cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Van Beverwijck: The Bridge from Ancient to Modern

Introduction and Objectives The publication of William Harvey’s De motu cordis in 1628 signified one of the just a few sentinel moments in both the history of science and medicine. By establishing a new paradigm of questioning and investigation of physiologic processes, the floodgates were opened for others to begin the methodical investigations of other organ systems and diseases. This chapter discusses the first modern attempt to understand the ancient malady of urolithiasis following Harvey by Johan van Beverwijck.
Demography of Social Stratification

Issues pertaining to social stratification are increasingly considered in demographic research. In recent studies of morbidity and mortality, for example, education, income, and occupation typically have substantially large net effects (e.g., Cambois, Robine, and Hayward 2001; Duleep 1989; Gortmaker and Wise 1997; Johnson, Sorlie, and Backlund 1999; Mare 1990; Rogers 1992; Ross and Mirowsky 1999; Ross and Wu 1995). Similarly, studies of fertility frequently refer to education and other variables pertaining to social class (e.g., Li and Choe 1997; Kohler, Behrman, and Watkins 2001; Powers and Hsueh 1997)—or at least to socioeconomic considerations involved in labor force participation, child-care costs, and economic opportunity costs (e.g., Blau and Robins 1989; Borg 1989). Socioeconomic motives and consequences are also important issues in demographic research on immigration and migration (e.g., Boyle et al. 2001; Oropesa and Landale 2000; Reed 2001). A recent presidential address to the Population Association of America focused provocatively on socioeconomic inequality and concomitant social problems (Massey 1996). The address was published in Demography along with the commentaries of noted experts in the demography of social stratification (Danziger 1996; Farley 1996; Hout,
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Historical Perspective

The term “idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis” (IPF) began to appear in the medical literature in the mid-1900s and was initially used by clinicians and radiologists to refer to fibrosing pneumonitis of unknown cause. However, the entities that we now recognize as idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) and other entities with similar clinical presentations, such as interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with connective tissue disorders (CTD) or fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), were often identified as cases of IPF by clinicians due to similar clinical presentation and radiographic appearance. As our knowledge of fibrosing ILD expanded over the last three decades of the twentieth century, it became clear that histopathologic patterns could be found that paved the way to our current clinicopathologic classification of the IIPs, with the term “IPF” used exclusively to designate patients with idiopathic usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). This introductory chapter will review how terminology and concepts of the disorder that we now recognize as IPF have evolved over the decades such that IPF has become the preferred diagnostic term for patients diagnosed with UIP of unknown cause.
N-GRAM CHORD PROFILES FOR COMPOSER STYLE REPRESENTATION

This paper studies the problem of using weighted Ngrams of chord sequences to construct the profile of a composer. The N-gram profile of a chord sequence is the collection of all N-grams appearing in a sequence where each N-gram is given a weight proportional to its beat count. The N-gram profile of a collection of chord sequences is the simple average of the N-gram profile of all the chord sequences in the collection. Similarity of two composers is measured by the cosine of their respective profiles, which has a value in the range [0, 1]. Using the cosine-based similarity, a group of composers is clustered into a hierarchy, which appears to be explicable. Also, the composition style can be identified using N-gram signatures.
NOVEL TECHNIQUE FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION OF THE MECHANOCHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR OF METALLIC ELECTRODES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

ABSTRACT A fundamental investigation on the infleunce of deformation on the anodic dissolution behaviour, i.e, corrosion of metallic electrodes in aqueous solutions has been conducted. The investigation was successful in developing a novel experimental method for studying the effects of deformation on corrosion. The development of the new method is established based, on incorporating electrochemical techniques with those of holographic interierometry. In other words, the new method is capable of measuring microscopic deformation and the anodic dissolution current of the surface of metallic electrodes, simultaneously. Consequently, data on a stress corrosion test of Molybdenum in a 0.75 Kc1 is given in this paper.
Influences of Previously Learned Languages on the Learning and Use of Additional Languages

This chapter provides an overview of existing research into the influence of previously learned languages on the learning and use of an additional language. This type of influence is explored from the perspectives of two separate but related types of effects: (1) the effects of simply knowing more than one language (whatever languages they may be) on the acquisition and use of a third or later language, and (2) the effects of the specific languages the learner knows. The former deals with what is commonly referred to as the cognitive consequences of bi- or multilingualism, whereas the latter deals with crosslinguistic influence. These effects and influences are described in general terms as well as in relation to the specific contexts of learning found in multilingual Spain. Emphasis is given especially to the ways these effects play out in classroom-based language learning—including CLIL programs—involving Basque-Spanish and Catalan-Spanish bilinguals learning English or other languages at school. The chapter maintains a multilingual perspective, recognizing the complex interplay of all of the languages the learners know, and it discusses both the directions of crosslinguistic influence as well as the factors that affect when, where, and to what degree such effects will emerge. The chapter concludes with interpretations regarding how CLIL programs might enhance the positive effects of prior language knowledge while minimizing its potential negative effects.
Management of Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia: A Simulation

Introduction Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy. Maternal sequelae that may occur include impaired liver function, disseminated intravascular coagulation, seizures (eclampsia), s...
Moderators of the internal consistency of error-related negativity scores: A meta-analysis of internal consistency estimates.

