cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-design Resilient SDN Control Plane and Elastic Forwarding Against Aggressive DDoS Attacks

Using Software-defined Networks in wide area (SDN-WAN) has been strongly emerging in the past years. Due to scalability and economical reasons, SDN-WAN mostly uses an in-band control mechanism, which implies that control and data sharing the same critical physical links. However, the in-band control and centralized control architecture can be exploited by attackers to launch distributed denial of service (DDoS) on SDN control plane by flooding the shared links and/or the Open flow agents. Therefore, constructing a resilient software designed network requires dynamic isolation and distribution of the control flow to minimize damage and significantly increase attack cost. Existing solutions fall short to address this challenge because they require expensive extra dedicated resources or changes in OpenFlow protocol. In this paper, we propose a moving target technique called REsilient COntrol Network architecture (ReCON) that uses the same SDN network resources to defend SDN control plane dynamically against the DDoS attacks. ReCON essentially, (1) minimizes the sharing of critical resources among data and control traffic, and (2) elastically increases the limited capacity of the software control agents on-demand by dynamically using the under-utilized resources from within the same SDN network. To implement a practical solution, we formalize ReCON as a constraints satisfaction problem using Satisfiability Modulo Theory (SMT) to guarantee a correct-by-construction control plan placement that can handle dynamic network conditions.
Pushing the frontiers of modeling excited electronic states and dynamics to accelerate materials engineering and design

Abstract Electronic excitations and their dynamics are oftentimes at the foundation of how we use and probe materials. While recent experimental advances allow us to do so with unprecedented accuracy and time resolution, their interpretation relies on solid theoretical understanding. This can be provided by cutting-edge, first-principles theoretical-spectroscopy based on many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). In this work we review some of our recent results as successful examples for how electronic-structure methods lead to interesting insight into electronic excitations and deep understanding of modern materials. In many cases these techniques are accurate and even predictive, yet they rely on approximations to be computationally feasible. We illustrate the need for further theoretical understanding, using dielectric screening as an example in MBPT and faster, more accurate numerical integrators as a challenge for real-time TDDFT. Finally, we describe how incorporating online databases into computational materials research on excited electronic states can side-step the problem of high computational cost to facilitate materials design.
Examining Differential Relationships Among Self-Reported Attentional Control, Depression, and Anxiety in a Transdiagnostic Clinical Sample

Abstract Background Poor attentional control, defined as difficulty focusing attention on a task or shifting attention flexibly between tasks, is a transdiagnostic construct theorized to confer risk for, and maintain, depression and anxiety. Research to date in non-clinical samples has suggested a dissociable relationship between the two factors of self-reported attentional control and psychopathology, with depression being associated with difficulties shifting and anxiety being associated with focusing. However, to our knowledge no study has tested this differential set of relationships in a clinical sample. Methods Adults (N = 493) presenting for psychiatric treatment completed measures of depressive and anxiety symptom severity and self-reported attentional control. Hierarchical linear regression and Zou's (2007) confidence interval method were used to examine the relationship between clinical symptoms and attentional control. Results Both shifting and focusing were significantly correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in this sample. However, focusing was more strongly associated with clinical symptomatology than shifting, which showed a weak correlation. Limitations All constructs were measured cross-sectionally by self-report questionnaires. Conclusions In contrast to studies conducted in non-clinical samples, attentional focusing appears to be more relevant than attentional shifting in a clinical sample for both depression and anxiety symptoms. These findings lend support to efforts to develop neurocognitive interventions that improve focusing. Replication of these findings, particularly in longitudinal studies, is warranted.
Urinary microRNA in kidney disease: utility and roles.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding single-stranded RNA oligonucleotides that modulate physiological and pathological processes by modulating target gene expression. Many miRNAs display tissue-...
COCAINE INDUCED BRUGADA PATTERN

Brugada phenocopies are clinical entities etiologically distinct from congenital Brugada syndrome; differentiation is crucial for management. A 29 year-old male with a history of cocaine use, brought in by EMS after he was found unresponsive and given naloxone. He was found altered but arousable
Lower Extremity Stiffness Predicts Ground Reaction Force Loading Rate in Heel Strike Runners.

PURPOSE High vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) loading rates are thought to contribute to lower extremity injuries in runners. Given that elevated lower extremity stiffness has been reported to be associated with increased GRFs, the purpose of the current study was to determine if overall lower extremity stiffness, individual joint angular excursions and/or torsional stiffness are predictive of the average vGRF loading rate during running. METHODS Forty heel strike runners (20 men and 20 women) ran overground at a speed of 3.4 m·s. Average vGRF loading rate, lower extremity stiffness, and hip, knee, and ankle joint excursions and torsional stiffness from initial contact to the first peak of the vGRF were quantified. Stepwise multiple linear regression was performed to determine the best predictor(s) of average vGRF loading rate. RESULTS Lower extremity stiffness was found to the best predictor of average vGRF loading rate (R = 0.68, P < 0.001). The second variable that entered the stepwise regression model of average vGRF loading rate was knee joint excursion (ΔR = 0.03, P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS Increased lower extremity stiffness immediately after initial contact may expose heel strike runners to higher vGRF loading rates.
Ring sideroblasts in chronic phase of polycythemia vera identifies a subset of patients with an increased risk of progression to blast phase.

