cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OFDMA for underwater acoustic communications

We investigate the possibility of using orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) for design of efficient underwater acoustic (UWA) networks. The major challenge for the OFDMA-based UWA communication systems is the Doppler-induced frequency scaling, which may cause severe intercarrier interference (ICI), and depending on the particular user subcarrier assignment, can introduce a destructive level of interuser interference (IUI). The commonly-adopted Doppler mitigation technique of OFDM based transmissions uses a single-resampling stage, which attempts to compensate for the common Doppler scaling factor shared by all propagation paths. While effective in peer-to-peer communication scenarios, this method might be suboptimal and may fail in a multiuser environment, where users can experience significantly different Doppler scaling effects. In this paper, we develop a unique OFDMA receiver front end, which enables compensation of each user-specific Doppler by means of multiple resampling branches. With this new design, we investigate two subcarrier allocation schemes, namely the contiguous carrier assignment, and the interleaved carrier assignment schemes. We demonstrate the effectiveness of multiple-resampling designs and study the differences between the two assignment schemes both via simulations as well as emulations obtained by real data recorded in the recent 2010 Mobile Acoustic Communications Experiment (MACE 10).
Minimally Invasive Surgery for Complicated Diverticulitis

Recent guidelines recommend an individualized approach to recurrent uncomplicated diverticulitis, reflecting research showing that non-operative treatment is safe. Thus, the majority of operations for diverticulitis in the future may be for complicated indications. A laparoscopic approach may be used for both acute and chronic complicated diverticulitis in appropriate patients, as described in the American and European guidelines. However, a safe approach to minimally invasive surgery requires recognition when conditions deteriorate or are not suited to laparoscopy as well as knowledge of a variety of technical maneuvers that elucidate difficult anatomy and facilitate resection. Primary anastomosis with or without diversion can be performed safely, and ileostomy reversal is significantly less morbid than Hartmann’s (colostomy) reversal. Success in laparoscopy can be achieved with the use of adjunct techniques and technologies, including ureteral stents, hand ports, and hybrid approaches. When completed successfully, a laparoscopic approach has been shown to confer decreased ileus, length of stay, post-operative pain, surgical site infection, and ventral hernia compared to an open approach.
Letting Objects Speak: Beauty in the Japanese Artistic Tradition

Traditional Japanese art-making aims at grasping and presenting what are considered to be the defining characteristics of the object, whether used as the subject matter or raw material. Successful articulation of such characteristics is made possible by the artist who lets the object lead the art-making process. The beauty of Japanese art is appreciated when art paradoxically appears artless, as if it spontaneously “became” rather than having been “made,” despite the arduous work and meticulous artifice that are necessarily involved in its creation.
Wert der Digitalisierung – Erfolgreiche Auswahl von Digitalisierungsprojekten

Die Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung sind schon lange sowohl in unserem Privatleben als auch in Unternehmen zu spuren. Die wesentlichen Neuerungen liegen hauptsachlich darin, dass sich Technologien und Prozesse in allen Geschaftsbereichen schneller andern, die Vernetzung zwischen Unternehmen und Kunden weiter zunimmt und bei Kunden und Mitarbeitern eine hohere Akzeptanz fur neue Technologien vorherrscht. Obwohl viele Unternehmen bereits einige Digitalisierungsprojekte umsetzen, wissen die meisten Fuhrungskrafte noch nicht, welchen Wert die Digitalisierung fur ihr Unternehmen liefern kann. Auch in der Literatur fehlen noch bewahrte Methoden zur Bewertung des Wertbeitrags von Digitalisierungsprojekten. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird im vorliegenden Beitrag ein Bewertungsschema fur Digitalisierungsprojekte entwickelt. Dazu werden die Werttreiber Kundenerlebnis sowie Effizienz als Messgrosen im Bereich der Digitalisierung identifiziert und ein vierstufiges Vorgehensmodell zur Identifikation des Projektportfolios, das am besten zur Zielerreichung fur ein Unternehmen beitragt, abgeleitet. In einer Anwendung auf drei Digitalisierungsprojekte im Bereich Online- und Mobile-Banking einer grosen deutschen Bank (Online-Kontoeroffnung, Kontozugang durch Fingerabdruck und Postbox) wird das Bewertungsschema im Praxiskontext veranschaulicht.
Does Maternity Care Coordination Influence Perinatal Health Care Utilization? Evidence from North Carolina.

