarity with various in-vehicle technologies, additional situations for willingness and risk ratings, stated reasons underlying ratings, and self-ratings of certain aspects of driving behavior and decision-making style. Together, the focus groups and on-road study provided complementary findings about how drivers decide when to engage in potentially distracting tasks. Driver willingness to engage in various in-vehicle tasks was related to technology type, specific task attributes, driving conditions, personal motivations, driving style, and decision style. Specific project findings were related to potential countermeasure approaches, including public education; driver or device user training; user interface design; needs for warnings and information; criteria for function lock-outs; and driver assist system criteria.
Murine Efficacy and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of the Flaviviral NS5 Capping Enzyme 2-Thioxothiazolidin-4-One Inhibitor BG-323.

Arthropod-borne flavivirus infection continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Identification of drug targets and novel antiflaviviral compounds to treat these diseases has become a global health imperative. A previous screen of 235,456 commercially available small molecules identified the 2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one family of compounds as inhibitors of the flaviviral NS5 capping enzyme, a promising target for antiviral drug development. Rational drug design methodologies enabled identification of lead compound BG-323 from this series. We have shown previously that BG-323 potently inhibits NS5 capping enzyme activity, displays antiviral effects in dengue virus replicon assays and inhibits growth of West Nile and yellow fever viruses with low cytotoxicity in vitro. In this study we further characterized BG-323’s antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo. We found that BG-323 was able to reduce replication of WNV (NY99) and Powassan viruses in culture, and we were unable to force resistance into WNV (Kunjin) in long-term culture experiments. We then evaluated the antiviral activity of BG-323 in a murine model. Mice were challenged with WNV NY99 and administered BG-323 or mock by IP inoculation immediately post challenge and twice daily thereafter. Mice were bled and viremia was quantified on day three. No significant differences in viremia were observed between BG-323-treated and control groups and clinical scores indicated both BG-323-treated and control mice developed signs of illness on approximately the same day post challenge. To determine whether differences in in vitro and in vivo efficacy were due to unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties of BG-323, we conducted a pharmacokinetic evaluation of this small molecule. Insights from pharmacokinetic studies indicate that BG-323 is cell permeable, has a low efflux ratio and does not significantly inhibit two common cytochrome P450 (CYP P450) isoforms thus suggesting this molecule may be less likely to cause adverse drug interactions. However, the T1/2 of BG-323 was suboptimal and the percent of drug bound to plasma binding proteins was high. Future studies with BG-323 will be aimed at increasing the T1/2 and determining strategies for mitigating the effects of high plasma protein binding, which likely contribute to low in vivo efficacy.
Identifying the worries and concerns about hypoglycemia in adults with type 2 diabetes

Aims To identify the hypoglycemic concerns of adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and examine how these concerns are associated with key patient characteristics. Methods Qualitative interviews with 16 T2D adults and 11 diabetes care providers were conducted. Survey items were then developed and submitted to exploratory factor analyses (EFAs). Construct validity was assessed by correlations with diabetes distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, well-being, hypoglycemic fear, hypoglycemia history and glycemic control (A1C). Results An EFA with 226 insulin users and 198 non-insulin users yielded 3 factors (14 items): Hypoglycemia Anxiety, Avoidance and Confidence. For both T2D groups, higher Anxiety and Avoidance were significantly associated with more hypoglycemia, lower well-being, and greater diabetes distress, depressive symptoms and hypoglycemic fear. Similar associations, in the converse direction, were found for Confidence. Among insulin users only, Anxiety was independently associated with greater emotional distress and more hypoglycemia, while Confidence was independently linked to less emotional distress and lower A1C. Avoidance was independently associated with greater emotional distress in both groups. Conclusions Using the new 14-item Hypoglycemic Attitudes and Behavior Scale (HABS), we found that hypoglycemic concerns are significant in T2D adults, are linked to emotional distress and A1C, and merit attention in clinical practice.
Uncorrelated versus Independent Elliptically-Contoured Distributions for Anomalous Change Detection in Hyperspectral Imagery

