cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Biologically Inspired Approach to the Coordination of Hexapedal Gait

This paper presents a method for the control of locomotion in a robot hexapod. The approach is based on the WalkNet structure, which in turn is based on the neural control structure of the insect Carausius morosus. Though the WalkNet structure has been shown to function well in kinematic (i.e., non-dynamic) simulations, the authors found that the approach to coordinated control of hexapedal locomotion entailed several significant problems when simulated in the presence of dynamic effects, including gravitational effects, inertial dynamics, and ground contact dynamics. As such, the authors propose several variations on the WalkNet structure that provides stable and robust locomotion in the presence of dynamics, while still maintaining the attributes of WalkNet coordinated control, including self-selection of gait and associated emergent behaviors. The approach is simulated in the presence of dynamics and shown to provide stable gait with emergent characteristics.
Capacity of nonlinear bosonic systems

We analyze the role of nonlinear Hamiltonians in bosonic channels. We show that the information capacity as a function of the channel energy is increased with respect to the corresponding linear case, although only when the energy used for driving the nonlinearity is not considered as part of the energetic cost and when dispersive effects are negligible.
Interleukin-6 inhibits hepatocyte taurocholate uptake and sodium-potassium-adenosinetriphosphatase activity

The potential effects of cytokines on hepatocellular transport functions remain undefined. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that is produced in sepsis, hepatitis, and other inflammatory conditions often associated with cholestasis. Using cultured rat hepatocytes, we have investigated the effects of IL-6 on hepatocellular bile salt uptake. Because hepatocyte Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) produces the electrochemical gradient that drives sodium-dependent bile salt contransport, we also examined the effects of IL-6 on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. Hepatocytes cultured for 20 h in media containing IL-6 exhibited a dose-dependent noncompetitive inhibition of [3H]taurocholate uptake, which was maximal at an IL-6 dose of 100 U/ml. IL-6 treatment had no effect on hepatocyte sodium-independent taurocholate uptake. Northern blotting of RNA from cultured hepatocytes revealed that IL-6 had no effect on steady-state RNA levels of the Na(+)-taurocholate transporter (Ntcp). Hepatocytes incubated with IL-6 for 20 h, however, exhibited a 55% decrease in hepatocyte Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. This effect also was dose dependent, with maximal inhibition occurring at an IL-6 dose of 100 U/ml. Similar treatment with IL-6 did not influence hepatocyte Mg(2+)-ATPase activity. The inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity induced by IL-6 provides a putative mechanism for the observed inhibition of sodium-dependent taurocholate uptake. Since modulation of bile salt transport and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity occurred at IL-6 concentrations comparable to the serum levels observed in patients with severe inflammatory states, these findings have potential pathophysiological relevance for the cholestasis of sepsis and other inflammatory disorders.
Usability and Usefulness in Bioinformatics: Evaluating a Tool for Querying and Analyzing Protein Interactions Based on Scientists' Actual Research Questions

Usability testing for bioinformatics tools rarely assesses user performance for scientists' real world, complex analyses. This article discusses findings from a user performance test in which scientists queried a protein-protein interaction tool and selected items of interest from search results for further analysis. Findings reveal scientists' criteria for making their selective judgments, the content they required for judging search results by these criteria, and the arrangements of content and program interactivity that would facilitate their judgments. For usefulness, findings show how tool designs must accord in content, arrangement, and interactivity with scientists' goals criteria, and ways of knowing.
Automated On-Line Fast Detection for Surface Defect of Steel Strip Based on Multivariate Discriminant Function

Surface inspection of steel strips is of great importance to improve the quality because it is mainly affected by the defects on the surface. Digital image processing methods have been developed for defect detection for past few years. As to an automated on-line detection system, the research on rapid defect detection is quite significant. In this paper, an approach to detect surface defects of steel strip based on multivariate discriminant function is discussed. By subdividing the images into blocks and extracting related features, tiny defects are effectively detected. With the inspection of the defects, a multivariate discriminant function model has been established. Persuasive experiments results were obtained which prove the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method. Thus, this research is quite practical and lays a solid foundation for the future study.
Setting the stage for interaction: a tablet application to augment group discussion in a seminar class

We present a tablet-based system to collaboratively track discussion topics and ideas in a seminar-style discussion classroom. Each student uses his or her own tablet to share text ideas in a synchronized, visual environment. The system is designed to promote diverse participation and increase engagement. Our findings are based on observations of twelve class sessions and interviews with participating students. Instead of simply introducing an additional text-based communication channel into the classroom, we find that the system creates a new "stage" (in the Goffman sense) on which students could perform in ways that the main spoken stage could not support. This stage coexists with spoken communication, and augments how students attend to the material and each other. We conclude that spoken participation alone poses barriers for some participants and the addition of a non-oral, text-based stage can help establish equitable and engaging discussions in the class.
A Revised Classification of the Phylinae (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae): Arguments for the Placement of Genera