Objective To examine effects of maternity care coordination (MCC) on perinatal health care utilization among low-income women. Data Sources North Carolina Center for Health Statistics Baby Love files that include birth certificates, maternity care coordination records, WIC records, and Medicaid claims. Study Design Causal effects of MCC participation on health care outcomes were estimated in a sample of 7,124 singleton Medicaid-covered births using multiple linear regressions with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Principal Findings Maternity care coordination recipients were more likely to receive first-trimester prenatal care (p < .01) and averaged three more prenatal visits and two additional primary care visits during pregnancy; they were also more likely to participate in WIC and to receive postpartum family planning services (p < .01). Medicaid expenditures were greater among mothers receiving MCC. Conclusions Maternity care coordination facilitates access to health care and supportive services among Medicaid-covered women. Increased maternal service utilization may increase expenditures in the short run; however, improved newborn health may reduce the need for costly neonatal care, and by implication the need for early intervention and other supports for at-risk children.
Savings memory is accompanied by transcriptional changes that persist beyond the decay of recall

Most long-term memories are forgotten. What happens, then, to the changes in neuronal gene expression that were initially required to encode and maintain the memory? Here we show that the decay of recall for long-term sensitization memory in Aplysia is accompanied both by a form of savings memory (easier relearning) and by persistent transcriptional regulation. A behavioral experiment (N = 14) shows that sensitization training produces a robust long-term sensitization memory, but that recall fades completely within 1 wk. This apparent forgetting, though, is belied by persistent savings memory, as we found that a weak reminder protocol reinstates a long-term sensitization memory only on the previously trained side of the body. Using microarray (N = 8 biological replicates), we found that transcriptional regulation largely decays along with recall. Of the transcripts known to be regulated 1 d after training, 98% (1172/1198) are no longer significantly regulated 7 d after training. Still, there is a small set of transcripts which remain strongly regulated even when recall is absent. Using qPCR (N = 11 additional biological replicates) we confirmed that these include the peptide transmitter FMRFamide, a transcript encoding a putative homolog of spectrin beta chain (Genbank: EB255259) , a transcript encoding a protein with a predicted EF-hand calcium-binding domain (Genbank: EB257711), and eight uncharacterized transcripts. To our knowledge, this is the first work to show that transcriptional changes evoked by learning can outlast recall. The small set of transcriptional changes that persist could mediate the rapid relearning of the memory (savings), or the decay of recall, or both, or neither.
Whispering gallery mode resonator sensor for in situ measurements of hydrogel gelation

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators are compact and ultrasensitive devices, which enable label-free sensing at the single-molecule level. Despite their high sensitivity, WGM resonators have not been thoroughly investigated for use in dynamic biochemical processes including molecular diffusion and polymerization. In this work, the first report of using WGM sensors to continuously monitor a chemical reaction (i.e. gelation) in situ in a hydrogel is described. Specifically, we monitor and quantify the gelation dynamics of polyacrylamide hydrogels using WGM resonators and compare the results to an established measurement method based on rheology. Rheology measures changes in viscoelasticity, while WGM resonators measure changes in refractive index. Different gelation conditions were studied by varying the total monomer concentration and crosslinker concentration of the hydrogel precursor solution, and the resulting similarities and differences in the signal from the WGM resonator and rheology are elucidated. This work demonstrates that WGM alone or in combination with rheology can be used to investigate the gelation dynamics of hydrogels to provide insights into their gelation mechanisms.
Legal Norm and Discretion in the Police and Sentencing Processes

Professor Kadish examines representative occasions in which administration of the criminal law currently involves exercises of official discretion effectively isolated from judicial review and the rule of law. He finds the existence of such unfettered discretion to be a threat to basic values implicit in notions of due process of law, and concludes that although polar alternatives to discretion may be undesirable or illusory, criminal law enforcement can often be improved substantially by the imposition of legal procedures and standards upon the exercise of discretion.
Wave Runup on Beaches

Runup on beaches is an important topic in coastal engineering because it defines the upper limit of direct wave influence on land. It is also a phenomenon that has proved very difficult to analyze and characterize in a quantitative manner. The reason for this difficulty is the more general problem of understanding the response of beaches to waves. This paper develops formulas to estimate the approximate upper limit of wave runup on sand and gravel beaches. The relationship between these formulas and recent progress in quantifying beach profile response to waves and the morphodynamics of beaches is discussed. It was found that estimates of wave runup on sand beaches could be improved if sediment sizes in both swash zone and surf zone are known.
Preclinical models for human pre-embryo biopsy and genetic diagnosis. II. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of deoxyribonucleic acid from single lymphoblasts and blastomeres with mutation detection

Objective To demonstrate the use of the polymerase chain reaction in the amplification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from single human lymphoblasts and mouse blastomeres. Amplified target genes for diagnosis of sickle cell anemia and Tay-Sachs are shown. Similarly, the sparce fur mouse model for ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency was used as an X-linked system for demonstration of mutation detection after biopsy of a single blastomere. A new diagnostic method for the detection of the ornithine transcarbamylase mutation using the restriction enzyme Mse I is presented. Accuracy and reproducibility were assured. Design Polymerase chain reaction proficiency test for amplification from single cells was studied. Also, accuracy of mutation detection systems was demonstrated. Setting Laboratories of The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School. Patients, Participants We used the sparse fur mouse model and human blood cells. Interventions Pre-embryo biopsy, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and mutation detection were performed. Main Outcome Measures Accuracy and reproducibility of DNA amplification without contamination, as well as efficient diagnostic analysis, from both single somatic and embryonic cells were shown. Results DNA amplification from single cells was uniformly rapid (6 to 10 hours) reproducible (n = 220) and accurate (n = 52). Conclusions Our findings support the feasibility of clinical application for pre-embryo biopsy and genetic diagnosis of specific heritable diseases.
Return to elite-level sport after clavicle fractures.

