cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Outer Retinal Remodeling in the Hibernating 13-Lined Ground Squirrel.

Author(s): Sajdak, Benjamin S; Bell, Brent A; Lewis, Tylor R; Luna, Gabriel; Cornwell, Grayson S; Fisher, Steven K; Merriman, Dana K; Carroll, Joseph | Abstract: Purpose:We examined outer retinal remodeling of the euthermic and torpid cone-dominant 13-lined ground squirrel (13-LGS) retina using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and histology. Methods:Retinas and corneas of living 13-LGSs were imaged during euthermic and torpid physiological states using OCT. Retinal layer thickness was measured at the visual streak from registered and averaged vertical B-scans. Following OCT, some retinas were collected immediately for postmortem histologic comparison using light microscopy, immunofluorescence, or transmission electron microscopy. Results:Compared to OCT images from euthermic retinae, OCT images of torpid retinae revealed significantly thicker inner and outer nuclear layers, as well as increases in the distances between outer retinal reflectivity bands 1 and 2, and bands 3 and 4. A significant decrease in the distance between bands 2 and 3 also was seen, alongside significant thinning of the choriocapillaris and choroid. OCT image quality was reduced in torpid eyes, partly due to significant thickening of the corneal stroma during this state. Conclusions:The torpid retina of the hibernating 13-LGS undergoes structural changes that can be detected by OCT imaging. Comparisons between in vivo OCT and ex vivo histomorphometry may offer insight to the origin of hyperreflective OCT bands within the outer retina of the cone-dominant 13-LGS.
Clustering with Model-level Constraints.

In this paper we describe a systematic approach to uncovering multiple clusterings underlying a dataset. In contrast to previous approaches, the proposed method uses information about structures that are not desired and consequently is very useful in an exploratory datamining setting. Specifically, the problem is formulated as constrained model-based clustering where the constraints are placed at a model-level. Two variants of an EM algorithm, for this constrained model, are derived. The performance of both variants is compared against a state-of-the-art information bottleneck algorithm on both synthetic and real datasets.
Electrochemical behavior of iron in oxidizing media

1. An investigation has been made of the cathodic polarization of iron in nitrate solutions containing nitric acid in varying concentration, the concentration of NO3 tons being maintained constant. It has been shown that increase in the concentration of acid displaces the diffusion threshold in the direction of higher current density. In 0.1 N HNO3 the diffusion threshold was not attained for current densities up to 2·1012 amp/sq.cm.
Angle Resolved Photoemission and Resonant Photoemission Studies of Quasi Low-Dimensional Oxide Conductors

Quasi-low dimensional transition metal oxide conductors have been studied extensively in recent years, but it is only with the advent of high resolution photoemission spectroscopy that the detailed electronic structure of these systems has become accessible [1]. Photoemission spectroscopy provides unique information on these solids, and significant progress has been made recently in understanding electronic states in quasi-low dimensional solids. In this paper we discuss the application of angle resolved photoemission (ARP) to the study of quasi-one dimensional (ID) and quasi-two dimensional (2D) transition metal oxide bronzes, with particular emphasis on their Fermi surfaces and on their defect electronic structure close to the Fermi level (EF). The specific oxides that we have studied are K0.3MoO3, Li0.9Mo6O17, and Na0.9Mo6O17, although many of our conclusions are relevant to all quasi-ID and quasi-2D solids. The physical phenomena characteristic of quasi-1D and quasi-2D solids have been described extensively in this book, as has their modification by defects; consequently they will not be reviewed here. Furthermore, the basic concepts underlying angle integrated photoemission have also been discussed by Malterre in these proceedings. Our focus in this paper will be on the unique information obtained from ARP, namely the k-resolved electronic structure, and from resonant photoemission, namely the orbital character of electronic states.
Die Identifizierung von spezifischen nukleären Matrix Proteinen (NMP) in humanen prämalignen Polypen des Kolons: Ein vielversprechender Weg zur Früherkennung von Kolon Karzinomen

Introduction Most colon cancers arise within preexisting adenomatous polyps or adenomas. Thereby, the carcinogenesis of colon cancer favors a strategy of early detection. Detection of early stage colorectal cancer, and finding and removal of pre-malignant adenomatous polyps have been shown to beneficially impact on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. The identification of an early tumor marker that would allow reliable early cancer detection could lead to a diagnostic assay that would greatly aid in the management of this disease. The nuclear matrix is the residual framework scaffolding of the nucleus and consists of the peripheral lamins and pore complexes, an internal ribonucleic protein network and residual nucleoli. NMPs have been demonstrated to participate in many vital cellular functions, such as steroid hormone binding, gene transcription and translation. Most of the nuclear matrix proteins identified to date are common to all cell types, but several identified NMPs are tissue and cell line specific [1, 2]. Cell type-specific „fingerprinting“ of aberrant nuclear matrix proteins and their appearance in cancer development has led to the analysis of nuclear matrix protein composition of a variety of tumors in an effort to determine whether these proteins can be developed as diagnostic markers for cancer. We have identified four specific nuclear matrix proteins (NMP: CC2, CC3, CC4, CC5) that distinguish colon cancer from normal adjacent mucosa, and from normal mucosa in subjects without colon cancer [3]. The objective of this study was to describe and characterize the nuclear matrix protein profile in pre-malignant adenomatous colon polyps. In particular, we wanted to determine when in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence can the unique colon cancer NMP’s be identified.
A Battle of the Amendments: Why Ending Discrimination in the Courtroom May Inhibit a Criminal Defendant’s Right to an Impartial Jury