The detection of actual changes in a pair of images is confounded by the inadvertent but pervasive differences that inevitably arise whenever two pictures are taken of the same scene, but at different times and under different conditions. These differences include effects due to illumination, calibration, misregistration, etc. If the actual changes are assumed to be rare, then one can "learn" what the pervasive differences are, and can identify the deviations from this pattern as the anomalous changes. A recently proposed framework for anomalous change detection recasts the problem as one of binary classification between pixel pairs in the data and pixel pairs that are independently chosen from the two images. When an elliptically-contoured (EC) distribution is assumed for the data, then analytical expressions can be derived for the measure of anomalousness of change. However, these expression are only available for a limited class of EC distributions. By replacing independent pixel pairs with uncorrelated pixel pairs, an approximate solution can be found for a much broader class of EC distributions. The performance of this approximation is investigated analytically and empirically, and includes experiments comparing the detection of real changes in real data.
Ground penetrating radar utilizing compressive sampling and OFDM techniques

In this paper, we propose a new GPR design method by combining OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) and compressive sampling (CS) techniques. Comparing with traditional SFCW (step frequency continuous wave) radar, OFDM allows transmitting/receiving multiple frequency tones simultaneously to reduce frequency sweeping time. Compressive sampling reduces the number of frequency tones required to further improve GPR operating efficiency. To show the design effectiveness, SFCW GPR and OFDM-CS continuous wave GPR are both simulated in conjunction with FDTD (finite difference time domain) numerical modeling to characterize a concrete slab model.
Through glass vias (TGV) and aspects of reliability

Glass as a substrate for electronics packaging has many potential benefits, including the ability to tailor the thermomechanical and electrical properties of the glass to meet the demands of a given application. Because this process may entail modifications to the chemical composition of the glass, the impact of the composition changes to the long term reliability of the electronic package should be carefully considered. Here, two different compositions of glass are examined with regards to their use as a glass interposer, and specific aspects of their reliability are tested. A glass interposer design was fabricated on glass substrates of two different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs), 3 and 8 ppm/°C. This design has 35 × 120 µm through glass vias (TGVs) and front and backside Cu routing metal. The routing metal and TGVs form electrically testable daisy chains. Samples of these glass interposers were subjected to 1000 thermal cycles from - 40 °C to 125 °C to compare the two different glass compositions with regard to their long term reliability. Electrical testing on daisy-chained arrays of 400 TGVs each before and after thermal cycling showed no failures of the structures. In a separate test, Cu interdigitated test structures with 10 µm lines/space were fabricated on glass substrates of the same two types, on silicon with a thermal oxide layer, and also on fused silica. The leakage current between isolated structures was tested before and after 96 hrs of biased highly accelerated stress testing (HAST). The results indicate that for the glass substrate with a CTE of 8 ppm/°C, a barrier layer is necessary between the substrate and Cu metallization to prevent Cu migration.
Germ plasm and molecular determinants of germ cell fate.

Abstract One mechanism for the specification of cell types during embryonic development is the cytoplasmic localization of determinants in the egg into certain blastomeres. Primordial germ cell (PGC) development in many organisms is characterized by the inheritance of germ plasm, a cytologically distinct assembly of mitochondria and electron-dense germinal granules. This chapter reviews the structure of germ plasm and the experimental evidence for its importance in PGC specification inCaenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, andXenopus. It then compares and contrasts recent data on the identification of germ plasm components in these organisms. Many components are potentially RNA-binding proteins, implicating the regulation of RNA metabolism, transport, and translation as critical processes in PGC development. Germ plasm components also mediate transcriptional repression, regulate migration, and control mitotic divisions in PGCs. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the general roles of germ plasm components and how they might act to specify PGC fate.
An automatic assembly planning system

An automatic assembly planning system which takes the CAD description of a product as input and automatically generates an assembly plan subject to the resource constraint of a given assembly cell is presented. The system improves the flexibility and productivity of FMSs and is composed of five modules: world database, simulated world model, knowledge acquisition mechanism, planning knowledge base, and assembly planner. The world database contains the information from a designer which provides the information about the product and the assembly cell. The knowledge acquisition mechanism acquires knowledge necessary for assembly planning, that is, the precedence knowledge among assembly tasks, the fixture specification for the assembly, and the tool requirement for the assembly tasks. The acquired knowledge forms the planning knowledge base. The simulated world model keeps track of the current state of the assembly world. In the initial state, all the components are separated, while in the final state, all the components are assembled. The assembly planner is made up of a set of production rules which models the effects of real assembly tasks. By repeatedly applying these production rules to the simulated world state, the planner transforms the initial state into the final state. The set of rules applied forms the assembly plan. Examples are given. >
Inflammation Increases the Distribution of Dorsal Horn Neurons That Internalize the Neurokinin-1 Receptor in Response to Noxious and Non-Noxious Stimulation