Objective To determine if return to sport following clavicle fracture occurs earlier in high-level sports than the current standard of care allows for. Design Observational study retrospective review of NHL prospective data. Setting The study was performed at a university orthopaedic surgery department. Patients NHL player with clavicle fracture. Assessment of independent variables The independent variable including time on injured reserve and type of treatment. Main outcome measures The primary study outcome measure was successful return to NHL play. Results 15 athletes were identified; 10 were treated operatively and 5 non-operatively. The average return to ice hockey was 10 weeks. If the one outlier is removed, the average is 9.1 weeks. There was one re-fracture in the non-operative group. The average time from injury to return to sport was 65 days in the operative group and 97.6 days in the non-operative group. Two patients were unable to return play during the same season. Conclusions High-end athletes safely return to at-risk sports after clavicle fracture much sooner than the average seen with non-elite athletes. Additional study may demonstrate that return to activity can likely be accelerated without significantly increasing complications.
Comparison of Total-Ionizing-Dose Effects in Bulk and SOI FinFETs at 90 and 295 K

Bulk and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) n-channel FinFETs with fin widths of 15–40 nm and channel lengths of 45 and 1000 nm were irradiated with 1.8 MeV protons at temperatures of 295 and 90 K. Bulk and SOI FinFETs show improved transconductance and steeper subthreshold slopes before irradiation at 90 K than at 295 K. Increased off-state leakage currents are observed for longer channel bulk FinFETs for doses above 300–500 krad (SiO2) for 295 and 90 K irradiation, and at lower doses for shorter channel devices. Threshold-voltage shifts for irradiation up to 1 Mrad(SiO2) are greater for SOI devices at 90 K than at 295 K due to enhanced charge trapping in the buried oxide (BOX). TCAD simulations provide insight into radiation-induced trapped-charge densities in the SOI devices.
Abstract P166: Paracrine Endothelial Microrna214 Exosomes Modulate Smooth Muscle Cell Function in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background: Communication among various cell types is known to play a pivotal role in PAH. Endothelial cell (EC)-derived exosomes have emerged as important mediators of intercellular communication ...
Blood Group O and ABO Non-Identical Platelet Transfusions Are Associated with Increased Red Cell Utilization in Non-Trauma Surgical Patients.

The transfusion of ABO non-identical platelets is an accepted practice, involving infusion of antigen and/or antibody that is ABO incompatible with the recipient. This results in the formation of high molecular weight immune complexes, which could, in theory, adversely affect platelet and coagulation factor function. Studies have demonstrated putative deleterious effects of ABO non-identical transfusions. In cardiac surgery patients receiving ABO non-identical platelets required 50% more red blood cell (RBC) transfusions than those who received only ABO identical platelets (Transfusion41:790, 2001). Furthermore, blood group O and A patients have genetically determined lower levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) than B and AB patients (Blood69:1691,1987), and might be expected to have more bleeding and require more RBC transfusions. Our institution implemented a protocol of transfusing only ABO identical components in April, 2005. We report here the potential effects of transfusing ABO non-identical platelets, by comparing RBC usage in surgical patients before and after introduction of a protocol of “only ABO identical” transfusions. We also report the role of ABO blood group in red cell usage. Because non-group O trauma patients by necessity receive group O red cells we excluded them from this analysis. Transfusion records for all non-trauma surgical patients receiving any platelet transfusions for one year after April, 2005 were reviewed. Patients receiving only ABO identical platelet transfusions were analyzed by blood groups: B/AB versus O/A. Group B/AB patients (n=72) required a mean of 12.5 +/− 11.7 RBCs, whereas group A/O patients (n=313) required 17.8 +/− 20.5 (p=0.036). These findings are the reverse of the patient populations receiving a mixture of ABO identical and non-identical platelets prior to April, 2005, before the implementation of an “ only ABO identical” transfusion policy. Group B/AB patients, who received more ABO non-identical platelet transfusions than A/O patients (mean 7.5 +/− 11 versus 3.3 +/− 6.2, p=0.0001), required significantly more RBCs (mean 19 +/− 25 versus 13 +/− 13, p=0.0086). Amongst those receiving only ABO identical transfusions group O patients required the largest number of RBCs, (mean 19.6 +/− 24.1), followed by A (16.0 +/− 15.8, p=0.096), B (13.2 +/− 13.1, p=0.041), and AB (11.2 +/− 7.8, p=0.05). One plausible explanation is that blood group O patients have the lowest levels of vWF and other clotting factors, while AB patients have the highest levels (AB > B > A > O). Our data in recipients of ABO identical transfusions confirm findings in the literature that group O patients may be at greater risk of hemorrhage than groups B and AB patients. However, when ABO non-identical platelets are transfused, significantly more bleeding is seen in group AB and B patients than in group O patients. We hypothesize that ABO non-identical transfusions may impair, rather than improve, hemostasis in some patients.
EP1151 A case report on primary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the vulva and its distinct clinico-pathologic identity