Abstract Blast phase of PV is often associated with a complex karyotype (CK) and bilineage dysplasia. We hypothesized that BM morphologic abnormalities detected in the Chronic phase (CP) can identify patients with an increased risk of developing blast phase (BP). We also compared cases of BP PV to a group of acute myeloid leukemia cases with JAK2 mutation (AML-JAK2mut). We collected morphological, cytogenetics (CG), and molecular information at the time of diagnosis and at time of diagnosis of BP. We evaluate the presence of splicing factor mutations at BP. A total of 60/477 (12.5%) patients with diagnosis of BP of PV were identified, 17 of them had BM sample available during CP. Ten patients with PV CP were used as control group. We found that dyserythropoiesis during evolution were more frequent in patients who develop BP than in patients who remain in CP (13/17 vs. 3/10; P = .0402). Similarly, ring sideroblast (RS) increase during CP were more frequent in patients who develop BP (8/16 vs. 0/10. P = .0095). By ELN risk stratification for CG risk in BP all patients had adverse or intermediate risk; in AML-JAK2mut 2/11 patients (18%) had favorable as risk category. TP53 mutations were significantly more frequent in BP than in AML-JAK2mut (7/14 vs. 1/11, P = .0421). Mutation analysis for splicing factor at BP was performed on 13 patients. Only 2 patients with >15% RS had SRSF2 (2 patients) and SF3B1 (1 patient) mutations. The other patients were wild type. Dyserythropoiesis and the acquisition of RS precede other markers of disease progression to BP. CK and TP53 mutation are more frequent in BP than in AML-JAK2mut. SF3B1 mutations are rare in BP.
LA MUSEOGRAFÍA EN CUSCO: DIFERENTES MUSEOS, DIFERENTES NARRATIVAS

espanolResumen: Este trabajo tiene como enfoque de analisis cuatro museos ubicados en la ciudad de Cusco, Peru. Cada uno presenta elementos relacionados con la cultura Inca, aunque el contexto y el tratamiento varia radicalmente entre ellos. Arguimos que estos museos ofrecen diferentes alternativas en su narracion, que reflejan la vision de los individuos y/o instituciones responsables de estas exhibiciones y la audiencia a quien se dirigen. Los museos seran comparados no solamente en terminos de sus narrativas, sino tambien, en relacion a las tecnicas museograficas utilizadas y sus ambientes. Se sugiere que en vez de considerarlos como instituciones competitivas puedan ser interpretados como complementarios, cada uno ofreciendo una vision diferente del pasado cuzqueno y su relacion al Cusco contemporaneo y la cultura peruana. EnglishAbstract: This article will focus on four museums that currently function in the center of Cuzco, Peru. Each of these museums includes components dealing with the Inca culture, but the context and treatment of this subject varies radically between them. It will be argued that the museums provide alternative narratives that reflect the motives of the individuals responsible for their exhibitions and the audience that is being targeted. The four museums will be compared with each other not only in terms of their contrasting narratives but also in terms of the museographic techniques employed and the settings in which the collections are shown. It will be suggested that rather than being viewed as competing institutions of differing qualities, these museums can be treated as complementary, each providing a different vision of the Cuzqueno past and its relation to contemporary Cuzco.
Las ferias libres y el problema de las subsistencias: Santiago de Chile, 1939-1943

Este articulo analiza la crisis del sistema de abastos de la ciudad de Santiago de Chile como consecuencia de la Gran Depresion. Se estudian los debates generados en torno al alza en el costo de la vida y las propuestas de creacion de las ferias libres por parte de la administracion de la alcaldesa Graciela Contreras en 1939. Ademas, se presentan las distintas luchas y modalidades de organizacion que se dieron durante el periodo.
Abstract 046: Chronic Nicotine Inhalation Promotes the Development of Hypertension

While smoking is a proven risk factor for stroke and heart attacks, whether it contributes to the development of hypertension is still unclear. Nicotine inhalation is thought to activate the sympat...
The influence of a question prompt list on patient-oncologist information exchange in an African-American population.