To ensure adequate reliability (i.e., internal consistency), it is common in studies using event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to exclude participants for having too few trials. This practice is particularly relevant for error-related ERPs, such as error-related negativity (ERN), where the number of recorded ERN trials is not entirely under the researcher's control. Furthermore, there is a widespread practice of inferring reliability based on published psychometric research, which assumes that internal consistency is a universal property of ERN. The present, preregistered reliability generalization study examined whether there is heterogeneity in internal consistency estimates of ERN scores and whether contextual factors moderate reliability. A total of 189 internal consistency estimates from 68 samples nested within 43 studies (n = 4,499 total participants) were analyzed. There was substantial heterogeneity in ERN score internal consistency, which was partially moderated by the type of paradigm (e.g., Stroop, flanker), the clinical status of the sample, the ocular artifact correction procedure, measurement sensors (single versus cluster), and the approach to scoring and estimating reliability, suggesting that contextual factors impact internal consistency at the individual study level. Age, sex, year of publication, artifact rejection procedure, acquisition system, sample type (undergraduate versus community), and length of mean amplitude window did not significantly moderate reliability. Notably, the overall estimated reliability of ERN scores was below established standards. Recommendations for improving ERN score reliability are provided, but the routine failure of most ERN studies to report internal consistency represents a substantial barrier to understanding the factors that impact reliability.
Preserved pressure delivery during high-frequency oscillation of bubble CPAP in a premature infant lung model with both normal and abnormal lung mechanics.

BACKGROUND Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (BCPAP) generates pressure oscillations which are suggested to improve gas exchange through mechanisms similar to high frequency (HF) ventilation. In a previous in-vitro lung model with normal lung mechanics, significantly improved CO2 washout was demonstrated using an HF interrupter in the supply flow of a BCPAP system. The effect of HF with BCPAP on delivered airway pressure (Paw) has not been fully investigated in a lung model having abnormal pulmonary mechanics. OBJECTIVE To measure Paw in an infant lung model simulating normal and abnormal pulmonary compliance and resistance while connected to a BCPAP system with superimposed HF oscillations created using an in-line flow interrupter. DESIGN/METHODS A premature infant lung model with either: normal lung mechanics, compliance 1.0 ml/cm H2 O, airway resistance 56 cm H2 O/(L/s); or abnormal mechanics, compliance 0.5 ml/cm H2 O, airway resistance 136 cm H2 O/(L/s), was connected to BCPAP with HF at either 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 Hz. Paw was measured at BCPAPs of 4, 6, and 8 cm H2 O and respiratory rates (RR) of 40, 60, and 80 breaths/min and 6.0 ml tidal volume. RESULTS Mean Paw averaged over all five frequencies showed no significant change from non-oscillated levels at all BCPAPs and RRs for both lung models. Paw amplitudes (peak-to-trough) during oscillation were significantly greater than the non-oscillated levels by an average of 1.7 ± 0.5 SD and 2.6 ± 0.5 SD cm H2 O (p < .001) for the normal and abnormal models, respectively. CONCLUSIONS HF oscillation of BCPAP using a flow interrupter did not alter mean delivered Paw compared to non-oscillated BCPAP for both normal and abnormal lung mechanics models. This simple modification to BCPAP may be a useful enhancement to this mode of non-invasive respiratory support.
Intranasal delivery of experimental compounds in orthotopic brain tumor mouse models.

Summary Effective therapeutics for malignant primary brain tumors, such as glioblastomas (GBMs), are urgently needed. To facilitate and expedite early-phase GBM therapeutic development, we describe a protocol that allows the intranasal delivery of experimental compounds in GBM orthotopic mouse models. Compounds delivered through this route can bypass the blood-brain barrier and thus help validate effective therapeutic targets for GBMs. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Pinkham et al. (2019) .
Teaching Music Remotely: Strategies for Students With Disabilities

As schools closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19, students and teachers began engaging in remote learning. Remote instruction continued through the end of the 2020 school year and many have continue...
An Empirical Study in Edge Computing Using AWS

