cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A stochastic search algorithm for voltage and reactive power control with switching costs and ZIP load model

Abstract This paper considers voltage and reactive power control models that take into account the operational costs of switching devices and the correlation between loads and voltage profiles. In addition to maintaining acceptable voltage at all points along the distribution feeder, the aim is to determine the proper settings of shunt capacitors and transformer load tap changers in order to minimize the energy loss or the energy consumption over a selected planning horizon. A random search algorithm is proposed for optimizing these models. The algorithm searches the optimal control schedule by randomly sampling from a sequence of probability distributions over the space of all possible settings of tap changers and shunt capacitors. The algorithm is shown to be globally convergent and its effectiveness is illustrated by comparing its performance with that of three other commonly used procedures on a 69-bus distribution system and a 24-bus system with distributed generation.
THE LOCUS FOR HUMAN ADENINE PHOSPHORIBOSYLTRANSFERASE ON CHROMOSOME NO. 16

Evidence for assigning the locus determining the structure of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) to human chromosome No. 16 is presented. Hybrids of APRT-deficient mouse cells and of human fibroblasts having normal APRT were isolated by fusing the parental cells with Sendai virus, blocking de novo purine nucleotide synthesis with azaserine and selecting for hybrids that could use exogenous adenine. The hybrid clones that were studied had only APRT activity that was indistinguishable from human APRT with regard to electrophoretic migration and reaction with antibodies against the partially purified human enzyme. No. 16 was the only human chromosome consistently present in all of the clones, and in one clone, it was the only human chromosome detected. Selection against hybrid cells with 2,6-diaminopurine (DAP) yielded DAP-resistant survivors that lacked chromosome No. 16. One hybrid that originally had an intact No. 16 yielded adenine-utilizing subclones that lacked No. 16 but had a new submetacentric chromosome. The distribution of centromere-associated heterochromatin and the fluorescence pattern indicated that this chromosome consisted of a mouse telocentric chromosome and the long arm of No. 16. Cells having the submetacentric chromosome had human APRT. Both the enzyme and the chromosome were absent in DAP-resistant derivatives. These results suggest that the structure of APRT is defined by a locus on the long arm of human chromosome No. 16.
Novel zwitterion functionalized carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes for improved RO performance and surface anti-biofouling resistance

Abstract Zwitterion functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were incorporated into polyamide thin film composite membranes to improve membrane permselectivity and surface biofouling resistance. The CNTs within the polyamide layer were partially aligned via a vacuum filtration step during membrane synthesis, and the fabrication of the zwitterionic CNT/polyamide nanocomposite membranes was optimized by varying the loadings of CNTs and the crosslink density of the polyamide. The permeation flux was found to increase by approximately three-fold as the fraction of CNTs was increased from 0 to 20 wt% for all the salt solutions tested in our study. The steric hindrance to transport due to the zwitterionic functional groups prevents the permeation of the majority of ions through the CNT pores, resulting in high salt rejection. The charges of the zwitterionic groups do not appear to produce a significant Donnan potential to reject ions, and thus surface charge had no effect on membrane selectivity. The semi-aligned zwitterionic CNTs appeared to be exposed at the membrane surface and interacted with the feed water to form a strong hydration layer, resulting in improved surface biofouling resistance. The adsorption rate of protein foulants on the nanocomposite membrane surface was significantly reduced compared to the control membrane without CNTs, and the adsorbed fouling layer could be easily removed by flushing with water. After washing, the nanocomposite membrane recovered 100% of the decreased water flux whereas the control membrane only recovered 10% of the decreased flux resulting in a permanent loss of 30% in water permeation.
Integrated QoS provisioning for unified LTE-WiMAX networks

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) mandates the Next Generation Networks (NGN) to support seamless vertical as well as horizontal mobility; Quality of Service-(QoS) enabled transport, and ubiquitous provision of services to the users. In the current definition of their interfaces, the two 4G mobile broadband technologies (WiMAX and LTE) have introduced QoS mapping layers based on the dependency of the access technology. In this paper, a QoS framework is proposed to provide efficient and optimal traffic classification and end-to-end interoperability in a unified WiMAX-LTE network. We have simulated an integrated environment with WiMAX and LTE internetworking, and tested performance of the proposed framework by transmitting real-time (RT) and non-RT traffic, in isolated and mixed scenarios. Simulation results show that the proposed framework can provide end-to-end QoS support while satisfying the applications' traffic requirements.
Decentralized Automated Algorithm for Self-merging and Self-spacing in the Next Generation Air Traffic Control

Terminal area congestion is a pressing issue in today’s air traffic control system. One way to address congestion is using computer based automated flight management systems to free air traffic controllers from handling increasingly complicated conflict resolution and path planning tasks. In this paper we propose a decentralized automated algorithm for self-merging and self-spacing in terminal air traffic control using proposed technological advancement of Next Generation Air Transportation System. The proposed algorithm automates the aircraft alignment process which constitutes the first two segments of the Instrument Approach Procedure in today’s Air Traffic Control system. The proposed algorithm employs a consensus based protocol to negotiate for a target flow which is implemented concurrently with a guidance law incorporating collision avoidance based on potential field theory. The simulation results of two different hypothetical scenarios illustrate the validity of the algorithm and outlines its application scope as well.
"Locking the Door before We Got the Keys": Racial Realities of the Charter School Authorization Process in Post-Katrina New Orleans.