Since the U.S. Supreme Court began limiting the exercise of peremptory challenges to safeguard potential jurors from discrimination, it has faced a nearly impossible task. The Court has attempted to safeguard a juror’s equal protection rights without eradicating the peremptory challenge’s ability to preserve a criminal defendant’s right to an impartial jury. Under the current legal framework, it is not certain whether either constitutional right is adequately protected. This Note examines the history of the Supreme Court’s limitation on peremptory challenges. It then discusses the current federal circuit split over whether peremptory challenges should be further limited. Finally, this Note concludes that the existing framework’s application should be extended and restricted to more effectively protect the constitutional rights at issue.
The association of hypotension during non-cardiac surgery, before and after skin incision, with postoperative acute kidney injury: a retrospective cohort analysis

Intra-operative hypotension is associated with acute postoperative kidney injury. It is unclear how much hypotension occurs before skin incision compared with after, or whether hypotension in these two periods is similarly associated with postoperative kidney injury. We analysed the association of mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg with postoperative kidney injury in 42,825 patients who were anaesthetised for elective non-cardiac surgery. Intra-operative hypotension occurred in 30,423 (71%) patients: 22,569 (53%) patients before skin incision; and 24,102 (56%) patients after incision. Anaesthetised patients who were hypotensive had mean arterial pressures < 65 mmHg for a median (IQR [range]) of 5.5 (0.0-14.7 [0.0-60.0]) min.h-1 before skin incision, compared with 1.7 [0.3-5.1 [0.0-57.5]) min.h-1 after incision: a median (IQR [range]) of 36% (0%-84% [0%-100%]) of hypotensive readings were before incision. We diagnosed postoperative kidney injury in 2328 (5%) patients. The odds ratio (95%CI) for acute kidney injury was 1.05 (1.02-1.07) for each doubling of the duration of hypotension, p < 0.001. Postoperative kidney injury was associated with the product of hypotension duration and severity, that is, area under the curve, before skin incision and after, odds ratio (95%CI): 1.02 (1.01-1.04), p = 0.004; and 1.02 (1.00-1.04), p = 0.016, respectively. A substantial fraction of all hypotension happened before surgical incision and was thus completely due to anaesthetic management. We recommend that anaesthetists should avoid mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg during surgery, especially after induction, assuming that its association with postoperative kidney injury is, at least in part, causal.
Electromagnetic particle injector for fast time response disruption mitigation in tokamaks

A novel, rapid time-response, disruption mitigation system referred to as the electromagnetic particle injector (EPI) is described. This method can accurately deliver the radiative payload to the plasma center on a <10 ms time scale, much faster, and deeper, than what can be achieved using conventional methods. The EPI system accelerates a sabot electromagnetically. The sabot is a metallic capsule that can be accelerated to desired velocities by an electromagnetic impeller. At the end of its acceleration, within 2 ms, the sabot will release a radiative payload, which is composed of low-z granules, or a shell pellet containing smaller pellets. The primary advantage of the EPI concept over gas propelled systems is its potential to meet short warning time scales, while accurately delivering the required particle size and materials at the velocities needed for achieving the required penetration depth in high power ITER-scale discharges for thermal and runaway current disruption mitigation. The present experimental tests from a prototype system have demonstrated the acceleration of a 3.2 g sabot to over 150 m s−1 within 1.5 ms, consistent with the calculations, giving some degree of confidence that larger ITER-scale injector can be developed.
Pipeline Embolization of Vertebrobasilar Aneurysms—A Multicenter Case Series