ABSTRACT As a companion to the tribal-level phylogenetic analysis of Phylinae by Menard, Schuh, and Woolley (2013), a comprehensive generic classification of the subfamily is presented. Names used in the work of Menard et al. (2013) at the tribal/subtribal levels are documented in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999). The new tribal-level names Coatonocapsina, Decomiini, Exocarpocorini, Keltoniina, and Tuxedoina are introduced; the long unused or seldom-used tribal-level names Cremnorrhini Reuter, 1883, Exaeretina Puton, 1975, Nasocorini Reuter, 1883, Oncotylina Douglas and Scott, 1865, and Semiini Knight, 1923, are used and rediagnosed; Phylini Douglas and Scott, 1865, is given a more narrow conception than in previous classifications and the subtribe Phylina is recognized; Pilophorini Douglas and Scott, 1865, is conceived more broadly to include Lasiolabops Poppius and Dilatops Weirauch; Auricillocorini Schuh, 1984, is treated as a junior synonym of Hallodapini Van Du...
Sources of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a Rocky Mountain stream using chemical fractionation and stable isotopes

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important vehicle for the movement of nutrients from terrestrial to aquatic systems. To investigate how the source and composition of aquatic DOM change in both space and time, we used chemical, spectroscopic, and isotopic analyses to characterize DOM in a headwater catchment in the Colorado Front Range. Streamwater samples for DOM analyses were collected from 2 sites, a lightly vegetated alpine site and a forested, subalpine site, in the North Boulder Creek catchment during the snowmelt runoff season (May–September). Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) peaked on the ascending limb of the snowmelt hydrograph at both the alpine (2.6 mg C l−1) and the subalpine sites (7.0 mg C l−1) and decreased sharply on the descending limb of the hydrograph. Fractionation of DOM into operationally defined humic and non-humic components showed that the fulvic acid content of DOC decreased through the season at both sites and that spectroscopic (fluorescence and ultraviolet) properties of the humic DOM fraction shifted in a manner consistent with an increase in the proportion of humic DOM derived from instream sources as compared to terrestrial catchment sources. Humic and non-humic fractions of DOM isolated near peak flow in June and during low flows in September showed a seasonal enrichment in 15N and 13C as well as a seasonal decrease in the ratio of aromatic to aliphatic carbon, both of which were correlated with a decrease in the C:N ratio of the DOM fractions. These results suggest that seasonal shifts in the isotopic and chemical characteristics of DOM are a result of changes in catchment sources of DOM. In particular, it appears that DOM production in alpine lakes is an important contributor to the streamwater DOM load during late season low flows, especially in the alpine reach of the catchment. Our results further suggest that stable isotopes of C and N are useful tools, particularly when combined with ancillary data such as elemental analyses and catchment discharge, for evaluating sources and transformations of DOM at the catchment scale.
Musculoskeletal deformities following repair of large congenital diaphragmatic hernias.

Abstract Purpose Large congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH) can be repaired with either a muscle flap or prosthetic patch. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and severity of scoliosis, chest wall, and abdominal wall deformities following these repairs. Methods Neonates who underwent CDH repair (1989–2012) were retrospectively reviewed. We then validated our retrospective review by comparing results of a focused radiologic evaluation and clinical examination of patients with large defects seen in prospective follow-up clinic. Tests for association were made using Fisher's exact test. Results 236 patients survived at least 1year. Of these patients, 30 had a muscle flap, and 13 had a patch repair. Retrospectively, we identified pectus in 9% of primary repairs, 47% of flap repairs, and 54% of patch repairs. We identified scoliosis in 7% of primary repairs, 13% of flap repairs, and 15% of patch repairs. Prospectively, 75% of flap patients and 67% of patch patients had pectus and 13% of flap patients and 33% of patch patients had scoliosis. There was no significant difference between flap and patch patients. Conclusions Scoliosis and pectus deformity were common in children with large CDH. The operative technique did not appear to affect the incidence of subsequent skeletal deformity.
Probing and mapping electrode surfaces in solid oxide fuel cells.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are potentially the most efficient and cost-effective solution to utilization of a wide variety of fuels beyond hydrogen 1-7. The performance of SOFCs and the rates of many chemical and energy transformation processes in energy storage and conversion devices in general are limited primarily by charge and mass transfer along electrode surfaces and across interfaces. Unfortunately, the mechanistic understanding of these processes is still lacking, due largely to the difficulty of characterizing these processes under in situ conditions. This knowledge gap is a chief obstacle to SOFC commercialization. The development of tools for probing and mapping surface chemistries relevant to electrode reactions is vital to unraveling the mechanisms of surface processes and to achieving rational design of new electrode materials for more efficient energy storage and conversion2. Among the relatively few in situ surface analysis methods, Raman spectroscopy can be performed even with high temperatures and harsh atmospheres, making it ideal for characterizing chemical processes relevant to SOFC anode performance and degradation8-12. It can also be used alongside electrochemical measurements, potentially allowing direct correlation of electrochemistry to surface chemistry in an operating cell. Proper in situ Raman mapping measurements would be useful for pin-pointing important anode reaction mechanisms because of its sensitivity to the relevant species, including anode performance degradation through carbon deposition8, 10, 13, 14 ("coking") and sulfur poisoning11, 15 and the manner in which surface modifications stave off this degradation16. The current work demonstrates significant progress towards this capability. In addition, the family of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques provides a special approach to interrogate the electrode surface with nanoscale resolution. Besides the surface topography that is routinely collected by AFM and STM, other properties such as local electronic states, ion diffusion coefficient and surface potential can also be investigated17-22. In this work, electrochemical measurements, Raman spectroscopy, and SPM were used in conjunction with a novel test electrode platform that consists of a Ni mesh electrode embedded in an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte. Cell performance testing and impedance spectroscopy under fuel containing H2S was characterized, and Raman mapping was used to further elucidate the nature of sulfur poisoning. In situ Raman monitoring was used to investigate coking behavior. Finally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) were used to further visualize carbon deposition on the nanoscale. From this research, we desire to produce a more complete picture of the SOFC anode.
mTORC1 Hyperactivity Inhibits Serum Deprivation-Induced Apoptosis via Increased Hexokinase II and GLUT1 Expression, Sustained Mcl-1 Expression, and Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Inhibition