Charter schools have become the hegemonic “solution” for urban educational reform initiatives aimed at curtailing longstanding race-based educational inequities. The “common sense” of neoliberal ch...
EFFECT OF ELECTRIC FIELD ANNEALING ON THE RECRYSTALLIZATZAION AND RECRVSSTALLIZATION TEXTURES OF COLD-ROLLED COMMERCIAL PURE COPPER

The effect of electric field on the recrystallization and recrystallization texture development in cold-rolled copper was studied by X-ray diffraction (ODF analysis) combined with optical microscopy. The results showed that the electric field retarded the recrystallization processes of the cold-rolled copper, and meanwhile promoted the formation and development of cube texture. The possible mechanisms on the evolution of recrystallization textures in cold-rolled copper under an external electric field were discussed.
Efficient water oxidation with electromodified Langmuir–Blodgett films of procatalytic [CoIII(N2O3)] metallosurfactants on electrodes

Electromodified Langmuir–Blodgett films of a phenolate-rich [CoIII(LN2O3)H2O] metallosurfactant support water oxidation at an overpotential of 0.5 V. Gradual enhancement of catalytic activity is observed between 1 and 9 deposited layers. Upon application of a potential bias the molecular species rearranges into a catalytic layer that yields estimated turnover numbers of 54 000 ± 1500 h−1.
Eigenvector centrality-based stable path routing protocol for cognitive radio ad hoc networks

We propose to use eigenvector centrality (EVC) as the basis for determining stable paths and arrive at benchmarks for the number of path transitions incurred with stability-based routing in cognitive radio ad hoc networks (CRAHNs) wherein secondary users (SUs) use the available (idle) licensed channels of primary users (PUs). We model a time-variant network graph (at any time instant) of SU nodes whose adjacency matrix indicates the number of common available PU channels in the mutually intersecting neighbourhoods of any two SU nodes at the time instant. Such an adjacency matrix is used as the basis to compute the EVC of the vertices in the network graph of SU nodes and determine an end-to-end source-destination path whose constituent SU nodes have a higher EVC. Simulation results indicate EVC-based paths between any two SU nodes incur significantly fewer transitions without any appreciable increase in the average hop count per path.
The Issues and Demographic Data

A persistent problem in American higher education is the question of who has access. This matter is especially troublesome when one looks at the composition of senior administrators in most colleges and universities. This chapter offers a descriptive analysis of the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, and leadership in higher education from the perspective of a female administrator of color.
Colonization rules and spatial distributions in ecology

Abstract Because they are intuitive and mathematically straight-forward, colonization rules are often used to model spatial patterns in ecology. Colonization rules assign individuals to categories according to the locations of previous colonists. In this note, a compact introduction to colonization rules in ecology is presented with implications for autocorrelation and spatial distributions. I use the colonization rule approach to unify a diverse set of spatial and species diversity analyses, exploring future extensions to incorporate greater realism.
Airbreathing Engine Performance and Component Integration

Detailed discussions of several practical engines are presented, including a turbojet with and without afterburning and both a low and a high bypass ratio turbofan configurations, and their operational performance is discussed with the intent of illustrating the efficiency the various integrated components normally attain. The geared turbofan engine is described and its applicability discussed. Methods for the matching of turbines and compressors under different operating conditions are presented in-depth. Similarly, matching of inlet and engine is covered in detail. Thrust monitoring in flight, fuel delivery systems, and thrust reversers are discussed. Estimation of thrust and specific fuel consumption in cruise as well as engine cost is discussed. The nature and relative magnitude of loads on engine components is described.
“Special needs” is an ineffective euphemism