Background The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) has been increasingly used for the treatment of posterior circulation aneurysms. The purpose of the present study was to examine the clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients with vertebrobasilar aneurysms treated with the PED. Methods We performed a retrospective review of vertebrobasilar aneurysms treated with the PED at 4 high-volume neurovascular centers. Patient, aneurysm, and procedural data were collected, including perioperative and delayed complications. Aneurysm occlusion on follow-up imaging studies was defined as complete (100%), near-complete (>90%), or incomplete ( Results The cohort included 35 patients with 37 vertebrobasilar aneurysms who underwent 36 treatment sessions. Of the 35 patients, 10 were men (29%), and the mean patient age was 54.1 years (range, 32–75). Eight patients (23%) underwent urgent treatment because of a ruptured aneurysm (n = 6), brainstem perforator stroke (n = 1), or post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm (n = 1). Of the 37 aneurysms, 22 arose from the vertebral artery (59%) and 15 from the basilar artery (41%). Also, 19 were saccular aneurysms (51%), with a mean size of 7.7 mm (range, 1.7–38.0); 17 were fusiform aneurysms (46%), with a mean size of 11.0 mm (range, 4.3–34); and 1 was a 2.9-mm blister aneurysm. The overall procedural complication rate was 14% (5 of 36), including 3 neurologically symptomatic complications. At a mean follow-up period of 14 months (range, 3–59), 24 of 34 aneurysms (71%) were completely occluded and 29 of 34 (85%) were completely or near-completely occluded. Conclusion Our results show that Pipeline embolization of vertebrobasilar aneurysms is associated with acceptable occlusion and complication rates.
Investigating mesh sensitivity and polycrystalline RVEs in crystal plasticity finite element simulations

Abstract Crystal plasticity-finite element method (CP-FEM) is now widely used to understand the mechanical response of polycrystalline materials. However, quantitative mesh convergence tests and verification of the necessary size of polycrystalline representative volume elements (RVE) are often overlooked in CP-FEM simulations. Mesh convergence studies in CP-FEM models are more challenging compared to conventional finite element analysis (FEA) as they are not only computationally expensive but also require explicit discretization of individual grains using many finite elements. Resolving each grains within a polycrystalline domain complicates mesh convergence study since mesh convergence is strongly affected by the initial crystal orientations of grains and local loading conditions. In this work, large-scale CP-FEM simulations of single crystals and polycrystals are conducted to study mesh sensitivity in CP-FEM models. Various factors that may affect the mesh convergence in CP-FEM simulations, such as initial textures, hardening models and boundary conditions are investigated. In addition, the total number of grains required to obtain adequate RVE is investigated. This work provides a list of guidelines for mesh convergence and RVE generation in CP-FEM modeling.
Driving GaN Power Transistors

In order to take full advantage of fast and efficient switching performance of emerging GaN power devices, it is important for circuit designers to understand the unique features of power GaN devices and their limitations. It is also important to appreciate new opportunities and challenges that these new devices have brought to the society. Motivated by this, this paper reviews some critical design issues in developing modern GaN based power ICs, with focus on reliability, noise, efficiency, speed and cost. State-of-art design solutions are also briefly reviewed.
Randomly coloring simple hypergraphs with fewer colors

Abstract We study the problem of constructing a (near) uniform random proper q-coloring of a simple k-uniform hypergraph with n vertices and maximum degree Δ. (Proper in that no edge is mono-colored and simple in that two edges have maximum intersection of size one.) We show that if q ≥ max ⁡ { C k log ⁡ n , 500 k 3 Δ 1 / ( k − 1 ) } then the Glauber Dynamics will become close to uniform in O ( n log ⁡ n ) time, given a random (improper) start. This improves on the results in Frieze and Melsted [5] .
PubMed Labs: An Experimental System for Improving Biomedical Literature Search

PubMed is a freely accessible system for searching the biomedical literature, with ~ 2.5 million users worldwide on an average workday. In order to better meet our users' needs in an era of information overload, we have recently developed PubMed Labs (www.pubmed.gov/labs), an experimental system for users to test new search features/tools (e.g. Best Match) and provide feedback, which enables us to make more informed decisions about potential changes to improve the search quality and overall usability of PubMed. In addition, PubMed Labs features a mobile-first and responsive layout that offers better support for accessing PubMed from increasingly popular mobiles and small-screen devices. In this paper, we detail PubMed Labs, its purpose, new features and best practices. We also encourage users to share their experience with us; based on which we are continuously improving PubMed Labs with more advanced features and better user experience.
Resource ecologies, political economies and the ethics of audio technologies in the Anthropocene

Understanding how recorded and amplified stage musics contribute towards producing the Anthropocene necessitates attending to complex transnational flows of material, capital and labor, and how they coalesce into technological objects. This is complicated by the wide array of sites, practices and knowledges involved during various stages of the production process, from initial resource extraction, to smelting, component manufacturing, technology assembly, and distribution. To develop a suitable technological ethics, and to understand what happens to environments and to human, animal and plant lifeworlds, requires one to resist abstraction and undertake a global accounting of resource ecologies with recourse to planetary-scale political economy. Towards this goal, I provide a partial account of an early 2000s mic preamp, a mundane but nonetheless fetishised recording studio technological object. I focus on two metals, tin and tantalum, that are primarily extracted for electronics manufacturing, and two building blocks of electronics, solder and capacitors, which are essential for making contemporary electronics.
Non-governmental organizations and human rights