The current concept is that Tsc-deficient cells are sensitized to apoptosis due to the inhibition of Akt activity by the negative feedback mechanism induced by the hyperactive mTORC1. Unexpectedly, however, we found that Tsc1/2-deficient cells exhibit increased resistance to serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. mTORC1 hyperactivity contributes to the apoptotic resistance of serum-deprived Tsc1/2-deficient cells in part by increasing the growth factor-independent expression of hexokinase II (HKII) and GLUT1. mTORC1-mediated increase in hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF1alpha) abundance, which occurs in the absence of serum in normoxic Tsc2-deficient cells, contributes to these changes. Increased HIF1alpha abundance in these cells is attributed to both an increased level and the sustained translation of HIF1alpha mRNA. Sustained glycogen synthase kinase 3beta inhibition and Mcl-1 expression also contribute to the apoptotic resistance of Tsc2-deficient cells to serum deprivation. The inhibition of mTORC1 activity by either rapamycin or Raptor knockdown cannot resensitize these cells to serum deprivation-induced apoptosis because of elevated Akt activity that is an indirect consequence of mTORC1 inhibition. However, the increased HIF1alpha abundance and the maintenance of Mcl-1 protein expression in serum-deprived Tsc2(-/)(-) cells are dependent largely on the hyperactive eIF4E in these cells. Consistently, the reduction of eIF4E levels abrogates the resistance of Tsc2(-/)(-) cells to serum deprivation-induced apoptosis.
Bleeding in a 43 Year Old Female: A Rare Disease

A 43-year-old gravida 2 para 2 Caucasian female with a past medical history of menorrhagia secondary to uterine fibroids and thyroid disease presented to the emergency department with complaints of bruising in her oral mucosa and vaginal bleeding. One week prior to this presentation, she was transfused with two units of packed red blood cells because of symptomatic anemia secondary to menorrhagia. Physical examination was normal, except for petechiae on the abdomen and the lower extremities as well as purpuric lesions on the buccal mucosa. Blood work revealed thrombocytopenia. Posttransfusion thrombocytopenia was suspected. The patient was transfused with washed and leukoreduced platelets and treated with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulins. Laboratory studies demonstrated that she was homozygous for the HPA-Ib/1b platelet gene and positive antibodies against class 1 HLA and platelet glycoproteins. The patient responded well to treatment, with normalization of her platelet count.
Parasitologic Examination of the Eyes, Esophagus, Lungs, Rumen, and Feces of Cattle and of the Small Intestine of Horses at Necropsy in Central Kentucky, U.S.A., in 2000 and 2001

Abstract A parasitologic survey for internal parasites was done at routine necropsy of cattle (N = 142) and horses (N = 190, including 1 donkey) at the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, University of Kentucky, in 2000 and 2001. The eyes, esophagus, lungs, rumen, and feces were examined from the cattle, and the small intestine was scrutinized from the horses. Endoparasites recovered from the cattle (percent infected) were Thelazia skrjabini (13%) and Thelazia gulosa (8%) from the eyes. One or both Thelazia species were recovered from 16% of the cattle, and Gongylonema pulchrum (2%) was recovered from the esophagus. The types of eggs present in the feces of cattle (percent positive) were Haemonchus–Ostertagia–Trichostrongylus (53%), Nematodirus (13%), Strongyloides (3%), Trichuris (3%), Capillaria (1%), and Moniezia (4%). Lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) larvae were not detected in cattle feces. No parasite was found in the lungs or rumen of necropsied cattle. Parasites found in the small intestine of t...
HARRINGTON INSTRUMENTATION IN CORRECTION OF SCOLIOSIS. A COMPARISON WITH CAST CORRECTION.