Although euphemisms are intended to put a more positive spin on the words they replace, some euphemisms are ineffective. Our study examined the effectiveness of a popular euphemism for persons with disabilities, special needs. Most style guides prescribe against using the euphemism special needs and recommend instead using the non-euphemized term disability; disability advocates argue adamantly against the euphemism special needs, which they find offensive. In contrast, many parents of children with disabilities prefer to use special needs rather than disability. But no empirical study has examined whether special needs is more or less positive than the term it replaces. Therefore, we gathered a sample of adult participants from the general population (N = 530) and created a set of vignettes that allowed us to measure how positively children, college students, and middle-age adults are viewed when they are described as having special needs, having a disability, having a certain disability (e.g., is blind, has Down syndrome), or with no label at all. We predicted and observed that persons are viewed more negatively when described as having special needs than when described as having a disability or having a certain disability, indicating that special needs is an ineffective euphemism. Even for members of the general population who have a personal connection to disability (e.g., as parents of children with disabilities), the euphemism special needs is no more effective than the non-euphemized term disability. We also collected free associations to the terms special needs and disability and found that special needs is associated with more negativity; special needs conjures up more associations with developmental disabilities (such as intellectual disability) whereas disability is associated with a more inclusive set of disabilities; and special needs evokes more unanswered questions. These findings recommend against using the euphemism special needs.
Evaluation of peritalar subluxation in adult acquired flatfoot deformity using computed tomography and weightbearing multiplanar imaging

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to assess the inferior talus-superior talus (inf-tal-sup-tal) angle (previously proven reliable in multiplanar-weight bearing imaging (MP-WB)) on both computed tomography (CT) and MP-WB scans. We sought to compare the angle between the two modalities in both AAFD and control groups, as well as to compare the groups to each other. Methods Inf-tal-sup-tal angles were compared between a stage II AAFD group (n=38) with routine MP-WB and CT scans and a control group (n=20) with preoperative CT scans for lisfranc injuries and normal hindfoot alignment after healing. Results The CT inf-tal-sup-tal angle was significantly greater in AAFD compared to control (AAFD, 12±6; control, 5±4; p Conclusions MP-WB imaging proved to be correlated more strongly with AAFD than CT by revealing greater hindfoot valgus. This confirmed that CT scans are useful in predicting AAFD, but cannot be used as a surrogate for MP-WB scans.
Characterizing exposure to physical risk factors among reforestation hand planters in the Southeastern United States.

Abstract Low back and neck/shoulder pain are commonly reported among reforestation hand planters. While some studies have documented the intensive cardiovascular demands of hand planting, limited information is available regarding exposures to physical risk factors associated with the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among hand planters. This study used surface electromyography (EMG) and inertial measurement units (IMUs) to characterize the muscle activation patterns, upper arm and trunk postures, movement velocities, and physical activity (PA) of fourteen Southeastern reforestation hand planters over one work shift. Results indicated that hand planters are exposed to physical risk factors such as extreme trunk postures (32.5% of time spent in ≥45° trunk flexion) and high effort muscle exertions (e.g., mean root-mean-square right upper trapezius amplitude of 54.1% reference voluntary exertion) that may place them at increased risk for developing MSDs. The findings indicate a need for continued field-based research among hand planters to identify and/or develop maximally effective interventions.
Keeping Time in a Relay Race for Fat.

Gut microbes impact host metabolism via a multitude of mechanisms, including through host circadian rhythm regulation. How microbes influence host circadian networks remains unclear. Recently, Wang et al. (2017) showed that crosstalk between specific microbial components and innate immune cells tunes epithelial circadian oscillations via Nfil3, modulating lipid uptake and metabolism.
Introducing People with ASD to Crowd Work

Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are unemployed at a high rate, in part because the constraints and expectations of traditional employment can be difficult for them. In this paper, we report on our work in introducing people with ASD to remote work on a crowdsourcing platform and a prototype tool we developed by working with participants. We conducted a six-week long user-centered design study with three participants with ASD. The early stage of the study focused on assessing the abilities of our participants to search and work on micro-tasks available on the crowdsourcing market. Based on our preliminary findings, we designed, developed, and evaluated a prototype tool to facilitate image transcription tasks that are increasingly popular on crowd labor markets. Our findings suggest that people with ASD have varying levels of ability to work on micro-tasks, but are likely to be able to work on tasks like image transcription. The tool we introduce, Assistive Task Queue (ATQ), facilitated our participants' completion of image transcription tasks by removing ambiguity in finding the next task to work on and in simplifying tasks into discrete steps. ATQ may serve as a general platform for finding and delivering appropriate tasks to workers with autism.
Copreneurs and Dual-Career Couples: Are They Different?:

There are assumptions about copreneurs that they represent an emerging egalitarian style of family business ownership and that they operate in their marriages similarly to dual-career couples. Unfortunately, there has been little empirical research to support these assumptions. The current study examines these assumptions by comparing a population of copreneurs and dual-career couples on variables such as sex-role orientation, self-concept at work and home, and marital and business partnership equity. The findings indicate that copreneurs and dual-career couples define their work and home boundaries very differently. Recommendations for professional practice include (1) expanding the consultant's consciousness about these differences in couples, and (2) encouraging more egalitarian relationships between copreneurial husband and wife so as to better prepare the business for succession.
Macrophages, Wound Healing, and Fibrosis: Recent Insights