As more computing shifts to a mobile, spread out model, previous issues ran into by the cloud become more evident. Often many users are not located closely to the cloud, thus causing greater latency to the user. To address this issue, edge computing has been suggested as an alternative to traditional cloud computing model. Edge computing attempts to bring data processing closer by implementing edge locations nearby the user geographically. This allows users to experience lower latency, as well as faster response times for applications. As content can be cached at the edge servers to further improve performance. While edge computing attempts to address the shortfalls of traditional cloud computing, edge computing still requires the end user to manage the application environment. AWS has led the way with their server-less architecture solutions such as AWS Lambda. The goal of server-less web applications is to allow programmers to focus solely on development and leave managing the environment to someone else. This method offers several benefits in price, as you minimize the number of resources you must use. In this paper we aim to compare AWS cloud services in five test cases, the goal being to see which service provides the fastest performance at the best price point.
Role of ILC2 in Viral-Induced Lung Pathogenesis

Innate lymphoid type-2 cells (ILC2) are a population of innate cells of lymphoid origin that are known to drive strong Type 2 immunity. ILC2 play a key role in lung homeostasis, repair/remodeling of lung structures following injury, and initiation of inflammation as well as more complex roles during the immune response, including the transition from innate to adaptive immunity. Remarkably, dysregulation of this single population has been linked with chronic lung pathologies, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrotic diseases (IPF). Furthermore, ILC2 have been shown to increase following early-life respiratory viral infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus (RV), that may lead to long-term alterations of the lung environment. The detrimental roles of increased ILC2 following these infections may include pathogenic chronic inflammation and/or alterations of the structural, repair, and even developmental processes of the lung. Respiratory viral infections in older adults and patients with established chronic pulmonary diseases often lead to exacerbated responses, likely due to previous exposures that leave the lung in a dysregulated functional and structural state. This review will focus on the role of ILC2 during respiratory viral exposures and their effects on the induction and regulation of lung pathogenesis. We aim to provide insight into ILC2-driven mechanisms that may enhance lung-associated diseases throughout life. Understanding these mechanisms will help identify better treatment options to limit not only viral infection severity but also protect against the development and/or exacerbation of other lung pathologies linked to severe respiratory viral infections.
Optimal three-dimensional design of functionally graded parts for additive manufacturing using Tamura–Tomota–Ozawa model:

Although some conventional manufacturing technologies are capable of producing functionally graded materials, only a few additive manufacturing processes are able to build functionally graded mater...
Financial Toxicity in Patients with Brain and Spine Metastases

Objective Financial toxicity associated with cancer treatment has a deleterious impact on patient outcomes but has not been well characterized among patients with metastatic cancers. We characterize the extent of financial toxicity among this population and identify factors associated with financial toxicity. Methods We prospectively surveyed adult patients with brain and spine metastases who received radiosurgery at a large academic medical center between January 2018 and December 2019. Financial toxicity was measured with the Personal Financial Wellness (PFW) scale. Results In total, 93 patients were included, with a median survival of 17.7 months. Most patients had private insurance (47%) or Medicare with supplementary insurance (42%), whereas 11% of patients were uninsured or insured by Medicaid/Medicare/Veterans Affairs. Of patients, 60% were primary income earners, of whom 52% had dependents. The median PFW score was 7.0 (interquartile range, 5.1–9.1), with financial toxicity reported in 23 patients (25%). After adjusting for age and education level, private insurance (odds ratio [OR], 0.28; P = 0.080) was associated with a lower likelihood of financial toxicity. Having ≥1 emergency department visit (OR, 3.87; P = 0.024) and a cancer-related change in employment status (OR, 3.63; P = 0.036) were associated with greater likelihood of reporting financial toxicity. Conclusions Most patients with cancer with brain and spine metastases with a poor prognosis treated at a tertiary center are primary income earners and experience financial toxicity. Further studies are warranted to assess the longitudinal impact of financial toxicity in patients with metastatic cancer, particularly those with ≥1 emergency department visit and a cancer-related change in employment status.
Maternal trait anxiety symptoms, frontolimbic resting-state functional connectivity, and cognitive development in infancy.

Exposure to maternal anxiety symptoms during infancy has been associated with difficulties in development and greater risk for developing anxiety later in life. Although previous studies have examined associations between prenatal maternal distress, infant brain development, and developmental outcomes, it is still largely unclear if there are associations between postnatal anxiety, infant brain development, and cognitive development in infancy. In this study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the association between maternal anxiety symptoms and resting-state functional connectivity in the first year of life. We also examine the association between frontolimbic functional connectivity and infant cognitive development. The sample consisted of 21 infants (mean age = 24.15 months, SD = 4.17) that were scanned during their natural sleep using. We test the associations between maternal trait anxiety symptoms and amygdala-anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) functional connectivity, a neural circuit implicated in early life stress exposure. We also test the associations between amygdala-ACC connectivity and cognitive development. We found a significant negative association between maternal trait anxiety symptoms and left amygdala-right ACC functional connectivity (p < .05, false discovery rate corrected). We found a significant negative association between left amygdala-right ACC functional connectivity and infant cognitive development (p < .05). These findings have potential implications for understanding the role of postpartum maternal anxiety symptoms in functional brain and cognitive development in infancy.
Molecular surveillance of zoonotic bacterial pathogens in farm dwelling peridomestic rodents across the upper Midwest, USA