Sixty-six patients with scoliosis treated with Harrington instrumentation and spine fusion have been reported. All have had at least one year of follow-up. The method of management, average correction obtained, and complications encountered are reported. A comparison with results obtained by Risser cast correction and fusion is made.
Cervical Disc Disease

A spectrum of cervical disc injuries and changes may occur in young athletes. This spectrum includes disc degeneration, annular tears, and disc herniation. These pathologic changes may affect neurologic integrity and be reflected with radicular (peripheral) or central (myelopathic) nerve injury. Due to the potential for devastating outcomes from cervical spine injuries, it is important to recognize symptoms associated with cervical spine compromise in the setting of athletics to minimize the risk of permanent neurologic sequela. This chapter will review disc pathology and its considerations in the athletic population.
When environmentally persistent pathogens transform good habitat into ecological traps

Habitat quality plays an important role in the dynamics and stability of wildlife metapopulations. However, the benefits of high-quality habitat may be modulated by the presence of an environmentally persistent pathogen. In some cases, the presence of environmental pathogen reservoirs on high-quality habitat may lead to the creation of ecological traps, wherein host individuals preferentially colonize high-quality habitat, but are then exposed to increased infection risk and disease-induced mortality. We explored this possibility through the development of a stochastic patch occupancy model, where we varied the pathogen’s virulence, transmission rate and environmental persistence as well as the distribution of habitat quality in the host metapopulation. This model suggests that for pathogens with intermediate levels of spread, high-quality habitat can serve as an ecological trap, and can be detrimental to host persistence relative to low-quality habitat. This inversion of the relative roles of high- and low-quality habitat highlights the importance of considering the interaction between spatial structure and pathogen transmission when managing wildlife populations exposed to an environmentally persistent pathogen.
A Hopeful Outlook: Maturity in Reading: Its Nature and Appraisal

(1956). A Hopeful Outlook: Maturity in Reading: Its Nature and Appraisal. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 27, No. 8, pp. 463-464.
Transgenic Animal Models for the Study of Inherited Retinal Dystrophies.

The retina is a complex tissue in the back of the eye containing the rod and cone photoreceptor cells and a network of interneurons that transfer visual information to the brain. The retina is susceptible to a variety of diseases that can lead to compromised vision or blindness. A significant fraction of retinal diseases has been established to have a clear genetic basis. The inherited retinal degenerations are typified by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an affliction characterized by the gradual breakdown and degeneration of the photoreceptors. This group of debilitating conditions affects approximately 100,000 people of all ages in the United States (NIH 1998). In the elderly, the leading cause of visual loss is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease of the macula, a small area in the retina that is responsible for the central vision used in high-resolution activities such as reading, sewing, and driving. A person with AMD gradually loses this clear central vision. It is estimated that AMD causes visual impairment in approximately 1.7 million of the 34 million Americans older than 65 yr (NIH 1997). These inherited diseases are progressive, and no therapies are in clinical use at the time of this writing (NIH 1998). There is a critical need to achieve a better understanding of the disease mechanism in these dystrophies in order to design rational therapies. To this end, a major research effort is under way to identify the cellular, molecular, and systemic factors involved in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Laboratory investigations are using many different approaches, including epidemiology, morphology, cell and molecular biology, and genetics.
Metal-Metal Interactions of Importance to Electronic Packaging

Metal-metal interactions have been of vital importance to various technologies, including packaging of electronic materials. Extensive interdiffusion and outdiffusion can lead to undesired alloy formation, and oxide formation on the surface which can hinder subsequent bonding processes. Furthermore, the interactions can be profoundly affected by the ambient gases used, either in the joining process or during subsequent storage and operation. One therefore needs a specially designed metallurgy, a diffusion barrier layer, or a proper ambient to deal with such concerns. The effects of ambient and diffusion barriers on the metal-metal interactions are described. Examples are illustrated where extensive interactions across the diffusion barrier are observed, and their impact on the packaging applications discussed.
Bridging Clinical Distance: An Empathic Rediscovery of the Known