By now it should be clear that states, acting frequently through international organizations and/or diplomatic conferences, produce the international law of human rights by concluding treaties and developing customary law. The resulting law obligates states, primarily. In Chapter 6 we examined state foreign policy against the background of the international law of human rights. But private actors can be important at both ends of this process, affecting legislation and implementation. This chapter starts with an analysis of non-governmental organizations and their advocacy of human rights ideas, which is directed both to the creation and application of human rights norms. Probably the best known of these groups is Amnesty International. This analysis is eventually set within the confines of social movements. Such actors push for more liberalism in the form of human rights protection in international relations. The chapter then turns to those private groups that are mostly called relief or development agencies, or sometimes PVOs (private voluntary agencies) or VOLAGs (voluntary agencies). A classic example is Oxfam. These private actors are crucial especially for grassroots action that directly or indirectly attends to social and economic rights. Most can be said to be liberal or pragmatic liberal actors, in that they emphasize policies for the betterment of individuals under legal norms, rather than emphasizing the collective national interests of states as pursued through the application of power. Chapter 8 addresses private for-profit actors, commonly called multinational or transnational corporations when they act across national borders.
Prediction of Antimicrobial Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria From Whole-Genome Sequencing Data.

Background Early detection of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens and prescription of more effective antibiotics is a fast-emerging need in clinical practice. High-throughput sequencing technology, such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), may have the capacity to rapidly guide the clinical decision-making process. The prediction of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, often the cause of serious systemic infections, is more challenging as genotype-to-phenotype (drug resistance) relationship is more complex than for most Gram-positive organisms. Methods and findings We have used NCBI BioSample database to train and cross-validate eight XGBoost-based machine learning models to predict drug resistance to cefepime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, meropenem, and tobramycin tested in Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella aerogenes, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The input is the WGS data in terms of the coverage of known antibiotic resistance genes by shotgun sequencing reads. Models demonstrate high performance and robustness to class imbalanced datasets. Conclusion Whole genome sequencing enables the prediction of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. We present a tool that provides an in silico antibiogram for eight drugs. Predictions are accompanied with a reliability index that may further facilitate the decision making process. The demo version of the tool with pre-processed samples is available at https://vancampn.shinyapps.io/wgs2amr/. The stand-alone version of the predictor is available at https://github.com/pieterjanvc/wgs2amr/.
Atmospheric Simulations of Total Column CO2 Mole Fractions from Global to Mesoscale within the Carbon Monitoring System Flux Inversion Framework

Quantifying the uncertainty of inversion-derived CO2 surface fluxes and attributing the uncertainty to errors in either flux or atmospheric transport simulations continue to be challenges in the characterization of surface sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2). Despite recent studies inferring fluxes while using higher-resolution modeling systems, the utility of regional-scale models remains unclear when compared to existing coarse-resolution global systems. Here, we present an off-line coupling of the mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to optimized biogenic CO2 fluxes and mole fractions from the global Carbon Monitoring System inversion system (CMS-Flux). The coupling framework consists of methods to constrain the mass of CO2 introduced into WRF, effectively nesting our regional domain covering most of North America (except the northern half of Canada) within the CMS global model. We test the coupling by simulating Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) column-averaged dry-air mole fractions (XCO2) over North America for 2010. We find mean model-model differences in summer of 0.12 ppm, significantly lower than the original coupling scheme (from 0.5 to 1.5 ppm, depending on the boundary). While 85% of the XCO2 values are due to long-range transport from outside our North American domain, most of the model-model differences appear to be due to transport differences in the fraction of the troposphere below 850 hPa. Satellite data from GOSAT and tower and aircraft data are used to show that vertical transport above the Planetary Boundary Layer is responsible for significant model-model differences in the horizontal distribution of column XCO2 across North America.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer exposures and effects on young children in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dear Editor, Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) are increasingly being used during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The first U.S. case was identified in late January 2020. ABHS ...
Mechanisms of ligand binding

Many processes in chemistry and biology involve interactions of a ligand with its molecular target. Interest in the mechanism governing such interactions has dominated theoretical and experimental analysis for over a century. The interpretation of molecular recognition has evolved from a simple rigid body association of the ligand with its target to appreciation of the key role played by conformational transitions. Two conceptually distinct descriptions have had a profound impact on our understanding of mechanisms of ligand binding. The first description, referred to as induced fit, assumes that conformational changes follow the initial binding step to optimize the complex between the ligand and its target. The second description, referred to as conformational selection, assumes that the free target exists in multiple conformations in equilibrium and that the ligand selects the optimal one for binding. Both descriptions can be merged into more complex reaction schemes that better describe the functional repertoire of macromolecular systems. This review deals with basic mechanisms of ligand binding, with special emphasis on induced fit, conformational selection, and their mathematical foundations to provide rigorous context for the analysis and interpretation of experimental data. We show that conformational selection is a surprisingly versatile mechanism that includes induced fit as a mathematical special case and even captures kinetic properties of more complex reaction schemes. These features make conformational selection a dominant mechanism of molecular recognition in biology, consistent with the rich conformational landscape accessible to biological macromolecules being unraveled by structural biology.
A genetic screen for regulators of muscle morphogenesis in Drosophila