The effective control of rodent populations on farms is a critical component of food- safety, as rodents are reservoirs and vectors for many foodborne pathogens in addition to several zoonotic pathogens. The functional role of rodents in the amplification and transmission of pathogens is likely underappreciated. Clear links have been identified between rodents and outbreaks of pathogens throughout Europe and Asia, however, comparatively little research has been devoted to studying this rodent-agricultural interface in the USA, particularly across the Midwest. Here, we address this existing knowledge gap by characterizing the metagenomic communities of rodent pests collected from Minnesota and Wisconsin food animal farms. We leveraged the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencer to provide a rapid real-time survey of the putative zoonotic food- borne and other human pathogens. Rodents (mice and rats) were live trapped from three dairy and mixed animal farms. Tissues and fecal samples were collected from all rodents. DNA extraction was performed on 90 rodent colons along with 2 shrew colons included as outgroups in the study. Full-length 16S amplicon sequencing was performed with the MinION. Our data suggests the presence of putative foodborne pathogens including Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium spp., along with many important mastitis pathogens. A critically important observation is that we discovered these pathogens within all five species of rodents (Microtus pennsylvanicus, Mus musculus, Peromyscus leucopus, Peromyscus maniculatus, and Rattus norvegicus) and shrew (Blarina brevicauda) in varying abundances. Interestingly, we observed a higher abundance of enteric pathogens (e.g. Salmonella) in shrew feces compared to the rodents analyzed in our study, however more data is required to establish that connection. Knowledge gained from our research efforts will directly inform and improve upon farm-level biosecurity efforts and public health interventions to reduce future outbreaks of foodborne and zoonotic disease.
A Case of Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma That Mimics As Autoimmune Diseases and Infections.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is an aggressive malignancy with a presentation like either autoimmune diseases, drug reactions, or infections. We hereby present a unique case of AITL. A 61-year-old Caucasian male with a past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presented to the emergency department with a rash over his bilateral knees, shortness of breath, and productive cough of few days. He was managed for suspected COPD exacerbation associated with community-acquired pneumonia. On the day of admission patient was having an itchy maculopapular rash, ecchymosis on the left flank, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Physical exam showed generalized lymphadenopathy. Laboratory tests revealed leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and were positive for multiple autoantibodies. Epstein-Barr virus polymerase chain reaction and hepatitis B virus core antibody were positive. Skin biopsy revealed findings suggestive of a small vessel vasculitis. Inguinal lymph node biopsy showed AITL. The patient recovered with chemotherapy. The case illustrates that clinical presentation of AITL mimics rheumatologic disorders and infections. This complexity could arise from the follicular T helper cell, which is an important checkpoint for B cell activation and differentiation. Additionally, skin involvement is one of the important findings of AITL and a variety of lesions have been reported as skin manifestations.
Accelerated Phase of MPN: What Is It and What to Do About It

Introduction The classic Philadelphia chromosome negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are hematopoietic stem cell diseases characterized by activated JAK/STAT signaling pathways and a variable propensity to evolve toward accelerated or blast phase disease (MPN AP/BP). Outcomes are poor in MPN AP/BP and have not changed substantially in the past decade. Our increasing understanding of the molecular-genomic factors and pathways that drive MPN progression have the potential to lead to meaningful targeted therapeutic approaches. This argues for consideration of a personalized approach that takes the mutational spectrum of the individual patient into account, in addition to clinical factors, when fashioning a therapeutic strategy.1 For example, emerging retrospective data with IDH inhibitors in MPN AP/BP lend credence to this approach and are now informing prospective early phase clinical investigation.2,3
Remarks on Lyapunov-Krasovskii Functionals for Integral Input-to-Output Stability Properties

Abstract In this work, we consider the Lyapunov method for integral input-to-output stability (iios) of time-delay systems. We particularly focus on the output-Lagrange iios property, and show that for this property, the existence of a Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional with a dissipation rate depending only on the present values of the output function (in contrast to the norm of the output function over the delay interval) is sufficient. In the special case when the output variables represent the full set of state variables, the result recovers a recent result on integral input-to-state stability (iiss).
Pushing and Pulling Emerging Adults Through College College Generational Status and the Influence of Parents and Others in the First Year