In this essay, I argue that traditional medical views of illness systematically exclude intuitive knowledge from their description of disease and thus result in a functionally impressive but humanly ungrounded medicine. Physicians trained in a technologized anatomico-pathologic view of disease find themselves cut off from much of what they knew about illness when they began their training. Not only do they lack a rigorous or formal way to confront the non-technical aspects of medical practice, but many have even lost sight of the motives for medicine. I argue here for an intuitively based humanly grounded ontology of illness. Such an ontology begins in an understanding of the experience of the sick person rather than in a "objective" description of pathology. It is only through a science of illness-as-lived that one may achieve a truly humanistic medicine.
Evolution, development and future trend of intelligent building system

This paper will bring to discussion on whether the building management system (BMS) or central control and monitoring system (CCMS) for control and monitoring of M&E (Mechanical and Electrical Systems) installations is fully representing intelligent building system (IBS) and will highlight the differences on functionality, level of integrity and system configuration amongst BMS/CCMS and IBS. This paper will continue to highlight various arguments between vendors claiming their own products and systems are intelligent, whether or not their IBS is really IBS, and what should an IBS look like. Further discussion on the current situation and the problems encountered in terms of technical, contractual, hardware and software compatibility between different products and the possible resolution will be included. This paper will conclude and project the future trend, technology and resolution on hardware and software compatibility on the further development on IBS.
Mechanism of aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis in the rat. II. Metabolism of aminonucleoside-8-C14.

SummaryDetailed studies were made of the chemical nature of carbon-14 activity found in acid-soluble nucleotide, ribonucleic acid, and deoxyribonucleic acid fractions isolated from kidney or liver tissue of rats rendered experimentally nephrotic with a series of 10 small daily injections of aminonucleoside-8-C14, and, in similar fractions obtained from rats sacrificed as early as 3 hours after administration of a single large dose of the labeled compound. No significant differences were noted. Only the adenosine and guanosine phosphates of the acid-soluble nucleotide fractions and the adenine and guanine bases of RNA and DNA hydrolysates were labeled with carbon-14. No evidence was obtained either for conversion of the intact aminonucleoside to the corresponding nucleotide or for incorporation of the 6-dimethylamino- or 6-methylamino-purine moieties into ribonucleic acid or deoxyribonucleic acid of kidney or liver tissue.
GABA-activated whole-cell currents in isolated retinal ganglion cells

1. We have begun to analyze neurotransmitter-activated conductances in retinal ganglion cells by measuring the response of single voltage-clamped adult goldfish ganglion cells to gamma-aminobutyric...
Measurements of grease emission and heat generation rates of electric countertop appliances (RP-1631, part 1)

The main objectives of this research were to improve the understanding of the characteristics of the grease emission and heat generation from electric countertop appliances, and to determine the amount of grease particulate/vapor production as well as sensible and latent heat gains from 20 commercial electric countertop appliances under cooking conditions. The grease particulate and vapor were captured by a Type II hood, and the concentrations were measured using EPA Method 5 in the exhaust duct under an exhaust flowrate of 0.24 m3/s (500 cfm). An energy balance protocol was used to determine the heat generation of these appliances during both idle and cooking conditions. The results indicate that the rate of grease particle and vapor emissions concentration for the 20 appliances tested ranged from 0.12 to 8.27 mg/m3. Only three appliances, the hot plate range, rapid cook oven (cooking with chicken wings or pizzas), and hot dog roller, generated more than 5 mg/m3 of grease at 0.24 m3/s (500 cfm) exhaust f...
Single incision endoscope-assisted surgery for sagittal craniosynostosis

The objective of this study is to present the novel technique and associated results of a single-incision endoscope-assisted procedure for the treatment of sagittal craniosynostosis. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of infants who underwent single-incision endoscope-assisted sagittal craniectomy for craniosynostosis at our institution. Demographic data collected included patient age, blood loss, operative time, pre- and post-operative hemoglobin, pre- and post-operative cephalic index (CI), and hospital length of stay. Seven consecutive infants underwent surgery for sagittal craniosynostosis using a single-incision endoscopic technique. Average operative time was 87 (±10.5) minutes. Average blood loss was 32 (±13.5) cubic centimeters (cc). Post-operative hemoglobin was an average of 7.1 (±0.2) g/dL. No patients required a blood transfusion intra-operatively or in the post-operative setting. Dural tears were encountered in one patient. The average hospital length of stay was 1.4 (±1.1) days. Difference between pre- and post-operative CI was 8.4 % (±3.5; p < 0.05). We demonstrate the novel use of a single-incision technique for endoscope-assisted sagittal craniosynostosis correction that improves upon the classically described surgical procedure by decreasing invasiveness, while allowing for excellent clinical outcomes.
Delivering an In-Home Exercise Program via Telerehabilitation: A Pilot Study of Lung Transplant Go (LTGO)