Introduction/Background Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC) is an epithelial malignant tumor that was first described as a salivary gland malignancy. Though common in salivary gland, it is extremely rare in the vulva with only 2 cases reported in the English language literature and none yet in the Philippines. The objectives of this case report are to present an extremely rare case of MEC in the vulva and describe its clinico-pathologic characteristics, explain how MEC may occur in this unusual location and discuss its management and other treatment options. Methodology This is a case of a 68 year-old woman with a history of vulvar pruritus and vulvar mass at the left labia majora. Punch biopsy and review of slides revealed Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Non-Keratinizing type. She underwent Radical Vulvectomy and Bilateral Lymph Groin Dissection; Wide Excision of Perineal Area; Protective Transverse Loop Colostomy; Gracilis Myocutaneous Flap with Identification of Right and Left Median Circumflex Artery with a final histopathology report of Primary Cutaneous MEC of the vulva with lymph node metastasis. Results Due to its low incidence, prognosis and definitive management is still unclear. The patient was started on adjuvant chemotherapy, followed by Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, as in other histopathologic diagnosis of advanced stage vulvar carcinoma. Conclusion This is a case of a primary cutaneous MEC of the vulva in a 68 year-old woman who presented with a history of intermittent vulvar pruritus and vulvar mass. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of vulvar carcinoma having this rare pathology in our local setting. Due to limited studies available, tailored management should still be investigated. Disclosure Nothing to disclose
Teaching points with 3-dimensional mapping of cardiac arrhythmia: how to overcome potential pitfalls during substrate mapping?

An increasingly used technique for ablation in patients with structural heart disease is substrate mapping. At times, because of the multiplicity of arrhythmia-induced or hemodynamic intolerance in tachycardia, activation or entrainment mapping is not feasible. In these cases, a map of the arrhythmogenic substrate (cataloguing of scar, abnormal myocardium, and normal myocardium during sinus rhythm or a stable arrhythmia) may allow detection of arrhythmogenic channels for the various tachyarrhythmias and can be targeted for ablation1,2 (Figure 1). Figure 1. Upper panel , Posteroanterior view of a left ventricular bipolar voltage map from a patient with scar-related ischemic ventricular tachycardia. The reentrant circuit was found to be perimitral, with the area of slow conduction between a large area of scar (red color) and the mitral valve (not shown in the map). Red dots represent ablation points. At the side of the map, the color-coded bar was set up to assign colors to different bipolar electrograms amplitudes, so that the bipolar potentials greater than 1.5 mV are purple, bipolar potentials less than 0.5 mV are red, and the different hues of yellow-green-blue bipolar potentials are between 0.5 and 1.5 mV. Even though not of general consensus, scar tissue is considered to have local bipolar potentials less than 0.5 mV. Lower panel , Intracardiac electrograms (recording from right ventricular [RV] apex, His, and ablation catheter proximal and distal) during scar-related ventricular tachycardia. Ablation distal records low-amplitude, fractionated, and mid-diastolic potentials from a point embedded in the scar tissue, all characteristics of surviving myocardial fibers that represent areas of slow conduction and arrhythmogenic channels. The unipolar and bipolar signals derived from mapping not only convey timing information used to construct the activation map, but, in addition, the amplitude of the electrogram (voltage) recorded from mapping catheter in contact with the myocardium reflects …
Slow-sustained delivery of naloxone reduces typical naloxone-induced precipitated opioid withdrawal effects in male morphine-dependent mice.

Thousands of individuals die each year from opioid-related overdoses. While naloxone (Narcan®) is currently the most widely employed treatment to reverse opioid toxicity, high or repeated doses of this antidote often lead to precipitated opioid withdrawal (POW). We hypothesized that a slow linear release of naloxone from a nanoparticle would induce fewer POW symptoms compared to high-dose free naloxone. First, we measured the acute impact of covalent naloxone nanoparticles (Nal-cNPs) on morphine-induced antinociception in the hotplate test. We found that Nal-cNP treatment blocked the antinociceptive effect of morphine within 15 min of administration. Next, we tested the impact of Nal-cNPs on POW symptoms in male morphine-dependent mice. To induce morphine dependence, mice were treated with 5 mg/kg morphine (or saline) twice-daily for six consecutive days. On day 7 mice received 5 mg/kg morphine (or saline) injections 2 hr prior to receiving treatment of either unmodified free naloxone, a high or low dose of Nal-cNP, empty nanoparticle (cNP-empty), or saline. Behavior was analyzed for 0-6 hr followed by 24 and 48 hr time points after treatment. As expected, free naloxone induced a significant increase in POW behavior in morphine-dependent mice compared to saline-treated mice upon free naloxone administration. In comparison, reduced POW behavior was observed with both doses of Nal-cNP. Side effects of Nal-cNP on locomotion and fecal boli production were measured and no significant side-effects were observed. Overall, our data show that sustained release of naloxone from a covalent nanoparticle does not induce severe POW symptoms in morphine-dependent mice.
Use of target-displaying magnetized yeast in screening mRNA display peptide libraries to identify ligands