Abstract Objectives Question Prompt Lists (QPL) increase patient active participation in oncology interactions, but questions remain regarding how QPLs influence patient-oncologist information exchange. We examined how a QPL influenced information exchange during oncology interactions with African-American patients. Methods Data were self-reports and video recordings from a parent study testing the effects of a QPL in the outpatient clinics of two urban cancer hospitals. In this secondary analysis, we investigated which QPL questions patients identified as ones they wanted to ask their oncologists, how frequently patients/companions used patient active participation statements to seek information related to each QPL question, whether oncologists provided QPL-related information unprompted or prompted by patients/companions, and how frequently patients’ QPL-related information needs were addressed or unaddressed. Results The QPL influenced information exchange by increasing patients’ and companions’ (if present) prompting for QPL-related information from their oncologists. Patients/companions most often prompted for QPL-related information about side effects and patient experience. Conclusion This study builds on prior research on QPL interventions by expanding the object of study to information exchange and by analyzing patients’ information needs. Practice implications This research demonstrates that a QPL supports patient/companion participation in oncology consultations by making information exchange more interactive.
The 2019 North Central Sociological Association Presidential Address “I Hear You…” Storytelling and the Power of Listening Sociologically

How strong are your sociological listening skills? The 2019 North Central Sociological Association’s annual conference theme explored all aspects of storytelling. Implied in the storytelling proces...
Group Evaluations of Individual Faculty Hospitalists.

Introduction Faculty evaluations are important tools for improving faculty-to-resident instruction, but residents in our pediatric and internal medicine/pediatric residency programs would seldom evaluate individual pediatric faculty hospitalists. Our objectives were to: (1) increase the percentage of completed evaluations of individual pediatric hospitalists to greater than 85%, (2) improve the quality of pediatric hospitalist feedback as measured by resident and faculty satisfaction surveys, and (3) to reduce the resident concern of lack of anonymity of evaluations. Methods Members of the resident inpatient team (pediatric and internal medicine/pediatric residents) completed group-based evaluations of individual pediatric hospitalists. A survey to evaluate this change in process was distributed to the pediatric hospitalists (n = 6) and another survey was distributed to residents, both based on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Surveys were completed before and four months after implementation of the changes. Pre- and post-survey data of resident and hospitalist responses were compared using the Mann-Whitney test and probability proportion test. Results The percent of completed evaluations increased from 0% to 86% in one month and to 100% in two months. Thereafter, the percent of completed evaluations remained at 100% through the end of the data collection period at seven months. Hospitalists reported (n = 6, 100% participation) their satisfaction regarding the feedback they received from residents significantly increased for all survey questions. Resident satisfaction (n = 24, 89% participation in post-intervention surveys) increased significantly with regards to the evaluation process. Conclusions For hospitalists, group-based resident evaluations of individual hospitalists led to an increased percentage of completed evaluations, improved the quality and quantity of feedback to hospitalists, and increased satisfaction with evaluations. For residents, these changes led to increased satisfaction with the evaluation process.
Ab initio calculations of the rate of carrier trapping and release at dopant sites in NaI: Tl beyond the harmonic approximation

We present ab initio calculations of electron capture and release coefficients as a function of temperature for Tl dopants in the widely used scintillator NaI, which is a soft ionic crystal. The modeled capture and release events occur by transitions mediated by multiple phonon absorption and emission between states with significantly different local geometries around the trapping site. We demonstrate that such transitions are not well-described by the normal harmonic approximation to the nuclear dynamics. We go beyond the harmonic approximation by numerically solving the vibrational Schr\"odinger equation for the motion along/of a single effective phonon coordinate. The localized trapped state is not correctly described by semilocal density functionals, so we employ a global hybrid functional tuned to reproduce the band gap and lattice constant of the host material. Our calculations, which combine plane-wave and embedded cluster electronic structure methods are in reasonable agreement with available experimental data for detrapping and predict an unusual temperature dependence for trapping rates.
Prognostic understanding in advanced genitourinary cancer and its association with clinical characteristics.

665Background: Despite promotion of a shared decision-making model of care in oncology, studies suggest that many patients with advanced cancer still possess inaccurate perceptions of their prognos...
Binaural cue sensitivity in cochlear implant recipients with acoustic hearing preservation