We evaluated the feasibility, safety, system usability, and intervention acceptability of Lung Transplant Go (LTGO), an 8-week in-home exercise intervention for lung transplant recipients using a telerehabilitation platform, and described changes in physical function and physical activity from baseline to post-intervention. The intervention was delivered to lung transplant recipients in their home via the Versatile and Integrated System for TeleRehabilitation (VISYTER). The intervention focused on aerobic and strengthening exercises tailored to baseline physical function. Participants improved walk distance (6-minute walk distance), balance (Berg Balance Scale), lower body strength (30-second chair stand test) and steps walked (SenseWear Armband®). No adverse events were reported. Participants rated the program highly positively in regard to the technology and intervention. The telerehabilitation exercise program was feasible, safe, and acceptable. Our findings provide preliminary support for the LTGO intervention to improve physical function and promote physical activity in lung transplant recipients.
Clustering Web Pages Based on Structure and Style Similarity (Application Paper)

We consider cluster analysis task on web pages based on various techniques to group the pages. While grouping the web pages based on the semantic meaning expressed in the content is required for some applications, we focus on clustering based on the web page structure and style for applications like categorization, cleaning, schema detection and automatic extractions. This paper describes some of the applications of similarity measures and a clustering technique to group the web pages into clusters. The structural similarity of HTML pages is measured by using Tree Edit Distance measure on DOM trees. The stylistic similarity is measured by using Jaccard similarity on CSS class names. An aggregated similarity measure is computed by combining structural and stylistic measures. A clustering method is then applied to this aggregated similarity measure to group the documents.
Comparison of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) tumor dosimetry: Unit-density sphere model versus Monte Carlo calculation

128 Objectives Time and computational requirements restrict the use of Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms for dose estimation in a clinical setting, despite the fact that they are considered more accurate than traditional methods. Our goal was to compare mean tumor absorbed dose estimates using the unit density sphere model incorporated in OLINDA with previously reported (JNM 2010;51:1155-1162) dose estimates from MC. Methods The data set (57 tumors in 19 lymphoma patients who underwent SPECT/CT imaging during I-131 RIT) included tumors of varying size, shape and contrast. First, OLINDA calculations were carried out using the baseline tumor volume and residence time from SPECT/CT imaging during 6 days post-tracer and 8 days post-therapy. Next, the OLINDA calculation was split over multiple time periods and summed to get the total dose, which accounted for CT-measured changes in tumor size. Tumor dosimetry results from the second calculation were compared with results determined by coupling SPECT/CT images with MC radiation transport using the Dose Planning Method (DPM) algorithm. Results Results from the OLINDA calculation accounting for changes in tumor size were almost always higher (median 22% range -1 to 68%) than the results from OLINDA using the baseline tumor volume. There was good agreement (median 5% range -2 to 11%) between the results from the second OLINDA calculation and the self-dose component from the DPM MC calculation, indicating that tumor shape effects are not a major source of error when using the sphere model. However, because the sphere model ignores cross irradiation, the OLINDA calculation significantly underestimated (median 14% range 2 to 31%) the total tumor absorbed dose compared with MC. Conclusions When the quantity of interest is the mean tumor absorbed dose, the unit density sphere model is a practical alternative to MC for some applications. For applications requiring higher accuracy, MC calculation is needed. Research Support 2R01 EB001994 awarded by the NIH, USA
International student enrollment in US dental hygiene schools.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the international student enrollment in US dental hygiene programs, identify methods used to recruit and retain international students, and describe accommodations used for them. Method A 27-item, closed-ended questionnaire was mailed to all dental hygiene program directors (n = 216) in the US. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Responses were received from 154 dental hygiene program directors for a response rate of 71%. Of the 154 returned questionnaires, 70 (45%) dental hygiene program directors indicated that international students were enrolled in their programs, totalling 4% of the total student population, with female students outnumbering males. The highest international student population came from Canada (42%) followed by Asia (32%), Europe (10%), Central America (9%), South America (3%), and Africa and the Caribbean (2%). Six percent of dental hygiene programs actively recruited international students, 3% had an articulation agreement with institutions outside the US, and 96% did not offer special orientation for incoming international students. Conclusion Research showed a need for professional oral health services in other countries. US dental hygiene programs do not actively recruit nor retain international students. The benefits of US dental hygiene programs actively recruiting and retaining international students would be: 1) international students would be equipped to provide comprehensive, preventive oral health services upon returning to their native country 2) international students would foster a better understanding of cultural diversity, which could transfer to social and professional settings among students in US dental hygiene programs.
Relationship Between Carrying Capacity of Small Island Tourism Destinations and Quality-of-Life