Abstract This work presents the first use of yeast-displayed protein targets for screening mRNA display libraries of cyclic and linear peptides. The WW domains of Yes-Associated Protein 1 (WW-YAP) and mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM22 were adopted as protein targets. Yeast cells displaying WW-YAP or TOM22 were magnetized with iron oxide nanoparticles to enable the isolation of target-binding mRNA-peptide fusions. Equilibrium adsorption studies were conducted to estimate the binding affinity (KD) of selected WW-YAP-binding peptides: KD values of 37 μM and 4 μM were obtained for cyclo[M-AFRLC-K] and its linear cognate, and 40 μM and 3 μM for cyclo[M-LDFVNHRSRG-K] and its linear cognate, respectively. TOM22-binding peptide cyclo[M-PELNRAI-K] was conjugated to magnetic beads and incubated with yeast cells expressing TOM22 and luciferase. A luciferase-based assay showed a 4.5-fold higher binding of TOM22+ yeast compared to control cells. This work demonstrates that integrating mRNA and yeast display accelerates the discovery of biospecific peptides.
Accident and hazard prediction models for highway–rail grade crossings: a state-of-the-practice review for the USA

Highway–rail grade crossings (HRGCs) are one of the most dangerous segments of the transportation network. Every year numerous accidents are recorded at HRGCs between highway users and trains, between highway users and traffic control devices, and solely between highway users. These accidents cause fatalities, severe injuries, property damage, and release of hazardous materials. Researchers and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have addressed safety concerns at HRGCs in the USA by investigating the factors that may cause accidents at HRGCs and developed certain accident and hazard prediction models to forecast the occurrence of accidents and crossing vulnerability. The accident and hazard prediction models are used to identify the most hazardous HRGCs that require safety improvements. This study provides an extensive review of the state-of-the-practice to identify the existing accident and hazard prediction formulae that have been used over the years by different state DOTs. Furthermore, this study analyzes the common factors that have been considered in the existing accident and hazard prediction formulae. The reported performance and implementation challenges of the identified accident and hazard prediction formulae are discussed in this study as well. Based on the review results, the US DOT Accident Prediction Formula was found to be the most commonly used formula due to its accuracy in predicting the number of accidents at HRGCs. However, certain states still prefer customized models due to some practical considerations. Data availability and data accuracy were identified as some of the key model implementation challenges in many states across the country.
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Role of Corporate Board of Directors in Public Charity Lobbying

We show that public charities with corporate directors on their boards spend more on lobbying for connected firms' industry interests. The effects of board connections are stronger when firms have greater lobbying expenditures themselves or when charities are constrained on funding. We rule out spurious factors with firm-charity pair fixed effects, and address reverse causality concerns using director turnovers as shocks to connections. Consistent with quid-pro-quo relationships, we find that connected firms benefit from increased procurement contracts, and that connected charities receive more grants and donations. Our results highlight executive charitable engagement as a complementary avenue for corporate political activities.
Visualizing Temperature-Dependent Phase Stability in High Entropy Alloys.

High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) contain near equimolar amounts of five or more elements and are a compelling space for materials design. Great emphasis is placed on identifying HEAs that form a homogeneous solid-solution, but the design of such HEAs is hindered by the difficulty of navigating stability relationships in high-component spaces. Traditional phase diagrams use barycentric coordinates to represent composition axes, which require D = (N - 1) spatial dimensions to represent an N-component system, meaning that HEA systems with N > 4 components cannot be readily visualized. Here, we propose forgoing barycentric composition axes in favor of two energy axes: a formation-energy axis and a 'reaction energy' axis. These Inverse Hull Webs offer an information-dense 2D representation that successfully capture complex phase stability relationships in N > 4 component systems. We use our new diagrams to visualize the transition of HEA solid-solutions from high-temperature stability to metastability upon quenching, and identify important thermodynamic features that are correlated with the persistence or decomposition of metastable HEAs.
The Implications of Being "In it Together": Relationship Satisfaction and Joint Health Behaviors Predict Better Health and Stronger Concordance Between Partners.