Macrophages are central players in the immune response following tissue injury. These cells perform many functions, and the changing tissue microenvironment during injury shapes macrophage phenotype down a variety of polarized pathways. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the roles of macrophages during different stages of tissue injury, repair, and—if repair is not achieved—fibrosis. Macrophages present early in inflammation are functionally distinct from those at later stages. The predominant macrophage phenotype must transition from pro-inflammatory to pro-reparative to facilitate wound healing and scar resolution. If macrophages fail to acquire a tissue-healing phenotype, dysregulated signals can be drivers of disease processes, such as sustained, exuberant inflammation—as occurs in arthropathies—and fibrosis. Comprehensive understanding of the roles of specific macrophage populations at different stages of the repair process will support the development of immune-targeted therapies for diseases such as fibrosis.
9 Application of the boston children’s hospital cardiac surgery technical performance score to intraoperative echocardiography in a designated tertiary centre in the united kingdom

Purpose The Technical Performance Score (TPS) performed on pre-discharge echocardiograms developed by Boston Children’s Hospital has been shown to correlate with surgical outcomes. We sought to assess the feasibility and applicability of this in intraoperative imaging in a UK congenital cardiac surgical centre. Methods After training, intraoperative TPS (epicardial and/or transoesophageal) was instituted for all cardiac surgical cases. This was used to inform intraoperative discussions using the previously published scoring system. After the first year, we assessed the relationship between the TPS and basic clinical outcomes. Results From 01/09/15 to 04/07/16 there were 272 TPS procedures in 251 operations. Seven patients had surgery with no documented TPS. Four patients had operations for which there is no current template available. TPS when leaving theatre was: optimal 156 (75%), adequate 34 (16%) and inadequate 18 (9%). Fourteen patients had further runs of cardiopulmonary bypass after an inadequate score, with nine then leaving theatre with an optimal score. There was no significant difference between extubation time for optimal/adequate and inadequate with a median (range) of 1 (0–26 days) and 2.5 (0–11 days) respectively. There were 9 deaths Conclusions Application of intraoperative TPS to a tertiary UK congenital heart surgical centre is feasible and provides a meaningful way of objectively recording intraoperative imaging-based assessment of surgical results. There was no significant difference in extubation times (although these can be affected by factors other than surgical result), nor did an ‘inadequate’ TPS score predict mortality.
Black-White Differences in the Relationship between Parental Income and Depression in Young Adulthood: The Different Roles of Family Support and College Enrollment among U.S. Adolescents:

This study uses the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine racially patterned mechanisms linking parental income and early adult depression, focusing on the mediating ...
Creating a Competitive Advantage

Competitive advantage is the lifeblood of every company. Without a competitive advantage, it is next to impossible to attract and retain customers on a sustainable basis. Without a stable base of customers, the company cannot consistently earn profits. Without sufficient profits, the company cannot repair, or replace, assets as they wear out it cannot develop new products and service offerings; it cannot hire and train new employees as the businesses grow or as employees turn over; it cannot re-engineer processes, devise new work methods, or purchase new technology as market demands change. In other words, without a competitive advantage to differentiate it from its competitors, the company will eventually go out of business.
Postoperative encephalopathy with choreoathetosis.

Since the 1980s, survival of children with CHD has increased significantly with the introduction of new surgical techniques that incorporate cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA), extracorporeal circulation (ECC), and deep hypothermia. However, an increase in survival has been associated with an increase in recognized postoperative neurological complications. Postoperative encephalopathy with choreoathetosis, also known as "postpump chorea", is one of these well-defined neurological complications and was first reported in 1961. Postpump chorea is considered one of the most devastating neurological complications following cardiac surgery. However, the exact etiology and pathophysiology of this complication is unknown. Several factors may contribute to the postoperative development of choreoathetoid movements, including deep hypothermia (core body temperature < 20oC) with total circulatory arrest, use of cardiopulmonary bypass, and variability in blood pH and PaCO(2) resulting in fluctuations in cerebral blood flow. The length of time children are affected by choreoathetoid movements and long-term neurological outcome in these children varies and largely depends upon the form of postoperative encephalopathy that they develop, described as either mild or severe. Several groups suggest that age at time of surgery plays a role in the risk of developing postpump chorea, with a tendency for older children to develop the severe persistent form.
The Role of Nuclear Receptors in Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, isolated from pre-implantation embryos, can grow indefinitely invitro (self-renewal) and have potential to differentiate into all cell types in the body (pluripotency). The nuclear receptor gene family is very important for controlling development, differentiation and homeostasis. Here, we review the new progress in understanding the role of nuclear receptors in ES cells focusing on the structure, expression and function of several nuclear receptors. LRH1, DAX1, Esrr and TR2 play critical roles in maintaining pluripotency, while, GCNF, COUP-TFs and sumoylated TR2 are critical in regulating the exit from pluripotency. Nuclear receptors hold great potential as targets of manipulation of ES and iPS cells for applications in regenerative medicine, because they are ligand-activated transcription factors that can be regulated by small molecule agonists and antagonists.
A Compact, Low-Profile Simultaneous Transmit and Receive Antenna With Monopole-Like Radiation Characteristics