Abstract Bilateral acoustic hearing in cochlear implant (CI) recipients with hearing preservation may allow access to binaural cues. Sensitivity to acoustic binaural cues has been shown in some listeners combining electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS), yet remains poorly understood and may be subject to limitations imposed by the electrical stimulation and/or amplification asymmetries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stimulus level, frequency-dependent gain, and the addition of unilateral electrical stimulation on sensitivity to low-frequency binaural cues. Thresholds were measured for interaural time and level differences (ITD and ILD) carried by a low-frequency, bandpass noise (100–800 Hz). 16 adult CI EAS listeners (mean age = 50.2 years) each participated in three listening conditions: acoustic hearing only at 90 dB SPL, acoustic hearing only at 60 dB SPL with frequency-dependent gain, and acoustic hearing plus unilateral CI at 60 dB SPL with frequency-dependent gain applied to the acoustic channels only. Results revealed thresholds within the ecologically relevant ITD and/or ILD range for most EAS listeners. No significant effects of presentation level, frequency-dependent gain, or the addition of unilateral electrical stimulation on the resultant thresholds for ITDs or ILDs were observed at the group level. Correlational analyses related ITD and ILD thresholds to the degree of EAS benefit (i.e., advantage of acoustic hearing in the implanted ear) for speech recognition in diffuse noise. There was a significant relationship between EAS benefit and ITD thresholds, but no statistically significant relationship between EAS benefit and ILD thresholds. In summary, the results of this study are not consistent with our previous data obtained with simulated EAS in normal-hearing listeners, which showed significant binaural interference by a unilateral electrical “distractor” (Van Ginkel et al., 2019). The difference between studies suggests that chronic exposure to unilateral electrical stimulation combined with bilateral acoustic stimulation may reduce interference effects, perhaps because listeners adapt to the presence of the constant but binaurally incongruous CI stimulus. These results are consistent with past studies that demonstrated no interference in spatial hearing tasks due to the addition of a unilateral CI in adult EAS listeners.
Indwelling Pleural Catheter Drainage Strategy for Malignant Effusion: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Rationale: The likelihood of achieving pleurodesis after indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) placement for malignant pleural effusion varies with the specific drainage strategy used: symptom-guided d...
Fundamental groups of topological stacks with the slice property

The main result of the paper is a formula for the fundamental group of the coarse moduli space of a topological stack. As an application, we find simple formulas for the fundamental group of the coarse quotient of a group action on a topological space in terms of the fixed point data. In particular, we recover, and vastly generalize, results of Armstrong [1; 2], Bass [3], Higgins and Taylor [7] and Rhodes [11].
Valparaíso: memoria y olvido del mar

The main objective of this article is to reflect on two important things for the suffering and punished Valparaiso of today. On one hand, the protection of memory —the heritage in all its meanings— as the main element of the roots, identity and local culture; and how to generate an economy in this destroyed city generating a better city to live in and a better city to invest in, through the design and added value of the Valparaiso habitat. Things that belongs to all of us, because the city is a collective invention. That is, to produce a paradigmatic change through urban planning to generate wealth that reaches everyone and not continue to distribute poverty as before, because the system that governs Valparaiso today and for the last 50 years has failed.
Mineralogy and Micropaleontology of a Goethite-Bearing Red Sea Core

The mineralogy and micropaleontology of a goethite-bearing core from the northern Red Sea have been studied. Variations in planktonic microfaunal composition with depth in the core reveal three major climatic phases: Phase I, Postglacial, encompassing the last 11–12,000 years; Phase II, late glacial stades which began about 60–65,000 years ago; and Phase III, an interstadial, with a fauna similar to that of Phase I, commencing about 100,000 years ago.
A defect of differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes into dendritic cells after cardiopulmonary bypass is delayed by 7 days after the initial insult (HUM1P.309)

Monocytes (MO) can uniquely differentiate in a variety of the offspring cells including dendritic cells (DC). After severe immune insult, like sepsis, ability of MO to differentiate to DC (MO->DC) is significantly diminished immediately after insult and is related to the acquisition of a predominantly macrophage like characteristic of MO thus leaving only few available precursory MO for MO->DC process. Here, we enrolled patients scheduled for non-emergent heart surgery and assessed leukocyte function before surgery (t0), 24hrs (t24h) and 7 days (t7d) after surgery. We hypothesized that immediately after surgery, MO will acquire a persistent macrophage characteristic with subsequent MO->DC defect. MO were isolated and subjected to a DC differentiation&maturation conditions including 5 days in vitro cultures in X-VIVO15 enriched with IL-4 & GM-CSF. The process of MO->DC was significantly diminished in patients but only at the day 7 after the CPB as shown by diminished expression CD83 (%CD83+ [X±SD] t0=24.5±33.81 vs t24hr=8.84±10.71 [p=ns] vs t7d=0.2±0.4 [p<0.05]) or uptake of DQ ovalbumin. Concomitantly, the number of precursory CD11c+ was diminished but only at 7 days samples (%CD11c+ [X±SD] t0=81.5±15.81 vs t24hr=83.3±15.82 [p=ns] vs t7d=61.9±18.32 [p<0.05]). We conclude that surprisingly CPB diminished number of circulating precursory DC but only after 7 days from insult affecting ability of these precursory cells to convert into DC.
Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