Interview, survey, and academic transcript data with a diverse sample of first-generation college (FGC) and continuing generation college (CGC) premedical intended emerging adults are analyzed to study academic outcomes and any differences in the availability and use of social capital the first year of college. CGC students know many people with college degrees including those in careers they aspire to obtain, while FGC students do not. All students identify parents as very important forms of social capital who contribute to their success in college, but the types of support differs by educational background. Students whose parents have at least a bachelor’s degree (CGC) are “pulled” through their first year with specific advice from their parents about how to succeed in college, while FGC students are “pushed” by their parents with support. In addition, CGC students display evidence of enacting Lareau’s concept of concerted cultivation, being much more likely than FGC students to approach and gain assist...
The Relationship of Reliability and Validity of Personality Tests to Frame-of-Reference Instructions and Within-Person Inconsistency

The efficacy of both frame-of-reference (FOR) instructions and a measure of within-person inconsistency in predicting grade point average was investigated. The IPIP Big Five personality questionnaire was given to 329 students with generic instructions and ‘at school’ FOR instructions. The Wonderlic Personnel Test was also administered. A measure of within-person inconsistency was created based on the standard deviations of responses to items within the same Big Five dimension. The validity of conscientiousness was greater when FOR instructions were given. The measure of within-person inconsistency provided incremental validity over that of conscientiousness and cognitive ability. Additionally, within-person inconsistency moderated the relationship between conscientiousness and performance for the participants without the FOR instructions. Practical implications are discussed.
The crystal structures of the Salmonella type III secretion system tip protein SipD in complex with deoxycholate and chenodeoxycholate

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a protein injection nanomachinery required for virulence by many human pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella and Shigella. An essential component of the T3SS is the tip protein and the Salmonella SipD and the Shigella IpaD tip proteins interact with bile salts, which serve as environmental sensors for these enteric pathogens. SipD and IpaD have long central coiled coils and their N-terminal regions form α-helical hairpins and a short helix α3 that pack against the coiled coil. Using AutoDock, others have predicted that the bile salt deoxycholate binds IpaD in a cleft formed by the α-helical hairpin and its long central coiled coil. NMR chemical shift mapping, however, indicated that the SipD residues most affected by bile salts are located in a disordered region near helix α3. Thus, how bile salts interact with SipD and IpaD is unclear. Here, we report the crystal structures of SipD in complex with the bile salts deoxycholate and chenodeoxycholate. Bile salts bind SipD in a region different from what was predicted for IpaD. In SipD, bile salts bind part of helix α3 and the C-terminus of the long central coiled coil, towards the C-terminus of the protein. We discuss the biological implication of the differences in how bile salts interact with SipD and IpaD.
Secure delegation for distributed object environments

SDM is a Secure Delegation Model for Java-based distributed object environments. SDM extends current Java security features to support secure remote method invocations that may involve chains of delegated calls across distributed objects. The framework supports a control API for application developers to specify mechanisms and security policies surrounding simple or cascaded delegation. Delegation may also be disabled and optionally revoked. These policies may be controlled explicitly in application code, or implicitly via administrative tools.
Lamb Wave Mode Selection for Increased Sensitivity to Interfacial Weaknesses of Adhesive Bonds

Interface quality between layers in a layered structure is critical in fracture and fatigue analysis. A theoretical and quantitative solution to the problem from a NDE point of view would be desirable in both manufacturing and for in-service investigation of a variety of different structures. For example a great need exists to develop a reliable and efficient inspection program of adhesive bond delamination and interfacial weakness detection in aging aircraft noting that the bond degradation generally preceeds cracking in the aluminum skin, starting at the rivet holes.
Density Differences Between Hybrid and Nonhybrid Particles in Two Adenovirus-Simian Virus 40 Hybrid Populations

Abstract The adenovirus 7-simian virus 40 hybrid virus population E46+ was subjected to fixed-angle equilibrium density gradient centrifugation in CsCl. A difference in buoyant density between the hybrid virion and its nonhybrid adenovirus 7 counterpart was noted, the hybrid virion possessing the lower buoyant density. This difference in buoyant density appeared to be accentuated in a population of adenovirus 2+t7, a derivative of E46+ in which the adenovirus 7-simian virus 40 genome had been transferred to an adenovirus 2 capsid.
Video upscaling via spatio-temporal self-similarity

We propose a new example-based video upscaling technique that exploits self-similarity among patches of a video in both space and time. We encode image patches with over-complete dictionaries constructed in a local spatio-temporal neighborhood, and establish temporal correspondence using modern optical flow techniques. The resulting method performs favorably compared to the state-of-the-art in super-resolution techniques.
Minimax optimum joint frequency and phase recovery in IEEE 1588