A compact, vertically polarized simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) antenna with a high transmit–receive isolation level and an omnidirectional radiation pattern in the azimuth plane is presented. The proposed STAR antenna consists of transmit (TX) and receive (RX) antennas whose phase centers are collocated. The TX antenna is a monopole with top-hat loading, placed directly below the central point of the crossed loop. The RX antenna consists of a pair of orthogonal half-loops, each capacitively fed at both of its ends with a $\text{180}^\circ$ phase difference. The four ports of the RX antenna are fed with the same amplitude and relative phase values of $\text{0}^\circ$ , $\text{90}^\circ$ , $\text{180}^\circ$ , and $\text{270}^\circ$ to produce an omnidirectional radiation pattern and high isolation with the TX antenna. The STAR antenna was designed for operation in the 2.45 GHz ISM band with electrical dimensions of $D \times H=$ $0.44\lambda \times 0.15\lambda$ (diameter × height). A prototype of this antenna was fabricated and experimentally characterized. Measurement results show that the antenna has a TX/RX isolation level better than 38 dB and maintains monopole-like patterns for both TX and RX modes over a frequency range of 2.4–2.7 GHz.
Threat appraisal partially mediates the relation between neuroticism and bulimic symptoms

Several studies support an association between neuroticism and bulimic symptoms; however, few studies have focused on how neuroticism exerts its influence. The purpose of this study was to extend the literature by investigating threat appraisal as a potential mediator of the relation between neuroticism and bulimic symptoms. One hundred and twenty women completed self-report measures of trait neuroticism, threat appraisal, and bulimic symptoms. Approximately half of the sample reported moderate or high levels of bulimic symptoms. Bootstrapping analyses revealed that neuroticism and threat appraisal were both positive predictors of bulimic symptoms. Further, threat appraisal partially mediated the association between neuroticism and bulimic symptoms. The findings suggest that women high in neuroticism may be vulnerable to experiencing bulimic symptoms, particularly during periods of heightened stress. These women may perceive bulimic behavior to be more effective in alleviating negative stressful emotions compared to more adaptive coping strategies. Based on the findings, women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa with high levels of neuroticism may benefit from interventions that specifically target threat appraisals to facilitate their ability to effectively adapt to stress.
Sense and Meaning

The terms “sense” and “meaning” are often used interchangeably by authors with potentially confusing results. This chapter offers a clear differentiation between the two terms. In so doing, the relationship of sensemaking to meaningmaking is demonstrated and the products of both processes differentiated. The chapter begins with a review of the principles of sensemaking including the use of stories and pragmatic prospection. The ideas about the importance of narratives in Weick, Sortor, and Valsiner are explored and discussed.
The relationship between white matter hyperintensities and cognitive reference abilities across the life span

Abstract We examined the relationship between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) burden and performance on 4 reference abilities: episodic memory, perceptual speed, fluid reasoning, and vocabulary. Cross-sectional data of 486 healthy adults from 20 to 80 years old enrolled in an ongoing longitudinal study were analyzed. A piecewise regression across age identified an inflection point at 43 years old, where WMH total volume began to increase with age. Subsequent analyses focused on participants above that age (N = 351). WMH total volume had significant inverse correlations with perceptual speed and memory. Regional measures of WMH showed inverse correlations with all reference abilities. We performed principal component analysis of the regional WMH data to create a model of principal components regression. Parietal WMH regional volume burden mediated the relationship between age and perceptual speed in simple and multiple mediation models. The principal components regression pattern associated with perceptual speed also mediated the relationship between age and perceptual speed performance. These results across the extended adult life span help clarify the influence of WMH on cognitive aging.
Analysis of low dielectric constant and Cu-based single- and multilayered films using spectroscopic ellipsometry

Many materials are being considered as candidates for Low Dielectric Constant, InterLayer Dielectric (ILD) applications. It is expected that some users will introduce Low K ILD materials in Aluminum based processing. Simultaneously, considerable process development is underway worldwide for Copper based Dual Damascene structures and integration of Low K ILD materials in such structures. Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE) is widely used in the Integrated Circuit (IC) industry for routine production monitoring. The dispersion information (variation of refractive index with wavelength) from SE can also be correlated to the microstructure and chemical composition of thin films. This provides a powerful, non-destructive and rapid method of analysis and process characterization. In this review, we discuss the application of this technique to the characterization of single and multilayered thin films based on Low Dielectric constant materials. Results of SE analysis of copper films copper oxides and dielectric multilayered films on copper are also presented.
SoC Trust Metrics and Benchmarks