BACKGROUND Extensive evidence shows that satisfying marriages boost physical health and longevity. A separate literature reveals strong concordance in couples' health, but the relationship processes that contribute to health concordance remain poorly understood. PURPOSE The current study examined whether relationship satisfaction and joint health behaviors-the extent to which couples eat, sleep, and exercise together-are associated simultaneously with better health and greater health similarity between partners. METHODS Heterogeneous variance multilevel models were applied to data from 234 married couples (Mage = 46, Range = 20-84) reporting on their relationship satisfaction, joint health behaviors, and four health indicators-health satisfaction, depressive symptoms, comorbidities, and medication use. RESULTS More satisfied couples engaged in more joint health behaviors than less satisfied counterparts. When joint health behaviors and relationship satisfaction were examined as separate fixed effects, both predicted greater health satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms. More joint health behaviors were also associated with less medication use. When both were modeled together, only relationship satisfaction predicted depressive symptoms. By contrast, in random effects, joint health behaviors predicted greater similarity in health satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and comorbidities. Relationship satisfaction only predicted more similar depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Although more satisfied couples engaged in more joint health behaviors. relationship satisfaction and joint health behaviors uniquely predicted couples' health quality and concordance, suggesting that distinct mechanisms may drive better health and stronger health resemblance.
Awareness and Utilization of Advanced Traveler Information by Active Seekers

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) have been deployed worldwide as a cost-effective means to mitigate concerns about congestion, safety, environment, and other issues. Researchers commonly use questionnaire surveys to gauge the public’s response to the success of ITS deployments in achieving the stated ITS goal of improving customer satisfaction as well as the other goals of strengthening transportation safety, mobility, efficiency, productivity, energy, and environmental efforts. To differentiate itself from previous research, this study sought to identify how Michigan travelers who actively sought travel information perceived benefits from advanced traveler information systems (ATIS). Toward this objective, a revealed preference questionnaire survey was developed and linked on the Michigan Department of Transportation’s foremost online hub for publicly available travel information, Mi Drive. The survey included questions about the typical sources of travel information, frequency of information use...
Systemic Alterations in Docosahexaenoic Acid Metabolism in Inherited Retinal Degenerations

Photoreceptor membranes are highly enriched in phospholipids that contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n3), a polyunsaturated fatty acid which is esterified mainly at the C2 position of the glycerol backbone. DHA represents 50% or more of the phospholipid acyl groups (i.e., phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS)) of disc membranes.1–3 Because animals cannot synthesize DHA de novo, either DHA or its precursor linolenic acid (18:3n3) must be obtained from the diet.4–6 This shorter chain fatty acid is then elongated and desaturated by the liver to form long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) which, along with dietary DHA, are released to the plasma.7–10 Circulating lipoproteins and/or free DHA bound to plasma carrier proteins (e.g., albumin) then deliver DHA to the retina. Systemically-delivered [3H]DHA shows a time-dependent profile of organ labeling; uptake peaks early in liver [3H]DHA, and is followed by sustained uptake in retina (and brain) as labeling in liver [3H]DHA decreases.11,12 Uptake studies both in vivo 13,14 and in vitro 15,16 involving analyses by light and electron microscope autoradiography have demonstrated that [3H]DHA is not evenly distributed among the cells of the retina. In fact, retinal [3H]DHA accumulates preferentially in photoreceptor outer segments and synaptic terminals; comparisons of in vitro labeled frog, rabbit, monkey, and human retinas reveal similar patterns, with the majority of DHA (93% in frogs) accumulating within photoreceptor cells (Figure 1).
Fragile X—A Family of Disorders: Changing Phenotype and Molecular Genetics

In 1938, Penrose noted a higher incidence of mental retardation (MR) in males and reports of families with only affected males (Penrose, A clinical and genetic study of 1,280 cases of mental defect. Special report series no. 229. Medical Research Council, London, 1938). These observations were compatible with X-linked inheritance, and numerous reports appeared in the literature (Howard-Peebles, J Ment Defic Res 26: 205–213, 1982). Based on this early work, a clinically nonspecific X-linked MR disorder was delineated and called Renpenning’s syndrome, Martin-Bell syndrome, or nonspecific X-linked MR. In 1959, Lubs described the first family with cytogenetic expression of the “marker X,” which became the fragile X (fraX), and the heterogeneity of this nonspecific X-linked MR disorder became apparent (Lubs, Am J Hum Genet 21: 231–244, 1969). Numerous disorders have been delineated from this original subgroup of MR males. The fraX subgroup was unique because there was a diagnostic laboratory test; the name Martin-Bell syndrome was attached when this family, first described in 1943, was shown to be positive for the fraX (Hamel et al, Am J Med Genet 94: 361–363, 2000), (Martin and Bell, J Neurol Psychiatry 6:154–157, 1943). However, the popular name for this disorder became fragile X syndrome (FXS).
Household Recovery from Internal Displacement in Northern Uganda