This chapter is divided into four sections. In the first section, the carrying capacity literature is reviewed. In the second section, quality-of-life research in general and as it pertains to residents of island destinations, especially those that are dependent on tourism, is discussed. Then, in the third section, the fragility of quality-of-life for island residents is introduced through an example drawn from the Republic of Fiji. In the fourth section, the authors summarize their thoughts and recognize the importance of utilizing a sustainable tourism lens when addressing the carrying capacity of small island destinations.
The State Executive's Signature of Environmental Treaties: Ego and the International Community

The non-binding signature of environmental treaties appears to be a costless, symbolic gesture and the lack of attention it has received in the literature suggests that previous scholars have implicitly subscribed to this view. However, this paper argues that signature is often a contentious political decision that allows the state executive to claim value from the process by which international environmental policy is created. A comprehensive review of state treaty commitment rules, both domestic and international, alongside evidence from a new dataset of 53 environmental treaties from 1980-2000 demonstrates that signature is a visible, political action fundamentally different from ratification and that the state executive uses this action primarily in the pursuit of ego rents and in response to socialization pressures from the international community.
Preventive reinforcement under uncertainty for islanded microgrids with electricity and natural gas networks

This paper presents an approach to determine the vulnerable components in the electricity and natural gas networks of an islanded microgrid that is exposed to deliberate disruptions. The vulnerable components in the microgrid are identified by solving a bi-level optimization problem. The objective of the upper-level problem (the attacker’s objective) is to maximize the expected operation cost of microgrid by capturing the penalties associated with the curtailed electricity and heat demands as a result of the disruption. In the lower-level problem, the adverse effects of disruptions and outages in the electricity and natural gas networks are mitigated by leveraging the available resources in the microgrid (the defender’s objective). The uncertainties in the electricity and heat demand profiles were captured by introducing scenarios with certain probabilities. The formulated bi-level optimization problem provides effective guidelines for the microgrid operator to adopt the reinforcement strategies in the interdependent natural gas and electricity distribution networks and improve the resilience of energy supply. The presented case study shows that as more components are reinforced in the interdependent energy networks, the reinforcement cost is increased and the expected operation cost as a result of disruption is decreased.
Borges and the Third Man: Toward an Interpretation of ‘Unánime noche’ in “The Circular Ruins”

Fernandez aims to show how this enigmatic phrase in the famous first sentence of “The Circular Ruins” is inextricably linked to the story’s last words. Toward this purpose, he argues—against plausible foundational interpretations of the story—for a nonfoundational reading of the text and, moreover, that Borges’s use of ‘unanime’ (one soul) can be understood as one character or one form; namely, as an archetype of “Dreamanity” that leads to a vertiginous Third Man regress.
Gender differences in associations between pain-related anxiety and alcohol use among adults with chronic pain.

ABSTRACTBackground: Over 100 million Americans live with chronic pain, and adults with chronic pain may be more likely to experience alcohol-related problems or Alcohol Use Disorder. An evolving co...
Immigration and right-wing populism: An origin story:

Previous studies of right-wing populist (RWP) parties primarily investigate how domestic factors as well as external forces, such as immigration, incite the emergence and electoral success of RWP parties. Studies examining the link between migration and far-right support have found mixed empirical results, using various measures of immigration. In this article, we construct our own measures of immigration that highlight the economic and cultural dimensions of migrant-sending states in relation to migrant-receiving states. Our empirical analysis of 15 Western European countries uses these measures to examine whether the economic and cultural characteristics of migrant-sending states can enhance RWP success in wealthy, advanced democracies. We find some evidence that relatively large economic and cultural differences between natives and immigrants are conducive to RWP support in Western European countries. But the findings suggest that future research should identify and examine other factors that strengthe...
A Content Analysis of the Emergent Scholarship on Digital and Open Badges in Higher Education Learning and Assessment

Higher Education has seen its fair share of innovations, many of which were made possible by digital technologies. Digital and open badges (DOBs) are emergent technologies that many believe could further reform, even disrupt, key tenets in higher education, including learning, assessment and credentialing. This study examined the emerging scholarship and best practices on DOB adoption in higher education through the lens of peer-reviewed publications. A content analysis explored two questions related to publication patterns and research goals (question 1) and assessment practices supported by DOBs and stakeholder perceptions of DOBs (question 2). Findings revealed non-empirical papers were more likely to focus on the reform-related potential of DOBs while empirical applications focused on traditional concerns such as student motivation and engagement, and conventional approaches to assessment. Stakeholder perception of the value and role of DOBs were also mixed. Limitations, implications, and further study are discussed. DOI:DOI:10.2458/azu_itet_v7i2_haughton
A derridean interpretation of the biosemiosic dance of life in Yamen Manai’s L’Amas Ardent (2017)

This Derridean and biosemiotic reading of Yamen Manai’s novel L’Amas ardent illustrates that many other animals are capable of responding to a plethora of challenges through the transmission of sig...
A Neuro-inspired Approach to Intelligent Collision Avoidance and Navigation