In the last several years, reports of patients treated with bisphosphonates (primarily those delivered intravenously) have emerged associating their use with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). More than a thousand cases of bisphosphonate-associated ONJ have been identified since the first cases were reported in 2001. In these, ONJ rarely occurs "spontaneously"; the vast majority have been associated as a consequence to oral surgical procedures. Although most of the reports of ONJ have occurred in patients following the use of high dose IV therapy for metastatic bone disease, there are also reports of ONJ in patients taking oral bisphosphonates. Since millions of patients take oral bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis, it is timely to review what is known and needs to be learned about this emerging issue in patient care to develop a consensus on the definition of ONJ, as well as to explore potential risk factors and pathogenic mechanisms of ONJ and to explore strategies to move research forward. This volumes seeks to improve awareness of the condition and the need for increased screening and improved diagnosis of ONJ. It also explores possible treatment options for ONJ to help guide future areas for research. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1749-6632. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information about becoming a member.
Job scheduling for maximal throughput in autonomic computing systems

Autonomic computing networks manage multiple tasks over a distributed network of resources. In this paper, we view an autonomic computing system as a network of queues, where classes of jobs/tasks are stored awaiting execution. At each point in time, local resources are allocated according to the backlog of waiting jobs. Service modes are selected corresponding to feasible configurations of computing (processors, CPU cycles, etc.), communication (slots, channels, etc.) and storage resources (shared buffers, memory places, etc.) We present a family of distributed algorithms which maximize the system throughput by dynamically choosing service modes in response to observed buffer backlogs. This class of policies, called projective cone scheduling algorithms, are related to maximum pressure policies in constrained queueing networks, and are shown to maintain stability under any arrival combination within the network capacity. They operate without knowledge of the arrival rates and require minimal information sharing between regions.
SMALL X-RAY TUBES FOR ENERGY DISPERSIVE ANALYSIS USING SEMICONDUCTOR SPECTROMETERS.

Fast X-ray fluorescence analysis with radioisotope excitation requires intense sources to produce reasonable counting rates. The inconvenience of handling such sources and the small number of suitable radioisotopes places severe limitations on their use.
A HyperText Markup Language Interface for multi-product database libraries

The HyperText Markup Language Interface (HTMLI) provides the Department of Defense (DoD) user community with access to an Image Product Library (IPL) and its associated server. The IPL is a library/archive for several categories of data, while its server acts as a broker to other database libraries. The HTMLI accesses data in the IPL and implements the IPL server application programming interface (API) to provide a gateway between the IPL and the user community supported World Wide Web (WWW) (i.e., the Internet) tools and servers. The end result is that a user can employ a WWW browser (e.g., Mosaic/sup TM/ Netscape/sup TM/ or Microsoft Internet Explorer/sup TM/) to access an IPL server from any platform that can support a hypertext viewer, without the need for any other specialized software specific to that application.
Unique Dermatological Complication of rhM-CSF Treatment

A patient is presented who developed cutaneous papular histiocytic infiltrates after treatment with monocyte colony stimulating factor (rhM-CSF). This is the first reported complication of this type after treatment with this new cytokine.
Angular Distribution of Molecular K -Shell Auger Electrons: Spectroscopy of Photoabsorption Anisotropy

The angular distribution of Auger electrons emitted in the decay of molecular $K$-shell vacancies created by photoabsorption is predicted to be a direct probe of the anisotropy of molecular photoabsorption. The $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}$ discrete absorption and the $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\sigma}$$f$-wave shape resonance in ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and CO are given as examples.
Anesthetic blocking of nerve membrane conductances by internal and external applications.

Dibucaine hydrochloride, pentobarbital sodium, tropine p-tolyl acetate hydrochloride (tertiary form), and tropine p-tolyl acetate methiodide (quaternary form) reversibly blocked both peak transient and steadystate components of conductance changes from either side of the squid nerve membrane. With external and internal applications of dibucaine and with internal application of the tertiary topine, the steady-state current declined somewhat, leaving a “hump.” The time to the early peak transient current was unaffected by either external or internal application of dibucaine, but prolonged by either external or internal application of pentobarbital. The curve relating the peak transient conductance to the membrane potential was shifted along the potential axis in the direction of depolarization by external or internal application of pentobarbital. It is suggested that the mechanism of blockage of the peak transient conductance by these anesthetic agents is different from that by tetrodotoxin or by uncharged lipid-soluble chemicals.
Computer-based laparoscopic and robotic surgical simulators: performance characteristics and perceptions of new users