Abstract The mechanisms that determine the final topology of skeletal muscles remain largely unknown. We have been developing Drosophila body wall musculature as a model to identify and characterize the pathways that control muscle size, shape, and orientation during embryogenesis (Johnson et al., 2013; Williams et al., 2015; Yang et al., 2020a; Yang et al., 2020b). Our working model argues muscle morphogenesis is regulated by (1) extracellular guidance cues that direct muscle cells toward muscle attachment sites, and (2) contact dependent interactions between muscles and tendons. While we have identified several pathways that regulate muscle morphogenesis, our understanding is far from complete. Here we report the results of a recent EMS-based forward genetic screen that identified a myriad of loci not previously associated with muscle morphogenesis. We recovered new alleles of known muscle morphogenesis genes, including bsd, kon, ths, and tum, arguing our screening strategy was effective and efficient. We also identified and sequenced new alleles of salm, barr, and ptc that presumably disrupt independent pathways directing muscle morphogenesis. Equally as important, our screen shows that at least 11 morphogenetic loci remain to be identified. This screen has developed exciting new tools to study muscle morphogenesis, which may provide future insights into the mechanisms that determine skeletal muscle topology.
Levels and mRNA expression of interleukin-8 in gastric and duodenal mucosa of children infected with Helicobacter pylori

Objective To determine the changes of IL 8 and IL 8 mRNA in gastric and duodenal mucosa of children with Hp infection, to study the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection on the expression of IL 8 and IL 8 mRNA, and to evaluate its possible roles in the pathogenesis of gastric and duodenal mucosal inflammation in Hp related gastroduodenal diseases Methods Biopsy specimens were taken from the antral and duodenal mucosa on endoscopy in patients with or without Hp infection, which was diagnosed by urease test and Warshing Starry staining The expression of IL 8 in gastric and duodenal mucosa was determied by ELISA, the expression of IL 8 mRNA was determined by using RT PCR Results Inflammation of gastric antral mucosa was more severe in Hp positive group than in Hp negative group aActive inflammation often existed on the basis of chronic inflammation in Hp positive mucosa, and duodenal mucosa had mild chronic inflammation in Hp positive group Of 17 children who were not infected with Hp, 4 had pathologically normal gastric mucosa and had mild chronic gastritis, one child had an active chronic gastritis Ninteen children were infected with Hpand all had chronic gastritis with signs of active inflammation Gastric and duodenal mucosal IL 8 and IL 8 mRNA were higher in HP infected than in non infected childen (IL 8: in gastric mucosa 24 66-177 77 pg/mg, 2 94-12 98 pg/mg, t =12 34, P 0 01; in duodenal mucosa: 4 28-47 76 pg/mg, 2 04-9 52 pg/mg, t =7 18, P 0 01 IL 8 mRNA: in gastric mucosa 2 37-4 99, 0 05-0 44, t =29 29, P 0 01; in duodenal mucosa 1 22-1 87, 0 01-0 23, t =37 20, P 0 01) Children with active chronic gastritis had higher interleukin 8 levels and IL 8 mRNA expression than those with inactive gastritis (IL 8 in gastric mucosa: 12 98-177 77 pg/mg, 2 04-10 43 pg/mg, t =10 66, P 0 01; in duodenal mucosa: 5 28-47 76 pg/mg, 3 19-8 14 pg/mg, t =6 52, P 0 01 IL 8 mRNA in gastric mucosa: 0 51-4 99, 0 01-0 44, t =18 62, P 0 01; in duodenal mucosa: 0 23-1 87, 0 01-0 20, t =19 10, P 0 01) Conclusion Higher expression of IL 8 and IL 8 mRNA was seen in Hp positive gastric and duodenal mucosa and in active gastritis IL 8 may play an important role in the local gastric and duodenal mucosal inflammatory infiltration with a largenumber of neutrophils when there is Hp infection
Human Gait During Level Walking With an Occupational Whole-Body Powered Exoskeleton: Not Yet a Walk in the Park

With rapid advancements in exoskeleton technologies, a whole-body powered exoskeleton (WB-PEXO) for augmenting human physical capacity (a “super-operator”) is generating increasing attention as an integral part of Industry 4.0. Our understanding of WB-PEXO use is lagging, however, largely due to the lack of detailed evaluations via human-subjects testing of a WB-PEXO. We examined (independently from the manufacturer of a WB-PEXO) the potential impacts of using a state-of-the-art WB-PEXO prototype (pre-alpha prototype version of the Sarcos Guardian® XO®) on users ( $n=5$ ) during a common basic activity in the workplace, level walking. With emphasis on the “human”, impacts of XO use (compared to a no EXO baseline) were assessed in terms of lower limb intersegmental coordination, muscle activity, and postural dynamic stability. A larger variance between participants was observed for intersegmental coordination with XO use, and participants appeared to rely on more hip motions. When using the XO, participants exhibited higher muscle activity levels in the lower limb muscle groups monitored. Further, there was a moderate to high similarity in muscle activity profiles between the XO and no EXO conditions ( $R_{XY}\left ({\tau }\right)=0.70-0.92)$ , yet muscle activity profiles when using the XO were generally time-lagged from those without the XO. We discuss the results within the context of developing a mental model for walking with the XO, and aspects of human-robot interaction such as transparency of the XO and understanding user state and intention. In concluding, we outline several future research topics for occupational WB-PEXO development.
REDACT: refraction networking from the data center