In the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP), the recovery of clock frequency and phase from packet timestamps must be modeled as a statistical estimation problem, due to the random nature of end-to-end delays that is inherent to packet-switched networks. Recently, a new minimax optimum estimator for phase offset estimation was proposed by the authors. This approach assumes that perfect frequency synchronization is already available at the slave clock. In this paper, we show that when perfect frequency synchronization is unavailable, this estimator can be extended to jointly estimate clock phase and frequency offsets. The mean squared error of these estimators can be used to obtain fundamental limits on synchronization accuracy in such scenarios. Simulation results indicate that the proposed estimators provide significant performance benefits over conventional frequency and phase estimation techniques.
Physics of Black Holes: Classical, Quantum and Astrophysical

We discuss the classical, quantum and astrophysical black hole physics. Black hole thermodynamics and entropy production from the collapse process are also discussed.
Joint control of communication subsystems for low-energy image transmission

The paper presents a joint control method for low-energy image transmission. The proposed method is based on universal distortion-rate characteristics, which are predetermined characteristics of a source coder. This method relieves the computational cost of the joint optimization involving source coder, channel coder and modulation by separating the source coder and other communication subsystems. The results show that an average of 23% energy saving over the reference system can be achieved when targeting mid-quality of images (33 dB PSNR) under a fading channel when the fading figure is 3.
High power 3- 12 μm infrared lasers: recent improvements and future trends

Abstract In this paper, we discuss the progress of quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. Room temperature QCL operation has been reported for lasers emitting between 5– 11 μm , with 9– 11 μm lasers operating up to 425 K . Laser technology for the 3– 5 μm range takes advantage of a strain-balanced active layer design. We also demonstrate record room temperature peak output powers at 9 and 11 μm (2.5 and 1 W , respectively) as well as record low 80 K threshold current densities (250 A / cm 2 ) for some laser designs. Preliminary distributed feedback (DFB) results are also presented and exhibit single mode operation for 9 μm lasers at room temperature.
Levy-Bruhl, Durkheim, and the positivist roots of the sociology of knowledge

L'A. estime que L. Levy-Bruhl et E. Durkheim ont les premiers pose, dans le cadre positiviste, les principes de la sociologie de la connaissance. Il envisage la theorie de la mentalite primitive developpee par L. Levy-Bruhl. Il montre que Durkheim, dans «Les formes elementaires de la vie religieuse», a ete le premier a critique la perspective de Levy-Bruhl. Il souligne l'influence d'A. Comte subie par ce dernier et notamment en ce qui concerne la notion mentalite primitive
Concurrent heroin self-administration and intracranial self-stimulation in rats.

Abstract In a two-lever testing chamber, rats lever pressed for lateral hypothalamic brain stimulation or intravenous heroin reinforces on a concurrent FR1 FR1 schedule of reinforcement. Responding for stimulation did not alter the rate of heroin self-administration, and responding for heroin caused increased responding for stimulation. Discontinuing heroin injections, or administering 3 mg/kg of naloxone, disrupted responding for both reinforcers, while changing the unit dose of heroin did not appreciably affect response rates for stimulation. This experiment demonstrates that rats are able to lever press during the period between successive self-administered heroin infusions, suggesting that the pausing normally seen between infusions is not due to debilitation, stereotyping, or sedation.
I Went to President Obama's Inauguration, but I Couldn't Tell Anybody but God: Self-Monitoring Among People of African Descent

For some people of African descent functioning within social situations of diverse political perspectives, openly celebrating the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States adversely affects the social climate. Through an auto-ethnographic approach, this article seeks to uncover the factors that prompt Black Obama-admirers to self-monitor (Snyder, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 30:526–537, 1974) in social contexts of polarized public opinion.
Demographic observations (1963–1973) on the chimpanzees of Gombe National Park, Tanzania

Abstract This report provides a longitudinal demographic profile for a small study population of chimpanzees living in the Gombe National Park of Tanzania, East Africa. The size and composition of this study population, and the trends in mortality, natality and migratory patterns it experienced over a span of ten years, are described and analysed within various ethological and ecological frameworks. The validity of the demographic profile is examined in relation to field methodology, as the study population was intensively provisioned with bananas for several years. The results yield some guidelines for managing and conserving wild chimpanzee populations, and special emphasis is placed upon protection from diseases that involve human vectors. The data presented here may also offer some novel insights to the evolution of pongid and hominid populations, so tentative steps are taken to place the Gombe profile into a broader demographic perspective.
The Mechanics of the Interface Crack Using the Finite Element Method

The interface crack between two dissimilar materials subjected to a tension load was analyzed using the finite element method in order to study the “open” and “closed” crack tip formulations of this problem. It was shown that these two formulations can be modelled by the absence or presence of interface elements along the crack faces with a very fine mesh. The fracture parameters (k and G ) were calculated using crack flank displacements and extrapolation of the interfacial stresses to the crack tip. It was shown that even if the mesh is not fine enough to detect crack closing, the fracture parameters can be determined with a reasonable accuracy.
Comment on the Bowman and Venneri analysis