This study aimed to define perceptions of the need and the value of new simulation devices for laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery. The initial experience of surgeons using both robotic and nonrobotic laparoscopic simulators to perform an advanced laparoscopic skill was evaluated. At the 2006 Society of American Gastroesophageal Surgeons (SAGES) meeting, 63 Learning Center attendees used a new virtual reality robotic surgery simulator (SEP Robot) and either a computer-enhanced laparoscopic simulator (ProMIS) or a virtual reality simulator (SurgicalSIM). Demographic and training data were collected by an intake survey. Subjects then were assessed during one iteration of laparoscopic suturing and knot-tying on the SEP Robot and either the ProMIS or the SurgicalSIM. A posttask survey determined users’ impressions of task realism, interface quality, and educational value. Performance data were collected and comparisons made between user-defined groups, different simulation platforms, and posttask survey responses. The task completion rate was significantly greater for experts than for nonexperts on the virtual reality platforms (SurgicalSIM: 100% vs 36%; SEP Robot: 93% vs 63%; p < 0.05). Prior robot use was predictive of task completion on the SEP Robot, and nonexperts were more likely to complete the virtual reality task on the SEP Robot than on the SurgicalSIM. Experts performed better than nonexperts for all performance measures on the ProMIS. All the survey scores pertaining to realism except image quality were higher for the ProMIS than for either virtual reality trainer. The task completion rate was the best discriminant of expert performance on both virtual reality platforms, whereas simulator metrics best discriminated expertise for the videoscopic platform. Similar comparisons for the virtual reality platforms were not feasible because of the low task completion rate for nonexperts. The added degrees of freedom associated with the robotic surgical simulator instruments facilitated completion of the task by nonexperts. All platforms were perceived as effective training tools.
The noninvasive vascular laboratory.

The noninvasive vascular laboratory has become important in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease. The two basic modalities of evaluation are (1) the indirect methods (e.g., segmental limb pressures, Doppler and plethysmographic waveforms) that provide information regarding functional severity of disease, and (2) the direct method of evaluation, color duplex imaging (CDI), that provides more specific anatomic and physiologic information. Currently, both indirect and direct methods are used. The vascular laboratory can accurately diagnose and categorize severity of arterial occlusive disease, perform surveillance of arterial reconstruction, diagnose and size peripheral aneurysms, diagnose and potentially treat pseudoaneurysms, determine arteriovenous fistulas, diagnose arterial trauma, and help determine ability to heal open foot wounds and amputation level. The present common uses of noninvasive testing for diagnosis and its role in patient management are reviewed.
Vitreous Changes After Neodymium-Yag Laser Irradiation of the Posterior Lens Capsule or Mid-Vitreous

Exposure of four monkey and 26 rabbit eyes to neodymium-YAG laser irradiation to the posterior lens capsule or the mid-vitreous area clearly demonstrated significant vitreous changes (liquefaction) as measured by viscosity analyses and proton relaxation studies. We found marked molecular alterations in the vitreous of the exposed eye compared with the contralateral control (unirradiated) eye. These alterations, occurring immediately after laser treatment, were probably the result of acoustic transients accompanying the laser irradiation.
Parylene-based fold-and-bond wireless pressure sensor

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and characterization of a wireless, flexible, passive pressure sensor that is suitable for long-term intraocular pressure monitoring. The integrated planar MEMS coil and the variable capacitor were constructed using a fold-and-bond technique, which avoids multilayer processes and thus reduces fabrication complications. Parylene-C was the structural and packaging material, which ensures the flexibility and biocompatibility of the sensor. Devices were characterized in both air and liquid environments. A pressure sensitivity of 156 kHz/mmHg and a maximum detectable range of 28 mm were achieved in water.
V-Lab-Protein: Virtual Collaborative Lab for protein sequence analysis

Recent development of genome and gene analysis technology enabled rapid accumulation of biological data. To utilize such huge data, a biologist needs to have resource-rich computing environment and user-friendly analysis tool invocation. To response such requirements, we designed and implemented a virtual lab, named Virtual Collaborative Lab (V-Lab-Protein), using an efficient and flexible computing resource management and workflow engine with a user-friendly graphical workflow composer. Utility of our system is demonstrated by analyzing sample protein sequence sets. This is the first system of its kind that combines flexible workflow systems and on-demand compute and data resources (Amazon EC2/S3 in this case). We believe that this system design principle will be a new and effective paradigm for small biology research labs to handle the ever-increasing biological data.
Life without ventilatory chemosensitivity.

In healthy humans ventilatory chemoreception results in exquisite regulation of arterial blood gases during NREM sleep, but during wakefulness other behavioral and arousal-related influences on breathing compete with chemoreceptive respiratory control. This paper examines the extent of chemoreceptive control of breathing within the normal physiological range in awake and sleeping humans and explores the consequences upon breathing of absent chemoreceptive function. Recent studies of subjects with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) demonstrate the extent of behavioral and arousal-related influences on breathing in the absence of arterial blood gas homeostasis. CCHS subjects lack chemoreceptor control of breathing and seriously hypoventilate during NREM sleep, requiring mechanical ventilation. Many CCHS subjects breathe adequately during many waking behaviors associated with arousal, cognitive activity or exercise—presumably reflecting input to the brainstem respiratory complex from the reticular activating system, the forebrain or mechanoreceptor afferents. In most situations, and despite changes in metabolism, the non-chemoreceptive inputs to breathing result in surprisingly well controlled arterial blood gases in CCHS patients.
A model for simulating deepwater oil and gas blowouts - Part I: Theory and model formulation