Refraction networking is a promising censorship circumvention technique in which a participating router along the path to an innocuous destination deflects traffic to a covert site that is otherwise blocked by the censor. However, refraction networking faces major practical challenges due to performance issues and various attacks (e.g., routing-around-the-decoy and fingerprinting). Given that many sites are now hosted in the cloud, data centers offer an advantageous setting to implement refraction networking due to the physical proximity and similarity of hosted sites. We propose REDACT, a novel class of refraction networking solutions where the decoy router is a border router of a multi-tenant data center and the decoy and covert sites are tenants within the same data center. We highlight one specific example REDACT protocol, which leverages TLS session resumption to address the performance and implementation challenges in prior refraction networking protocols. REDACT also offers scope for other designs with different realistic use cases and assumptions.
Concept Mapping as a Mindtool for Critical Thinking

AbstractConcept mapping is a mindtool (cognitive tool) that can enhance the interdependence of declarative and procedural knowledge to produce yet another form of knowledge representation known as structural knowledge (Jonassen, 1996). Structural knowledge is best described as knowing why something is the case. It helps learners integrate and interrelate declarative and procedural knowledge by activating the perceived static nature of declarative knowledge and by increasing the awareness of why one knows how to do something. By using computer-based concept mapping tools as a cognitive or learning strategy, learners can sharpen inference-making and critical thinking skills and can avoid the acquisition and accumulation of inert (unusable) knowledge. This article discusses the use and application of two computer-based concept mapping tools, Inspiration® and Semnet®, in educational contexts to foster meaningful learning and understanding. Inspiration® and Semnet® are visual thinking environments that allow u...
[18F]FDG PET/MRI of patients with chronic pain alters management: early experience.

The chronic pain sufferer is currently faced with a lack of objective tools to identify the source of their pain. The overarching goal is to develop clinical [18F]FDG PET/MRI methods to more accurately localize sites of increased neuronal and muscular metabolism or inflammation as it relates to neurogenic sources of pain and to ultimately improve outcomes of chronic pain sufferers. The aims are to 1) correlate imaging findings with location of pain symptomology, 2) predict location of symptoms based on imaging findings alone and 3) to determine whether the imaging results affect current management decisions. Six patients suffering from chronic lower extremity neuropathic pain (4 complex regional pain syndrome, 1 chronic sciatica and 1 neuropathic pain) have been imaged with a PET/MRI system (time-of-flight PET; 3.0T bore) from mid thorax through the feet. All patients underwent PET/MR imaging one hour after a injection of 10mCi [18F]FDG. Two radiologists evaluated PET/MR images (one blinded and the other unblinded to patient exam/history). ROI analysis showed focal increased [18F]FDG uptake in affected nerves and muscle (approx 2-4 times more) over background tissue in various regions of the body in 5 of 6 patients at the site of greatest pain symptoms and other areas of the body (SUVmax of Target 0.9-4.2 vs. Background 0.2-1.2). The radiologist blind to the patient history/exam was able to correctly identify side/location of the symptoms in 5 out of 6 patients. Imaging results were reviewed with the referring physician, who then determined whether a modification in the management plan was needed: 1/6 no change, 2/6 mild modification (e.g., additional diagnostic test ordered) and 3/6 significant modification.
Modern Finance Theory Within One Lifetime

We meet to celebrate the century birthday of Louis Bachelier’s Paris Ph.D. thesis, Theorie de la Speculation. One hundred is a good round number. However, the text of my sermon today is about the genesis of the present modern theory of finance in one academic lifetime — a rare phenomenon in the annals of any science. Although Bachelier’s basic breakthrough came in 1900, its scientic beginning must be placed at about 1950. Science is public knowledge. The treasures that were in Gauss’s private notebooks were as if they never existed — until he released them in lecture or publication, or until they were later quasi-independently discovered by scholars other than Gauss. When a tree falls in a forest empty of observers or listeners, it is much as if no tree ever fell there at all.
Selenium and nitrate removal from agricultural drainage using the AIWPS ® technology