Summary Northern Uganda experienced violent conflict for over 15 years, resulting in the internal displacement of over 1,800,000 Ugandans. In the five years that followed a cease fire agreement in 2006 nearly all the displaced persons returned home. The difference in the growth of consumption between returnee households and a comparison group of non-displaced households is estimated using propensity score matching. After an initial shock to consumption and assets upon return, returnee households experience a period of catch-up growth. These results contribute to understanding the dynamics of recovery from displacement and have implications for the policy response during recovery.
An investigation of a spread energy method for medical ultrasound systems: Part one: Theory and investigation

A medical ultrasound device using a Golay code is proposed and investigated theoretically. The code enables the spread energy method to be used to help overcome the restraints of the parameters of resolution, peak power and penetration.
Paper No 3.3: Reflective Colour Displays

Reflective colour has been a long goal for display technology—to date, few good solutions have been demonstrated. Here we outline the options explored to date and present the progress we have made in recent years toward a viable solution.
Easier Said Than Done? A Corporate Law Theory for Actualizing Social Responsibility Rhetoric

Post Enron has witnessed renewed concern regarding corporations' failure to behave responsibly, both in terms of their ethical responsibility and in terms of their responsibilities to advance issues beyond financial matters, such as those that impact employees, customers, and the broader community. Many scholars, legislators, and members of the business community have struggled to find strategies for restoring corporate responsibility. This Article argues that a corporation's own words or rhetoric may be useful in solving its behavioral defects. In fact, the vast majority of corporations issue statements or otherwise engage in rhetoric that suggest a commitment to issues and concerns beyond financial matters. Most people dismiss this rhetoric as meaningless speech, and as a result there has been very little attempt to analyze its relevance to corporate conduct. This Article insists that such dismissals are shortsighted. First, by critically examining the available empirical evidence, this Article demonstrates that corporate rhetoric has a greater connection to corporate behavior than most would presume. Second, this Article draws on social psychology literature to illuminate how corporate rhetoric on responsibility can be used strategically to increase the likelihood that corporations will engage in behavior consistent with that rhetoric. By highlighting the behavioral significance of corporate rhetoric, this Article offers a unique and novel solution to the problem of corporate irresponsibility.
The Impact of an Infant's Severe Congenital Heart Disease on the Family: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective. The aim of this article is to investigate the impact of a child's severe congenital heart disease on the family and to prospectively examine the influence of disease specific and psychosocial factors on the family. Design. A prospective cohort study. Patients. Parents of 104 infants who had undergone cardiopulmonary bypass surgery before the age of 12 months for congenital heart disease were included. Interventions. None. Outcome Measures. Parents completed the generic Impact on Family scale and a social support questionnaire; a large number of medical data were extracted from the patients' hospital records. Results. Parents most frequently reported that they were thinking about not having more children and living on a "roller coaster." No difference was found in the total Impact on Family scale score between fathers and mothers. The presence of a genetic disorder in the child and lower levels of perceived social support was significantly associated with a greater impact on the family. Conclusions. The impact of an infant's congenital heart disease on the family is determined both by child's medical condition and family's psychosocial factors. Families with poorer social support network may have the greatest need for professional interventions, especially if their child has an underlying genetic disorder.
Omnidirectional walking using ZMP and preview control for the NAO humanoid robot

Fast-paced dynamic environments like robot soccer require highly responsive and dynamic locomotion. We present an implementation of an omnidirectional ZMP-based walk engine for the Nao robot. Using a simple inverted pendulum model, a preview controller generates dynamically balanced center of mass trajectories. To enable path planning, we introduce a system of global and egocentric coordinate frames to define step placement. These coordinate frames allow translation of the CoM trajectory, given by the preview controller, into leg actions. Walk direction can be changed quickly to suit a dynamic environment by adjusting the future step pattern.
Book Review: Islam and Liberal Citizenship: The Search for an Overlapping Consensus

In his work, "Islam and Liberal Citizenship: The Search for an Overlapping Consensus", Professor Andrew March has provided a rare, much needed, rigorous and admirable foray into a subject on which there has been much discussion, but not much of it very good. There are few who are able to discuss Islam, or political liberalism for that matter, as thoroughly as March, and all of us interested in the subject should be grateful for the contribution he has provided. Nevertheless, there is a central problem with the approach March has adopted, which divorces doctrine nearly entirely from praxis. Specifically, March rarely discusses the doctrine, and its evolution, with reference to how actual Muslim citizens might approach it. Instead, he directs his inquiry to a different sort of interlocutor, one he creates from the thin air and describes as "the ideal-typical Muslim." The problem in the approach is immediate and obvious: it hardly harmonizes with March's ultimate goal of finding potential grounds for consensus. This is because orthodoxy is determined by the community, and thus attention must be paid, in the end, not to "ideal-typical Muslims" but rather to real ones, from Representative Keith Ellison to Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah, and to the respective Muslim sub communities within which they, and countless others like them, play important roles.
Entity-Relationship Modeling