Although the neurokinin-1 (NK-1)/substance P (SP) receptor is expressed by neurons throughout the spinal dorsal horn, noxious chemical stimulation in the normal rat only induces internalization of the receptor in cell bodies and dendrites of lamina I. Here we compared the effects of mechanical and thermal stimulation in normal rats and in rats with persistent hindpaw inflammation. Electron microscopic analysis confirmed the upregulation of receptor that occurs with inflammation and demonstrated that in the absence of superimposed stimulation, the increased receptor was, as in normal rats, concentrated on the plasma membrane. In general, noxious mechanical was more effective than noxious thermal stimulation in inducing NK-1 receptor internalization, and this was increased in the setting of inflammation. Although a 5 sec noxious mechanical stimulus only induced internalization in 22% of lamina I neurons in normal rats, after inflammation, it evoked near-maximal (98%) internalization in lamina I, produced significant changes in laminae III–VI, and expanded the rostrocaudal distribution of neurons with internalized receptor. Even non-noxious (brush) stimulation of the inflamed hindpaw induced internalization in large numbers of superficial and deep neurons. For thermal stimulation, the percentage of cells with internalized receptor increased linearly at >45°C, but in normal rats, these were restricted to lamina I. After inflammation, however, the 52°C stimulus also induced internalization in 25% of laminae III–IV cells. These studies provide a new perspective on the reorganization of dorsal horn circuits in the setting of persistent injury and demonstrate a critical contribution of SP.
Life and organism in Leibniz’s philosophy

Leibniz’s credentials as one of early modern philosophy’s pre-eminent natural philosophers have long been acknowledged by scholars of this period. Typically, however, pride of place has been accorded to his views on space, time, motion, optics, the nature of matter, and the formal and mathematical sciences, with scant attention having been paid to his views on what we would classify as the biological sciences. This in spite of the fact that Leibniz’s universe is one populated by an infinite plurality of animate substances. This probing collection of essays paints a fuller picture of Leibniz’s natural philosophy by exploring various facets of his views on natural machines and organisms. On the view defended throughout this book, biology, far from being at the periphery of his thought, ‘‘constitutes the true foundational science’’ for Leibniz (2). Along the way, the authors address several issues of fundamental importance to Leibniz’s philosophy, including questions about the reality of corporeal substances, the place of teleological explanations in the sciences, and the nature of perceptual representation. The following review examines only some of this volume’s many fine essays. Central to Leibniz’s philosophy of biology is the distinction between natural and artificial machines. As a number of authors in this book note, this distinction is often explicated in terms of the kind of complexity involved in each machine: both kinds of machines have infinitely parts, but it is only natural machines that have as their parts other natural machines that are themselves constituted by still other natural machines, ad infinitum. An equally important difference is that natural machines have a kind of unity that artificial machines lack. In his contribution to this volume, Ohad Nachtomy concludes that the unity of natural machines makes them different in kind, not degree, from artificial machines, with the former counting as substances and the latter only as aggregates. Given that both kinds of machines have infinitely parts, how can Leibniz account for the unity enjoyed by natural but not artificial
Determining the Role of Thiamine Deficiency in Systolic Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Abstract Background Approximately 5.7 million Americans carry the diagnosis of systolic heart failure (HF), a major health care burden. HF is a known manifestation of thiamine deficiency (TD). HF patients are at unique risk for developing TD, which may contribute to further altered cardiac function and symptoms. Methods and Results We performed a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis to evaluate the prevalence of TD in HF patients, risk factors for and mechanisms of development of TD in HF population, and outcomes of thiamine supplementation in HF patients. We found 54 studies that met our selection criteria, 9 of which were suitable for meta-analysis. TD is more common in HF patients than control subjects (odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.65–3.87). Diuretic use, changes in dietary habits, and altered thiamine absorption and metabolism were identified as possible mechanisms of TD in HF patients. Small observational studies and randomized control trials suggest that thiamine supplementation in HF population may improve ejection fraction and reduce symptoms. Conclusions Thiamine deficiency is more prevalent in the HF population, and its supplementation may be beneficial. The therapeutic role of thiamine in HF warrants further study.
Oestrogen-Independent, Experience-Induced Maternal Behaviour in Female Mice