This work presents both spiking and conventional neural network architectures, trained using reinforcement learning, for high-speed collision avoidance using dynamic vision sensors. Dynamic vision sensors are a novel class of event-based sensing equipment that enable extremely high sampling rates, but with unordinary, one-dimensional image data. A parallelized, event-stream simulation framework was developed to train reinforcement learning agents using the Microsoft AirSim UAV simulator. Event-stream data modeling output from a dynamic vision sensor was extrapolated from conventional frame-based camera feeds taken from the AirSim environment. Once trained, the spiking and conventional neural networks can be deployed to physical hardware with minimal modifications, as supported by previous work making use of the AirSim simulator.
A novel artificial autonomous system for supporting investment decisions using a Big Five model approach

Abstract This paper presents the design of an artificial autonomous system (called AAS) for the stock market domain that considers an approximation from the Big Five model, which proposes that the personality of an individual belongs to one of five different personality profiles: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Several studies have explored investment and financial issues while considering the Big Five model, usually by analyzing data obtained from surveys applied to real people. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no proposals that suggest the design of an AAS for supporting investment decisions that use the Big Five model as the central approach. The main objective of this proposal is to design an AAS for making investment decisions, where the decisions are adjusted to market conditions through the use of a policy function that adapts over time. This policy function adjusts the consumption level and investment portfolio composition required by the investment profile, considering both the market conditions and the Big Five model profile associated with the AAS. The effectiveness of the investment process is measured by observing the variations in the accumulated wealth and utility. The utility is measured through an abstract representation of the well-being or satisfaction of the investor (i.e., the AAS). AAS—Extraversion obtained the highest accumulated wealth, while AAS—Agreeableness obtained the highest level of utility, showing that the accumulated wealth is only one factor influencing the investor’s well-being.
Cardiac Risk Assessment in Liver Transplant Candidates: A Survey of National Practice Patterns.

In liver transplantation (LT), improvements in surgical techniques, immunosuppression strategies, and infection management have extended the lifespan of both the graft and the patient. In 2021, cardiac disease is the leading contributor to healthcare utilization and morbidity after LT (1). This observation is a result of performing transplants in patients of older age, the rise of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis as a leading indication for transplantation and the relationship between the unique physiology of cirrhosis and pathologic changes in myocardial structure and function (2).
The Optimum Level of Sevoflurane in Pediatric Echocardiography

Sevoflurane is shown to be safe and effective in pediatric echocardiography. This study explores the optimum level in pediatric echocardiography. One hundred and twenty children, with an age range of 35 days-3 years, were included in this study. The children with severe cyanotic congenital heart disease or severe pneumonia, which was Grade I or II according to the American College of Physicians Guideline Grading, were excluded. All children received the anesthesia with sevoflurane. The inhalation anesthesia level decreased from 2.5 to 1.0 %, with a decrement of 0.5 %. The induction time (T0), echocardiography time (T1), and time to awakening (T2) in each child were recorded, and the changes in the blood pressure, heart rate, breath, and oxygen saturation in each child were also monitored. The Ramsay scale scoring during anesthesia and the case number of failure in echocardiography in each group were also recorded. When the level of sevoflurane inhalation was maintained at 1.0 %, the childrens' scores were low, including 8 incompliant children, and p < 0.05 in comparison with other groups. The scores increased as the sevoflurane inhalation level increased. When the sevoflurane inhalation increased to 1.5 %, the children could sleep with stable blood pressure, and no dysphoria occurred during the echocardiography. When the sevoflurane inhalation level increased to 2.5 %, the Ramsay scores did not increase. However, the T2 significantly increased (p < 0.05). The blood pressure and heart rate in each group did not change significantly. With the premise of safety and efficacy in children, the optimum level of sevoflurane in pediatric echocardiography was 1.5-2.0 %.
WILLIAM WELLS BROWN: Fugitive subjectivity, travel writing, and the gaze

Travel and travel writing imply freedom of mobility and agency. That a fugitive slave like William Wells Brown could become a tourist is significant because it destabilizes our understanding of tourism. In The American Fugitive in Europe: Sketches of Places and People Abroad (New York: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1855), Brown grounds his critique of his tour in the experiences of his early life as a slave and in his insistence on ethical responsibility. He interrogates the inequities of American society by revisiting European history from the perspective of the oppressed. Brown moves beyond touristic hedonism to anchor the tourist subject onto the larger canvas of historical and socio-political reality. This paper explores Brown's shifting identity through Urry (The Tourist Gaze: Leisure and Travel in Contemporary Societies, London, Sage, 1990) and MacCannell's (‘Tourist Agency’, Tourism Studies, vol. 1, pp. 23–38, 2001) reading of the tourist gaze.