A model developed to simulate the behavior of oil and gas accidentally released from deep water is presented. This model presents major modifications to a three-dimensional model developed earlier (Yapa and Zheng, 1997) that simulate the behaviour of oil from under water accidents (shallow water). In deepwater, the ultra-high pressure and cold temperature causes phase changes in gases. These combined with relatively strong currents in some deepwater regions presents extraordinary challenges to modeling jets/plumes from deepwater oil and gas blowouts. The present model incorporates the phase changes of gas, associated changes in thermodynamics and its impact on the hydrodynamics of the jet/plume. Hydrate formation, hydrate decomposition, gas dissolution, non-ideal behavior of the gas, and possible gas separation from the main plume due to strong cross currents are integrated with the jet/plume hydrodynamics and thermodynamics. This paper presents the complete model development and testing of various comput...
Inertial effects in the phenomenological theory of thermal diffusion in liquids

The energy flux carried by diffusing molecules in a binary liquid solution is shown to obey a rate equation linking its time rate of change to energy-exchange and particle-scattering terms and to driving terms proportional to the temperature and concentration gradients. This equation, together with a similar equation for the energy flow carried by high-frequency sound waves, is written in terms of thermodynamic forces which are assumed linear in the two heat flux components, and it is found that these forces may be calculated by interpreting the rate equations as thermodynamic phenomenological relations and then applying Onsager’s theorem and Maxwell’s relations. Prom the forces, one can determine explicitly the dependence of the free energy per moleculeA on the energy flux vectors and, in the limit of low acoustic frequencies, the dependence ofA on the square of the concentration gradient. The low-frequency limits of the rate equations also give an expression for the thermal diffusion coefficient.
Recognizing malicious software behaviors with tree automata inference

We explore how formal methods and tools of the verification trade could be used for malware detection and analysis. In particular, we propose a new approach to learning and generalizing from observed malware behaviors based on tree automata inference. Our approach infers k-testable tree automata from system call dataflow dependency graphs. We show how inferred automata can be used for malware recognition and classification.
Power macromodeling for high level power estimation

A modeling approach is presentedthat captures the dependence of the power dissipationof a combinational logic circuit on its input/outputsignal switching activity.The resultingpower macromodel, consisting of a single three dimensionaltable, can be used to estimate the powerconsumed in the circuit for any given input/outputsignal statistics.Given a low-level (typically gate-level)description of the circuit, we describe a characterizationprocess by which such a table modelcan be automatically built.In contrast to otherproposed techniques, this can be done for any givenlogic circuit without any user intervention, and appliesto all possible input/output signal statistics;it does not require one to construct specialized analyticalequations for the power dissipation.Thethree dimensions of our table-based model are theaverage input signal probability, average input transitiondensity, and average output zero-delay transition density.This approach has been implemented and modelshave been built for many benchmark circuits.Overa wide range of input signal statistics, we show thatthis model gives very good accuracy, with an RMSerror of under about 6%.
Electroencephalographic findings in Kufs disease

Abstract Objective : To characterize the electroencephalographic (EEG) findings in patients with Kufs disease, the adult autosomal recessive form of neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis. Methods : We reviewed the EEG findings in 5 patients with biopsy-proven Kufs disease from our institution and 14 case reports of Kufs disease in the literature. The criteria used for patient inclusion were clinical evidence of a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, biopsy-proven evidence of Kufs disease, and EEG recordings during the course of the illness. Results : One patient had phenotype A with generalized atypical spike and slow wave complexes and marked photoparoxysmal responses, particularly at low flash frequencies. Three patients had phenotype B with generalized slowing. One patient in the miscellaneous category showed focal sharp and spike waves and quasi-periodic slow waves maximal over anterior regions of the head. Review of the literature identified 14 case reports that met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions : The inheritance, mechanism, and manifestations of Kufs disease are not well understood. EEG findings may guide clinicians toward a confirmatory pathological diagnosis and distinguish various phenotypes of this disorder. Significance : The EEG may assist in the diagnosis of Kufs disease.
The structure of 2,4-dibromomenthone

Abstract A three-dimensional X-ray diffraction study has shown that the product obtained by bromination of d - or l -menthone is 2,4-dibromomenthone [2(a), 6(e)-dibromo-2(e)-isopropyl-5(e)methyl cyclohexanone]. The two Br atoms are trans, and the isopropyl and methyl groups are also trans. There are four molecules in the unit cell, which has symmetry P212121 and dimensions a = 13·58, b = 13·81 and c = 6·25 A. One intermolecular Br … Br contact of 3·52 ± 0·01 A occurs, a distance which is about 0·4 A shorter than the van der Waals distance.
Heat transfer in vertical Bridgman growth of oxides - Effects of conduction, convection, and internal radiation