Nulliparous female mice that have not experienced mating, pregnancy or parturition show near immediate spontaneous maternal behaviour when presented with foster pups. The fact that virgin mice display spontaneous maternal behaviour indicates that the hormonal events of pregnancy and parturition are not necessary to produce a rapid onset of maternal behaviour in mice. However, it is not known how similar maternal behaviour is between virgin and lactating mice. In the present study, we show that naturally postpartum females are faster to retrieve pups and spend more time crouching over pups than spontaneously maternal virgin females, and that these differences diminish with increased maternal experience. Moreover, 4 days of experience with pups induced pup retrieval on a novel T-maze. Furthermore, the effects of experience on subsequent maternal responsiveness are not dependent on gonadal hormones because ovariectomised females with 4 days of pup experience show pup retrieval on a novel T-maze similar to that of postpartum mice. Four days of maternal experience also induced T-maze pup retrieval in ovariectomised aromatase knockout female mice that was not significantly different from the maternal responsiveness of ovariectomised wild-type littermates. These data suggest that maternal experience can induce maternal behaviour in females that have never been exposed to oestradiol at any time in development or adulthood. Finally, ovariectomised pup-experienced females continue to retrieve pups on a novel T-maze 1 month after the initial experience, suggesting that, even in the absence of oestradiol, maternal experience produces long-lasting modifications in maternal responsiveness.
Uric Acid and Coronary Heart Disease Risk: Evidence for a Role of Uric Acid in the Obesity-Insulin Resistance Syndrome The Normative Aging Study

Various epidemiologic studies have linked an increase in serum uric acid level to an increased risk of coronary heart disease. The reasons for this finding are unclear. The authors examined the influence of a number of cardiovascular disease risk factors on serum uric acid level in 886 middle-aged and older men participating in the Normative Aging Study. The men were examined between 1987 and 1991. In a multivariate regression model predicting serum uric acid level, uric acid was positively associated with body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2 beta = 0.041 mg/dl per kg/m2, p = 0.003), abdomen: hip circumference ratio (beta = 1.88 mg/dl per cm/cm, p = 0.048), log alcohol intake (beta = 0.150 mg/dl per g/week, p = 0.0001), and log postcarbohydrate insulin level (beta = 0.157 mg/dl per log(microIU/ml), p = 0.005). Serum uric acid level was negatively associated with age (beta = -0.012 mg/dl per year of age, p = 0.017) and log physical activity (beta = -0.152 mg/dl per kcal/week, p = 0.0001). The data suggest that serum uric acid may be involved in the obesity-insulin resistance syndrome, which in turn may explain the relation of serum uric acid to coronary atherosclerosis.
Ruxolitinib targets DCs: for better or worse?

In this issue of Blood , Heine et al demonstrate the dose-dependent inhibitory effect of ruxolitinib on the generation of dendritic cells (DCs) from monocytes. The drug also inhibited DC activation, tissue migration, and induction of allogeneic or antigen-specific T-cell responses, including in vivo
A Note on Yen's Algorithm for Finding the Length of All Shortest Paths in N-Node Nonnegative-Distance Networks

An error in Yen's algorithm is pointed out, and an alternative is offered which will produce correct results.
Ring theory from symplectic geometry

Abstract Basic results for an algebraic treatment of commutative and noncommutative Poisson algebras are described. Symplectic algebras are examined from a ring-theoretic point of view.
An estimate of the solar cyclic variation of the Martian upper atmosphere

Mars upper atmosphere semiempirical model, reducing density uncertainties by allowing for solar cyclic variations
A review: biological and clinical aspects of pyrimidine metabolism.

Interest in pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis has stemmed largely from the importance of these molecules as components of nucleic acids. Regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis has been most extensively investigated in micro-organisms in which cell division is effectively controlled by regulation of the activity of the enzymes of the d e n o v o pathway (77, 11 0). The relation between pyrimidine biosynthesis and cellular proliferation in mammals has become clearer with the accumulation of a considerable body of evidence which indicates that there is a close correlation between the activity of enzymes involved in pyrimidine biosynthesis and the rate of cellular proliferation. The d e n o v o pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway and the urea cycle bo th utilize carbamyl phosphate, and important nitrogen carrier. The biosynthesis of pyrimidine and purine nucleotides are connected by a common intermediate, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP). In addition, pyrimidine nucleotides act as sugar and phospholipid carriers and are important in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. The importance of these interrelations is most forcibly emphasized by certain clinical phenomena which will be discussed later. This paper will attempt t o review the broad biologic aspects of pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis. A detailed consideration of d e n o v o pyrimidine biosynthesis in eucaryotic cells is available in the recent review by Jones (81). Pyrimidine biosynthesis in procaryotes has been reviewed in depth by O'Donovan and Neuhard (1 10).