Entity-relationship (ER) modeling approach views an application domain in terms of entities that have attributes and participate in relationships. Of the dozens different ER versions in existence, the most widely used are the Barker notation and Information Engineering (IE). The popular IDEF1X approach is often referred to as a version of ER, but is actually a mixture of ER and relational approaches, with an emphasis on the relational approach. In the Information Engineering approach, entity types are displayed as named rectangles with a list of attributes. IDEF1X models may be viewed at three levels. An entity type may be classified into one or more clusters of mutually exclusive categories. Subtype links are depicted as categorization relationships with a circle at the supertype end. The cluster is incomplete or complete according to whether the circle has a single underline or double underlines, respectively. ER or IDEF1X models are best developed by mapping them from object-role modeling (ORM) models and noting any additional ORM constraints as comments.
Effective soil moisture estimate and its uncertainty using multimodel simulation based on Bayesian Model Averaging

Various hydrological models have been developed for estimating root zone soil moisture dynamics. These models, however, incorporated their own parameterization approaches indicating that the output from the different model inherent structures might include uncertainties because we do not know which model structure is correct for describing the real system. More recently, multimodel approaches using a Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) scheme can improve the overall predictive skill while individual models retain their own uncertainties for simulated soil moisture based on a single set of weights in modeling under different land surface wetness conditions (e.g., wet, moderately wet, and dry conditions). In order to overcome their limitations, we developed a BMA-based multimodel simulation approach based on various soil wetness conditions for estimating effective surface soil moisture dynamics (0–5 cm) and quantifying uncertainties efficiently based on the land surface wetness conditions. The newly developed approach adapts three different hydrological models (i.e., Noah Land Surface Model, Noah LSM; Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant, SWAP; and Community Land Model, CLM) for simulating soil moisture. These models were integrated with a modified-microGA (advanced version of original Genetic Algorithm (GA)) to search for optimized soil parameters for each model. Soil moisture was simulated from the estimated soil parameters using the hydrological models in a forward mode. It was found that SWAP performed better than others during wet condition, while Noah LSM and CLM showed a good agreement with measurements during dry condition. Thus, we inferred that performance of individual models with different model structures can be different with land surface wetness. Taking into account the effects of soil wetness on different model performances, we categorized soil moisture measurements and estimated different weights for each category using the BMA scheme. Effective surface soil moisture dynamics were obtained by aggregating multiple weighted soil moisture. Our findings demonstrated that the effective soil moisture estimates derived by this approach showed a better match with the measurements compared to the original models and single-weighted outputs. Multimodel simulation approach based on land surface wetness enhances the ability to predict reliable soil moisture dynamics and reflects the strengths of different hydrological models under various soil wetness conditions.
Quantum-well assisted tunneling injection quantum-dot lasers

Summary form only given. We investigate a new class of quantum-well (QW) and quantum-dot (QD) coupled laser structure, distinct from the most commonly used dots-in-a-well structure. This quantum-dot laser employs auxiliary quantum wells coupled to the quantum dots via tunneling through thin barriers for electron and hole injection. The injected carriers are first collected by the quantum wells, followed by tunneling into the quantum dots, with subsequent relaxation to the ground states for laser action. The quantum wells overcome the limits of carrier collection, lateral transport, and thermalization of the quantum dots. Room temperature continuous operation of this laser structure with photopumping and electrical injection has been demonstrated experimentally. The laser performance of these new quantum-well to quantum-dot tunneling structures is also shown to be better than earlier versions of the quantum-dot layer achieved by optical pumping. Tunneling injection of carriers into the quantum dots has been studied theoretically for ultrahigh temperature stability.
Understanding Engineering Professionalism: A Reflection on the Rights of Engineers

Engineering societies such as the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and associated entities have defined engineering and professionalism in such a way as to require the benefit of humanity (NSPE 2009a, Engineering Education Resource Document. NSPE Position Statements. Governmental Relations). This requirement has been an unnecessary and unfortunate “add-on.” The trend of the profession to favor the idea of requiring the benefit of humanity for professionalism violates an engineer’s rights. It applies political pressure that dissuades from inquiry, approaches to new knowledge and technologies, and the presentation, publication, and use of designs and research findings. Moreover, a more politically neutral definition of engineering and/or professionalism devoid of required service or benefit to mankind does not violate adherence to strong ethical standards.
Students' Perceptions of the Importance of School Safety Strategies: An Introduction to the IPSS Survey

Many research-based safety strategies and school violence prevention measures are available for schools to implement; however, little is known about which strategies are important to students. The current study was designed to explore students' perceptions of the importance of specified safety strategies. A new quantitative measure (Indicators of Preferences for School Safety [IPSS]) was developed using successful safety strategies and best practices identified in the current literature. A principal components analysis of 184 student reports revealed that four factors emerged from the IPSS survey: Rule Enforcement, Education, Control and Surveillance, and Counseling. Additionally, grade level differences were found in students' perceptions of these four categories, but gender differences were not evident.