Malicious hardware modification, also known as, hardware Trojan attack, has emerged as a serious security concern for electronic systems. Such attacks compromise the basic premise of hardware root-of-trust. Over the past decade, significant research efforts have been directed to carefully analyze the trust issues arising from hardware Trojans and to protect against them. This vast body of work often needs to rely on well-defined set of trust benchmarks that can reliably evaluate the effectiveness of the protection methods. In recent past, efforts have been made to develop a benchmark suite to analyze the effectiveness of pre-silicon Trojan detection and prevention methodologies. In this chapter, we first introduce widely used benchmarks for hardware Trojan. However, there are only a limited number of Trojan-inserted benchmarks available. Moreover, there is an inherent bias as the researcher is aware of Trojan properties such as location and trigger condition since the current benchmarks are static. In order to create an unbiased and robust benchmark suite to evaluate the effectiveness of any protection technique, we discuss a comprehensive framework of automatic hardware Trojan insertion. Given a netlist, it will automatically generate a design with single or multiple Trojan instances based user-specified Trojan properties. It allows a wide variety of configurations, such as the type of Trojan, Trojan activation probability, number of triggers, and choice of payload.
Curation as methodology

The term curation was once only utilized by museum professionals. Currently, the term seems to have been borrowed by aesthetically-minded persons looking to collect ideas or objects. Through a deta...
Abrogating biologics interference in flow cytometric crossmatching.

Abstract The flow cytometric crossmatch is currently the gold standard for evaluating donor and recipient histocompatibility. The assay however does have limitations and is sensitive to false positive reactions resulting from the presence of non-HLA antibodies or therapy related immune biologics. Such false positive reactions can lead to the inappropriate decline of an acceptable donor organ or unnecessary therapeutic intervention. Here we describe the successful validation of anti-idiotype blocking antibodies in prevention of false positive flow crossmatch results caused by biologic therapy. Blocking antibodies specific for the Fab portion of Rituximab and/or Alemtuzumab were incubated with biologic containing patient serum prior to use in flow cytometric crossmatching. Biologic blocking successfully negated false positive crossmatch results with Rituximab (B cell ave. % change = -97%) or Alemtuzumab (T cell ave. % change = -99%, B cell ave. % change = -95%) infused sera respectively. Simultaneous blocking of these biologics was also successful. A complex case is presented to demonstrate the application of this procedure.
Endemic Cholera in Australia and the United States

During the last 2 decades, evidence has accumulated from Australia and the United States that shows that both of these countries have environmental reservoirs for toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1. Australia recorded cholera for the first time in 1832, just 15 years after the first pandemic began in India. The association of cholera cases with river water led to extensive studies of rivers in Queensland. New methods that have become more and more capable of reproducibly subtyping V. cholerae O1 strains have been developed. Cholera was first recognized in the United States in June 1832, when it appeared in New York, having crossed the Atlantic soon after its extension from Asia into Europe in 1829. Several factors may contribute to the relative unimportance of oysters in causing cholera in the United States. The new subtyping methods used on the Australian strains have also been applied to strains from the United States. Endemic cholera in Australia and the United States is characterized in both countries by reservoirs in water, hemolytic strains that are unique to each country, occurrence during the summer and fall, and very few detected cases. Although Australia and the United States have the strongest evidence for environmental reservoirs of toxigenic V. cholerae O1, similar reservoirs may exist in many countries.
Geometric Theory of Shock Waves

Substantial progresses have been made in recent years on shock wave theory. The present article surveys the exact mathematical theory on the behavior of nonlinear hyperbolic waves and raises open problems.
Metrics in the software engineering curriculum

As a recognized discipline, software engineering traces its roots back to the 1968 NATO conference where the term was first used extensively to highlight the need for an engineering approach to the development of software. In the 30 years since that first “software engineering” conference, significant attempts have been made to improve the overall effectiveness of the software development process, and thus reduce the frequency and severity of software project failures. A major part of this improvement effort has been the attempt to develop quantitative measures which can be used to more accurately describe and better understand and manage the software development life cycle. Thus, many software metrics and models have been introduced during this period. In this article, we briefly trace the history of the development of software metrics and models, and then summarize the current state of the field. For discussion purposes, this entire development period is then arbitrarily divided into an Introductory Period (1971–1985), Growth Period (1985–1997) and the Current Period (1997–q). The development of metrics during each of these periods is then related to the treatment of software metrics and models in software engineering curricula during that same period. Our conclusion is that software engineering curricula have indeed reflected the state of software engineering as the work in software metrics and models has progressed. Furthermore, software engineering curricula of the future should reflect the relatively mature state that software metrics have attained, by covering the basic concepts of metrics in appropriate core courses, and more advanced metrics topics in a specialized, elective metrics course.
Percutaneous Renal Access: A Historical Perspective