As one of the authors of two reports dealing with the urgent problem of disposition of excess weapon plutonium I have followed the work of Bowman and Venneri [hereafter B&V], since our two primary approaches to WPu disposition end up with much or all of the WPu in the mined geologic repository. In the option for burning WPu as MOX in reactors of existing type, fuel bundles containing some 3 percent spent WPu would eventually be entombed in heavy steel disposition casks after a decade or more of storage above ground. Since only about 2 tons of WPu would be loaded into reactors each year, in comparison with some 100 tons of U-235 into US reactors annually, it is likely that only a single fuel bundle, of 5 in a typical steel disposition cask, would be spent mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel. The MOX bundle would contain some 9-18 kg of Pu, typically about 60 percent fissile isotopes.
Optimal front light design for reflective displays under different ambient illumination

The goal of this study is to find out the optimal luminance and color temperature of front light for reflective displays in different ambient illumination by conducting series of psychophysical experiments. A color and brightness tunable front light device with ten LED units was built and been calibrated to present 256 luminance levels and 13 different color temperature at fixed luminance of 200 cd/m 2 . The experiment results revealed the best luminance and color temperature settings for human observers under different ambient illuminant, which could also assist the e-paper manufacturers to design front light device, and present the best image quality on reflective displays. Furthermore, a similar experiment procedure was conducted by utilizing new flexible e-signage display developed by ITRI and an optimal front light device for the new display panel has been designed and utilized.
Antes and Hoy Día: Plant Knowledge and Categorization as Adaptations to Life in Panama in the Twenty-First Century

Ethnobotanical studies often assume plant knowledge is shared by all members of an arbitrarily bounded human group. By describing the uses and local categorization of plants in one village in rural Panama in a heteroglossic approach, the different knowledges within a village are presented in one article. Plants used in the daily work of women and men, and the work of village spe-cialists are described. Villagers negotiate changing realities by adapting plant use and knowl-edge; this is reflected in local categorization of plant names into antes and hoy dia. Unlike the established ethnobotanical assumption that bounded units of plant knowledge are dying, the younger generations of villagers, who work both within and outside the village, know more plants useful to their changing economic opportunities. Subsistence agriculturalists possess the adaptive plant knowledge skills to be stewards of the environment.
Spin ordering and orbital ordering transitions in MnV 2 O 4

We present low-temperature x-ray diffraction, susceptibility, specific heat, and thermal conductivity results both on single crystal and polycrystalline $\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. The single crystal sample exhibits two transitions: a spin ordering (ferrimagnetic) transition at ${T}_{\mathrm{SO}}=56\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and an orbital ordering transition at ${T}_{\mathrm{OO}}=52\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. The structural change and phase separation at ${T}_{\mathrm{OO}}$ suggest that the transition is first order. With applied magnetic fields, both ${T}_{\mathrm{SO}}$ and ${T}_{\mathrm{OO}}$ increase and ${T}_{\mathrm{OO}}$ disappears with $H\ensuremath{\geqslant}0.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{T}$. The polycrystalline sample just exhibits one transition at $55\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. The difference between the single crystal and polycrystalline samples is due to the nonstoichiometric polycrystalline sample.
Quantitative Structure‐Activity Relationships in the Displacement of the Dihydrosafrole Metabolite‐Cytochrome P‐450 Complex

Twenty-one 2-substituted benzimidazoles and two naphtho-[2,3-d]-imidazoles were evaluated for their in vitro ability to displace the dihydrosafrole metabolite from its complex with microsomal cytochrome P-450. Several proved to be extremely effective displacers, the most active being 2-(2′,3′-dichloro-phenoxy)methylbenzimidazole. Quantitative structure-activity analyses (QSAR) using the descriptors log P (partition coefficient) and MR2 (molar refractivity) established that up to eighty-eight percent of the variance in the displacement data could be accounted for in terms of the MR2 of the 2-substituent of the benzimidazole ring. Other QSAR analyses involving molecular connectivity indices (χ) supported the assertion that steric parameters are of primary importance in the displacement process.
Antioxidants and coronary artery disease among individuals with type 1 diabetes: Findings from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study

Abstract Objective Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the effect of serum antioxidants and total antioxidant reserve (TAR) on coronary artery disease (CAD) incidence in type 1 diabetes. Methods Subjects were identified from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study (EDC) cohort, a 10-year prospective study of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. Mean age at baseline was 28 and diabetes duration 19 years. Coronary artery disease was defined as physician-diagnosed angina, confirmed MI, stenosis ≥50%, ischemic electrocardiogram (ECG), or revascularization. Controls were gender, age, and diabetes duration (±3 years) matched with cases. Samples and risk factors used in analyses were identified from the earliest exam prior to incidence in cases (54 cases, 67 controls). Results None of the antioxidant measures (α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, retinol, TAR) showed protection against incident CAD overall. However, a protective effect of α-tocopherol against CAD was observed among antioxidant supplement users (HR=0.22, 95% CI=0.10–0.49) and in renal disease (HR=0.46, 95% CI=0.23–0.91). Despite similar α-tocopherol concentration, there was no protective effect among nonusers of antioxidant supplements. Conclusions High α-tocopherol levels among patients with renal disease and in those using vitamin supplements were associated with lower CAD risk in type 1 diabetes. The specificity of these effects merits further investigation.
An Efficient Data Reuse Motion Estimation Engine