In the present investigation of crystalline phase internal radiation and heat conduction during the vertical Bridgman growth of a YAG-like oxide crystal, where transport through the melt is dominated by convection and conduction, heat is also noted to be conducted through ampoule walls via natural convection and enclosure radiation. The results of a quasi-steady-state axisymmetric Galerkin FEM indicate that heat transfer through the system is powerfully affected by the optical absorption coefficient of the crystal. The coupling of internal radiation through the crystal with conduction through the ampoule walls promotes melt/crystal interface shapes that are highly reflected near the ampoule wall.
Reading intertextually: Multiple mediations and critical practice

DOCUMENTING AMERICA, 1935–1943. Edited by Carl Fleischhauer and Beverly W. Brannan. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988; pp. 361. $60.00; paper $24.95. IMAGE AND WORD: THE INTERACTION OF TWENTIETH‐CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXTS. By Jefferson Hunter. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1987; pp. 233. $25.00. IN VISIBLE LIGHT: PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE AMERICAN WRITER: 1840–1940. By Carol Shloss. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987; pp. 308. $24.95. PICTURES OF ROMANCE: FORM AGAINST CONTEXT IN PAINTING AND LITERATURE. By Wendy Steiner. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988; pp. 218. $29.95. REALISM, WRITING, DISFIGURATION: ON THOMAS EAKINS AND STEPHEN CRANE. By Michael Fried. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987; pp. 215. $29.95; paper $14.95. SPACE, TIME, IMAGE, SIGN: ESSAYS ON LITERATURE AND THE VISUAL ARTS. Edited by James A.W. Heffernan. New York: Peter Lang, 1987; pp. 124. $29.00. THE VISUAL ARTS, PICTORIALISM, AND THE NOVEL: JAMES, LAWRENCE, AND WOOLF. By Marianna Torgovnick. P...
Potential for Altering Energy Partition in the Lactating Cow

Abstract Partitioning of nutrients in lactating cows is discussed in terms of processes requiring energy associated with maintenance and production with emphasis upon kinetic properties that determine patterns and rates of nutrient use and nutrient interactions. Rates of nutrient oxidation by tissues are determined largely by energy expenditures, concentrations of nutrients in blood, and relative affinities of tissues for nutrients. Patterns of nutrient use for production are determined by the same factors, but interactions among substrates and acute and chronic hormone actions are much more complex. Most of these can be explained on the basis of known metabolic regulatory mechanisms using appropriate simulation modeling techniques if appropriate kinetic data are available.
Comparison and analysis of eight scheduling heuristics for the optimization of energy consumption and makespan in large-scale distributed systems

In this paper, we study the problem of scheduling tasks on a distributed system, with the aim to simultaneously minimize energy consumption and makespan subject to the deadline constraints and the tasks’ memory requirements. A total of eight heuristics are introduced to solve the task scheduling problem. The set of heuristics include six greedy algorithms and two naturally inspired genetic algorithms. The heuristics are extensively simulated and compared using an simulation test-bed that utilizes a wide range of task heterogeneity and a variety of problem sizes. When evaluating the heuristics, we analyze the energy consumption, makespan, and execution time of each heuristic. The main benefit of this study is to allow readers to select an appropriate heuristic for a given scenario.
Longitudinal Associations Between Parental and Children’s Depressive Symptoms in the Context of Interparental Relationship Functioning

Using longitudinal, multi-informant data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, the present study tested associations between trajectories of parental and child depressive symptoms from ages 11 to 15 years. Consistent with predictions, changes in mothers’ and fathers’ depressive symptoms were positively associated with change in children’s depressive symptoms over time. In addition, youth characteristics of sex and pubertal development moderated the trajectories, with children more advanced on pubertal development showing higher initial levels of depressive symptoms, and girls demonstrating steeper slopes of depressive symptoms over time. The context of interparental relationship functioning (i.e., marital conflict, marital conflict resolution) moderated both the trajectories of child depressive symptoms and the interplay between parental and child depressive symptoms in ways largely consistent with hypotheses. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of treating youth depressive symptoms with a consideration of the broader family context, including parental and interparental functioning.
Fuzzy model-based pitch stabilization and wing vibration suppression of flexible aircraft

This paper presents a fuzzy nonlinear controller to regulate the longitudinal dynamics of an aircraft and suppress the bending and torsional vibrations of its flexible wings. The fuzzy controller utilizes full-state feedback with input constraint. First, the Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy linear model is developed which approximates the coupled aeroelastic aircraft model. Then, based on the fuzzy linear model, a fuzzy controller is developed to utilize a full-state feedback and stabilize the system while it satisfies the control input constraint. Linear matrix inequality (LMI) techniques are employed to solve the fuzzy control problem. Finally, the performance of the proposed controller is demonstrated on the NASA Generic Transport Model (GTM).