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has evolved to become the preferred minimally invasive approach for treating large-burden renal stones. This approach has replaced open renal surgery for stones. It has also evolved into a treatment option for treating noninvasive urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract. Current percutaneous access techniques involve fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance with a small-gauge needle for initial access. In selected cases, computed tomography (CT) guidance or blind access by anatomical landmarks may be indicated. The complications of PCNL are minimal and the associated morbidity is far less than for open renal surgery.
Focused cardiac ultrasound in resuscitation

Focused cardiac ultrasound is recognized as a vital tool in critical care medicine. Few studies, however, have examined the utility of this modality in resuscitation. While integration of ultrasound can supplement resuscitation by potentially establishing the etiology of cardiac arrest, it must be done safely to avoid interruption of compressions. The aim of this study was to examine the integration of focused cardiac ultrasound into resuscitations in our hospital.
Glucocorticoid stimulation of ileal Na+ absorptive cell brush border Na+/H+ exchange and association with an increase in message for NHE-3, an epithelial Na+/H+ exchanger isoform

Methylprednisolone stimulates rabbit ileal neutral NaCl absorption; and aminoglutethimide, which decreases glucocorticoid levels, decreases NaCl absorption. Studies were carried out to determine the mechanism of these effects and to determine which members of the gene family of mammalian Na+/H+ exchangers were involved. Rabbits were treated subcutaneously with methylprednisolone (40 mg daily for 24 or 72 h), aminoglutethimide (100 mg twice daily for 72 h), or saline as a control. Ileal brush border membranes were prepared by magnesium precipitation, and brush border Na+/H+ exchange was determined by 22Na+ uptake over 3-8 s. The 22Na+ uptake experiments were performed in the presence of a voltage clamp using either valinomycin/potassium or tetramethylammonium/nitrate to eliminate potential contributions by other electrogenic transport processes. Methylprednisolone treatment approximately doubled ileal brush border Na+/H+ exchange, whereas aminoglutethimide led to a 50% decrease in Na+/H+ exchange. These effects were specifically on Na+ uptake with an acid inside pH gradient, whereas diffusive Na+ uptake (no pH gradient), glucose-dependent Na+ uptake, and glucose and Na+ equilibrium volumes were not affected. To determine if the increase in Na+/H+ exchange was associated with an increase in message expression, mRNA levels were measured by ribonuclease protection assay. Methylprednisolone stimulated the NHE-3 mRNA level by 4-6-fold at 24 h, which remained increased at 72 h. In contrast, messages for NHE-1 and NHE-2 were not affected by methylprednisolone. In summary, 1) methylprednisolone stimulation of rabbit ileal Na+ absorption is due to stimulation of ileal villus cell brush border Na+/H+ exchange; 2) basal ileal brush border Na+/H+ exchange is dependent on glucocorticoid levels; and 3) an increase in NHE-3 message, but not in NHE-1 or NHE-2 message, correlates with the stimulation of ileal brush border Na+/H+ exchange. It is likely that NHE-3 is an Na+/H+ exchanger that is involved in ileal Na+ absorption.
Introduction To Research And Medical Literature For Health Professionals

Introduction to Research and Medical Literature for Health Professionals, Third Edition, is a valuable resource for allied health care students and practitioners who are interested in expanding the...
To the Discussion of Arterio-venous Anomalies

Publisher Summary At the first Neurosurgical Congress 1957, Krayenbiihl drew attention to intracerebral haemorrhages which are due to the tiny angiomas known as microangiomas of the brain. Eight years later the same author in collaboration with Siebmann published a series of 24 cases of that kind. In 15 cases the cause which induced the haemorrhage was revealed by means of angiography, operative treatment or post-mortem examination. In 9 cases the reason for the haemorrhage has not been ascertained beyond doubt. In three cases no tissue for histological examination was obtained. In 7 cases during postoperative observation which lasted respectively 13, 6, 4, 4, 2 years and 1 year, haemorrhagic symptoms did not occur. The patients have all resumed their previous jobs. One patient observed for three years is partly self dependent. The operation failed to relieve of epilepsy any of the three patients who had suffered from that disease prior to the operation, whereas in two patients the first epileptic attacks occurred after the surgical treatment.
Reverse Transcriptase (RT) Inhibition of PCR at Low Concentrations of Template and Its Implications for Quantitative RT-PCR