Monthly Maximum Discharge Limits (MMDL) have been established for selenium in irrigation drainage by the State of California and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency following observations of avian teratogenesis at the Kesterson Reservoir in the San Joaquin Valley of California. As a result of these and other adverse effects, farmers and drainage districts on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley must reduce selenium concentrations in irrigation drainage discharged to the San Joaquin River. Drainage treatment will be required in the near future to meet existing MMDL and future Total Maximum Discharge Limits (TMDL) for the San Joaquin River. A 0.4-hectare Algal Bacterial Selenium Removal (ABSR) Facility was designed and constructed at the Panoche Drainage District in 1995 and 1996 using the Advanced Integrated Wastewater Pond Systems® or AIWPS® Technology. Each of two physically identical systems combined a Reduction Pond (RP) with a shallow, peripheral algal High Rate Pond (HRP). A Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) unit and a slow sand filter were used to remove particulate selenium from the effluent of each system. The two systems were operated under different modes of operation and the bacterial substrate varied in each system. The rates of nitrate and selenium removal were compared. Microalgae were harvested using DAF and used as a carbon-rich substrate for nitrate- and selenate-reducing bacteria. Mass removals of total soluble selenium of 77% or greater were achieved over a three-year period. Nitrate and selenate were removed by assimiliatory and dissimiliatory bacterial reduction, and nitrate was also removed by algal assimilation. The final removal of particulate selenium is the focus of ongoing investigations. The removal of particulate selenium is expected to increase the overall removal of selenium to greater than 90% and would allow farmers and drainage districts to discharge irrigation drainage in compliance with regulatory discharge limits.
Assessing grassland restoration success: relative roles of seed additions and native ungulate activities

Summary 1 Grassland restorations often lack rare forb and grass species that are found in intact grasslands. The possible reasons for low diversity include seed limitation, microsite limitation and a combination of both. Native ungulates may create microsites for seedling establishment in tallgrass prairie restorations by grazing dominant species or through trampling activities, but this has never been tested in developing prairies. 2 We experimentally tested for seed and microsite limitation in the largest tallgrass prairie restoration in the USA by adding rare forb and grass seeds in two trials inside and outside native ungulate exclosures. We measured seedling emergence because this stage is crucial in recruiting species into a community. We also measured light, water and standing crop biomass to test whether resource availability could help to explain seedling emergence rates. 3 Ungulates increased light availability for each sampling time and also increased above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) during summer. 4 Seedling emergence of rare prairie forbs and grasses was consistently greater when we added seeds. 5 Seedling emergence was conditionally greater with a combination of seed additions and grazing, but grazing alone was unable to increase emergence. 6 When ungulates increased seedling enhancement, the mechanism was partially associated with increased water and light availability. 7 Exotic and cosmopolitan weed seedling emergence was not affected by grazing. 8 Synthesis and applications. These results suggest that tallgrass prairie restorations are primarily seed limited and that grazing alone may not be able to increase seedling emergence of rare species without the addition of seeds. Therefore, adding seeds to grassland restorations may increase seedling emergence of rare species, and mimicking effects of grazing may increase emergence when seeds are added.
Drinking Coffee in Europe: A Demographic Analysis

Coffee is one of the staple beverages across Europe. The three highest GDP holders in the continent: France, Germany, UK have been compared based on their amount of coffee consumption relative to certain specific demographic variables. Three distinct user types have been identified in terms of heavy, medium and low coffee users. Variables ranging from age groups, household income, household size, gender and others have been utilized to offer an insight into the relationship of the aforesaid variables towards coffee consumption amongst the user groups. Moreover, consumption patterns, country wise and user based similarities and divergences have been investigated. The study provides a basis for future potential penetration into the coffee markets in the regions discussed as well as greater Europe.
RATIOING FLUOROMETER PROBE FOR LOCALIZING CARCINOMA IN SITU IN BRONCHI OF THE LUNG

A bronchoscopic ratioing fiuorometer probe, that ratios the red light emitted from bronchial tumor to the green light of autofluorescence upon stimulation by violet light (413 nm) has proven capable of detecting and localizing small bronchial tumors bronchoscopically, 4, 48, and 72 h after intravenous Photofrin II injection. Still to be determined is whether‘field averaging’in the case of very small bronchial carcinoma in situ will diminish accuracy. The accuracy, efficiency, and cost of localization by imaging fluorescence bronchoscopy will be compared to that by non-imaging ratioing fiuorometer probe.
tRNA modification activity is necessary for Tet(M)-mediated tetracycline resistance.

Abstract Tet(M) protein interacts with the protein biosynthetic machinery to render this process resistant to the tetracycline in vivo and in vitro (V. Burdett, J. Biol. Chem. 266:2872-2877, 1991). To understand this process more completely, a mutant of Escherichia coli which is altered in the ability of Tet(M) to confer resistance has been identified. This mutation maps to miaA and displays phenotypes characteristic of previously isolated miaA mutations. The miaA gene product modifies A37 adjacent to the anticodon of several tRNA species. Both the mutant isolated in this work and previously isolated miaA mutants confer tetracycline sensitivity in the presence of functional Tet(M), both share a slow growth phenotype, and in neither case is a wild-type phenotype restored in trans by F'112 carrying the 89- to 98-min region of the chromosome. These similar phenotypes further substantiate the assignment of the mutation described here to the miaA locus.
Virus Analysis: Techniques, Tools, and Research Issues