We present a novel motion estimation engine (MEE) architecture that efficiently reuses search area data while fully utilizing the hardware resources. A 2-D processing element (PE) core is central to the architecture. Search area data flows both horizontally as well as vertically while the current block data is stationary. A clever PE design ensures simple but highly regular dataflow through the core avoiding long interconnect delays. For a search range of [?16,+15] and block size of 16, our architecture can perform motion estimation for 60 fps of 4CIF video at 100 Mhz.
Pathophysiology of meningococcal sepsis in children.

Septic shock with purpura is a syndrome frequently diagnosed in children and predominantly caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Despite improvements in management and therapy the mortality and morbidity in these patients are still high. During the last few years much effort has been put into understanding of the systemic host response during this acute infectious disease. This host response can be divided into the process of recognition of endotoxin, the cascade of pro- and counter inflammatory mediators, the endothelial damage resulting in capillary leakage and inappropriate vascular tone, and the procoagulant state. Conclusion This paper reviews the recent insights in the pathophysiology of the host response and their possible consequences for novel therapies in meningococcal sepsis.
Reconstructing the future: Du Bois, racial pedagogy and the post-civil rights era

This essay addresses the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois, as both scholar and activist, at a time when the university's civic mission is imperiled by corporatisation and racial backlash, access to its resources are increasingly predicated on whiteness and wealth, and the greater public good is financially and spiritually starved with every advance of American empire abroad. Focusing on Black Reconstruction, it elaborates in particular on the pedagogical implications of Du Bois's reading of the post-Reconstruction era for progressives caught in the contradictions of the current post-Civil Rights era. Drawing on Du Bois's insistence that education (both formal and informal) is central to the functioning of a nonrepressive and inclusive polity, the essay reflects on the current crisis of black educational access to quality schooling at all levels, as well as the relentless attacks on more public sites of pedagogy, within the context of neoliberal social and economic policies as well as the racist backlash against t...
Thiophene hydrodesulfurization over supported nickel phosphide catalysts

Abstract Silica-supported nickel phosphide (Ni2P/SiO2) catalysts have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and O2 chemisorption measurements. Ni2P/SiO2 catalysts were synthesized from oxidic precursors by reduction in either flowing H2 or a H2S/H2 mixture. XRD and TEM analysis of a 25 wt% Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst confirmed the presence of Ni2P crystallites dispersed on the surface of the silica support. XPS analysis of a passivated 30 wt% Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst indicated the presence of two kinds of Ni species, as well as phosphide and phosphate species at the catalyst surface. Thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activities were measured for Ni2P/SiO2 catalysts with a wide range of Ni2P loadings (5–35 wt%) and after different pretreatments. A 30 wt% Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst, when pretreated only by degassing in flowing He, was nearly 15 and 3.5 times more active than sulfided Mo/SiO2 and NiMo/SiO2 catalysts, respectively, after 100 h on-stream. The HDS activities of the Ni2P/SiO2 catalysts correlated well with their O2 chemisorption capacities, allowing calculation of a turnover frequency of 0.017±0.002 s−1. Based on XRD measurements of tested catalysts as well as catalysts subjected to H2S/H2 treatments at increasing temperatures, silica-supported Ni2P shows excellent stability under HDS conditions.
Cloning and Characterization of the Xyn11A Gene from Lentinula edodes

Hemicellulose represents a rich source of biomass that can be converted into useful chemical feedstocks. One of the main components of hemicellulose is xylan, a polymer of xylose residues. Xylanase enzymes that hydrolyze xylan are therefore of great commercial interest. We have cloned a gene (xyn11A) that encodes a 283-amino acid xylanase enzyme from the fungus Lentinula edodes. The enzyme has a pI of 4.6 and belongs to the highly conserved glycosyl hydrolase family 11. The xylanase gene was cloned into a Pichia pastoris expression vector that secretes active enzyme into both solid and liquid media. The optimal reaction conditions were at pH 4.5 and 50°C. The enzyme had a Km of 1.5 mg/ml and a Vmax of 2.1 mmol/min/mg. Xyn11A produced primarily xylobiose, xylotriose, and xylotetraose from a birchwood xylan substrate. This is the first report on the cloning of a hemicellulase gene from L. edodes.