Numerous instances of reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibition of the PCR were observed while developing nonquantitative uncoupled RT-PCR techniques for detecting nitrogenase and ammonia monooxygenase gene expression in situ. The inhibitory effect of RT on the PCR was removed with increasing template concentrations beyond 105 to 106 copies. Including T4 gene 32 protein during the reverse transcription phase of the RT-PCR reaction increased the RT-PCR product yield by as much as 483%; if gene 32 protein was introduced after reverse transcription but prior to the PCR phase, no improvement in product yield was observed. Addition of 1 μg of exogenous calf thymus DNA or yeast tRNA did little to relieve RT inhibition of the PCR on both genomic DNA and mRNA templates. These results suggest that RT inhibition of the PCR is mediated through direct interaction with the specific primer-template combination (DNA and RNA) and point to specific assay modifications for estimating the extent of RT inhibition and counteracting some of the inhibitory effect. Furthermore, the working hypothesis of RT inhibition below a 105 to 106 copy threshold has important implications for quantitative RT-PCR studies. In particular, competitive, quantitative RT-PCR systems will consistently underestimate the actual RNA concentration. Hence, enumerations of RNA templates below 105 to 106 copies will be relative to an internal standard and will not be an absolute measure of RNA abundance in situ.
Krankheiten des Myokards

Der Ausdruck „Myokarderkrankung“ wird fur eine ungleichartige Gruppe von Affektionen gebraucht und schliest nach allgemeiner Ansicht primare Schadigungen des Myokards, eine sekundare Beteiligung des Herzmuskels im Verlauf von verschiedenen Erkrankungen sowie die mit den Koronarerkrankungen einhergehenden Myokardschaden in sich. Die grose Bedeutung der Myokarderkrankungen fur die Volksgesundheit geht aus ihrer Haufigkeit klar hervor.
Multi-domain Trust Management in variable-threat environments - a user-centric model

Trust Management (TM) systems are trust infrastructures that support authorization for security-critical actions in decentralized environments. In this paper we present a user-centric view to address trust management as it impacts the unanticipated user and/or user behavior for multi-domain applications. This protection can be tuned to deal with users who may be responsible for an elevated threat level, and builds upon a resource-centric architecture. Our model is suitable for variable-threat environments and allows for temporary adjustments of trust levels. The expectation is to enable a Trust Management Agent to determine appropriateness of the unanticipated user or behavior, and reverse restrictions without compromising actions that took place during such periods —we term this, rollback-access. We argue that a rollback-access capability is an essential feature for security-critical applications, and is appropriate for today's military and intelligence community coalitions as they execute their particular missions in the Global War on Terrorism.
Toward an autonomous feature-based pointing system for planetary missions

Although the analytical groundwork for understanding two-dimensional object images and various aspects of computer vision has been laid, we have not yet applied these concepts to automating the process of obtaining science images during space exploration missions. Our current approach in specifying pointing-command sequences relies heavily on target predicts, based on predicted target and spacecraft ephemerides, that propagate the target position as a function of time during pointing operations. However, because the actual position of the target is never measured on board, the tracking loop must be closed through the ground processing operation. This round-trip communication-time limit can place severe limits on pointing accuracy, particularly during brief moments of closest approach. In this paper, we formulate and outline autonomous feature-based pointing requirements that can support a wide range of space science missions. The issues addressed include target-position estimation; acquisition and tracking of unresolved, partially viewed, and close-up targets; operation, and validation of point designs. Detailed algorithms and test results based on Voyager image data are also presented.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Goiter in pregnant teenagers.

Enlargement of the thyroid gland is common in adolescent girls, but there have been no previous reports of the frequency of goiter in pregnant teenagers. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of goiter in 309 consecutive pregnant adolescent patients, ages 11 to 19 years, who presented for prenatal care at the University of California (San Diego) Medical Center Teen OB Clinic. Eighteen patients (6%) were found to have a goiter. Subsequent diagnostic tests revealed that 28% of the patients had autoimmune thyroid disorders (chronic thyroiditis or Graves' disease), and the remainder had nontoxic goiters or subacute thyroiditis. Black patients had significantly more thyroid disease than MexicanAmerican (p
Teaching Students to Become Active in Public Policy

Nurses as professionals and as individual consumers are affected by health policy and bear a responsibility for participating in the health policy arena. Nursing's growing recognition of the importance of public policy issues is increasingly being translated into action by various groups within the profession. Persuading student nurses of the importance of health policy provides a special challenge to faculty. A clinical practicum was designed that requires senior baccalaureate students in various community settings to identify, analyze, and challenge health policy issues. The course design, integration into the curriculum, and evaluation can be models for faculty considering the challenge of stimulating student interest in health policy issues.
WHAT INFORMATION DO CONSUMERS WANT AND HOW WILL THEY USE IT

Long before I entered the field of health policy analysis, I was a methodologist. Methods, therefore, are important to me when discussing health care information and its uses. This view is shared by some of the other speakers. We must understand the reliability, validity, strengths, and weaknesses of the measures we already have or we must plan to develop so that we do not misinterpret these measures. I shall talk about the usefulness of this in-