The tutorial will cover techniques, tools, and research issues in analyzing computer viruses. It will provide participants the background needed to initiate research in reverse engineering computer viruses.
Teaching the history of computing (painlessly)

Knowledge about the history of computing can provide students with a broad perspective and valuable insights into the "real world" and how things came to be the way that they are. However, there is precious little time in today's crowded computer science curriculum to devote to this subject matter. This paper investigated a leaning technique in which a significant "history component" was added to a computer architecture course. The students studied the history component entirely on their own and completely outside the classroom. An analysis of student opinions indicates that the students greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn about the history of computing and that the technique was very successful -- and is likely to be equally applicable in other academic areas.
The modal view of essence

According to the modal view, essence admits of reductive analysis in exclusively modal terms. Fine (1994) argues that modal view delivers an inadequate analysis of essence. This paper defends the modal view from Fine's challenge. This defense proceeds by examining the disagreement between Finean primitivists and Quinean eliminativists about essence. In order to model this disagreement, a distinction between essence and a separable concept, nature, is required. This distinction is then used to show that Fine's challenge is misdirected and therefore unsuccessful.
Activation of the Alternative Complement Pathway by Blood Culture Isolates of Bacteroides fragilis

Blood culture isolates of Bacteroides caused depletion of alternative complement pathway hemolytic activity, but no fall in C4 titers, when incubated in vitro with normal serum or serum containing 0.002 M MgCl2 and 0.008 M ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid.
Hedge Fund Return Dependence and Liquidity Spirals

Different types of hedge funds tend to suffer poor abnormal returns simultaneously. Moreover, the likelihood of clustering in hedge fund left tail abnormal returns is positively related to negative liquidity shocks. These patterns have been interpreted as evidence that hedge funds suffer from liquidity shock induced contagion. We provide novel tests that demonstrate these patterns result from model misspecification and time-varying heteroskedasticity rather than liquidity shock induced contagion. Our results have important implications for understanding how markets function, the role of hedge funds in markets, and hedge fund regulation.
Colonization of newly planted coffee fields: dominance of Mediterranean fruit fly over oriental fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Previous studies in Hawaii indicated that Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Mediterranean fruit fly, became scarce at low elevations subsequent to accidental introduction of Bactrocear dorsalis (Hendel), oriental fruit fly. The conclusion was that competitive displacement, elevation, and parasites were major determinants in the ranges of these two fruit flies. Recently, commercial coffee, Coffea arabica L., was planted in former sugarcane. Saccharin officinarum L., fields at an elevation of 122 m on Kauai Island, HI. During a 3-yr period we studied colonization of fruits by C. capitata , B. dorsalis , and Biosteres arisanus (Sonan), a beneficial solitary wasp that attacks both species of fruit flies. During seasons 1 and 2, mean numbers of C. capitata were greater than those of B. dorsalis. Lack of an inverse correlation between numbers of the two tephritids emerging from fruits suggested that these species were not competitors. B. arisanus parasitization rates on the basis of live and dead parasitoids recovered from C. capitata and B. dorsalis pupae were modest. Studies during season 3 indicated B. arisanus parasitization rates were higher for C. capitata than those for B. dorsalis . Numbers of C. capitata and B. arisanus were correlated during both seasons, suggesting a density-dependent relationship between the most abundant host and the parasitoid. Fruit infestation data demonstrated that C. capitata exploits fruits at an earlier ripeness stage and emerges sooner from fruits than B. dorsalis. Analysis of three annual coffee crops indicated that C. capitata was the dominant fruit fly species in the coffee agroecosystem by the end of the season. This finding differs from previous studies, wherein B. dorsalis was dominant over C. capitata at low elevation.
Apomorphine in Huntington's chorea: clinical observations and theoretical considerations.

Abstract Five patients, four definitively diagnosed as suffering from Huntington's disease and the fifth with abnormal involuntary movements (AIM) and dementia but no apparent family history of the disease, were administered apomorphine. Although the short duration of action and stressful side-effects produced by apomorphine limited its use regarding a complete dose- and time-response evaluation, slight to marked diminution of AIM was seen in all patients. Optimal doses ranged from 1–2 mg across patients, producing a significant reduction in AIM for the entire hour of observations. Theoretical interpretations of these effects regarding dopaminergic receptor stimulation and/or blockade by apomorphine are discussed.
An analytical study of subdividing hexagon-clustered WSN for power saving

Hexagon is an ideal shape for clustering sensor networks, for it can seamlessly divide clustered areas, and is the largest regular polygon (in terms of the number of sides) that has this property. In this paper, we analyze the benefit of subdividing a hexagonal cluster for the purpose of reducing the overall power consumption in the cluster. Assuming a spatial Poisson distribution of sensor nodes in the cluster, we propose a subdivision scheme, and perform a comprehensive analytical estimate of power savings brought about by the subdivision. The analytical results show that subdivision will yield considerable saving in overall power consumption of the cluster, and the saving is heavily dependent on the nodes' transmission range and their deployment density. The limit on the depth of subdivision is also analyzed.